#The Book of the Astronomican

[oldschoolfrp]

It's canon, unless you're a fake 40K fan who doesn't respect the lore.

(This immediately follows Rick Priestley's editorial comments on the contents page of Warhammer 40,000 Chapter Approved – The Book of the Astronomican, Games Workshop, 1988) So glad to see this classic fart joke is known on both sides of the pond.

[moodymisty]

On the topic of Emps I’d like to honourably mention:

-Admitting that he could have totally gotten rid of Angron’s nails, but chose not to because keeping them in made him a better killer. And then making it so that the person he admitted it to could never tell this information to anyone else.

- As was previously discussed by two primarchs (in a book I can’t remember sadly) after the heresy happened. That his webway project would have never worked, even if Magnus didn’t bust in destroying everything his plans would never come to fruition. And by the way his plans with the webway were that he’d move all of humanity in there to play Eugenics Simulator for the rest of time, because he’s a very normal man who should be allowed to do that.

- I don’t buy that chaos telling Horus that the Emperor was planning to murder them all after they colonised all the planets he wanted was a lie. This man doesn’t care for his children, he sees them only as extensions of himself and as tools to use. The Emperor is human but only in the worst ways, he’s a father but the kind where you’d rather throw your own children into space hell than let them be raised by him.

- Killed Constantin Valdor’s original parents. Then he hunted down Valdor and turned him into a custodes while also psychically lobotomising him to never feel any emotions ever. Now may I remind you that it’s hinted in the lore that the recruitment age for custodes is even younger than the recruitment age of space marines?

- There’s only one primarch that he planned to keep alive. Magnus. Specifically to sit on the throne and power the astronomican. What the Emperor ended up turning into was what Magnus was supposed to be. Withering away into a half comatose shell of your former self, more corpse than human, your mind slowly fracturing from the weight of it all. That was Magnus’s birthright. Imagine holding your newborn child; small and fragile, innately trusting that you will keep them safe. Now imagine doing all of that with the intention of growing them into a human battery so you can later chain them to the big golden Torment Couch.

Someone take away this man’s Best Dad Ever mug. We all know he has one, and we all know he doesn’t deserve it.

The Emperor while yes, he is one of humanity's main chances to decide, is also one of the reasons why humanity is fucked up to begin with.

throw that mug tf out lol

[sincethewreck]

Katherine's Guide to Getting (into) Warhammer 40k*

*for people who want shipping in their grimdark space opera

What is it:

Warhammer 40k is a tabletop wargame with lots of teeny tiny expensive plastic miniatures, produced by the UK’s Games Workshop. There’s a lot of math and measuring and painting involved, but Games Workshop began putting out novels based in the setting more than two decades ago, which really helped flesh out the canon and individual characters and is my preferred method of canon consumption.

There are two ‘main’ settings for Warhammer 40k. One is 40k, which is the year 40,000 AD, where everything is grimdark and has gone to shit. The main human faction is the Imperium of Man, a horrible ultra-religious fascist shithole ruled by a probably-but-not-definitely-dead Emperor. He sits upon on the Golden Throne, a nightmare engine that powers the Astronomican, the means by which human spaceships can navigate the Warp, which is a nightmare dimension that is the only means of travel between the vast distances of space that make up the Imperium.

The time when everything was just starting to go to shit but was otherwise pretty great (for some people) is 30k (30,000 AD), when the Emperor was still alive and moving, along with his 20 18 genecrafted sons. With their help, he conquered most of known space after the Age of Darkness, a massive Warpstorm that broke the previous galactic civilization and fucked up all of space for thousands of years. Everything was golden (literally) and great until Horus (favorite son) was lured over to the side of Chaos and started a civil war which ended with the Emperor being trapped on the Golden Throne. Also, Sanguinius, the one with the pretty angel wings, died.

Among others. It was a pretty big deal.

Why should you get into it:

Both eras are pretty intense space operas. Plus, the canon is so large that there’s literally something for everyone. If you want elves, we’ve got elves. If you want empire expansion and exciting conquest, you can consume just that. Terrifying space bugs? Got them in droves. Space Wizards? Yep. Incest brother smarm? So much of that. Religious guilt, female characters, space battles at immense scales, people doing their best to keep hope alive in a horrible universe, people reveling in evil and trying to burn everything—you get the idea. Most people have a favorite set of space marines or primarchs or a faction and just follow that, which is entirely possible.

However, the canon is pretty much indecipherable without help. Remember how I mentioned that they’ve been publishing novels for more than two decades? Combine that with how most of the novels assume you’ve played the tabletop or read other novels, and it’s very hard to pick a starting point. Luckily, I’ve read literally dozens of them, and I’m here to help you. In all honesty, it’s because I want more fic for my ships, and that’s honestly not going to happen until more people get into the canon, so let’s go.

I have chosen six books that I think are good starting points for getting into the canon, based on three criteria. One, you can read it canonblind, and it will introduce the world, vocab, and at least two factions to you gently. Two, reading it early on and missing some stuff because you're new won't ruin the book for you. Three, the book is pleasingly well-written, and is enjoyable in and of itself.

You can use this like a reading list, but in theory, you should be able to get through any two or three of these and then feel safe launching into any Warhammer 40k novel. I have also listed each book's era, if you have a preference.

While this list is not extensive (I very specifically wanted to keep it short) I suggest looking in the comments to see books others will doubtless recommend once you feel you've got your bearings. My ask box is always open, if you want to hit me up with personalized recommendations as far as wanting more female characters, more books about a specific primarch, short stories, a specific faction etc.

Finally, I link to where you can purchase each book via Games Workshop’s site, which you should definitely do and not seek them out secondhand on Better World Books, or as pirated ebooks. That would absolutely be a very bad idea.          

What to read:

The Eisenhorn Series - if you want a long series with lots of interpersonal relationships and mysteries:

The single best entry point to Warhammer 40k. Dan Abnett began writing this so early into the novelization that he invented most of the vocabulary for the canon. The series covers Gregor Eisenhorn’s journey from bright young thing to grizzled old sadman as he is forced to make choice after choice that chips away at his resolve and morals. (& you can launch right into the Ravenor series after!) Read if you like: sad old men, heists, mentor/mentee found family. (40k)

Valdor: Birth of the Imperium - if you want that good lore and want to start at the very beginning of the founding of the Imperium:

Set just at the cusp of the founding of the Imperium, Constantin Valdor manages a threat and puts to bed the old world while watching the thing that will become the Imperium of Man begin to show cracks. Read if you like: female characters, diplomacy, the slow collapse of people trying to do good and justice, insights into genecrafting and whatever the fuck is actually going on with the primarchs. (30k)

Vaults of Terra (Carrion Throne/Hollow Mountain/Dark City) - if you want a female MC with politicking and detective work:

Luce Spinoza, an Inquisitor-in-training, is assigned the very great honor of serving on Terra, and also covertly surveilling her master. When a far larger conspiracy comes to light, she has to decide who she really serves. Why you should read it: excellent intro to what Terra is like by 40k, overview of some of the most recent events in the canon, Erasmus Crowl is the sort of sad old man that tumblr loves, solving a very intricate conspiracy. (40k)

Fulgrim: the Palatine Phoenix - if you want primarch content:

Early into the Great Crusade, a newly independent Fulgrim tries to prove himself by (almost) biting off far more than he can chew. Why you should read it: it’s Fulgrim everyone loves Fulgrim, that’s enough of a reason, his fall is far more striking if you see him being a precious valiant baby first. (30k)

The First Heretic - if you want inter-legion relationships and a focus on Chaos:

The Word Bearers legion and their Primarch, Lorgar, messily and brilliantly become disillusioned with the promise of the Imperium and the Emperor. Why you should read it: an easy overview of most of the major events preceding and going into the Heresy, fun with daemons, plenty of interpersonal relationships between Astartes and Astartes and Astares and humans.

Rites of Passage - if you want more of a civilian focus with no Space Marines and an older female MC:

After the mysterious death of her husband, Lady Chettamandey struggles to gain control over her Navigator house and prevent further damage to their economic status and general wellbeing. Why you should read it: discussion of the role of Navigators in the Imperium, house/family politics, a view of civilian life in the Imperium. (40k)

[djemsostylist]

Needed More (+ weird things) (The End and the Death, Part 3d)

Needed More

Rogal Dorn: We have spent the past 7 novels watching Rogal defend Terra. He has spent the past 7 years defending Terra. We have seen him at his breaking point, losing brothers and sons and nephews, watching the world he has defended for so long becoming a graveyard. He’s watched the palace he helped to raise be turned into an ugly fortress from behind whose walls he was forced to watch the destruction of his brothers, sons, and nephews. We’ve watched him at the edge of despair, and we’ve seen his resolve. We spent the last book watching him be tempted for eternity and not lose the core of who he is—a man who doesn’t give in, who fights to the very last. We watched him go with his father and his brother, agree to leave the defense at the very last, and go with them to stand beside them at the end of all things. To choose not to be alone, to choose not to leave them alone, when the end was here. And then we get nothing. Not at his father’s death, or his brother’s death, not at the knowledge that he has, in the end, failed at the one thing he has spent the past 7 years preparing for—saving Terra, his father, and the brothers who remain to him. He loses everything and we are treated to nothing more than Malacador commenting that he sees tears in his eyes. We needed to see his pain. We needed to see his grief, his rage, his loss—I wanted Eomer running across Pellanor to drop to his knees to pull Eowyn into his arms, I wanted him to break his sword, to yell and scream, to cry—I wanted SOMETHING. The Siege has shown that Dorn is capable of great depth of feeling, and I wanted to feel it.

Constantin Valdor: His story ties closely with Rogal, because like Dorn, Constantin has spent the past 7 years defending his Lord and Terra. He, like Dorn, has had a singular purpose—to preserve the Emperor, and the work of his life. And, like Dorn, Constantin fails. He fails to join him in the journey, in the fight, fails to save his life, fails to prevent the loss of his sons. He fails, and like Dorn we get nothing. Deadened emotion and a bare acknowledgement of loss. Interestingly, Dorn and Constantin are thrown together in a journey to find the Emperor, to make it to his side to stand with him at the last, and rather than take the time for them to talk together, to reflect on what their work has wrought over 7 years, on the changing nature of their relationship from barely civil coworkers to, if not friends, than at the least respected comrades in arms, we are instead treated to a never-ending slaughter of yet more beasts, that do little more than prolong a walk that has long since ceased to have meaning. I wanted them to connect, I wanted their scenes to breathe—they are, after all, the two who have been at this the longest, and they have seen so much loss. To have the chance to reflect, and then to come too late—I think it could have made for a beautiful ending for both of them. Instead, we get nothing, and their stories trail off into a future defined in lexicanum paragraphs.  

The Ultramarines: look, I know they don’t come until it’s too late. I know Roboute comes too late to save his father, his brother, Terra, the Empire. I know. I also know that not having them, literally at all, interact with any of the fighters on Terra felt—weird. Off. Like there wasn’t enough room and the story had to roll on without them. Again, we need that emotional catharsis. They came too late. They fought and died and ran and rushed and doubted and believed and it was all for nothing. Sangiunius is dead, the Emperor is all but, and Terra is shattered. I needed to see at least a little of it. Something. Not…nothing.

Weird Things

The Astronomican: I feel like all the people who died screaming to light the Astronomican was…weird. It was weird. The people who died should have given their lives willingly, gone peacefully to oneness with the Light of the Emperor—not you know, died screaming in pain. And before everyone says “but is the GRIM DARKNESS” yeah I know but also like, there is some light in the darkness, and one lone candle is enough to hold it back (and love is more than a candle, love can ignite the stars), so maybe we lay off the grim grimness and perhaps like…let there be light.

