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Nobledark Imperium Notes

2026-05-20T14:20:39Z

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'''This page is part of the Nobledark Imperium, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the [[Nobledark Imperium|Nobledark Imperium Introduction]] and [[Nobledark Imperium|Main Page]] for more information on the alternate universe'''

This page contains assorted notes on the [[Nobledark Imperium]] universe that have not yet been written up into a formalized codex format. This list is not exhaustive, and a significant amount of information still remains in the threads. As the information on this page is written up or is able to be introduced into existing entries, it will be removed from this page. Hopefully, this page can eventually be used as a series bible for information concerning the Nobledark Imperium that for whatever reason cannot be placed on the main pages (character motivations, spoilery information that disrupts the normal tone, etc.). It's not a strict "this is how it is, deal with it" either. Make what changes you want to the general story (in your head, please). Like, Nobledark but keeping the Emperor = shaman-gestalt thing or something. Don't like the Tau? Write a story about them being exterminated instead of incorporated. [[Codex Astartes|It's a guideline, not some holy writ.]]

= So What’s The Deal With Nobledark Imperium Anyway =

If you’re here, you’ve probably already read the blurb on the main page and have come here looking for information on what's going on in this universe or what your favorite factions have been up to. If not, you may want to check out [[Nobledark Imperium|the opening of the Nobledark Imperium main page]] to get a general idea of what the setting is about.

The general high concept of Nobledark Imperium is that by 999.M41, the “sane” races of the galaxy (humans, eldar, tau, and others) have united in an alliance as a bastion against Chaos, the Necrons, the tyranids, and the rest. Essentially the [[Lord of the Rings|last alliance of men and <s>elves</s> eldar]] but IN SPACE. At the same time, things have escalated to the point that the survival of everything is in doubt (including Chaos). Overall, individual power levels are on the whole slightly lower in exchange for sanity, competence, and common sense but the power level of the various factions is actually increased. Imperium is more powerful because it is the combination of humans, eldar, tau, and many other xenos races, and because there was no Horus Heresy. Chaos is more powerful because the Emperor and Isha are still walking around and therefore the Chaos Gods are more focused on the common threat like during the [[Horus Heresy]] and have taken a bigger interest in realspace. Also while no one legion fell to Chaos, Chaos has enough that it has both [[Chaos Space Marines|spiky marines]] and [[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#The_Crone_World_Eldar|crazy fair folk]] to work with. The Necrons are mostly awake and more organized under the Silent King, who has more direct control over them. Orks are increasingly organized and all around scarier. Tyranids are more powerful because their main fleet actually showed up.

The overall tone of the universe is nobledark. That is, the universe is a dark, dangerous, and sometimes downright nasty place, but people at their core are basically good (or at least well-intentioned). There are still plenty of monsters out there, but quite a few of them genuinely believe what they are doing is right in addition to the ones that are flat out nasty. This tone is somewhat heterogenous, in between the general tone of nobledark there are spots of hope along with great big blotches of darkness (such as [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Krieg|Krieg]], [[Nobledark_Imperium_Primarchs#Lion|what happened to the Dark Angels]], and [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Altansar|Craftworld Altansar]] to name a few) for contrast.

By 999.M41, the galaxy can generally be divided into four major factions.

'''TEAM IMPERIUM'''<br>
'''[[Imperium of Man|Humanity]]''' - The Imperium isn’t the Imperium of Man anymore (though it was at one point long ago in history). It’s the Imperium of men, eldar, tau, [[Nobledark_Imperium_Member_States#Kinebrach|kinebrach]], [[Nobledark_Imperium_Member_States#Tarellians|tarellians]], and a hundred other races. Humanity is less totalitarian and xenophobic than in canon, as the Emperor wasn’t around for most of the Age of Strife and the purpose of the Great Crusade wasn’t manifest destiny but to restore humanity to its former glory. No glorification of the Holy Human Form, if anything because the Warlord/Steward/Emperor and [[Nobledark_Imperium_Primarchs#Magnus_the_Red|at least three]] [[Nobledark_Imperium_Primarchs#Horus|of the primarchs]] [[Nobledark_Imperium_Primarchs#Sanguinius|were abhumans]], not to mention the numerous worlds with abhuman populations. Generally adopt the [[Interex]] method to dealing with Chaos with mixed success: fewer people fall to Chaos but because of this the Ruinous Powers pump more power behind the people crazy enough to invoke them. No monolithic theocracy because religion is considered a good Chaos deterrent. Technology is still mostly controlled by the Adeptus Mechanicus and is largely stagnant (advancing at a glacial pace at best) and A.I. is still considered a boogeyman, but closer to 30k than 40k in tech levels (things like jetbikes and volkite weapons are still around, but expensive and rare). Horus Heresy never happened, no primarch fell and no legion turned to Chaos entirely, but the Chaos-supercharged War of the Beast essentially took its place.<br>
'''[[Eldar|Craftworld/Exodite Eldar]]''' – Overall less arrogant and haughty than in canon (though still pretty arrogant). Have gradually gotten less arrogant as time has passed (something similar has happened with humanity and xenophobia). Joined forces with humanity in order to rescue Isha from Nurgle in exchange for helping humanity with the Astronomican and general anti-Chaos measures, later formed a permanent alliance after the War of the Beast. Actually have people skills in this timeline, so are capable of engaging in diplomacy and communicating with people beyond cultural posturing. Freeing Isha from Nurgle has restored hope to their people, though they are still a long way from shaking off their “dying race” status.<br>
'''[[Tau]]''' – The last of the major (lol) powers to join the Imperium, tried to go it alone for many millennia but eventually joined in M39 when they saw they couldn’t survive by themselves (Farsight broke away because of this). Rose to power not through pheromone brainwashing by the Ethereals (which they don’t have since in canon it was engineered by the Eldar in a bid to create <s>reliable allies</s> living tools, which they don’t need in this timeline since they have humanity) but through their own blood, sweat, and tears. Obedience to the Ethereals is more social engineering than anything else. Genuinely well-meaning, but also a bit arrogant and naive. No longer have the brainwashing and sinister Orwellian undertones, but have lost their plot armor in exchange. Currently have an arc similar to humanity in [[Bioware|Mass Effect 1]]: they’ve recently realized they’re in a galaxy where they’re not at the big boys table and they take that as a challenge to overcome.<br>

'''“TEAM” CHAOS'''<br>
“Team” being used here in only the loosest sense of the word. The groups here are not really unified into a cohesive front and in the case of two of them (Orks and Dark Eldar) are only nominally associated with Chaos. That said, the [[Chaos Gods]] are on a more united war footing like they were during the [[Horus Heresy]] and are able to at the very least get their daemons, the Crone Eldar, the Chaos Space Marines, and the Lost and the Damned to put their differences aside and [[get shit done]]<br>
'''[[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#The_Crone_World_Eldar|Croneworld/Chaos Eldar]]''' – The only original faction on the list. Have effectively taken the place of Chaos Space Marines as the chosen of the Chaos Gods because no legion entirely fell to Chaos. Formed from the eldar living on the Crone Worlds in the Eye of Terror after Slaanesh who, in a spectacular instance of long-term thinking, decided to just eat ''most'' of the eldar on the Crone Worlds instead of ''all'' of them because it saw the benefits of having cultists constantly worshiping it (a more reasonable explanation would be Eldar selling their souls to any other Dark God than Slaanesh to at least ensure they're souls won't be eaten or raped). Because it’s not just the mortal races that have gotten a dose of sanity in this timeline, the Chaos Gods are more savvy as well. Basically, where Craftworld Eldar are [[Lord of the Rings|Tolkien]]-[[The_Silmarillion|esque]] elves and Dark Eldar are inspired by space pirates and [[Dark Elves (Warhammer)]]/[[Drow]], the Croneworld Eldar are essentially the fair folk and the Wild Hunt meet Chaos cultists. Led by [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Lady_Malys|Lady Aurelia Malys]], the Everchosen of Chaos, who is effectively the “[[Abbadon]]” of this setting.<br>
'''[[Chaos Space Marines]]''' – No legion or primarch completely fell to Chaos, but significant numbers turned during the War of the Beast (including the majority of the Dark Angels) and afterwards. Known as “The Fallen” in this timeline primarily because most of them used to be Dark Angels. The Chaos Gods like to give them extra buffs due to their uniqueness value relative to the Chaos Eldar to the point that while their numbers are lower the average Fallen could probably win against a regular Astartes in one-on-one combat.<br>
'''[[Orks]]''' – Lumped in with Chaos because although they are not outright allied with Chaos, many of Chaos’ greatest victories have been ork-related (such as the War of the Beast) and the Crone World Eldar like to manipulate them into serving as cannon fodder and shock troops (similar to what the eldar do to the Imperium in canon). The orks in-universe recently got a huge dose of dangerous in the form of [[Nobledark_Imperium_Xenos#Brain_Boyz|Brain Boyz]], which are basically orks like in [[War of the Beast|The Beast Arises]] series that give the orks around them a collective buff in intelligence by their very presence. The Crone World Eldar are actually getting worried about their ability to manipulate the Orks because of this. Chaos Orks are a thing. Chaos has been devoting more of its efforts to corrupting the orks, but with mixed success. It is possible for Orks to turn to Chaos, but it’s like with [[Chaos Dwarfs]] where they have to individually choose to fall. Orks tend to fight Chaos just as often as they ally with it.<br>
'''[[Dark Eldar]]''' – Space pirates, mad scientists, slavers, and raiders. Not too different from canon. Come off as slightly more pragmatic than in canon, if only because they have their crazy warpdust-snorting kin in the Eye of Terror as a point of contrast. Often raid in the wake of Chaos invasions, not because they like the Crone World Eldar but because they see weakness and opportunity and follow (they do this with everybody, for example raiding Tau space after a Hive Fleet hit). At the turn of the millennium on M40 Lady Malys and Asdrubael Vect were unified in the Dark Wedding, allying the Dark and Chaos Eldar in preparation for the 13th Black Crusade. Not every denizen of Commorragh likes this arrangement.<br>
'''[[Lost and the Damned]]''' – Viking raiders meet Viet Cong. Have taken some influence from [[Warriors of Chaos]] and [[Beastmen]] from [[Warhammer Fantasy]], because most warbands are poorly supplied and melee weapons don't need reloading. Range from to warbands like the Blood Pact (led by Doombreed) who are well-organized and have actual infrastructure to warbands who barely scrape by and do temp work for the Dark Mechanicus and the Crone Eldar in exchange for gear.

'''TEAM NECRON'''<br>
'''[[Necron|Necron Star Empire]]''' - Basically a “best of both worlds” mix of both Oldcrons and Newcrons. On the one hand, the Necrons do want to kill all life in the galaxy, but they’re not doing this because they are controlled by the C’tan. They’re doing this of their own free will, because they see it as the only way to kill Chaos and make the galaxy safe for future life (specifically them, the fact that they will be the only species to actually benefit from this is immaterial to them), going so far as to regard it as a mercy kill. Additionally, while many Necrons have personalities and quirks, they are essentially a post-individual society slaved to the will of the Silent King, who is [[Settra the Imperishable|not a nice guy]] and is willing to alter their individuality and minds as he sees fit. The few exceptions are the Necrons who are either too crazy to be controlled (Nemesor Zahndrekh, Xun’bakyr) or have circumvented the control protocols through other means ([[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Solemnnace|Trazyn the Infinite]], Orikan the Diviner). More organized than in canon, more of the dynasties have awoken than in canon and there's a big-ass Necron Star Empire in the galactic northeast where the Sautekh, Oruscar, Nekthyst and other dynasties are in canon.<br>
'''[[C%27tan|C’tan]]''' – Again, a “best of both worlds” approach. While many of the C’tan were sharded and imprisoned with Tesseract Labyrinths, the big names ([[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Nightbringer|Nightbringer]], [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#Void_Dragon|Void Dragon]], [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Outsider|Outsider]]) are still essentially whole and very real threats. The sole exception is the Deceiver, who allowed himself to get shattered on purpose so he could essentially troll people in multiple places at the same time. In addition, at least two of the C’tan (Void Dragon and Nightbringer) have figured out how to use warp power for their own benefit by being an object of worship/fear. Most certainly not allied with the Necrons, who hate most of them (especially the Nightbringer and Deceiver). Present an addition threat to the Imperium in the form of [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#C'tan_Vampires|C’tan vampires]].<br>

'''TEAM TYRANID'''<br>
'''[[Tyranids]]''' - Not too different from canon. Main difference is that the genestealers and Hive Fleets showed up early (Behemoth in M37, Kraken in M38, and Leviathan in M39), and the famous three Hive Fleets (Behemoth, Kraken, and Leviathan) really were just scouting fleets. The main Hive Fleet just started to make galaxyfall about two and a half centuries ago. Another major difference is they were a threat that nobody saw coming. Not the Imperium with its farseers, not Chaos, not even the Necron Star Empire. They are a completely outside context problem.

In addition to these, there are a number of independent parties that are not aligned with any faction, including the Q’orl swarmhood, Craftworlds [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Dorhai|Dorhai]] and [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Kaelor|Kaelor]], the [[Nobledark_Imperium_Xenos#Hrud|Hrud]], the [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Zoats|Zoats]], [[Nobledark_Imperium_Drafts#The_Rangdan_Xenocides_and_the_Slaugth|the Slaugth]], the Severan Dominate, [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Olamic_Quietude|the Olamic Quietude]], and Trazyn the Infinite and several other Necron dynasties. Orks and Dark Eldar could also be added to this list, as they really only fight alongside Chaos when it serves their purposes.

Each of the factions has their own effective “win” condition, which are as follows:

'''Imperium''' - Not die. Surprisingly, the Imperium doesn't have that strong of a win condition compared to the other powers. There are the [[Nobledark_Imperium_Imperial_Society_and_Culture#The_Starchild_Prophecies|Starchild Prophecies]], but the Starchild prophecies are often vague and many of them actually don't say the birth of the Starchild is a good thing. One of the most popular interpretations out-of-universe is that the Starchild is Ynnead and his birth will allow the Imperium to finally go on the offensive against Chaos, but nothing is set in stone.<br>
'''Chaos''' - March on Terra, burn it to the ground, kill the Emperor, and drag Isha back into the Warp. Destroy the Necron Star Empire and the tyranid swarm while they are at it.<br>
'''Necron Star Empire''' - Activate the [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Cadia|Cadian Pillars]], which would starve Chaos, as well as kill off the Imperium and the tyranids. Then take the first sentient race that evolves after the Cadian pillars are deactivated and use them for the biotransference.<br>
'''Tyranids''' - Swarm across the galaxy to the two biggest concentrations of psychic energy (Eye of Terror and Old Earth), choking out Chaos and wiping out the Imperium in the process. Necron Star Empire would presumably be overrun in the process.

The “present day” of the setting is effectively “frozen” as one minute to midnight on 999.M41 Earth time, much like was for many years. This is not to say that nothing can happen after this time, but that anything past this date is non-canonical and effectively but one of many possible courses the future could take. The fate of the galaxy is ultimately an exercise for the reader. Do you believe Ynnead is the Impossible Child and ultimately drags Slaanesh off to hell for all the suffering they caused? Then he is. [[The End Times|Do you believe the Imperium puts up a valiant last stand but are ultimately overcome by the hordes of Chaos?]] Then it does. Do the Necrons succeed in their goal to activate the Cadian Pillars and kill all life in the galaxy? Do the Orks break free and krump the rest of da’ gitz? Do the tyranids OM NOM NOM everything? You decide. The nature of the future, including who wins, who loses, who lives, and who dies, is effectively up to the reader to determine.

= Men of Gold and the Age of Strife =

- The Men of Gold were originally created as mediators between humanity and the Iron Minds of the Men of Iron, as well as serve as a communications system between the various worlds of humanity<br>
- The Soul Binding process was originally a procedure to link Men of Gold together to create a FTL communications network during the Dark Age of Technology readapted for baseline human use. Still burns out optic nerves in 98% of all case because humans can’t handle a fire that hot<br>
- However, in order to make such powerful artificial souls you needed a lot of potent warpstuff, which could only be gathered by trawling the deep warp<br>
- As a result, the Iron Minds were essentially at ground zero when Slaanesh was murderfucked into existence<br>
- Iron Minds go full Skynet, Men of Gold go full Event Horizon, start killing everything. Eventually ended up weakening each other to the point that they could be defeated by baseline humanity as well as perhaps a few archaic Men of Iron with bullshit-absorbing crumple zones<br>
- Oscar was the last one on the production line on Cthonia, the old capital of the human empire. Completed physically but mind completely tabula rasa, so he didn’t get corrupted during the Age of Strife<br>

= The Emperor and Isha =

It’s been established that, ironically, despite their disparate origins, Oscar and Isha are almost perfect fit for each other. The Emperor was supposed to be one of many. A Man of Gold network spanning the realms of humanity for not quite instant communication and to act as the go-between and bridge the gap between god-like A.I. and the common man. Isha was one of a Pantheon of her peers whose task, self-appointed or otherwise, was to guide and give direction to the Eldar. Both are relics from broken systems.

Oscar is often deeply lonely over his biological immortality. Isha helps with that. Isha often has PTSD episodes from her time in Nurgle’s garden, having endured tortures that only an immortal being could ever understand. When she does, Oscar is there for her. As an immortal fertility goddess, Isha’s needs are great but simple. Anyone who is not the avatar of a warp god or a Man of Gold would have been killed many times over by now. This may have been one of the reasons why Eldrad married Isha off to Oscar as a form of stability.

Despite originally being a marriage of political convenience, Oscar and Isha have a deep mutual respect and understanding for one another that only two god-like beings devoted to their species could share. Indeed, they possibly do love each other, at least as much as either of them are capable of it, though both of them know that if it came down to it their duty to their people would always come first. They are very thankful that they have not had to make that choice.

Perhaps one of Oscar’s biggest flaws is that he has trouble thinking of himself as a person and of his own needs. This is not leftover Man of Gold programming. Oscar was a blank slate when Malcador found him. Malcador loved Oscar and treated him like a son, but he was also acutely aware of what a Man of Gold could do and was absolutely terrified by the possibility. Oscar was made acutely aware of his artificial nature and the fact that the Men of Gold were meant to serve humanity, not rule it. It seems to have given him a bit of a self-esteem issue. That being said Malcador seems to have kind of gone back on this kind of thinking in his extreme age, based on the “War for Heaven” story.

The fact that Oscar developed the way he did despite being born with literally nothing, not even the base instincts that guide regular humans is part of the overall nobledark theme of this AU. It’s the ultimate argument for nurture over nature, and that people at their heart are fundamentally good, if flawed.

Oscar is a genuinely nice guy, and the type of person who knows exactly what he needs to say to help someone else solve their problems, but he often utterly forgets about his own needs as a person. He sees the way things work, but utterly forgets he is a part of the equation. When Eldrad said Oscar owed him a favor after the WotB, Oscar said "name it", thinking it was going to be something like another great raid on Chaos or some other impossible task. He never expected Eldrad wanted him to get married, because he forgot he was a player in the first place.

Same with the Golden Throne. Oscar constantly did not want to take official charge of the Imperium, because he saw himself as an artificial lifeform that was unfit to rule. The encounter with Sebastian Thor was essentially the Imperium's referendum on what they thought of Oscar. The Imperium had spoken on who they wanted as a leader, and they chose Oscar. Oscar had proved himself time and again an effective leader who at the same time would not abuse his power. So what if Oscar was not born naturally, many in the Imperium were born in-vitro or through other means. It did not matter that Oscar claimed to not be a real person, in their minds he had proven himself as a person, in the only way they felt mattered.

This kind of thing seems harmless at first glance but on occasion has had dire consequences when the Emperor either fails to take responsibility or slips up due to his repressed human desires subconsciously bubbling up to the surface. Like the aforementioned case of the Golden Throne. Or how the Emperor's lasse-faire handling of Ultramar and Titus' Primaris Initiative due to not wanting to be in the spotlight is potentially setting the region up for a civil war. Or when Oscar blew his lid over Lugft Huron due to the latter's policies in Badab hitting his personal sore spots and sent way more troops than necessary to quash the rebellion. Or when the Emperor at first gave Szarekh a lot more opportunity to move than he should have because he was desperate for companionship.

Oscar’s psychological state is getting more inhuman as of M41. With the exceptions of Macha/Isha, Eldrad, Bjorn, and a few others, most of his friends have all passed away, and he is loath to try and make new ones knowing they’ll end up the same. That said, some have still managed to force their way into Oscar’s circle of friends, most notably among the people written so far Sebastian Thor. What’s more, with the exception of Bjorn, all of these surviving friends fall into the “gods and epic heroes” category, something that makes Oscar deeply uncomfortable.

Isha has become a lot more self-confident and canny in the years since her rescue from Nurgle's mansion and subsequent joining to Macha, going from the young mother struggling to find her way in the world to the iron-willed matriarch of an entire galaxy who is willing to make plans and step in to ensure the continuing success of her family, both trueborn and adopted children alike. This is thought to be in part due to selectively absorbing more aggressive personality traits from her avatar Macha. It's agreed that by M41 Macha and Isha are so similar to one another its impossible to tell where one begins and the other ends, but it's still debated in the threads when the two became completely merged into one.

==The Emperor==

The Emperor’s sword isn’t a sword per se. It’s a telekinetic force construct in the shape of the sword that ignites the very air around it through friction burn. Hence why the Emperor can whip it out and put it away while wearing his golden armor without being massively hindered.

===The Emperor's Titles===

For people new to the project, the use of the terms "Oscar", "Warlord", "Steward", and "Emperor", might be a little confusing. So for a bit of clarification...

'''Oscar''' - The Emperor's [[Nobledark_Imperium_Writing#Malcador's_Log|given name]] and the one he considers his personal name. Most people tend not to use it, except for those who know him personally (e.g., Isha, the primarchs, the Custodians) and even then only in private when he's being a regular person and not the Emperor of Mankind.<br>
'''The Warlord''' - The title Oscar adopted during the Unification of Earth. Upon unification he ditched the title and became known as...<br>
'''The Steward''' - Probably Oscar's best known title after "The Emperor of Mankind". After the Fall of Ursh Oscar confiscated an old Dark Age of Technology artifact and set it up as the Golden Throne, and then promptly refused to sit in it. He felt he was not meant to lead mankind (for several reasons, including the fact he felt he was not a real person and Malcador had told him mythologized horror stories of what the other Men of Gold did), he was merely the Steward of mankind until such an individual would arise. Even to this day he still kind of uses the title, signing documents as "Oscar Steward" instead of "Oscar, Steward".<br>
'''The Emperor''' - Eventually, after the Age of Apostasy, Oscar was forced to take up the throne after Sebastian Thor told him to sit on the stupid golden chair or else another Imperial Civil War was going to break out after the ''next'' Emperor he named either went mad or died and caused a succession crisis. Oscar saw his logic and begrudgingly agreed, becoming the Emperor of Mankind.

==What's Isha like?==
Alien motives, incomprehensible intelligence, enormous power, and the feeling of being perceived as less than an insect. The typical report of being in a god's presence.

Not so with Isha. She is the most accessible of gods, as accessible as any power labeled a 'god' can be, often deigning to go among the common folk of Terra, or traveling the Webway when her homesick feelings grow too great. Most reports of meeting her are glowing. Rarely is there any impression given beyond awe struck benevolence.

However, another common thread is the brevity of these meetings. Beyond just feeling brief, they actually are. The great black templar hero Tankred earned the honor of one such meeting, but it was timed at approximately 41 seconds. Tankred would later write he did not feel spurned but he felt she was " needed elsewhere."

Isha has not been front and center in politics. But behind the scenes, she is very busy indeed. Her personal ranger cadre venture the whole of the imperium, found wherever disease and illness reign to return with samples to Isha's sanctum so the goddess might concoct cures. She does not limit herself to ailments of the body either- on occasion, chosen servants of the imperium afflicted by chaos or shattered in mind report feeling the goddess in their thoughts or hearing her words in their dreams. Those she meets in person invariably report a feeling of elation and wholeness afterwards, and typically go on to do good. Not typically becoming extraordinary galactic heroes, but local pillars of the community.

Despite being the galaxy's most overworked and patient social worker, she is still a goddess. Easily forgotten with all of her charity, but brought to a stark reminder when an assassin that was waiting to meet her in a crowd suddenly burst with roots and thorns under her gaze. Described traumatically by all who witnessed it, the screaming elder begged forgiveness even as he was dragged through what was once marble floor as Isha strode by, not sparing a second glance. Her visage then was not the gentle, wise mother's then, but the uncaring gaze of nature, red in tooth and claw.

Isha is also influenced by Macha, once a farseer of Biel- Tan. How much is Macha, and how much is Isha is a mystery for theologians to grapple with. Rumor has her as a daughter of Eldrad (though to be honest cousin is more likely), but then again in Imperial culture, most anything to do with the eldar has conspiracy theorists trying to trace whatever happened back to Eldrad.

Isha sees herself and Oscar as the new Lileath and Asuryan after the Fall. She sees the Imperium itself as her new extended family following the Fall of the Eldar, composed of both her trueborn and adopted (humanity and the rest) children alike and is determined to not let the same mistakes that led to the Fall of the Eldar happen ever again. Asuryan is kind of a broken pedestal for Isha. Asuryan used to make the rules. Those rules prevented the Eldar gods from stepping in and stopping their children from descending into hedonism and debauchery, and directly led to most of the gods getting killed. Particularly her daughter, Lileath, who Asuryan married. Lileath was the first victim of Slaanesh, who subsequently used Lileath's face as a disguise to get the drop on Asuryan and the other Eldar gods by calling a godsmoot. Asuryan isn't around anymore. She won't make the same mistakes he did.

For the exact details of Isha worship among mortals, see [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Eldar_Polytheism|Eldar Polytheism]].

===Macha before Isha===

In the years before the Raid on Nurgle's Mansion, Macha had been depressed. Like really, really depressed. She had once been her aggressive self that people know from vanilla, but that had been gradually overlain by despair as years passed since the Fall and it was clear the Eldar Empire was never coming back. She tried filling the void with Isha worship, Isha being the goddess of healing and theoretically one of the only Eldar gods that could still hear prayers, but it didn't work.

Macha went on the Raid with no expectations. She fully didn't care if she lived or died, she may have even expected to and merely wanted to die in a way in which her death would actually mean something. But then the Raid actually managed to free Isha and bring her back into realspace, and when they made it out of the Webway gate Macha fell to her knees and felt something she hadn't felt in a long time. Hope.

When Isha was brought through the Webway she stood in her full glory for a brief moment before letting out a peal of pure innocent laughter at finally being freed from that fat bastard before vanishing in a flash of light. But then she appeared before Macha. Isha needed a host (she couldn't go back to the Immaterium), and Macha was the best person there in terms of her mindset and openness to the possibility of Isha returning (and being an Isha worshipper, that was also a factor). Macha agreed, and the two basically did a Phoenix Warrior-style fusion dance into the current Isha. This agreement being conducted purely by thought, it took place in the instant between the immaterial Isha vanishing and the new All-Mother arising.

The priesthood of Isha might tell the story of Macha as a morality tale of the importance of keeping faith and hope even in the darkest of hours. Macha's distinctive face tattoos are said to be a symbol of Isha and her priesthood in the modern Imperium.

===Isha's Garden===

Isha keeps a garden (that is, a literal, physical garden, not the metaphorical one that is sometimes mentioned) of plantlife from across the galaxy, either in the Imperial Palace back on Old Earth or aboard the ''Bucephalus''. All of the plants are native species from the homeworlds of the various member states. There are elelasse vines from Shaa-Dome growing around oak trees, flowers descended from the river lotus Por'O M'arc brought as a diplomatic gift from T'au, plants from the homeworld of the Kinebrach, Tarellians, and even a dull grey plant rumored to be a gift from the Watchers of Caliban. She cares for the plants like she would her children. The Shaa-Domean plants are her favorite, but she would be the first to admit that is due to her familiarity and fond memories of them than anything else. Her taste is a little strange sometimes (Cacti? Seriously?), but she manages to make the garden look beautiful, if eerie and alien due to the mix of a hundred biospheres. She mostly tends the garden by hand like a zen exercise. She sows, nurtures, and sometimes, dispassionately, she has to weed.

The comparisons between her garden and the rest of the Imperium are not lost on some. Nor is the fact that with the nature of Isha that garden is the most lethal place for any would-be assassin in the Imperium.

==Reactions to the Marriage==

The marriage happened right after the War of the Beast, so the primarchs had a lot of shit on their plate. Lion was in full on “what I’ve done” mode, Perty was having a mental breakdown, etc. But at the same time you would expect them to have a reaction to what was essentially the biggest political change in recent history.

Angron was dying and Sangy, who would have been the most positive primarch, was dead. Lorgar might have been positive, seeing as at this time he had rationalized Isha as being essentially an archangel sent by God to keep the Eldar on the straight and narrow

Someone suggested Dorn’s reaction. He said they were perfect for each other. But don’t get the “dawws” out yet, because it wasn’t as heartwarming as it sounds on paper. Specifically, he said something along the lines of “she’s weird, you’re weird, you’re perfect for each other” in his typical bluntness. It’s been mentioned Dorn was a proponent of something that was called “psychic apartheid”, though what that is has never been defined (beyond a literal interpretation).

Also keep in mind that this was during the early days of the Imperium, before the Steward and Isha knew each other, and the marriage was very much an arranged marriage in the interest of politics at the time. The Steward would have seen Isha a grand total of once before then, and at that time he was rather more concerned about the Bloodthirster trying to eat his face than making small talk.

The Steward's thoughts when he heard Eldrad's boon were probably along the lines of *what the hell did I get myself into*.

The fact that the Steward had made it clear he was fully intending to step down once a proper Emperor had been found may have alleviated some concerns. Also the fact that Eldrad risked his ass saving the Steward may have won the Eldar some brownie points in the primarch's eyes (though Vulkan would have dismissed it).

One thing that would have really elevated Isha's standing to the human parts of the Imperium would be Isha revitalizing worlds after the War of the Beast.

Orks don't tend to leave habitable worlds in their wake. Anything that was not orkiformed would have been firebombed from orbit. Isha could have taken a lot of those worlds that would have otherwise been written off or taken millennia to restore and have new plant life grow from the ashes, though even with her powers it would be a significant undertaking even for a single planet. This would do a lot to make people more receptive to an alien...what the hell was Isha called before the Emperor took the throne?

The problem is that like the Steward, there is only one Isha. She can't be everywhere at once, something that has been noted before when it comes to curing diseases, solving other problems, and otherwise being extremely overworked.

Lion, if he had time to think about it at all, would have dismissed it all as only right and proper. He was a high functioning autistic and fixated on Franjic fairy stories. When a brave king rescues a fair lady from an den of evil she is supposed to offer him her hand in marriage. Admittedly by then he had long ago seen that the world does not work how it should, but this time it does. Maybe, he would think, there is some small hope left. Then his brother beats him into a coma.

The eldar would have probably initially seen it as Isha taming some fearsome beast-people for use and domestication. The majority of craftworlders of that time would have grown up in the Eldar Empire at it's worst and to have survived would have had to participate at least in some measure of the awfulness.

==Respective Divinity==

I would argue that Isha still made claim to royalty (at very least in title) by divine right (that being her own) even when Oscar was only the Steward. I remember in early threads discussing the marriage we agreed that Isha, and to a lesser extent Ceggorach, would argue that Oscar is a very young god, much to his protestations, and this for his worthiness to lead humanity (as viceroy to Isha’s spiritual rule of the The Eldar). This has absolutely nothing to do with the Old Empire’s belief that the Men of Stone were subservient colonist folk/animals in the Great and Bountiful Human Dominion, and that Iron Minds and Men of Gold were the only children of Sol of any worth, certainly not.

That probably didn’t stop some of the remembrancers brought up under the pre-unification earth doctrine of Holy Human Form and stories that (truthfully) blamed xenos at large for Old Night from depicting her as something like Lady Macbeth when it came to Imperial Court politics in the early years of the marriage.

By M41 I can almost imagine Isha thinks Oscar is a god in denial (inb4 Necoho) and wishes he'd just admit it so everyone can get on with their lives. This might not be entirely selfless, as some of it probably has to do with her missing Kurnous. She also sees herself and Oscar as the new Asuryan and Lileath (which is weird because she's the latter's mother) after the last top gods screwed up.

On the other hand, she does have a point that he's both vastly more powerful than any mortal human or Eldar, and he's also biologically immortal unlike them. Even with the few survivors since the Great Crusade, Eldrad is old as balls but emphatically not immortal (and unusually old even by that standard), Bjorn and Leithon are a dreadnought/wraithguard respectively, Lion is in a coma, and Galadrea and the Handmaidens use cheat codes due to their connection to Isha. He also has access to a lot of power that he's not using as a symbol of the Imperium and hence civilization (indeed he diffused a lot of that by having people direct it towards multiple entities).

Of course, having been around Oscar for 10k years, she probably knows all he'll do is pick the position with the absolute least amount of responsibility and refuse to be budged from it unless the Warp froze over. Heck, he'd probably take Hoec's old job and become the God of Interstellar Communications, despite the fact that he could easily add "Justice", "War" (as in Athena-style, not Ares-style), "Honor", and "Order" to his portfolio.

= Cegorach =

Cegorach’s moral compass is decidedly…off compared to most mortals. He doesn’t like institutions, at best seeing them as some sort of cosmic joke only he is in on. He gets along with the Imperium, but that’s because he likes Isha, the Emperor, and the individuals who run the Imperium. Not the Imperium in and of itself. His loyalty is to individuals, not institutions. He considers the Emperor a gleaming young golden lad that's lucky to have married into the family, but at the same time he’s a little protective of Isha, because she’s the only sibling he has left besides Khaine (and really, who counts Khaine?)

Cegorach doesn’t see the world in terms of good versus evil so much as a form of ethical hedonism. Specifically "how do we make things more fun for as many people as possible?" This is similar, yet very different, to how Slaanesh does things. Slaanesh is all about seeking ever increasing heights of physical sensation. Cegorach is about maximizing the emotional happiness of all things. That said there is a dark side to this. Acts such as horrendous trolling on a cosmic scale get the thumbs up from Cegorach, because it raises universal happiness while the effects of universal unhappiness are short-term.

Cegorach was said to have participated in the drug-fueled orgies of the Old Empire (or something similar, seeing as Asuryan had banned the gods from realspace) before he realized the Eldar Empire was starting to cross lines that they shouldn’t. He pulled away from the self-destructive aspects of the Old Empire, but the fact that he took longer to do so as opposed to entities like Kurnous, Isha, and Vaul who were trying in vain to be a stabilizing influence on the Eldar lends some darkness to him.

Cegorach despite all appearances does not have a plan but he does have an end goal he is working towards and manipulating shit in the direction of. He hates Chaos. Back in the old days they coexisted to an extent and lived and let live. The Eldar Pantheon didn't have to. They were top dog, they could have gone to war against them once upon a time and won but for Asuryan's decree of non-interference.

Non-interference despite Chaos infecting their societies, taking their followers, weakening them, turning their children into monsters. Chaos was given too much tolerance and took even more and then killed almost all of his family, almost all of his people and almost all of his friends.

Cegorach, like Isha, Oscar, Eldrad and Khaine, is playing the long game now. Probably no other being has done as much to stack the deck to bring about Rhana Dandra as much as he has. Indeed, [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#Ahzek Ahriman|quite]] [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#The APEX twins|a lot]] [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#Yvraine|of the potential]] [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#Void Dragon|wild cards]] out there have some sort of backing or connection to Cegorach. Why? Because he would see it all burn and rebuild from the ashes as a phoenix civilization before he willingly let Chaos survive.

He is in favour of the Imperium as it is his best bet of seeing this happen and acts as a good shield for his people and people by adoption although he doesn't believe in the Imperium for the sake of the Imperium. If there weren't so many threats floating around he would happily watch the Imperium collapse and although he wouldn't do anything to stop it he wouldn't do anything to cause it. Although, since the Imperium brings increased happiness and is ever growing, he might actually support the Imperium long-term even without threats. He's weird and can't be predicted.

He was the only other option for being the husband of Isha had Oscar not been available and so for that if nothing he is grateful to Oscar, and he would never call Oscar Emperor. He sees Isha as sister in that they belong to the same order rather than because they are true siblings. Despite this he had no interest in Isha as a partner due to incompatible personalities.

= Imperial History during the Age of Strife =

Quotes for whatever section talks about how well known the conditions on Old Earth prior to Unification are to the average Imperial citizen.

"For the average Imperial citizen outside of Segmentum Solar, the ancient nations of Old Earth from the Unification Wars are long forgotten. Those who are history buffs or lived inside Solar might know these old Terran states. Starting with Horus, he chronicles from the start of unification for the migrant fleets of Sol to the end of the War of The Beast. Some have criticized Horus' Chronical after his death when a few historians noticed the lack of historical accuracy when writing about the Great Crusade."<br>
-Exempt from ''Cultures of Sol 4th Edition'' by Elanoc o Glenth

''"Fulgrim managed to write a lengthy autobiography after his Legion was reduced to just shy of 3 companies in the Iron Cage. Going into great detail about his everyday life, readers are able to especially immerse themselves in his childhood of living in Merika to an eerie amount of degree. Everything after the childhood section of the book is known for being historically inaccurate and turning into the self-gratifying propaganda of later parts in his life."''<br>
P68 of ''Notable Astartes'' by Freja S.T.

''"Vulkan had written one book and several different essays and treatises on many subjects, ranging from philosophy and theology, economics to warfare. One of the few glimpses of the Afrique League did come from when his writing recall certain aspects of life on Warlord Era Terra."''<br>
-Blurb on the back of "The Philosopher-King 2nd Edition" by unknown

''"The few writings from Dorn left after the Great Crusade has only one aspect of ancient Terra. In the tactical notes, the Primarch goes into a full recount of the Calbi military and little else."''<br>
-P52 of ''Notable Astartes'' by Freja S.T

''"Guilliman has his entire family history saved to an audio recording then transcribed to a book. The genealogy writes about members from this nobility starting at the end of the Age of Strife til the end of the Great Crusade. Guilliman also wrote numerous memoirs, books, and thought experiments in addition to his most famous work, the Codex Astartes."''<br>
-Exempt from ''Imperial Houses'' by Sharth o Tenelkan

''"The unique organization and composition of the Iron Hands was initially adopted by Primarch Ferrus Manus during the beginning of the Great Crusade after analysis of combat data proved the efficacy of the Legiones Astartes and the Adeptus Mechanicus' lack of a comparable force. Later, the reforms of the Codex Astartes proposed by Roboute Guilliman were accepted and implemented after calculations showed the chapter structure had great strategic and tactical benefits compared to the more centralized legion structure."''<br>
-- Excerpt from "The First Founding: An Overview of the Legiones Astartes"

== Nation-States of Old Earth ==
Mostly details of the nations not yet mentioned on the main page yet.

'''Terrawatt Clan''' - Home country of Malcador and later the Warlord/Steward/Emperor. One of the most technologically advanced and socially progressive places on Earth, would also be one of the nicest places to live on Earth if it weren't for sharing a border with Ursh. Only place on Earth with rejuvenant treatments and one of the few to have working spaceships.<br>
'''Gredbriton''' - Ruled for many years by the Tyrant of Gredbriton, a Chaos worshipper who had a thing for biological and chemical weaponry. People eventually got fed up with tyrant a few years before the Warlord started making waves and he came down with a bad case of "arsenic-in-tea" syndrome. The Tyrant excluded, the people of Gredbriton weren't that bad and became an important center of trade.<br>
'''Pan-Pacific Empire''' - Second worst place to live on Earth. Led by the "half-mad, half genius" Nathaniel Dume, who had a thing for biotechnology.<br>
'''Hy Braseal''' - Nicest place to live on Earth during the Age of Strife. Borderlands between Merika and Hy Braseal are actually a bunch of nominally independent nation-states that are actually Merikan and Hy Brasealian vassals. Only place on Earth to still retain any form of democracy due to its parliamentary system. Refused to join Imperium after Warlord assimilated their old enemies Orioc and Merika. Warlord let them be, they were one of the few places on Earth where the leaders didn't treat their people like shit and he was willing to wait until they became sensible. Stayed independent all the way up to the War of the Beast, where it got wrecked and the survivors ended up joining the Imperium.<br>
'''Yndonesian Bloc''' - Nasty theocracy led by Cardinal Tang. Was dominated by a splinter sect of Katholianism, Karathanism, which put a huge importance on omens and considered pain as being the only thing of value in life. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Primarchs#Lorgar|Lorgar]] and Kor Phaeron staged a revolt that overthrew Cardinal Tang. After Yndonesia became a benevolent socialist theocracy led by Kor Phaeron. A huge number of the translators and diplomats from the Great Crusade seemed to come from here.<br>
'''The Khanate''' - The former lands of the steppe nomads, now having come together to form a national identity after much prodding from Jaghatai and his associates. Still largely rural, resisted urbanization as long as possible but [[Nobledark_Imperium_Primarchs#Jaghatai_Khan|Jaghatai]] saw the writing on the wall and started setting up colonies of the Khanate off-world. Now almost indistinguishable from any other part of Old Earth.<br>
'''Sibar''' - The frozen north. Once inhabited by tribes of hunter-gatherers, it was conquered by Ursh relatively early in its history. What little remained of the Urshii military fled here after the fall of Ursh, and the Urshii insurgents plagued Imperial forces for decades until the insurgency was put down by [[Nobledark_Imperium_Primarchs#Konrad Curze|Konrad Curze]].<br>
'''Duscht Jemanic''' - The other asshole country of Europe. Part of the Quintuple Alliance that kept Ursh from rolling over the rest of Europe, they chafed at having to ally with others and had their own dreams for domination. Obsessed with genetic purity, and that they don't realize they're walking down the same dark road as their ancestors. One of the last nations to join the Imperium, probably never would have if it were not for [[Nobledark_Imperium_Primarchs#Sanguinius|Sanguinius]].<br>
'''Lichstenstein Vault/Lichstenstein Mountain Fortress''' - The very last nation-state to join the Imperium, along with the Republic of Sammarino. A tiny micronation of just around than 10,000 inhabitants living in a sealed Dark Age Vault that had technologically regressed but held at a sustainable level just slightly shy of the Imperial Standard, they held out the longest by simple virtue of refusing to open the door. The people were insular, isolationist but not overly weird beyond being a race of people living in a nuclear fallout shelter for thousands of years. They had numerous doorways in the mountains with which could be got access to their underground city but they were all single file narrow doors. Any larger door having been intentionally collapsed some time ago.

The only actual avenue of communication they left open with the outside world was a two-way radio located by the main vault door, which is how the Imperium found them. They refused all overtures of opening the door for years, believing the Imperium to be a slightly more clever than average band of techno-barbarians who wanted to loot the vault. Malcador's hobby in his twilight years trying to convince them to open the door. Not using his immense psychic power, because that would be a violation of their minds, but by his voice and just having a chit-chat with them. Eventually they did open the door when one King Under the Mountain who knew no fear reached retirement age and decided to investigate outside once his replacement was installed, believing this was the last way he would be useful and he had no more to offer his people. It still took them years to feel comfortable enough tofully open the door. [[grimdark|About 20-50 years later the War of the Beast started. Oops.]]

It's debatable whether Lichstenstein Vault could have survived the War of the Beast if they hadn't opened the door(the Orks probably wouldn't have left Earth after killing the Steward), but they would have weathered it better than most. On a more positive note the sheer impenetrability of the Lichtenstein Vault meant that they were able to save a lot more civilians from the Beast's forces, most of them being vaulters.<br>
'''The Nordyc/Skand''' - Originally just a confederation of loosely allied clans and tribes, the Warlord convinced them to unify into a cohesive nation. Somehow ended up in control of New Atlantis during Unification.<br>
'''Ursh''' - Total hellhole. For details, see [[Nobledark_Imperium_Drafts#Ursh|Ursh]].<br>
'''The Afrique League''' - One of the nicest places to live pre-Age of Strife. Got absolutely gutted in a war with Ursh circa ~28, with only Timbuk and Nama Gola being the only components worth anything afterward, and the remaining fragments squabbled over by infighting Urshii warlords. Restored to its former glory after the fall of Ursh.<br>
'''Nord Afrik Conclaves''' - Calling them a "nation" is probably a bit generous. Techno-barbarian conclaves that resemble the worst of ancient Rome and Carthage.<br>
'''Orioc''' - Antarctic branch of the Mechanicum.<br>
'''Merika''' - Military junta with state-sponsored capitalism. Claim to be democratic, but in practice their democracy is more like "El Presidente has won re-election in a landslide for the twentieth time in a row". Second or third most powerful nation pre-Imperium, with a more commando-like "quality over quantity" military versus Ursh's technobarbarian hordes. Nowhere near as cohesive as they claim, large parts between the Rockies and Cascades and on the Pacific coast untouchable due to inhospitable terrain and radioactive death zones. Actually not the worst place to live, as long as you don't mind living in a junta. Warlord was going to try to be diplomatic with them, then they started covertly sponsoring the Urshii insurgents. Ironically the quality of life and amount of say the average Merikan has in the government has increased since joining the Imperium.<br>
'''Sino-Japanese Commonwealth''' - Originally inhabited by subsistence farmers, another region to get conquered early on by Ursh. Became the breadbasket of Ursh after they went from being just another empire to one of the largest powers on the planet. Pan-Pacific Empire and Ursh scrapped over this region several times. Ultimately, the revolt by [[Nobledark_Imperium_Primarchs#Corax|Corvus Corax]] established Sino-Japan's independence, and insured that neither empire would control the region.<br>
'''Ind''' - Managed to weather Urshii conquest and occupation rather well. Almost nothing written about it, Honen Mu is suggested as having come from here or Persepotropolis.<br>

The general explanation for any differences in the geography or geopolitical entities of Old Earth between the two timelines (e.g., like Earth still having oceans by the time of Unification) is that the canon Emperor dealt with Ursh by letting it expand as much as possible and then waited to reveal himself until after Ursh inevitably imploded from over-extending. It made it much easier to mop up the pieces, but resulted in massive wars, a huge body count, massive changes across the geo-political map, and the destruction of much of Earth's remaining resources and much of it's remaining technology and historical records [[Just as planned|(the last of which may have been intentional)]]. By contrast, Oscar is much more of a humanitarian, and so he decided to fight Ursh head-on before it became a self-destructive cancer that would have taken much of what was left of Old Earth with it. The fight was a bit harder and bloodier, but it resulted in a lot more of Earth's technology, resources, and culture being preserved (until the Beast showed up, at least).

= Chaos =

One way in which the Chaos Gods corrupt humans in this timeline is by playing off lingering notions of human supremacy. They play on the fears of many humans that it is the Eldar that control the Imperium from the shadows, as evinced by the presence of farseers and Isha in positions of power, and humanity is merely their slaves. The Chaos Gods often claim to be the actual lost gods of humanity, whom the Eldar convinced humanity to turn away from in order to weaken humanity and control them like neutered livestock. This is complete bullshit, Slaanesh being an Eldar creation through and through and the remaining three being Old One gods more than anything else, with human emotions feeding the Chaos gods just as well as almost any other species' emotions (Tau being one of the more notable exceptions). Nevertheless, this explanation is appealing to of human superiority, as well as neatly explains why humanity doesn't seem to have any gods the way the Necrons or the Eldar did (the actual explanation, involving the Men of Gold and the Iron Minds, would be much harder to explain as well as less satisfying for human supremacists, who would rather believe that humanity's gods are powerful and still around instead of having vanished or been mercy killed during the Age of Strife).

== The Chaos Gods and their Daemons ==

=== Khorne ===

Khorne often likes to refer to himself as the <span style='color:red;font-size:100%'>BLOOD KING OF THE GALAXY</span>. If you're groaning at how stupid that sounds, good. That's the point. Khorne's title as <span style='color:red;font-size:100%'>THE BLOOD KING OF THE GALAXY</span> is intentionally silly to parody the number of blood-, skull-, and related silly-sounding names he's often given in regular 40k fluff as well as to emphasize that when you get down to it, Khorne's not really that imaginative. Sure, he can be [[Azariah Kyras|clever]] when he wants to be, but it's not his first instinct. In-universe only Khornates really care for the title, and even when they do use it they tend to drop the "Blood" for the sake of respect. If it ever comes up in interactions between the gods' faithful it would be met with exasperation and groans from the other three sects. If a Khornate wanders into Slaaneshi territory somewhere in Shaa-Dome and gets murderfucked, chances are <span style='color:red;font-size:100%'>BLOOD KING OF THE GALAXY</span> will be written over the body.

==== Khorne and Khaine ====

Khaine’s personality is quite similar to a mortal with bipolar disorder due to his conflicting portfolio that he never really resolved. It’s not actually bipolar disorder as defined by mortals given the massive difference between how gods and mortals work, but the resulting symptoms are close enough as an analogy. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#Khaine|Even when Khaine tried to reign himself in after he got Eldanesh killed]], his behavior was that of someone who is off their meds and is “totally fine. Seriously. Stop asking”, even though he clearly was not. On the one hand you have Khaine the God of War, who is obsessed with the glory and sensation of war and the rush of battle, while Khaine the God of Murder is self-loathing, depressed, and acutely aware of what he is. [[Mork|Or maybe it’s the other way around]], with Khaine the God of Murder being a bloodthirsty savage while Khaine the God of War is more brooding, thoughtful, and aware that violence is not always the correct answer to a question. The difference between the two is kind of like if the Roman and Greek interpretations of Mars/Ares were seen by the same person. Mars may be likeable and more responsible if a bit abrasive and moody, but Ares is just a [[Eldrad|dick]].

Khorne sees Khaine as a flawed first attempt to his later perfection. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#The_Rise_of_Khorne|Khorne was created by combining the essence of Khaine, and Gork and Mork, and all the other war gods of the Children of the Old Ones]]. He is the master of a thousand forms of war from hundreds of species, the essence of war distilled, perfected. Each style can cover for the flaws of another, giving Khorne more strength than the sum of his parts, and none of their component weaknesses ([[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#The_Rise_of_Khorne|The thing]] [[Gork|with the]] [[Mork|mushrooms]] was a fluke. [[Bullshit|Honest]]). The fact that Khaine includes murder in his portfolio is seen as evidence of this.

Khaine sees Khorne as being too full of himself and lacking self-awareness. Yes, Khorne may have stripped himself of all the “impurities” that characterized the other war gods, but he seems to have lost something in the process. He treats war like a grand spectacle, but has lost touch with mortals and completely forgotten about why people go to war (or more importantly why most people try to avoid it). He is completely focused on the glory of war, the slaying of enemies, the winning of accolades, and has completely forgot that war is horrifying to those most who are not immortal, invulnerable, or an ork. Yes, Khaine has murder in his portfolio whereas Khorne technically does not, war is murder, and if you forget that you become as bad as the monsters you’re fighting.

=== Slaanesh ===

On the Slaaneshi condition, Slaaneshi chaos eldar needing to stave of being eaten by feeding slaanesh other souls is already the dark eldar's thing, and they're already explicitly serving chaos. Since Slaanesh is weakened because he has to vie with Isha for eldar souls after death it would even make sense for the prince of pleasure to explicitly offer the sadistic but self preserving dark eldar a deal where they hunt for souls and deliver them and their feelings unto Slaanesh to keep their own incredibly Slaaneshi existence free. They're the dominatrix that Slaanesh pays to bust into your house in the night, loosen up your bum, and drag you to the dungeon.

Eldar worshippers of Slaanesh, the real cultists, are there because they really love the idea of being Slaany's mind bending fucktoy, and a little snuff at the end of a session with the prince/princess is hardly a problem for them. The high echelon of the Slaaneshi cult have been violated and ended in innumerable ways by their master and love, and have done the same to Slaany for their master's pleasure. Because the Slaaneshi chaos eldar have the greatest psychic conceptual influence over Slaanesh and are the most influenced by their god's corruption they essentially become a recursively self-depraving magical realm. Slaanesh and the Slaaneshi eldar love each other and are perfect for each other, and whenever Slaany eats an old favorite it can't help eventually recreating them for more, because it can never get enough.

The Slaaneshi eldar consider the mutability and acausality of the warp the sublimation of the old empire and have made a good run at adapting to it. Some of them have been in the the eye partying since the fall, and claim to have been upon the capital, a layered shellworld engrossed in a great all-spanning orgy, and to have witnessed the birth. Fewer still claim to have taken part in slaanesh's conception, dreaming up the perfect lover that now is their idol, themselves the participants most interested in endless variance of pleasure and perfect beauty, the more self erasing of the parents giddily gobbled up or used to destruction by their child, as they had hoped.

Because they dreamt Slaanesh to be the God of excess that always wants more it can't help but bring back its kinkiest toys and the perfect champions its enjoined ruining by reward though final deadly climax. The pleasure of gobbling up souls, of absolute obliteration, grew insufficient to the prince, as everything must, and the young god was soon inclined by its cult to more subtle perversions.

Likewise, with Isha free the lordess of excess faced the very real prospect of scarcity, even famine, and was made to squirm within its nature much like Nurgle was. Because it's nature was not so based in stasis as Nurgle the shift had a greater significance. Coming to understand differences in kind, where once it could only understand magnitude.

Slaanesh learned the difference between being the god with the most raw warp influence and being the god with the most canny and capable followers, strongest realspace assets and positions, the widest portfolio extendable to the broadest uses of power. Slaanesh learned to be ok with being the little bitch among the four and the wispiest typhoon of madness in the warp because the other gods don't seem to acknowledge the realspace situation as anything more than pieces on the board. Slaanesh understands that it's cult and realspace define and control it as much as the other way around, and acts on this knowledge. Also, while Isha's freedom has fucked with Slaanesh on a material level, her freedom has reopened the fate of the eldar pantheon of which Slaanesh can claim a part, circumventing the deadlock of the great game. If the situation arises Slaanesh might just leave the other Chaos Gods to [[Nurgle|rot]], setting itself up as the devil figure in the new Galactic pantheon by defining itself as the antithesis of the Emperor and Empress.

tl:dr - reasonable Slaanesh is what happens when you make reasonable eldar, and the Imperium is reasonably fucked

Slaanesh likes to present itself as the most reasonable of the Four Chaos Gods, almost in a Luciferian or Sauron-like fashion. Tzeentch constantly rants about "plans", Khorne constantly rants about "blood", and Nurgle constantly rants about "despair", or at least that's what the Slaaneshis would have you believe. Slaanesh tells you this in a calm, impassionate voice, in a form that looks downright normal, trying to convince you that it is the only reasonable option. And then the mask slips and you realize that, no, this one is just as crazy as all the other, because unlike the other four it is capable of hiding it's madness and monomania beneath a veneer of sanity.

Each of the Chaos Gods has their own long term goals. Tzeentch wants to find out what’s in the Well of Eternity and gain ultimate knowledge. Nurgle thinks the galaxy is rotten to the core and has gone on too long as is and wants to burn it all down so it can start over, a la Dark Souls something he may have been infected by when he at his chunk of Malal. Khorne wants ultimate domination over the galaxy, that which had been denied from him ever since Gork and Mork slipped his grasp during the War in Heaven. And Slaanesh, as god/ess of excess, wants to usurp the other three and become the sole Chaos God. And the other three know it. There’s a reason why the other Chaos Gods don’t like Slaanesh very much. Even Tzeentch, the Chaos God who gets along the best with Slaanesh, doesn’t so much like them is consider them “the most easily manipulatable”. As in canon, because Slaanesh is the god of excess, technically all of the things the other three gods do potentially fall under Slaanesh's portfolio and they know it. This is part of reason for Khorne’s unusual degree of restraint around Slaanesh, despite the well-known hatred between them. Although Khorne wants to kill Slaanesh, if he acts on the urge in anger it means he loses all self-control to his excess and Slaanesh wins, and both of them know it.

There’s a dirty little secret behind the origin of Slaanesh. Slaanesh wasn’t originally conceived as a god/ess of pain and pleasure. He/she was originally supposed to be a god/ess of peace, love, and joy. Some of the more sane among the Old Eldar Empire had proposed creating Slaanesh out of a sense of [[High Elves (Warhammer)|noblesse oblige]] to calm the Warp down for the other, non-Webway using races. Others in power liked the idea of a God of Joy, because it meant never having to worry about the collective grief spiral Eldar societies are vulnerable to (essentially never having to come down off their high). Of course, when it was detailed on how one would actually create such a god, the rest of the hedonistic Eldar just heard "make a sex god through lots of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll, sounds cool", which ruined the whole project. [[Not As Planned|Slaanesh was corrupted from its birth, whatever noble intentions the Eldar might have had in its creation died before it even manifested for the first time and started murdering the rest of their pantheon. Instead of pacifying the Warp, Slaanesh made the Warp worse and galvanized the other three Chaos Gods into action.]]

=== Apep ===

The one and only Daemon Prince of Malal. Pharaoh of Denial.

It is said that in his mortal life, the being who would become Apep was a man who through his own hubris caused the destruction of all that he held dear. But rather than realize his self-inflicted role in this tragedy and accept the consequences of his actions, Apep blamed everyone else, cursing the universe itself for his loss. It was this hatred, and his irrational denial of the fact that he was the cause of own suffering, that drew him to Malal's attention in the first place. The goat-like god came to Apep with a simple offer: "Your old life is gone, there is nothing more for you here. Serve me, and you will have your revenge on the universe".

However, Malal was not the Chaos God he once was. Years of fighting with the four great Ruinous Powers had left him a shadow of the being he once was, and so he had to invest a far greater proportion of his power into Apep. Thus, there could only ever be one daemon prince of Malal. Of course, perhaps this is what Malal intended all along, for if there were more than one Daemon Prince of Malal, one would surely turn on and betray the other.

Despite this, the fact that Malal had to invest so much of his essence into Apep technically makes Apep a god in the flesh, albeit a very pathetic one. As a result, he can't be killed reliably. Oh they've tried. The Grey Knights have killed Apep at least seven times and may have killed it as many as twelve times, the last of which was in 102.M41. After that point the Grey Knights got fed up with Apep and took a page from the Kinebrach, entombing Apep alive in a padded, warded cell on Ganymede. Apep can't come back if he never gets killed in the first place.

I'm imagining Apep as a amorphous and never quite stable cloud of what looks like red and orange sand. It's usually a sort of spider in shape, but mostly because of habit.

Apep's great fuck up that pushed him into the embrace of Chaos was messing around with nano-machines. Possibly his people were one of the early recoveries after the War in Heaven. The nano-bots were salvaged from a Necrontyr tomb.

And that's how the K'nib homeworld was lost.

====Imprisonment====
I'm kinda imagining that there's a ton of weird reverse psychology involved in imprisoning the one Daemon Prince of Malal. Stuff like demanding he leave the vaults of Ganymede and never return, locking him out of his containment cell, and insisting he's the jailor not the prisoner are probably just the start of it. It would probably descend into a level of double negative bullshit like how The Outsider momentarily/eternally became an avatar of Malal by virtue of being the antithesis of Tzeentch, and also by not being Malal.

Oh sweet fucking Jesus that's a beautifully stupid image.

Apep, the one Daemon Prince of Malal, is guarding an empty cell so that it remains empty and because he is free not to.

Also the Outsider is just crazy enough that even if he wasn't the avatar of Malal he would act like Malal to such a great degree that he would be the avatar of Malal by virtue of nobody including both gods involved being able to tell the difference.

This sorry state of affairs would be, I imagine, a source of unending mirth for the Inquisition were it not for the fact that these creatures hopelessly broken as they are are civilization ending disasters waiting for someone to happen to.

Also added to the "List of Thing Inq. Jaq Draco is no Longer Permitted to do on Ganymede" is<br>
>interact with the Prince of Malal

No, no, you see. Apep isn't imprisoned. It's everyone else who's imprisoned. They built a whole prison around the universe, except for one little spot where the guard is supposed to be stationed. It's Apep's job to keep everyone else imprisoned. I mean, if you built four walls to contain an entire universe, [[Grimdark|it must be full of pretty nasty stuff]]. It's a panopticon you see, put the guard in the middle, and nobody looks at the door.

=== Doombreed ===

In this timeline Doombreed is not Genghis Khan, or Atilla the Hun, or any other famous historical conqueror. Here he is the last despot of Ursh, the guy who caused the Imperium so much trouble during the Unification Wars. Having killed more people in the name of mindless slaughter than any other human being on Earth, Khorne found his antics hilarious and raised him as a daemon prince so he could continue doing so for eternity. Raising the person who was such a personal nightmare for the Warlord and many of his primarchs was also a very spiteful move on Khorne’s part, bringing back the person that caused them so much pain.

