Editing Mortarion (section)

=== [[Siege of Terra]] ===
{{Topquote|My endurance is… superior.|[[Jaghatai Khan]] refusing to let Morty's new Daemon status get in the way of the sick burns.}}


Despite being held up by his faustian bargain to the point of not participating in the Solar War at all, Horus let Mortarion's Death Guard be the first to set their swollen, stinky feet on Terra as promised. During the meeting that facilitated this, it's explicitly stated that Morty's stench was bad enough to make TRAITOR MARINES convulse. Holy shit.

Morty oversaw the sieges on the western regions of the Imperial Palace, spreading all manner of disease and bad times wherever he appeared. Notably, he didn't bother trying to get rid of Big E's psychic shield. He did however mock Perturabo for not fully embracing Chaos during a war council. This is weird considering Mortarion never did so by choice and had earlier railed against the corruption he now found himself utilizing. Nevertheless, he let Typhus work with Perty to enact a ritual against Empy's psychic shields. Following this meeting, he met with Magnus to discuss an attack on the Colossi Gate under orders by Perturabo. [[FAIL|Yes, Perty's ability to read people is so bad he ordered Mortarion and Magnus to cooperate on an assault.]]

Magnus sent Ahriman to gauge Morty's demeanor prior to the two primarchs' encounter. Ahriman makes note of how much pain Morty's in, as well as the eternal decay he'd now suffer from. While Ahriman was taken aback by how Morty could ever continue to endure such unimaginable torment, he takes delight in seeing him suffer anyway. He pays special attention to what is by now abundantly clear: despite railing against sorcerers he has become one, like a drunkard preaching temperance despite failing to stay sober. To put salt in the festering wound, Mortarion was the first and biggest anti-witch instigator but the [[Leman Russ|only]] [[Corvus Corax|one]] [[Ferrus Manus|of]] [[Rogal Dorn|them]] who couldn't keep his principles. After being the root cause of Prospero's [[Burning of Prospero|demise]], seeing Mortarion have nothing to show for his false strength except a legacy of failure and hypocrisy was a revenge most delicious to Ahriman.

This is exactly the information Magnus needs so that when he and Mortarion speak again, [[Just As Planned|Magnus can manipulate the Pale King to his own ends]]. Magnus chose to enter the room with style, followed by adopting a physical form that makes himself look meek and deferential. Much to Magnus' pleasure, Morty is unsettled by this. He supposedly forgives Morty, placating him and giving assurance that Morty's submission to Nurgle and current pain was empowering. Magnus didn't hold a grudge or ill will, and eased some of Morty's suffering with some psychic power to prove it. This gave Morty a quick pick-me-up. Of course this was all a ruse; Magnus needed Morty buttered up and 100% so that the assault would give him the opening he needed to enter the Imperial Palace and continue his quest.

Reinvigorated, Morty organized an attack on the Colossi Gate. The assault was particularly vicious, facing a 300-man jetbike counterattack that devastated the Death Guard. Demons were summoned and morale-sapping spells were cast, but White Scars Stormseers were able to hold the line. Magnus used the whole thing as a screen to infiltrate the Imperial Dungeon, unbeknownst to Morty. At some point during the Siege, Mortarion was casting a giant depression spell that afflicted the defenders and even tested Rogal's resolve.

After Perty chose to stop carrying the traitors and throw what could've been the biggest W for Chaos in history, Mortarion and his men took up Perty's former positions. His new base would be the Lion's Gate Spaceport, given by Horus. Not one to sit around, Jaghatai Khan had other ideas like making sure the loyalist reinforcements had a place to dock when they arrived. The fight for the spaceport was massive, and eventually the Death Lord would be challenged by The Warhawk of Chogoris. Mortarion was able to thrash around Jaghatai with ease, thanks to his newfound demonic power. But Morty found that vicious insults from an old foe could cut quite deep. He was told he had a horrific stench, wasn't truly in charge of the legion unlike Typhon, and was an unworthy foe compared to the Legion Master. Mortarion beat down Jaghatai so much that it made Morty TIRED. When a confused Morty asked why Jaghatai just took his beating, the response was earth-shattering. Morty was told by Jaghatai that by absorbing the punishment he had superior endurance to someone who gave up to Nurgle's demands. The realization that everyone thought he was a weakling instead of someone who made the ultimate sacrifice for the strength of himself and his sons made Mortarion snap with rage.

He made an exaggerated show of finishing off Jaghatai, but it was a ruse. This left Morty vulnerable to a sudden resurgence by Jaghatai which proved just about overwhelming. With very little left in the tank, he could barely do anything more than get a beating in return. In the end, The Khan positioned himself to get impaled by the edge of the Death Lord's scythe Silence. This was all to get a final shot at Morty, which Jaghatai used by decapitating him at last. And thus, Mortarion was banished to the warp via a massive explosion reminiscent of vortex weapons. Mortarion's men would be disoriented by the banishment of their lord and forced out from the spaceport.

Mortarion's suffering does not end here, however...