The Centaurs: I know the whole Horus Sagittarius thing, but it was weird. Loken fighting centaurs was just weird. He needed to face his brothers. He needed to set Tarik’s soul free. Not fight Narnians.

[metalhead-brainrot]

[Album of the day] World Eaters - Demo MK-1

Guelph, ON // 2020

[Genres] death metal, war metal

[Themes] In the grim darkness of the far future, there are only riffs...

[FFO] Warhammer 40K*, Bolt Thrower, Chainsword

[Thoughts] You can't traverse the waters of death metal for very long without encountering Warhammer 40K in some form, and I'll confess I count myself a fan.** But you don't need to be a capital-G Gamer to appreciate this ripping demo, a solo project from multi-instrumentalist David Gupta. World Eaters's riffs are as violent as its namesake***, guaranteed to have you itching for the mosh pit. The first two tracks, "Devour" and "Baneblade," will pummel you with energetic rhythm, an auditory siege culminating in the death/doom hellscape of "The Warp" (my very favorite World Eaters song to date).

I picked this demo because I think it's rock-solid, but I'd like to talk about World Eaters's other releases as well. Grinding Advance (2021) is their second EP, doubling down on everything in Demo MK-1. "Armoured Spearhead (Hellhammer)" is six minutes of unbridled energy; "Expedition / Tomb World" is nearly nine minutes, the latter half containing clarinet-infused Nile worship;**** there's even a cover of "Running Up That Hill."

World Eaters's new split, Mothman and the Thunderbirds vs World Eaters, adds two new great tracks to the WE catalogue. It's also the first release without drum programming; joining as the second permanent member, Winter Stomp***** adds ass-kicking blast beats to the bands repertoire. I'm very excited to see more future releases with her style.

Now that Winter Stomp has pledged her gory chainaxe to the sonic blitzkrieg of the World Eaters, the duo have been able to play live. Living outside Ontario I can't say I've been to one of their concerts, but I bet they split skulls; if you live near Guelph, check them out.

Also, I would be remiss for not mentioning that World Eaters has always been very charitable with the profits from their music, leading several donation campaigns for Guelph Pride, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit local to World Eaters's hometown. Winter Stomp has also designed and printed some booty short merch reading, "Be Gay Do Heresy," which tempt me every Bandcamp Friday.******

Thanks for reading the long post today. Keep on killing, maiming, and burning.

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* If you're unfamiliar, Warhammer 40K is a popular tabletop strategy game played with painted miniatures and rolling dice. It's popular with metalheads because the lore is so metal. Indulge me in a quick tl;dr.

It's the 41st century, and the Imperium of Man has spread through the Galaxy under the tutelage of the God Emperor. Though once great, the empire was split 10,000 years prior due to infighting from his übermensch sons, the Primarchs. Now the empire is spread thin across too many star systems, losing the fight against three main threats: the Xenos (other alien civilizations), the Heretics (those who question the authority of a fascist theocracy), and Chaos itself (arcane beings from the Warp, the non-space between wormholes).

The God Emperor sits as a corpse upon his throne on Terra, every ounce of his psychic abilities maintaining the Astronomican, a beacon guiding spaceships throughout the Warp. Every day an increasing number of psychics are sacrificed to fuel his powers, for if the beacon fails, the Imperium collapses and humanity falls.

There are no good guys, and there is no hope. For in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.

** Never actually played anything Games Workshop except Necromunda, though I've read a fair few novels. I prefer wargames that won't bleed me for money and bury me in rules, so I mainly play Mantic Games's Kings of War and Firefight. One book for all the rules and force lists at a fraction of the price.

*** The World Eaters are a faction of heretical Space Marines worshipping one of the four Chaos Gods: Khorne, the Blood God, who sits upon a throne made from the skulls of those slain in battle. They are also my favorite faction; he kind of has a Conan-esque backstory of fighting in gladiatorial slave pits. And we all know how much metalheads like Conan.

**** The Egyptian musical themes are themselves referential to the content of the song: Tomb Worlds are the hidden domains of the Necrons, a xenos race that conquered the Galaxy aeons before humanity even gazed at the stars. Annoyed by the emergence of other upstart civilizations, the Dynasties of the Infinite Empire transferred their consciousnesses into mechanical bodies, intending to slumber in hidden tombs until the juvenile races extinguished themselves.

But occasionally something wakes the soulless early, by delving too deep in ancient ruins or experimenting with ancient and unknown tech. And what they find is always ruthless extermination, for the destruction of a Necron's artificial body does not kill a mind capable respawning eternally into an army's worth of mechanical warriors.

***** She's apparently from the Netherlands. Neat.

****** I already have one of their patches on my metal jacket. Very stylish.

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[From the band/label]

Thought for the day: A coward always seeks compromise.

David Gupta: Guitars, Bass, Vocals, Drum Programming Psychic screams from the Immaterium are: Adam Ujhelyi (Teleportise, Hellbreather) Justin Krawczyk (Frank Reynolds, BatBoy) Derek Prince-Cox (Wakeless, Yuzun, ex-Arise and Ruin) Stuart Charlton (First World Famine, Inverted Serpent) Nik Wever (ex-The Story Of..., Time the Destroyer) Recorded, Mixed and, "Mastered" by David Gupta at Doyle House. World Eaters logo and Demo MK-1 artwork by Meytheus Rexy, @meytheusrexy_art

[aveimperatcr]

SOME HEADCANONS AND THOUGHTS.

with how much emps is gonna technically be canon-divergent,, HOOOH MAMA

ill admit i dont have access to the books or codexes, but i've been trying to research a ton about this shitlord and its a bit hard when hes meant to be a big mysterious character, not to mention how shit and convoluted Games Workshop makes things, so i want to at least get some thoughts down!

TW FOR SU//I/CIDE MENTION, WAR, DEATH, MENTAL ILLNESS ETC.

note: there is a headcanon about DID/Dissociative Identity Disorder-- if there are things perceived as wrong or inaccurate, please let me know! i want to portray it as respectfully as possible!!! i have been trying to do research so far!

my brother in christ hes actually up and about!!!!! - a verse i will very often play emps in is him freshly returning from the Golden Throne. somehow, there is a power source-- perhaps from the Emperor's sheer strength or with the assistance of the best of the best from the Priesthood of Mars-- that can properly protect the Webway portal from the Ruinous Powers. finally, having regained some of his strength, the emperor deems it best to actually descend from the Throne to fix what his Imperium has become-- and while there are no doubts that the Emperor himself is horribly flawed, he is determined to at least make things right enough alongside what is left of his sons

emps in my interpretation isn't a COMPLETE cunt - hes still done wildass things. not dismissing that, but some shit seems so arrogant or insane that i want to sort of just. fix shit up a bit

not the WORST dad.... - certainly not the best, either-- emps has all his own issues that are batshit nuts considering he's a psychic superbeing made of like 10 ancient shaman psykers from the beginnings of mankind, but... - i imagine he tries to actually sort of make shit work and actually do things, but with certain situations he might have not realized how he'd HARDCORE change shit like with angron being 'ported away (not knowing angron bonded so much with the other slaves/gladiators) or other shit

malcador? more like malcawhore - i'm probably gonna get executed for this shit but things ive read up about malcador just make me screech-- hes not a good person (neither is emps, believe me)-- to the point bro literally has a half-eldar servant named Ael Wyntor that he tells all his war crimes to, to the point it makes Ael want to turn in their living license personally, and malcador keeps fucking reviving him. - not to mention malcador himself having secret plans of his own for the imperium when confronted by... i believe a wordbearer? (given i BELIEVE the wordbearer was possessed but shits kinda sus if hes got stuff even the EMPEROR doesnt know about) - and fucking choking horus out when horus is concerned about the two missing primarchs, on the day of HIS FUCKING CEREMONY - obviously if people ever do RP malcador we can literally just make our own weird mini canon of the weird friendship (or not-friendship) of malcador and emps, this is just my personal thoughts - i just think that MAYBE things weren't so 'haha!! they're friends amazing cool!!!' behind the scenes

being like 59389124098 psykers in a coat is kinda tough - i imagine while its needed for emps to have psykers be sacrificed to him to make him more powerful, that shit just adds to all his weird sort of incarnations and personalities since theyre being sacrificed to him to give him more power - while it helps him continue to protect Holy Terra, keep up the Astronomican and all sorts of shit... doesnt help mental state very much - literally feels like getting 50 billion people getting crammed into his brain

what are some other things hes got going on with him? - mainly, a headcanon of mine is that for the Emperor, he's got DID (dissociative identity disorder) that would be caused by a traumatic event - this traumatic event specifically is about him first meeting the enemies of Mankind, which would fuel a lot of the Imperium's intolerance (OBVIOUSLY THIS DOES NOT JUSTIFY ANYTHING AND I THE MUN DONT CONDONE) of things mainly not human, but still would allow those that wished to forsake their deities and leaders to join the Imperium of Man. he would never speak about this incident with anyone besides his closest confidants such as Constantin Valdor or Malcador - there is himself as the host, then three other alters - these alters consist of The Anathema, whom was formed after meeting the enemies of Mankind and is portrayed as a large older fellow that is as tall as the Emperor wearing Custodian armor. then, The Navigator, who specifically comes forth in moments where he requires immense charisma or IMMENSE focus on anything relating to the Warp or Warpspace, taking the form of an abhuman called a 'Navigator' with a third eye upon the forehead and gills, pale skin and elongated fingers, wearing deep-colored robes and wielding a staff to guide the Emperor's mind through the nonstop battle against the Ruinous Powers. then, there is the Star Child, a young boy resembling the Emperor that could be considered Mankind's innocence incarnate. - his headspace in his mind forms as a grand voidship, with himself at the helm and surrounded by many of his past lives, the ten shamans, and the many psykers that continue to be sacrificed in his name. the alters always stay at their posts-- the Anathema as something akin to a Seneschal, the Navigator in the Navigator's Chair, and the Star Child at the Emperor's side. - while it may not be very apparent to most that do not know the Emperor, he has specific tics that show when he will switch alters-- usually consisting of a sudden clenching of the fists and his head slightly tilting back - whoever fronts has a different glowing eye color due to the Emperor's psyker abilities and how he portrays himself - the Anathema has the fully golden glow of his eyes, brightly glowing, where the Navigator has a softer white glow to the point it almost looks blue, and the Star Child does not have the glow but instead gentle brown irises. the Emperor's own eyes are a golden iris, but not an engulfing glow - usually when switching alters, the Emperor's alters will have some knowledge on what happened before fronting and often co-con, but sometimes-- that will not always be the case, and often it will be the Anathema who will front if the Emperor himself cannot.

practically an eldritch horror god - even if emps doesnt WANT to be a god, he. he kinda is one - literally because of how a LOT of the Imperium if not all of it worships him as the God-Emperor, the Immaterium has made it fucking real that he is indeed a god and thus he also takes power from it - he can't influence things very well from his throne but if you were in the Warp or in the Immaterium somehow, bro is helping you - he can mainly influence things in terms of dreams, assisting people in some ways like making Living Saints, and using the special tarot cards with pieces of his essence in the Emperor's Tarot for Divination Psykers to use in order to figure out the future - he cannot exactly TALK to people very well... if someone were to somehow approach the Golden Throne or was permitted to, they would deal with an experience much like Guilliman and (i believe Mortarion as he was forced into a memory of Guilliman's?) practically hear billions of voices talking over one another, trying to talk and come forward, unable to ever really come together as the Emperor fractures more and more, but sometimes, sometimes... there will be one voice in the far back of the head who will speak up, and that is the Emperor himself, coming forth

[eloiduarte]

The Jankcycle, from the Book of the Astronomican.