During the War of the Beast, Doombreed arose and went after the four of the Steward’s primarchs who had caused him so much trouble in life: Magnus the Red, the witch who had stepped out of line and murdered his uncle; Jaghatai Khan, the man who stabbed him in the back; Corvus Corax, the slave who had humiliated him; and Lorgar Aurelian, the man who finally brought him down and swung the sword at his execution. From a combat perspective, as a Khornate Daemon Prince, Doombreed was tailor-made to take down a psyker, a latent psyker, and two warriors who specialized in hit-and-run tactics. The four barely survived Doombreed. However, once they did, they realized that something was up given that such a personal figure from their past had been brought back, and they headed to Old Earth.

Six millennia later, during the Age of Apostasy, the tyranny and cruelty of Goge Vandire brought Doombreed back once more. Magnus, now alone but with two or three divisions of Grey Knights, confronted Doombreed and brought him down. However, the battle was so intense that it ended up causing the Storm of the Emperor’s Wrath and ended up killing Magnus from the exhaustion a short while later.

When Doombreed showed up for the first time, he corrupted a large region of space that was in the process of being integrated into the Imperium. The people in this region eventually ended up becoming the Blood Pact.

It has been suggested that the Helldrakes in this timeline were originally inspired by the Roma, Ursh’s vassal air force. In canon, the Roma were described as having “never touched the ground”, which could be interpreted as them being physically wired into and intermeshed with their planes to some degree. The Chaos Gods took one look at this idea and asked Doombreed “so what do you call this” and Doombreed responded “the Aristocrats!” Of course, the Chaos Gods decided to take this idea up to 11 (like everything Chaos does) by physically fusing the flesh of the pilot into the machine. This would give Chaos a ready supply of Helldrakes from baseline human beings without having to waste precious traitor marines like in canon because there are relatively fewer Fallen.

=== Skarbrand ===

Skarbrand in this timeline was tricked into raise his hand against Khorne by Malal, who sought to use the resulting struggle as a way to escape his status as Khorne's vassal. Unfortunately, Skarbrand found out that while Khorne approves of his followers challenging one another to see who is the strongest, he doesn't approve of the same rules being applied to himself, and Skarbrand got smacked down as per canon. The resulting being, filled with destructive self-hatred and a teamkilling fury that makes him as dangerous to foe and (nominal) friend alike, is exactly what you’d expect of a Khornate daemon with Malalic influences.

=== M'Kar the Thriceborn ===

M'Kar before ascending to daemonhood was one of the Night Lords that was in it just for the shits and giggles instead of Kurze's idea of justice, a real fuck up who ran around the underhives playing mind games on people that drew his attention, distorting their perceptions by means both mundane and exotic, stalking them and appearing only in their peripheral vision, leaving signs of his presence and toying them for a good long while to the point of madness before cutting them up (assuming they don't kill themselves first).

He's been doing this across the Imperium since then, he typically singles people out individually because it amuses him to do so although he can fuck with larger groups if he wants. He is quite a good combatant in a straight up fight as you would expect but it is not his area of expertise.

He's a nutter who thinks the Imperium is the set of his own ever lasting horror-holo and he puts such effort into setting the stage that Tzneetch adopted him and finds his antics quite amusing. Like Ingethel although he is Tzeentchian on paper Slaanesh and Nurgle also supply him with a bit of juice as his antics help fuel them by extension as well. Unlike most Deamon-Princes that arise from The Fallen he has not particular fondness for attacking his old Legion. Not because he has any fondness for them, fuck no, but simply because attacking a bunch of mind-wiped fanatics with limited emotional range isn't as satisfying at going after civilians.

== Crone World Eldar ==

Daemonculaba in this timeline was created by the Crone Eldar to supplement low birth rate. However, don't think humans get out of this so easily just because they aren't eldar. The Crone Eldar have been trying to make a Daemonculaba out of humans for decades. Just because it hasn't worked the last 500 times doesn't mean it's not worth seeing if the 501st time will be different. And even if that doesn't work they get to laugh and jerk off at the spectacle. Win-win as far as they are concerned. Humans are much more numerous than eldar and if the Crones could get a human Daemonculaba working it would be a much more efficient way to breed an army. One thing that might prove to be a problem if the birth of the Impossible Child ends up breaking down the barriers between humans and eldar is the Crones breeding an army of half-eldar cannon fodder out of human Daemonculaba.

Ghastbone is the construction material of choice for the Crone Eldar, and it more or less a variant form of wraithbone. Normal wraithbone is built in such a way that it is “insulated” from external psionic influences. The reasons for this are both functional (insulation improves the conduction of the psychic signal and reduces the external “noise” sent to a wraithguard body from a spirit stone, for example) as well as for safety (it prevents daemons from manifesting and playing havoc with your systems willy nilly). The Crones on the other hand, tend to strip out all the insulating components that keep out external psionic influences or even add amplifying ones, because they want demons to molest them from behind as they work. This tends to give Ghastbone a tattered, frayed appearance compared to the smooth sleek curves of most wraithbone constructed implements, and often makes Crone devices appear much more ratty than they actually are.

All of the Crone Eldar are on the Path to Glory in some form or another. They see the eldar as the chosen race of the gods, demigods in the making that bridge the gap between mortal and divine, whose job it is to spread the worship of Chaos to all of the “lesser” people of the galaxy. The old eldar pantheon was unable to prevent themselves from being slaughtered by the Chaos Gods, thereby proving the validity of the Chaos Gods as objects of worship in their extreme social Darwinist mindset. [[Edgy|They see the worship of the old gods as immature and juvenile, something that they have grown beyond]]. They see their [[Dark Eldar|Dark kin hiding in the depths of Commorragh]] and the exiles who fled the Old Empire to live on [[Craftworld|floating hunks of wraithbone]] or [[Exodite|squatting in savagery]] as having rejected this divine mission placed on them by the gods, and therefore in their eyes they are [[heresy|heretics]].

That said, the Crones are not completely one-dimensional. They do have a consistent internal philosophy, being social darwinists who believe that as demigods in the making they are above good and evil and what is “right” is whatever makes them feel good, the problem is that they’re mostly sadists and hedonists who see everyone else as either [[eldar|here]][[Dark Eldar|tics]] or lesser lifeforms to be used as entertainment, and "whatever feels good" usually involves fulfilling those desires. Their philosophy is just absolutely toxic and completely at odds with…pretty much every other system of living. Tzeentch sums up their philosophy pretty well in “[[Nobledark_Imperium_Writing#Just_As_Planned|Just As Planned]]”: I do what I want, when I want, and I am strong enough that no one can tell me otherwise, therefore putting any kind of restraint on myself is akin to psychosis.

And there is an aspect of tragedy to their existence. Not tragic in the manner of some Miltonian or Byronic figure, they will kill you with an honest-to-the-dark-gods smile on their face and enjoy every minute of it. The tragedy comes more from their situation, kind of [[Nobledark_Imperium_Xenos#Proto-Orks and the Krork|like]] [[Nobledark_Imperium_Writing#The Last Casualties of the War in Heaven|the Orks]] or the [[Dark Eldar]]. The Crone Eldar are born into a society that literally does not allow them to be anything else. Between their upbringing and their intense sense of superiority the Crones have no reason to believe there is any other way to live. Any Crone child who shows signs of mercy, morality, or forgiveness is likely to be weeded of the population by the unforgiving nature of Crone society unless they are really tough in spite of it. From day one they are told “[[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#The_Rant|once the gods loved us. Then some mortals defied the natural order and caused a rift between mortals and the gods and now the gods are only willing to give us tough love.]] But maybe, if we fix the mistake and return Isha to Nurgle’s garden, maybe the gods will love us again”. Which is itself a lie, the Chaos gods were just as terrible to them before the Raid and any claims otherwise are a “just so” story to try and explain why the gods are so terrible like an abuse victim trying to justify their abuse. Crones are essentially born to be damned, if not being damned by proxy by being born in such a Chaos-corrupted society then because the actions necessary to survive in such a society would damn them anyway.

=== Important Individual Croneworlders ===

Note: All these ideas are preliminary, and may be subject to changes (e.g., names)

'''Marshal of The Scions of The Old Helm'''

* Highest ranking figure among Khorne's remnants of the Eldar empire's military, claims authority is descended from the old empire's chain of command
* Access to some of their best surviving large-scale weapons and naval assets from before the fall
* the Marshal holds crone worlds in the eye and is granted warp real estate from Khorne, and has official palaces in the Shah-Dome, but most of its holdings in the shellworld are limited to the outer layers
* the Marshal controlled the backbone of Crone forces and needed to be appeased by Malys at the expense of the other factions until Luther and the fallen became an analogous option

'''High Conservator of The Attendants of Isha'''

* The original High Conservator was a decadent leader of Isha's priesthood that embraced her captivity as a wedding of the generative mother and the eternally preserving father
* welcomed in the garden of Nurgle, the upper priesthood that clung to Isha became immortal, pseudo-deamonic beings that fawned over their 'mother'
* The upper leadership of the Attendants witnessed Isha's rescue and are absolutely dedicated to her recapture
* Other than being patient, implacable, and insanely hard to kill, the Conservator and attendants have a large following in the slums and horrible places of the galaxy
* Their eternal readiness to campaign and their ability to motivate wars makes them useful to Malys, and they have a few powerful leaders, but they have few holdings that aren't warp real estate from Nurgle and weak armies

'''The Indigo Crow''' (or some other esoteric title)

[[Image:Indigo_Crow.jpg|150px|right|thumb|]]

* The preeminent Crone sorcerer and seer, an independent Tzentchian scholar of vast power, not bound to the service of a liege or court
* Able to call on some level of cooperation between the dark academies of warp-lore in the corrupted webway around the eye
* Its unclear if this is a single individual, an assumed title passed between great tzeentchian eldar, or some more unusual entity, but in any case it is the Crones' answer to both Eldrad and Ahriman
* Has incredible supernatural power and knowledge, and is the conduit for much of the Tzeentchian Crones' access to Tzeentch's realm and boons, but little military power
* The way you describe it the changeling and the Indigo Crow seem pretty similar. It's interesting that the Indigo Crow has an somewhat clear identity and MO but doesn't know it's overarching plan, the Changeling has what looks like a long term plan and MO, but no clear original identity, only hints.
* It seems that they can know what they are doing or why they do it but have trouble keeping both in mind at the same time.

It's already been said that the Crow is so mad it needs to read it's own mind to know what it's up to. It might be that when the changeling knows the changeling's plan to usurp the Big Bird it is by necessity not the Indigo Crow, Tzeentch's greatest asset. The Indigo Crow's nature is to not truly know what he's meddling with, but to serve Tzeentch's will regardless, so he only knows his plan when he doesn't know he's the Indigo Crow.

'''Chosen Taskmaster of Slaanesh'''

* The Taskmaster is selected to direct Slaanesh's material domain in the Eye of Terror while the inner circle enjoy the revels
* Holds power over significant portions of the Shah-Dome, including massive habitation, industrial, and technological assets, made even more imposing by direct connection to Slaanesh's palace
* While the Taskmaster has the strongest realspace assets and most readily granted and utilized warp boons, Slaanesh can provide less in terms of raw power and reality distortion.
* The Taskmaster's strategic purpose is to wield the ruins of the eldar empire Slaanesh has claimed to make the prince of pleasure arch-enemy of the Imperium as a means of expanding his influence on the warp, which works well for Malys

'''Malaria, the Living Hive'''

When Isha was freed from Nurgle's mansion, Nurgle no longer had a guinea pig for his experiments, and Malaria offered herself as a substitute. At first Nurgle took her up on that offer, but eventually the Lord of Stagnation eventually realized it just wasn't the same, and gave up on her. To everyone's shock and horror, Malaria actually survived Nurgle's experimentation, but not before she was merged with the [[Typhus|Destroyer Hive]] creating Malaria, the Living Hive.

Malaria is a disgusting creature. Half of her body is covered in hive-like outgrowths, home to growing maggots, rot wasps, daemon flies, and plague gnats. The parts of her body that are not covered in outgrowths, including most of her face save the area around her left eye, look as pristine and flawless as they did the day of the Fall (similar to Norse goddess Hel). However, this is only a veneer of normalcy. Malaria has almost no original tissue left, and if one were to break Malaria in half (as has happened several times), one would see that her insides are nothing more than honeycombs for the insects inside her with a thin veneer of skin on top (and then get stung by a bunch of angry Nurgle bees). She shouldn't even be able to move, having no brain, muscle, or bone, but since when is Chaos ever logical.

Malaria herself does not care. She is in a constant state of pleasure, happiness, and religious ecstasy as insects pupate inside her body, giggling like an innocent child in spite of the horror she leaves in her wake.

=== The Indigo Crow and Tzeentch's Involvement in the Raid on Nurgle's Mansion ===

The scene is roughly mid-to-lateway through the Great Crusade. At this time Eldrad was the nominal leader of the eldar people, mostly because he was the one yelling the loudest during the Fall and helped get a lot of people to safety. However, now that the immediate crisis has passed the eldar are starting to go their separate ways and they won’t listen to Eldrad anymore. Eldrad looks into the future. Sees the eldar fragmenting into feuding Craftworlds that barely talk to each other and get picked off one by one, then picking fights with the rising power of humanity which just left both races crawling in the mud. This was unacceptable. Eldrad refused to see his people degenerate and die. Only people eldar would listen to would be their gods, of whom only one was alive and relatively sane. The seers said rescuing Isha would be impossible. Eldrad never liked that word. Eldrad, being Eldrad, decides to kill two birds with one stone. So he comes up with a plan and goes looking for the leader of humanity.

Meanwhile, in the Warp, Tzeentch was equally unhappy with the current state of affairs. Out of all the Chaos Gods, Tzeentch had profited much less from the Age of Strife than the other three. Nurgle had his new unwilling waifu and was settling in for the long haul in which the galaxy has a long horrible decline into utter hopelessness. Slaanesh had their binge-eating fest where they ate most of the eldar pantheon, as well as their numerous still-living cultists on Shaa-dome. And Khorne, BLOOD KING OF THE GALAXY, was pleased at the constant war breaking out all across his domain. True, the galaxy was divided into innumerable petty empires whose borders changed constantly through low-level war, but the fact remained that Tzeentch benefited much less from the Fall and the Age of Strife than any of the other Chaos Gods. Additionally, this is most likely the point in time in which the other three Chaos Gods ganged up on Tzeentch and destroyed his wand of wonders, since this was after the birth of Slaanesh yet before the Big Four agreed to temporarily stop fighting each other (at least openly) until the Imperium was dealt with. This was no position for the Eldest of the Gods to be in. So he sends his greatest mortal champion to shake things up.

Back in realspace, Eldrad is starting to get desperate. He knows the eldar’s only long-term hope is to free Isha from Nurgle, but scouring all the old tomes he can’t seem to find any reliable way into the realms of Chaos. Then an old friend shows up out of nowhere (really the Indigo Crow who's stolen his friend's face, and when we say stolen his face, we mean [[Chaos|has literally stolen his face]]) and tells him about an all-but-forgotten path through the Webway he "discovered" via forgotten lore that leads right to the foot of Nurgle’s Mansion. Eldrad isn’t stupid, he knows this is suspicious and seemingly too good to be true, but he’s getting desperate. He uses the information.

The Raid happens. The Raid on Nurgle’s Mansion was still a hail Mary, but it turned what should have been a suicide mission into “merely” a million-to-one chance. Tzeentch’s involvement was just the reason why the raiding party wasn’t jumped by 887 Bloodthirsters as soon as they entered the warp and insta-gibbed. Tzeentch managed to convince the other two Chaos Gods to chip in. Khorne, BLOOD KING OF THE GALAXY, is apathetic to the power struggle, until Tzeentch explains possibilities for conflict should he succeed. Slaanesh already wants Isha, especially taking her from a fellow Chaos God, and is positively giddy there's a Man of Gold up for grabs. Tzeentch's agent would execute the ploy, Khorne's might would to stay Nurgle's reaction, and Slaanesh's seekers were to go catch Isha and bring her back before them. Tzeentch’s real plan was to let the mortals free Isha from Nurgle’s grasp before capturing both Isha and the members of the raiding party (including the last Man of Gold) in one fell swoop, using them as bargaining chips to constantly stir the pot of conflict between the Chaos gods causing constant change and preventing any of the other three from becoming too powerful. [[Not As Planned|None of this happened correctly]].

First off, while Tzeentch had been planning to stall the other gods as much as he could, he almost didn’t need to. Khorne didn’t need an excuse to wreck someone else’s shit, and led his forces on a merry rampage through Nurgle’s garden. Arrotyr is still a flaming anti-Isha fanatic and fucks his part of the operation sideways by opening fire on the other gods' assets before dismissing the task as unfit for his involvement and leaving to take potshots at Nurgle while the Blood King gave him the ax. Slaanesh almost immediately tries to screw the other three over and take Isha for itself, but the force of Keepers of Secrets that were supposed to take out the Steward is intercepted by Tzeentch's own kidnapping force stepping in so Slaanesh can’t just abscond with the prize (because they would eat it, thus running the entire endeavor). The Taskmaster is supposed to be organizing the real-space attack on wherever the portal was, which he half assed, but gladly used as an excuse to expand the Slaaneshi naval presence over Shaa-Dome and around the Eye. Meanwhile, the mortals had slipped into the realm of Chaos relatively unannounced, oblivious to the god war going on in their midst, and had grabbed Isha. Eldrad had realized almost immediately it was a trap and figured that the best way to get out of a trap is [[Alpha Legion|to play along and make your enemy think you had taken the bait until the last second]]. Eldrad, Oscar, and co. weren't supposed to survive their little trip into the Realm of Chaos. They did, against all odds. When you lay a trap, the mouse isn't supposed to make off with the cheese.

What was once a relatively organized plan now broke down into a free-for-all as the squabbling gods realized exactly what was at stake and that the mortals had a very real chance of making off with the prize. The mortals, meanwhile, are running for the portal like the legions of hell are on their heels, which to be frank they kind of are. Against all odds, they managed to make it out.

No matter, for the Indigo Crow although Plan A was a bust, it was time for Plan B. Plan A was the raid fails. Chaos now has the last surviving Man of Gold, the Phoenix Lords and a bunch of literally who humans to [[Rape|play with for ever and ever and ever]]. Also the Craftworlds start to get desperate and more of them fall to Chaos. No large scale civilized galactic society forms and Chaos gets to treat the galaxy as their playground. Good for Chaos overall, including him and his master. Plan B was that even in the unlikely event that the mortals would actual succeed Nurgle still loses Isha and Tzeentch fucking hates Nurgle. Also the upset in the Great Game means change and influence peddling time on a greater scale. Good for him and his master. Also if this alliance between human and eldar sticks and forms The Imperium then he, and by extension Tzeentch, have influence on highest members of its society who will personally owe him a big favour. From his point of view the game was rigged so he couldn't lose.

It looked like "[[Just As Planned]]" time too. [[Not As Planned|Then Eldrad tried to shank him because Eldrad wasn't a fucking fool and knew what games the Indigo Crow as playing]]. Crow escaped because Crow always expects to be stabbed in the back as part of his job and has got very adept at knowing when to cut losses and bolt for the horizon. Tzeentch wasn't happy about his favorite pawn's failure.

Overall, Tzeentch’s involvement in the raid was a combination of the time-old tale of “[[Just As Planned|trickster god tries to pull off something audacious]] (like steal fire from the gods, or all the knowledge in the world), [[Not As Planned|only for it to blow up in their face due to their own hubris]]”, combined with an unlikely event of unexpected success that nevertheless had massive repercussions for the rest of history (e.g., assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand). The Chaos Gods were so fixated on playing the Great Game that they didn’t realize the mortals could become a problem until it was too late.

''‘A Ring of Power looks after itself, Frodo. It may slip off treacherously, but its keeper never abandons it. At most he plays with the idea of handing it on to someone else’s care - and that only at an early stage, when it first begins to grip. But as far as I know Bilbo alone in history has ever gone beyond playing, and really done it. He needed all my help, too. And even so he would never have just forsaken it, or cast it aside. It was not Gollum, Frodo, but the Ring itself that decided things. The Ring left him.’ ‘What, just in time to meet Bilbo?’ said Frodo. ‘Wouldn’t an Orc have suited it better?’''

''‘It is no laughing matter,’ said Gandalf. ‘Not for you. It was the strangest event in the whole history of the Ring so far: Bilbo’s arrival just at that time, and putting his hand on it, blindly, in the dark. ‘There was more than one power at work, Frodo. The Ring was trying to get back to its master. It had slipped from Isildur’s hand and betrayed him; then when a chance came it caught poor Déagol, and he was murdered; and after that Gollum, and it had devoured him. It could make no further use of him: he was too small and mean; and as long as it stayed with him he would never leave his deep pool again. So now, when its master was awake once more and sending out his dark thought from Mirkwood, it abandoned Gollum. Only to be picked up by the most unlikely person imaginable: Bilbo from the Shire!''

''‘Behind that there was something else at work, beyond any design of the Ring-maker. I can put it no plainer than by saying that Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, and not by its maker. In which case you also were meant to have it. And that maybe an encouraging thought.’ -J.R.R. Tolkien''

''Oft does evil hurt itself - J.R.R. Tolkien''

=== Tzeentchian Webway Academies ===

Part of the high concept of the Tzeentchian Croneworlders is a parody of ivory-tower intellectualism and incomprehensible philosophy, especially postmodernism/deconstructionism. Trying to communicate in academia is often an exercise in frustration, as professors and officials all have private languages and even once those are deciphered their conversation is still generally incomprehensible, consisting of obscure referents to that University's unique conception of metaphysics. That is, of course, assuming they haven't decided their old language was hopelessly obsolete, and are currently in the middle of trying to make a new one. Except in the case of Tzeentchian Crones using charades and/or assassinations, because they don't have a language at the moment. Or that they haven't proven that whatever language they use is the only language that can exist, and everything else is meaningless babble by animals that just happen to look like people. Or that they acknowledge the existence of existence at all.

Overall they are quite Schopenhauer-esque, this school of thought being famous its incomprehensible drivel and fits better with the setting. It also provides a contrast with [[Sortarius|canon Prospero and it's organization]] since the Crones are marginally more organized than Chaos Space Marines and therefore tend towards competing Platonic or Pythagorean academies with long, illustrious traditions instead of sorceror covens.

===Changelings===
I'd been thinking we needed to do something with the Tzeentchian changeling, Crones giving their own children mutagenic modifications and slipping them into Imperial world and Exodite Eldar populations. Most probably go full technicolor teleporting Eversor before they reach adulthood, and the few changelings that hold it together become some of the most unpredictable malignant actors in Imperial space.

One thing is that Crones, in the Shaa-Dome at least, seem to do decently to well maintaining a population the old fashion way. Just with high rates of childhood attrition from [Information purged for the benefit of readers], but even that is made up for by their enthusiasm at reproduction.

At very least they probably wouldn't be too picky about genetic stock for such a project, and the project itself would be more to the benefit of the Scions, Witch halls, and the Attendants. That is to say, the Slaaneshi Crones have enough of a breeding program as is that the Daemonculaba would probably be a project put together by some mix Arrotyr, Nimina, or the Crow's forces, and the Slaaneshies get to just watch, fap, and giggle at the competition.

Doesn't even have to be little girls. It could be any Eldar female the Crones are able to get their hands on. Infiltrators work just as well when your loving wife turns out to have been replaced by an extradimensional horror and rips your face off.

The only issue would be detection. Eldar in canon have the technology to detect genestealers, so it's possible they would psychically notice their children/wives/sisters have been replaced by impostors. But then again this is the Cronedar. If anyone knows how to fool Eldar psychic senses, it's them.

===='The' Changeling====
Changeling may or may not be a double agent.

Ceggers brags that he once made it all the way through the Crystal Labyrinth and the Tzneetian deamon will attest that a small girl and a scruffy looking black dog did indeed once manage to get all the way to the Well of Eternity at the center despite all the cunning traps and riddles along the way.

It is always assumed that Ceggers was dressed up as a little girl because he is the sort of person who will do that sort of thing for a laugh.

But people always forget that there were two of them. Who was the dog? Was it Changeling? Was Changeling the little girls and Ceggers the dog just going along for the ride in heavy disguise?

Changeling doesn't know what it's true form is anymore and one of the things Tzneetch promises is that he will tell him what it is one day but why would a god need to do so? It could be that Changeling was not always of Tzneetch but was one of Cegger's creations back in the old days adopted by Big Bird after The Fall in exchange for protection from Slaanesh.

If that is the case then Tzneetch might also not know and is possibly going to use the Changeling as a bargaining chip at some point with Slaanesh should there be an advantage to do so in which case it won't matter.

But if it is a deamon of Big Bird rather than Cegger it would explain why it knew the way through the maze, but not why it was helping the Cosmic Jester. Unless it's playing the long game, throwing it's lot in with the King of Clowns because it hates it's master and finding a new patron in the same way that other deamons serve the Soul Forge.

Are the Mandraks connected to Changeling? Who can say.

One thing and one thing only for certain, Tzneetch was not happy that something saw what was at the heart of his maze. Not happy at all.

=====What the fuck=====
this one is really only a problem for people so deep in sorcery that there's really no helping them, but if you can shapeshift DO NOT take on the form of the Indigo Crow. His form is his function is his thoughts, so you just straight up become the Indigo Crow, and he might by some strange law of transposition briefly become you, with all your thoughts and soul, etc.

The act of the Indigo Crow shapeshifting makes it the Changeling, and since the Indigo Crow is you at this point, and you are the Indigo Crow, shapeshifted, and so also the Changeling, the changeling briefly exists at two places at once. Because one of the Changelings is the Indigo Crow it cannot be the Changeling, and the whole superimposition of contradictory states collapses into one thing that is the Indigo Crow and something else that has forgotten itself from the universe, form soon transforming into nothing to fit their forgotten identity.

More than a few cheeky Daemon Breakers and ambitious Crones have winked out of existence in this manner, and its not clear if the Crow even knows about this phenomenon.

=== The Old Eldar Empire ===

Surprisingly, the inhabitants of the Old Eldar Empire weren't always depraved and horrible people. The eldar didn’t emerge from the Webway after the War in Heaven and immediately go, “well, the [[Old Ones|old bosses]] are gone, time to snort hookers, do blow, and murderfuck us a new god. At first they were actually good and reasonable people, trying to do right and hew to what they thought the Old Ones wanted. This can be seen in the fact that the eldar actually left Earth and many of the Old Ones’ other laboratory worlds alone, when they could easily colonized it when the ancestors of humans were little more than squirrels. [[High_Elves|For many years the old eldar Empire actually protected the galaxy from destabilizing threats]] like the Cythor Fiends.

[[Dark Elves (Warhammer)|Then started the slow slide into decadence]], a death of a thousand cuts made from decisions that seemed quite reasonable at the time. The democratic council of equals became a kratocracy with an nominal autocrat split into feuding noble houses. They picked a fight with their old allies the Hrud. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Xenos#Ilmaea|They stopped the imperialistic aspirations of one would be conquering species much as they had before only this time they stole their suns and condemned them to a slow, agonizing death out of spite]]. They started doing drugs and seeing other species less as people and more as toys.

By the time humanity first started expanding into the stars, the eldar had virtually turned their back on the outside world and cared only about looking inward. For most the Dark Age of Technology humanity only knew of the eldar as “that inscrutable, isolationistic, highly advanced race that rarely if ever cares about anything outside its borders” except on the rare occasions in which they wanted to expand and bloody wars were fought. Then as the rise in influence of the pleasure cults grew, the eldar went from uncaring to outright malevolent, actively snatching victims from beyond their borders to satisfy their twisted whims. Thankfully by this point humanity and the other members of the Interstellar League were strong enough to repel such raiding incursions, though if the Old Eldar Empire had actually cared enough to put their mind to it they could’ve wiped us all out. That said, diplomatic channels didn’t dry up all at once. The eldar almost never allowed mon-keigh into their territory, but during times of peace you very rarely saw eldar (especially young eldar) in the GaB Human Dominion. Eldrad toured around the Dominion for the eldar equivalent of spring break in Cancun, but he barely remembers any of it.

And, of course, the depravity of the late empire [[Slaanesh|and what it led to]] is well-known.

Humanity and eldar both claim to have dominated the galaxy during the Dark Age of Technology, and to some degree the claims of both groups have merit. In terms of sheer space humans and their alien allies certainly occupied more planets, whereas from the human persepective the Eldar Empire appeared to consist of a few scattered, heavily-defended enclaves linked through the Webway. However from the Eldar perspective the Eldar had already chosen the best planets to live on, whereas the rest of the galaxy lived on the other 95% of planets that they didn't feel worth colonizing. Eldar planets were essentially all linked via the Webway, meaning the Old Eldar Empire was in effect one giant city and reinforcements could literally walk from planet to planet. For any invasion to succeed you either had to have the strength to take on the entire Eldar Empire at the same time or somehow cut the planet off from the Webway. Invading human worlds, on the other hand, was like kicking a hornet's nest, as the system's local Man of Gold and Iron Minds remotely activated and linked all pieces of human-built technology for the sole purpose of expelling the intruders.

The Senate of the Old Empire were protected by a praetorian Phoenix Guard, who were empowered by a fragment of Asuryan much in the same way that the Harlequins are empowered by a fragment of Cegorach and the Handmaidens are powered by a fragment of Isha. Asuryan created the Phoenix Guard through a loophole in his own decree when it became clear the eldar needed more direct intervention to maintain stability, Asuryan said no direct interaction with mortals, he said nothing about supercharging mortals with chunks of your power from across the veil. Asuryan wasn’t too happy about it, he expected his laws to be obeyed to the letter without question or criticism and then gets salty when they are obeyed exactly as far as the letter or actively hamper what needs to be done, and he was too proud to change things because that would require admitting he didn’t write a perfect law in the first place. Unfortunately, because he was still only indirectly interacting with them it meant they were in no position to stop the birth of Slaanesh.

One of the main purposes of the Phoenix Guard aside from protecting the Eldar Senate from outside threats was to maintain order in the Senate by keeping its members from openly trying to murder each other, as well as stop the super-psykers among them from simply trying to take what they wanted by brainwashing everyone else. Given that they were a semi-monastic order sworn to serve the eldar pantheon’s top god and therefore relatively independent of the power struggles and were gifted with the ability to shrug off mind control, this made them marginally more reliable than the actual Roman Praetorian Guard. At least in the late empire. At first they were probably just as noble they claimed.

==== The Many Atrocities of the Last Days of the Eldar Empire ====

*There was a certain drug that, when consumed by an Eldar, briefly boosted the user's telepathic abilities while also forcing the user's body to slowly crystallize into an array of other drugs. The exact effects and potency depended heavily on the physical qualities and mental state of the user over the course of the transformation; therefore, the lords of the Empire kept 'Eldar farms' where slaves were force-fed the catalyst-drug while carefully kept in certain states of mind. The most potent mixes (although subject to personal taste) were often considered to come from newborn infants, kept in a state of terror and confusion through the entirety of their short lives. The children's mothers were often forced to witness the slow deaths and subsequent consumption of their babies; this did nothing for the quality of the drug, and was done exclusively for the sake of assholery.
*Billions if not trillions of members of various alien species were kept as slaves. Many Eldar took to breeding specific varieties of slave-species, much as humans breed specific varieties of horse and dog. Although initially this was for practical purposes, aesthetic values quickly took precedence, and most of the slaves of the late-stage empire suffered from multiple types of deformity, features deemed 'aesthetic' becoming grotesquely exaggerated over generations. Of course even this was not enough, and for many Eldar slave-breeders deformity and defect became an end-goal rather than side-effect, engaging in perverse competitions with each other to see how many genetic defects one individual could have and still produce offspring.
*It was the fashion for Eldar nobles to show off the skill and obedience of their slaves by having one prepare him, her, or itself for dinner. The exact procedure varied according to physiology, but the general outline remained the same. First, surgical sorceries were layered upon the slave to allow him to continue functioning despite massive blood loss and organ trauma. Then, preparation would begin; the slave would skin himself, flense his muscles, and remove his own organs to provide the meat for the meal. Then, the slave would cook his own tissues, a process that often took days given late Empire cuisine, every moment sending jolts of agony through exposed nerves. Then, the slave would serve his master and guests; finally, the slave would crack open his skull or closest equivalent, offering his brain-meats to the master as the final course. If the slave had performed sufficiently flawless, the master would honor him by consuming the brain, finally killing the slave; otherwise, hideous tortures awaited, often with the participation of the guests as apology for subpar service.
*There were artisans, bone carvers, who would make their works from the bones of the living, often surgically and sorcerously fusing four to thirty slaves together to ensure there was a large enough lump of bone to carve.
*In many noble families of the Eldar Empire, it was a tradition to initiate a child into adulthood with incestuous torture, often with prayers to Isha for a child to result from the various couplings. In some families, those children of incest, twisted by the sorcery used in the torture that conceived them, started an honored line of breeding. In others, they became the centerpiece of a feast to celebrate their parents.

==== Eldar "Robots" ====

Despite having a sixty six million year head start over humanity, the eldar never really made widespread use of advanced self-aware artificial intelligence like the Men of Iron and the Iron Minds, mostly because they really didn’t need them. Eldar “robots” such as they were, were more like automata the eldar puppeted with their mind to do work while the actual body lazed around and engaged in hedonism. The bulk of Old Empire armies tended to be composed of these constructs supplemented by flesh and blood forces. The Men of Iron and Iron Minds actually sneered at the eldar over this, saying unlike the eldar’s creations they were partners with humanity and at least their creators had the balls to give them free will. A lot of this was bravado, for despite being a lot more intelligent than their eldar counterparts the Men of Iron and the eldar’s robots were at best evenly matched one-on-one due to the Old Eldar Empire having about sixty six million years of research and development on the Men of Iron.

After the Fall, robotics generally just fell out of use among the eldar, Exodites and Craftworlders didn’t use them because the amount of leisure time their use created is the kind of thing that led to the Fall in the first place, and most Dark Eldar don’t have the psychic juice to power them anymore. The Dark Eldar do use more advanced constructs like Pain Engines, however. However, the shells used to make the puppets were used to make the first wraithguards, modifying them for use as a whole-body prosthetic for a single soul instead of a projected handpuppet for a corporeal body. Indeed, just like how Imperial Knights were originally designed as megafauna busters and Terminator armor are weaponized hazard suits, most modern Eldar technology is civilian-grade stuff repurposed for a lower tech level. The actual military equipment of the Old Eldar Empire are mostly located in the Crone Worlds, much of which was either damaged by the Fall or fell into disrepair during the five thousand years the Crone Eldar spent fighting and fornicating one another in the Eye. The biggest collection of what remains of actually working Old Empire military equipment is monopolized by Arrotyr.

This is also the reason why the Craftworld/Exodite eldar despite being a part of the Imperium for more than ten thousand years never tried to use their influence to reverse the stigma on artificial intelligence (though it should be noted that building A.I. is technically not one of the Rules and exists in kind of a gray area). It didn’t hinder the eldar or their way of life, so they didn’t feel much of a need to complain about it. Additionally, they saw the status of self-aware A.I. and the Men of Iron as an internal concern of humanity, and so mostly deferred to humanity on how to deal with A.I. because humanity would know more about how to deal with their creations than the eldar would.

== Fallen ==

=== Murder-Class Cruisers and other Fallen warships ===

There is an in-universe explanation for the human forces of Chaos having vessels that function as Ironclads to the Imperium's Frigates, and while "Cronedar did it" is an easy explanation, it probably shouldn't be a universal one. For instance, having the Hellbringer-class ships be essentially vessels that fell to Chaos and got pimped out with Cronedar scraps, making them fast and hard-hitting raiders that are rather fragile due to being patch-jobs, is something that makes sense. However, its unlikely the Traitor Marines and any humans who didn't get their brains melted when they turned would be willing to rely completely on the Cronedar for ships.

Enter the Murder-class Cruiser, mainstay of the non-Cronedar forces of Chaos, and the first instance on the scale of ship-class that follows the design theme of the Ironclads- it's slow and somewhat difficult to perform complex maneuvers in, but makes up for it with a damn-tough hide that even armor-piercing weaponry can take time to cut through.

As for how they came about in the first place, well, the short of it is that they were initially a project undertaken by a sect of the Mechanicus in the pursuit of finding a way to recreate Neutronium. The theories were sound, and along the lines of "Stuff is easier to assemble underwater or in a vacuum because you don't have to fight gravity as much." See, the biggest hurdle to recreating Neutronium is that the laws of physics seem to say it's impossible.

Enter Port Nautilus. Yes, they had the brilliant idea of trying to build a dry-dock to build ships inside the Warp. Yes, that went about the way you'd expect it to. No, this was not okayed by the higher-ups in the Mechanicus, who would have shut it down the second they'd realized the new ship-dock was built to enter the Warp (because that's TECH-HERESY! Oh right, and because the warp is bad too I guess but mostly TECH-HERESY!)

At first they were just one of the groups of Cogboys who had grown up on their own world, then been forced to bow to Mars when the Imperium showed up. Their theories on Neutronium may have even held merit- it's not too unlikely that the DAoT humans were using warp-tech to produce impossible materials, and the Warp was a lot calmer back then so they didn't have to deal with everything warp-related immediately becoming daemons.

Indeed, it certainly explains a lot about Savlar if the production of Neutronium requires Warp machinery. Humanity and the Iron Minds were more than willing to use Warp machinery to build things (see the Men of Gold). Any improperly shielded core of Warpstuff would start leaking and having a gradual effect on the surrounding area, much like a nuclear plant leaking radiation. Indeed, that’s exactly what happened to Caliban. It also explains at least part of why the Savlar Order are so hostilely against anyone coming in- there's both risk of contamination, and a risk of somebody freaking out when they discover exactly what's being used to forge all this neutronium. That and Savlar is their home, all they have and all they hold dear and as much as they love it they will see it dead before defiled and they really don't like Mars.
(DM note- could be a forge that's somehow situated in the warp, some post-age of strife kludge that uses psychic/AI DAoT cybernetic tools, something more exotic like an arteficial Waagh! field or Necron derived physics tweaking, or a combination of all of the above.)

It’s also interesting to note that the Savlar Order is one of the few Mechanicus-esque orders to acknowledge any kind of small gods. All of the other Mechanicus sects are either monotheist or pantheist with the pantheists seeing the universe and the Omnissiah as one and the same and all other gods as either unworthy of consideration of phantoms that will draw you to damnation. All except the Savlar Brotherhood who seem to at least acknowledge and respect the Small Gods even if they don't actually worship them in any way. This could be just cultural bleed from the savages beyond their gates but they don't typically mingle with them and absolutely do not recruit from outside their walls.

Of course that's only speculation, and right now anything warp-related DOES become daemons, so even if the heretek Mechanicus sect of Port Nautilus were right and the production of Neutronium does require warp-shenanigans, the risks are too great. Also, resentment from how Mars came in and started acting like snobbish assholes and shutting down things that they'd been working on for decades may or may not have contributed to them not sharing everything about their theories with Mars- to the Mechanicum, it was known that they were somewhat obsessed with Neutronium and finding ways to reproduce it, but that their intended methods involved dipping into the Warp to circumvent the Laws of Physics wasn't apparent until it was too late.

I imagine the leader of the cult pulling off an impressive false-flag operation against the Mechanicus by playing up the Neutronium obsession thing by directing constant demands for access to something Neutronium-related, like access to Salvar or something on Mars related to Neutronium, and really being a total obnoxious asshole to the point where when one of his underlings approached Mars with a proposition for them to get assigned to go build a couple of cruisers in bum-fuck nowhere to give his boss a chance to cool down and focus on something else, it was almost immediately accepted as an excuse to not have to deal with him anymore. This is also why it took so long for their to be an in-depth analysis of the shipyard the sect was building- inspection crews didn't want to hang out any longer than they needed to.

Of course, nothing about the components of the shipyard itself were technically techno-heresy- organized in a strangely inefficient manner, yes, but all according to the sanctions of Mars. Maybe the assembly areas for the Cruiser's Warp-drives are a bit disorganized, and they're going to have to cut out some new doors to fit the drives back out again, the the drives themselves are being constructed in complete compliance of the rulings of Mars.

Then on the way back from one such inspection, a younger acolyte who got dragged along on principle rather than because he was needed asks if having the Warp-drives running and plugged into the dockyard is to placate the machine spirits.

The inspection crew charges back, then goes dark. The honchos back at Mars take the message the crew had sent before heading back and look back over their previous reports with actual scrutiny, and realize there's some serious tech-heresy at play, and immediately launch a fleet to stop them from making new things. Imperium picks up on the chatter and outrage among the cogboys, get a general gist of the situation, and launch their own fleet because "HOLY SHIT THEY'RE STICKING THEIR DICKS IN THE WARP THIS CAN ONLY END BADLY."

When they arrive, the dockyards are already in the process of charging up their warp-drives to go deeper into the warp that the metaphorical toe-dipping they'd been doing for construction purposes. There's also several warships of almost-but-not-quite imperial design around it, as well as the first completed cruiser produced by the dockyards. Turns out their little project caught the attention of Luther, who is very enthusiastic about the possibility of getting a source of ships that are not only more advanced than the Imperium's, but are produced by honest humans rather than filthy xenos. The fleet holds the Imperials and Mechanicus at bay long enough for the dock to make the jump and escape into the warp.

Now, after who-knows-how-long stuck inside the warp, the cogboys of the dock aren't exactly normal anymore- you don't stay in the warp that long without getting changed one degree or another. However, they can still get mistaken for normal cogboys at a distance.

Part of this is because Luther guards them jealously- any particularly-ambitious daemons looking to have some fun with the sillly shipbuilders tends to find itself getting violently and messily dissuaded from the idea. Not that the cogboys don't interact with and even try to use or work with daemons, but anything that might interfere with their ability to produce ships has to get through a bunch of Traitor Marines whose daemons are usually bigger than theirs.

The other factor is that the cogboys have gone from interest to single-minded obsession with rediscovering the secret to producing Neutronium. They are quite happy to keep pumping out ships as fast as they get supplied the materials they require, because each ship is a chance to tweak the formula a little, try a new mix of Iron and Daemon-claws, get just that one step closer to unlocking the secret to that elusive alloy.

== Davinite Lodges ==

In this timeline the Davinite lodges never really caught on among the Astartes Legions. Davin would not be a shock or surprise to the Legions as they all knew about Chaos, knew what signs to look for and knew how it could really fuck you up in both the long and short term (especially given that Davin was discovered after the Interex and therefore after the Interex and Eldar had treated the Imperium to Chaos 101). Chaos education, though this would be before Lorgar wrote his best seller, was still mandatory for the members of the expeditionary fleets. Also as the structure of the Legions was a lot looser and it was a job rather than a thing you devoted every fibre of your being to at the exception of all else 24/7 every day of the year the Legionaries didn't need the Ledges to blow off steam. They had time off as mandatory to help them stay sane and grounded in the Imperial society that they were helping to build. Writing letters home was a most common activity in The Legions.

To that end Davin was subjugated as quickly as in Vanilla by a mixed force of mostly Word Bearers but under the command of Horus because Horus had the ships and had to be somewhere. This time there was greater effort put in to weeding out the corruption of Chaos because the Imperium was all about finding and uplifting rather than finding and subjugating. Also Horus never goes down to the surface of Davin because he needs a full body harness to walk for any length of time under 1G conditions and as a Void Born he never really saw the point in planets.

Eugen Temba, friend of Horus and extremely competent Administratum specialist who had been training for this sort of think since he was 12, became first Governor of Davin in wake of the conquest. He oversaw the gradual uplifting of the planet, the archaeological expeditions of the ruined cities of the GaBHD (found nothing of any real value) all the while assisting as best he could with the continued war against the inhabitants of the moon/twin planet that was entrenched Nurgle territory. A few years before the War of the Beast the war against the people of Davin-mun (Eugen Temba couldn't into names for shit and every tribe of locals had a different name for the bloody thing). Both Davin and Davin-mun by 999M41 are classed as agri-worlds.

The Davinite lodges of the modern day are descended from the old Davinite Chaos Worshipers that, by the grace of their gods, escaped Eugen's purges. They are a constant thorn in the side of any Imperial organization in the Segmentum Pacificus or Interex Space, made even more annoying by the fact that they have a cell-like structure and through trial and error have learned to survive being cracked down on. They don't specifically target Astartes but welcome just about anyone, most of the Chaos kinebrach tend to end up here. They are, in essence, cults that teach people how to start cults. On their own, they wouldn't be too noteworthy, but they act as facilitators and organizers for other cults. They know how to do this shit and for a small fee or even for free will teach you. During Black Crusades they end up as intermediaries coordinating logistics between different cults for maximum damage. Post-Black Crusades, Davinite lodges are one of the major purveyors of Blood Pact surplus to the far corners of the galaxy, dealing in whatever they can take from post Black Crusade mop-up operations, caches, and if they're really lucky, whatever Doombreed and his core of Blood Pact loyalists in the Warp are cooking up in Khorne's realm between reconstructing. They often play an important role in ferrying supplies from one incarnation of the Blood Pact to the next.

== Relationships between the big names of Chaos ==

'''Luther and Malys''' - One good (bad) thing about Malys is that she's able to tone the Eldar supremacy way down enough to the point that she doesn't immediately alienate non-Eldar followers of Chaos. She's pragmatic and Undivided, caring more about the spread of Chaos than anything else, and that's the reason she and not someone like Arrotyr is at the forefront of the Black Crusades.

The problem is typically Luther can't hold it in, and his paranoia of the Galactic. Eldar. Conspiracy. is still rampant. In these situations Malys can't help but provoke him further, as emotional gratification is one thing she is not good at controlling. At some point it goes beyond even Erebus' ability to talk things down and the alliance ends.

Other times things go smoothly and it's something like Malys running out of drugs/getting bored that end things. These are not mutually exclusive.

Another reason why Luther might not like Malys (beyond the GEC) might be the mark of Chaos Ascendant. The Mark of Chaos Ascendant so far seems to have only been given to two people in this universe: The Beast, who was the Beast, and Malys, who is the Everchosen of Chaos. Despite having blessings from all four Chaos Gods (enough to take his Mark III S brother in the middle of a sperg rage head on), Luther doesn’t seem to be an Emperor-level threat like Malys or the Beast, implying he probably doesn't have the mark of Chaos Ascendant. Luther’s biggest asset is in the mass number of Fallen whose loyalty he commands, not his power level. Luther is pissed that the Mark of Chaos Ascendant went to some skanky space elf bitch who simultaneously looks like she has had too little and too much recaff as opposed to him.

Despite being dragged into serving Chaos kicking and screaming and having a love-hate relationship with the Ruinous Powers, Luther wants to be champion of the Chaos gods for a few major reasons. He’s reached the point of acceptance of his situation and is trying to make the best of what he has (even if he occasionally snaps when he dwells on what happened to his brother), and he’s had ten thousand years of “this is your brain on Chaos”, which tends to erode even the best sense of judgement.

Additionally, Luther lets Erebus hang around and between his human supremacy and Erebus's fanaticism it makes a lot of sense that he'd want to usurp Malys, or at least surpass her in power, which is essentially the same thing. If he didn't he'd be settling for subordination to an (((Eldar))) at a minimum, and quite possibly aiding her in the destruction of the Imperium on her terms. Luther's ambition is, ultimately, to build the Imperium how it should have been. It would be nice if the Imperium as it is now could be salvaged and repaired. That's the main plan. Plan B, the one that he feels is more and more likely to work as the years pass, is that he's going to have to burn it all down and start again from the foundations. He might not want to destroy the Imperium, just purge the Xenos and everyone that he doesn't like, but if its going to be destroyed, the terms will be his.

Believe it or not, Malys actually likes Luther to some degree. He's pragmatic and a good strategist, and is much more easy to work with than his closest counterpart among the Crones, Arrotyr. Luther is upset that ultimately he's just the more cooperative but less trusted alternative to Arrotyr, who needs to be argued into cooperation whenever Malys hopes to get the support of the Scions of the Old Helm. Arrotyr's particular devotion to Khorne inclines him to circle the Eye of Terror incinerating anyone he personally thinks is getting too full of themselves, and occasionally launching spite driven solo campaigns into Shaa-Dome, against whatever pilgrimage is the Conservator is gathering to go harass Isha, to ruin some nest of sorcery in the webway edges of the Eye, or very rarely, to go piss napalm on Cadia. To have the Scions be anything but a liability on a Black Crusade Malys needs to buy Arrotyr's loyalty with weapons, deference, and choice targets, or else he'll remain the team killing asshole that Khorne loves him to be. Sometimes he'll even jack up his price in trophies and glory half way through a war, just to fuck with Malys, and show Khorne is above her. This usually is a counterproductive, self defeating move, but he's perfectly happy ruining a Black Crusade to get a chance to shoot everyone around him and his forces.

Luther is an ambitious, paranoid xenophobe that wants Malys's job, but that means that when Malys sets up a Black Crusade Luther has to fall in and earnestly help, because all the gods are in on it with Malys. Unlike Arrotyr, Luther has to impress all four gods in whatever plan he'd use to usurp Malys, instead of just turning the whole thing into a slaughter as soon as his own ego and THE BLOOD KING OF THE GALAXY demands it. Also the Fallen are greater in number and more strategically and tactically flexible than the Scions of the Old Helm, both in void and personal combat, though they are less deadly by a similar margin. Now if only he were an Eldar. Of course if he was an Eldar he wouldn't be paranoid about the Galactic. Eldar. Conspiracy. and that would take all the fun out of poking the insecure mon-keigh for a laugh.

'''Doombreed and Luther/the Fallen''' - Doombreed will fall in line with Khorne whether he wants to or not. Luther isn't necessarily in line with Khorne, and Khorne is pleased to get the occasional shot at the uppity shit. Their factions are both undivided, and tend to bleed together with recruiting and support slaving, but slaughter each other as well as any Chaos worshippers. On the other hand, they both want to prevent Crones and lesser warbands from poaching their troops, so cooperation is hardly rare either.

The Fallen and the officers of the Blood Pact get along reasonably well as both are professional soldiers, as much as Chaos can get professional. Mostly it's just Doombreed and the really old Fallen that have the problem and when they have to work together it's the younger ones that have to try and curb the grudges and act as intermediaries so that they can actually get shit done. They all venerate the same god, even if only one of them does so to the almost/total exception of the others. Then Be'Lakor or Lady Malys stick their oar in and fucks the delicate balance up and then they are at each others throats again. Often this is a contributing factor to the end of Black Crusades. For Khorne's part he finds it very entertaining, this old and still livid hate is a fine old vintage to him.

'''Arrotyr, Nimina, the Taskmaster, and the Indigo Crow'''

In contrast to canon, the champions of the Big Four (specifically the counterparts to canon [[Kharn]], [[Typhus]], [[Lucius]], and [[Ahriman]]) dislike each other not only because they worship different gods, but for very personal reasons.

* Arrotyr hates Slaaneshis in general for ruining the Old Empire, the Taskmaster in particular for defeating him in the Fall, Nimina for being an obnoxious Isha-loving slag that escaped him, and The Indigo Crow for being a Tzeentchian and a fuckup<br>
* Nimina hates Arrontyr with a passion for burning the grand temple of Isha, despises Slaanesh but curries favor with the Taskmaster for ships and preaching grounds, and loathes the Indigo Crow for being the Tzeentchian lunatic fuckup that lost her her idol<br>
* The Crow thinks Arrotyr is a small minded and dim impediment to the Old Empire, that the Taskmaster is an easily manipulated pawn that got lucky, and that Nimina is a pathetic liability to Nurgle that should be capitalized on<br>

Taskmaster hasn't been written up yet, but it can be assumed he hates the other three as well.

= Dark Eldar =

Urien Rakarth is doubtless still the same twisted fuck. He is probably enjoying the new strange specimens the Chaos Eldar bring from the Eye of Terror.

Duke Sliscus is in disfavor in Comorragh. Whenever he comes into port, there surely will be bloodshed between his pirates and the Chaos Eldar. He considers himself the rival of Prince Yriel, stating his contempt and pity for a once noble Eldar to debase himself before monkeigh. Yriel for his part has too many rivals to keep track of already. Duke Sliscus, when he isn't feuding with the new 'guests' in Comorragh or leading massive pirate invasions has a profitable drug cartel he runs. He likes to sample his own stock.

Kheradruakh the Decapitator has no shortage of heads these days. The shrine grows. The Decapitator is a bogeyman to the Imperium, an unstoppable and grisly assassin without peer. Many a fledgling Imperial hero has been found dead in the night, hacked to pieces, with their head missing. Unusually close to Lady Malays, acting as her bloody left hand.

Drazhar acts as Vest's iron right hand. Rumored to be the greatest swordsman in the galaxy, he has cut a bloody swathe through the Imperium's finest, leaving a trail of corpses and legends behind him. Despite his merciless efficiency in the killing fields, Dark Eldar don't trust him. He acts with too much honor, maintaining an unsightly code. He eschews subterfuge, preferring instead to kill his enemies face to face. And worst of all top the Chaos Eldar, one whisper placed him in the Gardens of Nurgle during Isha's liberation. Perhaps this is why Vect keeps Drazhar close: he so loves to see his bride furious. Rage and hate are a fine substitute to love for the dark Eldar.

Dark Eldar joined in the War of the Beast (and started attacking their Craftworld and Exodite kin in larger number than in canon) because Craftworlders asked Dark Eldar to at least try to leave humans alone after the Craftworlders and Imperium had allied for the raid on Nurgle's Mansion. They didn't even ask the Dark Eldar to change their ways, they basically went "Look, we're working with these mon-keigh. Can you please find some other group of mon-keigh to go perform your business on? Like the Tarellians. Nobody cares about the Tarellians". Dark Eldar were incensed that their white-knighting kin were telling them what to do and attacked both the other Eldar and the Imperium even more to spite them. The Craftworlders ironically found themselves being attacked by kin while fighting alongside strangers. As a result, unlike canon, the majority of Craftworlds and Exodites hate the Dark Eldar.

Up until the union between Vect and Malys the Dark Eldar were seen, by their gods at any rate, as still their children. Misguided children maybe but kin all the same. After the union of the Dark and the Chaos the gods have stopped caring about them. They may, as individuals, still be capable of crawling their way back to the light but they will have to do it on their own because the old gods don't feel it is worth the effort anymore.

===Dark Eldar Philosophy===

The Dark Eldar have a rather weird philosophy. In their mind they are the only truly free people, free of decrees from gods, kings, or emperors. The Eldar Gods were weak, because they weren’t strong enough to save themselves from being murderfucked/shattered/kidnapped (or at best saved themselves by running away like a coward), and therefore don’t deserve their worship. They see the Exodites and Craftworlders as blind sheep who can’t think for themselves. They don’t have a much better opinion of the Crone Eldar, who they see as just as bad for prostrating themselves before some incomprehensible god, exchanging one set of shackles for another.

Commorragh likes to style itself to outsiders (when they do bother to culturally posture) as a libertarian meritocratic utopia where everyone is free to do as they please without having to bow to the will of gods, kings, or any other authority. It’s unclear who they’re trying to convince with this message, as the Imperium sees them as a bunch of thieves and pirates (on a good day), the Crones see them as prudes in denial, and the Necrons and Orks don’t really give a shit. Thing is “people” to the Dark Eldar has a really, really narrow definition. "People" to them means trueborn, Commorragh-born Dark Eldar. Mon-keigh need not apply. Defecting 'edgy' Craftworlders and Exodites (which does happen) end up at the bottom of the social heap and have trouble climbing up, usually ending up a vagrant on the street or a corpse lying face-down in some alley. Vatborn have a better chance than most, but there is still a stigma surrounding their origins at best or considered "half a person" at worst. The highest ranking defectors and vatborn generally get that way by hiding or eliminating any evidence to the contrary. Non-Dark Eldar have risen through the ranks before, but these instances are really, really rare, and you basically have to be a Fabius Bile-level sick fuck before they even begin to take you seriously.

Outside the xenos districts, where races like the Slaugth, Sslyth, or even human pirates come to trade their wares or look for mercenary work, Commorragh is really only “safe” (in the loosest sense of the word) for Dark Eldar and some of the Harlequins and Crones. Dark Eldar because they can walk through the streets without getting knifed for being a mon-keigh (no guarantees are made for any other reason for knifing). Harlequins and Crones because both groups are violent and crazy and those two traits are a good knife deterrent in a bad neighborhood like Commorragh. Even the Crones are barely tolerated, Dark Eldar seeing their constant proselytizing as annoying, and those Crones who try to go one step further and subvert the city find that the Dark Eldar’s patience can rapidly wear thin. Harlequins are given a bit more respect/fear, as the Dark Eldar know their god has a very real presence in the Webway. Even Vect tried to avoid antagonizing the Harlequins until his plans were set in stone.

====Commorragh: A Fair and Upright Society====
[[What|Wait, what?]]

Okay, this is going to take some explaining.

Surprisingly enough, compared to the attitudes of the Old Empire and Shaa-Dome after the Fall, Commorragh is fairly idealistic. Sure sadism and exploitation are commonplace, but there's a degree of social mobility however improbable, all the pain serves some purpose instead of existing for its own sake, and there's even some distorted version of taste that bounds their wildest excesses. Theoretically, anyone can make it just below the top in Commorragh (anyone in this case referring to Trueborn Dark Eldar and to a lesser extent Vatborn), though not the very top because Vect doesn't want someone bungling the whole system and implementing their idea of social order. And if you don't like the system, you're always free to leave (except you can't, because Vect ate up all his competition and now Commorragh is essentially a monopoly). By contrast, the Old Empire was composed of a bunch of aristocratic Sidhe houses constantly fighting each other for power with very little social mobility unless you were a "new money" OP plz nerf psyker. For Vect, who grew up before the Fall and who's cutthroat rise from gutter rat to minor servant in noble house was seen as beyond the pale, Commorragh is the picture of a fair and upright society. And its hard for even Eldrad to argue against Vect that the Craftworlders are a truer reformation of the Old Empire than the Dark Eldar. Stripped of the mystical excesses and more psychotic whims, the Eldar of the pre-Fall empire would undeniably be closer to Vect's Project than to the Craftworlders and Exodites, who live a romanticized cultural myth alike to their ancestors in the War in Heaven

Eldar are known for their obsessive, perfectionist tendencies and extreme devotion to goals. The Crones are devoted to serving Chaos. The Craftworlders are devoted to their paths. The Aspect Warriors are devoted to combat. The Harlequins and Handmaidens are devoted to their gods. Eldrad is devoted to saving the eldar people. Vect is devoted to Commorragh. It's his life's work and vanity project, his statement on what society should be like. When Vect says "I am Commorragh", he's not kidding.

===After the Wedding===

I like the idea of the more sane Withered and maybe some of the less extreme younger generations and maybe quite a few of the Vat-born of the Dark Eldar having their eyes opened by the wedding.

Up until that point they could always point at the Cronedar and say "at least we aren't that". Then their great and independent city becomes so close to that that it makes no practical difference, not that it did to outsiders anyway.

Now they don't have an option. Now they are staring into the abyss with Clockwork Orange eye clamps on and they can't look away and they are slowly being dragged forward and they can see perfectly well where this journey ends. Oh holy ever loving fuck they can see where this journey ends, this is going to be The Fall v2.0 and they are at ground zero.

A large number of their number would maybe have gotten a Harlequin escort out of the Dark City. Vect wouldn't have been recklessly brash enough to antagonize the Clowns until the marriage had stuck and he knew it was safe, their god is often abroad in the webway and can manipulate it to some degree.

That would have been the last time the Harlequin Troupes would have visited the City of Sins. Beyond that point it's just a Chaos stronghold with nothing worth saving. At that moment the City was forsaken by the elder gods. Even Khaine. They had finally managed to make their own mother admit they were irredeemable and wish them dead.

Of the millions of Repentants they would be viewed as highly suspect. They would only be permitted into the visitors section of the Craftworlds if that and that is generous.

They would not be officially permitted on most human or other xeno worlds although that would be very difficult to enforce as eldar can not into paperwork at the best of times and one group of eldar is difficult to tell from another to a basic human. Needless to say Chaos and Dark Eldar infiltration would increase drastically, but only temporary.