[soraka-in-warhammer40k]

It being a virus bomb would just be so utterly stupid. Why bother giving a chemical weapon to the Grey Knights. That's so random.

Nah I say since it is a piece of paper with something written on it, lets look at all the other stuff they carry around: their books. These books contain phrases of banishment and the true names of demons (which is very useful for summoning and banishment). Also if anyone could do the most dangerous psykic in the galaxy and not instantly die halfway through, it would be the Grey Knights - aside from them only Magnus and his lot qualify.

Following that logic I say on there is written instructions for a very specific summoning ritual involving a VERY powerful name. There's two options here:

1.) It's the Emperor's name, and it either summons his soul to the place or banishing it from the mortal realm for a bit, but either way his mortal shell on the throne dies Terra insta-explodes. Astronomican goes out, a new Age of Strive, but BigE would be back in some capacity to turn the tide - although the collateral damage might be so massive, mankind might never come back from it.

2.) This dips into my Solar Emperor theory, but what if it is not the Emperor's name but instead a contacting-ritual for the entity that gave the man his powers? Maybe so it can select a new "champion", a "new Emperor" if you will. Might also cause old BigE to kick the bucket, but just imagine the absolute wildcard a "new emperor" could be. Truly something that could "save or destroy the Imperium"...

Terminus decree.

It is.... Something.

Something that may or may not change the entire universe.

In the hands of Khaldor Drago.

It may be a virus that kills all space marines, loyalist and traitor.

It may be a bomb that destroys Terra.

Why just don't know.

[vintagerpg]

Warhammer 40,000 Chapter Approved: Book of the Astronomican (1988, and boy what a mouthful) is the first Rogue Trader supplement. It’s split between a four part Space Marines vs. Orcs campaign. I didn’t know 40k put out this sort of strategy scenario. I’m a little surprised at how much roleplaying there is baked into the game, especially by way of the GM-led optional subplots (like how the orc cook has been poisoning the orc governor’s food and he can drop dead from the strain on his system if he gets too close to a marine). If I were a betting man, I’d bet that this sort of thing fell out of fashion pretty quickly, though.

There are also army lists and painting guides. I like looking at this stuff, particularly big full-page Russ Nicholson illustrations, but it really doesn’t mean anything to me. I particularly don’t understand the role of rogue traders — they’re powerful, freelance agents of the Imperium and the game seems to want you to be one (one of the lists is for a trader and his retinue), but I have difficulty squaring the name with the role. They don’t seem to be rogues OR merchants. Like, that crappy Ewan McGregor movie Rogue Trader is crappy, but at least it is about a crooked financial markets guy. It makes sense, you know?

[ask-mortarion-the-death-lord]

some continuation i guess

this time with the emperor

we get the basic rundown, born to human parents, massively gifted, immortal, hidden among humanity and all that. It’s here where his motivation to shepherd humanities psychic awakening is really first brought up [something thats given overall more prominence in the book as well]. a much more interesting note however

now, this probably seems inconspicuous enough at first glance. Indeed even in modern canon 40k’s imperium is first actually created over ten millennia ago. However, take into consideration this little bit earlier in the lore section that i didn’t think to much off at the time

now, taking this into consideration, the implication here is that the age of strife, something that is typically thought to end right before the unification wars in modern 40k lore, is only considered to have ended after the emperor’s internment upon the golden throne, and that further the imperium seems to only officially be a thing upon the that internment. Now this suggests some things to me, two large ones possibly being

a) the unification wars and the great crusade were more so part of the same wider war, ie that the wars ‘only the emperor remembers’ were a large conflict between various warlords to determine who got the rightful rulership of the crumbling pre age of strife human civilization. or

b) the emperor started the age of strife in order to dominate humanity to control and shepherd the psychic awakening he saw humanity stumbling into.

take your pick i guess. food for thought and all that. also

in my earlier post i jumped the gun, the 1st edition emperor is still a punk who needs human souls to survive. Though in this case its not some vague need to bind his soul to the chair or anything, no, its just that he apparently cant eat or drink anything else and hes really god damn hungry and thirsty all the time. Which is hilarious and i almost feel is just a better explanation in general.

to be fair he does look like this 10 millenia later

makes sense he would need to eat unconventionally.

as well, as opposed to specifying 1000 psyker souls a day it just mentions a vague ‘hundreds dying every day’ which is still a lot but also likely less then modern emps eats everyday.

some explanation/emperor wank on why the emperor needs to be fed everyday. not much to say, just that i feel like the implications here atleast lean a bit more towards the emperor being pitiable in his own right as someone so dedicated to this vague future ideal of humanity that hes forsaken most of his own physically and mentally. 

apparently humanity underwent no genetic changes over 38,000 years that werent the direct result of mutation from environmental hazards.

@ lordsofmedrengard  early dark angels lore, here we can see where they got stuck with the moniker of “first legion” from in 30k modern lore, and its cause here in the first 40k book they’re noted as being ‘honored as the first marine chapter’. Guess it was something they felt needed to carry over... I like the copious more amounts of wine in the old dark angels chapter, and they seem a lot more aristocratic here then in modern 40k. Which makes an interesting contrast compared to the barbarian stocks of soldiers mentioned earlier in the book as being preferred for “legiones astartes”

we get some rundowns on the branches of the adeptus terra next, not much particularly new to note outside of them all being part of this larger governmental priesthood. some highlights though

the old school custodes uniforms are in fact the traditional uniform of the custodes in 1st edition. 

custodes wielded ‘lasers built to resemble the traditional and symbolic guardian spear’ whatever the fuck that means

tech priests and the adeptus mechanicus were monastic monks who primarily lived on earth and didn’t stick metal parts into and all over their bodies. they were consequently much more boring as the echlissiarchies IT department.

arbites basically doubled in the sisters of battle’s role as the militant branch of the state religion.

arbites fashion choices and the arbites acting in a similar manner of chaplains as well really.

the more voluntary nature of the astronomican in the first edition, the trainees learn how to safely let the battery drain them but it still seems to be a demanding job with a high fatality rate

they also share monastic tendencies and a uniform with the mechanicus, though theres is a fashionable blue.

included the entire bit on the administratum cause honestly, i find it incredibly fascinating. The parallels are certainly there between modern and 1st edition administratum, but i feel how its presented here just has more teeth and intrest to it. That is to say, its not just the ‘oh what fate, administration has become even more horrid, tedious and soul draining in this grim dark future, woe be us!’ that tends to get tossed around when mocking administration. Instead its a literal organization of religious monks dedicated to tax filings, school administration, rezoning and what have you. Blessed be the regulations and all that. Is there small cults dedicated to paper clip gods? what holy rites are involved when faxing documents compared to when faxing fourms? This is shit i want to know more about.

all adeptus terra adepts carry a knife and are likely legally allowed to shiv you here as well incidentally. 

the inquisitors are mostly the same, though with no mention of chaos whatsoever. less sub divisions from the looks of it too. this bit did catch my attention though.

psychic powers seemed to be a hell of a lot more common among inquisitors back then as well.

quirky inquisitors, who’d have thunk it. [its not that surprising, i just like that they took the time to mention it is all]

don’t know wtf is going on here though, especially as to whats going on with dudes armour on the left. looks like a knight crossed with an oven.

we get the usual spiel of psyker background, but then we get some interesting differences in opinions here on psykers compared to modern 40k imperium. How justified or not it is, is up to you but its definitely a shift in tone i would say.

possibly the proto servitor narrative wise? As said, 1st edition 40k readily uses robots, so servitors would be unnecessary. technomats on the other hand fall between that as menials who likely operate these things but dont full on replace them like servitors eventually will.

astropaths are basically the same, though the 90% statistic im not sure if it holds over to modern 40k. im thinkin likely but i could be wrong.

navigators outside of not ubiquitously having the third eye mutation also seem to have much more personal freedom and respect in imperial society in 1st edition. probably pretty comfy to be a navigator back then really. Aside from that, navigator families are still a thing.

space marine time!

well we get the same ‘feral world recruits as warrior god soldiers’ sortta stuff, it is mentioned and stressed that hive world criminals apparently make better stock in terms of raw aggression. Entire gangs will even be rounded up for the purpose of making new space marines.

the early process to create a space marine. no special organs, but bio-chem and the black [plastic?] carapace were there from the start, and hypno indoctrination is alluded to. Apparently this is still barely controlled chaos though. [and on a personal note, nothing that indicates it was male exclusive either, outside of general attitudes of the 1980′s]

early organization graph of a space marine chapter.

chapter markings and armour

AND THE POSSIBLITY OF SPACE MARINE BAGPIPES, WHERE ARE THEY GW WHERES MY SPACE MARINE BAGPIPERS!

iron hands apparently only had the one iron hand?

list of chapter symbols with names and colours, these keep appearing in the book. seems i was wrong on only the imperial fist symbol, its actually the crimson fists chapter symbol so thats 3 of the modern big 9 that didn’t exist back then.

we get a break down on the typical structure of a fortress monastery for space marines next, using the space wolves funnily enough who were far more normal as it were in 1st edition [and also their home world was lucan isntead]. and its got a lot, and well its all fairly interesting ill just shotgun blast some highlights

that the space wolves had an entire fuckin ship hanging in their great hall i find endlessly amusing, so thats why its there. the rest are interesting in terms of the domestic situation of space marines.

[thelordofdarkreunion]

Magnificent Scoundrels- Plots and Planning

Something different for this story.  I have decided to write how the various factions of the different universes that make up the story would react to all these new galaxies colliding.  This particular one is the Imperium of Man and the forces of Chaos from Warhammer 40K.  Why them?  Because they are the most gung-ho and definitely two of the most powerful groups within all of the universes, so I had to find some way to make sure they didn’t go into this new reality all guns blazing.  Divine intervention and brotherly bickering will do that nicely.  It is about to get real complex real quick, so if you have any questions, most definitely feel free to ask.  I will be writing more of this style, so if you have a request about a certain group or government, please feel free to ask.  As per usual, none of these characters or universes belong to me.  Enjoy the story.  

A note on timelines:  This takes place around 950.M41, during the height of the Ciaphas Cain book series.  This is before the the 13th Black Crusade and the Fall of Cadia.  

Warhammer 40k Galaxy

Holy Terra, Throneworld of the Imperium of Man

Holy Terra.  The birthplace of the human race.  Seat of power of the most dominant empire in the galaxy.  The most sacred planet in the galaxy to humanity, for it was here that the Emperor himself sat upon the Golden Throne, here that holy humanity was born, and here that the leaders of the Imperium, operating in the Emperor’s stead, convened.  And today was a most important day, for the High Lords of Terra, the council put in place by the Emperor to guide the Imperium in His absence, would meet to discuss the current situation.  

The gilded spires of the Imperial Palace reached into the sky, towering above all the rest of the structures on the planet as the massive bells of countless cathedrals tolled noon.  The entire planet was one massive city, housing hundreds of billions of people.  And, quite a beautiful city at that.  For here there were no ugly grey skyscrapers or disgusting constructs made of glass and cold steel.  No.  Here, every building was a work of art.  Reaching into the sky, some tens, if not hundreds, of kilometers high, they were all masterpieces, created by the finest architects ever born of the human race.  All had the same architectural style, a mixture of what ancient Terrans had called Greco-Roman and Gothic.  Huge domes, massive towers, and flying buttresses, all ornamented and carved to a ridiculous detail, stretched as far as the eye could see.  But, despite their size, or decoration, the Imperial Palace put all the other buildings to shame.  

Stretching the entire length of what had once been known as the Himalayan Mountains, it was the largest and most beautiful structure on the planet.  Created by the finest architect ever known to man, it was the seat and symbol of Imperial power, and the most protected fortress in the galaxy.  It was here that the God-Emperor of Mankind sat upon the Golden Throne, and it was here that the High Lords would convene.  

  The room was opulent, paneled with wood from ancient and long-extinct Terran trees, and lined in gold.  The ceiling had a massive fresco of the Emperor and his sons, painted in loving detail and framed by statues of cherubs where the walls met the ceiling.  The High Lords of Terra, leaders of the twelve most powerful branches of the Imperium of Man, sat underneath it at a long table draped in a white cloth.  Interestingly enough, for the rulers of an empire whose expressed purpose was to exterminate all non-humans, few of the High Lords looked like normal men and women.  

If one was to look at the table through an overhead view, then the man at the top right was the most easily noticeable, despite being far from the largest or most dangerous-looking person in the room.  He wore elaborate, overly decorated crimson and gold robes, and a human skull, massive reams of paper spilling from its maw, hovered over his right shoulder.  He was the Master of the Adeptus Administratum, the administrative and bureaucratic division of the Imperial government, and currently he was rambling about taxes in the Segmentum Obscurus while the other Lords pretended to pay attention.  

Sitting next to the Master of the Administratum in a clockwise direction was one of the few normal looking individuals at the table.  While his hair was grey and cybernetics were peeking through at the base of his neck, he still looked human, and still looked alert.  He was the Grand Provost Marshal of the Adeptus Arbites, the Imperium’s state police.  He sat quietly, unobtrusively, while his college prattled.  

Further down the table was a figure that towered over the rest and did not look even remotely human.  It was at least ten feet tall, and a mass of augmentations, slithering wires and metal plates peeked out from behind a large red robe emblazoned with a cogwheel symbol.  The rest of the Lords seemed unnerved by his...her...its gaze, as if the lenses built into the lump that could be called a faceplate could see right through them.  (Which, incidentally enough, they quite literally could, if the user wished it)  The being was the Fabricator General of Mars, and the leader of the Adeptus Mechanicus, the branch of the Imperium charged with overseeing, preserving, and repairing technology.  

Next in line was a tall man wearing a deep blue uniform.  Golden epaulettes adorned his shoulders, and cold green eyes surveyed the table from beneath carefully combed grey hair.  He was one of the few completely normal looking people at the table, and his position was Lord High Admiral of the Imperial Navy.  

Fifth from the top was an odd looking man who huddled deep into his crimson robes.  Unlike many of the others, he appeared to have absolutely no interest in the man talking at the head of the table.  An air of moroseness seemed to cling to the very air around him as he huddled into his chair.  He was the Master of the Astronomican, in charge of overseeing the sacrifice of thousands to fuel the God-Emperor’s massive navigational beacon.  

Last on the right side of the table was a petite white-robed woman.  Her hair seemed to shimmer several different colors in the light given off through the room's massive stained glass windows, and her eyes gleamed violet.  A pure white strip of cloth, emblazoned with the Imperial Aquila, covered her forehead.  None of the other High Lords would look directly at her face, and she seemed to take great amusement at this by striving to look whomever she was speaking to directly in the eye.  They would then flinch and look away as quickly as possible.  She was the Paternoval Envoy of the Navigators, the semi-human beings responsible for steering Imperial starships through the miasma of the Warp.  

Continuing clockwise, at the bottom left of the table was a pale faced man in another white robe.  His face was shrunken and seemed to be drawn inwards to his hollow eye sockets.  However, despite his non-existent eyes, he had the unnerving tendency to stare directly at the face of whomever was speaking as if he could see perfectly.  He was the Master of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, the school in charge of training Imperial psykers.  

(Authors note:  If you don’t know what a psyker is and you desire to find out, ask me separately.  It’s too complicated to explain here.)

Next to him was a tall, muscular man clad in a tight-fitting black suit.  His face was completely normal, with strong cheekbones and a jutting jaw, all framed by short cut jet black hair.  His eyes were steely grey, and if one was to look closely, they would see that those eyes concealed a breathtaking malevolence behind them.  He sneered and stared at his colleagues as if they were prey instead of the most powerful collection of beings in the galaxy, for he was the Grand Master of the Officio Assassinorum, the organization tasked with destroying any threats to Imperial power in subtle, or not-so-subtle ways.  

One up from the Grand Master was a relatively normal looking grey haired man.  His chest was so covered in medals it was hard to see exactly what color shirt he wore underneath, and the left portion of his face was dominated by a metal plate and cybernetic eye, replacing the real flesh he had lost in an explosion long ago.  He was the Lord Commander Militant of the Astra Militarum (more commonly known as the Imperial Guard), the Imperium’s main ground fighting force.  

Farther to the top of the table was a figure swathed in a heavy grey robe and cowl.  The lower part of the figure’s face was feminine in nature, but nothing else could be gleaned about her nature due to the cowl’s shadow.  She sat stock still, eyes moving as if looking for threats from beneath the hood.  She was the representative of the Imperial Inquisition, the dreaded secret police, tasked with finding, hunting down, and eliminating any and all threats to the security of the God-Emperor’s realm.  

Next to her was a tall, imposing woman with hair dyed a silver-white.  A fleur-de-lys was tattooed on both her cheeks, and she radiated an air of power.   She was wearing a massively ornate suit of gold and black power armor, and moved inside of it with the ease of long practice.  She was the Abbess Sanctorum of the Adeptus Sororitas, more commonly known as the Sisters of Battle.  They were an all-female organization of soldiers dedicated to the Imperial Church.  

And, speaking of which, the medium sized man at the top of the table was the Ecclesiarch of the Adeptus Ministorum, also known as the Ecclesiarchy or Imperial Church.  He wore white robes emblazoned with the Imperial Aquila, and perched upon his head was a tall mitre of white and gold.  

“Thank you very much for your report on the tithes, Nuchanldus,” said the Inquisitor before the Administratum head could continue speaking.  “But I believe the reason we’re here is to discuss the current situation.  Eight other, different, galaxies have appeared beyond Imperial space, several of them attempting to make contact with us.  We do know that there are humans in at least several of them.  However, we know nothing beyond that.  We are here today to decide how we shall proceed.”  The Abbess turned to her and scowled.  

“None of this would have happened if it were not for your Ordo Chronos.  They tried to break the laws of time and reality, possibly tried to contact the Ruinous Powers, and most definitely broke almost every single Warp-related law of the Imperium.”  The Administratum head spoke up once more.  

“That is correct.  Article 288731-J of the-”

“Yes, thank you,” shot back the Inquisitor with an annoyed glare.  “The Ordo Chronos has been sanctioned, dissolved, and will be handed over to the Ecclesiarchy for punishment, effective immediately.”  Everyone stared at her with shock.  The High Lords always played power games, vying to have their own group come out on top.  To hand over an entire subsection of your own organization to another, whether they broke the law or not, was not just unheard of, it was completely unthinkable.  The fact that the Inquisition was willing to do so meant that things had gotten very, very, serious.  

“Statement- new galaxies have endless possibilities for the discovery of new technology.  Request- Mechanicus wishes to immediately deploy to uncover new technology.”  The Fabricator General’s voice emitted from a speaker on its faceplate, and sounded mechanical in nature, as if it was coming from a badly-tuned radio.  

“Wait a moment!  We have no idea what sort of threats are awaiting us in these new galaxies!  For all we know, they could be completely overrun by beings of Chaos.  We cannot afford to start another war,” said the Commander of the Imperial Guard.  The Ecclesiarch spoke up.

“How do we know what their capabilities are?  It is our duty to purge the-”

“An Inquisitor by the name of Amberley Vail in the Damocles Gulf region has already dispatched a team to find out exactly what these other galaxies are like.  With that team is an exceptionally noted Commissar by the name of Ciaphas Cain,” interrupted the Inquisitor.  “We will see exactly what these new galaxies are like.”  

“This Inquisitor Vail shows remarkably forwardness,” said one Lord.  

“No she does not!” snapped another.  “The Inquisition has completely overstepped its boundaries.  It cannot be the only organization allowed into these new galaxies!” The table dissolved into bickering before the Commander of the Navy pounded his fist on the table for silence.  

“Enough of this squabbling!  You said that there are humans in these other galaxies.  If any of them were alternate universes to our own, then it is possible that the Emperor is alive and well there.  If so, this could be our salvation.”  Hushed murmurings sounded before a new voice broke the silence.  It was inhumanly deep and resonant, and if one were to listen to it, they would be able to feel the power of its wielder. 

“Unfortunately, neither the Emperor or Imperium exist in any of the other galaxies.  They are all completely different from each other and from our own.”  The High Lords turned in surprise at the being who dared to interrupt them, then went meekly silent.  Standing in the room’s entrance, wearing golden armor so incredibly ornamented it made the Abbess’s look like crude metal riveting, was a nine-foot tall man.  Man, however, would be completely inaccurate and slightly insulting to describe this newcomer.  He was a demi-god, lantern-jawed and brown haired.  Flanking him were two other soldiers of the same height, wearing the same style of armor, and welding spears so large that any normal human would tip over if they tried to carry one.  They were the Adeptus Custodes, the personal bodyguard of the Emperor of Mankind.  Genetically enhanced to a ridiculous degree by ancient sciences created by the Emperor himself, they had no peers, no equals, and no superiors save the Emperor.  Each was a masterpiece, and each created to be able to counter any threat.  And now, their leader had strode into the High Lords’ chambers unannounced.  Many of the Lords inclined their heads respectfully as the Ecclesiarch spoke.   

“Captain-General Launceddre.  An honor to see you here.”  

“The Emperor has spoken to us.”  Launceddre dropped the bombshell without pause or preamble.  Several of the High Lords audibly gasped.  The Masters of the Astronomican and Astra Telepathica looked up in interest.  

“How have we not heard of this?”  

“It is a recent development.  We came here as soon as possible,” replied Launceddre.  

“How did the Emperor speak with you?”  Launceddre frowned.  

“It was all rather strange.  As you may know, the Emperor cannot speak in His current state.  But this time… somehow He did.  He spoke aloud.”

“What did he say?”  Most of the High Lords were leaning in, hanging on the Captain-General’s every word.  Even the massively augmented and emotionless Fabricator General seemed interested.  

“He told us to ‘approach the new galaxies with caution.  Use diplomacy and peace, for we will need allies.’”  

“Diplomacy?” scoffed the Inquisitor.  Every eye (or in some cases, empty sockets and cybernetic machines) turned to her.  

“Are you questioning the word of the Emperor?” asked Launceddre plainly.  The Inquisitor paled beneath her hood.  

“No- no of course not!  I would never…” she stammered.  

“Good,” replied Launceddre.  “Summon the masses of your organizations, for we have planning to do.” 