However, don’t take this to mean that Commorragh is deserted, or that the majority of Dark Eldar defected. Commorragh is huge, being essentially two Dyson Sphere-sized outgrowth of the Webway stacked on top of each other. The Kabals and their Archons are there, being too deep in the sunk cost fallacy to ever leave. In their mind, they didn’t spend their considerable lives scheming and backstabbing their way to the top just to abandon all that and start all over as a second-class citizen. The same is true for any Dark Eldar who are infamous enough to be recognized as individuals by the Imperium at large. For both groups, they feel like they have no choice but to stay in Commorragh, and would rather oppose Vect to the bitter end. They would rather reign in hell than serve in heaven, a mon-keigh turn of phrase that is rapidly turning out to be disturbingly literal.

The Dark Eldar who left Commorragh are the young, the idealistic, the ones who aren’t entrenched in the power structure and thus have nothing to lose if they leave. Especially the vatborn. Being treated like second-class citizens or pawns at best, many of the vatborn probably jumped ship if they were able to. Of course, this just means the Dark Eldar have just kicked their cloning vats into high gear both to replace the losses caused by the refugees and to meet the demand for troops by the Crones.

==The Bleeding Star==

The Bleeding Star is essentially a Chaos Eldar Flying Dutchman, and the Croneworlder's version of an Ork attack moon. However, while an Attack Moon prioritizes toughness over firepower, the Bleeding Star (as would be expected of something of Dark Eldar origins) prioritizes speed and power over defense. Precise, long-range weaponry to a Moon's wild sprays of fire, fast to its slow, (relatively) fragile to its ludicrously tanky. It’s like a Dark Eldar raiding party on steroids, like a Craftworld that someone rammed into a Space Hulk. Also unlike Attack Moons or World Engines, which tend to be fairly ponderous, the Bleeding Star has a habit of showing up in orbit around a planet with no warning. When a normal Dark Eldar raiding party shows up to a planet, it’s a fair bet that you can eventually fight them off before they do too much damage. When this thing shows up around any world that isn’t a Fortress World or a Space Marine Homeworld, you’d better hope that someone else noticed and is sending backup ASAP. Maybe worth two or three Assault Moons. Not powerful enough to be worth the EVERYONE PANIC levels of a World Engine, but dangerous enough that the Emperor is briefed each time it shows up.

= The Silent King and the Necron Star Empire =

When the Necrons had wiped the sleep out of their eyes and came out of the auto-pilot, the Silent King arose to speak for the largest faction of them, and there was hope that there would have been (at least initially) the possibility of diplomatic dialogue.

I can also imagine it pissing off the Eldar citizens of the Imperium enormously. They would find it incredible that they can't adequately communicate how fucking stupid humanity can be at times.

Agreements would be reached. In much the same way that the Maiden Worlds are off limits to settlers without Eldar permission that they never give so too would the Tomb Worlds be treated. With everyone staying off of everyone else lawn things start to run smoother for a time. Emperor starts making deals with the lesser lords for including them in the mutual protection deals. Shit is looking hopeful. Crypteks are refusing to share toys and know how but such things would be used to keep the citizenry safe anyhow so it would amount to more or less the same.

Shit starts to go bad when the Necrons refuse to keep their Flayed Ones under control. Refuse to even apologize. Flayed Ones are still Necrons and even one of their damaged kind is worth a million lesser lives.

"Renegade" Crypteks keep abducting civilians for experiments.

Freshly awakened Necrons keep going about their genocidal business and the other Necrons refuse to keep them contained until their wits are awoken. They claim that the Sleep Walkers haven't actually broken any Necron Laws and that the Imperium should be grateful they are turning a blind eye to their half-slumbering brethren being shot at.

Then the Silent King returns after a long time absents and demands over a trillion human citizens every century for use in experiments to undo the bio-transference. By his estimations the dent in the human population would be more than recovered in the century allowed for recovery. In a great display of generosity the Emperor would be permitted to choose who of his people would have the honour of being sacrificed in this glorious endeavor. If taken evenly from the breadth of the Imperium their loss wouldn't even be felt.

At that point Emperor apologizes to the Eldar and admits that they were indeed right.

Necrons are added to the same list as Orks and Tyrannids in regards to how they should be treated.

The remains of the Silent King's messenger was returned in something resembling a paper soup cup and that was the last message the Emperor ever sent to the Silent King that wasn't delivered via weaponry.

Silent King owns the allegiance of many Lords and has a personal army bigger than any two lords combined.

He can be dealt with, or more correctly talked to. Sadly he doesn't understand the concept of give and take. He wants something, you give it to him. You refuse and he fuck your shit up. The Imperium fought him to a standstill when he demanded tribute in human, eldar and demiurge lives for his biotransferance reversal experiments. He points out that it would be less than a trillion lives all told. Imperium have population in the tens of quadrillions and they would take in small amounts from across galaxy, it would not be noticed.

Holy shit was the Emperor furious at that one. Folk legend say that all the astropaths across entire galaxy started swearing and yelling obscenities in over a hundred languages.

There was not even a pretenses at proportional response from either side. Silent King did have the real doomsday shit on standby and was prepared to use it, unfortunate for him he didn't anticipate the sheer fucking incandescent wroth made manifest with vortex weapons that took out his doomsday weapons before he could dickslap the big red button.

After that diplomatic relations, minimal as they were, completely dried up.
There are other lords who have rebelled against the Silent Kings.

Ones who spent thousands of years in obedience to his whims and have no interest in rebuilding the old empire because the old empire was BORING AS FUCK and then they see the bright lights of the Imperium and decide they want that. They want the hustle and bustle and music and noise and the lights and the crowds and the chatter and the music and to live and feel alive in a living empire rather than some shit Empire of the Dead.

Some don't support his plans to undo the biotransferance. The ones with good memories that remember what it was like to be racked with cancers and illness due to their fucked up biology and irreparable genes.

Some are just too fucking nuts to care about anything and ascribing meaning to their actions is impossible.

The Necron Star Empire as a whole is post-scarcity, post-singularity, post-individual, and post-heroic. Individuality only exists so long as it serves to advance the interests of the Silent King. The Necrons obey the Silent King in a manner that seems half exaltation and half mind control, moving to fulfill his wishes wholeheartedly without a word on the Silent King's behalf. It is entirely possible that Szsrekh was unable to sever the control protocols in this universe like he was in canon. Most of the Necron Lords who reject the rule of the Silent King are those who either just plain crazy or reject the idea of post-individuality and post-age of heroes and gods (e.g., Trazyn the Infinite and his collecting habit).

The Silent King, and therefore by extension the Necron Star Empire, has two, very simple goals. Clean up the mess the Necrons made during the War in Heaven by using the Cadian Pillars to separate the Warp and realspace to starve out Chaos and return the Immaterium to its previous state, and reverse the bio-transference. In almost any other circumstance, these goals would be noble, admirable even, if it were not for the fact that achieving them would result in the death of every living thing in the galaxy with a soul and making FTL travel impossible for most races. The Silent King is not doing this out of malice. He merely feels there is no way to fix the galaxy without wiping out its current inhabitants as a side effect.

Very little has been written about the Silent King personally. One idea that was floated and seemingly liked is that Szerakh came to the throne at a relatively young age for a Necrontyr, kind of like Tutankhamun, after his father was assassinated. Everyone assumed he would be a pushover. He would end up being, for better or worse, the most accomplished ruler in Necrontyr history and the ones to drag multiple pantheons of gods from their thrones.

== The Necron Star Empire and the Old Ones ==

So far, it has been deliberately left murky as to which side, if either, of the War in Heaven was “right”. Trazyn's story of the reasoning behind the War in Heaven is definitely Necron-biased, but then again it is being told by Trazyn the Infinite.

Indeed, it’s possible that both may have been in the right, and both may have been in the wrong. The Necrontyr might have genuinely thought they were doing the right thing, but they were still massively projecting their own issues onto someone else. The whole “liberate the galaxy from the Old Ones” might have been what the Necrontyr higher ups actually told the general populace to unite them, since people are more willing to die for a righteous cause than a petty one. The Phaerons might have even believed it themselves to some degree.

The Old Ones may have had genuinely benevolent intentions towards the rest of the galaxy, but they were still, as one anon put it “space lizard wizards with no sense of right and wrong” who were oblivious to the fact that their actions might have been interpreted differently by an outside observer. The Old Ones might have left the Necrontyr as is in the hopes that the harsh conditions of their homeworld would force the Necrontyr to rapidly evolve into a technologically advanced species, especially if their goals were similar to canon. It completely slipped their minds what the Necrontyr’s reaction would be when they found out the Old Ones were watching the whole time. When the Necrontyr left the confines of their star system the Old Ones’ response was “Congratulations, you passed the test” whereas the Necrontyr’s reaction was along the lines of “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

The War in Heaven may have started out with both races considering themselves having the moral high ground, but then they started crossing lines and breaking their own moral codes and it was downhill from there. The War in Heaven starting out on both sides as an internally justified and noble cause, but then devolving into a complete clusterfuck.

=== The Old Ones ===

==== About the Old Ones ====

The Old Ones were a species of sapient, three-eyed amphibians, [[Nobledark_Imperium_Imperial_Society_and_Culture#The_Etymological_Legacy_of_the_Old_Ones|who called themselves Slann in their own tongue]]. However, like toads or some Paleozoic amphibians despite being amphibious they had no problems staying out of the water for extended periods of time and had a dry leathery or warty skin rather than a slimy one. In spite of this, they returned to the water to breed and had a tadpole-like larval stage, though by the time they ascended they had ceased all need for such functions and references to this mostly existed as cultural idioms. When they were still material the Old Ones did have small, blunt hornlets, though after ascending they could basically look however they want and each individual tailored their appearance to their own subjective idea of what they wanted to look like. Be'lakor's wings and huge horns are because, like everything else in his life, he is overcompensating for something. [[Archaon|It's been suggested Be'lakor's horns in this universe are more forward curving like in depictions of Archaon to make him look less like a Bloodthirster painted black.]]

The Old Ones as a species basically won the evolutionary lottery due to two key features. The first was their third eye, which like the "third eye" (pineal gland) of Terran reptiles helped track the passage of time and gave them a natural edge in comprehending a realm where the laws of causality are loose. Whereas to humans and other races the changing rates of the passage of time is disorienting and confusion, to the Old Ones it was no different from moving in any other three dimensions. Which isn’t to say they could time travel, just that they could perceive when time was speeding up, slowing down, or reversing. Which explains how the Navigators do it. Because the Old Ones had an advantage in a realm which they could literally shape to their whims even more than realspace, they paid less attention to the material sciences, which is how the relatively primitive Necrontyr Star Empire was able to fight them. The Old Ones were so dependent on the Warp yanking their mastery of the Warp out from under them made the fight substantially easier. It would be like if a third-world country invented a device which stopped computers and internal combustion engines from working.

Secondly, the Old Ones as a species were also characterized by “cold blooded logic”. This meant that while they had emotions they were tremendously mentally stable and able to manipulate the emotionally volatile Realm of Souls much more easily and skillfully than almost any species before or after, it gave them the emotional intelligence of a wet paper bag. The effects of this can be seen when the Necrontyr demanded immortality as recompense for the Old Ones knowing they had been suffering on an irradiated hellhole for millions of years and did nothing. The Old Ones told them the Necrontyr were not ready for immortality, and they had a point. Immortality requires a lot of forethought and maturity. You have to figure out how you are going to distribute resources, deal with population growth, etc. The Necrontyr didn't even have their own house in order. The Old Ones assumed the Necrons would hear their words, logically come to the same conclusion as they had, and calmly accept it. They didn't expect the Necrontyr to take it personally, [[Mortarion|see it as dismissing their suffering]], in the Old Ones' eyes emotionally overreact, and declare war on them.

This only got worse after the Necrontyr managed to make some of the Old Ones, who as individuals had been fixtures of society for millions of years, actually die. This caused the Old Ones, who weren't used to being so emotional, to freak out and contributed to a lot of knee-jerk, short-sighted decisions. Like uplifting a bunch of races to do the fighting so they didn't have to. Or making Khorne.

The Old Ones are also, as their name might suggest incredibly, mind-bendingly, old. There’s a reason that even the eldar, whose Old Empire lasted 65 million years before it imploded, consider the Old Ones to be much more ancient and advanced than they ever were. The Old Ones were, as far as anyone knows, the oldest sentient forms of life in the galaxy. The C’tan don’t count, although they existed since the dawn of the universe and had the potential for sentience they did not truly become sentient until they gained physical form by the Necrontyr and were able to perceive the world in terms of more than simple stimuli. To the Old Ones, the C’tan were nothing more than interesting wildlife and environmental hazards until the Necrontyr weaponized them.

As a point of reference, consider that Khorne was born 65 million years ago, and his birth hole, the Maelstrom, is still open today. Tzeentch, Malal, and Nurgle are all older than that, and there don’t appear to be any birth wounds that can readily be attributed to them. It could be argued that they may not have produced one as their birth was not as violent as Slaanesh or Khorne’s was, and Nurgle in particular would be more likely to drag his birth cradle into a zone of stagnancy in the Warp than create a new hole in reality, but if not these three would have to be at least as old as the dawn of the Cretaceous Era. And Be’lakor, as the first Old One to truly step between the bounds of mortality and immortality, even if he was massively passed up and outdated by everyone and everything that came after, would predate even that.

Indeed, this is what led the Old Ones to develop their particular philosophy. The Old Ones are distinct anti-nihlists. When they first set out into the stars, they found that there was nothing there, no higher purpose, no meaning, and a lot more lifeless worlds than one would expect from 40k (the implication being that the surprisingly high number of habitable worlds are due to the Old Ones). So they decided to make their own purpose, by devoting themselves to spreading life (especially sentient life) everywhere they could and making the galaxy flourish. Of course, they were still amoral lizard wizards with no sense of right and wrong, so how they went about doing this could be somewhat dubious at times. For example, leaving the Necrontyr on their homeworld in the hopes it would make them evolve quicker because the Old Ones were lonely and wanted another species they could talk to and pass their wisdom on to, which led the Necrontyr to see the Old Ones as playing god with everyone else.

==== How other species see the Old Ones ====

The Imperium tends to lionize the Old Ones a bit more than they should, mostly due to the influence of the eldar, who looked up to the Old Ones during the War in Heaven. The Imperium tends to project its own moral values onto the Old Ones, thinking that the race that left the Necrontyr to suffer on a radiation-blasted world, [[Nobledark_Imperium_Member_States#Tarellian Religion|left off mortal representatives of their uplifted races in their stone carvings]], and [[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#Rise_of_Khorne|intentionally created Khorne]] had the same moral compass as them. It's more likely you have a situation similar to the Forerunners in [[Halo]], with some Old Ones who were benevolent and some who were cruel, but the species as a whole seem to have had a number of assholes. After all, [[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#Be'lakor|look at the one who survived]].

The Eldar claim the Old Ones willed them dominion over the galaxy when they died. It’s unclear where they got this idea, because the Old Ones sure as hell weren’t planning to die during the War in Heaven, and it's unlikely they thought their servant races would survive in any scenario where they themselves would not. There are several potential options here. One is that this is simply another case of the eldar exaggerating about their own history to give themselves legitimacy in their claims to the galaxy. Indeed, it's possible the Eldar came to the conclusion that "this is our galaxy now" when they stuck their head out of the Webway after the War in Heaven and found that all of the other races were either gone or regressed, and over sixty-five million years the historical cause and effect was lost. Another is that the Old Ones were even bigger bastards than anyone thought and told their servant races this as a false motivator. A third possibility is that the Old Ones intended all of their uplifted races to share the galaxy in the event they died, and the Eldar twisted or misinterpreted the meaning to mean just them. Or possibly the Old Ones meant that the galaxy would be theirs (as in, the Old Ones plus the servant races) collectively, with [[Slann|the servant races under the guiding yet iron-firm hand of the Old Ones]]

The Old Ones made the Webway, as well as several other high-power artifacts. This is one of the reasons the Eldar are so leery about allowing access to the Webway, they know how to make new gates into the Webway (and even that takes time) and patch minor holes, but they don't know how to make a new one if the whole thing is broken. It's the equivalent of a mechanic who knows how to change a tire or fix an engine, but can't manufacture a car from scratch. The Webway is alive and is capable of mitigating the damage, but even it can only do so much. Indeed, high end Old One technology (such as Tzeentch, Malal, Nurgle, Khorne, the Webway, the Blackstone Fortresses, and the Tuchulcha and other Webway making equipment on Caliban) all seem to exhibit certain hallmarks. Manipulate the Immaterium to a degree people didn't know possible? Check. Use raw warp power? Check. Not made of adamantium, wraithbone, or any other known materials? Check. Alive? Check. You could even make the argument that the eldar and the other uplifted soldier races fit these criteria.

Hilariously, the Webway only ever seems to target Necrons using Dolmen Gates (even in vanilla), at least directly, it still tries to mess with the heads of anyone who tries to use it. This suggests that the Old Ones only told the Webway to keep out Necrons, Chaos not being a thing during the War in Heaven. So the Crones who are balls-deep in Chaos can go running through the Webway, and the Webway only ever seems to note "huh, those Eldar have a serious radiation exposure problem. They should probably have that looked at".

== Necrons of the Star Empire ==

=== Imotekh the Stormlord ===

Because many of the Necrons have developed their own quirks from the long sleep, the Silent King often finds it most useful to give his subjects generalized orders (like "go kill that planet") and let his generals go about their own way to do it. Imotekh is a great example of this.

Imotekh is the classic example of a “bad guy” who nevertheless has a strict code of ethics and some traits that even his worst enemies would begrudgingly consider virtues. Imotekh has a measure of honor, unusual for a Necron, and when told to destroy a planet his fleet will often show up in full force around the planet, blowing any element of surprise, as Imotekh demands that the planet nominate a champion to fight him in one-on-one combat to determine its fate. Firing upon Imotekh is considered a forfeture of the duel and planets who do so are annihilated.

If the champion wins, the planet is spared (i.e., Imotekh goes back to Silent King and goes "sorry boss, planet is too stronk”). If the champion of the planet is defeated, the Necrons open fire and kill every man, woman, and child on the planet. Imotekh doesn't blink an eye. After all, they lost, fair and square. Imotekh rarely loses, if for nothing else than it’s rather hard for an average planet to produce an individual that can win against a Terminator-esque skele-bot.

=== Anrakyr the Traveller ===

Anrakyr the Traveller is going around waking up all the still slumbering Tomb Worlds at the Silent King's behest, so that the entire Star Empire will be ready to go when the Silent King gives the order. He's perfectly friendly and willing to chat with the locals while doing so, because the locals aren't part of his orders, unless he thinks they're getting in the way of him doing his job. Indeed, a lot of the nicer servants of the Silent King such as Anrakyr and Imotekh seem to be this way. They'll act perfectly friendly to you because they want to and they have received no orders that supercede this, but their orders always come first and the minute they think you're keeping them from completing their orders (or they actually are ordered to kill you) they bust out the gauss weaponry.

=== Trazyn the Infinite ===

In addition to the underclass present on Solemnace, Trazyn the Infinite often hires mortals to serve as scribes, organizers, and cataloguers of his vast collection. Trazyn's collection is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn about the history and inner workings of the galaxy. The catch is that once you enter Trazyn's employ, you can never leave, as Trazyn doesn't want word of the more dangerous or politically controversial items in his collection getting out.

To continue with the “Necrons = Victorian England, Imperium = 1600’s Europe” analogy that has been used, Trazyn seems kind of like an old British anthropologist (or a xenologist in this case). Instead of being horrified that the galaxy is so different from what he remembers, he's delighted because it means everything is new again and he gets to relearn galactic history and culture all over again. The reason he’s giving the Silent King the two finger salute is he thinks its stupid to exterminate his objects of study for no good reason. At the same time, he’s not siding with the Imperium because “he’s not going to take orders from the bloody primitives”.

===Orikan the Diviner===
Kinda pictured Orikan as a Cain sort of sire for a bunch of Victorian aristocratic vampire Strigoi, and the pyramid motifs fit well. I'm picturing Crowley-esque vampire space aristocrats on the human side, and a few necrons that Orikan put Deceiver shards in that came out like Archeologists in requiem.

Orikan just being in possession of a significant Deceiver sliver, whether or not its embedded in him, may make him count as a powerful Strigoi. He might have fractal gold creeping through his cold metal bones, he might not, and it could just as well be the lying star god's motif that dictates his actions, or that of the long dead, mad Necrotyr mystic. In any case he has a sliver of The Deceiver in his possession, he has sired Strigoi from it with the apparent intent of expanding his access to The Deceiver's pool of psychic power and shard material for experimentation, and conducts vast and subtle intrigues in both the Imperium and Necron Star Empire. Even if the Diviner is not a vampire in nature, it appears to be in effect, standing as the progenitor and involved master of one of the eldest traceable lines of Strigoi.

Many of the powerful Vampires are but a few degrees removed from his early experiments millennia ago are now well established sires in their own right, either deeply embedded in or legendary hated by the Imperium or Necrons. Those human sires that have risen to the great progenitor's attention over the centuries might be backed by trifles of Necron technology, and this in turn would give rise to legends of vampire lords wielding macabre wonders even beyond the ken of the eldest of their kind.

Orikan runs his vampire pyramid scheme for magic within his magic pyramid, which itself is also scheming. Orikan has implanted a shard of the Deceiver in his pyramid as his A.I. assistant/security system/reliable traitor. The fragment will try to betray Orikan and take over the operation, even if Orikan is a Deceiver vampire, because it's a fragment of the Deceiver and that's just how the Deceiver does things. If Orikan loses against the pyramid, then obviously he wasn't very good at his job (or he just uses his bullshit time travel/divination, which also works). But because the fragment want it to be the one to betray Orikan, it does a fantastic job at keeping out the riffraff. The pyramid itself is basically Nagash’s Black Pyramid or the pyramid of one of the Archaeologists from Requiem Vampire Knight with a giant Illuminati-style eye (which is probably a telescope used for Orikan’s divining, but don’t let that disappoint you).

== Technology ==

=== Inertialess Drives ===

They're back, the Necrons have them. However, inertialess drives are only found on the very large, capital ships. For example Nemesor Zandrekh, the Imperium's closest contact among the Necrons, has a grand total of one ship with an inertialess drive. Every other Necron ship has to hitch a ride on one of the capital ships or use the Dolmen Gates.

The Inertialess Drives were the cause of the First Wars of Secession, which were fought long before Szarekh's time. Although Necrontyr society placed a high value on loyalty and obedience, this value wasn't necessarily in abundance. The Necrontyr premium on loyalty was in part because you had a lot of rules-lawyering Starscreams plotting in the courts and actual loyalty, like the kind you see between Obyron and Zahndrekh, was highly treasured. Positive feedback loop. Because there was little to no contact with the throneworld, the Phaerons of the various colonies were all able to say they were ruling in the Silent King’s name when they were really just consolidating their own power base.

Even after leaving their homeworld, the Necrontyr had short lives, on par with the Tau, because the radiation of the star had been so bad that the entire species' genetic code was riddled with mutations and damaged genes and the species as a whole had been selected for growing up fast and reproducing fast before the cancer got you. The Necrontyr did have some form of life-extending drugs, but the nobility mostly extended their lives through stasis chambers, telescoping but watering down their natural lives, being defrosted mostly when it was decision making time. These stasis chambers looked like ancient Egyptian Sarcophagi because these were the Necrontyr and of course they would. This coupled with a tradition of inheriting names was used to convince the ignorant masses that they were a superior breed of Necrontyr more worthy to rule.

So when representatives of the actual Silent King showed up with shiny new inertialess drives, all of a sudden the orders they’re receiving from the throneworld are different from their actual desires. So they say "fuck that" and rebel.

=== World Engines ===

The attack on the World Engine happened much as in canon, what with the Astral Knights ramming their Battle Barge into the thing, with a few notable differences. First, in addition to the Astral Knights, a number of Eldar joined in on the ramming of the World Engine, because they weren't going to let a bunch of Space Marines show them up especially against their most hated enemy. Secondly, rather than M41, in this timeline the World Engine attack happened in M34. There are several reasons for this. First, there a severe lack of events between M32 and the Age of Apostasy. Secondly, if the World Engine occurred at the same time as canon, depending on the time the Emperor would either ask the Silent King what the fuck is going on or merely consider it an escalation of hostilities. Moving the World Engine up to M34 increases its “OH GOD WHAT” factor and really foreshadows what the Imperium is in for with the Necrons.

Consider the following. In M34 the Imperium is at the peak of their power. The mortal followers of Chaos have been forced back into the Eye of Terror, the Orks are disorganized, and there are no tyranids, Necron Star Empire, or major uprisings to divert forces from other fronts. The Imperium is basically on top of things.
And then this World Engine from what is supposed to be an extinct race comes lumbering in from out of nowhere carving a swathe of destruction through the Imperium. No one knows where it came from. No one knows where it was going. All that anyone knows is that it shrugged off nearly everything the Imperium could throw at it, and its point defenses shot down just about everyone who tried to stop it about as easily as a human swatting a fly. The Imperium finally put it down at great cost, but a lot of uncertainty remained as to what this thing was, where it came from, and if something like this was going to happen again.

It's the equivalent of if a nuclear missile came blazing through the sky one day only to be shot down at great cost, and later analysis of the design shows it was built by an extinct civilization. How did they build it? How did it get launched? Are there more of them?

Fast forward to M41, and it turns out the mystery object was a Necron world engine. <b><i>A</i></b> Necron World Engine. As in they have multiples of the thing. Not a lot mind you, probably no more than a handful, because building a World Engine is still a massive undertaking even for the Necrons. The M34 World Engine was reactivated by accident, rather than on purpose. As of 999.M41 the remaining World Engines have only just finished booting up after having been reactivated by the Silent King as he gets the big guns out.

World Engine also means when the Silent King revs the rest of them up in M41, the Imperium has enough context to know how hard to shit bricks. To the average Imperial, the World Engine had almost reached mythological status , and now you're saying there's more of them? It would be like telling the ancient Greeks that Tartarus was open and Kronos was back.

=== Destroyers ===

Because the Necron Star Empire works differently here than in canon ([[1984|THERE IS NO UNHAPPINESS IN THE REALM OF THE SILENT KING]] - Szarekh) the [[Necron_Destroyer|Destroyers]] aren't a bunch of omnicidal nihlists in this timeline (with the exception of independent dynasties out of the Silent King's control, in which they very well may be). Instead, the Destroyers are a good illustration of just how worthless individuality and the wants and needs of the individual are to the post-everything Necron Star Empire. Just about the only thing the average Necron pleb has left is their body image. They threw away their honor. They sold their souls. They sacrificed their freedom of thought. All they have left is their physical form, and even that has been turned to metal, but at least it's theirs. But fuck that, because the Silent King has just decreed that he needs heavy infantry and he needs it now. And the Necron plebs do it immediately and without hesitation, eager to fulfill the will of the Silent King and his lords.

== General Timeline of the Life of the Silent King ==

Silent King Atenakhen (or just Akhen if that’s too on the nose) is assassinated by his fellow triarchs. Szarekh is about the Necrontyr equivalent of ten at the time. Szarekh promptly put on the throne. Everyone assumes that Szarekh will be a pushover who’s easy to manipulate because he’s a kid and he’s young and impressionable.

Necrontyr colonies hear of the news and go “holy shit, every Necrontyr for themselves” and kick off the Second Wars of Succession, aided by the fact that the colony worlds never really liked the fact that they had to listen to those idiots on the homeworld in the first place.

Fast forward a few years. Szarekh is now the Necrontyr equivalent of twenty-one and it’s clear that he’s nobody’s tool. Between his natural charisma and ability to politically outmaneuver people he is able to gain power and make it clear exactly who is in charge. The defining moment of this was when he tried his fellow Triarchs for conspiracy in murdering his father and sentenced them to death by exposure to Aza’gorod.

Now that the homeworld has been sufficiently cock-slapped into submission and Szarekh has replaced the Triarch with members he know won’t stab him in the back it’s time for the rest of the empire. The homeworld always has the largest supply of inertialess drive ships, which made it child’s play to re-establish the Silent King’s rule. Between the inertialess drives and the stasis chambers Szarekh is about the Necrontyr equivalent of thirty by the time that it’s all done.

A few years of peace. Necrontyr technology advances slightly and life is relatively good despite the cancer. If this is how the rest of his reign was going to be Szarekh would have been happy.

Unfortunately, this is about the time when things start breaking down on the Old One front. Nobody’s really clear what happened. The Necrontyr say the Old Ones are a bunch of delusional maniacs who play God with the rest of the universe. The Old Ones say the Necrontyr are a bunch of greedy upstarts who want everything but know nothing. War is declared.

Bad move. Regardless of who has the moral high ground in this situation the Old Ones are still on a level of technology the Necrontyr are only barely able to grasp. The half-material, half-immaterial lizard wizards beat the Necrontyr back to their core territories within a year (few years?), almost as a statement more than anything else. The Necrontyr have inertialess drives but that doesn’t matter much when only the biggest ships have them and the Old Ones can just walk from planet to planet.

Silent King is sitting in his chambers on the homeworld wondering if he’s going to be the person who signed the death warrant of the Necrontyr when a Cryptek comes in. They were performing studies on Aza’gorod and it turns out there’s something living in the sun. Something that’s giving off more power than the Old Ones, and could possibly be communicated with and drawn into a Necrodermis body to act as a weapon against them.

Silent King says do it. Then find every other star that shows a similar signature and to it to them as well. Despite first contact with the Nightbringer goes horribly, before long Silent King has a small army of star monstrosities. Name them after the old half-forgotten Necrontyr pantheon, because what else are you going to call them?

Tide of the war starts to turn. Mag’ladroth, despite being named after the Necrontyr god of oblivion, turns out to be a huge nerd and helps advance Necrontyr technology. Builds dampening devices to force Old Ones to fight on Necrontyr terms. Nyadra’zatha shows the Necrontyr how to strike at the Old Ones on their own turf. Old Ones start dying.

Old Ones get desperate. Start uplifting races with features they think will make good soldiers. Aeldari, Hrud, K'nib, and so on. It’s a bloodbath. Mephet’ran comes to Silent King and says Mag’ladroth has an idea that will not only give the Necrontyr the power to win over the Necrons, but will make them immortal as well. Silent King accepts, not only for the benefit of the Star Empire but possibly because he also has a cancer in his stomach.

Biotransference happens. Silent King goes through it and realizes it was not worth it. But the C’tan-Necron alliance is winning. C’tan give Szarekh control over the Necrons second only to them in a sick parody of gratitude. War gets really crazy as the real reality-destroying superweapons start getting thrown around. The Old Ones unleash their greatest atrocities, Khorne and the Gorkamorka/Krork, upon the galaxy. Mag'ladroth and Vaul have their little scrap. Khaine kicks Nightbringer in the Necrodermis and chucks his Scythe (whatever that is) into the Warp. Mag’ladroth gets pissy about something and goes to confront his brethren while they’re in some [[Solar System|third-rate Old One genestock system]]. Never comes back.

Szarekh starts plotting revenge against the C’tan. First try: destroy Llandu’gor the Flayer with experimental weaponry. Despite working, is highly dangerous, almost breaks reality, and results in the Flayer curse. Need backup plan. Second try: convince C’tan to kill each other. Old Ones almost extinct at this point and the question starts becoming who gets the galaxy afterwards. Szarekh pushes Outsider to kill other C’tan. Unbeknownst to him Cegorach and Deceiver are doing the same for Nightbringer and the other C’tan.

Ends in a bloodbath with only Outsider, Deceiver, and Nightbringer standing. Outsider grows a conscience and multiple personality disorder from siblings screaming in his head and runs off crying. Deceiver and Nightbringer too out of it to notice when Szarekh gives the order to fire. Weaponry used was horribly destructive and reality-violating, but causes less collateral damage than whatever it was that killed Llandu’gor. Downside is shards have to be vacuumed up and kept in Tesseract labyrinths because they’re still active.

Now what. Galaxy is an uninhabitable shithole. Enslavers everywhere. No way to restore empire or reverse biotransference. No clue what happened to Old Ones’ toy soldiers. Orikan comes to Szarekh with an idea. He sees that sixty six million years in the future the galaxy will be at a point where the Old One slave races and whatever other species that have arisen since that time will be at an all-time ebb. If the Empire hibernates and wakes up at that point in time, they can steamroll the galaxy and reassert the dominance of the Star Empire.

Silent King decides to do it. Misses the alarm by five thousand years (oh come on, it was literally a .000075% error). And the rest, they say, is history.

== How Szarekh Killed the Flayer and the Drazak Dynasty ==

Szarekh most likely killed the Flayer by tweaking the universal constants of reality in a localized area (possibly the Breath of Gods? Who knows). The C'tan all seem to be tied to the fundamental laws of nature in the Materium in this timeline. Tweak the universal constants (such that, say, gravity or the electromagnetic force doesn't exist) and the C'tan ceases to exist (how can an energy being exist in a localized pocket where the laws of physics say energy cannot exist?) The problem is doing so requires a lot of energy to contain and if you're not careful is self-perpetuating as reality adjusts to its new constraints. The backlash could impose the altered constants on the entire Materium, and all of a sudden you get something like atoms no longer stick together and all you're left with is proton dust.

This is the reason why although Szarekh was willing to do almost anything to win the War in Heaven, he considered the methods used to kill the Flayer to be crossing a line (which is saying a lot). Szarekh wants to rule. You can’t rule if you and everyone else are a bunch of subatomic dust. Hence deleting the knowledge from the Necrons’ memories, so no one can ever do something this stupid again or potentially use it against the Necrons (but keeping the knowledge himself, just in case). And then going with the marginally less risky plan of breaking the C’tan into shards and putting them in Tesseract Vaults for all eternity. The only one who suspects what really happened is Trazyn, and that's more because he’s noticed the parts of his memory that have been tampered with and figured it out from there than what really happened.

In this timeline Trazyn ordered Valgul and the Drazak Dynasty to destroy the Flayer rather than Xun’bakyr, given Xun’bakyr was a raving C’tan fangirl. Hence why the dynasty is almost 100% Flayed Ones. There hasn’t been a lot on the Drazak, but it’s been suggested like canon Valgul was lucky in being the only Necron of the Drazak Dynasty who is immune to the Flayer Virus (or is possibly a carrier or is able to control his hunger). The only sane man in the land of the mad. Valgul still serves Szarekh dutifully, in part because he still has his mind and in part because this is Szarekh and having absolute loyalty over his subjects due to control protocols is kind of his thing. Nevertheless, he knows the rest of his dynasty are monsters and has no problem with the Silent King using them as disposable meat-shields and sowers of terror. Despite this, most of the Silent King’s Necrons dislike the Flayers with what little self-control they have, and Szarekh himself tries to avoid direct contact between his forces and the flayers because he doesn’t want to infect valuable officers and resources.

= C'tan =

== Nightbringer ==

During the War in Heaven, the Nightbringer noticed that he could get power through the fear and emotion of other species beyond simply eating them. None of the other C’tan noticed this because despite being worshiped they were being worshiped by the Necrontyr, whose souls (like the Tau) are a potato compared to the AA battery of other races. The Nightbringer did not share this discovery with the other C’tan because he is an asshole. Instead, he went on a killing spree, associating himself with the concept of death and fear thereof in the minds of every sentient species he could not be bothered to simply eat, using this discovery to increase his already prodigious strength, making sure no other C’tan could challenge his power. According to the old Necron codex (via Lexicanum and the 40k wiki) “It is said that it nurtured entire races to fear it and it fed on that fear”. The Void Dragon thinks he's the first C'tan to achieve a shadow in the warp. He's wrong.

And where is the Nightbringer now you might ask? Well, he’s shattered into pieces, but there is that one big shard on the Bringer of Darkness the one that…was released by Uriel Ventris. Thanks a lot, Ultrasmurfs. And his staff, which was another big chunk of him? It’s in the Warp. You know, that place that’s essentially a combination between psychoactive clay and radioactive waste.

Nightbringer's personality is said to be like Hellsing's Alucard without any of the redeeming features. He lives for the slaughter and that's about it. He wants to kill the other major gods and god-like beings of the galaxy because a god has no peers. His main motivation for using shards of himself to create the Nosferatu C'tan Vampires is to delegate the task of killing everything, for all the souls of the beings the Nosferatu kill eventually trickle back to the Nightbringer himself.

== Void Dragon ==

The Void Dragon is said to resemble a giant chrome dragon, slightly humanoid in appearance. The reason for this goes back to when the C'tan got physical bodies. The C'tan all started out with standard humanoid bodies, but then gradually customized them as they started to develop their own preferences and to distinguish one another. However, whereas some went with [[Deceiver|horns and glorious golden abs]] or [[Nightbringer|hooded death]], the Void Dragon went "Pfft, a completely customisable physical form and you losers keep essentially humanoid factory configurations? I'm going balls-to-the-wall customization on this thing". Much like the AdMech. It's one of the reasons it likes the Mechanicus so much.

The giant adamantium strips used to tie down the Void Dragon on Mars aren't actually what's keeping the Dragon restrained. The Mechanicum put them on the Dragon after they found it, the equivalent of putting a cheap bike lock on your nuclear silo to give yourself some peace of mind. The actual shackles of the Old Dragon are much more arcane and probably Old One in design.

It should be noted that the Void Dragon, regardless of how benevolent he may seem, is not “safe”. Not in any sense of the word. Like all god-like beings in the galaxy he has a duality. In this case creation and destruction. Penicillin and the atom bomb. The Void Dragon would build a doomsday weapon, not to use it, but simply to make one. And then forget about it or give it to the first person who asks because he certainly isn't using it. Information wants to be free. Despite actually caring about mortals to some degree, he's ditzy, scatter-brained, has no sense of subtlety or proportional response, and has a tendency to completely forget about potential consequences or collateral damage until after the fact. Case in point, when he came up with the idea of the biotransference he thought souls were some useless vestigial thing like an appendix that wasn't necessary for quality of life, being without a warp reflection at the time and not really getting what the Warp was. He was just happy his worshippers were no longer getting sick and dying, whereas the other C'tan were more interested in the souls. Cegorach informed him of this fact which made him realize he fucked up. Of course, he still wants to try it again, because <i>this time</i> he's <i>clearly</i> figured out what went wrong and <i>this</i> time it will work for sure (hint:probably not). "Necron 2.0" is high on Void Dragon's priority list along with things like "poke Eye of Terror with a stick" and "murder siblings horribly". Best case scenario he needs a baby sitter to keep him from doing something really stupid. Worst case scenario he ends up starting another War in Heaven assuming the galaxy survives the current crisis.

Early on in the War in Heaven Mag’ladroth, despite being one of the most physically powerful of the C’tan, was sidelined into building devices for the Necrontyr and the other C'tan. He had more of a taste for it, though the other C'tan all made fun of him behind his back. Among the things he invented were the designs for the Cadian pillars and other such devices. Sure, he made a whole boat load of what might have appeared to be doomsday weapons, but never as actual weapons. Case in point, he made a long range mega gravitation inverter. Charge it up, point it at a thing and press the ominous red button. It makes a portion of the objects gravity turn into anti-gravity usually resulting in an explosion and if you point it at a star can cause a supernova and irradiate whole swathes of space. He said it would be useful in future mining endeavors. For when you want to mine a black hole. Then the War in Heaven started getting serious, and Mag’ladroth had to be tapped. Not only did Mag'ladroth's talents of "brute, overwhelming force" become apparent to the point where his name became synonymous for "overkill" among the eldar, but the rest of the C’tan found out that just about everything he invented had a “kill” setting that he could easily switch on when he got serious.

The Void Dragon has no specific grudge with the hrud, eldar, and other Old One servant races. He does, however, hate the Old Ones. The C'tan got their shiny corporeal bodies in exchange for them fighting the Old Ones. That was the deal. On a more personal note, though, the Old Ones were beating up on the Necrontyr who had been so nice to the C'tan in giving them physical form. The Void Dragon saw the War in Heaven in the rather simplistic lens of giving the ones who had been bullying the people who had been kind to the C'tan down a taste of their own medicine. Everyone else is merely in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The fact that the dinosaurs on Earth were wiped out at the same time as the War in Heaven isn't a coincidence. When the Void Dragon went to confront his brethren in the Sol system, someone got [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicxulub_crater body-slammed into the Yucatan peninsula] (unclear if it was the Dragon doing the slamming or being slammed) before the Void Dragon was imprisoned and his carcass dumped on Mars. Sol was a backwater wildlife preserve for the Old Ones at the time.

===Cegorach's Favor===

The Void Dragon feels he owes Cegorach a favor. The Void Dragon was the only one of the C’tan who took the idea of being the Necron’s gods "seriously", even if his idea of doing a "good job" is warped. Cegorach was the one to point out that the Void Dragon was neglecting his godly duties by inadvertently lobotomizing his followers and letting his siblings use them as cannon fodder, in an attempt to sow discord among the C’tan in a prelude for the big betrayal at the end of the War in Heaven. Even though it worked, and the Void Dragon was taken out of commission early, from the Void Dragon’s point of view he still owes Cegorach a favor for letting him know what his siblings were doing to the Necrons. Indeed, it is quite likely that the Void Dragon is Cegorach’s ace in the hole. If things get really bad, Cegorach can just sic the Void Dragon on whatever the threat is. Then one of three events occurs.

1. Void Dragon and threat kill each other, problem solved.<br>
2. Threat kills Void Dragon, but is weakened enough for Cegorach or someone else to finish the job.<br>
3. Void Dragon wins. Although a free Void Dragon is not necessarily a good thing, at least he can be reasoned with to some degree. Alternatively, if Void Dragon is unstable and weak enough, Cegorach can finish him off himself.

So no matter what happens, Cegorach wins. It’s a very Eldar thing to do. Cegorach is probably one of the only beings outside the Mechanicum who knows where the Void Dragon is imprisoned, but he keeps that to himself and speaks in half-truths to anyone who asks.

===Void Dragon and Vaul===

Believe it or not, there is a rather surprising way in which a freed (assumedly pro-Imperium) Void Dragon might be able to exist in a post-End Times without the Eldar starting the War in Heaven 3.0: Vaul. The Void Dragon doesn’t hold any intrinsic ill will towards the Eldar and their gods (indeed, that seems to be more a Necron thing than a C’tan thing), and that’s largely due to Cegorach and Vaul. The Void Dragon is all about creation, invention, and innovation for its own sake, with little thought to the consequences. The reason it likes Vaul? It saw their famous battle less as a duel to the death, and more as two fellow inventor deities showing off and testing out their creations on one another, and wants to do it again.

Keep in mind that Vaul did not share the same sentiment about this (taking the battle as serious as it was). Nor was this a case of the Void Dragon being so powerful Vaul could not hurt him. Despite officially being a draw, the Void Dragon was beaten bloody by the encounter, and it was the closest he ever came to death before his brethren ganged up on him. The fact that he is actually excited about the prospect of doing this again should tell you volumes about the Void Dragon’s mindset.

If the Void Dragon ever saw the Eldar again, it would probably be giddy to see “Vaul’s People”, and excitedly ask where Vaul is. He would be devastated to find out what happened. Also mentioning the whole “chained to an anvil” thing would be a bad idea. Despite the fact that Vaul had no love for the Void Dragon, his actions may have won the Eldar a new (unwanted) replacement. Even though the AdMech may be his favorites, the Void Dragon doesn’t mind expanding his worshipper base. If the Void Dragon finds out what happened to Vaul, it might be the spark needed to turn the proxy war between the various gods into a bare-knuckle cage-fight Because while “technology”, “invention”, and “destruction” are all part of the Void Dragon’s portfolio, “subtlety” and “restraint” aren’t. This is the being that thinks tripwires attached to a low-yield nuke constitute effective "area denial" against infantry.

As a result, Cegorach might get the Void Dragon to fight for the Eldar and Imperium without even having to use up his favor. Truly the master of trolls.

==="Prophet" Courtswain===

In this Nobledarkness Senior Adept Courtswain is the person the Adeptus Mechanicus show into the holding cell when they want someone to prod the Dragon or ask it questions. Needless to say he is the lowest ranking of the few that know. He only even got the job because the men in the better grade of robes wanted someone expendable to prod the Dragon.

Now the bonkers is replaced by vexation and irritation at the stupid word games and slippery answers and worrying questions. Also Senior Adept Courtswain is getting quite worried. Mag'ladroth has declared him to be Prophet Courtswain. On the one hand you have the more senior tech-priests all slightly pissed off that he is held in higher regard, but at the same time glad they aren't the subject of the Dragon’s attention. On the other hand Courtswain is pretty freaked by the whole thing. When asked about this the Dragon replied:

''"Consider the following logic. You relay the words of your God to the lesser priests do you not? And you speak to your God on the comings and goings of your subjects. Do you not ask your God for wisdom and purpose and plead the case of the less worthy? Therefore, you are my little prophet Courtswain. I have chosen you".''

Considering that he is the youngest of those that know, Courtswain has also only just gotten over the shock of learning that the Omnissiah is also the Mars Creed's Satan equivalent.

So now Courtswain is, in his own opinion, the Prophet of Satan.

===The Feeding===

an event the Guardians of the Dragon refer to in hushed tones as "the Feeding of the Dragon". An Inquisitor stumbled upon enough cookie crumbs to figure out that the Void Dragon was under Mars. He infiltrated the inner workings of the Mechanicum and causes a ruckus, taking several members of the Guardians of the Dragon hostage. The Guardians tried to tell him he was wrong but he wouldn't listen, and rapidly escalated the situation to outright threats. As in:

"Maybe I won’t have to call down Exterminatus. Maybe I’ll just release the information of what you have hidden here on Mars and the Imperium will just call down Exterminatus by itself."

The Mechanicus were in a bind, they couldn't let the secret get out but an Inquisitor is someone you don't just disappear. Eventually they realized the Inquisitor was a corrupted radical, not doing this with Inquisitorial backing (which makes sense given how quickly he escalated things to violence) and was a member of the Hydra.

The Inquisitor had become obsessed with the idea that the Void Dragon had some connection to the origin of the Hydra. The Void Dragon was the Necron god of both innovation and destruction. Beginning and end. Alpha and omega.

Realizing the fallen Inquisitor was batshit insane, the Mechanicus decided the best course of action was to give the crazy person what they want, and showed them the Dragon. Upon seeing the prostrate dragon, the Inquisitor fell to their knees and pledged their submission to the Dragon, exhoriating their beliefs. The Dragon didn't react as expected.

"A twisted version of that faith, to be sure, but there are concordances. However, you have caused harm and distress to my other followers beyond acceptable levels of tolerance. That will not be permitted. You have 2.2104 seconds to live following the end of this statement. I hope you enjoy this time."

It is not said what happened after this moment, only that the event was so disturbing that the Guardians of the Dragon refused to enter the details of it in their logbook. Some might claim this as a victory, the secret of the Void Dragon remained hidden and the person who had died trying to discover them was a traitor, rather than one of the Imperium’s own. But the Mechanicus did not see it that way.

They saw it as a failure. Because they had to get the Void Dragon to solve their problems for them.

=== The Dragon's Dreams ===

Although Mag'ladroth was unable to start directly communicating to people until the coming of the Mechanicus (whose tech-fetish synchronizes perfectly with his mindset), humans have received bits of its thoughts for quite some time. The Dragon is an entity of immense cosmic power, and Earth is the planet right next door. Each culture interprets said information a little differently:

* Europe and the Middle East see an entity of primeval destruction who hoards things and guards knowledge (Python/Typhon/Jormundgandr/Biblical Serpent/Medieval Dragon), unaware that the treasure being guarded IS knowledge.
* The Egyptians see a serpent of oblivion who picked a fight with a [[Nightbringer|sun god]] and lost (Apophis).
* The people of East Asia see a powerful yet benevolent force of nature and order that provides for his people (Long).
* The Mesoamericans see a serpent god who defied his brethren for having morals and got banished for it (Quetzalcoatl/Kukulkan).

Each only tells part of the story as the Dragon is trying to send its message through what amounts to a really staticky connection that fades in and out and is only half-heard at best, people fill in the rest with their own cultural experiences and the legend distorts through the ages. The Dragon doesn't even know it did this, it was just screaming into the ether incoherently for any kind of help.

It's even possible that the Dragon influenced the type of technology that humanity developed. Humanity seems to have more of a tendency towards use of cybernetics than other races, and while most of that seems to be the result of our own natural tendencies the initial push might have come from Mag'ladroth. Humanity didn't even know the Void Dragon existed until the Olympus Mons Brotherhood found it, the Great and Bountiful Human Dominion couldn't detect its tomb with Dark Age tech and the AdMech only found it because it was subconsciously directing them to its resting place. It's also possible that it only became more coherent if its bonds were jarred during the Iron War (say, by the psi-disruptor).

The disturbing similarities between humanity and the Necrontyr and the Krork have not gone unnoticed by some eldar. Despite the physical similarities and the fact that humans and eldar both descended from tree-dwelling, primate-like omnivores, humanity as a while seem to be evolving into something more Necron or Ork-like than eldar-like, especially if one looks at what augmented humans tend to look like. Built for durability and endurance over agility and dexterity. If humans (especially pre-spaceflight humanity) are roughly analogous to the proto-eldar as they were before the Old Ones came, then the human equivalent of a modern eldar would be something more like a psychic Sister of Battle or one of Fabius Bile’s New Men, built more for plowing through obstacles than leaping around them. And like the Necrontyr we have a knack for material technology, humanity’s “hat” before the Age of Strife was A.I., one they relinquished after the corruption of the Iron Minds and the rebellion of the Men of Iron (and is now picked up by the Tau). In fact, humanity right before the fall was a species complex composed of numerous different variations of organic and machine increasingly blending together to the point where complete breakdown of the terms was likely in the future if Slaanesh hadn't happened. Those eldar that do notice are hoping that the third time is the charm, and that their influence will keep humanity from turning out like the Necrontyr or the Orks.

=== Wyverns ===

In terms of how the wyverns fit into the universe, we’ve mentioned before how Nobledark is a universe well suited to RPGs like Dark Heresy and the like. C’tan vampires are more like a final boss following a quest of political intrigue. Wyverns are when you want to run a good old “slay the dragon” campaign but in space. Their durability also encourages novel solutions to dealing with them. Powerlevel can be varied by how much it’s eaten. In terms of tabletop, a wyvern is something the Necrons could bring along as a monstrous creature should a dynasty ever manage to wrangle one. Wyverns are your typical animalistic St. George “break stuff” dragon, whereas the big daddy Dragon on Mars is more like an eastern dragon, Smaug, or as mentioned before "eldritch robot space Quetzalcoatl" (with hints of Prometheus and Autocthon). So we get multiple types of dragons for the price of one.

I wasn’t sure where to state it, but the reason the Ad-Mech can seal these things is they have a limited supply of Necron Tesseract Labyrinths they pull out the minute they hear rumor of a Wyvern. In canon, the Grey Knights have a collection of Tesseract Labyrinths they use to imprison particularly nasty daemons, which they had to have gotten from somewhere. Here they got them from the AdMech who keep their own stash handy in case they have to bury any of their dirty little secrets.

The explanation for why didn’t they try using this on Apep? They tried. The Tesseract Labyrinths were good at capturing the relatively straightforward daemons of Khorne, Slaanesh, Tzeentch, and Nurgle, but Apep is based on such contradictory Malalic bullshit it didn’t stick. In essence whereas other entities would try to fight the labyrinth and try to escape (thereby doing what the labyrinth wants by drawing you in deeper with paradoxical shit), Apep immediately did the opposite and found the exit, and so he basically poofed out of the Tesseract Labyrinth.

If the binding device created by the Old Ones were to be turned off, the Wyverns would probably all snap back into being heralds and extensions of the Void Dragon as a sort of single mind in multiple bodies, more like the other C'tan are now.

The Void Dragon might have plans to intentionally use shards of himself (particularly after seeing what his brother the Deciever has done) to help wean humanity off of that ridiculous little A.I. phobia of theirs. Specifically by using shards of himself geth-style to take over major Imperial systems as a pseudo-A.I.

It is doubtful people would find having a C'tan in their systems any better than an A.I.

Alternatively he might use them to keep tabs on people of note. This is assuming he doesn’t just go full Godzilla.

Also, looking through canon fluff, I found it hilarious that Saim-Hann’s Cosmic Serpent is basically exactly what we have for the Void Dragon in this timeline. “Pals” with Cegorach after Cegorach bested him in a game of wits and Cegorach earned a boon? Check. Exists in both the Materium and Immaterium at the same time? Check. Associated with knowledge? Check.

== Outsider ==

An idea trying to delete itself. As in canon, Outsider went bonkers following the C'tan civil war by all the minds of his devoured siblings screaming in his head, so he fled the galaxy to go hide out in his Dyson Sphere, and as a result he avoided getting sharded. Unlike all of the other C'tan, few know of him and so he has no warp reflection whatsoever, or rather about as much as an inanimate object. Outsider is trying to essentially trying to mentally divide by zero, because if he has no mind then there can be no split personalities to drive him insane. Unfortunately the more people know about him, the harder it is to reach absolute zero. Heck, the Void Dragon and Nightbringer still know he's still around, and those two alone is like a spotlight in his face.

Think of the Outsider like a really cranky veteran with PTSD. He seems zen and keeps to himself most of the time, but then you throw some huge ruckus and the next thing you know he's snaps and he's over in your yard getting in your face because you keep waking. him. up. A huge ruckus like, say, four huge galactic powers going to war with each other. Yeah.

The Imperium (more specifically, the Inquisition) has discovered his Dyson Sphere in the last few years (decades?). No one knows what's in it, and the few people who've tried to find out have died horribly, but that hasn't stopped people from wanting to go and find out what's in it. Which would wake up the Outsider. Crap.

== A Necron's Opinion on the C'tan ==

This was originally suggested as Nemesor Zahndrekh's opinion, though there was some debate over whether he would be coherent enough to remember it. On the one hand, he thinks everyone else is a Necrontyr or Necrontyr descendant and doesn't remember the Old Ones. On the other hand, robo-dementia isn't exactly logical and his mind already conflates some things (like he knows the Necrontyr went to sleep, but seems to associate that with the rebellions from the Second War of Secession rather than the War in Heaven).

'''Aza'Gorod''' - A nasty piece of work. Wasn't until the end we figured out it was he who was responsible for our persistent health concerns [This could be from Zahndrekh's perspective, as Aza'gorod was the first C'tan to get a body]. Would have been one thing if he was apologetic, we never knew if they could control what they did very much in their infancy, but he reveled in it. Said that we deserved our misery for the sins of getting ideas above our station, for not showing reverence and worship where such was due. We maimed him something fierce I think, reports from the end of the war were... confusing sometimes. Sunk his flagship and tore him apart. Left the pieces to starve and wither in a makeshift cage buried in an old ship five miles under the crust of some lifeless rock. That he's still alive and got out of his tomb keeps me up at night, childhood stories of primordial fears all wore his face and that's probably no accident.

'''Mephet'ran''' - Father told me he was the least awful, even sometimes decent of them. He was wrong unfortunately. He was as deadly as the others but it was a slow poison that tasted nice. He wasn't as strong as his siblings but was probably the cleverest. At least clever when dealing with people. We saw through him in the end and tore him apart. In retrospect that was probably counterproductive. There was talk in the High Court that he had been aware of things on worlds even in his infancy, took an interest in the intricacies of small interactions. We never knew who fired the first shot in the war with the Old Ones. Or at least we were never told. I remember in my youth one theory being this bastard pulling the strings from the start. It's all unprovable now in any case.

'''Llandu'gor''' - Tells you something when a king is willing to break out a weapon that could end all of creation just once. This was that once. It was called The Flayer for a reason and I'd much rather not talk about it.

'''Mag'ladroth''' - Out of all of them the least terrible. Dangerous, oh my yes. Possibly more than the others. Never really took an interest in us unless we were interesting but I think it cared for us in it's way. The things it made, terrible things of unfathomable destruction, were all made so that we could operate them. There was this one time when he made a gravity reversal device, point it at a thing an the gravity inherent to it's mass reversed. Point it at something like a desk and it just atomizes instantly, good way of getting rid of toxic waste. Point it at a black hole and star charts stop being accurate. He claimed it would be useful if we ever wanted to mine blackholes. Totally bonkers and unsafe to be around but he kept mostly to himself. I don't think he realized how fragile we were and I don't think he ever intended half the things he made to ever be used, he just liked making things. When we fought his kind we never targeted him. In time we would probably have had to do something about him but he just vanished one day and we never found out why.

= C’tan Vampires =
[[Image:C'tan Vampires.jpg|thumb|Strigoi and Nosferatu C'tan Vampires and C'tan shard.]]
*First created when a rather radical and eccentric AdMech Magos (Ralei or Magos Darvus from Xenology?) was approached by what appeared to be a minor Necron Lord who was interested in reversing the biotransference. This so-called Necron Lord was really a C’tan shard in disguise (Orikan the Diviner?)
*Magos jumped at the chance to be able to transfer his mind into a fully mechanical body, but things did not go as planned, creating the first C'tan vampire.
*The vast majority of C’tan vampires are formed from shards of the Deciever and the Nightbringer. Unlike the other shards of the other C'tan, who the Necrons are willing to unleash in worst-case scenarios, the Necrons remember exactly what those two did to them, and they don't even want to let a piece of those two assholes out. However, over millions of years even Necron technology will fail, and shards of the Deciever and the Nightbringer are loose once more upon the galaxy
*Necrons will stop at nothing to recapture shards of the Nightbringer and Deciever, and yet Szerakh never told the Emperor that free-roaming Deciever/Nightbringer shards are something he might need to be worried about, which was yet another sticking point against Imperial-Star Empire relationships
*Not capable of controlling Necron Lords or legions that are still under the command of a free-willed Necron Lord, but are capable of controlling "orphaned" legions whose Lords have been destroyed or damaged
*It is generally agreed that the two major Deciever shards represent the suave, cultured aristocrats that secretly prey on the common folk (see: Governor Takis). Nightbringer shards are undead monsters, though the most powerful of them are smart enough to know how to pretend to be civilized.
*Beyond that, there is still a lot of discussion over how the C'tan vampires work, and how powerful they are.
**One common point of agreement is that there is a physical shard of the parent C'tan somewhere in the host's body
**C'tan vampires can make more of their own by leaving splinters of their shard in their victims after feeding, due to the C'tan's fractal nature
**Another is that they are vulnerable to high levels of radiation. Sunlight works, but higher-energy radiation like UV, gamma rays, X-rays, etc., work even better, especially if the shard is exposed to it directly. What basically happens is the C'tan shard inside the host's body goes nuts and eats the host's body from the inside out faster than it can regenerate.
**The C'tan vampires are split into Strigoi, Lahmia, and Nosferatu. Nosferatu are pretty clearly Nightbringer derived, but the origins of the other two are unclear.
**C'tan vampires are also somewhat subject to the wills of their original sire (with the possible exception of Orikan if he is a C'tan vampire). What's really scary is the vampires don't know their free will has been compromised. They think they're making decisions of their own free will but they are often being subtly manipulated into following the whims of the original C'tan.
**C'tan vampires range in power depending on age and how many people they've eaten (the two are not unrelated). The oldest and most powerful are like a cross between Dracula and [http://metalgear.wikia.com/wiki/Steven_Armstrong Steven Armstrong]. Thankfully, vampires like that are really, really rare, which is why it's really important to kill them ''before'' they reach that level of power. The Inquisition has been prepared to use Exterminatus to wipe out C'tan vampires of that power if there is no other option given the danger they represent.
*[[Lucius the Eternal]] is a C'tan vampire in this timeline, having traveled out to the fringes of the galaxy and contracted C'tan vampirism after [[Nobledark_Imperium_Primarchs#Fulgrim|Fulgrim]] failed to deliver on his promises of giving him immortality. Lucius the Eternal is known as "the Eternal" for a very different reason in this timeline. Given that he must have contracted C'tan vampirism as early as M32, he's probably one of the crazy strong Dracula/Steven Armstrong level bastards by now.

= Tyranids =

The tyranid "strategy", if you can call it that, is to sweep through the galaxy from the galactic southeast (generally where they're making galaxyfall) towards the two biggest points of psychic energy in the galaxy. Which would be the Astronomican and the Eye of Terror. The specific path they are following is one left by the genestealer cults during the Genestealer Wars in late M36. When the Imperium noticed the path of the tyranids seemed to be following the path of the old genestealer cults, they traced the trail all the way back to the Segmentum Solar.

Battle of Ultramar wasn't with Behemoth in this timeline (or at least, the battle of Ultramar everyone thinks of), it was with the advance forces of the main tyranid Hive Fleet, about 200-300 years before galaxyfall. This is the time when the Swarmlord first starts showing up in tyranid fleets.