Within the Eye of Terror, Sicarus, Daemon World of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion

Heavy footsteps sounded on the distorted rock floor.  They drowned out the chanting of prayers to the Dark Gods, drowned out the crash and squeal of the heavy iron gates opening, and drowned out the whispers that came at the figure’s approach.  For there were whispers.  Whispers of fear, whispers of awe.  The figure towered over all of the whisperers, towered over even the super-human guards of the Word Bearers, and almost came up to the very top of the twisted iron gates.  The figure gathered a crowd, all servants of the Dark Gods, who knelt and prostrated themselves at the figure’s feet, for the figure was touched by the gods themselves.  

Mortarion, the Death Lord, Primarch of the Fourteenth Legion, Champion of Nurgle, strode purposefully down the path from the outer gates leading to the Templum Inficio, the home of his brother.  Seven massive men followed him, staying exactly forty-nine paces behind him.  They were his personal bodyguard, the Deathshroud Terminators, and it was their job to sacrifice life and limb to protect him.  Not, of course, that he needed protecting.  His body was beyond that of any human, any alien, any creature of the material realm, even beyond the god-like physiques of any of his father’s creations.  He spat the word out like a curse in his mind.  He was beyond the touch of his father now.  

He stood a full sixteen feet tall, taller than all of his brothers.  Great wings, creaking and rotting, gifts from the Lord of Decay, sprouted from his back.  His flesh, tougher than steel, fused with his armor, creating a disgusting, dripping, mess, another gift from his Lord.  A massive scythe, his preferred weapon, was strapped to his back, and an oversized pistol, glowing with ancient and eldritch power, was attached to his hip.  His eyes, glistening with a thin sheen of mucus, stared out with hate from under a heavy hood.  He was the living embodiment of death.  He was the Grim Reaper made flesh.  And currently, he was very pissed off.  

Why, why, did he have to be here?  He didn’t want to be here.  He could be doing a thousand different things; concocting plagues, gardening, feeding the oversized insects, gifts from his Lord, that always seemed to follow his sons, hell, even perhaps murder some of his loyalist nephews.  He would rather be anywhere else but here.  Here, in his brother’s domain.  He had received summons from Lorgar, whom he hadn’t talked to in 10,000 years, to come here and deliberate the current situation.  Not so much as a “Hi Mortarion, how are you?” in 10,000 years, and suddenly Lorgar needed his help.  That was the reason he was here, he suspected.  Always, he was required to solve problems that his imbecile brothers or his bastard of a father couldn’t.  Never “Mortarion, we really appreciate your help!” or “Hey, Mortarion, I want to talk with you,” it was always “Mortarion, we need your help!” or “Mortarion, we have a problem that we can’t solve.”  Mortarion do this, Mortarion do that.  He was fed up with it.  He was prepared to ignore the summons, but Nurgle, his master, had ordered him, as His champion, to be present at the meeting.  It was then that Mortarion had heard the worst news of all.  All, all, all, of his brothers would be there.  Gods damnnit.   

Lorgar he could stand.  Even though Lorgar hadn’t talked to him in 10,000 years, he could stand him, for Lorgar was level headed and possessed a degree of common sense, which was more than he could say for most of his kin.  Angron he could stand, too, because Angron only cared about killing things, which was fine by Mortarion.  Perturabo, another of his brothers, would be there as well, which he didn’t mind either.  Perturabo he liked, for Perturabo was much like himself.  But the rest… the rest.  Fulgrim was too glitzy, too showing, too pretentious, and was, to put it mildly, a complete and utter deviant.  Magnus, another brother, he completely loathed.  Magnus and himself had never seen eye to eye, and he considered Magnus to be a dangerous imbecile who flung warpcraft and magic around with no thought of the repercussions.  Then there was Alpharius, who no one liked, because Alpharius had made it his mission in life to be as sneaky and secretive as possible.  And, of course, inevitably, unfortunately, there would be his nephew, Abbadon.  After Horus, another one of his brothers, had been killed by father, Abbadon had taken over Horus’s forces.  Horus was a real leader of men, a good general, a good brother, and, at least from Mortarion and the rest of his traitorous kins’ perspective, the true leader of the Imperium of Man. 

Abbadon...left much to be desired.  In 10,000 years, he had launched twelve, just twelve, attacks on the Imperium.  None of them had succeeded, several of them being defeated by mortals.  Abbadon was a complete failure of a general who thought himself equal to his uncles.  That was plainly not the case, and Mortarion had no idea why Lorgar had invited Abbadon to this meeting.  He knew for a fact that Lorgar and the rest of his brothers couldn’t stand the man.  It must be something important indeed for all the leaders of the Traitor Legions to be summoned.  And now Mortarion would find out what.  

Word Bearers, the sons of Lorgar, saluted to him as he walked through the long hallways of the temple to his brother’s chambers.  The boiling, unnatural, red sky of Sicarius could be seen through massive stained glass windows emblazoned with the eight-pointed star of Chaos.  Mortarion walked through endless hallways, some weeping blood and pus from the walls, others distorted to unnatural and horrifying shapes, until he reached the inner sanctum.  Two massive daemons, one a deep blood red, covered in spines and with far too many teeth, the other a mass of necrotic flesh and weeping boils, guarded the door and bowed as he approached.  The heavy black stone double doors opened, souls of the damned trapped inside screaming in agony as they tried to break free.  And inside, his brother.

Lorgar Aurelian, Primarch of the Seventeenth Legion, his form twisted by the powers of the Dark Gods and his face illuminated by unholy light emanating from within him, rose from his seat with what could be described as a smile on his face.  

“Mortarion.  A pleasure to see you after all this time.”  Mortarion gave a half agreeing nod, half respectful bow.  

“I can say the same about you as well.”  He looked past Lorgar and nodded affably at the two other forms seated at the massive stone table.  

“Perturabo, Fulgrim, good to see you.”  He glanced at Fulgrim and did a double take.  “I must say, you’ve changed since I last saw you.”  Fulgrim smiled dazzlingly.  The effect was rather ruined by the odd, unnatural perfectness and violet hue of his face.  

“I have been blessed by the Dark Prince.  I am now more beautiful than any other.”  He paused for dramatic effect as Perturabo rolled his eyes.  “I am perfect.  You must have obviously noticed my face, which is-”  Mortarion cut him off.  

“No,” he stated bluntly.  “Why do you have four arms?  And why in the name of the gods do you have a snake tail?”  Fulgrim glanced down at the lilac tail that had replaced his lower body.  

“I… uh… it’s a gift from Slaanesh. Whom, of course, I serve, as you all well know.  It represents-”

“Yes, thank you Fulgrim,” said Lorgar before he could say anything else.  Apparently Fulgrim had been rambling before Mortarion arrived, something he most definitely did not regret missing.  

“Now we have Mortarion here.  Where’s everyone else?” asked Perturabo tiredly.  Before anyone else could answer, an ear splitting crack filled the room as everyone inside was dazzled by a flash of blinding light that seemed to be every color in existence, yet at the same time had no color.  The air cleared, and, standing where the flash had appeared, was a tall figure in ornamented armor.  His skin and hair were both pure crimson, and his one good eye glowed with eldritch power.  Magnus the Red, Primarch of the Fifteenth Legion, had arrived.  Mortarion promptly gave him a glare that had, on occasion, wilted plants.  

“Still so unnecessarily dramatic,” Mortarion sneered.  Magnus shot him a glare that could literally kill.

“Mortarion.  Still so extraordinarily obtuse.  Tsk, tsk.  How are your psychic powers working out for you?” replied Magnus.

“They are not psychic powers!” exploded Mortarion.  He settled uncomfortably into a chair.  “It’s science.”  Magnus rolled his one eye, which rather spoiled the gesture.

“Oh yes, of course.  Creating an entire planet with your mind and killing things with a gesture is science.  Please tell me more.”  

“It is not your pathetic and dangerous sorcery, you moron.  I’ve seen sorcery growing up.  It ruined my adoptive homeworld.  My science does not destroy or rend reality as yours does.  It complies-”

“You still are so incredibly stubborn as to think that is not sorcery?  I’ve seen infants with a higher I.Q. than yours!”

“You’ve just been sour ever since I was proven right at the Council of Nikea,” said Mortarion.

“I am not!  I was not wrong then, and I am not wrong now!  Father just listened to you because he wanted to limit my greatness!” 

“Or because you can’t cope with the fact that Leman and I were right.”

“Do not ever say that fucking name!”  

“What? Leman?  Leman, Leman, Leman…”

“Shut up!”  

“Would you two please stop?  The Council of Nikea was ten thousand years ago.  Get over it,” said Lorgar, exasperated.  He sighed.  “While you two were bickering, Abbadon arrived.”  Mortarion and Magnus looked up to see a figure, much shorter than the rest of them, encased in black armor, sitting at the edge of the table.  “Now we’re only missing Angron and Alpharius.”

“Let’s get on with it, Lorgar,” said Fulgrim, looking bored.  

“But Angron and Alpharius haven’t arrived yet!”  

“Angron is now so consumed by bloodlust that I doubt he could even form coherent sentences, let alone plan for the future.  And Alpharius is probably around.  Somewhere.”  

“...fine.  Right, let's go,” sighed Lorgar.  “You are probably wondering why I summoned you all here today.  Recently, through the bending of time and space, nine different galaxies, from nine different realities, have come together to exist in one universe.”

“None of this would have happened if it wasn't for your sorcery, Magnus.  Again, I’m right.”

“It wasn’t my fault!  It was my idiot first captain, trying to reverse his Rubric.  He was conducting an extremely delicate psychic ritual.  The Imperial Inquisition arrived, two extremely powerful points of energy originated from other galaxies, the ritual went to hell, and here we are,” said Magnus.

“Which still proves my ten thousand year old point that sorcery-”

“Mortarion, shut up,” interjected Lorgar tiredly.

“Thank you!”

“Magnus, you too.”  Magnus harrumphed and crossed his arms.  Lorgar rubbed his forehead.

“This is why we never get anything done.”

“Hey, I actually get things done.”  Abbadon spoke for the first time.  “The rest of you just sit on your planets, doing nothing, while I-”

“Shut up and let me talk,” said Lorgar.  “Anyway, as I was saying, nine different galaxies came together.  It is our job to spread the truth of Chaos to all of them.  However, the problem is, none of us can do it alone.  So, the question is, how do we proceed?”  The room exploded.

“We attack now, get the false Imperium out of the way, then destroy anything that dares cross our path!” said Abbadon.

“No, we bide our time, marshal our forces, and wait for the perfect moment to strike!” shot back Mortarion.

“I disagree.  The Warp in the other universes is calm and uncorrupted.  We use this to our advantage.  We hold psychic mastery over everyone except Father.  With the power of the Immateriums of the other dimensions, we can finally tear down Terra's psychic defenses and destroy the Astronomican, thus dooming the Imperium forever,” stated Magnus.

“No!  I will not partake in any of this psychic nonsense.  I-”

“You’re a psyker, Mortarion.”

“No I’m not!  It’s… different.”

“No it’s not!”

Two Hours Later

“Okay.”  Perturabo interrupted Mortarion, Fulgrim, and Magnus, who were currently bickering over whose legion had better-looking armor.  “Lorgar.  Thank you for making me sit through another gods-damned family reunion.  It’s been fun, everyone, but this is pointless and I’m leaving.”  He got up and walked out of the room.  

“Wait!  You can’t leave!  We haven’t even come up with anything yet!” yelled Lorgar to his retreating form.  