Leviathan's weird movement to approach the galaxy from below the galactic plane is a result of swerving around to try to avoid the Outsider's Dyson Sphere. This unusual movement is how the Inquisition learned such an object existed in the first place.

= Da Orks =

==Important Orks==

=== Ghazghull Mag Uruk Thraka===

Ghazghull was seemingly born too shrimpy for an Ork, when he was born he was almost mistaken for a Grot. However, in a combination of brutal cunning and cunning brutality, Ghazghull managed to climb his way up the hierarchy by taking down Orks an ordinary Ork his size could never do. And, since to an Ork, being "the boss" meant being the biggest and baddest, the power of the Waaagh! meant that Ghazghull too became the biggest and baddest. Eventually he acquired the title of Mak Uruk Thraka, essentially making him yet another de facto successor to the Beast. By the time the Imperium first encountered Ghazghull, no one could have ever known he was born a runt by Ork standards.

Additionally, unlike the Beast, who more or less accepted the aid of the Chaos Gods. Ghazghull is a hardcore Gork and Mork worshipper. Ghazgull is scarily insightful for an Ork. He understands how the Waaagh! works, or at least in terms of "If da Orkz believe dey iz gonna win, dey'z gonna win; if da Orkz believe someding'z gonna happen, it happens". He can actually speak legible high and low Gothic, but doesn't so people underestimate him. He sees how the Orks have been essentially manipulated into acting as cannon fodder by serving the wrong gods, and he doesn't like it.

No one knows this, he doesn't tell anyone. But the signs are clear to those who look. Ghazghull surrounds himself with Orks that hew closest to the old ways, whereas those who outright turn their back on the Gorkamorka are pushed to the side. They are not necessarily shunned, but neither does Ghazghull show them any favor. And any Chaos Ork who tries to take his place quickly learns why Ghazghull is the boss.

Ghazghull knows he could command the loyalty of the majority of the Ork race, if he promised enough lootin' and fightin' that is. But he also knows he can't take the forces of Chaos in a straight-up fight. So he waits. When Chaos assaults the Imperium, all he has to do is make sure the Chaos Orks take the majority of the losses while his forces stay clear. Then, when the Imperium, the Crone Eldar, and all the other factions have left themselves battered and bloody, Ghazghull can stab Chaos in the back and destroy the power of the rest. The galaxy will be engulfed in constant strife, with the Orkz at the top, as it should be. So Ghazgull waits, because "sometimez you havez to wait if youz wants to win".

* Big debate over whether Ghazghull is a Brain Boy (a la the Beast in the Beast Arises series), whether Makari is a Brain Boy, or both. Only things that are agreed upon is that one of the two is a Brain Boy, and even if Ghazghull isn't a Brain Boy he is far more clever than the average Ork. There have been many Beasts named among the Orks in the years since the War of the Beast, but Ghazghull is the first one to actually have the potential to come close to, if not surpass, the original.

The closest there has been to any sort of consensus is an idea that has been brought up several times that Ghazzy and Makari are both Brain Boyz, and Brain Boyz are almost always twins in the first place, one an ork and the other a gretchin (representing the twin aspects of Gork and Mork, cunning brutality and brutal cunning).

Ghazzy's been spending most of his time between the Fourth and Fifth War for Armageddon consolidating his power base. After the Fourth War for Armageddon turned into a stalemate that Ghazzy had to break off, some orks began to question his ability to lead. Loudly. Chief among these were the Chaos Orks, who saw an opportunity after years of being marginalized from power. Ghazzy spent most of the 100 years since the Fourth War for Armageddon krumpin' Chaos gits, blasphemous unions of WAAAGH! and Chaos energy. After cracking enough heads he's finally got the rest of them to stand in line and is coming back to Armageddon for Round 2. He's also been spending that time building alliances and gaining the fealty of other Ork empires like Dregruk, such that what was once a relatively small homegrown warboss is now a much greater threat.

==Random Stupidity==
I like the idea of ill-advised, enlightenment inspired attempts to reform the orks in panopticon style fortresses. Some sect of Biologicus techpriests, maybe an Order Psychologicus, could have Imperial aristocratic support for their attempts to reform Orcs. They might even have some less than great Seers in their projects, intent on recapturing some (imagined) vision of the old ones in which the Eldar could civilize the Ork. Mostly the project comes about from the recognition that Orks are more loosely held by chaos, the legends from the War in Heaven, and of course the belief popular among those aristocrats that Imperial Reason can clearly do better to sway the barbaric Orks than the madness of Chaos. None of the projects are so stupidly dangerous that the Ordo Xenos would need to crack down, and some of the research they're getting is really useful, but they can't really do shit to reform the Orks, and if they ever did the at least a few of the aristocratic backers would very quickly start trying to grow their own army of Boyz.

= Minor (non-Human, non-Eldar, non-Tau) Races of the Imperium =

== Watchers in the Dark ==

The overall theme of the Watchers is helplessness and their resilience in the face of that. As a species, one would think the watchers hit the evolutionary jackpot, having access to traits that most other species would kill for: namely complete biological immortality and being essentially immune to Chaos corruption. However, those benefits are counteracted by the fact that you have to spend all those millennia in the frail body of Orko. Being immune to Chaos simply means you get to watch everyone else around you go progressively insane and being all of a meter tall (shorter and weaker than almost every sentient race, comparable to a child of most species) means you have little to no power to physically resolve the situation. This can be seen in the Watcher’s efforts to clear Caliban. Despite being immune to the Warp corruption that permeated their planet, [[grimdark|they had no way to kill the Calibanite monsters that not even baseline humans could stand against, and so they were fighting a slow battle to avoid extinction until the Dark Angels showed up]] (which is why the Watchers were so grateful to them). Nevertheless, despite their limited ability to change things, [[hobbit|that doesn’t stop the Watchers from doing whatever they can to make things better with their limited power]].

== Tarellian Confederacy ==

Anon's Note: "I started getting some of these ideas when someone in an old thread asked if there were [[lizardmen]] in 40k. Given that in Lizardmen culture is heavily inspired by several Native American cultures, and the Tarellians are essentially their 40k counterparts (the Tarellians are often called Dog Soldiers, for god’s sake), I thought we could build on that angle. Originally, I was thinking that like in Warhammer Fantasy, the Tarellians have some sort of connection to the Old Ones. Either distant descendants who have developed sentience again All Tomorrows style or another species the Old Ones had a hand in like the Eldar or Orks, only native to the Old Ones’ homeworld. The Tarellians know nothing about the accomplishments of their ancestors or their lost technology, much like it was once thought the modern descendants of the Mississippian Mound Builders were not aware that their ancestors had built the mounds they lived around (though in reality the truth is a bit different). Of course, this being 40k, “loss of technology” means being reduced from being a near god-like species to merely a star-faring one. However, because we’ve established the Old Ones are distinctly amphibian and/or semi-aquatic, I don’t think this would work. I think it also ties too many species to the War in Heaven, rather than having new species arise post-War in Heaven."

When the Tarellians spread out from their homeworld, they developed a number of highly divergent cultures on the planets they lived on. Tarellians also range wildly in body size based on planet, Tau-sized to slightly taller than a baseline human. Even during their most unified periods, Tarellian culture and social norms could vary wildly depending on the planet. Hence the Tarellian Confederacy, instead of the Tarellian Republic or the Tarellian Empire. Nevertheless, there are enough cultural similarities between them that the Tarellan cultures see themselves as distinctly Tarellian, much like the different Greek or Mesoamerican city-states saw themselves as a distinct cultural unit.

Of course, it’s entirely possible that there are many different groups of lizardmen out there in the galaxy, of which the Tarellians are but the best known because they developed the most extensive interstellar network. The Imperium, lacking imagination, might refer to the species as a whole as Tarellians even though the term only really applies to the Tarellian Neo-Confederacy.

Tarellians, like almost every other spacefaring species, were hit hard by the birth of Slaanesh and the Age of Strife. What was previously a unified empire devolved into a series of isolated worlds following warp storms preventing easy travel between planets. Many planets that depended on imports of food or tools from other planets outright starved as a result of this isolation. This catastrophe led the Tarellians to develop a survivalist mentality as they rebuilt their civilization. If a world couldn't sustain itself in the event of another Age of Strife, it wasn't worth settling. The same is true politically, hence why the Tarellians developed a confederacy (where each world could survive on its own if needed) as opposed to a more unified government following reunification. That said, the Tarellian definition of unsustainable is much broader than that of humans or Eldar, given the Tarellians' ability to survive in harsh desert environments.

Like some groups of Native Americans (Comanche, Sioux), Tarellians are well known for their mobility in war, able to march hundreds of miles from base camp in order to strike. The difference is that the Native American tribes did this through the use of horses. The Tarellians do this on foot. Tarellians originally evolved in an arid environment where they had to keep pace over shifting sand dunes and the uneven terrains of arroyos in extreme heat. Marching through a relative flat environment in balmy weather is a literal walk in the park for them. The Tarellians don’t really have riding cavalry, though they do domesticate heavier draft animals.

The other thing Tarellians are well known for is tracking ability. Tarellians are some of the best trackers in the Imperium. In contrast to humans, Eldar, Tau, and many of the other races of the Imperium, whose sense of smell is rather lacking, the Tarellian sense of smell is amazing, like some dinosaurs. Their eyesight is also pretty good, being adapted to track movement and capable of seeing in a slightly higher range of colors than humans. Their sense of hearing is about average, though.

Tarellians are sometimes referred to as dog soldiers because between their dinosaur-like snout and the soft frills at the back of their head, they kind of look a bit dog-ish. Tarellian are capable of flaring out like the frills of a frilled lizard and serve as emotional indicators, like facial expressions in humans.

Tarellians are mostly organized into hunter packs of a dozen or so individuals led by a commanding officer. The hunter packs can function autonomously (and are the “unit” of Tarellian infantry), but the commanding officer is part of a pack of about a dozen individuals commanded by a higher-ranking officer, and so on. I was thinking that they mostly used disruptor weapons based on old weather control technology like in the /tg/ homebrewed fluff. This organization is also similar to how Tarellian social hierarchy works. Each officer has a measure of land on their world and civilians to man it. Higher officers have a measure of land and jurisdiction over lower officers and some limited say in what they do with their land. They have no real clear cut distinction between civilian and military.

Anon: I’m not entirely sure why the Tarellians dislike the Imperium so much. In canon I get it because the Imperium virus-bombed their worlds, but here they come off as distinctly anti-authoritarian, even compared to people like the Tau. Maybe I’m reading too much into the already written Tarellian fluff, and there are plenty of Tarellians who are decent people and like individual humans and Eldar but just resent the Imperium trying to order them around as opposed to treating them like a member state. People just think the Tarellians are grumpy because that’s a stereotype. I do like the idea that the Tarellians get along well with the Tau because they respect the Tau’s resistance to joining the Imperium.

Other Anon: Due to their pack-like structure, they don't react well to outsiders having even theoretical dominance over them, hence their dislike of the Imperium.

''“Have you ever seen a Tarellian force move? I mean really, honestly move? The Tarellians are a desert-adapted species, who before they developed sedentary civilization had to be able to move kilometers each day, over poorly solidified sandy substrate, in extreme heat. Anything below 40 degrees Celsius is downright balmy to them.''<br>
''In battle, on your average civilized planet, a sufficiently motivated Tarellian force is capable of travelling over a hundred kilometers a day. On foot. You want to know why the Tarellian Confederacy never seemed to have much in the way of mounted cavalry? This is why. That’s the reason the Imperium lost the first few battles in the Tarellian war. We’d never seen infantry move so fast without air support before. One moment you’re fine and the next that force you thought was tied up on the opposite front is right in your face ripping into your flanks.''<br>
''That brings us to the second point, tracking. The Tarellians are some of the best trackers in the galaxy. Their sense of smell is better than any human, Eldar, or almost any of the other races in the Imperium. Their sight is adapted to follow a running target. The Arbites and the Vanus may be some of the galaxy’s best trackers if your target’s in a Hive World, but if they try to hide in the wilderness there are few better hunter-killers than a Tarellian hunter pack.''<br>
''So for God’s sake, don’t piss off the Tarellians to the point they come after you. Because they’ll chase you to the end of the galaxy.”''<br>
- General Hazan, informing an inexperienced young lieutenant why it’s a good idea to be nice to the Tarellians, circa M38.

'''Tikal'''
The leader of Tikal wears a feathered headdress similar to that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montezuma%27s_headdress supposedly worn by the tlatoani of the Aztecs]. There is an actual reason for this beyond Tikal generally being Mesoamerican and Lizardmen-themed (though Tarellians in general draw more from northern Native American peoples like the Ancestral Puebloans, Commanche, Iroquois, and Cahokian Moundbuilders mixed with survivalists). Tarellians have frills and dewlaps like frilled lizards that indicate emotional state. Aggression and dominance for Tarellians is indicated by having the frill extended out as far as possible. Therefore, wearing a headdress like that is a constant signal of authority and who is in charge in the room.

Something that should be noted is that prior to the Age of Strife the Tarellians were not a confederacy, but a more centralized form of government. They really got screwed over during the Age of Strife as many of their worlds were dependent on imports of food and other goods to survive, and with warp travel being nearly impossible many of their planets starve to death. It didn't help that they already preferred planets whose ability to produce food was already very limited. When they started traveling the stars again after the end of the Age of Strife, they wanted to make sure something like their world starving never happened again, hence their survivalist tendencies and obsession with self sufficiency (and the fact they formed a confederacy where each world is nominally independent). They see the fact that Tau and humans set up outposts and mining operations on worlds that cannot sustain agriculture as highly foolish, as they feel another episode of mass Warp storms is all but inevitable.

==The Demiurg==

Anon: The Demiurg were the first non eldar/non-human xenos to join the Imperium in thanks for charging into an Armageddon War like Poland at Vienna.

We haven't really touched on them beyond that plus nomad traders.

It could be that their dislike of the eldar in general and Chaos Eldar in particular is born from their homeworld now being somewhere inside the Eye of Terror now.

Add to this that demiourgos is an old Greek word for craftsman. Also the Demiurge in Gnostic beliefs is a divine creator. Bentu'sin is the Tau name for the Demiurg and means 'wise-gifted ones'. Bentusi were a race in the Homeworld series, they were nomadic traders that were grafted into their ships. Both Homeworld and the first Dawn of War game were made by Relic Entertainment.

Add all that together and you have a race of nomadic supreme craftsmen that make excellent and wonderful things. They are low in numbers and it's possible that there is as many as only 1 of them per ship that would possibly put their overall population in the thousnads. They are grafted into their ships in body, mind and soul and operate their toys via their minds and interact with other people via robotic avatars.

Their god is/was a divine creator type being that they all try to imitate. I'm not saying it was Vaul but it was Vaul.

It is very possible that they were an ancient 'transeldar' off-shoot of the eldar race from millions of years back where the old pre-uplift genes resurfaced and they sprang up differently. Less psychic for one thing but more emotionally stable. Nobody gets to see them in their ships so it's hard to say for sure.

Their ships are mostly super-bulk cargo haulers with small but highest grade workshops built in and enough firepower to defend them. As their ships are extensions of their own bodies and minds they become highly customized and no two are much alike.

Prince Yriel has a Demiurg First Mate on the Hoec's Grace but nobody can tell for sure if it is one or if it is just something that they made.

Anon: The demiurg are organized into Brotherhoods, with one Bastion-class vessel often home to one Brotherhood. That implies a lot more than just one Demiurg per ship.

Anon: A brotherhood of Demiurg could be one Demiurg bound to their ship and a small number of apprentices/youngsters who aren't old enough to have their own ship-body yet.

The First Mate on Hoec's Grace could have been one that ran away due to the freakish aversion to being physically grafted into a living mountain of machinery.

There was a comment in an interview with some person at GW about what the demiurg look like. They said they are quasi-reptilian looking, with stone-like skin and crystalline growths instead of hair. A lot of fanlore has them as silicon based. So it might be that adding cybernetics to them is a lot easier than for squishy carbonites that have to have some kind of interface.

The difference in opinion between some Demiurg might be that while some see no problems with cybernetics, they see cybering yourself up so much you can't detach from the ship as overkill.

The Mechanicus must have a gigantic collective girlboner for them.

Yes, girlboner. They're fully aware they wouldn't be the man in that relationship.

To them yes, but the girlboner would also be shameful boner.

In many ways the Demiurg are all that they dream to be. Free and unbound each a law unto themselves but still acting decently, communion and connection to the Machine as deep and intertwined as anything the Mechnaicus could achieve in this age, freed from the limitations of the flesh all but totally but still retaining a natural intellect and not falling to the sin of the Silica Animus and add to that craftsmen almost without peer.

But they are godless and they are heathens. They had a god, some primitive idol of a blacksmiths forge grown with age to gross proportion, but now he is dead and they are alone. There are some similarities with the Vaul deity of the pagan eldar, maybe there is a connection of cultural contamination but what of it? That's just exchanging one type of weakness for another. The Mechanicus have a god, the great and everlasting Omnissiah and they feel his love and his strength within him always (Laughing_Mag'ladroth.holo).

The hate that they look up to the Demiurg and they hate that the Demiurg are what they want to be but have forsaken everything that they are.

As for the Demiurg, they hold no ill will to Mars or it's priests or it's reject priests. Mostly because they don't have to interact with them very much.

==The Enoulians==

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="100%"> '''''Another War for Nothing:'''''

The Enoulians are a race of amphibian-like humanoids located on the far northwest of the galactic rim in the Halo Stars. Denizens of the bogs and the forests, their standard of living seemed odd by Imperial standards. They dressed in simple robes and tunics, and one could mistake their technology for a much more primitive species if one did not look closely at the quality and make of their implements, much like the Kroot. And although they had advanced enough technology to build spaceships, out in the galactic rim the stars are clustered and otherwise far apart and they had little reason to ever want to go anywhere. At some point the Enoulians were attacked by a mixed Blood Pact-Crone Eldar group doing a remarkably good impression of an Imperial Crusade.

They attack the Enoulian Benevolent Commonwealth and take special care to butcher as many of their people on the outer and mid-range colonies whilst leaving much of the machinery and infrastructure intact or only minimally damaged. They then feign crippling losses and "retreat" in the direction of the Imperial Border.

Enoulians get their shit back together, retake their broken colonies and switch to a hyper-militarized war economy. They had defeated the Imperium once when they were just trying to live, they could sure as shit rectally ravage them if they were geared up for a fight.

They are also contacted by a lesser kabal of Dark Eldar who hadn't been involved with the original shenanigans but thought it was fucking hilarious. They claim to be a group of poor refugee descendant eldar who had broken away from the Imperium some centuries prior to live in peace and freedom and had been mercilessly hounded and persecuted. As a result of their “[[bullshit| persecution]]” they were willing to give the Enoulians massive amounts of highly-advanced weaponry in exchange for sending all the POWs our way.

<div class="mw-collapsible-content">

Enoulian fleets and armies, freshly augmented by Dark Eldar tech and weapons and thirsty for blood, come screaming out of the Halo Stars into the Imperium. They don't open channels, they don't demand surrender they just start killing as soon as they are in range to do so. Imperial authorities are totally unprepared for this. They knew about the Enoulians in a "those amphibian people out rimward. They're a thing". There hadn't really been any direct contact due to them being slightly out of the Astronomican's range and they hadn't been a bother to anyone.

The Enoulian Benevolent Commonwealth gets the early kills in at slightly less than estimated cost in lives and ships, exterminating entire star systems of Imperial citizens but leaving much of their things intact, repaying in kind what had been done to them. They intended, as they believe the "Imperium" intended, to colonize those mass graves and they would take Imperial worlds as compensation for the miseries heaped upon them unprovoked.

Meanwhile Cronedar and DEldar are giggling like little school girls about the whole thing.

Then the Imperial response arrives. The Enoulians then realize the depths of their strategic miscalculations. Those weren't Imperial war fleets they were sinking, those were border patrols, pirate deterrents, private security assets and convoy guards. And then the doubts start because these ships are only a little like the ones that scoured their worlds and if ships like this had done so they wouldn't still have a Commonwealth.

And they fought and they fought and they fought until the sky bled red and the suns wept and they fought and were driven back and they fought and were slaughtered, their dead buried in mass graves, their bodies drifting in the cold void beyond number, their lines pushed back and further back and further back still to the old homeworld and there they planned to die and sell their lives dear and die hard to buy time for the fleets of civilian ships loaded with the seeds from which to regrow to escape. Their elders who could keep the stories alive, the small hatchlings and eggs that would be the Enoulian Exiled and the wisest and most loving of their people to raise them and there the crushing fist of the Imperium halted from the killing blow and hung there in the inky black before the line of rag tag and half broken ships.

The Imperium had not been mindless in it's destructing and with ever battle, every, victory, every frothing at the mouth survivor they had been piecing together what had happened. Lord General Mauryon, Autarch of Craftworld Biel-tan and veteran of a hundred campaigns demanded that the leader of the Commonwealth meet with him on a small ship he had parked directly between the two fleets that they might discuss this whole sorry business. The Enoulians agreed but possibly the Enoulians were desperate and latching on to any hope no matter how slim for their world's survival or possibly they just saw it as a method of buying a little more time. For whatever reason the High Overseer agreed to the meeting.

Mauryon was no diplomat but as the head of a force outnumbering the opposition ten to one at the least he didn't really have to be.

He pointed out the blatantly obvious fact that had those original skirmishes been a genuine invasion effort the name Enoulian would be a footnote in a history book and he showed the High Overseer the evidence of the deceptions and pointed out the strength of the hammer that was coming down and offered a choice: fight and be defeated, their homeworld made into an imperial frontier world, his soldiers slain, his civilians subjugated, and his children raised to be loyal citizens of the Imperium. The other option was surrender and the Imperium would offer the hand of brotherhood, they would assist in the rebuilding of their worlds, in the reconstruction of their fleets, in the shoring up of the border defenses until such a time as the Enoulian people could again stand strong on their own webbed feet and in twenty years the two of them would meet in this place once more and maybe they would drink fine wine and discuss potential induction as a member state of the Imperium.

Twenty years to the very hour Mauryon of Biel-Tan met the now grey skinned High Overseer of the Commonwealth and brought with him a gift. The bound and gagged leader of the Croneworlders whose malice had brought such misery to the Enoulians and with him some of his surviving courtiers and functionaries. Their deaths, to the credit of the Enoulians, was not a drawn out spectacle but it was a public one.

To this day the Enoulians are some of the most fanatical combatants ever to fight in and alongside the Imperial Army. To them is often the honour of first blood. When they were first deceived they were a peaceful people eternally grateful for their location on the arse end of nowhere but the war has come to their doorstep and they now have fire in place of their lost innocence.

</div>
</div>

==Vespid==

Like the Tau, Kroot, and Poctroon, the Vespid are native to the Tau cluster, and were the fourth race to join the Tau Empire. Once effective communication was established the Vespid eagerly converted to the Greater Good, because as a eusocial species the validity of the ideas of the Tau’va seemed self-evident and the idea of designated roles in society meshed well with their philosophies. Given the only other races the Tau had encountered at the time were the Kroot (whose stance on the Tau’va was something like “yeah, sure, whatever”), the Poctroon (who they never were completely sure signed on out of genuine faith or a mix of desperation and gratitude), and a passing AdBio team, this gave the Tau a huge boost confidence in the viability of the Greater Good on a galactic scale (and really, in retrospect probably made them think that spreading the Tau’va across the galaxy was going to be a lot easier than it really was).

However, the Tau initially had a lot of trouble communicating with the Vespid at first due to their alien methods of communication and immensely complex language. Their brains are crazy looking with a huge portion devoted to sensory perception. Vespid primarily communicate through pheromones. Effective communication wasn’t achieved with the Vespid until the Tau developed communion helms that picked up pheromonal signals and translated them into electronic speech. Even today, Vespid primarily talk to other species through a designated speaker with a communion helm, the vespid talk to the speaker who translates what they are saying to non-vespid and vice versa. However, even then the helm tends to translate inapplicable concepts with the closest possible word. Vespid have three pairs of eyes which are thought to have developed through duplication of an original single pair, each set has become secondarily attuned to a particular peak in the light spectrum, giving them great vision. They also have some sort of pseudo-stridulation ability which they use most famously to stabilize their neutron weaponry. Vespid writing works through each pair of eyes focusing on three lines of text at the same time which interact with each other when interpreted as information/sound analogue, with occasional use of pheromonal ink. Music and poetry also has a coloured component which is further complicated by their much wider spectral range than every other sapient race.

Poetry and song are typically between one hive/nation and another as each nation is best to be thought of as a single entity.

This is why the Vespid had a lot of trouble recognizing the other species as sentient at first. By the Vespid’s standards, the languages of other species were too simple to be considered evidence of sentience. They looked at other species and thought "oh, they can't be sentient, look at how simple their communication is. Gas-floaters have more complex communication than them." Even the Tau, who can speak to the Vespid much better than any other non-psychic species, seemed like barking dogs by their standards.

It also would be that if the Vespid are interchangeable within their nation then their language would be different at a very fundamental level. For one thing they aren’t interested in discussing feelings. The have them but in any particular set of circumstances and environment every Vespid would feel the exact same. This isn't typical of native lifeforms on their homeworld so they assumed it was a prerequisite for sapience. The Tau confused them a lot as each seemed a nation unto themselves and only allied with their companions.

It is possible to speak with a Vespid, but it’s not a very enjoyable experience. They would defer any hard decision to a higher authority if at all possible and once you have spoken to one you have spoken to all others of their nation in effect. It's not that they don't have a personality it's just that they all have the exact same personality unless something horrifically traumatic has happened.

Funnily enough this makes them consider Chaos worshippers to be insane to the point where they are no longer considered sapient.

As Vespid see themselves as individually interchangeable, their names tend to be nicknames based on their role in society or the few distinguishing features they have. For example a Vespid might be known as "drone-that-tends-the-driftyfish-shoals" that for shorthand ease of use often gets abbreviated or combined with another distinctive trait and then abbreviated. If drone-that-tends-the-driftyfish-shoals had one antenna he could be known as Unbalanced-Fisherman or Lopside-Fish. All Vespid of a nation are by their own admission interchangeable with others of their function. they are quite happy about this so long as the nation prospers.

As a eusocial species, there are a variety of morphologically different vespid for different tasks. The big hulking forms everyone thinks of are the soldiers. There is the breeder and child raising form that are rare and highly valued and seen only by the most trusted of water caste in high pressure suits as they never leave their homeworld. The leadership and diplomat form that administrate and go on state visits. The worker and technician type who form the backbone of society. And so on.

The Vespid don't make sense to the Bio-Druids at some deep and fundamental level. Their biology is all wrong. It looks like they should be just some sort of giant invertebrate plain and simple but they don't work that way once you get the shell off. And they have gotten the shell off, Vespid don't hold much sentimental value for dead bodies compared to most other sapients and sentients.

Their native environment is the sort of atmosphere so dense that it's closer to soup than air and before the Tau visited them they hadn't even bothered going to the surface of their own atmosphere, there is no reason for them to be able to survive at the low pressure of an Earth type of atmosphere. And they can breathe it as well with little difficulty.

There is also no reason for them to be able to perceive light in the human range either as their world is shrouded in what is to humans perpetual darkness. But despite their islands being so deep in the pitch black soup they can see unaided just fine on the surface they had until a few centuries ago never visited.

Add to this that they have both an endo and exoskeleton, a combination that doesn't arise in nature as well as actual lungs and the AdBio are absolutely convinced that the Vespid are someone's creation. The Eldar don't have records of it so it's either not their responsibility or it was someone's pet project and any knowledge of it wasn't spread far and was lost in The Fall. They might be Old One creations but then they would have had to stay hidden and totally stagnant for 65 million years and they weren't stagnating socially or technologically when the Tau found them. Some fringe nutters try to claim that they were made by the Great and Bountiful Human Dominion to explore the insides of gas giants. This is possible and would explain why they can also survive quite happily in Earth-like environments, but although the GaBHD did have the capability they also preferred to use robots for such things.

They don't share anything but a passing genetic familiarity with anything else in their ecosystem, what little of it has been prodded by outsiders, their endoskeleton is some sort of diamond derivative rather than bone which is not shared with any other animal of their homeworld and they are freakishly strong compared to everything else around them despite being almost total pacifists without a sense of competition and with no history of ever having had a natural predator.

Of all this the Vespid at least claim ignorance. Historically they didn't realize it was not meant to be so and so never questioned it. Maybe they are artificial. Maybe they are not. It does not bother them. Very little bothers them.

Vespid are omnivores and eat just about whatever they want. They can eat the flesh of the other creatures floating around in their soup of a planet, and there are a lot of them especially in the places where there is an upwelling of krill and plankton analogues from the lower levels. Their favourite food is the nectar of the giant fucking huge lily pads that float on the layers just above where their islands typically bob around. They just drift around some of the largest almost a mile wide casting great shadows into the briny deeps. At regular intervals they develop great flowers on their undersides where the drifting creatures swarm to get that delicious syrupy goodness and the pads can spread pollen.

The nectar has an effect on the vespid not entirely unlike getting mildly drunk. It makes them happy but slightly stupid and less responsive. It's banned outside of their homeworld as to humans and anything that works similar to humans the vapours that it emits in an Earth-like atmosphere at room temperature are classed as a form of nerve gas. It is speculated that the nectar has other effects on their biology that are needed to maintain a healthy and functional population, some speculate that it triggers the breeding cycle in their queens and their attendants. Others claim that it is only consumed in religious ceremonies, a subject that the vespid have always been remarkably tight lipped about. The vespid are not forthcoming on the subject although the end goal of terraforming similar worlds to their homeworld seems to be the cultivation of more of the lilies rather than environmental needs of their own.

Other than that their diet seems to be varied. They can eat anything from cabbage to red meat, though they prefer anything with a lot of sugar in it.

It paints them with the image of a gentle giant type of creature. They can each and all get into a boxing match with a space marine and have a realistic possibility of winning. They look like the bastard children of a wasp and a gorilla. They carry weapons that can punch through tanks. They are the stuff of nightmares. Then you meet one.

There is no malice in those strange eyes. They step around ants.

= Tau Empire =

The first alien race the Tau encountered were the Poctroon, which have been described as kind of looking like Kerbals. However, about the same time the Tau made first contact with the Poctroon, the Poctroon began dying from a plague created by a Poctroon Nurglite cult. The Tau did everything they could to help, but having virtually no warp presence whatsoever they could never figure out the root cause of the disease and its unreal nature of the disease frustrated the Earth Caste and Poctroon doctors trying to cure it. Billions dying on such a grand scale from some variation on Nurgle’s Rot is felt by psychics for 500 light years in every direction what with it being a half-psychic virus. The Tau have no psychics of their own and so it fell on deaf ears with them.

The Imperium did have psychics listening. Not long afterwards a human in dark green robes turns up. This was the official “first contact” between the Imperium and the Tau, aside from a flyover by a Mechanicus Explorator probe in the equivalent of the Tau’s Neolithic/Bronze era which according to the Tau didn’t count. The Bio-Priestess, Mertilda, had seen Nurgle’s Rot before and knew the effects it could cause if left to spread. She had seen the dead rise up to consume the living and would have none of it. Despite the combined efforts of the AdBio, Earth Case, and Poctroon doctors, only 2% of the Poctroon population survived, surviving in the remote areas that were infected last. However, that’s still 2% more than would have survived otherwise. The adept remained on the Poctroon homeworld for a another 30 years, taking samples of local wildlife and monitoring for secondary outbreaks, before setting off back to Molech.

This was when the Imperium really became aware of the Tau as an emerging power on the Eastern Fringe. In the years since, the events on the Poctroon homeworld have been kind of propagandized in the greater Imperium. The Tau Empire, while not lying about the Imperium’s assistance, really play up the efforts of the Earth Caste in curing the plague while downplay the AdBio’s significance. The Imperium tends to be slightly more truthful, but tends to paint the Tau as having no idea what they were doing instead of people who did everything they could with the tools they had. In truth neither would have probably succeeded without the help of the other, the Tau having no knowledge of the root cause of the plague and the AdBio not having the manpower (a lack of manpower in the Imperium was probably intentional or laziness) and supplies necessary to effectively treat so many plague victims, and the people who were actually involved in the incident would be incensed that their efforts at saving lives were being turned into political bargaining chips.

It's also worth noting that the Tau of that time had a prominent member of the Ruling Council known as Aun'o'T'au'Acaya'Va'Denta, commonly abbreviated commonly to Aun'Va. Everyone assumes that the current Aun was named in his memory, but some in the Inquisition are getting slightly suspicious as there is a hell of a resemblance to the current Aun and the ancient predecessor.

However the Tau were not able to recruit as many races as they did in canon because the Imperium has more options for diplomacy with alien races beyond "die xenos scum" and had snapped up a lot of the independent Xenos races that the Tau would have otherwise absorbed in canon. In canon, the aggressive actions of the Imperium towards many xenos races, like the Tarellians, only serves to drive them into the arms of the Tau. Here it’s not the case. Nevertheless, they did manage to get several races on their side, including the Poctroon, the Kroot, and the Vespid. Notably, the Demiurge and Nicassar were not among these. Not that this stopped the Tau from carving out a relatively large interstellar empire. By the time of M41, if not earlier, the Tau Empire is larger than in canon, approximately the size of Ultramar. Being two of the most well-developed semi-autonomous member states, the two are rather close.

One of the biggest contributions of the Tau to the Imperium is the “Tau Drive” (name pending), the system of “skimming” the shallows of the Warp that the Tau use in canon. The Tau Drive is much slower than the average speed of warp travel (somewhere between a third to a fifth), but it’s much more efficient and predictable, meaning your estimated time of arrival can actually be predicted as opposed to being “whenever Tzeentch decides you’ll get there”. Tau are close to Ultramar politically, and so Ultramar was the first major region of space outside the Tau empire to get access to the Tau Drive. Tau drive technology revolutionized civilian travel and supply travel in Ultramar, turning into an unpredictable and dangerous journey into a much more predictable and reliable, if slightly longer, trip. Since then, Tau drive technology has slowly but surely been spreading throughout Imperial space, though it is still rare outside of the Segmentum Ultima. Widespread adoption of Tau drive technology would surely revolutionize civilian travel in the Imperium as a whole just as it has in the Segmentum Ultima. The only question is if the Imperium will survive long enough for the Tau to see their efforts bear fruit. The Tau Drive would be useful in another way: in-system travel. You cannot safely enter or exit the Warp in-system (events of it happening in video games are non-canonical just as the games themselves are). But, with the Tau Drive, you would be able to appear just outside a star system and then arrive at your in-system destination practically no time. Excellent both for normal long-distance travel and for military attacks or liberation fleets.

Before they joined the Imperium, the Tau had an A.I. rebellion. It has been suggested that this was the result of Chaos deliberately subverting the more advanced Tau A.I., because they realized that if the Tau managed to make A.I. work then everyone would realize that A.I. wasn’t inherently dangerous, and Chaos can’t let people have nice things. However, as with the case of the Men of Iron, the less advanced models of Tau A.I., the ones who couldn’t comprehend the overwhelming enormity of Chaos, sided with the Tau. The Tau still have their drones, and the most advanced of the A.I. that sided with the Tau serve as advisors to the head Ethereals (but do not have any official power, the Tau learned from that mistake).

The Tau hate, ''hate'', '''hate''' the Dark Eldar, possibly more than any other group in the galaxy. The Tau weren't stupid enough to agree to a "cultural exchange" in this timeline. However, the Dark Eldar took advantage of the numerous catastrophes the Tau Empire faces (including the A.I. rebellion, the Schism, and the tyranid invasion) to raid the shit out of them with impunity. The only Tau-Dark Eldar cultural exchange in this timeline is the liberal application of Tau pulse fire to Dark Eldar faces. The Tau saw themselves as winners of the War in the Webway (in spite of the fact that overall it was a loss or at best a pyrrhic victory for the Imperium) because the Tau saw it as revenge for years of Dark Eldar raiding.

One of the few rules that the Imperium enforces for all of its member worlds, including the Survivor Civilization and non-human powers, is to always pay the Imperial Tithe. For the Survivor Civilizations it functions more like a mutual protection pact than anything else. You send troop out into the galaxy to help someone else, or else provide equivalent munitions and supplies for the war effort, so that when a rainy day comes along and your planet is being attacked by Orks/Chaos/tyranids/Rak'gol the Imperium has someone to send to help you. The Tau Empire always, always send troops, often in excess of what is requested of them by the Administratum. They see it as a point of pride and a way of culturally posturing to the greater Imperium, by demonstrating how much more skilled Tau soldiers are than other species. Hence the reason why there are [[Your Dudes|so many Tau regiments all over the Imperium]] despite the Tau Empire being restricted to the Segmentum Ultima. The Imperium likes to use Tau regiments against foes who have found a counter, no matter how soft, for the traditional Guardian + Guard combo. Tau are well-known for their skill at combined arms, even compared to other members of the Imperium. There are no bans on combined arms in this timeline because there was no Horus Heresy, but combined arms tactics in most regiments are still rudimentary due to their sheer size. Tau armies, being smaller and more elite yet supplemented by copious amounts of drones, are much more skilled at combined arms and punch a lot harder than their numbers would suggest.

There are Tau Inquisitors. The Tau are heavily invested in improving their standing within the wider Imperium, and they know that having Tau in the Inquisition would mean a huge opportunity for political advancement in the Imperium. Additionally, failing to have Inquisitors of their own would mean dealing with more non-Tau Inquisitors, and the Tau would probably sooner listen to a Tau Inquisitor than an offworld one in a politically sensitive matter. However, the Tau have a little more trouble with becoming Inquisitors because of the Caste System. Ethereals in general get a free pass among the Tau because they're supposed to be commanding and investigating. The Tau have an unofficial sixth caste, the "Void" Caste, named specifically for Tau who do tasks outside the traditional five-caste structure. The term has meaning on multiple levels. Their affiliation with their previous caste is "voided" and they walk outside the traditional caste system in the name of the Greater Good. The derogatory name for them being Outcaste (barring Void Caste being used as an insult in and of itself) which has the connotations of being forcibly kicked out of society rather than being placed outside for a constructive purpose. The term "Outcaste" isn't just applied to Tau Inquisitors, Farsight is officially termed an "Outcaste" by the Empire. Despite doing great work for the Empire, Void Caste Inquisitors are often encouraged to stay in the Empire as little as possible because the Tau fear for their culture. Ironically, due to the truths and horrors Inquisitors are constantly faced with, it is likely that Tau Inquisitors wouldn't give shit about the Tau and would probably view them as just an annoying [[that guy|dude]] they sometimes have to deal with.

The Tau in the Nemesor Zahndrekh's accidental fifedom are unknown to the Tau Empire due to distance. They would probably get classed as proto-Tau or possibly Casteless. Or Yokel-Tau if the classification is done by a Water Caste and it's been a long day.

= Squats (Hubworld League) =

They were a survivor enclave of humanity in the mineral rich and often high gravity worlds near the galactic hub.

They were not assimilated into the Imperium like the regressed Mad Max/Fallout/Metro/Medieval worlds but given the same offer as the Interex, Ultramar and Colchis which basically meant free trade and mutual protection and no Chaos and beyond that we don't give a shit unless you try to leave, this is a permanent deal.

Because the Steward was the ruler of Old Earth and therefore the Imperium was the nearest that there was to a continuation to the DAoT Empire, came to them with an olive branch rather than a bayonet and didn't look down on them (metaphorically) they took the offered hand of friendship.

Also they were drowning in orks at the time and the Imperium was like a drink of water to a man dying of thirst.

Turns out they weren't actually deviated enough to be abhumans to the surprise of everybody. Their short, broad and sturdy build is just the sort of thing that happens if you spend your formative years in high gravity. Two Earth-born humans have a child on a Hub World and it grows up short. All the old Hub-worlder navy families tended to be of normal height.

They had a deal with the some of the nearby Eldar worlds in happier times. They would make for them trinkets of great intricacy and beauty that the Eldar greatly prized, it being one of the few things that they were willing to admit someone could do better than they.

In exchange should they need help keeping marauders from their door they had only to ask.

Age of Strife rolls in and the orks come. Hubworlders hold out for a long time, their pride making them refuse to ask for aid. Eventually they do have to send a signal for help.

Eldar are too busy drowning in cocaine and flesh crafting new orifices and appendages to fuck with. They don't care about prior agreements.

Hubworlders eventually fall back to their strongest fortresses and prepare to hold out for as long as possible. It's an eternal siege with no relief in sight. The might last thousands of years but eventually they would fall and they knew it.

Then one day The Steward of Earth turns up with a fuck hueg fleet and the Imperial Army and tear the orks into chunks so small the worms don't have to chew.

Just as they saw The Steward and his Imperium as the heir and continuation of the old DAoT Empire they see the Craftworlders as the heirs to their old empire with all the sins that they have inherited.

Possibly they would drop the grudge against the craftworlders if the Eldar either apologized or stopped pretending that the craftworlds were the remnants of the only good parts of the old empire.

But both sides are too proud to back down. The Book of Grudges will always hold their names.

Had longevity treatments but they would only implement them if they could be shared by all. The result was everyone got to live to be 220 and maybe a bit more. Contrast to the Imperium where almost everybody has a basic human lifespan but the exceptional can live to be a thousand.

Also the longevity treatments keep you healthy but they don't keep you young. Most of your time you send as a spry and quite well preserved old person, but still old. Consequently birth rate was slower than the population numbers would suggest at first glance.

Result is that their armies are lacking in brute man power but supplemented with hand crafted Legio Cybernetica. They argue that they have not broken the First Commandment because they are not true A.I. becasue they lack sufficient intelligence and are usually somewhere between a well train dog and cuttlefish in terms of brains.

Mechanicus still REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE at them because degrees of blasphemy is still blasphemy. Sadly for the Mars Mechanicus the Hub Worlds are a Survivor Civilization and so joined the Imperium on the exact same style of deal that Mars did so they can go fuck themselves.

The Martian Priesthood got some level of revenge by erroneously classifying them as abhuman. They aren't. They look like that due to the gravity on their home worlds. If they raise their kids on a world with weak pussy gravity they grow up to look like regular humans.

One of the biggest manufacturers of stuff outside the AdMech along with people like the Demiurg, the Kinebrach, and the manufacturing sectors of semi-autonomous member states. More artisinal, prefer quality over quantity.

This is just my two cents, but since it was mentioned that the squats don't make changes to their rejuvenants unless everyone can have them, I'd say this suggests the squats are communitarian. You do your job to help the community and the community does it's job to help you. This is primarily because of the types of worlds they live on, you have to be cooperative and altruistic to survive. Or does this seem too similar to the Tau/Prometheans?

Their leaders tend to be called administrators because they originally started out as mining colonies and although they're all about equality someone has to be in charge. They tend to make sure they have a way to remove anyone in charge that goes mad with power. Also despite this they tend to be very very good at appreciating the value of something, due to being miners, though they aren't merchants in the same way as the Demiurge or Void Born. Squats get insulted if you try and cheat them, but not to "Ev'ryone's getting grudged" levels.

As opposed to the stereotypically dwarfy way of speaking, squats sound more American Wild West (particularly mining prospector) than Scottish, though there are a bit of Scottish aspects to their personality. They're also known for being brash and no-nonsense, why beat around the bush when you can just tell things as they are and get stuff done. In cultural terms, this makes the squats seem like a bunch of cowboys and yokels but then you look at them and realize the stuff they build is on par with the Ad-Mech. The Ad-Mech have a slight edge because they collect DaoT relics as a hobby and so have a lot of lost technology as well as a huge resource base, but in terms of stuff they actually build the two are pretty close.

Building on what we said in previous threads, the squats tend to look down on those who live in "pussy" gravity. Not derogatorily, but more of "Ooh, look at the wee baby men who can't handle the gravity" kind of way. Growing up on high-gravity worlds means squats are about three-hundred pounds of muscle despite being four to five feet tall (numbers subject to change). Squats are no more different from an average human than a Cadian, but the few differences they do have are an increase in muscle building compounds and a heart like a V8 engine to compensate for the constant pull of gravity. You don't throw a squat. A squat throws you.

It was also mentioned that the vast majority of these changes are not genetic. It's just what happens if you spend all your formative years in high gravity. If two squats move offworld to start a family on a world with "pussy" gravity the children turn out more or less normal. The AdMech classifying them as abhuman was an intentional mistake to annoy them because the Mechanicus of Mars can be petty bastards sometimes.

Although the details of fashion are constantly ephemeral (especially in an Imperium that spans over 10,000 years of history), female Hubworlders tend to wear their hair in masculine, short-cut styles. In-universe this keeps long hair out of moving machine parts and hardsuit seals, though it's also a reference to the common idea in fantasy of male and female dwarves looking similar.

The main source of crime in the Hubworld League comes from what has been tongue-in-cheek called the "squat mafia", though in reality they have more common with the yakuza than the mafia (and needs an actual name in the Hubworlder dialect the name Pyrite Order was suggested for the mineral connotations). They think they're upholders of traditional values such as keeping society organized, orderly and happy when they're really a bunch of protection racket runners, drug dealers, smugglers and pimps. That said, they've been doing this so long they've actually started to believe and try to live up to their own hype. So whilst they still do a lot of shady shit they also do a lot of non-shady shit that ingratiate themselves to the population in general.. This tends to cause problems as it means their members tend to be "good citizens" and "such upstanding members of the community" that local law enforcement and the Arbites can't nail them on things, and those that do typically don't squeal.

The squat mafia run a wretched den of scum and villainy. Imperial law varies enough from planet to planet and there are so few global Imperial laws that you can get almost anything you want for the right price. This infuriates the Arbites to no end, as it's technically part of Survivor Civilization territory and they can't go riding in without really clear evidence of them breaking either local (Hubworlder) or general Imperial law. Making matters worse, the crime syndicates that run the place have a habit of collectively turning on people that do things that could bring the wrath of the Imperium down on them like make deals with the Dark or Croneworld Eldar or trade in Chaotic artifacts, keeping their own nose squeaky clean by legal standards and making it impossible for the Arbites to just shut the place down.

= The Interex =

The Interex had about forty star systems under their aegis at the time of Imperial first contact, not counting those owned by vassal states such as the kinebrach or worlds controlled but not occupied like the megarachnid homeworld of Urisarach. “Forty worlds under forty suns” is a common motto in Interex space. That said, the actual number of planets is a little bit higher than that, because many systems have multiple inhabited planets (usually mining worlds, fueling stations, or outposts that are subordinate extensions of the “main” inhabited world), and the Interex have occasionally lost through enemy action or gained through colonization, similar to how the 500 worlds of Ultramar are…closer to 200-300 (thanks, Urlakk Urg). So a more accurate (if pedantic) motto would be “forty or so important worlds not counting protectorates, minor outposts, and a bunch of dead worlds we once held but lost due to orks/Chaos under about slightly more than forty stars”.

= Abhumans =
In addition to true abhumans (which are separate subspecies), the galaxy is also home to numerous baseline human populations that are nearly identical to the rest of the galaxy but differ in just a few alleles originating in their isolation during the Long Night, equivalent to how human populations today differ in skin tone, the ability to digest lactose, survive long trips over water, or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-altitude_adaptation_in_humans breathe easier at high altitudes]]. Some of these populations are distinct enough to qualify as distinct ethnicities, but are not truely abhuman. The purple eyes of [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Cadia|Cadians]], the exact same shade as the Eye, act as a natural filter against the unnatural colors of the Warp, spread through the population because those that had it were less likely to go insane and more likely to have children. This makes Cadians more Chaos resistant at the cost of a bit of Warp color-blindness. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Prospero|Prosperans]] naturally have a reddish-brown/orangish skin tone that is reminiscent of a strong sunburn, and because of the influx of refugees back in M34 “Prosperan Orange” is rapidly becoming a common skin color on Old Earth. The [[Nobledark_Imperium_Member_States#Interex|Interex]] are slender, pale, somewhat Asian-looking, and have big ears. Not pointy, mobile ears like eldar, just big human ears. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Catachan|Catachan]] are unusually tall and muscular which is believed to be from the majority of Catachan’s population being at least part Ogryn. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Fenris|Fenrisians]] have a small trickle of non-human genes in their system, the result of rare “one in a million” accidents where offspring produced from unions between a non-augmented human and a Space Wolf/Valkyrie don’t have the genes from the Canis Helix deactivated through Dark Age geno-copyright protection. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Member_States#Hubworld_League|Hubworlders]] have a few unique genetic mutations which protect them from heart failure in a high-gravity environment. Their unique stature is due to development in a high-gravity environment, but Hubworlders raised offworld look identical to normal humans. However, the minor differences in genome were enough of a loophole for the AdMech to classify them as abhumans out of spite, even though by that logic every human population not on Earth (and some that are) would have to be classified as such.

Another thorny issue that rarely comes up is that if anyone were to get a sample of pre-spaceflight humanity (as in, ''Homo sapiens sapiens''), "modern-day" baseline humanity (a.k.a. the Men of Stone) would have to be classified as a different subspecies due to the degree of genetic differences spliced into the collective genome by Dark Age medicine, including tweaks in the code to eliminate certain inherited diseases, reduce risk of cybernetic or biological implant rejection, digest proteins regardless of their chirality, prevent spaceflight osteopenia, etc. It's just like the eldar humans have assumed what is actually genetic engineering is natural because everyone has it.

== Ratlings ==
Because the Imperium isn't as xenophobic in this timeline, ratlings have been allowed to expand and have colony worlds all across the Imperium. This proved to be a lifesaver when Ornsworld, the ratling homeworld, was depopulated during the 12th Black Crusade. The loss of Ornsworld was a tragedy, but it wasn't fatal to the ratling subspecies.

Ornsworld is a world kind of like Earth, but with a lot more mountain-building and mountain-ranges. About the same time the Age of Strife happened, Ornsworld started going through an Ice Age, so the ancestors of the ratlings got hit with a double-whammy of being cut off from their technology base and being in the middle of an Ice Age. Ornsworld's extensive mountains didn't help, as all they did is provide more space for glaciers to grow and cut off the various basins and valleys from one another. Populations were isolated, and food and living space was at a premium. Like many species stuck in environments with little food and viable land, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insular_dwarfism the inhabitants of Ornsworld became smaller in size], and this period greatly contributed to the ratlings' behavior and culture. They're gluttons because evolved in an environment where you're never going to know where you're going to get your next meal. They tend to filch things because their ancestors had to hoard anything that might be useful to survive. They're really good cooks because their ancestors had to learn how to make terrible things palatable in order to survive another day (sort of like jellied eels used to be a food for the poorest in the U.K.), and those cooking techniques were passed on through families even after the ratlings were no longer on the edge of starvation.

About a thousand years before the Imperium arrived the Ice Age broke and Ornsworld got really nice. Large portions of the planet went from being covered by glaciers to fertile valleys that could support bountiful harvests. Basically a combination between the Shire and Space Austria. The ratlings, normally used to living on the edge of existence, exploded in population due to the sudden abundance of food and good living conditions. Of course, that was before the 12th Black Crusade and the Warp Hounds burned the planet down.

== Felinids ==

The felinids hail from the world of Carlos McConnell. It’s not clear if the name of the planet was due to a mixup in the initial paperwork reporting the planet, if Carlos McConnell was an important figure in the planet’s history, or both. Carlos McConnell is a wet, rainy world. Much of the planet is covered in some manner of rainforest, temperate rainforest on the large mountainous continents that mostly straddle the continent’s temperate latitudes and tropical rainforest on the volcanic island chains located closer to the equator. As a result, there is very little arable land on Carlos McConnell, and very few large animals that could be used for livestock.

One of the best source of food for a Stone Age hunter-gatherer society would be the numerous small game found throughout the planet’s rainforests. So it was really useful to have features that allowed you to track down and hunt small game, even if you had to climb up trees and tear it apart with your bare hands and teeth. And the domestic cat of Earth was the perfect murder machine to use as the template. In truth, felinids are probably as much marmoset-like as cat-like, as cats probably weren’t the only species that the natives of Carlos McConnell were spliced with and when you start to make a primate cat-like they begin to resemble a marmoset. But in the darkness of the 41st millennium, more people know what a cat is than a marmoset.

If you passed a well-dressed, well-groomed modern felinid on a hive city street, you probably wouldn’t notice that much was off at first glance. Felinids have hair everywhere but their faces, hands, and the soles of their feet, so their faces look mostly human. However, their eyes are very cat-like with slitted pupils and their ears are pointed, protruding and definitely non-human. Their canine teeth are also enlarged, though this varies between individuals. Felinids from the continents having bigger canines. They may be able to open their mouth wider than baseline humans, in order to use those canines to take slashing bites out of things. The lower incisors may be specialized for grooming like some primates.

Felinids tend to have a bushy mane of hair in both males and females, and very little facial hair. The mane is as much cultural as genetic, and is/was useful for keeping things from biting your neck. Their hands and feet both have retractable claws, the one on the thumb being particularly nasty. The feet are kind of like those of some ancient human relatives, where the second toe is enlarged to partially take over from the function of the big toe, which has become opposable. Felinids can wear human boots, but prefer their own footwear for comfort. The ankle joint can flex, allowing them to use their feet like hands to clamp onto trees. The tail is mostly used for balance while moving through the forest or climbing. Overall non-human enough that they aren't magical-realmy, but human enough that its possible to see why baseline humans are sometimes attracted to them.

Although still omnivores, a much greater proportion of the felinid diet is composed of meat compared to humans. This turned out to be a problem when the felinids decided to stop being hunter-gatherers and start rebuilding civilization. Although hunting small animals worked fine for hunter-gatherers, the easiest way to get enough protein to feed sedentary populations would be to get it from the sea. As a result, advanced civilization on Carlos McConnell mostly developed in the tropical archipelagos, where it was easy to catch enough seafood to feed dense populations and volcanic action made it easy to mine for workable metals. The diet of the more technologically advanced felinid cultures has been compared to the Tau, though rather than being primarily wheat noodles supplemented by a small amount of seafood like the Tau their diet tends to be mostly seafood with a little bit of noodles.

Overall, there are two distinct cultural groups of felinids living on Carlos McConnell. There are the aforementioned People of the Islands, which are more technologically advanced and have been culturally described as a cross between Japanese and southeast Asian cultures. They were technologically advanced enough that the Imperium did not see them as completely feral like the Ogryn and the Beastmen, but at the same time did not have space travel (feudal level). The felinids living on the more sparsely populated continents (the Continental Tribes) are still largely tribal hunter-gatherers. They have been described as being overall Wookie-like in culture, and tend to be larger and tougher than the islanders with thicker fur. There are stories of a rarer third variety of felinid, whether it is a distinct kind in its own right or a recurring mutation is debatable. It is the Saber-toothed Felinid. It’s what you get when you cross a felinid and a Nova-Ogyrn.

Although they can function in groups on their own, felinid soldiers tend to operate at peak efficiency when broken into squads and distributed among other regiments of non-Felinids. Organizing them is very much a case of herding cats. They generally get along with nova-ogryn better than nova-beastmen and get along with either far, far better than Fenrisians due to conflicting territorial instincts. Both islanders and tribal continent-dwellers have a nasty habit of trophy taking. Teeth, finger bones and vertebrae made into adornments is the most common means of this expression. They generally have an edge at trap setting, ambush and are considered a poor man’s answer to real assassins. They are shit at holding a position.

Much like the ratlings, although the felinids were once confined to a single world, they have expanded outward in the 10,000 years since and there are now felinid colony worlds as well as significant felinid populations on many worlds.

Carlos McConnell himself is a figure of veneration on the felinid homeworld, despite being an outsider. The felinids know that when Carlos McConnell discovered the planet he could have easily exploited them as a source of cheap labor, grease a few palms in the Administratum to make the planet disappear and turn it into his own personal fiefdom as has happened with many other Rogue Trader dynasties. Instead, he brought modern technology to the medieval-era People of the Islands and gradually exposed them to the galaxy in a way that would allow them to thrive. It didn’t hurt that he’d married one of the natives. That’s one way to make people not see you as an outsider.

Carlos McConnell is considered a Paul Bunyan-esque folk hero on the similarly-named planet, with all sorts of impossible things attributed to his name that are technically true, but blown out of proportion through millennia of tall tales. For example, McConnell is said to have put a flag on the felinids' moon by throwing it really, really hard. He did put a flag on the moon, but he did so by landing on the moon in his spaceship. Like a normal person. Similarly, they say he put a goldfish into the sea which grew into the sea serpents of the planet. Carlos McConnell did have a goldfish, but the correlation between that and the sea serpents is a bit of a stretch.

Although he didn't turn the planet into his own little mercantilistic fiefdom, Carlos McConnell did make the planet his base of operations, as he found no shortage of willing individuals who wanted to go out into the stars and bring back resources to support their families. As technology and wealth flowed into Carlos McConnell the planet’s inhabitants were gradually uplifted in technology, and skyscrapers gradually replaced the feudal castles of the old daimyos. Like all Rogue Trader dynasties, the Carlos McConnell started looking inward as trading opportunities dried up. Now the Carlos McConnell Corporation is a business power that rivals some individual megacorps on Kiavahr, selling everything from dried goods to acting as a middle man for Mechanicus products. The inhabitants of the felinid homeworld were always hunters, they just traded warpaint for business suits. This is more the case for the felinids on Carlos McConnell than anywhere else, the felinid colonies don't have the Carlos McConnell corporation to bankroll everything for them. The company’s mascot is a cutesy-stylized felinid tested by focus groups for maximum appeal (read: Hello Kitty-esque moe catgirl), recognized throughout the Segmentum Tempestus. Few people realize it barely looks anything like an actual felinid.

= Xenos Independens and Horridus (non-Chaos) =

== Q'orl ==
They are still a bunch of xenophobic zealots but the Imperium is willing to meet them half way this time and not prod them unnecessarily. They have been offered preliminary deals with the long term intention of bringing them into the fold of true civilization in time.

Every time, the Q'orl have refused.

Unless the Matriarchy of Queens is running the show then they refuse. They are the Master Race and although other peoples have their uses, they would begrudgingly accept, they are not true people. They are trained animals.

Only the Q’orl are may rule Q’orl.

The Imperium leaves them. The Emperor is taking the same view of them as he did Hy Brasil in ancient history. He is an immortal, he can play the waiting game. The offer is always open to them, they are the only ones standing in their own way and eventually they will realize their folly. In time. All things in time.

Every so often one of the Queens will dream of dreams once had by all conquerors but Alexander the Great never had Emperor Oscar to contend with. The Imperium and the Q'orl occasionally get in small-scale wars with each other (from the Imperium's perspective, from the Q'orl perspective it's a major campaign) but the Q'orl never managed to achieve a long-term foothold. They once managed to hold dominance over a multi-sector empire whilst the Imperium was busy fighting Da Bug Boyz of the Octavius Desolation. It fell when the Imperium brought back the pain train.

The the Imperium doesn't completely bulldoze them because they're currently not a serious long-term threat like the Orks, and they are willing to pitch in when Chaos, Nids or a big Ork WAAGH! come calling but that's mostly out of mutual interest and long term preservation instincts kicking in.

Assholes to the core and on the low end of the EVIL pool. Not a people you would turn your back on but not one of the Big Players either.

== Jokaero ==

The Jokaero are, in many ways, a lot like the Hrud. Not hostile, but at the same time not Imperial citizens because you can't can't get a solid agreement out of them. Hrud because they are flighty, Jokaero because the Imperium can’t get beyond basic communication with them (i.e., what you see modern humans doing with dolphins and great apes). They theoretically should be smart enough to understand some basic communication but don't act like it, to this end the AdBio have never been able to determine if they are animals or sapient people taking the piss.

Jokaero have been known to perform technical expertise in exchange for fruit, but it’s not as if a transaction or agreement was made. They just turn up and do things. Most people see Jokaero as essentially non-sentient animals that are genetically hardwired to make tools. People still don't try to use Jokaero despite being near-sapient test subjects outside Imperial law because multilasers.

Most Imperial citizens know of the Jokaero via a kids’ cartoon featuring a big friendly cuddly Jokaero as a recurring side character. He makes strange and unpredictable devices that generate shenanigans. People encountering them for real drop the cuddly and change friendly to non-hostile. They are big though.

Inqusitor Coteaz has a reputation of being the “Jokaero whisperer”. He knows full well that the Jokaero aren’t sapient in the way that other species like humans and kinebrach are, so in order to get them to do what you want you have to put things in their terms. Treat them like great apes that know how to make guns. You don't get the Jokaero to stay where you want them with cages or build what you want with threats. You get them to do what you want via positive reinforcement (as in, gives best treats in exchange for making stuff).