“Enjoyable as it has been watching some of the most powerful individuals in the universe bickering like schoolchildren, I must say I agree with Perturabo,” idly intoned Fulgrim.  “I have better things to do with my time.”  With a snap of his fingers and a puff of sweet smelling lavender smoke, he disappeared.  Lorgar turned helplessly to his remaining brothers.

“We can’t just leave with nothing!  We have to come up with some form of plan.”  Magnus sighed.  

“I have a feeling that even if I came up with the most brilliant of plans, some of my brothers wouldn’t follow it just out of spite.  Do what you want.  I’m leaving.”  He snapped his fingers and disappeared with a loud pop! and swirl of color.  Mortarion turned to Lorgar.

“Sorry we couldn’t come up with something.  But if we did, I would probably end up doing all the work anyway.”  And he, too, strode from the room, leaving the servants of Chaos with no plan.  As per usual.

That’s it.  I must admit, it was quite fun writing the Primarchs arguing with each other.  Again, if you have any requests, comments, criticisms, or concerns, feel free to ask.  Also, if you like the “governments interacting” more than the Scoundrels, or vice versa, please tell me.   

[oldschoolfrp]

Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader (1987) included the Field Police of the Legiones Astartes in the first official full-color visual guide to Space Marine insignia. These troopers wear black armor and a red helmet with a black and yellow hazard stripe in place of a rank stripe, and a yellow and red curved flame-like insignia on the shoulder and back banner.

Mike McVey painted a miniature with this pattern identified as Marine Field Police, appearing in Warhammer 40,000 Chapter Approved – The Book of the Astronomican (1988):

There seems to have been only one Citadel miniature released that was specific to this unit, a single arm option for the marine riders of the Vincent Black Shadow Bike, seen in a 1988 mail order flyer (in upper right):

The concept of Field Police that hunted down offending marines made sense in the Rogue Trader era, when the chapters often press-ganged the worst criminal scum from a planet. Many recruits were young adult gang members and murderers whose violent tendencies were barely tempered and focused through the use of combat drugs and surgical enhancements. Imperial Field Police weren't needed any more after retconning the more disciplined backstory of the Adeptus Astartes. However a few later Forge World sources have made reference to this insignia on special disciplinary units within certain legions known to have problems with primal urges.

[captainblacklobster2]

Timeline of the 41st Millennium: 981.M41

* Durlan Occellati discovers warp route into Wheel of Fire Book of the Astronomican,

* Taelos of the Imperial Fists takes a warrior pilgrimage through the Maelstrom, Choria, Fell Heart, and Golgotha.

* The Battle of Parenxes. Red Corsairs lure the Space Wolves cruiser Wolf of Fenris into a trap, where they board the ship and Huron Blackheart kills Gnyrll Bluetooth. As their situation becomes clear, the few surviving Wolves turn to the enemy side, and the Wolf is captured.

[andallhisausterenhost]

Organising Squats

I’ve posted a few times recently about picking up some old Citadel Squat miniatures. I don’t really have an excuse aside from ‘I always really liked them’ and ‘money is overrated’. Once I decide on a colour scheme and a basing style, I’ll paint up a small squad for Necromunda, but I do have an eye to expanding to something approaching an army.

The problem is that the Squats haven’t had an army list since the initial release of second edition Warhammer 40,000 in the 1990s, and even then it was a small, colourless list. It was enough to spark my affection, even though the models were already unavailable in stores by 1997, but a handful of 5-model squads and some bikes isn’t really the sort of thing I want to focus my collecting around.

1989′s Compendium, on the other hand, has a beautiful Brotherhood army list, for the Squat Homeworlds. It features robots, bikes, Exo-Armour Hearthguard and some unusual squad alignments. Plus, you know, it’s the only Squat-only army list out there. It’s a good place to start!

1988′s Book of the Astronomican, on the other other hand, contains no less than five army lists, including the first proper Space Marine army list (for the Whitescars chapter and they are weird) - and three of these lists feature Squats.

Finally, we can consider what Squats could counts-as in eighth edition Warhammer 40K. People use Space Marines, Mechanicus, or Imperial Guard. For my collection, focusing on Paul Bonner-style quilted jackets and sturdy gear, Imperial Guard are probably going to be the best choice for my infantry squats. Robots and bikes are a different problem.

There is also the Horus Heresy list, where one can get apply Survivors of the Dark Age and Abhuman Helots to the Imperial Militia lists, so that’s something to consider.

But first, let’s go back in time to 1988. I was a toddler, half of you Tumblr kids weren’t even born yet....

Hylgar’s Hell-Raisers is the first Imperial Army list. It has some similarities to the modern Astra Militarum - there are humans in it, and lasguns. Importantly, it offers several Squat options:

The only Squat character, the Sergeant-Major is equipped a little oddly - he has what is a special weapon in 8th-edition terms! He also has no other options, a feature of the early lists.

Character: Plasma, sword, bolt pistol, mesh/flak armour.

The basic squads, these lads are also a little different from modern squads, but broadly similar: 10 soldiers, lasguns and a special weapon (in this case a flamer) or a heavy weapon (heavy bolter). The part that takes some getting used to is how the squads have either a flamer or a heavy bolter, rather than the ‘one special, one heavy’ that is common across nearly every modern 40K list.

For some reason the Striker Squads have mesh instead of flak armour, but as long as you make it clear to your opponent, I can’t see the modelling making much difference.

Infantry Squads: 10 men with lasguns, a sergeant. Tactical squads have a flamer; Striker squads have a heavy bolter. Tactical sergeants have a laspistol; Striker squads a lasgun.

A squad of characters! Well, minor ones, anyway. This looks more like what we’re used to in contemporary 40K - a squad of 10 bolters, with one special (flamer) and one heavy (missile launcher), along with a sergeant with a pistol and a nasty melee weapon. A hand flamer is pretty unusual though!

Infantry squad: 10 men with bolters, one flamer, one missile launcher. Sergeant has a hand flamer and power glove/fist.

Finally, we have an assault squad. Again we have the mesh armour, but the main thing here is that everyone has laspistols, with one special weapon (another flamer) and one sergeant with a power glove again.

Infantry squad: 10 men with laspistols and knives, one flamer. Sergeant has a pistol and power glove.

So for the Imperial Army squats, this can be broken down as:

Officer with plasma gun

10-man squads

9 Lasguns, bolters, (las)pistols

One flamer/squad max

One heavy bolter OR missile launcher/squad max

If bolter troopers, then missile launcher AND flamer.

Sergeants either lasgun OR chainsword OR power glove (maybe also hand flamer(!))

The notable thing here is that other special or heavy weapons are notably absent, except for one officer (well, non-com) who has a plasma gun.

This is all a little strange, and makes it a bit hard to match this with both non-Citadel Space Dwarfs, who usually offer 10-man squads with a heavy and a special weapon, and the Citadel range, which has a number of various heavy and special weapons within. Modern lists don’t make taking heavy/special weapons compulsory, so I guess that would be fine..? Onwards!

The next list is for a Rogue Trader’s company. It’s a mixed-arms list, consisting largely of Marines, with a healthy dose of other Imperial forces, including Guardsmen, Astropaths, and our Squat friends.

No characters this time - there are no ranking Squats among Borodin’s forces. The Tactical squad is identical to that in the Imperial Army, except that we have some upgrade options now - we can give them chainswords (but not lose their lasguns) and give the sergeant a plasma pistol. This is called a Close Assault squad, but bears little resemblance to the Assault squads of the Imperial army - I suppose Borodin has more money than the average Marnier Militaris.

Infantry squad: 10 men with lasguns, a flamer, a sergeant with a laspistol.

OR

Infantry squad: 10 men with lasguns, chainswords, a flamer, sergeant with a plasma pistol.

These are basically identical to the Imperial Army Guard squads, with the addition of further equipment rather beyond what I’m worried about. Most Squats have visors - I guess these ones can be photochromatic if they want.

Infantry squad: 10 men with bolters, one flamer, one missile launcher. Sergeant has a hand flamer and power glove/fist.

So much for Squats in a Rogue Trader fleet. I suppose with all those marines around, Borodin can’t hire on many abhumans. These look like:

10-man squads

Lasguns or bolters.

Can have chainswords for lasgun squads.

One flamer/squad max

If troopers have bolters, also a missile launcher.

Sergeants have laspistol - can add chainsword & plasma pistol OR if troopers are bolters, power glove and hand flamer.

Other special or heavy weapons are totally absent.

This is even more strange, although I at least know which model they wanted for the Champion-Sergeant, as I have him on my desk. He definitely has a hand flamer and power glove!

At any rate, next up we have pirates...

This is where the Squats really shine in the Book. We have several characters and squad types.

A character! Another plasma gun! This time also with a power glove. I have no idea what model they intended him to be for, and somewhat suspect they meant plasma pistol, given the illustration there.

Character: Plasma gun (pistol?), sword, bolt pistol, mesh/flak armour, power glove.

More characters! This time one is compulsory - you want to be space pirates, you gotta bring some space dwarfs. Again, they have a special weapon! What the heck!

Character/s: Bolt gun/pistol, chainsword, flamer.

Only the one squad (although again, they’re compulsory!), probably because the pirate list also has a lot of pirate Eldar and regular ol’ Humans and so doesn’t lack for variety. Plus, this has loads of weird options, but first let’s look at the basics...

..which involves splitting the squad between autoguns and bolters. This is the first time we’ve seen Squats with autoguns, although there were four in the Citadel range and they are common among other companies. So we have eight riflemen, split between autoguns and bolters, one heavy bolter, and a sergeant with a chainsword, bolt pistol, and... flamer.

It’s certainly a very characterful squad, representing well the scarce resources and motley nature of a bunch of pirates, but it’s also weird. What are those options in the sidebar?

Oh, yes, another Close Assault deal, where everyone gets chainswords and the sergeant gets  a plasma pistol (so he has two pistols, a chainsword, a flamer, and a partridge in a pear tree). That’s fine, even if I don’t think any of the Citadel range has plasma pistols. What’s the other option?

Oh, cool, power boards. what the actual fuck

Sure, they existed in the Rogue Trader material and are incredibly cool, but there are absolutely no miniatures for them. Which is an absolute shame and I now want a recce squad of space dwarf rascals on hover boards because read that sentence again and then you should know why.

Infantry squad: 4 men with autoguns, 4 men with bolters, a heavy bolter, a sergeant with a flamer, bolt pistol, chainsword. MAY TAKE HOVER BOARDS!!!

OR

Infantry squad: 4 men with autoguns, 4 men with bolters (all with chainswords), a heavy bolter, a sergeant with a flamer, bolt pistol, chainsword, plasma pistol.

Despite the weirdness of the hover boards (!), this is basically more of the same from the Imperial Army and Rogue Trader lists:

Officer with plasma gun and power glove

1-3 Officers with flamers.

10-man squad

4 autoguns & 4 bolters

May add chainswords or hoverboards.

One heavy bolter

Sergeants have bolt pistol, chainsword, flamer. If the squad has chainswords, he gets a plasma pistol.

Overall, the Astronomican lists treat squats in much the same way across the board: ten-man squads, with an emphasis on single-man special weapon additions, nearly always a flamer. Elite squads have bolters. Assualt squads have chainswords. Some squads have heavier weapons. Pirates are a bit weirder, including the only autogun unit. [Autoguns and lasguns were similar weapons (and, since 3rd edition, have been basically identical). Most squat riflemen models have lasguns, so this is a bit academic.]

So, let us travel forward in time to 1989, and see what Squats doing it for themselves might look like....

I find this army list a bit annoying, actually. The background material is great, and it features a lot of truly excellent artwork (a lot by Paul Bonner), but list design has definitely improved over the last twenty-nine years. Ansell, Stillman, and Davis wrote a list with very few characters and an excessive amount of minimum units. The most egregious of this, for my money, is that you only get one Guildmaster if you take seven guild bikers - and even Engineers Guild lists only get the one, and they have to take fourteen. You should be able to have a couple lower-ranked engineers running about for the robots, am I right?

Anyway. That’s a problem for some other time. Nobody is going to hold me to any rules or regulations when it comes to an army which nobody plays with using these ancient rules, anyhow. This is just a guideline for me to have something to hang a collection on.

And we’re only looking at infantry, anyway. For the infantry, you must take a Warlord, and then 3-4 Combat Squads...

First off is the Warlord, who has four hearthguard bodyguards. This is pretty interesting, as they have carapace armour as a default and can take all kinds of weird, mostly invisible to WYSIWYG, wargear (anti-plant grenades indeed). The Hearthguard themselves get to roll on the equipment charts, which a modern collector can use to justify whatever armament they like. Which is what I intend to do.

The alternatives are threefold, for the Citadel range: the original Hearthguard models, which had plastic arms - that is, you can model whatever armament you like, or roll up if you prefer. Alternatively, you can get yourself a squad in Exo-Armour, or mount ‘em all on bikes.

My intention is definitely to eventually get a squad of exo-armour. I’m lukewarm on the Hearthguard catapace armour - it’s a bit too fantasy dwarf, and not enough ‘rugged miners’ for my taste. Exo-armour fetches a pretty penny on the second-hand market, so I’m definitely in no hurry on this front.... unless someone wants to give me a very early Christmas present? No?

Character & 4 Elite: Very flexible. If you don’t mind the armour not necessarily being ‘carapace-y’, it’s do as thou wilt.

Woof, look at those options.It looks weird, but most of it is grenades. Things to note:

8-man squads. This is very unusual for Warhammer 40K, which uses 10-20-man squads for even alien species. I think even the Tau have moved to 10-man units, although they don’t have base-10 mathematics.

Lasguns as the default, although they can be swapped for bolters.

Gunslingers everywhere. While a very cool look, I think I want to be a bit more uniform. It’s a good look for sergeants, though.

Everyone can have a heavy bolter(!). This is a long way from the limited heavy weapon selection of the pirates, army, and rogue trader Squats!

One other heavy weapon per squad, with a wide selection.

No ‘special’ weapons, aside from grenade launchers - no plasma guns, melta guns, or flamers.

Leaders have a very broad range of options, but it basically boils down to ‘a different pistol’, ‘a shotgun’, ‘a combi-weapon’ or ‘a melee weapon’, although I guess you could go with a power sword and a regular sword, if you wanted.

In terms of army design, having an army where the basic infantry unit can be equipped entirely with heavy weapons is an interesting one. I kind of like it. It has a great synergy with their low movement of 3 and works in terms of giving a feeling of grouchy, dug-in warriors.

In a modern list, this would never do - heavy bolter squads would be a Heavy Support choice, but with the way 8th edition detachments work, this wouldn’t necessarily prevent a player with an extensive heavy bolter Squat army from being able to play.

For me, I think I’ll have mostly or entirely riflemen squads, but it could be interesting to have one or two heavy bolter squads.

Putting aside the heavy bolter legion issue for a moment, 8-man squads would immediately mark the Squat army from being different from Imperial Guard or Space Marines. In gaming terms, you have a lower ‘trooper-tax’ for your special/heavy choices, allowing a more MSU approach to your army. In aesthetic terms, it helps reinforce the idea that Squats are fewer, but tougher, than their true human cousins. I really like this idea.

In 2nd edition, incidentally, the regular Squat squads were reduced in scope considerably, to 5-man teams, either Warrior Squads (lasguns and one special/heavy), Attack Squads (bolt pistols & axes, choose from the assault list, one special), or Thunderer Squads  (lasguns, but everyone gets a special or a heavy - this is your all-heavy bolter squad).

This was the gap-filler ‘Codex Army Lists’ list, which wasn’t intended to be permanent, but it’s also a little bland to be basing my collecting around. I’m not collecting a weird, antique, 30-year dead army of old lead in order to paint generic 5-man squads! I want recce teams of hoverboards and cigar-chomping bearded miners with bionic hands!

Sergeant with power glove and rifle, Theoc Miniatures. Sculpted and painted by Chris Nicholls.

Having written all this out, I’m still no closer to figuring out what I want to do to organise my collecting strategy. I’m leaning toward the unusual 8-man Combat Squads of the Brotherhood, with a single heavy weapon each - or a heavy weapon and a heavy bolter - and maybe a handful of special weapons as a Hearthguard.

..but then I do want an exo-armour Hearthguard squad, so maybe I could get 6 Combat Squads in total and keep a few flamer-armed chaps around for some space pirates. Maybe some extra riflemen if I use the army as counts-as Imperial Guard. After all, exo-armour can be counts-as Terminator armour, and the new detachments allow a lot of flexibility in that area, especially if bikers count as Marine Scouts.

oh no

[novemberdingo-blog]

In the grim darkness...

"It is the 41st Millennium. For more than a hundred centuries the Emperor of Mankind has sat immobile on the Golden Throne of Earth. He is the master of mankind by the will of the gods and master of a million worlds by the might of his inexhaustible armies. He is a rotting carcass writhing invisibly with power from the Dark Age of Technology. He is the Carrion Lord of the vast Imperium of Man for whom a thousand souls are sacrificed every day so that he may never truly die.Yet even in his deathless state, the Emperor continues his eternal vigilance. Mighty battlefleets cross the daemon-infested miasma of the Warp, the only route between distant stars, their way lit by the Astronomican, the psychic manifestation of the Emperor's will. Vast armies give battle in His name on uncounted worlds. Greatest amongst his soldiers are the Adeptus Astartes, the Space Marines, bio-engineered super-warriors. Their comrades in arms are legion: the Imperial Guard and countless planetary defence forces, the ever-vigilant Inquisition and the tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus to name only a few. But for all their multitudes, they are barely enough to hold off the ever-present threat to humanity from aliens, heretics, mutants -- and far, far worse. To be a man in such times is to be one amongst untold billions. It is to live in the cruelest and most bloody regime imaginable. These are the tales of those times. Forget the power of technology and science, for so much has been forgotten, never to be relearned. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for in the grim dark future there is only war. There is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods."

Greatest intro written to anything ever... sets the tone for any book ever written out the times and those who live in this terrible time. My introduction to it all was a Dan Abnett book, the I sat down one night and read about the necrons and the elder... the war in heaven... chaos... the imperium... and found myself enthralled with the stories of those who survive day to day in the far future.

[asktheadeptus]

The God-Emperor

God-Emperor

In an ironic twist of fate for a man who fought throughout His life to move Mankind away from superstition and religious faith, the Emperor of Mankind was already being worshiped as a living deity before the start of the Horus Heresy. The Primarch Lorgar of the Word Bearers Legion had penned a book, the Lectitio Divinitatus, which laid out a compelling case for why the Emperor of Mankind was more than a man but a God made flesh. It held that no mortal being could have accomplished all that the Emperor had in uniting the techno-barbarian tribes and nations of Terra and then reuniting much of the human-settled galaxy under His rule. Nor could a simple human being possess His extraordinary command of psychic abilities, his advanced scientific knowledge which displayed an understanding of the universe on a primal level or His immense compassion and good will towards all Mankind. The argument proved persuasive, and before the Great Crusade had even ended, a number of different cults dedicated to Emperor-worship had already sprung up, using the Lectitio Divinitatus as their sacred book and often adopting the name of the tome for the name of their faith. The worship of the Emperor as a God was strictly forbidden under the doctrine of the Imperial Truth and was a serious crime, the same crime that ultimately led to the humiliation of Lorgar and his Word Bearers upon the world of Khur and their turn towards the worship of the Chaos Gods instead to meet their need for faith. While Lorgar ultimately repudiated the Lectitio Divinitatus and replaced it with the Chaotic Book of Lorgar, millions of other men and women during the dark days of the Horus Heresy increasingly turned to the worship of the Emperor as a source of inspiration and strength to survive the many horrors of that time. The demonstrated power that devout worship of the Emperor gave to His followers to protect themselves and others from the daemonic entities of the Warp only furthered the spread of this new religion. Among the peoples of the Imperium, only the Space Marines of the Adeptus Astartes, who dimly remember the truth of the man from whom they are descended, do not worship the Emperor as a God. They prefer instead to venerate Him as the pinnacle of what a human being is capable of achieving and an example to be followed. This refusal to worship the Emperor as prescribed by the Imperial Creed is also one of the reasons that the Astartes often come into conflict with the Ecclesiarchy and the Inquisition.

At the end of the Horus Heresy, the Emperor's shattered form was interred within the cybernetic mechanisms of the Golden Throne so that His mind could still have a physical anchor in the material universe while it extended throughout the Warp, eventually encompassing nearly the entire territory of the Imperium of Man. As the centuries passed, the worship of the Emperor only spread further, and by the 32nd Millennium the once small cults of Emperor-worshipers had been amalgamated into the Imperial Cult, its teeming trillions of human believers served by the massive interstellar curia known as the Ecclesiarchy or more formally as the Adeptus Ministorum after it was accepted by the High Lords of Terra as the state religion of the Imperium. The Emperor of Mankind was now truly more than a secular ruler -- He was the God-Emperor, the one, true God of all humanity. His will was interpreted and executed by the High Lords of Terra of the Senatorum Imperialis, His laws were enforced by the Adeptus Arbites, His body and His Imperial Palace were guarded by the Adeptus Custodes, His Adeptus Astartes defended the Imperium and the Inquisition that He had directed Malcador the Sigillite to create at the start of the Horus Heresy had grown into a power unto itself, protecting the Imperium from the Emperor's enemies both without and within.

Despite His protests to the contrary, the effect of trillions of human beings expressing a deep faith in His divinity has massively empowered the Emperor's mind and soul within the psychically-reactive Immaterium, where reality is shaped by the collective beliefs and unconscious desires of the galaxy's most populous intelligent species. The Imperial Creed teaches that far from being a defeat, the internment of the Emperor within the Golden Throne allowed His divine spirit to ascend so that He could guide and protect all Mankind more directly, no longer confined by the limitations of the flesh. It is for this reason that the skull has become so prevalent in Imperial iconography and architecture, as a symbol of the Emperor's sacrifice of His own life for the sake of his people. Whatever He may have been before the Horus Heresy, the Emperor now truly is a God within the Warp, equal in power to any one of the four major Chaos Gods, and very likely as powerful as all four of them combined, as He has become perhaps the strongest spiritual force for Order in the Milky Way Galaxy. Though His body is a shattered wreck, more corpse than man, as long as the Golden Throne can maintain even the barest hint of His life functions, He will be able to maintain His presence within the Warp, guiding and directing the psychic beacon known as the Astronomican that is so vital to the Imperium's commerce, defense and communications even as His mind must claim the life energies of 1,000 human psykers a day to empower the beacon.