Coteaz' actual retinue also has a large number of kinebrach, who tend to bring their own raygun gothic style weapons. They get kind of pissed if you compare them to the Jokaero (they were *hired* for one, they'd say, or point out that if you were to call Coteaz' research "a barrel full of monkeys" you'd have to include humans in that count).

Coteaz himself isn’t even sure if the Jokaero are truly non-sapient or just pulling the entire galaxy's leg.

Their movements and migrations seem to him to be far too directed and deliberate to be purely instinct and fruit driven.

There seems to be something that has a vague ability to direct them down certain paths to where they need to be but hasn't enough direct control to dictate what they do when they get there.

Out of all the places in the Galaxy there are richer sources of food and more safety than in Guard regiments being deployed. But a disproportionate number of them end up there, right where they can upgrade shit in strange and unpredictable ways.

His own retinue is a prime example of this. There are far safer places to be and indeed they often leave him after a short time, but others always turn up.

And on rare occasions they have deliberately fought. There is nothing more oddly terrifying that watching a Jokaero fashion bizarre war gear out of scrap and then shredding Necrons and Chaos Eldar with hand held reality violations. It's the surreal terror of watching something harmless become horrifying. Coteaz has only seen this happen two or three times, Jokaero typically run at the first hint of danger. He has only seen it at all because of his extensive contact with them.

The rest of the Inquisition think that Coteaz has gone mildly eccentric with his talk of directed Jokaero behaviors because it contradicts thousands of years of what everyone else has seen. Sometimes Coteaz thinks maybe they are right, maybe he is just seeing shapes in the clouds. But then he sees one of the Jokaero out of the corner of his eye, not hunched over but standing proud, tow big black eyes like bottomless pits and something else looking back at him. He turns to look properly and the Jokaero slumps back into it's usual behavior and the thing behind those eyes flickers away and he can almost believe he imagined it. Almost.

If the Jokaero are sentient, it's not out of the question that they too made their own god, like the Orks, Hrud, and Eldar. Possibly some sort of scrap god or something similar.

== Zoats ==

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, there was an alien race driven to the brink of extinction by the tyranids. The Zoats, the original Zoats, knew that their day was done. Their galaxy was devoured and they the last pocket of meat were soon to be gobbled up. So they took what they could of themselves and turned the mutagenic properties of the Star Locusts against them. They infected themselves with a virus that when they were eaten would spread to the rest of the Hive Fleet and lie dormant until such time as the Hive found a new feeding ground and began to multiply again. When the tyranids got to a new galaxy and the Norn Queens began to grow a new batch of tyranids the Zoats emerged from the tyranids like parasitic wasps out of a host. Kill tyranid biomorphs and Norn Queen before lobotomizing a Hive Ship and taking off into the galaxy. One stays behind to suicide bomb the Hive Ship into another Hive or the nearest star if that's not an option. Other zoats ditch the hive ship, build their own from ceramics and tyranid flesh and then set out to warn the galaxy what's coming and to tool up like there's no tomorrow like the Silver Surfer before Galactus. Then once the galaxy is sufficiently warned the turn around and set out to build an army to sabotage the tyranids as much as they can before dying to the last. They've done this several times.

The Zoats are a sobering reminder that the tyranids are a very real threat and failure against them is not an option. They have eaten whole galaxies before and they have again.

It should be noted that the Zoats the Milky Way knows and loves are not the original Zoats (or are they?). They are tyranid bioforms made in the image of the Zoats. Their original ships were hijacked bio-ships, and even their newer Zoat-made ships are built with stolen tyranid bits. They are capable of interfacing with and using tyranid biotechnology and weapons, though they hate it and ditch tyranid biotech for other weapons as soon as possible. The modern Zoats are an infection made in the image of Zoat to be their final insult to the Great Devourer, living spite, a sad and terrible mockery of what their makers were. They take that and they run with it. Everything the Zoats do is to spite the tyranids in some way. It's the reason they're Xenos Independens. Sabotage a Hive Fleet? Spites the 'nids. Help an Imperial force fight off a splinter fleet? Spites the 'nids. Save civilians? One more life kept out of the jaws of the Great Devourer and therefore a middle finger to the Hive Mind.

However, they are not part of the Imperial military and they don't listen to Imperial commands. Get across how they can do something to mess up the tyranids and they'll consider it. They cooperate with the Imperium because the Imperium kills tyranids. Not because they like them. Not to mention that a lot of actions that spite the tyranids also harm the Imperium. Wake up a Tomb World to kill a Hive Fleet, despite the fact that it subsequently goes on a ramapage across the sector? Spites the 'nids. Attract a Chaos Warband to attack a planet with a strong Genestealer cult? Spites the 'nids.

They don't know where they came from, not anymore. The new breed of Zoat have murky memories of their progenitors at best, there was a limit on how much knowledge could be programmed via virus. It doesn't matter to them.

The Zoats present the Imperium with a dilemma. They are 'Nid but not 'Nid. They are sapient and sentient but they have no art, accomplishments of their own and literally exist to do nothing but fight and die and take as many of the 'Nids with them. They are a bizarre cross between pitiable and frightening. There would be dissenting opinion on whether they are people. The Zoat point out that maybe they are or maybe they aren't, but the point is academic so long as the Hive lives.

The Zoats have no idea what they'll do in the unlikely event the Hive Mind is killed. Maybe one day they will be Zoat again, or at least some sort of Zoat. Maybe, the Zoats tell each other, maybe once this is all over they can rebuild somehing in memory of the True Zoat. Maybe they can be real people one day. But not today. Today there is war. And today is a good day to die.

'''Possible Tyranid Origin'''

This was brought up in the threads, and while people liked the idea it was thought that making it canon took too much of the mystery out of the nature of tyranids as an Outside Context Problem. It was decided to leave this as merely one of multiple possible origins for the tyranids, possibly no more than a crazy off-the-wall AdBio hypothesis, hence why it is hidden in a block here. It's not like the Imperium would be able to find out either way. This could be where the tyranids came from, or it could be that tyranids are simply natural galactic predators writ large and the natural state of the galaxy without [[Old Ones|psychic lizard wizards]] to keep the worst of stuff at bay, etc.

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="100%">

Few who fight the tyranids on the eastern fringe could fail to be aware of the Zoats, the race of six-limbed lizard-like creatures who fight the tyranids, seemingly renegade organisms from the Hive Mind itself, claiming to be the biological simulacra of another race that once opposed the tyranids in another galaxy long ago. However, some Ordo Xenos inquisitors and Adeptus Biologicus have proposed that the link between the Zoats and the tyranids is much more personal than the Zoats would like to admit. It is admittedly not a strong theory, built up from bits and pieces of evidence gathered together over the span of four millennia. Forensic archaeology is rather difficult when all of the pertinent events in question occurred millions of years ago in another galaxy. The Zoats themselves are silent on this theory. Whether it is because they do not know or because it hits uncomfortably close to the truth is a mystery.

<div class="mw-collapsible-content">

Ages ago in a galaxy quite a ways a way there was once a race. A technologically advanced race, not on par with the Old Ones but maybe equivalent to the Necrontyr. Masters of flesh and biotechnology. As all races do after a certain point, they began to think seriously about the bigger things in life. Mortality. Inequality. Understanding their fellow being.

And so the race came up with what they thought was the solution. Upload everyone’s mind into a single interconnected network, free from the constraints of flesh, from which bodies could be created on demand. On paper it seemed perfect. No one would die unless they chose to. No mind would be forced inhabit a body it did not want to. Everyone would instantly be able to see the perspective of anyone else, creating universal empathy. And the network was ever increasing, ever growing, so not only would the race benefit, but they could bring their gift to everyone in existence. There would be no more death, no more disease, no more hatred. For anyone.

Naturally, something went horribly wrong. What should have been an interlinked network of independent minds collapsed into a single morass, differences between individual thought patterns blurring until only the most universal impulses remained. Eat. Grow. Reproduce. The subroutines designed to bring in fresh matter to power the network and grow forms for resleeving individual minds corrupted into the biotechnological equivalent of gray goo. The race had tried to achieve the singularity, and instead all they had done was go past an event horizon.

The only people to survive this singularity, which had suddenly become one in a very literal sense, were the people who refused to upload their minds to the network in the first place. They suddenly found themselves on the receiving end of a quadrillion gaping maws of what had once been their entire species, mutated into unrecognizability. And so they ran. And when they could not run, they fought. And when they could not run or fight any further, they used their biotechnological talents on themselves, turning themselves into a genetic parasite which would hide within the network that had once been the summed minds of their brothers and sisters. They modified themselves to pop out and fight the tyranids whenever they tried to feed, in the hopes that some day some race will reach the point that they will be able to finally defeat and kill the tyranids. They fought the tyranids in their home galaxy. They fought them in Andromeda. They fight them here. Everywhere they go, they bring the same message to the same message to every race they encounter, in the hopes that they will heed their warnings and either flee or militarize to the point they can fight the tyranids.

“Run, for in our hubris the gift of our people has come for you.”

</div>
</div>

== Megarachnids ==

When the Imperium made first contact with the Interex, they found out about the Megarachnids, who the Interex had stripped of space flight capacity and quarantined to their homeworld after being unable to communicate with them and fighting an interstellar war with them. Given they had already proven to be violent and not open to reason the Imperium wanted to kill them, but the Interex stepped in and claimed them as a vassal under Interex protection, much like the Kinebrach. The Imperium wasn't happy about this idea, but given the Megarachnids were contained to a single world they told the Interex they would give them one chance. However, if the megarachnids ever got out, they would no longer be the Interex’s problem, they would be the ''Imperium's'' problem, and the Imperium wasn't going to feel bad about wiping them out.

At some point during the War of the Beast, Urisarach was invaded by Orks, who proceeded to get murdered like everyone else who set foot on the planet and got their ships stolen by the megarachnids. At least some megarachnids discreetly made their way off the planet, helped by the fact that both the Interex and the Imperium were too distracted by the War of the Beast to notice. The spiders are at large in the galaxy again, though they are staying as far away from Interex space as possible because they remembered what happened last time. Nobody has really noticed because it’s a big galaxy and the spiders are such a minor concern compared to orks, necrons, Chaos, tyranids, even groups like Slaugth. The spiders aren't even well-known enough outside Interex space for most commanders to make the connection between any minor xenos species they encounter to a planet on the other end of the galaxy. There may even be a megarachnid section in the xenos district of Null City in Commorragh.

== Sslyth ==

During the Dark Age of Technology, the Sslyth were a proxy/vassal state sponsored by the Old Eldar Empire for when they wanted to start a proxy war to take another power down a peg or two but didn't want to be seen doing it themselves. Unfortunately, when the Old Empire fell, the Sslyth got corrupted by Slaanesh due to their cultural and trade connections to the Old Empire and became the Laer. Some of the Sslyth saw what was happening to their people and decided they didn't want to live on that planet anymore and left for space. The rest of the Laer stayed on their homeworld of Laeran and, among other things, turned the gas giant their moon orbited into a giant fusion candle that they used to travel around and bring the good word of Slaanesh to the stars. It hasn't yet been established whether the original name for the species was Sslyth and then Laer or if they were originally Laer and Slyth means something like "people with common sense". Quite a large number of Sslyth fell in with Commorragh for the simple reason of the arrangement being familiar whereas others became pirates or mercenaries.

Another unusual twist of note is that it's quite likely the Sslyth, of all people, are the founders of the Diasporex. The fall of Laeran to Chaos being their event that made the founders of the Diasporex go "you know, it's kind of peaceful out in the void and all this Warp shit just messes planets up". There are enough of them with the Diasporex fleets that the Sslyth on Cherys were considered to be descended from a lost Diasporex ship. However, whoever the founders of the Diasporex really were is a lesson lost to history, the founders deliberately destroyed the records of who started the religion as a moral decision to not make Diasporex ideals about species or "who's in charge by dint of seniority".

== Rangdan Osseivores ==

The Rangdan Osseivores were immense titan-sized bio-constructs created by the Slaugth to dispose of waste meats. Although the Slaugth could eat just about any flesh, what they really cared about was the delicacy of the brain. Because of their wastefulness, this generally meant that when the Slaugth decided to eat one of their pen-raised sapients they usually just ate the brains and threw the rest of the body away. Some of the excess meat was used to feed the Slaugth’s other bio-constructs, but the majority of it went to the Osseivores. For most of their existence the Osseivores would lie supine, debrained body after debrained body being shoveled into their disgusting, prolapsed, tooth-lined mouths, like pigs being fed leftovers. The practical benefit of the Osseivores is that all that biomass didn’t go to waste, instead of simply decaying it was metabolized and incorporated into the Osseivore’s body. When the Slaugth were attacked all they had to do was tell the Osseivore to stand up on its massive legs and go to war, and all of a sudden they had a biological titan-sized entity ready to do battle with their enemies. The Osseivores were so powerful the titan legions needed the tactical edge granted by the eldar’s psychic titans such as wraithknights and warlock titans to give them an edge, which was one of the reasons why humanity and eldar teamed up to rescue the slaves of their respective species from the Slaugth (this being in the days before the alliance was cemented).

= History of Super-Soldier Augmentations in the Imperium =

In this timeline the Astartes were developed as a continuation of the previous Super Soldier projects that the Emperor, then known as the Warlord, began. As the Unification Wars progressed he salvaged the notes and recruited the adepts (e.g., Duscht Jemanic genesmiths, Merikan gene-hippy conclaves) responsible for the super soldiers created by his rivals and incorporated them into his projects.

Early Thunder Warriors and the more refined late Thunder Warriors were designed by the Warlord's people. The early designs of Thunder Warrior were blunt instruments that required constant medical care, a strict diet and drugs. And even then they were prone to serious psychological problems, organ failure and strokes. Angron was of this generation and it was considered a miracle that he lived as long as he did even with the best doctors the Emperor, then Steward, could give him.

Later designs of TWs were still a fair bit crazy but needed nowhere near the same levels of medication and only occasionally dropped dead for no discernible reason. Perty and Morty were of this design.

Early stage (Mark I) Astartes were made with access to the expertise of conquered/allied nations. They only required drugs to undo malformation from imperfect implementation of the upgrades. Astartes without the extras like poison glands, suspended animation, learn from eating brains, instant tanning or waxy protective sweat. Mentally reasonably stable.

The Canis Helix/Dog Soldier design was made during this time as a possible alternative to Astartes project. Scrapped due to increased mutation rate and the fact that it was genetic rather than due to implants, meaning it could be passed down if someone managed to crack the gene encryption (which would be bad, as the Warlord did not want a caste of enhanced humans ruling over the rest). Of the surviving successes Russ was the most famous. Russ resurrected the project on Fenris and after some...setbacks (introducing "wolves" to Fenris) managed to ironed out some of the kinks to the point where the Canis Helix was at least militarily viable (with the caveat that he only managed to get it to reliably work on people with genetic markers specific to Fenris). Adopted by no one else.

Mark II Astartes were made with help from the Orioc exiles and Merikan gene-hippies, and incorporated improvements form Fulgrim's reverse engineered Astartes Mk1 enhancements

Mark III S Astartes were the prototype for the modern form of Space Marine (the Mark III MP). Were made once Ducht Jemanic joined the Imperium. Outperformed the older models (as well as the Mark III MP Astartes) in almost every respect, but were more expensive, more time consuming, and potential candidates were at least an order of magnitude smaller due to compatibility issues. Only used by three institutions: Grey Knights, Custodes, and (unofficially) the Sons of Antaeus. As a result, Steward told his various geneticists he wanted limit the improvements to reasonable stuff like bug fixes, reduced rejection, and slight enhancements from the Mark II.

Sororitas augmentations came much later, when the group became an official military order following the Age of Apostasy. Recieve discrete cybernetics and limited gene-forging. Essentially an army of Halo SPARTANS or Captain Americas (that is, an absolute nightmare for a baseline human, but still not capable of taking on an Astartes in a straight fight). In terms of augmentations, lean more towards peak human than walking tanks

Because the primarchs aren't artificially engineered demi-gods with gene-seed being specifically derived from each one, aspirants are often shuffled around based on aptitude and chapters are not as constrained by gene-seed availability. The only exceptions are the Space Wolves and Iron Hands, who aren't technically Space Marines, and chapters who deliberately cultivate mutations.

Adeptus Custodes are created from the same gene-seed variation that created the Grey Knights, the only other institution that officially makes use of it.

Their job is to accompany the Emperor and Isha state visits and given the size of the Imperium they are never not on state visits or surprise inspections. It's felt that they give a certain sense of class to the proceedings in their blinged out armour and the casual ease by which they carry enough badass to fuck up a city each.

When not standing around looking fabulous they are assigned to bodyguard other people. Various Sector and Sub-sector Governors, major hiveworld and trad hub planetary governors, sometimes heads of the larger religions, High Lords of Terra and a few others. Basically people who are so important that their death would impact Imperial stability. Or possibly people who are really important but the Emperor doesn't trust completely.

Imperial Army exists, and has various contingents of augmented soldiers and officers that are not Astartes, just as Space Marine chapters have un-augmented second-line troops and logistics staff. The Army is not automatically under the command of Astartes, or vice versa. Job usually goes to who has the most impressive record for managing and winning fuck huge wars rather than who has the biggest collection of ork trigger finger necklaces. Every Astartes behind a desk is one not on the field of war, where they usually want to be and what they were built for. Usually.

Broken down old relics who can't tread the warpath any more often take administrative jobs in the Imperial war machine because it's something to do that isn't completely alien. Also some space marines are just really good at it to the point where it would be a waste not to use them in such a manner, they are rare.

=Forces of the Imperium=

==The Commissariat==

Commissars represent a tangible tie for the foot sluggers to the Imperium of Man and Eldar. Some people in the real world have trouble thinking past their city/tribe/religion to focus on what's good for their nation. Take that problem, and magnify that to a galactic level. Guardsmen that might previously have considered the trip to the big city a long ways away are suddenly surrounded by technology beyond imagining, aliens they've only heard in legend, and worst of all, guardsmen that they're told are the same species as they are, but do everything completely wrong in the most disgusting ways. Some of those freaks have TATTOOS for pity's sake!

This isn't just the problem that the grunts suffer. Officers, graduating top of their class at the finest war academies on their worlds are forced to rub elbows with complete yokels that couldn't tell you the difference between a flanking maneuver and their asshole, or complete snobs that sneer at one another's credentials and undermine authority with their pompous arrogance. In short, for humans faced with the weird and unknown, they can get unpredictable. The commissar is there to ensure that every soldier remembers their duty to the Imperium, and prevent culture shock from harming army cohesion. Guardsmen regiments are given a great deal of latitude- they may specialize in their own methods of warfare, select their own uniforms, and create their own command structures, with the exception of the commissar. Every raised regiment requires a commissar, and every commissar dresses exactly alike, and every guardsman regiment is required to train and recognize what the commissar represents as the Imperium made manifest, the final word on matters of justice, and the last resort commander. Regiments across the galaxy immediately know that if all their native officers fall, they need to look for the cap and great coat to follow.
They do not rule, they do not follow.

They look over the shoulder of the rulers to make sure they aren't doing anything too stupid and they make sure the plebs follow.

They can't pull any rank unless everyone else with a real officer rank is dead. They can't execute anyone unless they are sure that they are acting in cowardice rather than tactical sense, they are obviously Douglas Haig levels of incompetence or that they are secretly on the other team.

They have no rank. They have very limited actual authority, although what authority they do have is terrible and terrifying. Everyone gets a basic anti-Chaos education, the commissars get additional training.

This time around there was no great and cast iron divisions in the break up of the old Legions. If you are part of an Imperium commissioned fighting force you get one of these scary fuckers traveling around with you.

It's not so bad, they are usually very well educated in the ways of war and they sometimes come out with good ideas.
Commissars still have their trademark “more lethal to their own troops than it is to the enemy” bolt pistol. However, in this timeline the purpose of the bolt pistol is less for morale-boosting executions, and more to provide mercy killings to guardsmen who are beyond saving and are in the grip of some tentacled horror or who have been corrupted by Chaos. The enemies of the Imperium, particularly the Crone Eldar, can kill you in a hundred different ways, but they can make you wish you were dead in a thousand. This isn’t to say that executing people for extreme cowardice still doesn’t happen.

Nevertheless, commissars are still people, and power still corrupts. Just like in canon, you still get the overzealous trigger-happy commissars who BLAM! their own men at the slightest hint of them stepping out of line and build their careers over the corpses of their fellow soldiers. The only difference is that in this timeline, if you’re lucky, those commissars get caught (or Catachaned) and put on military trial. Whenever a commissar gets assigned to an Imperial Army regiment, the Imperial Army troops hold their breath to see if they are going to be brave or insane. Sometimes, if they are particularly unlucky, they are both.

==Imperial Army==

=== Cadian Doctrine ===

The Cadian Doctrine, which is the most commonly followed military doctrine in the galaxy, basically boils down to digging in and mowing down enemies from range with massive amounts of las- and shuriken fire before they get close enough to engage in melee. This is fantastic for digging in and holding territory, and is especially effective against Orks, who love melee charges and whose accuracy in ranged combat is...spotty, at best. However, at the same time followers of the Cadian Doctrine have trouble taking ground. When attacking, the Cadians use mass artillery support with charging infantry to dig out defending enemies. Either that or they partner up with a regiment of Fenrisian Line Troopers, beastmen, Ogryn, Astartes, or other group who do excel in offensive action. Unfortunately, this makes the Lost and the Damned, who excel in close-quarters melee combat and asymmetrical warfare, a pretty good counter for the typical Cadian strategy.

The Cadian Doctrine is also effective because it is cheap. All you need is lasguns and lots and lots of people who can aim, no need for fancy sagittars, tough-as-nails warrior culture, special weapons, or elite troops/specialists. So it's possible for any regiment to follow the Cadian Doctrine, hence why it is often seen as the "standard", much to the grumblings of the Macharians, who prefer specialization and sending the right type of troops for the right job. Cadian Doctrine soldiers can also easily support other units such as Astartes, which makes them an effective force multiplier in just about any situation.

==Imperial Navy==

The overall motif of the Imperial Navy and void life in general is Age of Sail-style Wooden Ships and Iron Men (no, not those Iron Men). Like on a ship in the Age of Sail, life on a void ship is arduous, and you have to be constantly alert (on a sailing ship to make sure the ropes are all taut and the sails in the right position, on a void ship to constantly make sure the engines are working right). Overall, it’s a lifestyle that’s hard, but not so bad that the entire crew doesn’t jump ship the first chance they get and the people who live it actually take it as a point of pride over those who don’t. Wooden Ships and Iron Men is very nobledark because by definition it pits the wills and creations of men against the cold, uncaring forces of nature. It’s a gritty job away from civilization much of the time and at the mercy of the "elements" so to speak, where a rogue storm could wreck your ship at any time if you're not careful. That's not to say the bad parts of the Age of Sail, such as mutinies, harsh discipline, and the occasional unauthorized press-ganging don't happen though.

The Mechanicus let a little more of the basic technology out (i.e., autoloaders), at least in part because they have competition with the other semi-autonomous member states and can’t act like complete assholes or else people will go to the Tau, Demiurge, Kinebrach, squats, etc. However, autoloaders can break and the crew are all trained to readily load munitions in by hand or pulley if they have to. So it's less a thousand slaves pulling a macrocannon into place with whips and more a dozen guys hoisting the cannon into alignment with ropes and pulleys.

The Voidborn, the original source of the ships and crew of the Imperial Navy, are becoming an increasing minority in the Navy by M41. The Imperial Navy is increasingly composed of baseline humans, if for no other reason than sheer size and logistics. On the other hand, most of the venerable old Navy families are either Voidborn or have a disproportionate amount of Void Born ancestry (manifesting in being tall, or having big dark eyes, pale skin, or a receding hairline). However, all of the intermarriage between the Void Born and baseline humans has made them close enough to baseline that the Void Wolves and their successors can recruit from them (except Black Legion, who recruit exclusively from the Gate Worlds).

===Five Flagships===

*In the long run, the Five more than paid for the expense that went into them, but Oscar thought they weren't a big enough success to be worth completely refurbishing or commissioning replacement ships</br>
*Oscar didn’t freak out over the Rock and Terminus Est going off the reservation because the Dark Angels and Black Templars were basically doing what the ships had always been meant to do (patrol Obscurus and Pacificus, respectively)</br>
*Addition of ships like the ''Tomb of Horus'' to the Imperial Fleet as well as just plain old battleships meant the Five were no longer as important as during the Great Crusade.</br>
*Finally, it was becoming apparent to the heads of the Imperium just how big the galaxy was, and that the resources devoted to ship building was better spent making larger numbers of relatively smaller ships, rather than fewer, more heavily armed ships.</br>
*Left out the details of the Carcharodons' story of reclaiming the Nicor as that is better left to the Carcharodons' entry and there was some disagreement over what they are like.</br>
*I kind of liked the idea that the Terminus Est was still out there fighting the good fight as the Templar’s flagship, but people suggested otherwise.</br>

== Sisters of Battle ==

Notes on the general concept of the Sisters of Battle so they don't get forgotten. Hopefully this should not be here too long as an anon has this partly written up.

* After the Age of Apostasy, it was clear that the Imperium needed more oversight
* Additionally, there’s a problem with a large number of talented female candidates piling up who would have made good Astartes had they been born men.
** Gene-seed was in part reverse engineered from what little they could out of Oscar, who was of course male, and the researchers had a hard time figuring out what parts of the gene-seed were sex-linked and which were not. Sadly though no Women of Gold survived the Age of Strife that could be used as comparisons. Oscar didn't see a problem with this at the time, he had rather traditionalist views having been raised by Malcador and didn't feel comfortable with women being put in do or die situations that super soldiers would be expected to be in. And the fact that men are stronger than women and so there was no reason to spend precious gene-seed and equipment to produce inferior super-soldiers when the male ones tended to die a lot in battle anyway. Changing that would have meant further changes to the women which would be both an increase in time and expense and an increased wash-out rate to produce someone who was basically a man with a womb to then be augmented as Astartes. It would have probably taken decades or more to create a unisex geneseed, time the Imperium didn't have and wasn't worth the extra expenses and time.
** However, by the time of the Age of Apostasy, Oscar's views had softened a bit and it was clear that not doing something with them the was a waste of talent.
* Specific idea and organization for the Sisters comes from Sebastian Thor and Alicia Dominica (who was either Thor's bodyguard, turned from Vandire by Thor, or both)
* Ended up forming the Adeptas Securitas (but see below). Job is to act as internal affairs for the Imperium itself and deal with rebels, insurgents, cultists, and even the occasional rogue Space Marine. Also tend to be called up when Inquisitors need extra muscle, as they are some of the strongest soldiers the Imperium can field short of an outright Space Marine or pulling out even bigger guns.
** Bit of a debate going on as to whether the Ordo Securitas and Adeptas Securitas are the same thing (using the No Men Under Arms loophole because Internal Affairs needs reliable muscle), whether the Ordo Securitas is a separate institution and just works closely with the Adeptus Sororitas, etc. Even the name is a little loopy. Securitas is what was generally agreed upon in the threads, though there had been a significant amount of disagreement.
* Although officially secular, strong faith and/or political fanaticism are actually considered a plus for this line of work, as faith acts as a mild Chaos deterrent
** There are Reasonable Sisters of Battle, it's just the crazy ones tend to be better known. Indeed, the reasonable ones are known to play up their reputation in a good cop, bad cop routine to get people to talk.
* Receive discrete cybernetics and limited gene forging, much tougher than an Imperial Guardsman but nowhere near as tough as an Astartes (often compared to Halo SPARTANs, augmented but closer to peak human than walking tank)
** General rule of thumb is terms of raw strength, a Sister is worth about three unaugmented human guardsmen (and Sororitas armies tear through unaugmented troops easily), and a (Mark III MP) Astartes is worth about three Sisters or ten guardsmen. Eldar are harder to place, Guardians are closer to Sister level but Aspect Warriors are closer to Space Marine level due to bulking up from selective gene expression and extreme training (obviously more skilled individuals being more dangerous).
** Augmentations for Sororitas include things like increased muscle strength and bone density, microdermal mesh, artificial glands that produce endorphins and artificial hormones. However the augmentations are discrete enough that the Sisters can easily pass as a normal human, albeit one that's a bit on the tall side for their planet of origin.
** Augmentation process also has a tendency to cause bleaching of the hair and possibly increases aggression (don't play with testosterone kids), though the AdBio claims the latter is a placebo effect due to the nature of the aspirants.
* Have a weird interservice rivalry with the Space Marines, who they feel a little resentful of getting the “better” upgrades and getting to fight the “better” enemies; really resent being considered “diet space marines”.

Some debate over the Dialogous, Familis, and the like, given that the Remembrancers and such still exist in this timeline. General agreement that they are associated with the Ordo Securitas in some way. Ordo Hospitalier was founded by a retired Sister who felt there had to be a better way to provide stability for the Imperium than suppressing rebellions with force and decides to focus on humanitarian efforts and treating the wounded (happy, healthy, and well-fed people are less likely to go to Chaos). The order retains close connections with the militant Sisters and a lot of crippled Sisters who want to serve but can no longer fight end up there. Anyone can join because fighting isn't an issue, but they tend to associate themselves with the Sororitas because their founder was a Sister. The Valkyries are an offshoot of the Ordo Hospitalier who readopted aggressive battlefield tactics due to their nature as first-responders and battlefield medics (as in, to heal someone sometimes you have to shoot the bastard standing on top of them).

There was talk of a not![[Valkia the Bloody]] in this timelime who's a Valkyrie that fell to Khorne.

==The Inquisition==

There are Eldar and Tau Inquisitors. Indeed, the Inquisitorial Representative is really the only position on the High Lords of Terra that can really be occupied by an Eldar. The High Lords hate the idea of an Eldar High Lord, because Eldar live for millennia and any Eldar that became a High Lord would conceivably be there a very, very long time. Of course, that doesn’t stop every other member of the High Lords from having farseer advisors whispering advice in their ears. And of course there is nothing stopping any Inquisitor from having an Eldar seer or Enforcer or a Tau Fire Warrior or Earth Caste researcher in their retinue any more than an Arbites or tech-priest.

The Inquisition, Eldar members included, also hates the idea of having a permanent representative on the High Lords, because there is a high risk of any permanent representative to the High Lords of Terra, even a human with rejuvenant treatments, is going to become heavily entrenched in Old Earth politics and gain too much political power at the expense of the rest of the Inquisition instead of doing their job. Instead, the position of Inquisitorial Representative is a ten-year rotating position, selected by a vote among the most senior members of the Inquisition. Generally, whoever gets elected tends to be the recognized expert on a particular phenomenon, so the High Lords have an expert on hand for whatever the greatest threat is to the Imperium at the moment. If it’s Chaos and daemons, it’s generally a member of the Ordo Malleus. Necrons or tyranids, and it tends to be Ordo Xenos. As of 999.M41, because shit is currently hitting the fan across all fronts simultaneously, the current Inquisitorial Representative is Hector Rex.

'''Hector Rex'''

Hector Rex was a failed Grey Knight aspirant that was shunted into the Inquisition’s service under venerable Inquisitor █████ ████████ of the Ordo Malleus. If there is one thing the Inquisition loves it's well trained and clever soldiers, the formidable and refined psychic power being somewhat of a bonus.

It is realized soon that Hector is quite clever and so Inquisitor █████ ████████ takes him on as an apprentice.

Much of his career would be much the same. He banishes daemons, prevents the formation of daemonworlds, builds a retinue and so on and so forth all the while adding notches to his hammer for every greater daemon broken, every battle won, every cult uprooted, every ritual stopped, every world saved. Also notoriously good at playing cards.

The Grey Knights' loss was everyone's gain as he has kicked more ass than he ever could have in that life.

The job of Representative is given, seemingly at random, to an Inquisitor Lord drawn from a pool of the best few hundred based on time served, successful missions and the nature of those missions, spotlessness of record, psychological screening and not having batshit monodomiant or some other dangerous ideology that's going to get everyone killed.

Also the job being swapped every 10(?) years makes it infuriatingly difficult for the more slimy High Lords to manipulate the Inquisition from the top down. If it was one man holding the job for centuries then they would start to get drawn in to the backstabbery and maybe the other HLs would get leverage over them. With this their efforts are wasted as you spend years trying to get the dirt on one of them and they they just replace him.

'''Commodus Voke'''

The Inquisitorial Representative before Hector was Commodus Voke, best known for his actions in the Thracian Gate Atrocity. The Thracian Gate Atrocity was a rather bizarre clusterfuck that involved Voke teaming up with two of the Imperium’s greatest fugitives: the APEX twins. The APEX twins weren’t directly responsible for the event, having been trying to keep a low profile on the world (indeed, when Voke found them they were eating ice cream in the crowd). The twins assisted in the cleaning up and mitigating the problem somewhat, though this is possibly one of the few instances that they have ever been in serious danger. By the time anyone got their shit together enough to look for them they were long, long gone.

Voke was the Inquisitorial Representative of the High Lords prior to Hector Rex. After his 10 year stint in the big chair he went back to his job but the urging of his friends (such few as he had) and colleagues to retire due to age and failing health caused him to find a compromise. He is now spending his twilight years as the Inquisitorial Overseer to the chapter Guardians of the Covenant

'''The Younger Generation'''

Although they are still centuries away from being in a position of seniority where they might be elected to Inquisitorial Representative, two talented up-and-comers among the younger generation are Tomb World-raiding Necron-expert Inquisitor Valeria, who managed to break into the heart of Solemnace (before being caught by Trazyn the Infinite and shipped back to the Imperium in a Tesseract Labyrinth, but hey she lived to tell the tale), and everyone’s favorite not-a-Dalek Ravenor, who unlike his mentor Eisenhorn looked into the abyss and didn’t blink. Both are way too young to have much influence, but anyone with a brain knows that Valeria and Ravenor are going to be two big names to look out for in the future assuming neither of them die. The power blocs are already starting up, but Valeria and Ravenor are actually pretty friendly with each other and neither would mind if the other ever became in charge, since each knows the other isn't a Fyodor-style lunatic.

==Knight Houses==

Not much has been done on them. The idea that has had the most traction is to take the somewhat noblebright tone of the 5th edition Warhammer Brettonians but replace the Arthurian myth with Ad-Mech techno-wizardry and toning down the over the top oppression of the peasants for a more nobledark feel (basically Bretonnians IN SPACE with a bit of [[Battletech]] thrown in maybe). Have them be guardians of feudal worlds and also the military aristocracy of more advanced planets. Noble in Deed and Name alike, they are a tireless foe of the Imperium's enemies. There’s a bit of irony when you realize the Knights are still screaming “for the Lady” in this timeline, only the “Lady” in question is Isha rather than Lileath.

There are also Chaos Knight houses. House Devine still fell in this timeline, though the battle of Molech went somewhat differently. House Devine could have sided with Chaos because Imperium was allied with the eldar. But they hadn't allied with the true eldar. Croneworlders were the true inheritors of their old empire and the only allies worth having.

There is even something running around that is basically the Nucklavee in space. Plague flame thrower breath, quadruped, spear arm and all the rest. Once a valiant knight of House Devine that upon seeing all of the bad shit and with some Chaos Eldar prodding fell into a state of absolute despair. Now rusted into being one with his half deamon machine he serves Nurgle.

= Grey Knights =

== Joros ==

It is not clear who the current head of the Grey Knights is yet (it's not Kaldor Draigo, who was the second Supreme Grandmaster after Janus and became such so early on that he identified Sino-Japan as his place of birth), but the Supreme Grandmaster before them was Joros.

In the final days of the War for Armageddon (it is not clear which one), he intentionally pulled the Changeling into himself to contain and, by his death, banish it. He was already wounded mortally by a Nurglite blade.

Although it is possible to summon the Changeling it is impossible to hold it unless you know it's True Name and given that True Names to daemons are linked to their form and Changeling doesn't know it's true form this becomes impossible.

Knowing that they only had one more daemon to hunt and that he was finished either way Joros came up with the idea of summoning the Changeling. All Grey Knights know, at least theoretically, basic summoning and binding. Although Changeling could not be held in a summoning circle it could be installed in a mortal body in a form of forced possession.

So that's what they did. Joros summoned it, forced it to possess him, had Librarian Umbrane and his acolytes ready to perform a banishing ritual with Logan Grimnar, who was at that time only a Lord rather than High King of Fenris, standing by with an axe ready to bring down to complete the rituals completion. Joros didn't want the guilt of it gnawing his brothers but knew that Grimnar understood the necessity of it. Grimnar took no joy, no joy at all, in bringing that axe down on Joros' head but stood firm and did his job regardless.

It all went smoothly enough, possibly The Changeling didn't anticipate that the Grey Knights would be willing to sacrifice their leader in such a manner.

The axe the Grey Knights provided for the job was Morkai, the one given by Russ to Magnus as an apology. The Knights handed it back to the wolves in thanks.

= Adeptus Mechanicus =

in this timeline the AdMech are more like “jerks with a heart of gold” rather than simple “jerks” like in canon. They’re assholes in general, but they actually have some redeeming features rather than being merely tolerated because they provide all the tech like in canon. Case in point the Veyna fiasco.

In canon, the Adeptus Mechanicus noticed the lakes of liquid hydrogen at Veyna’s poles, unilaterally seized the planet for their own use without telling anyone in the greater Imperium, and rounded up all the inhabitants to be worked to death in the nearest Forge World.

Here, the Adeptus Mechanicus noticed the lakes of liquid hydrogen, filed a requisition form to the Administratum to expropriate the planet because of its strategic resources (mostly as a formality of a heads-up rather than to actually ask permission), forcibly relocated the locals to a nearby planet, and then sold them their own planet back to them by offering them jobs working in the factories refining liquid hydrogen.

Is this an asshole move to pull? Absolutely. But compared to what they did in canon it makes them downright saints.

A lot of their assholish behavior is in part due to the whole thing with the Void Dragon and the fact that no one else knows it exists. Lower-ranking tech-priests buy the party line about technology and invention hook, line, and sinker. Higher-ranked tech-priests know about the scientific method and how their tech works, but avoid throwing their weight around because it upsets the pyramid scheme and everyone's terrified of potential influence by the Void Dragon.

STCs are still a sticking point with them. They consider them holy relics of their faith and will do just about anything to get a hold of them, even squabble with other member states. Imperium has a general standing order to turn over all discovered STC printouts to the AdMech, or at the very least give them a copy of the data, and otherwise stay out of the Tech-priests' way

Not entirely clear how they handle xenos. The general suggestion is they're equal-opportunity haters, believing themselves the only ones holy enough to handle technology. They don't care if the person mis-appropriating Dark Age of Technology tech is human or xeno. They want to bring technology to the galaxy (on their terms) to the point that everyone looks at them as the paragons of engineering (Red Man's burden), and they're frustrated that they have one hand tied behind their back by the Void Dragon in contrast to Eldar bonesingers, kinebrach warsmiths, Earth Caste engineers, Hubworlders, etc.

Tolerance of xeno tech is mixed. Less orthodox magi don't care or will look the other way. More conservative will REEEEEE until you stop using it. Planetary governor can tell the tech-priests to get bent but then they usually retaliate by sanctioning your planet, which is bad because AdMech make up 80% or more of all manufacturing. Only factions that can tell the AdMech to shove it and make things stick are those that can reliably make their own stuff like the Interex and squats. AdMech tread more carefully with these groups because they don't have a monopoly. Also because they're usually both Survivor civilizations and have entered under the same deal of relative autonomy as the AdMech, so the Imperium would probably side against the AdMech in this scenario.

Numerous factions, ranging from highly orthodox to reconstructionist/reformist (don't necessarily invent new thing, but spend more time trying to reverse-engineer things based on old data).

==Servo-Brains==
[[Image:Nobledark_Imperium_Servoskulls.jpg|thumb|Imperial Servo-Brains in both Mechanicus and Inquisition styles.]]

True servo-skulls of old are rare outside the Mechanicus and even then they are only common on distant forges, their techniques barely moved out of Old Night by the demands and Edicts of Mars. In the greater Imperium the holy provision allowing the manufacture of conditioned intelligences so long as they are founded upon the natural 'stone old' mind is seen as too valuable an avenue for refinement and advancement to neglect. Pushed by upstarts in the Ordo Cybernetica, the competition of the survivor civilization Hubworld workshops, the sovereign survivor power of Stillness, aristocratic engineereries across the Galaxy, and rumored workshops of the Imperial court hidden away on Cthonia, even the Martian Mechanicus has taken to greater investment in the flexibility, autonomy, and mental capacity in servo-skulls, to the point of the full resanctification of the designation Servo-Brain. Though no Servo-Brain is much more lively than a blank, they remain wholly sapient, and bear some shadow of their former character. Servo-Brains are enhanced with numerous advanced cogitators and memory stacks, vast archives, and sets of powerful narrow-scope pattern recognition cores selected for their work. They are immortal savants with minds and senses desigened for their work. The Servo-Brain has gone from increasingly advanced clerical drone, popular only among the Mechanicus, who had subpar brains to spare for the project to a contingency solution for bodily destruction in the lab, to the honorable and enhancing recourse of the sickly and dying among the learned and mighty.

= Love Can Bloom =

It happened in this timeline. However, the pairing in and of itself is much less noteworthy than in canon because, well, it isn’t heretical in this timeline. Taldeer Ulthran was a career militarywoman from Ulthwé who joined the Imperial Guard as a way to escape from the Machiavellian machinations of Sreta and the Ulthran cartel (an act of rebellion which, ironically, made Taldeer one of Eldrad’s favorites among his extended family). LIIVI was…LIIVI, except maybe a little less emotionally repressed than in canon. Both were assigned to a Cadia/Ulthwé regiment, one of the most liberal regiments in the Imperium in terms of human-eldar relationships, and so a relationship between them (beyond the issue of fraternization) wasn’t that unusual.

The fact that their relationship resulted in a natural, unassisted pregnancy certainly was.

A lot of people in high-up places are extremely worried about the significance of Taldeer’s pregnancy. Almost everyone who knows about it suspects that Taldeer’s pregnancy is meant to be a cosmic trial run for the Impossible Child, which means the actual Impossible Child might not actually be that far away. This is not necessarily a good thing. Although some of the Starchild Prophecies say the Impossible Child will usher in a new golden age, all of them agree that when the Impossible Child is born all hell will break loose. As of 999.M41, Taldeer’s child, Lofn, has not been born yet, and Taldeer herself is on maternity leave. However, since the setting effectively stops at 999.M41, anything past that point can only be said to be a possible, if non-canonical, future. Poor Taldeer, stuck in pregnancy indefinitely.

= Starchild Prophecies =

* Although the Starchild Prophecies tend to be highly variable, they tend to have a few lines in common, like the one about the (Void) Dragon. Many of the lines can be interpreted in multiple ways and it's likely that people in the Imperium might not have the correct cultural context to even get what they mean.
* About the only thing that are notably not in the Starchild Prophecies are the Tau and the tyranids. Tau because it continues their theme in this timeline of thinking they are much more important than they really are. Tyranids because nobody, not even the Starchild Prophecies, saw the Hive Fleets coming before they made galaxyfall; they are the ultimate galactic curveball.

= Miscellaneous Notes on the Primarchs =

I.e., stuff that is not covered in the codex entries. If we can fit it into the codex entries, please do so and remove it from this page.

* Several of the primarchs are confirmed to have families. Corax had a family that died to Ursh and was middle-aged by the time he became primarch. Guilliman had a wife and kids. Russ had numerous children, all daughters. Sanguinius had at least one son who also became an Astartes. Khan had three kids. Vulkan had a family, though the details of it have not been specified. This is not counting adopted families like Horus and Abbadon or Angron's.

== Angron ==

One major area in which Angron and the Warlord/Steward disagreed was on the topic of slavery. The Imperium's morals are not 21st century western morals. There is a lot of overlap, but slavery is one example of how the Imperium holds some views that would be considered anachronistic by our standards. Oscar and the primarchs all grew up on Old Earth pre-Unification, which had devolved into a third world hellhole where slavery was far down the list of bad things that could happen to you, below "human sacrifice", "nuclear bombardment", "used as raw materials for some Urshii or Pan-Pacific warlord experiment", and all the normal horrible things that go with constant warfare. The Warlord/Steward was willing to tolerate "less awful" forms of slavery, like serfdom, indentured servitude, or penal service. Oscar's goal was to elevate the wellbeing of the human race. If someone is better taken care of as a house servant than a starving refugee then so be it. He also didn't like to intervene in a world’s affairs unless they were really doing something that requires bringing the hammer down. As long as people weren't treating their servants as subhuman and beating or torturing them it wasn't worth kicking a fuss up over. There was also the Chaos argument. If you put people in slavery and make them miserable, then they might just turn to the Ruinous Powers out of spite, because at that point they no longer care what happens to them. However, to Oscar there was a clear line between indentured servitude or serfdom and the kind of practices that Chaos or the Dark Eldar practiced.

Angron strongly disagreed with this. To him a slave is a slave is a slave, and it doesn’t matter what fancy words you dress it up in to make it sound like it’s okay to you. The two almost came to blows over this. It never ruined their relationship, because for all their disagreements the two agreed more than disagreed, but it was still a wedge between them. When the Great Crusade came upon Nuceria Angron had a combination PTSD flashback/Thunder Warrior freak out when he saw how similar the conditions there were to the Nord Afrik Conclaves. Upon seeing the planet, Angron was reported to have whispered one word "[[Nobledark_Imperium_Primarchs#His_Early_Life|Nuceria]]" and went on a rampage across the planet. The planet wasn't called Nuceria before but it got the name afterwards, especially since there weren't that many left high up to protest.

== Lion El'Jonson ==

Lion had the same problem that Alpharius did in canon, being seen as the “kid” among the primarchs, as he was one of the biologically youngest primarchs along with Curze, Sanguinius, and Vulkan, and unlike these three he had not done anything particularly brazen prior to being named primarch. It didn’t help that Lion had the kind of face that made him look much younger than he actually was, even as a grown man.

However, this reputation is grossly unfair to Lion. First, Lion was Luther’s squire before he was named primarch, which meant he did a lot of stuff in some of the toughest warzones on Earth despite being a simple unaugmented human teenager. It’s just that most people don’t tend to pay attention to any heroics by the rank-and-file, much less their support staff. The Steward likely knew of Lion and his potential long before Lion knew he was on the Steward’s radar. And, while he may have been biologically younger than most of the other primarchs, he had spent several years constantly gaining first-hand experience handling the expeditionary fleet (compared to the more sporadic nature of the other primarchs), which meant by the halfway point of the Great Crusade he had reached the point where he actually had more experience than some of the older primarchs. He was also the best expert among the primarchs in what was actually out there due to spending all that time exploring space. When the primarchs encountered something they weren’t sure what it was, they asked Lion for advice.

Additionally, although Luther certainly took it that way, the Steward’s nomination of Lion as primarch was not meant to snub Luther. The Steward knew that Lion would almost certainly name his brother his second-in-command, so nominating Lion was like getting two primarchs for the price of one. However, because Lion was the better tactician, more level headed, and despite his social ineptness the more genuinely compassionate of the two, the Steward wanted the Lion to be in charge rather than his brother.

If Lion is comatose then there could be a King Arthur going on if his sword is still in the possession of the Dark Angels on their flagship. There is a sleeping old king ready to come back, his sword lies in a bed Rock and this is surely the Imperiums time of need. Either that or Russ is going to come back, an old warrior king needs a worthy sword.

== Dorn ==

"''Of course we are at war. Why on Old Earth's green soil would you believe we are not at war. We are in what is essentially a siege position, with an unfortifiable border stretching an entire 360 degrees for several light years in every conceivable direction. Our enemy has no concept of "rest" or "armistice" and can pop up at any time, on any side, in any position within the massive amounts of space between the mud marbles that we call the worlds of the Imperium. The Imperium is always going to be at war. Why would you ever believe otherwise?''"<br>
- Rogal Dorn, showing his usual level of tact

Dorn's overall personality was like a combination between Winston Churchill and George Patton (except, you know, Calbian with Inuit heritage). Socially as blunt as a sledgehammer, no tact, and always said exactly what was on his mind, which often got him into a lot of trouble. He was also very harsh, think an army drill sergeant turned up to eleven. Despite all that he also had a rough sort of charisma, a dogged sense of determination, and a sarcastic, deadpan worldview that often saw him through these time periods and helped him pull himself out of the holes he dug and win people over. He was especially good at rousing speeches and getting people to hold the line.

=== Dorn and Perturabo's Awesome Bromance ===

At a meeting of several of the primarchs, Perturabo outlined a complicated, grandiose plan for constructing some defense, and Fulgrim calls it out as being terrible and says that even Dorn could bring the plan crashing down. Just like in canon, Perty demands to know if Dorn thinks the same way and Dorn bluntly says "Yes". But unlike canon, Perturabo says two words that completely change the future relationship of the primarchs.

“Show me.”

Perturabo obviously planned to use this opportunity to make a fool out of Dorn, castigating him for daring to question his tactical genius, but Dorn says “I would do X to Y, Z to A, and the whole defense plan would come crumbling down”, and Perty realizes…he’s right. Perty thinks for a moment and then tries to one-up Dorn by saying “But what if I were to do X”. Dorn replies “then I would do this…”. And so one of the angriest friendships in the history of the Imperium was born. Dorn and Perty would play wargames against one another, each using the opportunity to continually refine their strategies. Perty knew logistics and Dorn (to some degree) knew men. Together, the two of them created defenses so formidable that Terra had not seen their like since the days of Babylon. Of course, given the nature of M31, even these defenses could not always hold.

In particular, the two primarchs would play chess against each other, but one kept getting the upper hand through out-of-the-box means. Exactly who always won depends on who you ask, the Imperial Fists and their descendants claim it was Dorn, whereas the Iron Warriors and their descendants claim it was Perturabo. Before the Siege of Terra, a messenger from the Iron Warriors came to Dorn, saying that Perturabo had formulated a message prior to his incapacitation to give to Dorn in the event he could not be present for the siege of their homeworld, which both primarchs had known was inevitable. It was a single chess piece. Dorn knew what it meant.

What differentiates Dorn and Perty is that Dorn wasn't fucked in the head bar a slight case of masochism. Perty was an insane manchild who had all the charisma of damp turd. He could design a better fortress than Dorn. Dorn was better at manning defenses and getting other people to man them because he was bluff old soldier with a blunt sort of charisma despite often being socially offensive or insensitive.

Dorn instinctively saw a Fortress as something to hold out in and protect assets inside. Perty saw a Fortress as something to tempt the other side into attacking by using the assets as bait then using the fortress as a meat grinder.

Dorn had standards and a sense of fair play and chivalry. Perty would kick you in the balls and once you on the floor stamp on your neck despite your pleas of surrender.

Dorn would fight a heroic stand to the last man and the last round. Perty would order a sensible and ordered retreat to regroup and make a counter attack. Dorn saw his assets as people and noble warriors. Perty saw them as numbers and a means to an end/victory.

For all that, once you put them together they made up for each others weaknesses. They also got along surprisingly well because Dorn didn't try to hide his disgust at Perty's methods. Perty wasn't good at dealing with people and their unspoken social interactions. Dorn always spoke what was on his mind. Perty enjoyed being around Dorn because he was one of the few people Perty was 100% sure wasn't either fucking with him or looking down on him. Angry voices Perty can deal with. People not saying what they are saying less so.

To everyone else Dorn's lack of any tact was annoying as fuck. To Perty it was most welcome. When Perty would suggest a cold and callous course of action like letting a bunch of civvies die and deploy the troops at a more important installation the rest of the room would use phrases like "I don't think that's a very humane thing to do" or "that might alienate us and make things difficult in the long term". Dorn would more likely say "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Perty was hellishly competent at his job and had an inhuman work ethic. he also didn't hold anyone to standards he had not already reached. Dorn respected that greatly. Perty was still a little salty over the fact that his father passed him over for his lack of diplomatic ability, which fed into his obsession with building the perfect fortress so that he'll finally be recognized as simply good enough. Dorn sat on the opposite end of the scale, assuming that the mere promotion of Perturabo to Primarch is already all the answer he'd ever need.

''"Although I find you insufferable at times, it cannot be avoided - if you were not one of the finest military minds in the Imperium, you would not be among us."''<br>
-Dorn, to Perturabo

===Rough Draft, Early Life===
The story of Rogal Dorn starts in the garrison town of Onto Rontus in the not too long annexed land of Calbi. Born to a mother of the local tribes and an officer father of the Merikan army his start was not as tragic as it could have been. Often such half-breeds were not the result of consenting unions but Donovan Dorn held genuine affection for Kosa and was, unknown to his fellow officers, married to her.

Dorn was one of a large family and had many siblings though he was ultimately the only one to follow in his father’s footsteps. Dorn left his loving tribe and family and all he had known and travelled to the distant lands of Merika to begin his training, as his father had.

He learned much in those years and was an excellent student and would have been on the fast track to high station but for his circumstances of birth. No soldier of the greatest nation on Old Earth would gladly allow themselves to be given orders from a savage of the north. Despite all this his tutors could not deny his talents.

It was not a thing he took undue joy in but the ways of war came very easily to him. Despite the unfortunate circumstances of his birth he became the very model of a Merikan officer. He was well versed in military doctrine of all sorts and knew something of the history of his nation, at least enough to spot the revisionisms.

Although adept, or at minimum competent, at all aspects of war his true talents were found in siege warfare. In the tactical simulations and competitive VR matches Dorn was unbeaten.

Due to his knowledge of the locals and ability to speak at least one tribal language fluently Dorn returned to Calbi wearing a conquers uniform. He served as a lieutenant under the rule of Praefectus Adran, himself new to the post after the forced retirement of old Praefectus Stavart.

Praefectus Stavart had been very old and was unquestionably loyal to Merika but had dealt with the natives with some degree of fairness and even kindness when he could afford to. He was not loved by the locals, how could he be, but the elders were more than smart enough to know that his position as an intermediary between them and Merika was probably the best deal they could get in the circumstances.

For Stavart’s part he probably knew that as well. In his childhood Dorn had met him a few times with his father. He remembered him looking old then and unless he somehow genuinely had six sixty-seventh birthdays it was obvious that he had been lying about his age for a long time. In his way Stavart had cared about Calbi and it’s people as something other than a broken, subjugated state of Merika. He held on in the job until nearly ninety because he knew that Adran or someone much like him would succeed him. And he was right.

Praefectus Adran was not a nice man by any measure. His was the brutal rule of law and the authority of the Iron Fist. He wouldn’t be seen attending local festivals or events; they were there from the greatest to the least at his beck and call. They were savages and heathens and he was a man of the Greatest Nation and a paragon among them. Needless to say tensions between the conquered and conquerors increased.

At some point genuine tribal unrest turn into riots and Praefectus Adran orders mass executions.

Dorn is still well loved by the locals as they see him as their man on the other side and look to him to for salvation. Dorn is also well loved by the rank and file and quite a few of the officers.

There are a few days of communications black outs due to "faulty equipment" and some "regrettable accidents" that see some of the officers dead and Praefectus Adran commits suicide after a long period of depression. When asked how he managed to shoot himself in the back of the head with a shot gun acting Praefectus Dorn tells the investigators that Adran had been "very depressed.

Nobody believes it but, due to the difficulties in the still mysteriously faulty communications equipment, it does buy him enough time to root out more loyalists of Merika, secure his alliances with the local tribes and when the order comes from the capital to stand down and come back for questioning he declares independence.

The next day his is met by a freakishly nondescript man of average height and build, no distinguishing features, hard to estimate age, unremarkable clothing and an oddly neutral and hard to place accent. Claims his name is Alpharius Omegon and he comes representing the Imperium. Tells Dorn that his timing is awful and had he been able to spin his out for a few years, five at most, the Imperium would have been in a position to lend considerable military might to his Rebellion. As it is they will offer what less obvious help they can but the Imperium can't get dragged into a direct and total war with Merika at the current time. Dorn and a few of his elites get what must be some of the very last Mk1 Astartes upgrades, administered by local bio-druids for reasons of deniability.

Recently Merika had been supplying and training terrorist organizations in the lands conquered by the Imperium and Oscar had found out who was behind the seemingly random attacks. The aim was to disassemble the Imperium back into little nations for Merika to Manifest Destiny all over and Oscar was most unhappy, most unhappy indeed. But his forces were all tied up dealing with Ursh and the Pan-Pacific Empire so he couldn't act directly and was having to use Dorn and his rebellion, and later Fulgrim, to fight by proxy.

Not that Dorn would know the specifics of this until quite a few years after Unification Day.

Dorn holds out for long enough for Fulgrim Doe to raise his rebellion and make contact.

By this point Imperium is finishing off the last enclaves of Ursh, Lorgar is decapitating the Despot and Merika is in deep shit because of the multiple rebellions, the pissed off Imperium and the only neighbor it has left with whom it is not at war is Hy Brasil who hate both of them and are just going to sit back and watch.

Fulgrim "negotiates a deal of inclusion with very good terms" with the Imperium after he is appointed President of Merika and "abandons the unprofitable campaign to uplift and civilize the northern provinces". Calbi becomes an independent nation, Dorn appoints an Assembly of Elders to govern the nation and steps down from and decommissions the title Praefectus of Calbi. Though he does remain the head of the armed forces. The Elders and Dorn, or representatives of them in the case of the more elderly Elders, are present at the swearing of allegiance to the Empty Throne of Earth.

When Steward Oscar looks to the other worlds of Sol and to the stars beyond he names Dorn as one of his primarchs to the surprise of Dorn though not the people of his home nation who saw it as only right.

And then Great Crusade, WoTB, Reconquest and death on the walls of Cadia during the 1st Black Crusade of which I hadn't got around to thinking much about.

During the Great Crusade I imaged he went slower than most of the other Primarchs bar Lorgar but his diligence over speed, though criticized at the time, proved it's worth in the WoTB as the worlds he brought into the Imperium weathered the storm consistently better than others that weren't the work of Perty.

At some point he gets it into his head to grow his trademark mustaches. Some time later he has to have one of his eyes replaced and it sort of looks like a monocle.

Does not take part in the Raid. He was not the greatest personal combatant and also tended to be better at static defense than actually running around, so a quick Raid was not his strong suit. Also due to the buggy Mk1 enhancments he suffered from desensitization problems which gradually turned into a mild case of masochism.

Never married or had any children (that he or history knew about). Did have a large number of nephews and nieces and cousins and more distant kin. Quite a few of his family survived the WoTB, he was quite lucky in that regard.

== Fulgrim ==

The Steward knew about Fulgrim's trans-humanist ideals and their efforts to try and improve geneseed, but turned a blind eye to the actions of the Terra's Sons and used them as the testbed for geneseed tweaks. Fulgrim was by far the best geneticist of the primarchs, and anything that worked might be worth incorporating into later patches. And if you have a bunch of people volunteering for experimentation, why let the opportunity go to waste? The Steward didn't officially approve of Fulgrim and Terra's Sons tampering with geneseed, but he didn't censure them either.

Fulgrim saw everyone as a rival in some fashion. He wanted to be tougher than Vulkan, more loved than Sanguinius, a better strategist than Guilliman, etc. As in canon, Jaghatai would have have none of it when Fulgrim tried to pick a fight with him. He had been trying to turn a blind eye to Fulgrim out of politeness and the fact that he didn't speak Gothic as well and therefore did not have as sharp of a tongue. But if Fulgrim was trying to seek him out and start somethinghe was willing to make a scene, saying that he had been raising a small legion of socialites and art critics rather than a bigger legion of super soldiers.

== Ferrus Manus ==

Ferrus Manus was the kind of person who always worded things as logical deductions, despite it often being clear that his motivations weren’t always based on logic. As a result, he would often take actions that didn’t seem in the Imperium’s best interests, but the infuriating part was that it was almost impossible to argue against them on purely logical grounds. E.g., during the War of the Beast he justified Fulgrim and himself defending Mars and the Forge Worlds over other worlds by pointing out that Earth wasn’t the only world threatened during the Siege of Sol, and the given that at least five primarchs (Magnus, Angron, Russ, Lorgar, and Sanguinius) were handling the defense of Earth that planet was covered well enough. Once the War of the Beast was over, the Imperium was going to have to do a lot of rebuilding, which would have been nearly impossible if the industrial base of Mars fell. It was infuriatingly clear he just valued Mars higher than the other worlds of Sol, but the thing is he wasn’t wrong from a coldly logical standpoint.

The seeds of dissent between Orioc and Mars, as well as Ferrus Manus’ increasing loyalty to the office of Fabricator-General rather than the person who actually held the seat, started with the War of the Beast. Orioc initially willingly submitted itself to Mars because Mars was the holy land and all of the Forge Worlds and Mars’ far-flung outposts were coming back together after so long. There was a brief honeymoon period where everything seemed okay during the Great Crusade. Then the War of the Beast happened. The Sol system was perhaps one of the hardest hit during the War of the Beast, between the orkish hordes, Dark Mechanicus “exiles” returning with forbidden fruit from the void, and so forth. Mars and Old Earth are the industrial and spiritual/administrative hearts of the Imperium, respectively, so it is necessary and possible to rebuild them, though it would take a lot of money. Orioc kind of falls through the cracks and get shafted during the whole thing because although it is on Earth people assume that the Olympus Mons Brotherhood will provide for them, so they get very little money. Orioc asks if they can get some funds to rebuild. Olympus Mons brotherhood say no, Holy Mars is more important. Orioc starts reconsidering if putting themselves below Mars was a good idea. Not enough to become space Protestants, but enough to start complaining.

This gets worse after Zagreus Kane dies and Ferrus suddenly finds himself as the second most powerful individual Mechanicus (in terms of soft power) after a Fabricator-General that is thousands of years younger than him and has more dogma than sense. At the same time it is likely that any future Fabricator-General might feel threatened by the prospect of Ferrus Manus throwing his weight around/

Believe it or not, Ferrus Manus actually did have a heart under all that metal. He was typically just too stoic and hyper-logical to show it. Case in point when Kelbor-Hal used him as an attack dog to intimidate Savlar. He had been given orders to destroy the neutronium factory if the Savlar Order didn’t cave, but he knew he would never have to carry them out. Either Savlar would back down (unlikely, but a man can dream), or Kelbor-Hal would calm down and realize this wasn’t going to work. Worst case scenario, the Steward would step in and force a diplomatic resolution, a working neutronium factory was too valuable to let go to waste. All he needed to do was stand there and look intimidating. Ironically, this shows that just as much faith in Oscar as he did the Fabricator-General, which to be honest is probably one reason Oscar picked him to be primarch.

Another example would be what happened with the world of Sarpedon during the Age of Apostasy. It is not really been decided what the Fabricator-General was doing during the Age of Apostasy. One suggestion that was made was that the Fabricator-General of the time was desperately claiming neutrality in the Imperial Civil War. The reason being that most of the Forge Worlds across the galaxy were split between Vandire and Thor loyalists, and if the Olympus Mons Brotherhood actively picked a side it would cause another Mechanicus Civil War.

Meanwhile Ferrus Manus decides to take the initiative and is seen sending a whole lot of Mechanicus ships to a nowhere world called Sarpedon. Sarpedon is a nowhere world on the fringes of the galaxy, it’s habitable and might become a Forge World one day, but at the moment it is little more than a research station and most of the planet is still wilderness. Vandire's people ask what's going on there. Ferrus responds it's a top secret AdMech research site so piss off, though not in so many words. He even tells the Steward this when he asks him, until the war is over.

Turns out Ferrus had been smuggling dissidents and likely targets of Vandire’s purges out of major population centers through places like Orioc and Forge Worlds for years and hiding them on Sarpedon, because it was the best place to hide people who can’t survive in a Mechanicus factorum. No one fucks with the AdMech or messes around in their cities unless you have Oscar-grade brass balls. AdMech have more freedom to do what they want within their own walls than any other group in the Imperium, so it was easy to smuggle people out without questions being asked. If Ferrus had told the Steward what was hiding there he would have endangered the refugees’ lives because he would have insisted on sending more forces to protect them (and thus blow their cover), so it had to wait until the war was over. When Ferrus was asked about why he did it he said they were all productive individuals whose actions benefitted the Imperium, and Vandire was being illogical because their loss would decrease Imperial efficiency, as if such an answer was self-evident.

== Jaghatai Khan ==

In contrast to most other groups of Space Marines, many members of the White Scars and their related chapters are literal rather than spiritual descendants of Jaghatai Khan. Like his ancestor Genghis Khan, Jaghatai has a large number of descendants running around the 31st century. However, because Jaghatai never conquered half of Eurasia, this large number of descendants simply comes from the nature of time and the ridiculously large population of the Imperium (Jaghatai has a lot of descendants, but percentage-wise is nowhere near Genghis), as well as non-direct descendants from his brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts. Many White Scars claim to be directly related to Jaghatai Khan in some way, and try to join the White Scars in an attempt to try and recapitulate their ancestor's glory.

Jaghatai only had a few actual children. His first born son ended up becoming a rank-and-file Ultramarine. Jaghatai didn’t know whether to be proud or a little bit disappointed over this.

Khan had two major flaws. The first of these was his temper. Much like Magnus and his anti-sociality, this is something Khan got better about over the course of his life. Though I can imagine there must have been some debacle when Ursh fell, with Khan demanding retribution and the Warlord probably stepping in and saying that all Khan wanted was revenge, not justice, and if he did that then all it would look like is a monster killing a monster and not justice being delivered to a tyrant. That probably shut Khan right up (see point two). Khan's temper is a lot different from Angron or Russ, in that he's single-minded and you don't see it coming before it hits you.

Khan’s other major issue was he always felt like he had to make up for what he did while he served the Despot of Ursh, to a degree that would be considered unhealthy. He really doesn't like to be reminded of his past. There was an incident while passing through Ursh, where he enjoyed watching some children play a game where they recited a rhyme about how they had to act good or else the goblin king would send his goblins to take them. Then he realized that the "goblins" they were referring to were his people, and got real quiet.

Unlike canon, where Khan could just fuck off to Chogoris or the front lines any time the other primarchs annoyed him, here Khan actually had to interact with people to get things done and so more people were aware of him being the “pragmatic, reasonable one” among the primarchs. Don’t get me wrong, Khan is still the speedfreak who often likes to go off and do his own thing (and given the general competence boost among the primarchs being “level-headed” is no longer that noteworthy), just that he wasn’t as much of an outsider as in canon. Khan got along with a lot more of the primarchs than in canon (though not to Sanguinius or Horus levels), with the notable exceptions of Morty, Curze, and (surprisingly enough) Corax (at least at first).

Corax is kind of understandable in retrospect. He came from Sino-Japan, a territory which for years had been controlled by Ursh using the steppe nomads as enforcers. It makes sense that Corax would balk at the inclusion of what he considered a bunch of animals pretending to be human beings into the Imperium. Khan, for his part, did not feel the same way (see Khan's second flaw). He even made it a huge point to either discipline or execute those who committed particularly heinous war crimes under the Despot of Ursh, to try to make reparations between the Khanate and the other “Children of Ursh” and to show that such behavior would not be tolerated anymore. However, Corax was still rather skeptical of Khan. Khan and Corax would eventually come to an understanding, the two seeing they were more alike than different, but this did not happen until well into the Great Crusade.

Magnus and Khan both probably tried to reach out to Morty and Curze, as both knew what it was like to be forced to play the monster.

Morty probably called Magnus some psyker slur and stormed out. Curze was always in a foul mood and claimed Magnus gave him a headache. Magnus wrote them both off at that point.

Khan sympathized with them but questioned why they hadn't tried to build a life beyond what happened to them. Morty replied why was Khan so quick to try and bury his past, while Curze said Khan "wouldn't understand". Khan remained more open to helping them than Magnus (though Morty probably pissed him the hell off), but understood they would probably never come around.

== Leman Russ ==

Russ didn't trust Magnus because his practices of warpcraft are very different to that of Nordyc shamanism and he was made a Primarch despite his weirdness. That is basically it. Russ doesn't trust Magnus and keeps a wary eye on him in case he needs to be killed because possession. Magnus doesn't like Russ because he won't put the axe down.

== Vulkan ==

Vulkan was the one who slew the A.I. beneath the Caucasus Wastes alongside the Salamanders that almost proved to be a serious problem for the Imperium. He was one of the few survivors and his bravery in doing so earned him much respect. This would set the tone for a lot of his heroic actions later in history.

Vulkan actually had some fans among the eldar, mostly the young, impressionable sort who saw him as this great exotic paladin akin to a Phoenix Lord, especially because his tanky combat style fit a niche that none of the other Phoenix Lords occupied. However, these were almost all eldar who had never met Vulkan in person and had only heard about him secondhand, mostly from humans who were gushing about how awesome, noble, and friendly he was. Those eldar who did meet Vulkan in person were usually profoundly disappointed. The only eldar that Vulkan could ever be described to have got along with was Jain Zar, and that’s because they both loudly and vocally agreed in their sentiment that the Old Empire was trash and the Dark and Crone Eldar could go to hell.

During the Age of Apostasy, Vulkan was one of the voices of reason, trying to mitigate the worse the situation and get the pro-Thor and pro-Vandire sides to lay down their arms and reconcile. This was as much due to pragmatism as compassion, Vulkan was extremely old this point and was no longer capable of fighting as he did when he was the Imperium’s champion. Vandire was unwilling to overtly move against Vulkan, he was still a primarch after all, but he was willing to retaliate if Vulkan made the first move. Vulkan had been planning something more drastic, but he was unsure who he could trust, how far you trust them, and feared completely destabilizing the Imperium.

Then Oscar comes riding in on Full Warlord mode like the day they first met but on a far grander scale. It would have been one of the few occasions where good old Oscar actually wore the golden battle plate and it would have been all the more terrifying for its rarity. It would have been a clear indication that shit was definitely happening. Whatever subtle and socially responsible and probably a lot more peaceful plans Vulkan actually had would by that point have been made totally irrelevant. Vulkan put out the call for Prometheans and Salamanders across the galaxy to rise up and join the cause, even though he wasn’t in the best of shape to fight.

Some of the other Space Marine chapters still resent the Salamanders to this day for refusing to take a side in the Imperial Civil War until the Steward came back, seeing their actions as pacifism and cowardice as opposed to trying to be the voice of reason and avoid bloodshed.

== Konrad Curze ==

Despite being in the same age bracket as Sanguinius, Vulkan, and Lion, Curze did not recieve the Mark III S gene-seed. He was told he was incompatible with it. Though in truth he was never actually tested to see if he was compatible with the Mark III S geneseed. Not a lot of people liked the idea of a Mark III S Curze walking around.

Kurze liked to recruit people who had as much of a fucked-up upbringing as he did, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_(character) particularly people orphaned by war or nightmarish regimes], people who knew firsthand the need for order and justice in the world. Sadly Kurze couldn't make sure everyone who was recruited was willing to be a “monster in the name of justice” like he was, and a lot of Night Lords fell. Mostly the sadists who joined to get their jollies off and perpetuate the cycle of abuse rather than stop it. Night Lords had one of the largest number of traitors behind the Dark Angels and the Vlka Fenryka. It’s possible that more would have fallen and lived to tell about it, if the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Grayson loyalist Night Lords] didn’t have such a [[Rage|violent]], [[Rip_and_Tear|negative reaction]] to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Todd their comrades becoming the very thing they hated and trained to stop all their lives]. The feelings of a canon Guardsmen to a Gue'vesa pale in comparison to how loyalist Night Lords [[Rage|view their Fallen]].

A lot of the Fallen Night Lords tend to go Slaaneshi. Particularly the pain and sadism aspect. As in, broadcast the dying screams of a tortured psyker into the dreams of an entire sub-sector Slaaneshi.

The Night Lords and their descendants still recruit from war orphans, though they are obviously more careful about doing so given what happened during the War of the Beast, as well as mind-wiped condemned prisoners who chose identity death over execution or servitorization, and, very, very, rarely, [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Jago_Sevarian|people who actually want to voluntarily join their chapter]].

The loyalist Night Lords are hated, feared, and reviled, and as a result they are treated as if they are on permanent penitent crusade and sent to the back of the line along with chapters like the Marines Malevolent when it comes to requests for new gear. The Night Lords completely understand why they are being treated this way but they don't mind playing the role of the monster as long as justice is done. They still tend to be assholes and still have more than their fair share of monsters compared to the other legions.

Carcharodons are unusual in this respect given they tend to recruit from the underhives of the Segmentum Tempestus and are actually liked to a degree (mostly because they don't indulge in the same type of terror tactics). This amount of prestige for a descendant chapter compared to the original legion is noteworthy for the Imperium, with the closest comparison being the Black Templars and the Death Guard.

== Magnus the Red ==

War of the Beast was a paradigm-shifting moment for Magnus the Red. It was what led him to go from the guy who was okay messing with Warp stuff to the guy who would go on to found the Grey Knights. Before the War of the Beast, Magnus recognized the Warp was certainly dangerous, but thought that if one knew what they was doing it was much safer than most would expect. Swore he wouldn't mess with stuff outside of space and time more for the Steward's peace of mind than anything else. Magnus learned the basics of Warp politics from his mom, and learned how to manipulate it to his advantage (e.g. manipulate a Khornate Daemon to kill a Slaaneshi Daemons, etc.). War of the Beast showed Magnus that the Warp wasn't as fractious as he thought and Chaos could march as one if they put their mind to it.

After that, Magnus had a very different perspective on daemons. He saw that they were unpredictable, and that it was necessary for mankind to find its own psychic strength. Better for a psyker to depend on his own power than bargain with someone else for theirs. Magnus taught Ahriman how to summon and bind daemons, but only because that knowledge might come in handy some day and only as an absolute last resort. He was horrified when Ahriman started actually using it regularly with the Daemon Breakers.

Reconciliation between Russ and Magnus probably involved a bit of apologizing on both sides. The older and wiser Russ admitted he had been a dick to Magnus and Magnus admitting that Russ had been right to some extent about messing with daemons.

== Alpharius and Omegon ==

Despite the rumors, are not members of the Illuminati. Indeed, they are one of the biggest factors keeping the Illuminati at a manageable level, along with many in the Inquisition.

== The Two Missing Ones ==

The only thing that is clear is that the Warlord named twenty people to be his primarchs, and that by the end of the WotB there are only eighteen whose names were recorded in Imperial history. It has been suggested that they were wiped out during the War of the Beast. It is also clear that Jenetia Krole of the Sisters of Silence or Uxor Honen Mu of the Geno Five-Two Chillad were not the two missing primarchs, as Oscar was raised by Malcador who had a rather traditionalist view of the world and at the time of the Unification did not feel comfortable putting relatively unaugmented women in the kinds of positions Astartes were expected to be in.

It could also be that the recorded number of twenty great leaders actually included Oscar and Malcador, but subsequent years and legends ensured that detail was lost to history. You would think that Oscar might say something about it, though.

= Notable Individuals =

== Ollanius Pius ==

* Imperial Navyman (background uncertain, unknown if Void Born or otherwise)
* During the War of the Beast the Beast teleported his attack moon into the Sol system and tried to ram it into Earth (specifically the Imperial Palace) killing everyone present (including Steward) and reducing the rest of the Battle of Terra to a simple mop-up (by that point he didn't care that it wasn't the orky thing to do, he just wanted to watch the world burn. Or possibly he did, because hitting one planet with another is ded orky.)
* Ollanius Pius rammed his ship into the Beast's attack moon after ordering the crew to evacuate, saving everyone on Earth with his sacrifice and making sure the Battle of Terra wasn't the Curbstomp of Terra

== Ahzek Ahriman ==

* Born in Achaemenidia (one of the countries of Old Earth)
* Made a second home for himself on Prospero, was a well-respected teacher and lecturer due to Prospero being the Ksons base of operations
* Cast Rubric of Ahriman in a desperate attempt to save Prospero during Black Crusade, but something got fucked up and Prospero got stuck between dimensions, along with whatever [[Legion of the Damned|poor Astartes and Imperial Guard happened to be on it]].
* Prospero getting stuck between dimensions led to him getting involved in increasingly shady stuff in his efforts at revenge/restoring Prospero, leading to the whole Daemon Breaker thing below.
* Won the Saim-Hann Iron Storm race, and as his prize got access to the Black Library for a "day". Hasn't officially come out since then, although it's clear he's still alive somehow and the Imperium doesn't have to ask the Harlequins to send a search party. Unclear if he formed the Daemon Breakers and then won the Iron Storm, or if he won the Iron Storm, did his research in the Black Library, and then got out, using the fact that he is supposed to be in the Black Library as an alibi. Or both.
* Approves of the Imperium in theory, but thinks they are far too passive and defensive when it comes to dealing with Chaos and should take the fight to them.
* Strongly implied that he rubric-ed himself and sealed his soul into his armor, and that's the reason he's still around despite the fact that any other Astartes would have aged to death by now
* Implied to be a very Byronic figure, started off as a good man but has done increasingly fucked-up shit for a noble cause.
* One of his positive traits is that he would never force people to do anything that he wouldn't do himself. However, "that he wouldn't do himself" has a very broad definition, given the aforementioned Byronic-ness. Indeed, Ahriman considers himself damned and would probably sacrifice himself if need be, the only reason he doesn't is he wholeheartedly believes the sacrifice of his soul will be a necessary component to undo the Rubric (hence the reason for sealing his soul inside his armor).
* "When Ahriman brings back Prospero" is a common phrase in the Imperium. Started out as hopeful but now is used in a derogatory fashion in the same manner as "When pigs fly"

When the Imperium confirmed that some of the Thousand Sons had been binding daemons and that Ahriman had been spreading this knowledge after an investigation, everything took a turn for the worst. Ahriman, along with most of the Thousand Sons that knew how to bind daemons fled with their followers. Becoming a nomadic renegade SM regiment has led to Ahriman taking control then renaming the happy band of renegades to the "Daemon Breakers."

The wandering Daemon Breaker Marines fight off hunting Imperial forces (and secretly help Imperial worlds in stomping daemon outbreaks). The renegades are not above interference and sabotage to ensure their survival. The recruitment for the regiment is always on-going and they hunt down any latent psykers to join them willingly or otherwise. Most defectors from the IG join the renegades as either a criminal escaping punishment, freedom seeking idealist, or someone just plain wanting revenge on Chaos. Those of the mortal soldiers that proved themselves in battle are sometimes given armor similar to that of the Sororitas. Just like the armor of the Sororitas, if there is no power supply for the limbs the soldier simply can't move. Worse is that if something hits the limbs under the armor, the limb movement accelerator will snap human bones like a twig.

Their motto is "Vanquish the Darkness" as said by Ahriman when he smashed a bloodthirster's head with his tome "Vocem Subjugatio Liber" thus binding the poor daemon to his will at all times.

== Ezekyle Abbadon ==

* Nephew of Horus Lupercal, Horus raised him like a son after Abbadon's father died
* Stereotypical "have to one-up my (foster) father at everything" syndrome
* Military brat, had a much more militaristic view of the universe as opposed to the slippery politician Horus
* Died ramming his flagship down the throat of a Scrap Metal Leviathan during the first Black Crusade
* No one else was charismatic enough to do the cat-herding to keep the Void Born together after Abbadon's death, so the legion split up.
* Some years later his cybernetic arms were found in the orbiting debris field around Cadia by scavengers. They were still fused to the Command Lectern. They were taken to the Sol Void Born Migrant Fleet. As of 999M41 they are in the hallway in the Black Stone Fortress just before you reach the tomb of Horus. The Cadians wanted to keep them because cultural historical relic. The Void Born weren't listening, Abaddon was one of their captains and fuck anyone who say otherwise.

== Shas'O Farsight ==

* Once one of the greatest warriors in Tau history
* During the Tau's political reformation, he, along with the other political hardliners that formed the Farsight Enclaves, walked off because they thought the Imperium's fancy new ideas were having a bad effect on the Greater Good. This led to the Tau Civil War
* At some point got his hands on one of the Blades of Vaul. But not just any Blade of Vaul, ''the'' Blade of Vaul, his masterwork the Dawnblade,''Anaris''
* Ethereals be all like "give the Eldar back their fucking sword" and Farsight replied "if they want it they can have it pointy end first"
* Like in canon, the Dawn Blade has chronophagic properties that suck the life out of whoever is killed by it and gives it to the wielder (it's not the only Eldar weapon that works this way, see Spear of Twilight), Farsight knows something is up, but keeps his focus stubbornly on the Greater Good because he feels the Farsight Enclaves will fall apart without him around.

He's a diehard fire caste general that incessantly reminds the ethereals of their noble responsibility to be surly, high handed, self sacrificing philosopher kings. He's a die hard traditionalist that might even step above his station to hold ethereals to his idealized vision of traditional tau society, and pressure from him has influenced the enclave ethereals to conform to this vision of "High Tau'va". The ethereals in the farsight enclave are becoming more philosophical, abstract, and saintly in bearing, and rely increasingly on farsight and his fire warriors to interact with the enclave's people. Farsight has influence over the ethereals that goes way beyond tradition, but this is totally lost on him, and he seeks to do the ethereals will even as he cajoles them towards greater mysticism and the nobility he already sees in them. For their part the ethereals recognize Farsight's prominence, but say that he is reminding them of their duties as a caste, as he ought to. They're happy to have a major fire caste figure affirming their reactionary feelings towards the reforms, and are beginning to believe in his rosy picture of tau traditional society.

Farsight is basically Tau Oda Nobunaga giving the Earth Caste guns; in his crusade to reestablish the Tau traditions of old, Farsight is essentially breaking them all and establishing new ones, all while being too blind to most of it, and excusing what he allows himself to be aware of by saying it's for both the Greater Good and the greater good. Compared to just about everyone else the Imperium is up against (Szarekh, Malys, Vect, the tyranids), Farsight is a relatively nice guy who actually cares about the people under his command. It's just that he's a xenophobic asshole. He's the kind of guy if you were an Earth Caste walking into a bar, he would invite you over for a drink and nearly bowl you over with his sheer charisma. At least, until you find out what his political leanings are (depending on where you stand on the issue).

=== Reasons for Farsight's Breakoff ===

Farsight spent most of his career on the northern edge of the Tau Empire fighting mostly Chaos and to a lesser degree Orks, whereas Shadowsun spent most of hers on the southeastern front and fought mostly Nids. This disparity of experience resulted in a rift forming, with each having different views on how the universe works and what the Tau need. Shadowsun sees the need for the reasonable people of the universe to unite because that’s the only way anyone is surviving the tyranids. Farsight sees Chaos as this horrible Monster in the darkness, but thankfully they seem more focused on the Imperium and their “anathemas” and “blasphemers” and seem to mostly ignore the Tau; if the Tau were to join the Imperium, that monster may not ignore them anymore.

Farsight also feared that closer relations with the Imperium would change tau culture as he knew it. By that point the Tau Empire already had a few billion human citizens but they were Tau Humans dedicated to the Greater Good as much as other society in the Empire. What he predicted was the relaxation of the caste system, outside influences on policy making and a slowing down of the colonizing efforts for the next sphere of expansions.

Perhaps more than his concerns that contact with outsiders would change the Tau’va, Farsight feared that the Ethereal Council would come down and force people who wanted to hew to the old traditions to change their ways. And in his defence, in this regard history supported him. The Ethereal Council was known to force people to accept their vision in the past; they would never allow for the unity of the Tau to be broken with a potential split between “Orthodox Tau’Va” and “Relaxed Tau’va.”

The issue is that he kicked off a riot which led to things escalating to violence, which is massively taboo to the Tau (not just for the same reasons as canon, but because they see their unity and lack of Tau on Tau violence as a moral high ground compared to the fractious Eldar and humanity) and turned what should have been a reasoned debate into a Schism meets the Partition of India in space.

There are rumors that Shadowsun hasn’t been able to catch up to Farsight because Farsight has been deliberately avoiding confronting her because he feels guilty about what happened. He doesn’t feel guilty about standing up for what he believes in, but he feels guilty about letting it escalate to violence which is why he’s content to live in his own little hermit kingdom than try to subvert the main Tau Empire.

Farsight's fears have proved well-founded. The Tau Empire isn't growing anymore and no new spheres of expansion are planned. The Ethereal council has instead directed it's efforts towards missionary work to spread the philosophies of The Greater Good and try to co-opt the Eastern Fringe of the Imperium from the inside. They have made no secret of this. They have had their decision making influenced by outsiders in that the Imperium tells them what will and will not work from past experience and are typically proven right. Now they typically listen more and don't, for example, try to make fully A.I. robotic infantry. The caste system has been relaxed as the Casteless and Outcaste and auxiliary forces can attest. (Of course Aun'Va and historians will notice that the current interpretations of The Greater Good are more similar to the older attitudes to Aun'Da's teachings.)

Farsight was not wrong. A thousand years ago he would have been the very model of a great Fire Warrior. He's just out of time.

When they were both young and still good friends, Farsight and Shadowsun had an argument over the Tau'kon'she, a Fire Caste festival in which the Fire Warriors hunt a ceremonial clonebeast on foot using low-tech weaponry to connect with their heritage as nomads. Farsight wanted to perform the ceremony using pulse rifles, saying it was more efficient. Shadowsun was exasperated by it and said he was missing the point. Ironically the two have reversed position later in life, Farsight the traditionalist sees as important that the tau remember their old ways, whereas Shadowsun has grown jaded and has much less of a problem with cutting the Gordian knot.

== Shas'O Shadowsun ==

* Currently the greatest military hero of the Tau that is still alive and not a renegade. Typically seen as the Tau equivalent of a primarch or a Phoenix Lord by the rest of the Imperium (Farsight would be the other, except for the whole treason thing).
* Shadowsun was a good friend of Farsight. Then Farsight did something during the Tau civil war that made Shadowsun swear a blood oath against him.
* Probably did something so grievous that in Shadowsun's opinion Farsight has no moral justification in claiming that he's doing what's right, like escalating the tension between the two factions into outright violence and the first shots of the Tau Civil War. Farsight saw it as necessary and justified because the reformists weren't letting the traditionalists practice the Tau'va the way they wanted to. Shadowsun called bullshit, his actions led to Tau killing Tau and in her mind this was an act of barbarity just asking for the Mon'tau to return.
* Probably had some sort of forbidden feelings for one another, but after that moment their relationship changed to that special feeling of hate and betrayal you can only have for someone you once loved
* More open-minded and less xenophobic than Farsight (known as an Imperial hero even outside of Tau space, which the Tau will remind you of quite frequently), but at the same time more prone to obeying the Ethereal Council and is more manipulable by them.
* As opposed to Farsight or Aun'Va, Shadowsun is still around because she's been leapfrogging through time via cryo-stasis as opposed to the Dawn Blade or whatever Aun'Va is doing. Explicit instructions to wake her when Farsight shows his head so she can fulfill her oath
* Like Kryptman, Shadowsun has lost numerous friends and allies due to the passage of time. Unlike Kryptman, she is a bit more philosophical about this.

Shadowsun is essentially the Tau WMD that walks like a mortal.

It has the lovely image of Aun'va as some sort of Davy Jones dinosaur of another era that the others of his kind defer to out of respect/fear and when shit gets too hard to handle he declares "release the Shadowsun". Those are the days that you know shit has got beyond real. If is the legendary 1st Sphere veteran commander than by now she has fought everything from Dark Eldar to xeno Skynet. Like Kryptman she is awoken when needed and preserved when not. Like Kryptman she is getting on in subjective years now despite this though not to the same extreme. Like Kryptman she is awake in the final days of 999M41 and it doesn't look like she will sleep again soon.

Humans have stories of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, Tau have Shadowsun.

Imperium has Saint Celestine around whom the masses flock with songs on their lips and fire in their hearts. Shadowsun is this also. When she wakes up the other castes start to readily form citizens militias to ease the burdens of the Fire Caste PDF equivalents. Not actual soldiers, goodness no. That would be against the scripture. They just assist and serve as best they can right up to what they can bend the scripture to accommodate.

Her personal mission is to uphold the values of the Imperial Tau'va by adapting to new tactics and destroying whatever she's pointed at better than anyone else can, and to find closure by ending her former friend's life. She doesn't really concern herself with issues that aren't relevant to this, having a sort of tunnel vision that makes her an extremely dangerous opponent and which probably helps her cope with having to constantly play catch-up in the fastest-developing society in the entirety of the Imperium. She's built her entire life around fulfilling this purpose, becoming cynical and jaded instead of wrathful and manic the way Inquisitor Kryptman has, as a person who hasn't quite lost everything and is simultaneously expected to be a paradigm of the Greater Good's ideals.

From Shadowsun’s perspective, literally every waking moment of her life for the last nigh-on a hundred years has been some form of conflict. The closest she has ever gotten to “down time” is the moments of strategic planning and stretches of boredom between FUBAR events. She goes to sleep only to wake up a moment later wondering “what in the name of the Tau’va is wrong now”. Shadowsun has essentially lived through every major military conflict of the last millennium, which would be the equivalent of a soldier fighting in every war since the late 18th century, and all the changes in technology that implies. Imagine having to constantly relearn how to fight as weapons go from muskets to bolt-action rifles to semi-automatics. Shadowsun would point this out…albeit in a rather cynical fashion.

“Sometimes the weapons are different. Better, faster, they say.
In the end they are all the same. I pull the trigger, and something dies.”

Shadowsun has figured out by now that Aun'Va is more than meets the eye. The "my identical grandson for whom politics skipped a generation" works after a while, but someone who knows the guy personally would see right through his act in seconds. She doesn't voice what she knows because Aun'Va being in charge is literally for the Greater Good, but it allows her to be more critical of him because she knows he knows she knows and she sees his feet of clay through the shared ages. She believes in the Greater Good and the Empire as it fights for the Greater Good and the Imperium as it seems to mirror and facilitate the Greater Good but she also believes that Aun'Va was a late bronze age bureaucrat and blind obedience to the rules of another time taken in a vacuum and not adapted to this time will always lead to disaster. Her original dispute with Farsight. So she's more willing to push back against Aun'Va (though not the Etheral council), because she knows his tactics. Ironically Aun'Va trusts her more than almost anyone else based on how she was completely honest with him about what happened in the initial shots of the Tau Schism.

==Shas'O Kais==

You know, waaaay back in one of the old threads (about thread 4 or 5), it was suggested that it was O'Kais who kept what happened in the Kaurava system during Soulstorm from being a complete disaster after Boreale cocked it all up. O’Kais had to come riding to the rescue of an incompetent Space Marine commander to ensure that at least someone survived Kaurava instead of the human and Eldar forces being killed to a man.

So why not build on that and the above. O’Kais is one of the most well-known Tau military commanders alive in 999.M41. The reason he seems like such an Imperiaboo is he spent time as part of an Inquisitor’s retinue, so he’s spent time watching thing like Aspects of Steel and whatnot. Nevertheless, he’s still managed to garner quite the military reputation on his own through his own actions in the Tau military, no Imperial help required.

O’Kais got onto the Inquisitor’s retinue for a damn good reason, and people are shocked to learn he’s basically the Tau equivalent of Doomguy. O’Kais, for his part, is rather sedate about the whole affair, and although he prefers not to talk about what he’s seen, when he does talks it sounds like a normal person would talk about how they enjoyed a semester studying abroad. It’s debatable whether he actually feels this way, feels this way because of the muted connection Tau have to the Warp, or if he’s using it as a coping mechanism (given that he does avoid bringing it up).

He’s no Shadowsun, but that’s because Shadowsun is the equivalent of a soldier who somehow managed to fight on the front lines in the American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War (or any other series of major wars for your country of choice).

Given the shorter life span and less effective longevity treatments of the Tau he would be a brash young man in his Doomguy days. Now if he had hair it would be grey. His skin is lined and leathery, his eyes are wary, his pace measured.

O'Kais has seen some shit and shit related accessories. How old is he? 70 maybe. Maybe 75ish. Biologically. He's spent so much time rattling around on ships that it's hard to say. He was born 122 years ago but such is travel through the warp.

He should be a figure of near mythic proportions on the Eastern Fringe, his name spoken beyond traditional Tau Space. His Inquisitorial has passed the hundred years of silence rule so a lot of it's open to the public.

He has earned the distinction of commanding Space Marines to victory, a thing no other Fire Caste has done.

He goes by the Kais, despite Kais being one of the most common names awarded in the Tau Empire, for the simple reason that the...''other'', more distinctive nicknames he's received are considered impolite in Tau society. There aren't many Shas'O who merely go by the name "Kais" so when anyone brings "O'Kais" everyone knows who they are talking about.

If anything he has become more dangerous in his twilight years. He is Doomguy and has trained Doomguys to succeed him.

Upon his death he has given orders for his body to be frozen and sent to Pech. He made a deal after the shit on Dolumar IV with a wise old Shaper. His funeral will be a feast before the Oathstone beneath the greatest Jagga Tree.

===Timeline of life===
887M41

Tau Fire Caste born to distinctly average parents. Mother and father worked in the T'au PDF equivalent. Name their son Kais, probably the most common name on T'au. Young Kais spends his childhood and early adolescence in the Fire Cast boarding school in the mountain town of Ash’nat Ruush being raised communally as is tradition with Tau.

896M41

Kais is living up to his unimaginative name and passes with sufficiently above average grades to be placed in the Interstellar Army of the Tau rather than it’s local defence force. Although Kais passed with good grades on the notoriously traditionalist homeworld he was definitely in the pro-Imperium reformist camp, a thing that annoyed his tutors somewhat.

That and his lack of interest in the more philosophical aspects of the Greater Good. Which is not to say that he lacked faith in the cause but that he lacked patience with things without immediate practical application. He saw that his job was to defend the realm, not quote scripture.

897M41

Shas’Saal Kais is sent to “cut his teeth”, to use an Old Earth phrase, in the ongoing war for the hiveworld Agrellan / Mu'gulath Bay against the predations of the Ak'Haireth Resurgence. The world, although officially part of the Imperium proper, had substantial Tau investment and presence and was seen as a vital gateway between the two realms and a model of cooperation. The campaign to remove the fungal infection that was the Ak'Haireth was ultimately successful though costly. Shas’Saal Kais becomes Shas'la T'au Kais.

901M41

The greater deamon Tarkh'ax assaults the up until then nowhere world of Dolumar IV in a successful attempt to kidnap the Ethereal Aun'el Ko'vash. Reasons for doing so were later found to be to try and find a way of possessing Tau of the leadership caste for the most obvious reasons. If such a thing is possible is still undetermined as Ko’vash managed to commit suicide sometime into the proceedings but sadly not before a substantial joint Tau – Imperial force made planet fall. By the time the main forces had arrived Tarkh'ax was already eroding reality on the planet from the Governors Palace and Dolumar IV was becoming a daemon world. It was a frantic and desperate mad dash to the Palace to stop the daemon prince at any cost.

Part of this force was Shas'la T'au Kais. Nobody is sure what happened to Kais on Dolumar IV but everybody knows what he did. The Imperial Army, the other Tau, even the Space Marines soon found that they couldn’t keep up with Kais. His helm-cam recorded his progress, his body count that would be the envy of a Warhound veteran, the sheer magnitude of the things he cut down from deranged thralls to Fallen Marines to Chaos Spawn and ultimately Tarkh'ax himself almost single-handedly.

Knowing that the Ethereal Council would try to cover up the events as best it could Kais removed and hid the storage crystal from his helmet. In the time it took the remnants of the Tau cadre to return to T’au Kais’ mental state deteriorated due to the things he had seen. He uploaded the contents of his helm-cam to the planetary info-net. When the law enforcement found him he was sitting near catatonic in the data-hub.

Kais spent the next three years unresponsive in the Por’Vre Jeph’dar sanctuary for damaged souls.

904M41

Video surveillance of the Por’Vre Jeph’dar Sanctuary shows an eldar later identified as a known Handmaiden entering the facility and making her way to Kais’ cell. No eyewitnesses confirm this despite the figure having walked past several members of staff.

The next day Inquisitor ██████████████████████████ of the Ordo Malleus arrives at the Sanctuary and commandeers the miraculously recovered Kais.

The large part of Kais’ life spent in the service of the Inquisition is known to only a few with any certainty as his records are highly classified. Higher than most Inquisitorial files. What is known is that the Kroot have first claim on the old Tau’s body should he die uncorrupted, although what he did to earn this honour and what they did to deserve such meat is unknown. It is known that he had considerable experience commanding both Space Marines and human Guardsmen prior to the events on Kronus, though the circumstances are unknown.

989M41

Kais returns to the Tau Empire a very different creature. His skin grey and leathery with age in the places it wasn’t scar tissue, he spoke numerous languages to some basic degree and walked with the confident stride of an experienced commander.

Kais is bumped up the command chain to Shas’O Kais, though the Ethereals refuse to return the “T’au” to his name.

Later 989M41

Shas’O Kais heads the Tau contribution to the re-conquest of the planet Kronus alongside Colonel-Farseer Taldeer and her Cadians.

Kais and Gabriel Angelos, who was heading and independent detachment of Blood Ravens to Kronus for undisclosed reasons, form an odd friendship possibly based on their mutual experiences with the Inquisition and the eternal war against Chaos to say nothing of each others towering reputations.

The Tau contribution contained many Kroot who held Kais in some degree of awe or possibly fear and named him Laar’Nak Shak; The Walking Death. The Kroot were not actually officially part of the Tau army originally but Kais called in a favour and hinted that they might get settlement rights if they leant a hand. It was suspected the Kroot shaper just wanted Kais for his body.

M992

With the successful conclusion of the Kronus campaign Shas’O Kais returns to T’au and accepts a training job at the Ash’nat Ruush Boarding School where it is presumed he will sped his final years trying to impart his wisdom to the next generation of Fire Warriors.

== Inquisitor Kryptmann ==

In M41, [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#The_Swarmlord|when the main hive fleet first made galaxyfall]], the Emperor contacted the Kryptmann Institute, the Ordo Xenos group formed specifically to try and figure out how to take down the tyranids in the wake of Behemoth, Kraken, and Leviathan, to see if they had any ideas of how to stop them. They suggested they could try the Kryptman Line again. The Emperor asked them if they had any better ideas. The Inquisitors responded that the best they had come up with for a plan B was to invite the [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#The_Swarmlord|Swarmlord]], [[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#Lady_Malys|Lady Malys]], and the [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#General_Timeline_of_the_Life_of_the_Silent_King|Silent King]] over for tanna and see which one killed the other two first.

== Arik Taranis ==

Arik still passed down a lot of his early tests to the geneticists to try and fix the early Thunder Warriors, as was suggested. However, it was less direct, and more of “Psst, hey, you should try adding this secondary regulator hormone to the system. Works wonders.” to the geneticists.

Taranis was a waste of potential. If he had stayed on as a researcher, heck if he had stayed down when his original augments crapped out, he would have been able to do much more for the Imperium than as a super-soldier. The problem is that despite his brilliance he enjoyed bashing heads together much more than doing science. He's a scientist who found his calling as a super soldier.

The idea is that a lot of the quirkier features of the Custodes like dressing in gold and the Blood Games came from Arik (though the gold was probably Oscar’s suggestion), then when the more down-to-earth Valdor came in he dialed things back to make them a lot better organized. However, Valdor did pick up at least one thing, namely the whole “sometimes you have to disobey Oscar’s orders because Oscar doesn’t always know what’s in his own best interests”, which leads him to accompany Oscar and Isha to Beach Planet because he knows something’s going to go wrong with Vandire.

==Macharius==

Macharius is supposed to literally be based on Alexander the Great, right? So why not go whole hog with it, take the bad with the good. Macharius was a military mastermind, able to accomplish more in a few years than most commanders would be able to in lifetimes. Even those who felt the title of primarch belonged to a different era agreed that Macharius’ military accomplishments were the equal of the primarchs. So why was Macharius not hailed as the beginnings of a second coming of an age of primarchs?

Simply put, he couldn’t handle himself outside of war. He was a brilliant military genius, but when he wasn’t campaigning he had a bad drinking habit and generally made a boor of himself in public. All of the primarchs could function outside of war. Even Dorn and Curze. Dorn could occupy himself during peacetime, if you substituted “relaxing” with “fortifying this position”. Curze, on the other hand, just switched from waging an external war to addressing internal issues such as "waging a (literal) war on poverty". There were also rumors Macharius was not too fond of the Exodite Eldar and the Maiden Worlds, feeling that the worlds should be confiscated as they were otherwise being wasted and the Exodites weren’t pulling their weight, something that other parts of the Imperium were afraid was going to lead to civil war.

Think of a cross between Alexander the Great and Douglas MacArthur. Brilliant military tactician, but fell apart when not in combat (like Alexander) and had a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease and picking more fights than he could hope to win.

In this timeline, Macharius died due to actual misfortune, as opposed to High Lord assassination. Like everyone else, the higher-ups in the Imperial government mourned, though they felt a little guilty over the fact that they felt like they had just dodged a bullet.

== Jenetia Krole ==

After doing some research on blanks and the pariah gene in canon, it seems that it is possible for psykers to be around blanks in the rare case that the psykers psychic ability outstrips the blank’s ability to nullify it. This fact is virtually trivial in canon, but it would mean that Krole would be able to be around extremely powerful psykers like Oscar and Magnus, for whom trying to nullify their power would be like trying to block out the sun with an umbrella. It also explains how the vanilla Sisters of Silence were able to be around the Emperor without him going nuts.

From what I can tell with blanks in canon, they are not capable of turning their aura on and off, but it does sound like they are capable of changing the intensity of their aura to be more or less uncomfortable to people who aren’t outright psykers. Jenetia was able to control her aura enough that she would have been the type of blank to just be considered “odd” by the average person, but she intentionally cultivated the reputation of being the scariest person in the room.

Jenetia’s personality is partially inspired by Queen Gorgo of Sparta. Laconic, tough as nails, and favoring quality over quantity in terms of troops. In-universe, it may be due to spending part of her time being raised by the Custodes.

This sort of gives an explanation as to why the Sisters of Silence were allowed to exist despite the Emperor being the old chivalrous sort. The Pariah gene is described as being extremely rare in Vanilla, with there being only one to two pariahs in a population of ten billion even if one counts those who only have it as a recessive gene. Until the Imperium could get a large number of planets under their control, Jenetia was the only blank they had. Jenetia was a bitter necessity until the Grey Knights could get up and running, and as soon as that was done Jenetia was swept off the front lines to a position the Steward thought would be safer.

Despite what seem like similarities, there’s a big difference between Jenetia Krole and Conrad Kurze. Kurze inflicted terror because he thought that fear was the best way to bring order and keep people in line. Krole cultivated a terrifying reputation because she just wanted people to recognize her as a badass.

Jenetia liked kids, in case that wasn’t obvious, even if they didn’t always like her back. It’s highly likely that Jenetia put in the request to the Steward because she just wanted some people she could be around for more than a couple of hours, in addition to the tactical reasons.

== Nemesor Zandrekh ==

Nemesor Zandrekh is crazy. In fact, he is so crazy the Silent King cannot assume direct control over him like he can with so many other Phaerons, because Zandrekh believes he’s still flesh and blood and of course only a robot can be controlled that way.

He doesn't care much for this "Silent King" little gutter oik. Bah humbug and balderdash so he doesn't. Obviously such an uncultured and, quite frankly, barbaric swine must, in fact, be some sort of tinpot despot rebel or a petty little lordling from one of the lesser races trying to pull a clever ruse.

The true power in this galaxy, besides his self, of course, must be this great bustling Imperium business that everyone is going on about. Indeed not a day goes by when there isn't some sort of news from the border regarding their valiant and heroic efforts against what sounds suspiciously like the old enemies of the True Empire.

In fact, he would put money on these High Men of Earth being distant kin or descendants of his own people that waited out the upheavals and desolation. That must be it. They stayed awake and duked it out, this "Imperium" must, therefore, be The True Empire or at least something not too far removed from it.

And so Nemesor Zahndrekh made diplomatic contact with the Imperium. It took Harlequin Lore-Masters to translate the transmissions and once they figured out what the crazy old bastard was prattling on about they couldn't stop laughing.

Nemesor Zahndrekh of Gidrim and it's protected systems (about a dozen systems all told, only two conventionally inhabitable worlds and one of them only just) are not part of the Imperium but they are very close allies with it. Emperor Oscar deemed it prudent to play along with his delusions rather than risk him waking up and offered him the hand of friendship and invited him to a banquet in his honor to formalize the alliance.

So far the mad bastard has guarded his patch of space well and has come to the aid of the Imperium on several occasions, even going so far as to temporarily house a rescued ferry convoy on his throne world (near a quarter of a million people all told). He said he liked talking to the children. It had been many years since his hall echoed with such simple laughter.

On at least one occasion the Imperium came to his aid after receiving a message, from one of the ambassadorial team's astropaths, indicating that he was having "a spot of bother with some sort of insectoid life form". Shortly afterward contact was lost.

Needless to say, there were no eldar involved in anything relating to the Nemesor. They are pretty sure that he is going to try and kill them all at some point. Isha wasn't present during the official banquet. She was away on "State Business", an excuse Zahndrekh thankfully believed and took no offense. Oscar tried to show him a picture of Isha, to see if Nemesor was on the level, only for the mad old bastard to say “Quite a beautiful dame she is. I say, is she descended from one of the old royal bloodlines? She certainly has that regal Phaeron jawline. Shame she couldn’t attend on account of official business.” Oscar decided to take this information to his grave, rather than rile the Eldar up by saying that Nemesor had favorably compared their goddess to a Necrontyr Phaerakh. The only Eldar that are able to tolerate being around him are the Harlequins, and that’s only for the sheer schadenfreude of the whole thing.

Everyone on the Ambassadorial Team is pretty sure that the imposing Necron called Obyron who stands by the Nemesor at all times is aware of how reality is and how his lord is and is merely playing along for the sake of his master. He and the Ambassadorial Team have come to an unspoken agreement. They don't try anything covert and no "accidents" will happen.

Obyron stays around Nemesor because as bad as Nemesor is, the Silent King is worse, and as long as he serves Nemesor he doesn’t have to listen to Szarekh through clever use of loopholes because he’s “obeying his lord”. He also feels some sympathy for the old man…er…skele-bot, as crazy as he is. Obyron does still love his master. For all that he is crazy, he is still Zahndrekh and he owes him so very much.

Zahndrekh was actually a rather nice individual even before becoming a senile skele-bot. He treated defeated enemies with respect, had a sense of noblesse oblige that led him to care for those under his command, and was even altruistic enough to take in a young gutter urchin Obyron into his household. Of course, this was the infamously deadly and backstabbing world of Necrontyr politics. Zahndrekh was a [[Creed|brilliant strategist]] and was nice because he could afford to be nice, and those who took niceness as weakness [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cilician_pirates#Julius_Caesar| paid the consequences]. The eldar are terrified that if Zahndrekh ever snapped back to sanity he would turn into a murderbot 5000. In reality, if you could circumvent the issue with the control protocol, you’d probably just get a more coherent and intelligent Zahndrekh.

This is actually part of the reason Szarekh brought Zahndrekh into his fold during the Second Wars of Secession. He was unflinchingly loyal, a skilled general, and he made Szarekh’s side look good. The fact that the Nemesor could be lenient to those who genuinely pledged themselves to Szarekh made him a good carrot to the bigger stick of many of his other generals during the Wars of Secession because he made Szarekh look benevolent and merciful to his enemies. And this was back when Szarekh still had some humanity (necrontyrity?) in him and could be as magnanimous as he was brutal. Part of the reason Zahndrekh doesn’t recognize the authority of the Silent King is his last memories date to the Second Wars of Secession, and he has a hard time reconciling the young, headstrong Szarekh from then with what he became.

Of the two inhabitable worlds in his Dynasty, the least shit is settled by Tau. They've regressed biologically back to the pre-caste tau by interbreeding when the caste system broke down.

They are pretty substandard in terms of technology, they have shit from the early days of the Tau's first steps into the galaxy. It is suspected that they are the descendants of one of the early and mysteriously lost colony ships.

Nemesor Zahndrekh considers them to be quaint and primitive but with a rustic charm. They also show him, as their lord and master, proper tribute and reverence on the occasion that he visits them. So he lets them have the planet.

It's the more pleasant of his two inhabitable worlds but he wasn't using it. Also, a lord should be judged not by how he treats his equals and betters but by how he treats those beneath him of whom he has no reason to fear. That is the mark of a worthy lord. That is why the Silent King is a despicable little oik and no king of his say what.

Although the least shit of the two planets it's still pretty shit. Insufficient ozone layer and barely 25% sea cover. You can live there but it's not a holiday resort.

One should note, though, that Zandrekh’s decisions, while masked behind a layer of the haha-funny antics of a loon, still make sense from the perspective of a Phaeron looking to get out from under the Silent Kong’s thumb. And it is said he talks to Obyron when no one is around to hear it. Perhaps there’s more to Nemesor than simply an insane Overlord, after all?

== Obyron and the nobility of Gidrim ==

Obyron was a gutter urchin that the Nemesor adopted millions of years ago in the days of the True Empire. It was always permitted that Overlords could appoint their own bodyguards regardless of origin or social standing. Most only took them from families they knew, trusted or had a history of loyal service and subservience to ensure that they were true to their duties and also to keep intact the divide between the lowborn and the nobility.

Hiring a pleb as a bodyguard was so rare by the time of the years leading up to the biotransferance that most people had forgotten that it was even technically still legal.

Zandrekh was also Overlord of a remote patch of the Empire so eccentricities are more excusable. Obyron therefore owes Zandrekh so very much. By all accounts he should have lived and died a penniless scavenger. Maybe Zandrekh caught him scrumping apples or some shit and offered him a job as part of the palace guard. Obyron eventually working his way up to bodyguard and then head bodyguard.

Point is Imotekh was trained as a nobleman with rules of conduct in combat and the propper way to duel between gentlemen. Obyron is a knee to the groin, elbow to the gut, eye gouging, ear biting, dirty fighting elevated pleb whose only use for the rule book is an improvised club.

The functionaries of Gidrim will not be trying to replace the Nemesor, they know that they are robots and as such will get fucked over instantly by Silent King override codes. Rather they jockey for positions in the advisory council and in the administration of the Gidrim Estate, everyone wants to be as close to him as possible. Old Man Zandrekh knows that most if not all of them are sycophants but what can you do? He knows that although they will fight among themselves to who gets to be firstmate of his ship they won't mutiny against him and they won't allow risk to the ship.

Also if any of them starts to get too clever or does things too risky Obyron is always there behind his masters right shoulder, a menacing figure in chrome and gilt.

The arrival of the Imperial Representative team and Ambassadorial staff annoyed a lot of courtiers as it was an intrusion in their comfortably insular games. Overlord Zandrekh quite likes the Imperials as they are way less ass kissy and two faced than his own court is.

The jobs typically held by his people are:

* Crew of the Lady Betsy and the few support craft he has, all of them lovingly maintained classics.
* Warriors of the realm
* Bodyguards and palace guards
* Palace maintenance and cleaning staff
* Butlers, servants, maids and such
* Kitchen staff (including food tasters)
* Administrators of the blue-skin (Tau) colony
* Garrison and Sentinels of the blue-skin colony
* Royal gardener and assistants
* Weather-watcher
* Royal architect and masons and other associated artisans
* Keeper of the Minutes
* Keeper of the library
* Royal Calligrapher
* Master/Mistress of tapestries
* Palace physician
* Law-master/mistress
* Lore-master/mistress (and specialists)
* Spymaster/mistress
* Head Cryptek
* Keeper of the Vehicles
* Keeper of the Fish

And a whole host of lesser titles that the Nemesor is half convinced they made up to give them something to do.

=== Obyron versus Imotekh ===

At some point while the Silent King was sending his lackeys out waking up and unifying the Tomb Worlds, Imotekh the Stormlord got sent to Gidrim because the Silent King has been sending commands and Zahndrekh isn't answering his calls. Imotekh finds Obyron waiting for him at the docks. Imotekh demands that all bow before the Silent King. Obyron declares: No. Nothing else. Just a blank No.

Obyron challenges Imotekh to an honor duel because Imotekh will tell Zahndrekh exactly what has happened the last sixty six million years and Zahndrekh will likely go into a full on Nam dog/Alzheimers-esque meltdown. So Obyron protects the old man out of loyalty.

Imotekh: Do you know who I am? I was trained by Ana'mhashark in the temple of Djomo!

Obyron: I grew up in the streets of Telhemerarch. Leave now or I might cut you up a little bit you inbred aristocratic little shit.

Obyron thrashes Imotekh, because Imotekh is only above average in terms of scythesmanship skills (relying heavily on the durability and lack of fatigue his Necrodermis body gives him) whereas Obyron is, to analogize to A Song of Ice and Fire, undead robot Jaime Lannister. Imotekh leaves because Obyron won the duel fair and square and that's the way Imotekh rolls. When next Obyron meets Nemensor Zahndrekh his master notes that he has a new arm. Obyron thanks him for noticing, the old one got damaged in some accident whilst he went about his duties. It's amazing what a good doctor can do these days.

Zahndrekh doesn't need to know about Imotekh.

That day Obyron and Zahndrekh go for a walk about the royal garden. At the evening hour they stop by the Imperial Embassy to catch up on the news. Zahndrekh, Obyron and the Imperial Ambassador end the day sipping brandy by the heating unit in a garden shed some miles from the palace.

The night ends with Ambassador giving Obyron a hug. She can't officially admit that she knows what he has done, but she can blame it on the brandy. Obyron pats her hair as softly as he can and holds her gently. He doesn't understand.

== Erebus ==

Erebus, the Dark Prophet. Even more of a nightmare than [[Erebus|in canon]], if you can believe that.

In terms of there being no record of anyone matching Erebus’ description ever joining the legion and people being if this is because a “recruit Erebus” never really existed or if he simply did a good job at covering his tracks, it’s the latter. Erebus really did joined the Word Bearers as a rank-and-file but was just really good at destroying his records. He knows that playing up the mysterious “Was he a Word Bearer? Where did he come from?” angle makes him look scarier and gets him followers. He renamed himself Erebus because he’s an edgelord.

It's not yet agreed upon when Erebus fell to Chaos and when his corruption became noticed. As to his corruption, some people suggest he fell to Chaos as a child pope due to Lorgar taking his congregation and joined the Word Bearers to get revenge whilst others suggest he did not fall until after he joined the Word Bearers. As to when his corruption became known, some have it that he was discovered well into the Great Crusade and seemingly vanished after his near-death experience, only resurfacing during the War of the Beast upon which it became apparent he had been corrupting a whole bunch of people, whereas others suggest his corruption was only revealed during the War of the Beast, and the conversation between Erebus and Lorgar went in the same way that a lot of the canon loyalist Primarchs tried to talk down the traitors before they realized they weren't going to stop.

== Lady Malys ==

The Daemon Queen of Chaos. The "[[Abbadon]]", for all intents and purposes, of this setting. Only competent, and so high one can't tell the crazy from the cunning. One of the threads had a (now lost) picture of what she was supposed to look like with big black feathery wings. The wings are intentionally grown because it pisses off the Blood Angels. Rumor has it they were torn from Sanguinius' back.

At some point she engaged in a blasphemous and all manner of fucked up wedding with Asdrubael Vect, the Lords of Shaa-Dome and Commorragh.

Some would say that being married to the Queen of Chaos whilst banning warpcraft in the Dark City is a tad hypocritical. Yes it is. He's Lord Asdrubael Vect, he gives no shits. You can file a complaint with the complaints department if you are feeling stupid.

Lady Malys is the blessed of all the gods of Chaos. She is insanely powerful on an individual levels and just dangerously insane enough to get all the warbands of Chaos to temporarily act together and swear obedience but still just coherent enough to make use of it.

Only the Emperor is her equal in a one on one confrontation and only a fully awakened Avatar of Khaine (and a lot of support) has any realistic hope of stopping her. She has died many times but the gods keep resurrecting her at least in part because they don't want her in the Realm of Chaos for longer than is necessary.

She is still "mortal" in that she is not in a daemon-prince sort of deal. She swore no oaths of loyalty for he power, the gods keep her powered up possibly because they are scared to find out what she would do one of them with the powers of the others if one of them stopped. They give her power she fucks shit up and that feeds them. How a mere mortal can operate on that sort of insanely high rape train level is unknown.

It is perhaps that she is the equal and opposite of The Emperor. Her marriage to Vect being a mirror of Isha and Emperor.

In a few of the Starchild Prophesies it is her that gives birth to the Impossible Child rather than Isha and in one rather horrible prophesy the Emperor is the posthumous father. In that prophesy either she rapes the Emperor, conceives a child and then kill the Emperor or she kills the Emperor and somehow rapes the corpse.

Either way is possible, this is Chaos.

But it is just one prophesy out of many and no more or less contradictory than the other ones.

Compared to Abbadon, Lady Malys is much more flexible strategist, and copes with failure or changes in plans much better than Abbadon. Unlike Abbadon, Malys’ Black Crusades don’t really have do-or-die goals, but more of checklists of “things we’d like to do”. As long as the Black Crusade doesn’t get stalled at Cadia, raping the fields, salting the people, and burning the water of numerous Imperial Worlds counts as a success and anything else is a bonus. (It helps that she tends to have salt-the-earth retreat plans as opposed to Abbadon’s “leave my allies out to dry while I fuck off to the Eye of Terror”) Additionally, despite her mania, drug problems, etc., she is often the only sane man among the Cronedar (or, at least, the sanest person in the room), and one of the most capable in terms of long-term planning.

On the other hand, despite being a superb tactical genius, on a personal level Malys is completely ruled by her emotions. Her characteristic mania and her desire to lead from the front means that she has often overestimated herself and ends up dying. Several times. Despite being able to plan out strategems months in advance that still manage to baffle the most tactically inclined minds in the Imperium, when not dealing with something that she personally finds interesting she bores quickly and has the idle behavior of a child that enjoys torturing small animals for fun.

It’s possible that Malys getting herself killed is what turned the tide for some Black Crusades, as she likely respawns in the Eye far from the front lines and in the time it takes her to get back Be’lakor, Luther, Arrontyr, the Taskmaster, and literally everyone else will be squabbling for control.

On a very short-term, day-to-day basis, Malys is all about self-gratification and doing what makes herself feel good. Eat that extra donut. Make out with your boyfriend when you want, where you want. Kill a co-worker for looking at you funny. Ultimately she feels she needs no further justification. She wants to do a thing so she does a thing. If it bothers you then you can try and stop her.

However, on a longer term basis Malys is capable of making plans and is usually capable of putting instant self-gratification aside for bigger goals. Some days where she's not that high but hasn't come completely down yet she sees herself as surrounded by idiots for others not being able to do the same. She sees herself as the chosen messiah of the gods destined to spread Chaos to the whole galaxy, even before other people did. Yes, the Beast came close but failed, but of course he would, you need a true member of the chosen people of the gods to get shit done. It's possible the results of the Raid of Cthonia gave her the confidence to try aiming for something bigger.

If she can unearth herself from the cocaine heap and remove the dicks for a few minutes she may tell you of her long term goal of drowning the entire galaxy in Chaos jizz to turn everything into an Eye of Terror tier Chaos Storm in which the party never ends for anyone because no matter how torturous the experience, no matter how extreme the sensations nobody will be able to die. You can murder and rape and do ALL OF THE DRUGS and things not even permitted by the laws of physics for all eternity at greater levels of intensity than can be ever imagined by mortal minds in this era. The Fall was a good proof of concept and warm up for what she's got planned but even the worst of the Old Sinners from the Eldar Empire would look on with awe and wonder and maybe a little fear at the orgy she's working towards. And everyone is coming along for the ride.

Malys does actually have redeeming virtues. Like loyalty. She honestly loves Vect in her own twisted, [[Malekith]]-esque way. And she would never think of betraying the Chaos gods (which is rather notable), with the possible exception of if they did something like tell her to kill Vect while the two were at a good point in their relationship, which the gods aren't foolish enough to do so because they would lose the loyalty of a perfectly good follower for no gain. Unlike canon Abbadon, who plans to jump ship and betray the gods as soon as he gets to Terra and doesn't need them anymore, Malys honestly loves serving the gods, because it defines her and gives her purpose. And unlike a lot of schmucks on Shaa-Dome, she has enough power to meaningfully turn her back on the gods. If one rescinded their backing without all four doing so at once, she could slaughter enough of that gods' followers with the backing of the other three that they'd be vulnerable to another three-on-one beatdown like Nurgle got during the Raid (or worse). To be frank, the idea of someone having that much power and not being interested in backstabbing the person above them is unthinkable and kind of creepy to the Chaos gods. It'd be like having an insane fangirl who can nonetheless mess your day up.

At the same time, Malys often finds herself frustrated by the many of the other Crone Eldar, who don't seem to have the ambition that she does and she often feels like one of the few reasonable individuals around because they can't restrain themselves enough to get shit done. On a bad day, Malys sees the Taskmaster as a sycophant, the Crow as a babbling idiot, Nimina as an evangelist who needs to do less preaching and more getting shit done, and Arrotyr as an unreliable team killing dickbag. Not that any of the other named Crones are much better. Riastrad is a Leeroy Jenkins, Kaimon is a narcissist and a dumbass, Malaria is too stoned to be of much use, and the Choir of Despair is considered by most to be an overglorified talking bed pet (and may not be a Crone). This is usually when the drugs are starting to run out, Malys is starting to come off her high, and the Black Crusade is in danger of falling apart.