As noted above, it is the Emperor's powerful mind, projected and amplified in the Immaterium by the arcane mechanisms of the Golden Throne, that guides and maintains the psychic beacon of the Astronomican empowered by the daily life forces of thousands of psykers. At the same time, despite His current decayed condition, the Emperor can still cryptically communicate His wishes to select psykers through the arcane medium of the Emperor's Tarot. He can also communicate through direct dreams and visions to select non-psychic human beings whose faith in Him is strong enough to forge the necessary link. The Emperor can also provide a number of psychic protections against the powers of Chaos and its daemons through the connection of faith and He may be able to influence the physical universe in a number of other unexpected ways. For instance, it is widely believed in the Imperium that the Warp Storm known as the Storm of the Emperor's Wrath that appeared in the Ultima Segmentum during the Age of Apostasy in the 36th Millennium was directly created by the will of the Emperor, the incarnate effect of His anger over the usurpation of the Imperium's government by the tyrant High Lord Goge Vandire. It is also believed that the Emperor's might within the Warp directly holds the power of Chaos at bay, and were the Emperor to be absent from the Immaterium, Chaos would break through the physical boundaries of the universe, transforming the entire galaxy into a realm of insanity and horror very much like the Eye of Terror. It is also known to a very few among the highest ranks of the Inquisition that within His throne room in the Imperial Palace, the Sanctum Imperialis, the Emperor possesses the power to directly manipulate reality, including the ability to relativistic-ally slow or even stop the arrow of time outright.

Yet the God-Emperor is a tormented soul. Unable to interact more directly with His worshipers, He is horrified by what His Imperium has become over the last 10,000 standard years in the wake of the terrible wounds inflicted by the Horus Heresy and the ongoing threats to Mankind from Chaos, xenos, mutants and the Traitors within. The Age of the Imperium has not delivered the Golden Age of Mankind that the Emperor had hoped would result from all His efforts. Instead, the Imperium has delivered stability, but at the cost of technological stagnation and intellectual regression, political repression, constant exploitation of the many by the few, rabid xenophobia and often savage religious intolerance. All the evils of humanity that the Emperor had hoped to bring to an end have only proliferated during the 10,000 Terran years that the Imperium has ruled the human race in His name. Yet the Emperor endures in His endless pain, knowing that His death would cripple the Imperium and deny humanity of both the limited guidance He can still offer and the protection He provides against Chaos. The Emperor fears that without Him, Mankind will not survive. For this reason, despite all its imperfections, He allows the Imperium to endure. On rare occasions, the Emperor works through His chosen servants to make the lot of humanity a little better. He fans the embers of hope among Mankind as the End Time draws nigh and the Golden Throne's mechanisms wind down like a broken watch...

The Emperor's Purpose

At first glance, the Imperial Truth seems to be a great contradiction: why would the Emperor of Mankind, an immortal being who had been alive for millennia and who well knew about the existence of the Chaos Gods, daemons and all the other psychically-reactive entities of the Immaterium, promulgate a code of belief that only upheld reason and science? Particularly, when the psychic power within the Warp generated by the faith of billions of people could be used to protect them from the influence of Chaos. First, as the priest of the Church of the Lightning Stone, Uriah Olathaire, had correctly surmised at the end of the Unification Wars in the late 30th Millennium, the Emperor, never having been possessed of basic human frailties, simply could not comprehend the human need for faith. He had never encountered a question He could not answer through the application of His intellect. Bereft of the need for the reassurances only faith could bring to mortal men and women, the Emperor found it a wasteful and extremely dangerous distraction, and did not emotionally understand the comfort it brought to mere human beings, even as he fully understood religion's role in an intellectual way. This was a deadly blindness on the Emperor's part that would lead to many of the mistakes He made that brought on the Horus Heresy and the eventual stagnation of the Imperium of Man He created.

At the same time, the Emperor saw the continued existence of human religion and faith as one of the primary reasons Mankind's very existence was threatened by the hostile forces at work in the galaxy and the Immaterium. The Emperor's entire purpose in initiating the Great Crusade and the creation of a galaxy-spanning Imperium of Man was to seek the destruction of Chaos once and for all, since it represented the greatest threat to intelligent life in the galaxy. The Emperor, who had Himself been responsible for the development of several of the major religions once prevalent on Old Earth, had dedicated His entire existence to the ultimate benefit of Mankind. Yet time and time again, He had seen the principles He had propounded in the form of religion become twisted by human nature, transforming a faith based on the tenets of love and respect for one another into bloody creeds of violence, repression, murder and holy war that actually strengthened the Chaos Gods.

After the onset of the Age of Strife brought an end to humanity's previous interstellar Golden Age and savagery consumed human civilization, the Emperor decided that His long policy of hiding His true nature from His fellow men as He sought to guide them towards a better future had failed. He needed to take a far more active role in shaping His species' future, so He created the persona of the Emperor and intended to use His own potent psychic abilities, intellect and extraordinary scientific knowledge to reunite the entire scattered human race, by force if necessary. The Emperor came to this harsh conclusion because He feared that unless all of Mankind was united, it would eventually be destroyed piecemeal by the hideous dangers lurking in the galaxy, including Chaos and the other alien races. By promulgating the Imperial Truth on every world inhabited by humanity in the galaxy, the Emperor ironically hoped to eventually create a psychic well of belief in reason and science so strong that the Chaos Gods, who thrived and grew stronger on Mankind's darker psychic emanations, would be fatally weakened.

Of course, the Ruinous Powers were aware of the Emperor's intentions and they moved from the beginning to destroy this plan and actually make it work in their favor. They first corrupted several of the Primarchs almost at the moment of their birth when they were stolen from the Emperor's gene-laboratories beneath the Himalazian (Himalayan) Mountains and scattered through the Warp across the galaxy. They next corrupted the Primarch Lorgar and used him as their instrument to corrupt Horus and eventually all of the Primarchs and Traitor Legions who turned against the Emperor. Their actions during the Horus Heresy ended His dream of a united Imperium opening a new Golden Age of reason and progress for Mankind.

In the end, the Emperor miscalculated, deeply underestimating Mankind's basic need to believe in something larger than itself beyond the stale confines of science and technology. Ironically, what ultimately presented the only hope for Mankind surviving the Age of the Imperium that unfolded after the end of the Horus Heresy was religious faith in the Emperor Himself. Humanity's collective faith in the God-Emperor empowers His psychic form within the Warp, allowing Him to combat the destructive influence of Chaos and providing His servants with the psychic power to defend themselves against the threats of daemons, aliens and Heretics alike. Though the price for the survival of the Imperium has been incredibly high, a cost far greater than the Emperor hoped humanity would have to bear, a new version of the Imperial Truth has become predominant among the million worlds of Mankind. This is a truth whose first principle is found within the cornerstone of the Imperial Creed -- the Emperor protects.

The Star Child

The concept of the Star Child in relation to the Emperor is similar to that of the Eldar's potential God Ynnead, the Lord of the Dead, who according to their belief will form in the Infinity Circuits of the Eldar Craftworlds when the last of their race has died on the physical plane. The belief in the Star Child is currently considered by the Inquisition to be a vile heresy spread by Chaos Cultists of Tzeentch, though the truth of the matter might be otherwise. The concept has two aspects: the first is that the Emperor's soul exists in the Warp where it will form a new entity upon the Emperor's death -- the Star Child -- who will become the Emperor Reborn, and the second is that the Emperor during his long life on Terra has many living descendants. Over the almost 50,000 years the Emperor walked hidden among Mankind, he formed many families and fathered many children. His male descendants have inherited direct portions of the Emperor's genome and they are immortal like their father, though unlike him they are sterile in every case. His female descendants are simply normal human women, though they may exhibit potent psychic abilities, particularly forms of precognition.

Unlike the Emperor, who is the greatest psyker ever born in the galaxy, the Emperor's scions are actually psychic "blanks" or "nulls" possessing no presence in the Warp. As a result, they are both undetectable by psychic means and cannot be affected in any way by psychic or sorcerous powers. A hidden group within the Imperium that call themselves the Illuminati know of the existence of the Emperor's scions, and are also aware that the Emperor is failing as his life slowly gutters out despite the creaking ministrations of the Golden Throne. They also know of the Fall of the Eldar which gave birth to the Chaos God Slaanesh and seek to prevent Mankind's own fall to Chaos. The fall of Man to the Ruinous Powers would create a new, fifth major Chaos God in the Immaterium, and with its birth, the Warp would once again intrude into real space for a number of millennia, encompassing the entire galaxy in massive Warp Storms, as during the Age of Strife. The Illuminati, who as a group are those incredibly rare individuals who managed to actually survive and defeat a daemonic possession of their bodies through sheer willpower, seek out the Emperor's descendants and tell them of their true heritage. With the realization that this knowledge brings, the biological sons of the Emperor then become known as the "Sensei." The Illuminati gather the Sensei together, protect them from the Inquisition, and pave the way for the rebirth of the Emperor. Their plan is ultimately to sacrifice the Sensei to the Emperor, possibly at the moment the Emperor's body finally fails upon the Golden Throne; he will be renewed by the Sensei's life forces, and will be reborn and regenerated as the Sensei-Emperor to again lead his race in person, stepping renewed from the Golden Throne. The Thorian faction of the Inquisition believes in a similar concept concerning the Emperor's eventual rebirth and reincarnation.

The Emperor is the incarnation of the extinct shamans of ancient Earth who, with their prophetic powers and connection to the Warp in its natural and uncorrupted form, had guided the various peoples of ancient Man. According to the Illuminati's beliefs, after Horus rebelled and mortally wounded the Emperor's physical body during their final battle aboard his Battle Barge, Vengeful Spirit, the Emperor's body and soul could no longer remain as one; his soul melted into the Immaterium and only a tiny core of the Emperor's humanity remained whole. This spark of the Emperor's soul was like a small child in a tiny reed boat adrift in the chaotic eddies of the Warp. Since the Emperor's soul survived, there was a possibility that his whole essence could be reborn into the physical world once more in a new physical body. In the same way the ancient shamans died together to reincarnate as the single man who would become the Emperor, the Emperor's death could herald the birth of a new savior for humanity. That time would lie far in the future, when Mankind's collective desire for a new savior would strengthen the core of the Emperor's soul in the Warp and rekindle it to new life. The soul of the Emperor adrift in the Warp is the being referred to by the Illuminati as the Star Child. The humans that were left in charge of the Imperium after the Horus Heresy and the loss of all the Primarchs had no real understanding of what had happened to the Emperor. Though the Emperor's body continued to live within the Golden Throne and his potent mind continued to be a beacon for humanity in the form of the Astronomican, his soul is a new, benevolent God of the Warp, the God of Humanity, waiting to be born. The Star Child is also believed by some Illuminati to be the pure compassion of his soul which the Emperor thrust from himself into the Warp in order to possess the determination required to eradicate the soul of his most beloved Primarch and son, the Warmaster Horus.

The Imperial Inquisition (particularly its daemon-hunting Ordo Malleus) has always been at war with the Sensei, the "Emperor's Sons". In 997.M41, Inquisitor Fortez reported that he and his colleagues Alexio and Credo determined that the Temple of the Star Child on Levilnor IV consisted of unwitting pawns of Tzeentch, so they liquidated it. It is this incident which has led the Inquisition to currently consider any belief in the Star Child to be a heresy promulgated by the followers of the Lord of Change to lead Imperial citizens astray.

It has been noted in some Imperial sources that the ammunition for the Inquisition's Psycannons and Psyk-out Grenades derive their anti-psychic effect from being impregnated with extremely rare negative psychic energy; the only known source of this energy being the byproducts of the Emperor's metabolism removed daily by the Golden Throne. Other Imperial sources note that the Inquisition has discovered this energy can also be produced from the rendered-down bodies of the Sensei.

Source: http://warhammer40k.wikia.com