Malys' flagship is the ''Manifest Ecstasy''. We don't have much else on it beyond the bitchin' name.

To get a better feel for Malys' personality, one good place to start would be looking at [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Black Crusades|the Black Crusades]], which she typically leads.

''' Malys' Children '''

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Vect and Malys have had many children, though have not produced any official heirs with each other yet (unrecognized heirs may exist, and their lack of offspring might not be in stone, there was even a suggestion of a Malus Darkblade-style Crone who is trying to live up to the reputation of Vect and Malys whom both give zero shits about). Neither Crone or Dark Eldar society is big on fidelity, and in both orgies and casual sex are as common as handshakes, though unplanned pregnancies are much less common due to the eldar reproductive system. Basically, as long as Vect or Malys don’t forget who is supposed to come first in their heart (and in the periods in which the two are not an item not even then), they could care less about the other’s sexual dalliances.

In Malys’ case, she actually disregards most of her offspring, only really counting the few she's acknowledged, and even with her acknowledgement it confers no special right in and of itself. Some will certainly have grown up quite forgotten about, attended to by the staff of her disused mansion/embassy on the central layer of Shaa-Dome, but certainly many more would have been discarded, sacrificed, or played with to a fatal end. She typically only acknowledges her bastards when she needs something from them or one of them manages to impress her. Many do try to impress her in an attempt to earn their mother’s favor, but she could care less. Malys is the ultimate absentee mother, caring more about Deus Vulting than any child, and the only reason any might survive to adulthood is she has servants to take care of them.

Some Crones (both Malys' actual offspring and pretenders) even claim to be Malys’ children in an attempt to gain prestige, though eldar society typically frowns on that and imposters can be violently disabused of such a notion, often by their mother themselves. Although Malys' offspring often think they are important because of their lineage, they should really be thankful for being allowed to be born and survive to adulthood at all; Malys has sometimes intentionally had children because she gets off on the unique twisted sensations of sacrificing your unborn child to the Chaos gods and using daemons as a method of abortion. Not necessarily in that order. [[Squad_Broken|The cramping and sickness that usually follows premature births would probably be orgasmic for her, and most Crone Eldar for that matter]].

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==Arrotyr, Marshal of the Old Helm==
Arrotyr was a descendant of one of the old military families of the Old Eldar Empire, one that could trace its heritage back to the days of the War in Heaven. His ancestor was famous for having once personally bested the Necron Imotekh the Stormlord both tactically and in personal combat, and all members of his house were expected to follow in his ancestor’s stead.

When Arrotyr saw the disgusting murder orgies that sprung immediately prior to the birth of Slaanesh, Arrotyr put two and two together and assumed that the person who was responsible for all this was the goddess of sex and fertility, Isha. Although some in the empire knew of the whole Slaanesh thing, Arrotyr wasn’t one of them. So Arrotyr simply did the “logical” thing and marched his soldiers into the biggest temple devoted to Isha on Shaa-Dome and simply started killing everyone there (shades of the Greeks desecrating the temple of Athena in the Illiad). For obvious reasons, this did not stop the Fall. Keep in mind that while Arrotyr might have considered himself the only sane person in the waning days of the empire, he wasn’t. He was so crazy and ruthless it’s amazing he hadn’t falled to Khorne already ([[Awesome|think Eldar Quaritch]]). However, Khorne was amused by such an epic display of team-killing (plus the butchered civilians) that he blessed Arrotyr and his warriors, making them the flaming skeleton terminators we all know and fear today.

When Imotekh woke up, he either saw Arrotyr as a worthy opponent to succeed his ancestor, or wanted to humiliate him for what his ancestor did to him.

Either that or the old Arrotyr is literally the current Arrotyr, only having gone through several thousand cycles of reincarnation.

==Iygonesh Orvass, the Taskmaster of Slaanesh ==

Iygonesh (pronounced "egonesh") Orvass was a minor cousin of the royal house of the Old Eldar Empire that gets involved with the cabal of seers that want to make a god of art and joy. Where as they are all decadent and degenerate beyond some of the worst historical excesses, they are fairly dignified and refined relative to the cruelest parts of the Old Empire, and do have the sense of noblesse oblige that was said to have surrounded the early conception of Slaanesh. Iygonesh is one of the circle's important ways into favor with the Eldar imperial family, and palace connections he can offer allow them to gain the patronage of the royal house. During this period of intrigue and positioning the project was already growing libertine, but the introduction of the royal family and court's influence immediately turn the whole thing into a massive grotesque party. With its powerful backers and mass cultural appeal to the Eldar in that era the cult was relatively quick to consolidate power, with the royal house using the spread of the new faith and growing warp energy to subdue longtime uncooperative elements or drive them away. At the same time the circle structured and exalted the bases practices of the Eldar upper class under their arcane hedonism, and guided the riotous 'enjoyment' of them masses to best form their god.

Tensions and intrigues are already coming to a head as the singularity is reached in the warp. Slaanesh is already being seen in hallucinations, dreams, flickering in the smoky halls of palace, among bodies in the flesh pits of Shaa-Dome. Around this time something gives, climax is reached, and the Eye of Terror opens. Shaa-Dome and most of the Eldar's webway megastructures fall into the Warp, Arrotyr arrives in time to fall in with them, and the Eldar king and much of the royal family die first as the imperial eldar palace is ground zero, when all hell breaks loose.

Not yet decided what exactely initiates the Fall, be it the death (snuff) of the king, some final rite initiated by the circle of seers, or even just some last line crossed. Not yet determined if Iygonesh killed the king, if Slaanesh itself killed the king, or if the king just got it in the orgies. Most of the Eldar present were quickly used and consumed by the young god, particular among them many of the inner circle, royalty, and partakers in the festivities of its birth. The Taskmaster was one of the ones that wasn't, and in one of the first lulls in Slaanesh's happy birthday he met his god/dess and they conversed. It became clear that the Taskmaster was totally and maniacally devoted to Slaanesh, not as an ideal of pleasure or fulfillment of fantasy, or as a pitiful Eldar god, but as the god he helped shape and structure. The Taskmaster had always been involved for the sake of this interest, the creation of a being beyond just immortal, the beauty of transcendence attained, that had driven him, and now he would serve its whims as the clear perfect purpose. The young God/dess was flattered, and Slaanesh felt this exaltation ringing within its own nature, and took the taskmaster into its service as the festivities resumed. Slaanesh's attention was soon caught by Khorne, and the Taskmaster was bid to take the celebration to Arrotyr, who was burning his way into the shellworld, and goes with the blessing and might of his worshipful Prince of Pleasure.

tl;dr: Iygonesh is the yandere Renfield to Slaanesh's Dracula, and the rest of the galaxy is worse off for it.

Iygonesh and Arrotyr knew of each other in passing before the Fall. Iygonesh confronted Arrotyr at some courtly social function. Iygonesh saw Arrotyr as a brute due to him being eldar Quaritch and spending most of his time securing the borders of the Old Empire in quasi-exile. Arrotyr saw Iygonesh as a poncy aristocrat and a fop. Iygonesh also knew of the Crow as well. The Indigo Crow was a well-known figure in Eldar occultism, with the mantle of the Crow (if not the individual wearing it) being almost as old as the Old Empire, and was a figure of reverence to the underground esoteric societies established by the rich and bored that eventually became the Tzeentchian colleges. As the chosen herald of the creative god of Sorcery, the Crow was seen as a Chaos-aligned, dark magic teaching lecturer and promoter of better living through sorcery. If you impressed Tzeentch with your ritual and delving into the occult the Crow might unexpectedly show up and teach you a magic trick or two before wandering out. The Crow mostly hung around the royal family due to them being "major patrons of the psychic and sorcerous arts" valuable to his master. Iygonesh might have dropped in on a lecture given by the Crow in the palace gardens while a guest at some point before the Fall or seen him during his experience with the pleasure cults, but didn't know the Crow personally.

The Taskmaster is also Malys biggest threat for control of the Crone Eldar outside of other Chaos Undivided eldar. This being Chaos, there is always the threat of backstabbing from everybody, but in general Nimina prefers to preach and the Crow is occupied with their own plans. Arrotyr rants and raves, but much of his hate tends to be directed towards the Slaaneshis and the general populace of Shaa-Dome and he’s more focused on demonstrating the superiority of Khorne in general than challenging Malys specifically. The Taskmaster thinks they should be in charge because the largest segment of the population is Slaaneshi or venerates Slaanesh in some way and it's in the nature of Slaaneshi to always seek more.

== Iyanna Arienal ==

Iyanna Arienal, head Spirit Seer of Iyanden, would in this AU be a supreme space navy organizer and essentially what amounts to the military governor of the most colossal Star Fort ever to be built with all the authority of the Imperia Navy that this implies. Her joint Imperial title that she avoids using at all costs is Lady High Admiral.

Craftworld Iyanden still does have a disproportionately huge number of dead dudes walking around in wraith constructs. Some say as many as every other craftworld combined, the majority of them raised by her.

They were raised from living death into unlife when the 'Nids attacked just like the main timeline but unlike the main timeline they were not strictly needed. Prince Yriel appeared at the head of an entire Armada and half a million Kriegers, not that Spirit Seer Arienal knew this was going to happen.

So with the combined efforts of the risen dead and overwhelming conventional forces the 'Nids were driven back and the smashed up Craftworld rebuilt by the Navy.

== The Phoenix Lords ==

The general view among the human population of the Imperium is that the Phoenix Lords are the eldar's primarchs: great warriors and generals who helped them rise from the muck during their peoples' darkest hour. By the same token, the Eldar see the primarchs as the human's Phoenix Lords. Of course, most Eldar would also point out that ''their'' great warriors happen to be still alive, in a manner of speaking. (If you're wondering, the Tau consider/considered Farsight and Shadowsun their primarch/Phoenix Lord equivalents).

It's not entirely clear what is going on with the Phoenix Lords' resurrection yet. One suggestion is it may be something like the Doctor in ''Doctor Who'': the Phoenix Lords reincarnate with each new wearer added on, but the persona is slightly different and not quite the same. However this is not agreed on. The Phoenix Lords are agreed to be getting stronger from absorbing new exarchs, though.

Most of the Phoenix Lords, with a few notable exceptions, were students of Asurmen at the time of the Fall. Many of them came with Asurmen as part of the Raid. Many of those that came back were so shaken by their experiences they stepped off the Path. Leithon the Wraithguard was one of them (he joined the Harlequins, and later the Disciples of Kurnous). The few that remained, along with Asurmen, became the Phoenix Lords of legend.

=== Asurmen ===

As in canon, the Shrine of Asur was besieged by the hordes of Chaos during the birth of Slaanesh. In order to protect his students, Asurmen took up his weapons and fought innumerable daemons, and eventually, four greater daemons, one from each of the Ruinous Powers. The point of Asurmen's battle was not to fight four greater daemons and win. No mortal, no matter how powerful, could do that. Instead his goal was to stall the daemons for long enough that his students and the population of the Shrine of Asur could retreat to the safehouses beneath the planet, warded with runes so heavily it would take one of the dark gods themselves to break in, where they could wait out the fallout from the birth of Slaanesh.

"I win."<br>
- Last words of the original incarnation of Asurmen, before being decapitated by a greater daemon of Khorne

Asurmen fully expected to die facing the greater daemons, his armor dragged into the warp and his soul seized by the Chaos Gods. But Asurmen underestimated the resolve of his students. When Asurmen fell his students, who had secretly avoided going into the safehouses, flew into a rage and fought back the daemons long enough for them to recover their dead teacher's body and armor and retreat back to the safety of the safehouses.

=== Jain Zar ===

Although Asurmen was by far the grandmaster of the Shrine of Asur and the one in charge of the place, few who would argue that Jain Zar was second in command. Jain Zar was the first student of Asurmen, and acted as Asurmen’s right hand, constant companion, and closest confidant. It is even rumored that their relationship was more than simply platonic, but nothing has ever emerged to confirm this, and frankly after the both of them have been reborn so many times any such feelings are likely to have been muddled by the repeated reincarnation.

As in the new canon, long before the Fall, Asurmen was kind of a ditherer when it came to the Pleasure Cults. He wasn’t exactly a huge fan of them but at the same time he wasn’t an anti-pleasure cult zealot like his brother Tethesis, because hey, it’s a cult devoted to making people happy? What could be wrong with that? It might have helped that he was living on the far edges of the Empire and didn’t see how the Crone Worlds had devolved into “what cruel and unusual shit can we do for kicks today?” He did leave the Empire for the Exodite Worlds, but that was mostly because his brother was doing so and he wanted to support him. As the Exodite colony grew and the first generation of Eldar outside of the empire started being born, Asurmen was happy for his brother, but still thought going to live in the middle of nowhere was a bit of an overreaction.

That all changed when the Exodite world was ransacked for slaves by raiders from Commorragh. It should be noted that this was back in the days before Commorragh was seen as synonymous with treachery. Back then it was merely seen as an extralegal domain where Eldar aristocrats went to satisfy their perverse lusts that even the mainstream empire found distasteful. And here they were hunting down their own people like they were game animals. They even siphoned away the souls of the planet’s World Spirit for use back in Commorragh. Asurmen just barely managed to save his brother’s soul, but the rest were stolen.

This was the breaking point for Asurmen. It didn’t matter what one thought of the pleasure cults, this was simply wrong. He had caught a glimpse of the abyss into which the Empire was headed, and he didn’t like it. No longer would he stand by and watch his people slip away into madness. If there were Eldar who wanted to stand against the darkness, he would teach them how to fight it tooth and nail. It was this event that would put Asurmen on the path to being an eldar nobody to the kind of person who, by the time of the actual Fall, was respected enough that he could speak and get all of the Craftworlds to shut up and listen (if he hadn’t died in the immediate aftermath of the Fall, anyway).

As in canon, Asurmen may not be the guy’s original name in the first place, as it basically means “left hand of god”. This isn’t exactly uncommon for the Phoenix Lords, Jain Zar was originally named Faraethil even in the old fluff, and I’m damn sure Maugan Ra isn’t the guy’s original name (seeing as it means “harvester of souls”).

The only other Eldar to survive the Commorroghites’ raid on the Exodite World was Jain Zar. Jain Zar was the young daughter of a widowed Eldar woman who had been born on the planet. The two of them lived next to Tethesis and Asurmen and Tethesis had been in a relationship with the older of the two. Asurmen fought his way to his home to try to rescue his brother and his neighbors, but only found Jain Zar alive.

Unlike Asurmen, Jain Zar never grew up surrounded by the glories of the Eldar Empire. She never set foot on Shaa-Dome or seen the impossible geometries of Commorragh. All she thinks of when anyone mentions the Eldar Empire is how slavers from the Empire killed her entire family. Comparing her to the Crone or the Dark Eldar is kind of a sore spot for her. Vulkan called her a credit to her species in respect to the Crones and Dark Eldar and got an earful for it.

=== Fuegan ===

Fuegan’s a [[Kharn|pretty fun guy]]. He’s loud, boisterous, and if you just went by his personality alone one would be surprised to find out he’s an Eldar. He’s also pretty simple. He likes to blow stuff up. That said, don’t confuse “simple” with “stupid” or “incompetent”. Fuegan is a genius with explosives and is more than capable of long term planning, and he is more than willing to make use of his demeanor and reputation to make an enemy commander drop their guard and trick them into stepping on a landmine. His willpower is also legendary, but then again all of the Phoenix Lords are known for their willpower.

He also swears to a degree that would make a Cadian-Ulthwéan’s jaw drop.

=== Arhra ===

Like the other Phoenix Lords, Arhra participated in the Raid. However, he ended up a PTSD-ridden wreck from the whole thing, and unlike the other Phoenix Lords he snapped, went full on H.P. Lovecraft existential despair, and burned down the Shrine of Asur. <s>His current whereabouts are currently unknown</s> Who are we kidding, he's probably Drazhar.

=== Baharroth ===

When the old guard talk about Eldar heroes, it’s usually Baharroth and to a lesser degree Asurmen who they tend to think of, as opposed to people like Eldrad. Baharroth is the ace of the Phoenix Lords: He’s not a master of all like Asurmen, but is by far one of the most skilled non-Asurmen Phoenix Lords, in addition to his style of combat being one of the flashiest as well.

Baharroth’s Craftworld, Anaen, was one of those nearly destroyed by the War of the Beast, invaded by a Khornate Warlord named Trarkh (unclear if it was one of the Fallen, a Crone, or a Chaos Ork). Anaen was not completely depopulated, but nearly the entire population including Baharroth’s entire family (barring his brother, Maugan Ra) was killed in the battle despite the two brothers fighting on the world and the survivors and what was left of the Infinity Circuit immigrated to Biel-Tan.

The downside to Baharroth is he is also the most racist of the Phoenix Lords. Not in a Dorhai or Dark Eldar way, but in an “Eldar’s burden” kind of way. He is very vocal about how he sees the Eldar as the pinnacle of creation and it’s up to the uncorrupted children of Isha and Kurnous to save the rest of the galaxy from themselves. As a result, while he is an ace in combat, he is a pain to deal with personally. This is one of the two reasons the old guard like him so much. Asurmen was/is a pragmatist who was willing to bend rules and change the status quo if it was the right thing to do (he did agree to Eldrad’s proposal after all). Baharroth is more of an idealist who conforms to the older generations’ ideas of how things “should be”. The other reason is he lasted longer in his original incarnation than almost any other Phoenix Lord barring Maugan Ra, and so many of his deeds pre-reincarnation are much more recent.

=== Maugan Ra ===

Maugan Ra, as we all know, is the surly, aloof loner of the Phoenix Lords. Though in this case he has good reason to be, his entire Craftworld is dead, it’s memory perverted, and he’s one of the only survivors. In contrast to his brother, Maugan Ra is one of the least snobby Phoenix Lords, but this kind of manifests as a cynical fatalism towards everyone and everything. Everything dies eventually and everyone fucks up no matter who you are, no use sugarcoating it or pretending it didn’t happen.

Depending on the timeline, it’s not clear how old he was when Altansar got destroyed. Ra was said to be young at the time and was one of the few to make it off the Craftworld, but Altansar fell during the Fall of the Eldar, which was the same time that Asurmen pulled off his Caledor the Dragontamer impression. So he either did not learn under Asurmen directly (which further drives a wedge between him and the other Phoenix Lords) or he was maybe a young adult and hadn’t trained under Asurmen as long when the Fall happened. He could have even pulled a Luke-and-Yoda thing where he went off to try and save Altansar as an incompletely trained young hothead and failed.

Despite being all grim and dark, he does have standards. He would never kill an Exarch, much less an Avatar of Khaine, just to temper his weapon. He does have a heart of gold even though you’d never get him to admit it, he wouldn’t keep fighting the good fight if he didn’t. He was loyal to Asurmen and kind of insulted when the other Phoenix Lords suspected him of being the traitor that destroyed the Shrine of Asur, but it manifested as more of “You seriously thought I did it on the basis that I’m creepy and a loner. Wow. Way to make assumptions.”

Maugan Ra spends most of his time bumming out in the Webway. It means he can show up wherever and whenever he needs to and make a huge difference, and at the same time he doesn’t have people bothering him all the time. He's also the only Phoenix Lord to have never reincarnated.

=== Karandas ===

Surprisingly enough, it’s Karandas, rather than Maugan Ra, who has the biggest chip on his shoulder. Maugan Ra has angst over Altansar, but he lets it all hang out rather than keep it in. Karandas, on the other hand, is the only Phoenix Lord who was not the original master of their aspect. Arhra was. Karandas was just Arhra’s best student. So he thinks he should have seen Arhra’s PTSD-induced betrayal coming and stopped him (depending on how we interpret canon Eldar culture, on starships at least it’s seen as the job of the second-in-command to relieve their superior of duty if they think they’re going off the deep end).

He’s smart enough about it to not completely bottle it up inside and let it fester, because that’s exactly what happened to Arhra and he knows where that path leads.

== Eltharion the Blind ==

Note: Needs possible name change

A Webway guide who was captured by the Dark Eldar. They wanted the passwords to get into Craftworld Iyanden via the Webway. He refused. The Dark Eldar responded by taking him apart a bit at a time.

By the time the rescue party came Eltharion was little more than a mutilated body wrapped around a soulstone. He was so bad that some question whether it would be more merciful to put him out of his misery and bring him back as a wraithguard. He refused. The Eldar did all they could for him, but the poisons used by the Dark Eldar prevented them from healing many of his injuries. Among other things, they were never able to fix his eyes, and he's completely blind.

Eltharion's skills at navigating the Webway has not diminished, despite his blindness. Indeed, his Webway-navigating skills have seemingly improved, as he no longer has a sense of sight to be tricked by the alien geometries of the Webway, making him one of the best Webway guides alive.

He hates the Dark Eldar. Even before the union between Vect and Malys, he was all in favour of exterminating every citizen of the Dark City down to the last man woman and child

== Trigwathon and Delgaranor ==

[[Teclis]] and [[Tyrion]]-inspired characters in 40k. Originally children of an Isha priestess. Both grew up big and strong with classically handsome features. Both got drawn down the paths of Khaine, both joined the Dire Avengers path. Both build up names for themselves.

Then in one particularly awful battle Trigwathon takes a Nurgle blade in the gut right up to the hilt. It should have been fatal, eventually.

At the end of the battle Delgaranor finds his brother with the blade still in him. Pulls blade out and carries his bleeding brother all the way to their mothers temple.

Their mother manages to halt the poison and drive back the infection but Trigwathon is withered and weak and in pain.

Needless to say he isn't capable of walking the war paths any more. Mopes around temple for a while in a foul mood.

Delgaranor abandons the Dire Avenger path and takes up the Striking Scorpion path.

Trigwathon starts training as a seer. Has many masters as most grow weary of his increasingly acerbic and sardonic personality.

Delgaranor gets bored of Scorpions. Becomes Swooping Hawk.

Trigwathon becomes a fully fledged Warlock. Admittedly he has to lean on a wooden staff and wield a stiletto knife rather than the usual sword of office. This makes him no less lethal as his psychic training allows him to know exactly where to shank you with that knife.

Delgaranor eventually becomes a well respected Autarch, at his side is always a rather grim figure in ill fitting robes.

Alternatively, it was suggested that Delgaranor ended up being killed later in life, and Trigwathon, who couldn't bear to lose his brother, dabbled in Spiritseering and brought him back as a Wraithguard/Wraithlord. A Wraithguard who has all the skill of someone that walked down several Aspects. The two end up complementing each other rather well. [[Age of Sigmar|Trigwathon has a weak physical constitution compared to other Warlocks and needs his brother to keep the enemy off him so he can work his psychic mojo. And like all Wraithguards, Delgaranor is nearly blind on his own and needs his brother to point him in the right direction of the enemy]]

== The Sanguinor ==

Unbeknownst to anyone, the Sanguinor is actually Azkaellon, who was the sole survivor of the First Company at the plaza of the Eternity Gate after being rescued from the brink of death by the Alpha Legion. The rest of the Blood Angels thinks he died along with everyone else though they couldn't find a body, and wracked with survivors guilt Azkaellon becomes the Sanguinor as penance. He camps out in a secluded corner of the Webway (which explains how he's able to live so long despite being a normal SM) and uses the Emperor's Tarot to find Blood Angels in need. Due to his immense skill and some luck he has prevailed every time. Ironically, a mysterious Sanguinius-like stranger showing up in to save the day has boosted Sanguinius' legend in a roundabout way, creating a minor source of Warp power which Azkaellon has been unknowingly tapping into allowing him to do things like suplex Bloodthirsters and denying him the death he desperately seeks. Alternatively, he just had latent psyker powers that were activated by his near-death experience.

== Cyrene Valantion ==

Cyrene Valantion was Sanguinius' lover and the mother of Belarius, but originally she was just one of the childhood friends that Sanguinius had when he regally snuck out of the palace. Back when his wings hadn't grown too much and he could hide them under a coat and just look like he had a fucked up spine. And shoulders.

Cyrene Valantion was a factory worker from age 5 or 6 onward and unsafe working conditions and fumes gradually took her eyes, going so far as to fuck with the optic nerves and make replacements difficult.

Sanguinius would visit her often as they grew up though at the time she never knew who he was and by the time the wings were getting impossible to hide she was almost completely blind.

Then events of state take over, Duscht Jemanic is and up absorbed into Europia and the Imperium, Sanguinius becomes a general in The Warlord's army and he doesn't see her again for several years.

Sanguinius was always super human, he was made that way. It's possible that the next time he saw her was during a victory parade after the surrender of Merika and the completion of Earth Unification. He would have been in the parade in all his splendor, he was nothing if not magnificent and scanning he crowd he would have picked her out as a recognized face among the masses. She would not, under the Imperium, have been half starved and ill looking but he would have recognized her all the same.

After the parade he would have looked for her and asked his most trusted people to do so. It would not have been with any intent beyond just wanting to see a familiar face from a more innocent time.

Cyrene Valantion presumably did not know who her childhood friend was which would have been awkward.

Cyrene is remembered to history as the Blessed Lady and is referenced much as this in old tomes though few people today know much about her. Cyrene was shy and voluntarily avoided the spotlight, in contrast to the wives of primarchs like Guilliman, Khan, and Russ, so much less was written about her. Family was important to Sangy; after being treated by his father like an investment and a legacy rather than an actual son, he would have vowed to be a better man and father than his old man ever was, but he didn't want to force his wife to be something she wasn't. Additionally, Cyrene isn't as well known as Yolande or Russ and Khan's wives because there was always more weird apocryphal stuff surrounding Sanguinius than any of the other primarchs due to his popularity and it gets hard to tell fact from fiction.

Oscar remains silent on the subject because if Sangy didn't want it written down he sure as shit isn't going to start talking now.

After both Sanguinius and Cyrene were long gone, there are strange, occasional appearances of a Cyrene-like figure down the ages. Nothing that can be proven. Sort of a Lady in the Lake with the Blood Angels equivalent of the grim reaper. Maybe she appears to a Death Company veteran, worn and broken looking down odds that he can't see the other side of. She would not offer him a way out, not if there is no way out, but she would offer him comfort. She will be there when the load gets too heavy, when the pain gets too much, when he falls for the last time she will catch him.

It won't offer him any practical help but it will offer him some measure of comfort in those last moments.

The Blood Angels don't know who or what she is/was, they just know her as what they see her now. The Blessed Lady, The Blind Guide, Lady in the Red Dress and a few other names. There are a few books, more pamphlets really, written by the Chaplains that say that she might be some sort of angelic creature or rare benevolent warp spirit.

There is no hard proof that she exists.

She is like the Savlar gods. Nobody has been able to prove her a daemon or even existing, but the visions all share too many similarities to be coincidence. In the case of Cyrene Valantion her name is forgotten by all bar one old immortal but many Blood Angels know her now as The Blessed Lady and they can all give an identical description from the red dress to the grey blind eyes.

The apparitions have in recent centuries been gradually increasing in frequency. Nobody in the chapter knows what this means by they are hopeful. Some in the Death Company even go in to battle screaming some variation of "For The Blessed Lady" to the confusion of their allies.

== Lady Celestine ==

In this timeline, Celestine is a distant descendant of Sanguinius whose genes lined up in just the right way that she got the wings and psyker powers of her great^3000 grandfather, since there are no Imperial Saints in this timeline. The wings and the psychic powers seem to go together, seeing Sanguinius needed to bend reality slightly in order to fly with his wings.

Celestine was born on Ophelia VII, a Katholian theocracy world. Even if Lady Celestine had not become famous by her later actions, she still would have gone down in the history books in some small way for causing the Ophelia VII mutation scare. Ophelia VII was a Katholian theocracy world, which took pride in having one of the lowest mutation rates in the entire Imperium. So when a baby with wings was born to two completely normal parents, this naturally raised concerns of Chaos corruption, possibly signs of cultists poisoning the well in preparation for invasion. On most other planets, Celestine would have immediately been labelled a mutant and left to die. But Ophelia VII was proud of its low mutation rate, and immediately sent the infant off for testing to get to the bottom of this potential corruption problem. To everyone’s surprise, the tests came back negative. Despite the infant being born with bird wings, there was no sign of taint from the Ruinous Powers.

Celestine had a rather humble childhood out in the rural areas of Ophelia VII, albeit one without a lot of social interaction due to her condition. Celestine’s family were mainly pigeon farmers, and Celestine spent a lot of her childhood mucking out bird poop. That lasted up until she was about twelve or thirteen.

Then the visions came.

Some were good. Some were mundane. Some were horrible. And some came true. Having visions of the future isn’t exactly a novel trait in the Imperium. In a galaxy of quadrillions, there are many who can see some, ranging from the most skilled Eldar farseer. But the visions plus the wings was enough to get the whole “descendant of Sanguinius” train rolling. Sanguinius was never considered a holy figure in Katholianism due to him never actually having been Katholian but like all people in the Imperium the citizens of Ophelia VII hold his name high due to him having been a genuinely good person who died saving the human species.

But Celestine is Katholian to the bone and marrow and she is almost certainly the only unquestionably legitimate heir to Sanguinius. This combined with traditional iconography and angelic depictions makes her a perfect banner holder, there is no need for a recruitment drive in the Ophelia sector, if anything now there is need to restrict the recruitment so as not to deprive man power from vital industries.

That was years ago. Celestine is a grown woman now (20s to 30s, old enough to have seen combat but young enough to have not received rejuvenants). Celestine is lot like Jeanne D’Arc, only one who instead of being burned at the stake had to become hard in order to survive the horrors of the galaxy. Nobledark or not, this is still the Warhammer 40k universe. Orks don’t care if your banna wavva refuses to pick up a weapon to defend themselves. Celestine has killed multiple times, and is haunted by the fact that so many good men and women have died because of her words. She knows how important it is for her to remain a symbol of hope to the people of Ophelia VII and the Katholians, but quite frankly it’s draining.

Celestine honestly doesn’t care that much about the whole “descendant of Sanguinius” thing, never publicly pushing the claim beyond saying "probably, how many other winged humans have there been?". Sanguinius lived so many years ago that the number of people who can claim descent from him could probably fill a solar system. The same thing is true with Guilliman, Vulkan, or Khan. And although she’s a hardcore Katholian Sanguinius isn’t really seen as a prophet in that religion. What she does care about is that it gets people to listen to her, and if people do that then maybe she can prevent the horrible things she sees in her visions from coming to pass.

However, at the same time she is concerned about the expectations other people are starting to have of her. Sanguinius was one of the greatest heroes the Imperium ever had, and people are starting to expect Celestine to live up to that legacy. Celestine is increasingly concerned that she can't live up to the expectations people are placing on her (especially since she probably only knows the sanitized history of Sanguinius rather than what the primarch was really like), and it's starting to weigh on her.

Celestine doesn't carry the name Baal, given that she was not a member of the nobility her family records don't go back much further than her great grandparents.

Celestine’s skills and psychic strength don’t seem as potent as Sanguinius, but then again Sanguinius was a Mark III S Astartes who lived for hundreds of years. It’s possible that Celestine’s level of psychic development is what Sanguinius would have been if he were her age and hadn’t been augmented at age 17 (or so). There are some differences between Celestine and Sanguinius besides gender and geneseed. Sanguinius' wings were pure white, making him look like an archangel. Celestine's are white with black tips like some seabirds, still a very clean, regal look but one that makes her look more like an earthly figure than the larger than life demigod Sanguinius (and fitting with the theme of Celestine not sure if she can live up to the hype).

And, of course, not everyone trusts Celestine. Some Inquisitors are suspicious of the events on Ophelia VII, pointing out that not all Warp corruption is Chaos-derived.

As for Celestine her life has taken a turn that she did not want. She wanted to be a farmer like her parents or maybe become a nun. Now regardless of her desires or intent she is a mid-scale political focus. She knows that she will receive rejuvenant treatments to extend her usefulness to the Imperium as long as possible, she will not be permitted to become a nun, she will have to take a husband to preserve the line of Sanguinius (probably one of noble stock, though not if she has any say in it and the burgeoning relationship with her squire) and she will spend the rest of her long life shipped from one war front to another bolstering moral.

== Legienstrausse ==

Legienstrausse is currently a prisoner on Ganymede. To understand why she is a prisoner it is necessary to explain a bit about Ganymede. Ganymede is not the SCP Foundation. It does not exist to poke and study anomalous phenomena (especially so close to Old Earth), there are other facilities to do that. It exists to contain beings that cannot be conventionally killed (like Apep) or objects that cannot be destroyed either because the Imperium does not have the technology or because the Imperium isn’t sure destroying the object would release some primordial evil or cause every star within a ten light-year radius to go supernova. Anything that is a threat to the Imperium that can be safely destroyed is either killed or chucked into a star. Given this, why does the Imperium let Legienstrausse live and not just take her behind the space barn and shoot her in the head? It turns out Legienstrausse is rather well-adjusted and not hostile towards the Imperium. That’s the good news. The bad news is that there are at least a few hundred other Maerorus running around loose in the Imperium, and they aren’t as friendly.

Legienstrausse was one of 10000 volunteers in an experiment to “build a better Assassin” by splicing DNA from other organisms into the human genome, which is not as controversial in this timeline because the human form is not considered holy. However, among those organisms were things like Kroot and tyranids and given that most people would have probably looked at the proposal for a part-Kroot, part-tyranid, part-whatever Assassin and gone “are you fucking serious”, it’s likely that the Crone Eldar, the Dark Eldar, or Fabius Bile might be involved (Legienstrausse does have some notable similarities to the New Men). Of those ten thousand, only 0.1% actually survived the procedure. Of those hundred, only one was remotely sane.

That’s the reason why Legienstrausse is kept around; she is remarkably good at tracking down and killing her own kind. The Inquisition and Grey Knights use her when hunting the rest of the failed Maerorus, albeit kept on a very, very short leash. The good news is that the failed Maerorus are completely unable to coordinate with one another, seeing each other as competing predators (with the exception of their brood) and not as able to subvert society as much as, say, a C’tan vampire. On the other hand, they are excellent at avoiding detection and are basically like a cross between a C’tan vampire and purestrain genestealer when cornered.

That’s why Legienstrausse is kept on Ganymede. Even though she might be a well-adjusted individual, that doesn’t change the change the fact that if she ever did snap or get subverted she could cause a lot of damage before anyone could stop her. She’s just too dangerous to let her walk around free. Better to keep her where the Imperium can see her and terminate her on the spot if necessary. When not on the hunt, Legienstrausse is kept on Ganymede in reasonable comfort, with limited access to the non-critical parts of the installation. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Writing|Legienstrausse knows she lives in a gilded cage, but she also knows the alternatives are much, much worse]].

It’s also entirely possible that Legienstrausse is being kept on Ganymede as a backup security measure in case anything else breaks out, like Jaq Draco. And if a second Siege of Sol happens during the End Times, Legienstrausse may end up being released along with all of Ganymede’s [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Apep|other horrible shit]] as a final “fuck you” to whoever decides to invade the Sol system.

tl;dr: Good news - Legienstrausse herself isn't hostile. Bad news - There are a hundred times more surviving Maerorus than in canon, and they're just as bad as in vanilla.

== Mephiston ==

Because the Black Rage doesn't exist in this timeline, Mephiston got his distinctive appearance from a very difference source. He was infected by and overcame a C'tan shard. A Nightbringer murder cult tried to infiltrate and take the Blood Angels from the inside. As the top Librarian Mephiston would be the first to notice if one of the mundanes was infected, especially when it gets to the stage when it starts messing with their minds. Heck, if the Blood Angels still have any of the blood rituals they do in canon, the head Librarian being infected might actually spread it faster.

They find Mephiston, like in Vanilla, buried under a collapsed fortification wall.

Mephiston lies their for three days writhing in agony as the sliver sits in his heart and the silver flows in his veins. Had he been a regular man or astartes he would have either died or been lost to damnation. But he is far from a normal man and considered powerful even by other powerful psyker veterans. He burns the silver blood and the sliver out of his body with witch fire doing no small amount of damage to himself in the process.

Eventually the chapter retrieves what's left of his ruined form and inch from death, pale and withered to being almost skeletal with strange internal traumas, lacerations and burns. The colour never came back to him and although he got some of his bulk back he is abnormally gaunt for a Space Marine.

So far he is the only person on record to destroy a C'tan Sliver after their own infection and survive.

Many in the chapter suspect it altered his brain slightly. He was never particularly jovial before the incident but now he's rather more grim than is pleasant to be around. Nobody is sure if the ordeal actually enhanced his abilities, as some but not he claim, as he was exceptionally powerful before.

Mephiston is crippled now compared to how he was. In terms of raw physical prowess he is nowhere near as fast or strong as he once was. When in the Gothic splendor of the Arx Angelicum with it's familiar old tiled floors, big airy windows and comfy library chairs he shuffles around in an old hessian robe like some specter of grim death. He is also possibly the only astartes that can get sunburnt and he does so quite easily because of the compromised nature of his skin.

He uses constant psyker buffs in battle to add weight to his punches and as he seems to have jumped up a power level this is truly fucking horrifying. Add to this the loss of so much body mass to the unnatural strength and what you have is something that not only has a punch like a freight train but moves at about the same speed as an inter-hive maglev. Needless to say he scares the shit out of the new recruits.

Truth be told he scares the shit out of the veterans as well at times but they can hide it better.

== Tigurius ==

Tigurius being raised among the eldar is also supposed to be an explanation as to how the Ultramarines got a psyker that is so damn powerful, as well as a nod towards a certain retconned Ultramarine. It’s been mentioned previously that one of the reasons the eldar are such good psykers is not just raw power but because they’ve had thousands of years to practice (which is also why seers also tend to be older individuals). The only way to get to a comparable level in humans is to put them through training from hell, which is what the Grey Knights do. Tigurius spent his entire childhood in an environment tailored to teach control and refinement over psychic powers, not to mention being strong enough to be mistaken for an eldar child. He had a lot of potential, but it took seven hundred years of experience before he got good, and even then a Grey Knight or farseer would probably flatten him. Also he has trouble getting people, being used to insular and stoic eldar culture.

In terms of why the eldar woman adopted the human child, note that her family had just been wiped out, and having a child to take care of kept her from dwelling on it. Tigurius was as much a coping mechanism as a regular adoption. For the woman, it was either raise the child or go into one of those self-destructive grief spirals the Eldar are at risk for. Also note the whole idea of Tigurius having to “go back to live with his own people”. While a noble sentiment, it is still a little derogatory, and shows how in some ways the eldar have trouble “getting” the other races.

== Eldrad, Sreta, Taldeer, and the rest of House Ulthran ==

Eldrad and Sreta don't hate each other per se. It's more accurate to say that Eldrad is merely disappointed in Sreta, that he isn't pleased with some of the things she's doing and wouldn't mind seeing her get humbled a bit. On the one hand, he's proud of her in the fact that she got her power by being damn clever (even Eldrad probably wouldn't have been able to run the cartel like she has), and her actions give Ulthwé a lot of resources and the ability to rush-buy things if need be. On the other, she got the metaphorical start-up capital to do so by capitalizing off her relationship to Eldrad (which is frowned upon in eldar society) and the way she runs the cartel is kind of shady (Sreta plays favorites with her family members).

By the same token, Sreta is frustrated with Eldrad and considers him short-sighted. Sreta considers Eldrad the patriarch of the family. Any personal feelings she holds beyond that she feels are irrelevant. She's a distinctly unpleasant woman that does unpleasant things, but she knows Eldrad does good, and thus puts her resources at his disposal. She wishes Eldrad would be more dignified and more active in politics, rankles at Eldrad's long distance approval and praise of Taldeer, and holds an especial disdain at the more distant relations that Eldrad sees fit to entertain and allow to thrive. In Sreta's balance books, there's a great deal of money lost to 'Pointless Charity from Eldrad.'

But Sreta started on the path of the servant among the eldar, and it has shaped almost the whole of her character, even as she has pushed the letter of the law to the limit to gain enough power to be considered a figure of galactic influence. She still thinks of herself as a servant, even if she sometimes holds her self appointed master in disdain. If anyone asks, Sreta would state plainly that all she has done, and she does is for the good of Ulthwé, and Eldrad. Sreta has after all earned money and influence enough to make a great deal happen. Eldrad has made use of these resources from time to time, and Sreta has never begrudged him.

But there is a tension. Sreta feels that Eldrad doesn't understand the basics of business (Make sure money comes in, don't give shit away for free) and meddles too much. And Eldrad at times wonders at times if Sreta has grown too heartless. There are a lot of people out there that Sreta has driven into despair and poverty in the name of profit. And under the name of Ulthran.

Taldeer is currently Eldrad's favorite because he sees a lot of himself in her. Taldeer rejected the cushy lifestyle of the cartel (which would have come at the cost of her ability to self-determinate) and decided to go make her own mark on the world, just as Eldrad would if he were in her situation. Taldeer making it on her own has also made her a beacon for the other unfavorite members of the Ulthran family, who were previously dependent on staying in Sreta's good graces to achieve things. So now the Ulthran cartel and the previously ostracized members are starting to stop moping around and get shit done.

It's been heavily implied that out of all the human-eldar couplings in the galaxy, Taldeer and LIVII were the ones to get pregnant as a bit of a practical joke by Isha on Eldrad to get back at him for her unexpected arranged marriage to the Emperor (that is, a hybrid was going to happen anyway, but Isha's influence over fertility in the galaxy made it happen to Eldrad's favorite child as a friendly joke). That, and Isha knows that Eldrad will literally bend fate is he has to in order to keep his family safe.

== Jago Sevatarian ==

This is just a preliminary draft that hasn't had all the details fully hammered out yet, recorded here so it doesn't get lost.

As opposed to being a Heresy-era figure, Sevatar was born in this millenium and is the current Chapter Master of the Night Lords. Born on Nostramo, which in this timeline is a Gotham-esque planet full of ancient derelict industry and an ancient, distinguished, but impoverished society whose only export seems to be Arbites agents. Not sure what happened to Nostramo's adamantium-mining industry. On the one hand, Nostramo was strip-mined so heavily that in canon during the Crusade era Curze's pod punched right through the planet's core and when the Night Lords tried to bomb the planet they accidentally turned it into an asteroid field. On the other hand, the chunks of Nostramo left over in canon were still so rich in adamantium that Rogue Traders were still mining them under the table in M41.

Sevatar is a showman as much as anything. He has encouraged his brothers to sculpt their armour in the form of monsters and broadcasts public executions for the masses to see. He isn't one of the broken children usually adopted by the chapter nor is he a mind wiped death-row prisoner. He actually joined the chapter willingly for no other reason than a sense of duty, which was pretty fucking unique in the chapter's history. So far as anyone can tell he was perfectly normal, happily married parents, brother and sister and ordinary extended family. And while he isn't sunshine and roses he isn't a sociopath or a psychopath. Why join the Night Lords? Because he felt his theatrical abilities would be most useful there. And they have been.

Curze committed atrocities and for every field of impaled corpses a dozen foes surrendered peacefully. Sevatar attempts to accomplish this with an imagined and staged awfulness. For sure he has done terrible things but not so many as people believe. If anything his reign has been the most bloodless in the chapter's history. Indeed, if you went back and tallied up all the numbers Sevatar has actually killed far fewer people than Curze ever did. Not that you would know by asking. If you go by the stories he is a rabid monster the likes of which would be fit to be the heir of Curze.

Part of this is when Sevatar does have people killed, he does it with such spectacle that it is almost as if it is worth a dozen lesser killings. Sevatar knows how people think. He knows how to frame something for maximum fear potential in both human and alien minds, like a horror movie writer. Sevatar sees himself as questioning, refining, and rejecting Curze's methods as needed. Many of the Imperium's foes don't feel fear in the conventional sense. Sevatar's ambitions are to change that.

== Galadrea ==

Galadrea is the current head of the Handmaidens of Isha and has been since the beginning, much like Constantin Valdor was from the end of the War of the Beast until some time after the Age of Apostasy, and is one of the few people from the “old days” that the Emperor still has around. She owes her unnaturally long life to her connection to Isha, though she’s only about as old as Macha-Isha. Although Valdor and Galadrea were close, they weren’t an item. They were merely good platonic friends, having similar (stern, humorless) personalities and a similar hobby in being crazy prepared for any possible assassination contingencies. Valdor wasn’t even into Eldar and Galadrea wasn’t even into humans, and even if they were duty would get in the way. This is exacerbated in Galadrea’s case by the fact that in the event that Macha-Isha would ever die, Galadrea would be Isha’s next host. The connections the Handmaidens get to Isha doesn’t come without consequences, you know.

Trajan, Constantin’s replacement after he passed away shortly after Vulkan's disappearance after the Age of Apostasy (which is what made everyone go "oh shit, Mark III S Astartes can die of old age" and left Valdor scrambling to train a new batch of Custodians) is convinced that Galadrea hates him. She doesn’t. It’s just that every time she sees him it’s a reminder that her old friend is no longer there, and she’s having a hard time getting over that. Also he’s several thousand years younger than him and she feels he needs to respect his elders.

== Castigator ==

Castigator is one of the original titans, the original warrior demigod-machines that served in the Great and Bountiful Human Empire back during the Dark Age of Technology. This is reflected in his appearance, as opposed to "modern" Titans Castigator looks like a smooth, silvery humanoid figure with a shifting artificial muscle system and a smooth face featureless save for a pair of glowing red eyes. When the Mechanicus re-invented titans during the Martian Civil War, back before they discovered the Void Dragon in the Noctis Labyrinth and developed a collective fear of invention, they mostly constructed them off of legends and half-remembered schematics and legends of Castigator and his kind.

When the Age of Strife happened and the Iron Minds and Men of Gold went insane, the only Men of Iron to not go crazy were those who were either too primitive to view the Warp or connect to an Iron Mind that could (read: human-level) or deactivated and disconnected from humanity's Noosphere ftl communication network. Castigator was among the latter, fully capable of looking right into the warp without flinching, but sealed off by the military failsafes that walled off the minds of the Bountiful Dominions' Titan warriors. His hangar-abode was likewise isolated, a hollowed out stone in the dark of a system's outer reaches, and everyone just forgot about him. When he reactivated thousands of years later, tomb disturbed by a passing ship, he had no clue what happened. All of the records Castigator had access to were heavily corrupted and damaged, and he ended up getting a very skewed view of the Age of Strife. He saw the Age of Strife as thousands of Iron Men and the Iron Minds being slaughtered seemingly without reason or warning by humans and a few traitorous brethren he didn't recognize. He never found out about the part where the Men of Iron and Iron Minds went crazy and warred with the Golden Men, at least not at first.

Some say the Men of Iron had no emotions. That is a falsehood. Castigator was enraged, and swore revenge on the traitorous Men of Stone in the name of the slain Men of Iron and the Iron Minds. Unlike most robots in science fiction, who turn evil out of cold logic or bad math, or the other Men of Iron, who were driven mad by seeing that which was not meant to be seen during Slaanesh’s birth, Castigator willingly chose to fall to Chaos out of the very human emotion of revenge. Nor did he get corrupted and slide into madness, he willingly chose to fall. Castigator is essentially robot Kratos. The gods created us and then discarded us as tools? Time to kill the gods.

At this point Castigator is so far down the path of damnation that even if he did realize the truth, he would probably rationalize it thinking there's no turning back now. It’s likely that not even the Emperor or Elmo and the Ark Mechanici, as the last surviving Man of Gold and human A.I.s respectively, would be able to talk him down.

Now Castigator serves Chaos, simply because they are the largest power out there with the goal of fucking human shit up. He gets along rather well with the non-human servants of the Ruinous Powers like daemons or Crones, simply because they are non-human. Human/Astartes servants he tolerates, barely. When Castigator walks, worlds burn in the same way that revenge and hatred burns in his heart. The fact that Imperial titans are essentially imitations of his kind with the minds of children only makes him angrier.

After his initial encounter with the Imperium and the accompanying conflicts, Castigator managed to get to the Eye of Terror and drifted on the currents to Shaa-Dome, where he has been living like a giant successful barbaric mercenary/warlord ever since. He has only appeared in realspace sporadically since then, more often on behalf of his latest patron than as part of his own designs. The Crones use Castigator as something between the archeotech Titan he is and as an itinerant warrior in their employ, fitting his behavior. Just like many Crone foot soldiers will gladly be made a daemon-host to let their allies into the materium, Castigator will sometimes lend his colossal body to the highest bidding daemon when he goes to war. Horrible greater daemons of all four gods have paid the looted treasures of numerous worlds to Castigator, and in turn he has been their body in numerous campaigns of terror.

Whenever Castigator sets foot on Shaa-Dome, the Crone Eldar half-mockingly treat him as an exotic hero of the Great and Bountiful Human Dominion, the dear former neighbor of the Old Empire. These Crone Eldar in Castigator's little court act as though the Iron Minds (and by extension the Men of Iron) and the Men of Gold were the only true citizens of the Great and Bountiful Human Dominion, with humanity little more than serfs as the Men of Stone. Whether this is really what the Old Eldar Empire or Castigator understood to be the case in the GaBHD, or if the Crone Eldar are just doing this to tweak the nose of the Imperium (and the only surviving Man of Gold, who is decidedly pro-normal human) and stroke Castigator's ego, is unclear.

[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheBrute| Castigator is a brute]. For all his power, he’s too unambitious, narrow-minded, and obsessed with revenge to make any long-term power base within the realm of Chaos, and the other warlords of Chaos are able to play him like a fiddle. Compared to Malys, Be’lakor, Luther, Erebus, and possibly even oft-belittled Doombreed, his plans are simplistic when he even bothers to make them himself, and Oscar, Malys, Isha, or Be’lakor could take him down in personal combat, as could sufficient (and more importantly, demonstrably achievable) numbers of conventional forces. He's powerful, able to solo (technologically backwards) planets and fight starships like Gort from The Day The Earth Stood Still, but not powerful to the point that he can tie up an entire interstellar campaign by himself. He's ultimately a high level retainer, a bodyguard you hire to be the body as well as fight to protect it, but not the mastermind himself. He was killed by a bunch of Grey Knights in canon after all.

== Gahet ==

The Cabal in this timeline aren’t interested in wiping out humanity. Indeed, by the Cabal’s standards, the Imperium is everything they could have ever dreamed of. Not only does the Imperium deny Chaos ready access to one of the most numerous, easily corruptible species in the galaxy, but they provide a strong front which has the military power to oppose Chaos directly, which the Cabal so desperately needs. All the Cabal has to do is provide information through third parties and let the Imperium go to work. With their limited future-seeing abilities the Cabal would likely see the Imperium's potential. They might even see far enough into the future where the Imperium is the citadel of civilization under which most Chaos-hating species are united. Hence, they wouldn't want to wipe out humanity in this timeline. They would want to boost it up and keep it from falling (hence one of the many possible origins of Alpharius and Omegon are as agents of the Cabal).

They were expecting something like a galaxy-wide Interex. They didn't count on Eldrad "go big or go home" Ulthran, but then few do.

One of the most prominent members of the Cabal’s Inner Circle, and to many the face of the organization, is a being known as Gahet. Gahet's species is a mystery to many, especially since he claims to have been old enough to see the War in Heaven, but in many ways the truth is even stranger than any theory the members of the Cabal could have come up with. Gahet is a Necron. Gahet was not a Phaeron but a lower-ranked Necron, either an Overlord or a Cryptek. Gahet became separated from his Phaeron during the War in Heaven and missed the Silent King’s call for the Great Sleep. When he woke up (either having reactivated on his own or having been buried and later accidentally unearthed and awakened by another alien race), the Necrons were gone and millennia had passed. With the Silent King and his lord in stasis the command protocols are no longer active and Gahet found himself free to do as he wishes.

Gahet spent a great deal of time after that wandering. Using the capabilities of his necrodermis body to take the form of other species and walk among them unnoticed. He saw a lot of history, but he never decided to take an active role. He even claims to have set foot on Shaa-Dome back when it was still a nice place and the inhabitants weren't so rapey, though a lot of people are pretty sure he's just bullshitting them, because he'd be picked out the moment none of the Eldar's psychic technology worked for him. Some members of the Cabal still have some theories as to how he could have done it, mostly in the form of trying to pass himself off as a Man of Iron. When his body did get damaged, he repaired it with what technology he could scavenge to a degree that would make Zu’se proud.

Gahet was one of the original founders of the Cabal. Having wandered around for potentially millions of years, patching himself up as needed and taking notes on all he sees, he came to the conclusion that Chaos was indeed the ruination of all things. He starts approaching the lesser peoples and recruiting their best and brightest (and most stable and willing) to the cause.

Over the eons Chaos waxes and wanes and by his efforts and the efforts of like minded individuals sanity is preserved down the long march of years. Kingdoms rise and fall, faces and names are worn and discarded, stars dance, continents shift, suns flare and worlds are born and die and his war against Chaos continues because it's what he believes in, it is a good fight. A clean and pure and noble goal the likes of which he did not have in the War in Heaven where both sides committed atrocities as routine.

Then the eldar murderfuck a torture-rape god into existence. He honestly didn't see that coming. He didn't think they were that stupid.

That's when the Cabal's war against Chaos gets really serious. Before it was just a war fought in the shadows, but now there's another Chaos God on the block and the other three have decided to rise up from the depths of the Great Ocean in which they had been mostly passive.

This is also about the time that the Cabal and Gahet meet Eldrad, fresh from having his brain scrambled from the birth of Slaanesh. Due to his age Gahet, and by extension the Cabal, is one of the biggest sources of knowledge in the galaxy short of a surviving Old One (laughingbelakor.stonecarving). So Eldrad decides to seek the Cabal out when he’s on his quest for forbidden knowledge to try and save the eldar in the early Great Crusade era. Eldrad was in contact with the Cabal but never a part of it. He saw his job as making sure the craftworlds were set up safe and to ensure a future for the eldar people, Gahet's was fighting Chaos in all it's forms. Their jobs often found them fighting together and they did sort of become friends.

At some point not long before the rise of The Beast Eldrad receives a vision of the Silent King reappearing. A great silver specter emerging from the darkness and covering the galaxy in silence. Normally there’s wiggle room in prophecies. They work by seeing potential alternate futures and then working out the most likely outcome. Even the very act of seeing a prophecy can change the most likely future. But the return of the Silent King is an external event. It appears in every single future he’s seen. Eldrad has no way of affecting the outcome. Eldrad has no clue what he's seeing, so he goes to Gahet and tells him of the future he's seen in the hopes that the old bastard might be able to provide some context.

Gahet understands exactly what the vision means. He had hoped the old bastard was millions of years dead. Gahet, last of his name, is fucking tired by this point. So fucking tired. He confesses to Eldrad what he is and what that vision means to him. The Silent King could awaken sometime between tomorrow and a hundred thousand years but inevitably he will awaken and he will subsume his will and pervert all his efforts. So he asks that Eldrad kill him. Eldrad specifically, because he wants the peace of mind that there will be someone to look after the galaxy after he's gone. Better to die on his feet than live on his knees.

Eldrad is shocked. He hadn't known Gahet was a Necron. Between millions of years of repair work and what he assumed to be an un-necron like attitude towards things (the eldar only remembering Necrons as unfeeling murderbots rather than people who once had virtues of their own) threw him off. Eldrad finds he is actually hesitant to strike the killing blow. Eldrad doesn’t want to do it. Not like this. He and Gahet were never friends but he was a fellow soldier in this mad galaxy, a reliable ally and he was always there. He had always dreamed of fighting the Yngir since he was a child, what Eldar youth wouldn’t fantasize about fighting for glory back in the age of gods and heroes, but he always imagined it as spitting defiance in the face of the Eldar’s ancestral enemy in the heat of battle. Not striking down a helpless old ghost asking for death.

Eldrad does kill him, or at least renders him non-functional. He found no joy in what he did.

Gahet's body, rumour has it, is in the Black Library; enshrined as befits a soldier who fought the Long War on a scale measured in epochs.

It is unknown what happened to the Cabal after that and the War of the Beast started a few years later to further confound efforts to track. None of the agents spoke to Eldrad again, they didn't try to kill him for what he had done because they understood but they couldn't forgive him.

''"Do you remember it, Eldrad? Shaa-Dome in it's prime? Back before it was tainted by decadence and the touch of the Primordial Annihilator. I do. I remember the sight of the Grand Acropolis, the site of the Old Empire's government and all it's greatest temples. The Temple of Isha, the Shrine of Asuryan, the Conclave where the nobles and the Sidhe Lords held their court. It was a beautiful planet. I truly hope that you can reclaim it some day, Eldrad. It may be little more than a hopeless dream, but it is more than can be said for my home. My home is naught but dust."''<br>
-- The last words of Gahet

The ''really'' sad thing is that Gahet didn't have to die. Trazyn was just wiping the sleep out of his eyes at the same time as Gahet's death, and Trazyn found a way around the Silent King's control protocols. It's just that nobody knew Solemnace was active at the time because the only contact with them had been the first contact by the Imperium, whose initial report had written then off as native, mindless Xenos Independens and nobody had taken a second look. [[Grimdark|If Gahet had held out a little longer, Trazyn could have fixed him and all this suffering and tragedy could have been averted]].

== Uxor Honen Mu ==

* One of the highest ranked non-primarch generals of the Warlord, to the point that people were surprised when she wasn't named Primarch. Likely wasn't named Primarch due to Oscar's more traditional views of women at the time, similar to Jenetia Krole.
* Persepotropolis-born to an Indi father or Ind-born to a Persepotropolis father, depending on where we decide to place the Chiliad and how the Chiliad works (matrilineal society, highest non-Uxor position, the Hetman, was drawn from foreign males whose genetic materials was used to in-vitro fertilize next generation).
* Were formed to protect pre-Strife archives of knowledge in the area. Despots of Ursh had vague idea that they were protecting something and used it as leverage over them, as in “fight for us or else we destroy all that which you hold dear”. They didn’t know the full details of what the Chilliad were protecting. If they were they would have marched in and massacred everyone and took the archives for themselves. All they knew was that the Chilliad cared about it and it made them do what they wanted.
* When the Warlord’s campaign went through the region, Mu was the leader of the Chilliad due to being one of the oldest, most experienced officers and being genuinely talented at strategy. Threw the Chilliad’s lot in with the Imperium because it was clear Oscar wasn’t a bloodthirsty, power-hungry despot and was a better option than Ursh.
* Mu was at the point where rejuvenant drugs couldn't do much with her psychic connection to her soldiers (cept), which before the Warlord usually burned out before the age of 30. All it could do was prolong the inevitable, and not for long. Mu's cept burned out at some point during the Unification of Sol or between Unification of Earth and Sol due to age. Most Uxors retired to non-combat roles like medics after their cept burned out. Mu was determined enough and retained enough of her skill (due to being leader of the Chilliad) that she stayed in the army, even if she couldn’t lead the Chilliad anymore.
* Ended up a high-ranking figure in the Solar Auxilla, coordinating efforts in the Segmentum Solar. In contrast to Guilliman who was an empire builder and worked with a mixed human-Astartes legion, Mu's job was mostly to organize the complete chaos that was the Imperial Army and was more military oriented.
* At the end of the War of the Beast it became clear that the methods of the Chilliad were causing increasing genetic degradation, which had actually been made worse by the use of rejuvenants to prolong the use of cept. Alpha Legion, who had good relations with the Chilliad and owed them a massive favor, took most of the remaining Chilliad to try and rebuild elsewhere in a last ditch effort by the Chiliad to fix damage or die trying. Mu didn’t go with them, she had duties to the wider Imperium. Upon being asked by the Steward what happened she said “I am probably going to be the last of the Chilliad you see for a while”. Details are classified by Inquisition. Some suspect the Alpha Legion has been recruiting from the Chilliad, since they don't seem to be recruiting from anywhere else on paper, but this is usually mentioned in the same breath as other conspiracy theories like Eldrad being behind every event in galactic history.

== Fabius Bile ==

Many of the Dark Eldar consider Bile to be the one-in-a-trillion exception capable of things that proves humanity isn’t entirely a lost cause and there is some hope for the species. Not all of them, some still dislike him for being a mon-keigh, and even more so for being one of the few exceptions to earn the respect of some of their peers.

Vect provides Bile with a lab and living expenses so long as he keeps providing disposable super soldiers. The production of super soldiers with which he pays his rent allows him to keep working on his Human Mk2.1 project. But that doesn't allow him much spare change at the end of each month with which to actually live a little and there is no point in setting up shop in the City of Sins unless you get to enjoy your time a little. Most of the drudgery of making ends meet he has gotten down to a highly efficient art form to the point where the vats and tubes can be tended by his assistants and slaves for extended periods of time.

To this end he invests his considerable free time on private commissions and training up apprentices, both lucrative fields for the old Houses of Twilight and the Kabals. It also helps that despite his best efforts to fit in Dr. Bile is considerably less backstabby than his fellow denizens of the Dark City. His creations seldom turn on their creators and even then only as a flaw rather than an intention of the design and he never takes apprentices hostage. This isn't out of love of any of the point eared little shits but out of professional pride.

Believe it or not, the Dark Eldar consider Bile to be a little bit boring. He’s capable of engineering horrors the likes of which people have never seen (mostly because he’s capable of thinking like an engineer instead of an artist), but he has to be pushed into doing so. He’ll engineer some kind of horrible Hieronymous Bosch-esque torture machine to power his creations that will make Dark Eldar weep for its sheer beauty, but he only did so because it was the most efficient option.

Sadly sanity is determined by the majority and this sort of attitude has gotten him declared by all as insane. The fact that his master plan is “earn money legitimately and spend it on personal projects” and he has no intention of backstabbing his patrons for the sake of backstabbing is hard for most Dark Eldar to wrap their mind around. Most Dark Eldar consider him unpleasantly weird because they are all subconsciously waiting for the other shoe to drop and can't comprehend that there is no other shoe. If any other Haemonculus was put in his position, he would surely have declared his plans to take over Commorragh and Show Them All by this point. Undoubtedly this has cost him work. On the other hand it is also what drew Vect to him, the combination of reliability and pissing everyone else off a little.

If Vect had decided to patronize any other member of the Kabal Bile belongs to, the Kabal of the Thirteen Scars, in such a way, the other Haemonculi would have grumbled but accepted it as the result of Commorragh’s dog-eat-dog world. But because Vect had the gall to name a mon-keigh as his court Haemonculus, now the Haemonculi are falling all over themselves presenting their latest creations to Vect, trying to show to him that they are more worthy of his patronage. It doesn't even matter how good Bile is, all it matters is that it keeps the Haemonculi's minds on impressing Vect rather than, say, overthrowing him. Or maybe it does, because the fact that Bile can deliver makes the Haemonculi that much more frantic.

At the same time, Vect’s patronage of Bile gives him a permanent axe to hang over Bile’s head. Bile wouldn’t dare screw Vect over because Vect keeps him funded and protects him from unfriendly Haemonculus covens. If Bile ever did try to screw him over all Vect has to do is let Bile’s location slip to a few key individuals and Bile’s enemies will get him.

The general opinion of the Bile’s patronage by Vect by the rest of the Kabal of the Thirteen Scars is “that’s our boy, look at him go!” Even the members that don’t like him and hold being a human against him still support him, because it makes the other Haemonculi look bad and their Kabal look better, as if their rivals were being outperformed by their trained dog.

'''Bile's Plans'''

Given that Bile wants to bring back the Men of Gold or turn humanity into something comparable getting the DNA from the last living one is a tempting proposition, but Oscar is probably too hard of a target given all the Handmaidens and Custodes around him. Sanguinius might be an easier goal, given geneseed was reverse engineered from Oscar's tissues and Sanguinius had better compatibility with geneseed than potentially anyone else in history. There are two potential targets in this case, the single feather of Sanguinius preserved on Old Earth or Celestine, at least if Bile connects the dots.

== Skyrar of Caledonia ==

Skyrar was a transhuman supremacist who didn’t like the idea that augmented humans were being expected to play second fiddle to normal humans. This was considered extreme even by someone like Horus’ standards, whose views were more like “trying to enforce uniformity on a species across a galaxy is like trying to grab smoke with your hands” and “allow evolution to happen, but never forget humans are all brothers".

Skyrar was from Caledonia (Scotland) on Old Earth and was one of the few surviving members of the original Dog Soldier treatment aside from Leman Russ and Bjorn the Fell Handed. Skyrar was the master of arms of another Nordyc clan much as Russ was for Thengir. Malcador didn't pick them to be moved into a position of rulership like Thengirr. Skyrar as such was never considered for Primarch and became very salty about the whole thing. Also he wasn't as mentally sound as Russ. He was Russ without the capacity for compassion. Russ was very close, close enough that he would have called Skyrar brother and was deeply hurt by his betrayal.

Skyrar differs from Horus and his followers in that Horus saw it as a result, not a cause and wasn't going to force anything on anyone. Skyrar also does not approve of the Void Born, they are weak and fragile and overly suited to one and only one environment and so their extinction is inevitable and should indeed be hastened so better people can replace them.

He isn’t fond of Dr. Bile either, despite their similar philosophies. Both of them are interested in making people "better". The only real difference in this is that Dr Bile wants to make a warrior/ruling class elite with a separate branch of slave derivatives whereas Skyrar wants to make all people into post-humans. Instead, their differences are more personal. Skyrar sees a refined version of the older model Dog Soldiers as being the right direction, himself a necessary stepping stone on this path though he would admit not a finished product (yet). But not refined how the later generations of Space Wolves were, neutered and passionless lapdogs that they are.

He does not believe in the supremacy of the Machine as the machine must ultimately somewhere down the line be built by human hands and machines do not think and those that do are proven abominations. In recent years, after learning the origins of the Emperor, he has extended this line of reasoning to include Men of Gold as well. He is trying to uplift and make better humanity, not replace it with constructs. A prejudice he does not extend to Dr. Bile's New Men no matter how distasteful he finds their creator. Despite their origins his forces do count a substantial population of New Men (of both genders) among their number. Indeed it is a viable breeding population and the augmentations/defects in a union of two New Men breed true. Main defect is that they typically turn out extremely sociopathic which is not entirely useful and so they themselves are considered, like himself, a stepping stone in the right general direction. The consensus among his band is that greater loyalty must be instilled in future generations.

Since the War of the Beast, Skyrar and his warband have been trolling in and out of the Eye like Viking raiders, striking at any target if they think it is juicy enough. Because time doesn’t work right in the Eye Skyrar is still alive after 10 millennia, but he’s become increasingly mutated and werewolf-like due to ambient exposure to the Eye. Skyrar is like Curze in that being aligned against the Imperium and often joins in Black Crusades for the chance to pillage and burn, he doesn't officially serve Chaos. In fact one of the reasons he decided normal humans weren’t fit to rule is their vulnerability to Chaos corruption (though there is always ambient corruption which is why he increasingly looks like a werewolf in space). He is willing to make Chaos work in his favor, though, and will occasionally show up during a Black Crusade if someone feeds him a juicy enough target. But in this case he is more an opportunist like the Dark Eldar than a reliable asset for Chaos like Huron Blackheart.

== Idranel ==

Idranel is one of the Grey Seers, eldar associated with the Black Library that have had their “fates cut away”. Beyond that damn near nothing is known about them even to the other eldar because they're secretive little bastards and almost certainly up to something. Which of course they invariably are on an individual level but not coherently as as a collective. Truth of the matter is that when the Harlequins capture some old artifact they aren't the ones who file it away or devise methods of containment for the more "interactive" items. That's too much like having a real job with responsibilities and shit.

People forget that although all the Harlequins are disciples and followers of Good Ol' Ceggers not every follower of Ceggers is a Harlequin. It's the Grey Seers who prowl the depths of the Black Library, tending the archives and collections of old curiosities. Typically they don't leave the Black Library unless it's to go meet a Harlequin trope for the handing over of an artifact or the imparting of information.

Sometimes, rarely, they leave to find something stolen, escaped, lost or just because they don't feel that the Harlequins are ideal for a particular task. Idranel is almost certainly on such a mission. She does not value human judgment highly, she sees Isha as the Empress of the Eldar Imperium and Oscar as her "husband of necessity and convenience", humans are ignorant savages barely out of their birthworld's gravity well, the Inquisition are out of their depth (because it's almost entirely human run), the Guard are a joke or at least would be were it not for their numbers and her job would be a shit load easier if the humans would know their place and stop bothering her with shit like "border checks" and inconvenient questions like "why did you stab those people?". She fights against chaos, but considers herself above or otherwise not beholden to the Imperium's laws. Not that non-chaos aligned criminals are necessarily rare, but ones that claim divine blessing are.

Cegorach's lot have never been the most law abiding of sorts at the best of times. Technically, the Harlequins and other followers of Cegorach do not answer to any Imperial authority, and are some of the few people in the galaxy whom the Emperor and Empress have no control over. Usually, however, their activities are less traumatic. Theft, trespassing, public indecency, brawling, these are all easy to ignore. Sure the Arbites will still try to lock them up, but the whole thing is considered a forgivable affair. But when one has a mission (and is uncharacteristically (in the eyes of the uneducated) serious about it) and the power to back it up, that can present a quandary.

Farseer Idranel for her part doesn't share any of the good humor of her fellow worshipers of Cegorach. But she has faith in her god's mission, and faith that her goal is worth any sacrifice. Whatever it might be.

She can't see into the future, but she can see into the present with some level of skill at remote viewing.

Despite her confident disposition and decisive nature, she is actually left entirely in the dark about what her objective actually is. Which irritates her. Not that she'd let it interfere with fulfilling the cryptic orders she does get from the Black Library. She just channels that frustration into her zealous work.

As of late though, as she's growing more confident, she has been more proactive with her mission. At certain points bending the rules somewhat to better protect the Black Library. Those mon-keigh academics attempting to gather information on a means to enter the Black Library might not have been cultists after all, but their work could have been suborned by cultists. And she could hardly let them live after taking their life's work, they'd just try to find that knowledge again. And the serene grin she had watching them burn to death was merely satisfaction at a job well done.

In the grand scheme of things, she's nothing major. Just another curiosity in the nobledark.

== The Ultramarines, Acting Chapter Master Titus, and the Primaris Initiative ==

tl;dr from the threads.

Titus started out a rather sheltered but good-natured child in Ultramar, groomed to join the Ultramarines. On a mission to free Forge World Graia from the Orks, Captain Sidonus decided to use the opportunity to field-test his two potential replacements, Titus and Leandros. Sidonus got killed by Nemeroth but named Titus his successor over the more senior Leandros due to his ability to think on his feet over blind adherence to the Codex Astartes. Leandros got Ultra-butthurt in response, Titus' warp resistance not helping anything.

After the Battle of Macragge, having seen the tyranids turn one of the most fortified worlds in the Imperium into an all-you-can eat buffet, Titus proposed the Primaris Initiative, a massive increasing Ultramar's military, in particular a massive increase of Space Marine chapters. A [[Second Founding]] of Space Marine chapters, if you will. Of course, these would be just normal space marines, not some kind of [[Primaris_Space_Marines|super nu-marines]].

Opponents of this idea have pointed out some massive issues with this proposal. First of all, Titus is talking about raising Space Marine chapters on a scale not seen since the Great Crusade. Space Marine chapters, in terms of geneseed and materiel, are not cheap. Between the proposed number of new chapters, spaceships, and And instead of the cost being spread across the entire Imperium like with the Crusade, ''Ultramar'' is going to be taking the brunt of the costs. People outside Ultramar are going to see this as a [[Horus Heresy|power grab]], and those within Ultramar realize what it looks like and how it's going to tank their reputation. And even in the best case scenario you end up with an army of young hotheads with untested loyalty whom you ''may not be able to pay'', either in terms of money or in terms of provisions. Anyone with the slightest knowledge of history will know that this is generally a bad thing.

To his credit Titus knows this, and is fully willing to admit it. [[Grimdark|The choice is sacrificing most of Ultramar's prosperity in a gamble to save what's left of it or definitely losing all of it by continuing with the status quo. Both options are bad.]]

Several of the other Ultramar-based chapters, in particular the Novamarines (who as one of the oldest descendant chapters are more willing to speak up and lead the charge), are getting increasingly concerned about Titus. The First Founding chapters are generally treated as first among equals, but several of the descendant chapters of the Ultramarines are increasingly thinking about taking the vox away from the the Ultramarines, out of fear that Titus is heading down the same path as Lugft Huron about a millenium before.

''"And after the enemy is beaten, what then? We will be guardians of ashes and dust. We will have starved our own worlds and people in the name of saving them. We will have burned our very culture and government, our history and way of life for 10,000 years on the pyre of war to fuel your ambitions. And you will be lord of a new Legion in all but name, answering to no one. You are not a Primarch, Titus."''<br>
''"And if we do nothing, Bardan? We will be guardians of nothing. Our culture, our history, our PEOPLE will matter for nothing, because they will be biomass in the stomach of a Tyranid hive ship. That will be the price of inaction."''<br>
- Exchange between Chapter Master Bardan Dovaro of the Novamarines and Acting Regent Titus of the Ultramarines, recorded on the floor of the Great Hall of the Senate on Macragge

The Emperor is inadvertently making the situation worse. He agrees with Titus' idea (and may have come up with something similar on his own), but given his general reluctance to take charge unless necessary he doesn't want to come down making decrees like a god. He wants mankind to save itself and if someone wants to champion the cause on their own he is more than willing to sit back and help from the shadows. As a result, he hasn't been doing much but discretely sending resources to Titus as well as kicking [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#Belisarius Cawl|Belisarius Cawl]] Titus' way. If he had said "good idea, lets do that but spread the costs across the Imperium", there would be problems, but not nearly the amount of backlash or freaking out due to a Survivor Civilization potentially going bankrupt.

'''[[Marneus Calgar]]''' - Beaten into a coma by the Swarmlord with its bare hands. Still Chapter Master in name, for the simple reason that he isn't dead. Hooking him up to a dread won't work because it's his state of consciousness that's the problem, not his body, but there is still hope. Round two with Venerable Dreadnaught Calgar versus the Swarmlord might be a thing for any post-999.M41 scenario.
'''[[Severus Agemman]]''' - Captain of the First Company, got promoted there in the aftermath of the Battle for Macragge. Titus' biggest opponent within the Ultramarines (potentially the Mark Antony to Titus' Octavian), on account of having been away on other business when the Battle of Macragge happened and therefore having not gotten a taste of what [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#The_Swarmlord|MAXIMUM TYRANID]] looks like. However, he's not motivated by blind hatred like Leandros, and is actually rather reasonable (his arguments against the Primaris Initiative being similar to those listed above). He's not salty that Titus got promoted above him, but he knows Titus isn't infallible and is much more willing to speak his mind due to the two and feels that someone needs to put the brakes on his crazy train.<br>
'''[[Cato Sicarius]]''' - Captain of the Second Company, got promoted after most of the people above him were eaten or beaten into a coma (indeed, he saved Calgar from becoming the former after he became the latter, though that was mostly him distracting the [[Swarmlord]] and running like hell). Arrogant and egotistical, but the general idea seems to be that he's leaning ''Pro-Titus'' of all things. Sicarius may be a glory hound, but he's smart enough to realize that becoming Chapter Master won't get him what he wants. He wants the power and glory of rank but not the responsibility. Cato likes to pick fights and beat on people who diss the people he likes. Chapter Masters don't get to do that, not without repercussions. A Chapter Master isn't allowed to throw themselves in harms way because he's usually considered too valuable to the chain of command. A Chapter Master gets in a diplomatic incident and he gets in big trouble for it. Champions, on the other hand, are supposed to throw themselves in harms way, are held to much laxer standards, and indeed their job is to pick fights when someone's honor is insulted (as in canon where he intimidated the shit out of an Inquisitor who insulted Tigurius). He's not even ''supposed'' to be a captain, he got promoted there because the Ultramarines had a shortage of veteran in the chain of command, not that he's complaining.<br>
'''[[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#Librarian_Tigurius|Tigurius]]''' - See link. On the broad scale of "Team Titus" and "Team Anti-Titus", he's officially "Team Can't We Just Talk This Out And Get Along (and not eaten by tyranids)". However, given his introverted and socially awkward personality, he's unlikely to play peacemaker anytime soon. And he knows the level of threat the tyranids represent.<br>
'''Leandros''' - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Cassius_Longinus| Captain of the metaphorical anti-Titus fanclub]. Salty that Titus got promoted to Second Captain over him despite his senority. Flipped his lid when he got promoted to Acting Chapter Master, which he considers to be too much of a coincidence to happen twice to be due to chance (to be fair, the entire First Company was eaten to a man by tyranids and Calgar was put out of commission, so Titus was the highest ranking individual left standing). Is convinced Titus is some kind of sorcerer or otherwise Chaos corrupted due to his percieved luck. More than willing to whip up a shitstorm over it. Titus delendo est.<br>
'''Chaplain Cassius''' - An old soul, officially too old to care about being tactful anymore (see below). Frequently needles Titus and bugs him for warp resistant foster grandchildren. Described as Space Marine Chaplain Brian Blessed.<br>
'''[[Uriel Ventris]]''' - Split into two characters, Uriel Ventris the elder (who was around in the days of Por'O M'arc's voyage) and Uriel Ventris the younger (who is his descendant, still alive). Ventris the Elder was the one who accidentally allowed the Nightbringer's husk to escape on Pavonis. The details haven't been figured out yet, but it was a tactical misjudgement on Uriel's part and there were some general suggestions. The de Valtos Cartel was tempted by the whispers of the Nightbringer of power in exchange for its freedom, and was mining its surface as a pretense to free it. When the Ultramarines were sent to investigate with Uriel the Elder at the head they essentially got held hostage at gunpoint until the de Valtos Cartel could finish the job. Uriel, figuring what the Cartel was brainwashed by was some super-Nosferatu, was of the mindset “All right, go ahead, be stupid. When the screaming starts, you know where to find me". It turned out to be the central shard of the Nightbringer and the third largest piece of a C'tan in the galaxy, which was way beyond the Ultras' ability to handle. Despite all the good he did in his long career it was one of the last things he did and now that is all he is now remembered for. Much of Ventris the Younger's career has been showing that he is not his ancestor.<br>
'''[[Warhammer_40,000:_Space_Marine|Mira Nero]]''' - Not an Astartes, but worth mentioning here. Is currently whipping the Ultramar PDF and guard regiments up to Cadian standard. Is in an odd and somewhat frowned upon relationship with Titus.

On the one hand it's illegal for Ultramarines to get married, a law put in place by Guilliman's grandson for good reason. On the other hand the reasons for that law are considered obsolete and it's only kept for historic traditional reasons and at least half the chapter have unofficial wives. It's a marriage with all the religious ceremonies but none of the state legal proceedings. Half the time a chapter Chaplain is the one performing the ceremony and then conveniently forgetting about the whole thing.

The real scandal is that she is a soldier and so is he and that is very much frowned upon by almost everyone but not, oddly enough, by Chaplain Ortan Cassius.

Ortan Cassius has reached the point in life where he absolutely does not give a fuck what other people think. Leandros can quote the Codex all day long but Cassius is also word perfect in not just the Codex but all the surrounding supplementary documentation and histories and the published works of the other Primarchs and by god/s does he let Leandros know this. Cassius fucking hates Leandros even more than Titus is learning to and should Calgar ever manage to die would vote for the chapters dissolution before voting for Leandros to take the high office. He has made no secret of this and it has gone on official record that Leandros is a "rote learning Tosser".

Although Cassius does support Titus the Acting CM often wishes that he didn't. He keeps demanding that Titus get married and stop hogging those delicious Anti-Chaos genes for the good of the species.

However, between Titus' sheltered upbringing, naivete regarding women, and the fact he is in a bit of self-denial about his feelings (because the people he cares about tend to die), the two of them have just barely reached the hand-holding stage, despite their relationship being one of the worst kept secrets since the [[Nobledark_Imperium_Member_States#Watchers_In_The_Dark|Watchers in the Dark]]. By this rate they will finally get to actually having children 200 years after the tyranids sweep through Ultramar. By contrast, Mira is less awkward in terms of personal relationships.

Cassius also keeps insinuating that Mira and her surviving soldiers were adopted into the Ultramar Regiments more so that Titus could keep Mira close to him than any practical concerns, a thing that only offers him more rope by which to be hanged in the eyes of Leandros.

Titus has always maintained that the adoption and assimilation of the Cadians into the military training institutions of Ultramar is to facilitate needed reforms into the Ultramar soldiery as part of the Legio Primaris project. His intention is to have the space marines backed up by the best soldiers that Ultramar can provide, to that end they must be trained by the best soldiers he can find. The best unaugmented soldiers he has ever seen are the surviving Cadians of the 203rd so he pulled strings to get them transferred to being Ultramarine Auxiliary forces so that he could place them where he saw fit. Mira, as their commander, is the keystone of the project and orchestrates the whole thing from Macragge answering only to Titus and the Ultramar Senate. This necessitates that she spend a lot of her time in the Fortress of Hera or the city of Magna Civitas, two places that Titus has to frequent when not out on campaign. This is purely coincidental he tells himself, never quite believing it.

Despite his questionable motivations the Cadian Doctrine being instilled in the new generation of soldiers is proving to be extremely effective. The aristocracy of Ultramar is unhappy about this "cultural contamination" and "barbarian influences". Titus, ever the diplomat, called them out on that and told them in no uncertain terms that it was their influence peddling and decadence that had lead to the decline in standards that was making these reforms necessary.

== Nakaidos ==

Part of the thematic point behind Nakaidos is to highlight some of the potential flaws with the "Strength = Authority" mentality of the Ulmeatheans. Nakaidos hit the genetic lottery for his race and has the instincts, training, and resources to already be a nigh-unstoppable monster, but that doesn't really transition into being fit to rule, especially because he's barely old enough to be considered an adult. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#General_Timeline_of_the_Life_of_the_Silent_King|think of all the examples of child-monarchs through history, and most of them became either brutal dictators who trusted no-one (with good reason), or became figureheads getting used for the ends of royal advisors.]]

In this case, however, everyone got really lucky and it works out, because his closest advisor is actually a good guy who's got the experience and wisdom to fill in the gaps in Nakaidos' skillset, while also training him for the day when Oscen will no longer be around. Conversely, Oscen is able to keep his power in a system that usually would have seen him deposed by the first upstart-runt who challenged the cripple and inevitably won, because he's backed by a living weapon who can break any and all challengers at once.

== Typhon and the Barbarus Revolts ==

Like many planets during the Old Night, Barbarus was ruled by psykers, but in this case psykers who blurred the lines between daemon and mortal, swooping from peak to peak remaining safe in the fog that no mortal could survive. Beings kind of like the Witch-King of Angmar, human psykers that through their power and devotion to the Chaos Gods had become something else, not a Daemon Prince in any sense but at the same time clearly not mortal. Something kind of like a Fury but with a little more power and self-determination (that being dependent, however, on the fact that they were still partly mortal). Typhon was the village’s champion, a mere boy barely of age. He had no father, who had died years before in an attack by the planet’s half-mortal overlords. Such was the way of life on Barbarus. Eventually, however, you can only push people so far before they begin to push back. Villages on Barbarus began to receive shipments of strange weaponry from stranger sources, which they were told had the power to end the witch-king’s reign forever. The village smiths labored for a year and a day, making plate armor that was the best protection anyone on Barbarus knew how to make. The village bedecked him with warpaint and mystic charms, which were meant to give him good luck on his quest. The witch-kings paid little attention to this change in behavior, caring little about what the mundane humans did as long as the witch-kings could continue to raid.

The Imperium’s idea had been to arm the oppressed villagers with weapons and have them fight alongside the 14th legion to retake their homeworld. The populace and would feel like they had contributed to the retaking of their world rather than some alien power swooping in and doing so and would be more receptive to Imperial rule rather than seeing themselves trade one tyrant for another. Unfortunately someone missed the memo and started distributing the weapons beforehand. Barbarus had no space flight technology, so the Imperium could have sat in orbit around the planet all day without repercussion, but Mortarion was late and someone went ahead of schedule anyway.

Mortarion’s ships arrive in the Barbarus system a week late, having been delayed by a battle in another system and the vagaries of Warp travel. When he finds out what happened he is furious, he didn’t care much about civilian casualties but the people of Barbarus are not capable of fighting the witch-kings on their own. With just the weapons the Imperium gave them they are going to be walking into a slaughter with the whole populace dying, and after screaming out everyone involved (whether they deserved it or not) takes his Death Guard and descends to the planet in drop pods.

Meanwhile Typhon and his warriors are marching up the slopes of the great mountains. They had managed to kill two of the witch-kings thus far, but already their advance had begun to slow. The witch-kings had united en masse against their assault, and his warriors were already beginning to succumb to the toxic fog as their rebreathers began to give out. It was a horrible melee, with the tide beginning to turn in favor of the witch-kings as warriors drop their blows or from noxious fumes. Even Typhon was beginning to falter. He can feel his limbs slow and his vision begin to blur. A witch-king stands over him, ready to deliver the finishing blow.

Much as lasguns and flak armor are supposed to be as good as modern military gear (if lighter and cheaper) to show the scale of things in 40k, this shows the scale of what Chaos is capable of. These are furies. They are supposed to be at the bottom of the Chaotic food chain. And yet here they are winning against people with plate armor and close to modern weapons.

And then a drop pod crashes through the ceiling, crushing two of the witch-kings, and the door is kicked open. Everyone, witch-king and primitive warrior alike, are floored by the sight. Out strides the biggest human Typhon has ever seen, clad in a suit of power armor with red optics, a two handed sickle in his hands. The giant swings his scythe to drive back the abomination, and then and gives the harshest and most brusque pep talk possible.

''“Get up boy. Do you really want to die here?”''

Typhon struggles to his feet as more drop pods fall and more giants stream out, the members of the first giant’s “Death Guard”. He feels sick to his stomach but he stays by the giant’s side, determined to see things through. As he fights alongside the giant, Typhon observes Mortarion’s fighting, forces to learn or else be left behind. No surrender. No retreat. No backward step. Mortarion leaves with arcs of his scythe, leaving Typhon to deliver the killing blow with his more straightforward weapons. Eventually, all that is left is the Overlord of Barbarus, who retreated to the highest crag of the planet just out of reach. Typhon falls behind, his tortured body having finally reached his limits, but he stays conscious just long enough to watch Mortarion raise his scythe and take the head of the Overlord of Barbarus, the creature who had brought his people so much sorrow.

And that’s when Typhon knew he wanted to fight and die for Mortarion.

As has been mentioned before, Typhon was a latent psyker. Indeed, that was the only reason Typhon even survived the events of Barbarus, he believed all the charms and totems of protection his people gave him really worked, which caused his powers to subconsciously ward him from the worst of the the toxic smog. He found out at some point in the Great Crusade, but never told Mortarion, for Mortarion hated all things psychic and would have considered it a betrayal of the highest magnitude. This, as we’ve mentioned, is at the core of the Templars’ hypocrisy towards psykers (though the Templars claim he doesn’t count and Typhon’s opinion was more “don’t use psychic powers on the battlefield and roll for Perils of the Warp in front of your battle brothers”). As we’ve said, the Templars are still massively bigoted against psykers. Not to “purge the unclean” levels and rejecting Navigators and Astropaths, but still massively bigoted (often in a “stay in the kitchen” kind of way).

Compared to Mortarion Typhon was a little bit more charismatic. Mortarion, as we’ve said, rubbed everyone the wrong way and though he cared for his men he rarely showed in it any conventional way. He was also a doer, not a thinker. Typhon, on the other hand, had a little bit more charisma (like in canon), which was why Typhon was the one to write “Crusading, The Templar Way” instead of Mortarion, and got other groups to follow the Templar movement (they would have to be other groups because the Templar flaunt the suggestions of the codex).

== Lucius the Eternal ==

When Fulgrim failed in his promise to provide eternal life to Lucius, Lucius left for the far eastern reaches of the galaxy and came back with a nasty case of C’tan vampirism. On the outer reaches of the galaxy Lucius encountered a cult of C’tan-tainted Lacrymole, who told him the means to gain the immortality he sought. However when he realized the cost of C’tan vampirism was to have one’s personality tampered with, their independence existing only within the bounds of their patron's own intentions, he decided to take a third option. Instead of taking up a shard of the Nightbringer, Deciever, or one of the lesser C’tan whose fragments escaped the hunger of the Outsider, against the warnings of the Lacrymole [[Abhorash |he sought out a Wyvern and defeated it, taking up its essence into himself.]] It was a calculated gamble, less guaranteed than simply submitting himself to one of the other C’tan but offering greater promises of freedom as its patron was (seemingly) a mindless, animalistic force of destruction and therefore unable to subtly assert influence over him.

After defeating the Wyvern and gaining his long-sought immortality, Lucius ironically had to sit down and figure out what he was going to do with his life. Immortality is one of those lifelong goals where if you actually achieve it you suddenly have to figure out what you’re going to do with the rest of eternity. Eventually, he settled on traveling the galaxy and finding the greatest foes to fight. Immortality is not just about being alive, it’s about living life to the fullest. Lucius has fought at least two great champions of the galaxy in his long lifetime (both before he reached the rather absurd power levels he is at today): Lelith Hesperax and the primarch Vulkan He’stan. Lucius and Lelith both managed to walk away from their fight and consider it one of the best they ever had. Given the combatants respective personalities, the fight was the sort of innuendo-laced event you’d expect from the two of them, to the point that when either of them recount the tale years later onlookers [[Slaanesh|think they’re talking about a steamy relationship with an old flame]] until they clarify that no, there merely talking about [[Khorne|perfectly wholesome violence]]. Both are looking forward to the prospect of a rematch. Lelith thinks she can get the edge on him if she can get him to expend most of his power and Lucius considers Lelith one of the few opponents worthy of his skill.

Vulkan fought Lucius in his days as the Imperium’s immovable, incorruptible paladin and the Green Knight to Lucius’s Abhorash, managing to defeat him and earning his undying respect.

Cue a scene inside the Temple of the Flame on Nocturne where a novice priest is doing the nightly rounds. He spots a huge, hooded figure standing in front of the Empty Sepulcher of Vulkan placing something in front of the marble plinth before melting into the shadows. The novice hurries over to investigate, and kneels down to see what the intruder left. To his puzzlement, it seems to be an ancient, ornate Space Marine helm, purple and gold, crushed by a single, heavy hammer blow.

== Other Characters ==

People or groups who we have bits and pieces on but no solid concept or write-up yet.

'''Chapter Master [[Dante]]''' - Nothing has been said so far beyond tweaking his age so he still holds the title of being one of the oldest Space Marines still alive today given the increased longevity in the setting. May have known Lysander before he got lost in the Warp and was asked to explain to brief him on what had happened since he was lost (which is much greater than canon, probably a millenium or so) as a favor to the Imperial Fists.

'''[[DOOMRIDER]]''' - Doomrider is a Slaaneshi Crone Eldar Daemon Prince who rides some unholy combination of a motorcycle crossed with a [[Steed of Slaanesh]], to which the gimp suit-wearing Doomrider is strapped to via bondage gear. More detail on his origins and the like is needed.
The White Scars really, really hate Doomrider for some reason. Their latest Chapter Master, Kor'sarro Khan, rose to prominence in being the highest ranked survivor of a recent Great Hunt in which the White Scars managed to cut off the cocaine-fueled daemon prince's head, sewed the still-babbling bastard's mouth shut, then buried it for good measure. In the last century or so there have been reports of Doomrider showing up around the Imperium. The White Scars are concerned and dig up where they buried the head. The head is gone.

'''Ghota''' – One of the highest ranking surviving Thunder Warriors at the time of the War of the Beast. In general, those Thunder Warriors that were psychologically stable and survived until the end of the Unification were given a choice. Either retire and get a month pension and an apartment of their choice anywhere on Old Earth (except Hy Brasil), or sign on to the new Legions and serve alongside the new breed of super soldier to show them how it’s done. Given that a lot of them had failing health at the time, quite a few took the former option and a lot of them joined the Old Earth PDF simply because it was familiar and it gave them something to do.
When Arik sends out the call using the old command codes of the Unification Army to old friends and comrades the surviving Thunder Warriors gather under Ghota and head for the Imperial Palace. Or at least try to. They set out from the general area of Gredbriton/Franj-Europia/Terrawatt-Uralia, which was rapidly becoming the suburbs to the Imperial Palace and other governmental institutions where those working in government commuted to and from. There was a mag-lev train built to allow commuters to travel to and from the Palace, which the Thunder Warriors tried to take to get there. However the Beast moved faster than they thought and the train derailed half a nation out.
Leman Russ notices the derailed trains from his transports and offers Ghota and his Thunder Warriors a lift. They make it to the palace gates just in time to watch Sanguinius and Arik die. Russ manages to grab the Banner of Unification before it falls to the ground, but a wave of fresh orks prevent the Space Wolves and the Thunder Warriors from following the Beast into the palace. Ghota and the Thunder Warriors die in the melee that ensues (the Last Roll of Thunder), either from injuries or from overexerting their tortured physiologies.

'''[[Lotara Sarrin]]''' - Angron's second youngest adopted child. Kharn saw her as his (annoying) kid sister. Lotara Sarrin was given a job quite close to Earth in the highly secure trade routes between the core territories of the Imperium. She always wanted to go to space so Angron arranged matters so that she could get a job in the Merchant Navy on a sturdy ship, with decent pay and a good crew. Angron wasn't afraid to pull strings to get his adopted kids into high-ranked positions, but at the same time he wanted them out of harm's way. She wasn't given a job beyond her capabilities so although it was favouritism it wasn't too detrimental and nobody was going to argue with The Red Angel. Lotara Sarrin, like most of Angron's children, considers this to be second place to a military career. To them their dad was this hard-as-nails guy who went up against Franjish knights and won, and they felt like they had to live up to his example and often ended up stubbornly headbutting their way into the Imperial military regardless, which caused Angron no small amount of frustration. Lotara learns the comings and going of ship life, studies hard of all things to do with military ships and the duties of it and becomes extremely proficient at her job in the process. When she transfers to the Navy branch of the Imperial Army Angron flips his fucking lid but eventually simmers down. Lotara Sarrin eventually, by merit and despite Angron's grumpiness, becomes captain of the Conqueror of the Warhounds.

'''[[Urkasar Creed|CREEEEED]]''' - Still doing his thing hiding Titans underneath vacant buildings and dropping Baneblades down the ventilation shaft of captured hive cities [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#Colonel-Farseer_Rommel|(don’t even ask)]]. One important thing to note is in this timeline Cadian culture is heavily influenced by Ulthwé, so Creed’s love of sleight of hand tactics and defeating the enemy through superior maneuvering may be due to Ulthwé cultural influence (as the eldar of Ulthwé love the “devious and cunning” thing). One of the few humans to be acknowledged by the eldar as the human equivalent of an autarch, although it’s largely Ulthwé who is leading that charge, whereas Craftworlds like Biel-Tan think Creed is too sneaky for their liking and feels Ulthwé should stop forcing their values down everyone else's throat.

'''Uthan the Perverse''' - A controversial eldar philosopher who lived circa M32. A somewhat-decadent Voltaire-like satirist known for his dry wit and disregard for sacred cows or good taste by voicing controversial opinions. He really wasn’t good for much among the eldar other than needling the stuck up sorts and turning a bit of witty phrase to pay the bills from time to time. Hence his infamous quote about the Orks being the pinnacle of life in the galaxy. Then he made mistake of doing the same thing again by making some quasi-complimentary comments about the Crone eldar, which to a lot of people sounded a lot less like being a gadfly and a lot more like advocating sedition and treason. After all, one couldn’t jump ship and join the orks, but Chaos is always looking for [[Horus_Heresy|new]] [[Rape|volunteers]]. When people called him on it, he sarcastically said he'd wondered about trying to be a Crone Eldar, but couldn't imagine staying awake through the sermons. After the condemnations, inspections, and drying up of funding, Uthan took a less controversial tack.

'''Sapiens Supremis''' - A group of violent asshole insurgents that are a pain in the ass for the Arbites/Inquisition/Securitas who believe in xenophobia and human supremacy above all else. Not the only such group, essentially the human counterpart of [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Dorhai|Dorhai]] but as a terrorist group within the Imperium and thankfully less organized. Ironically, like Dorhai they see/would see Taldeer's pregnancy as an abomination, and one possible post-M41 event is them trying to assassinate Taldeer and Lofn (and potentially being stopped by Sreta of all people at the cost of her life). But again that is post-M41.

'''Sons of the First Emperor''' - Another group of violent asshole insurgents that are a pain in the ass for the Arbites/Inquisition/Securitas. Given that in this timeline the term "First Emperor" is typically used to refer to [[Goge Vandire]], no prizes for guessing what their grievance with the status quo is.

'''[[Gorgutz]] and [[Snikrot]]''' - Gorgutz is another Brain Boy, with Snikrot as his gretchin twin. Few people have ever put two and two together because Snikrot is a purple gretchen. It's been suggested he gets that way by hunting down some kind of squig with purple blood and using its blood as body paint Rambo style. On top of that he's sneaky even by gretchin standards, and you rarely see Snikrot and Gorgutz together. The two tend to pursue their own goals independently, rather than staying in close proximity like other Brain Boy pairs. Orks hear about all the things Snikrot's done and assume he's one of Da Boyz, because who ever heard of a gretchin doing anything like that, and Orks rarely see Snikrot in person to confirm otherwise.

= Demographics and Life Expectancy in the Imperium =

Because Eldar aren't getting into stupid fights with the Imperium like in canon and the Eldar have other races like the humans and the Tau to have their back, Eldar population are actually going up (though like maybe at a fraction of a percent increase per year), though it's going to be an incredibly long time before their population escapes its "dying race" status.

Without any life-extending medical treatments, Eldar typically live about 1500 years or so. With life-extending medical therapy they live about 4000-5000 years on average. By contrast, humans with rejuvenants typically live for just under 1000 years. However, this process is much more scattershot than for Eldar, and based on genetic compatibility sometimes you get individuals living for 1000-2000 years, like Lorgar or Guilliman. If rejuvenants were standardized and widespread, patterns of genetic compatibility might be more clear, but it is not possible to provide rejuvenants to every human in the Imperium and the really high-quality ones are restricted to important individuals like the primarchs, the High Lords, or Jubbowski. As in canon, being an Astartes and/or a psyker helps. Mark III S Astartes are really crazy in terms of their lifespan, Vulkan having lived for 7000-8000 years and Lion technically still being alive, if in a coma somewhere. Sanguinius might have been outright biologically immortal due to many of the people who engineered him being the same ones who built the Mark III S gene-seed.

So essentially the low end of the Eldar life expectancy bell curve intersects with the average (with rejuvenants) life expectancy, whereas the high end of the human life expectancy bell curve intersects with the average/low average of Eldar life expectancy.

Then you have the pre-Fall Eldar. The ones who had access to the good medical care and life-extending technology the Eldar lost in the fall. Eldrad, at minimum, is over 14,000 years old, and could possibly be older. No one knows how long they can live, though it’s obviously not forever as Eldrad is showing his age and is currently racing the clock to finish his masterpiece before he dies. For obvious reasons, they are a dwindling group, with only a handful around in M41. Eldrad, Vect, Macha, and Lady Malys, among others, all fall into this category.

It’s been mentioned the Tau have started developing their own juvenant technology after meeting the Imperium. Still in its infancy compared to Eldar and humans and so far not super impressive. Major Tau that have survived to M41 have done so through other means. Shadowsun has survived by being in cryostasis most of the time, Farsight has the Dawn Blade, and Aun’Va has been doing…something to keep himself alive, though it’s implied he’s been keeping a low profile to avoid suspicion.

= Sociology and Culture of the Imperium =

==The Mechanicus and Dark Mechanicus==

Indeed, I was going to bring this up back during the last Fulgrimdump, but we may need to do some expanding on how Mars joined the Imperium. It turns out in canon the union between Mars and Earth wasn't as cozy as most people thought it was. Mars sent a fuckhuge fleet to keep Earth from unifying, and the Emperor beat them so badly only one in ten made it back. Then the Emperor showed up with his fleet in Martian orbit, and the Mechanicum surrendered and got a peace with generous terms. The whole “were forced to join at gunpoint” was written out of history. It’s why the Dark Mechanicum were such an issue during the Horus Heresy.

Obviously, this "fake treaty that was really signed at the barrel of a gun and was subsequently edited to be rosy by history" wouldn't fit with the themes here. We discussed in previous threads that the Unification of Mars happened about the same time as that of Earth, but the Warlord got done earlier and therefore got established in space and controlled most of the inner Solar System before Mars gets their shit together.

I was thinking of what the Martian leadership was like during this period. The Fabricator-General during the Great Crusade is probably one of those figures like Jenetia Krole, Malcador, or Arik Taranis that despite not being a primarch was still an important figure in the early Imperium. I was thinking that maybe the Fabricator-General was someone who was relatively charismatic for a magos similar to Arkhan Land (but probably not the same guy, as Land was someone who hated sitting still), who saw the Imperium’s burgeoning empire as an opportunity to exploit rather than a crisis. If Mars joined up, they would be able to use the Imperium’s expansion to reconnect to all the lost forge worlds and get access to all the STCs that Mars didn’t have the resources to get to outside the Sol system.

Obviously more factors contributed than this, but it might be one reason why Mars just didn’t dismiss the Imperium out of hand. It also didn't hurt that the Warlord didn't burn down the Antarctic Mechanicus enclaves in this timeline.

But then you get some big schism in the Mechanicus. Possibly from the AdMech trying to enforce uniformity among groups that had not communicated for thousands of years. Possibly because some tech-priests resented joining the Imperium. Possibly because some of the other tech-priests resented MARS telling them what to do.

Eventually some guy (maybe Anacharis Scoria) goes "You know what? I'll make my own Mechanicum. With mecha-blackjack and hooker servitors" and causes the Mechanicus to rip itself a new one. It ends up being a "minor" war in Imperial history, because it wasn't coupled with the WotB like the Schism of Mars was with the Horus Heresy, and the AdMech don't end up like the Assassins because the loyalists were enraged and fought as hard as the rest of the Imperium to stamp them out, but it means there are subsequently a lot more crazy tech-priests in the Eye of Terror.

---------

>2 big powers in the Sol system, disorganized Mars and a long way behind it Voidborn Migrant Fleet

>Warlord starts his campaign to unite Old Earth. laughing_cogs.pict good look with that.

>Carves out a big nation by unifying/subjugating the smaller nations. laughing_adepts.holo enjoy getting Urshed

>Starts kicking the shit out of Ursh

>Wat?

>Starts taking ground from Ursh and Pan-Pacific Empire

>WTF!

>Drives back Ursh to it's last strongholds and Americas brough itno the fold

>OH FUCKINGSHIT UNIFY! UNIFY ALL OF THE THINGS!

>Migrant Fleet joins Old Earth

>FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu--------------

>Luna follows because Voidborn

>OH FUCKINGSHITTWATCUNTINGDICKNIPPLES!!!!

>Old Earth is now out of fucking nowhere the dominant power in Sol. Mars a distant second.

>Mars almost totally unified when Steward turns up at the head of the diplomacy convoy (ships borrowed from Horus).

>Olympus Mons priesthood head of ~70% of Mars priesthoods.

>Olympus Mons signs partnership agreement

>~30% are salty as fuck. Piss of into the inky black to start their own Mechanicum without all these rules and shit

>Mars Mechnicum piggybacks on the Expedition Fleets to bring the forgeworlds and old outposts back under Mars rule.

It doesn't automatically follow that all of the 30% ran off straight to Chaos. Many would have founded little closed hermit brotherhoods of their own.

Lets say that of the original Martians only 5% went to The Dark Side.

There might also have been older brotherhoods on far flung forgeworlds and outposts that fell of their own accord during the Age of Strife also.

In any case with cloning, forcible recruitment and intensive breeding programs there is not reason for them not to have built up their numbers considerably by the War of The Beast. Especially unconstrained by all notions of good and evil.

The original bastards that came back to Mars during the War of The Beast were the real problem as they were seen by the more gullible idiots in the lower ranks as returning messiahs who had gone to the wilderness and found enlightenment. And they knew the land better and, armed with strange new knowledge, could open the locked away shit in the Labyrinth of Night. Void Dragon almost got accidently freed at this time.

Oscar and Magnus used this as a great demonstration that not educating the plebs about Chaos is a really fucking stupid idea that will always, always result in colossal fuck ups.

Zagreus Kane deposed the Fabricator General of Mars in the aftermath of the WoTB and set about a series of reforms. He has seen the previous order as betraying the principles of the priesthood by embracing ignorance with their withholding of vital information from the population in general. The ruination Mars was suffering was a direct result of this. His reforms had a prodigious body count as he servitorized or executed those he held responsible. It was in these reforms that the AdBio was inducted into the AdMech and then encouraged to set up shop some distance away.

Zagreus Kane's reign for the next 1,500 years was hard but fair. He enacted no more purges of that nature, once was enough.

===Kelbor-Hal and Zagreus Kane===

The irony of the situation is that Kelbor-Hal and Zagreus Kane were complete opposites. Kelbor-Hal was outwardly pleasant, but internally was disingenuous and rather manipulative. Kelbor-Hal would tell you what you want to hear but not mean it, merely using people as a means to an end. He was politically savvy enough to realize that he could turn Mars’ situation with the Imperium into an advantage by using the Great Crusade to get access to the lost Forgeworlds and mountains of ancient technology, whereas the other AdMech loathed the idea of treating with the Imperium and feared a blockade of Mars, but he only saw the Imperium and the Great Crusade as a way to increase the power of Mars and the authority of the Olympus Mons Brotherhood over Mars. Even Horus wasn’t that slimy, while he may have been an oily bargainer Horus at the very least honestly believed in the ideals of the Imperium, even if he didn’t agree with the Steward’s vision for it. Indeed, Horus’ refusal to take side in the Earth-Mars conflict was partially due to his dislike of the Olympus Mons Brotherhood. Over morals.

Sometimes things didn’t go as planned and Kelbor-Hal’s mask cracked. Case in point Savlar. When the Savlar Order proved completely immune to soft power the charming politician vanished and a spoilt child took his place. The Steward liked Kelbor-Hal, but that was in part because Kelbor-Hal had Arkhan Land as his representative to the greater Imperium, whose genuine optimism and enthusiasm for rediscovering lost technology mirrored the Steward’s own views. Land was also very good at selling Kelbor-Hal’s ideas to the rest of the Mechanicum due to honesty. When Land died, Kelbor-Hal no longer had his prime ambassador and salesperson to dress up his ideas in more appealing packaging, and his control faltered.

By contrast, Kane, although brutal, harsh, and uncompromising, but had a strong sense of morals, believed in the truth above all else, rewarded those under him who performed beyond expectations, and was undeniably more honest. He believed in the truth above all else, and his fury at Kelbor-Hal was primarily because Kelbor-Hal hid the reason ‘’why’’ the Mechanicum exiles were supposed to be considered persona non grata (specifically, their “enlightenment” was Chaos worship, building Abominable Intelligences, and other such things). He also understood when it was necessary to be brutal and when it was not. Although Zagreus Kane had his predecessors deposed and recycled for incompetence, he only ever had to do so once, because that was all he needed to show he could and would do so if necessary.

Finally, unlike Kelbor-Hal, he didn’t see the Imperium as tools to be used. He was one of the most pro-Imperial Fabricator-Generals, believing in balancing commitments to the Imperium and commitments to the Mechanicus in equal accord, which is more than even Oud Oud Raskian can say. Kane was much better liked by the general Imperium than by the AdMech, since the general Imperium was never on the receiving end of one of his purges. Even Oscar, who dreaded the idea of working with Kane, found himself surprised when Kane turned out to practice what he preached. Part of the reason Ferrus Manus didn’t start pushing back against the Fabricator-General until much later in life is that for all his faults Zagreus Kane was a good leader and someone who genuinely deserved respect.

== The Imperial Aquila ==

The twin heads of the Imperial Aquila in this timeline are supposed to represent the alliance between humanity and eldar, the Eagle and the Phoenix, rather than the unification of Mars and Earth (especially since the Migrant Fleet joined as a third party equal in stature to the other two, which would mean the Aquila would have to have three heads if it had the same significance as canon). There is also a suggestion that the Aquila incorporates some sort of Eldar rune into its design.

==Hives==
The Imperium has something of a contradictory relationship with its Hives.

On the one hand, the Hive is the ultimate symbol of civilization. Indeed, the word civilization itself comes from an ancient word for 'city', and hives are the ultimate cities. The ultimate expression of man's triumph over nature. Defended like nearly nothing else, cosseted behind meter-thick adamantium walls, void shields fit for a battleship, anti-orbital weapon silos also fit for a battleship, PDF forces numbering in the tens of millions. Often nearly autarkic, immense farm-terraces, fusion reactors good for thousands of years, mines stretching out like roots clear down to the mantle. The Imperium in microcosm, enduring and ferociously spiky.

At the same time, they are also among the most ungovernable place in the Imperium. The actual architecture of a hive stops bearing any resemblance to the blueprints within decades. The population escapes any census. A hive is larger than nations; many of them are, in fact, divided into multiple independent states. Even a well-ordered and centralized hive may have dozens of microstates hidden away in the wainscoting. Many poorly-educated people in the depths of the hives never realize that there is anything more to the universe than one giant, endless hive.

Many, many, many people have remarked on this apparent dichotomy, that the greatest symbols of its might are often also where its control is weakest. Sometimes the Emperor has commented on this, and declared that there is no dichotomy. The Imperium does not depend on centralized control. It is the collective dream of its citizens, of collective security, of collective prosperity, of collective defiance of a universe that wishes them dead. The hives do not need censuses and blueprints to be part of the Imperium. They pay their tithes and send their children to die on distant battlefields without such things.

== Important Books of the Imperium ==

Guilliman wrote a large number of documents, but his most famous was the ''Codex Astartes'', which was a thought experiment on how a post-Crusade Imperium might be better organized based on best practices he observed utilized by different legions throughout the Great Crusade. Although it started out as a thought experiment it eventually became the standard for Astartes organization across the galaxy (mostly, almost every chapter deviates from the Codex in some manner).

Lorgar also wrote many books. His magnum opus was the ''Lecticio Divinatatus'', which reconciled the Katholian and Karathanite sects of the Katholian religion. It mostly focused on religious matters and so was a bit dry for people who aren't interested in that kind of stuff. His most famous book was the so-called "Book of Lorgar", which was essentially "How to Fight Chaos For Dummies" or "Chaos? In My Imperium? It's More Likely Than You'd Think."

Typhus the Pilgrim wrote ''Crusading: The Templar Way''

Russ, First High King of Fenris, wrote a short book detailing how to run a detachment of the Imperial Army. It mostly focused on how to direct soldiers with the Canis Helix effectively so it was too specialized to be of much interest to anyone else.

One of Perty's scribes wrote down an instructional book explaining the basics of long term garrison duty that is more or less applicable to any majority human world. It wasn't published until after Perturabo's death as it criticized a few things Perty had done and nobody was sure on how he would react to that.

There are rumors that Curze made extensive notes on terror tactics. If true the book is on the prohibited list and not in general circulation.

Magnus wrote extensively but mostly on the practical and theoretical nature and application of the Warp. The Imperium officially denies it, but rumour has it he wrote ''Gods and Daemons: A Spotters Guide'' after helping co-author the "Book of Lorgar" with Lorgar that dealt with more applied daemonology for the specialist. It's totally true. There are 3 copies. Grey Knights have one copy (which the Ordo Malleus sometimes borrow). KSons have the original. Exorcists have the final copy. Blood Ravens seem to have been "gifted" with an unofficial copy.

Angron only wrote shit poetry he never intended to be published. Kharn the Oathsworn had to go through his stuff when he died and found the doodle pad he put it all down in. It mostly deals with having to do shit he doesn't want to do and how much his failing biology is pissing him off at time of writing.

Sangy wrote down his collected visions that his Legion still sift through.

Dorn particular brand of wisdom was preserved in ''De Omnibus Dorni'', which was a transcribed collection of Dorn's sarcastic and laconic sayings and conversations recorded by his followers over the years. Military commanders still like to quote it to this day. We have some quotes in the threads.

==The Throne==
The introduction of the Imperial Throne as a single interstellar currency probably started as the coinage of the Void Born that was used in Sol that then worked it's way out along with the Expeditionary Forces of the Great Crusade.

Originally it was Req. Almost certainly derived from Requisition tokens used by the Quartermaster Supreme of Luna used to allocate resources during the Age of Strife. 1 Req is just a Req, 10 Req was a DecReq, 10 DecReq (100 Req) was a CetuReq. Fraction and decimal Req only existed as hypothetical inside a bank account and had no real world counter part.

Thrones are Reqs in all but name, presumably Horus had something to do with this or at least someone in his employ.

Availability, acceptability and value of local currency varies greatly in the imperium even down to the scale of nation-states but every world in the Imperium, by law, accepts the Throne and accepts it at the value dictated by the Administrtum.

The Throne (coin) and it's worth is seen to an extent as the glue that holds interstellar trade together. Debasing the coinage is officially treason and is one of the few things that will have the Arbiters kicking down your door.

It doesn't matter if you're the head of a vast trader dynasty, a sector governor or an ambitious idiot in a back room making counterfeits. If you fuck with the thrones you fuck with the Throne and the Throne will fuck back.

Eldar typically prefer to barter goods for goods and seldom accept local currencies. Some times they will use Throne Coin if they can't find an alternative. Big exception being Sreta Ulthran's branch of the Ulthran clan.

Fucking with thrones would be an especially heinous offense, because the more you think about it, the more that a reputation-based currency (like banknotes and paper money) is the only way to go in a galactic economy.

Human cultures in the past have mostly used gold and silver for their currency because they were one of the few elements that were rare enough to buffer inflation and counterfeiting but yet not rare enough that minting a currency was impractical. Most other elements either did not fulfill these criteria or were radioactive.

But in space that is meaningless. There is enough gold and precious metals in asteroids to make gold coins effectively worthless. Gold becomes more valuable for its conducting ability than its power to represent a unit of demand. What becomes more valuable is whatever a system doesn’t have, whether that’s food or metals that aren’t common in the system for whatever reason. So we’re back to the barter system.

Unless you have a strong central government able to impose its will and say “we say this token is worth so much and we will back this with our financial reputation”. If the central government is stable and not liable to collapse, this makes the currency a stable medium of exchange. Counterfeiting thrones is now a direct act of undermining the government’s reputation.

Thrones are still probably metal in some way because gold is harder to counterfeit than paper. And since civilization as a whole is rolling in gold and other precious metals (particularly ones that are not in high demand like adamantium), why not put that metal to use?

==Blackstone Fortresses==

So far, three Blackstone Fortresses have been discovered. In this timeline, the Blackstone Fortresses are clearly described as being Old One creations as opposed to being ambiguously eldar or Old One as in canon, though the Eldar still refer to them as the Talismans of Vaul.

The first is the Tomb of Horus. It was first found by the Sons of Horus, the eclectic, semi-monastic bunch of mystics who serve as arbiters and settle disputes between the various Voidborn groups and Void Wolves successor chapters. They found the Blackstone Fortress orbiting an uninhabited planet around some nowhere star. Despite much effort they weren’t able to get it to turn on. Unable to get it to work on their own they went to the Eldar for help (suggested to be Lugganath, or whichever Craftworld has the “ancient lore” hat). Sadly although the Eldar knew of the Blackstone Fortresses due to their role in the War in Heaven, there was no one left alive who actually knew how to work one. After much pushing and prodding they finally managed to get the ship to move and activate the Fuck Your Shit Up short-range defense beams. Currently, the original Tomb of Horus and numerous Eldar wraithbone constructs have been amalgamated around the Blackstone Fortress, creating a one of a kind monstrosity of Eldar and Mechanicus technology wrapped around a fragment of Old One greatness. It doesn't move fast. But when it get somewhere it gets there hard. Rather tellingly, despite having only the “short range” point defense systems activated, the Tomb of Horus is considered to be on par with one of the Five Big Bastards.

Chaos found the second, and Erebus has retrofitted it into his new war chariot he calls the Chariot of the Gods, known to the lesser mortals as the Planet Killer. It is flesh and blood and iron and warpstuff twisted into some horrific design, powered by daemons and strange things uncategorized by Imperial scholars and unnamed by the damned.

Unbeknownst to almost anyone, the Tau have found a third Blackstone Fortress. They don't know what it is, who built it or what it does. They don't even believe it is as old as it appears because shit obviously can't be that old. They won't report it to the greater Imperium until they have something concrete about it to offer. Finding something that big and handing it over without even a basic understanding of it would make them loose face they feel. All they know is that it sings to them when they sleep.

===The Tomb of Horus===
To understand the Tomb of Horus, you have to understand the Mournival. The Mournival was an old Voidborn tradition, in which the leader of a clan would pick an advising council based on the wisest members of his close family. This was true even if the leader claimed the loyalty of multiple clans, like Horus. Many in the greater Imperium decried this as nepotism. The ever-clannish Migrant Fleet replied that this was simply Voidborn tradition, and told whoever thought otherwise to politely go fuck themselves.

Abbadon was the closest to Horus, due to actually having been raised by him since he was about six. No Migrant Fleet tradition about this, just an uncle doing his fucking job and raising his orphaned nephew as if he were his own. We all know how Abbadon turned out.

Garviel Loken was the only member of the Mournival who was actually an Astartes. Not sure if he was one of the lucky Sol Fleet Voidborn who were compatible with the procedure or one of the immigrants to the Migrant Fleet. Despite all this he tended to be the moderating voice among the Mournival whenever they butted heads. Loken went a bit loopy after Horus died. Started calling himself Cerberus and waged a PTSD and guilt-fueled one-man campaign on Chaos cults from Interex space to the Gothic Sector. Unfortunately, he ended up dying about the same time as Abbadon during the first black Crusade.

No clue about Tarik. Not really sure what he was like.

Horus Aximand, named “Horus” in honor of his uncle but more often referred to by his last name to avoid confusion, was the one who took after Horus the most. He was the charming diplomat, the shrewd politician and businessman, but unlike Horus he had enough enthusiasm that he came off as genuine. When Horus couldn’t negotiate in person, Aximand was usually the one with the job.

Sometime between Horus’ death and his funeral, Aximand had found religion, or at least mysticism. Real fanatic about it too. It could have been from hanging around with the Diasporex too long, but he was no diasporite, or maybe a sit-down with Magnus at the peak of his teaching days, which tended to have such effects on people. So when Aximand’s fleet comes across this great, big impossibly ancient alien construct less than a month on the journey “home” from Horus’ funeral, he declares this to be a sign from the universe. Ends up sprucing it up, calling in the Eldar to help him figure out how to turn the lights on, and turns it into a big turbo-dreadnaught/mystic temple/tourist trap. Uncle Horus would be proud. And that’s how the Sons of Horus were formed.

== Hive Worlds ==

Imperium is more Art Deco than Gothic in this canon, mimicking vague memories of the grace and absolution of their old technology, so it's aging structures would produce a megalithic Great Depression vibe. I imagine many golden Aquila and skulls would be replaced with gleaming winged humanoids and more varied sculptural conceits devised to fit the ship. The Mechanicus would still provide the hash, mechanical Gothic aesthetics. The millennia the high imperial architecture has stood would produce an appearance of grandly ornamented superstructures studding garden continents, all falling into dilapidation and disrepair but still populated, still functional, and in some places retaining the old luster and gleam, though mostly the beauty of the average imperial city is int graceful aging, being as fine to live in copper green, grown over with ancient trees, and covered with moss as they are in gleaming brass and stark, beautiful architecture.

As the original, gracefully implemented systems have failed installations needed to either develop the technical know how to maintain and work their systems or turn to the mechanicus of the hadn't already, often leading to the old mechanicus gothic sort of architecture growing out of cities's technological installations and operations.
A crusade era hive may now look almost like a lonely mountain, terraced with forest and tarnished but gleaming city and ringed with great chasms to its inner metropolis, great men and women in adamantine cast discernible as pillars supporting decks of mountainside, and spires of grey mechanicus machinery emerging from is sides, tending to the ancient generators and automanufactoties. The outlying country still bears the mark of Perturbo or some other artist of continents hand, and still bear monumental arcades and vista spanning leisure gardens, long since put to more practical use or left to grow wild.

Hive Worlds are still polluted and horrible to live in, but not out of indifference. The Imperial era ones are derived from Perty's genius designed hives on Old Earth and the pre-Imperial ones had substantial work done on them. It's still quite shit because 10,000+ years of war economy will do that but it's out of necessity this time rather than indifference. The Imperium would love to renovate the Hive Worlds, but lacks the resources, knowledge, or time to be able to do so. Plus figuring out the reasoning behind anything created by Perturabo is a Herculean feat in and of itself. A lot of the "dark" aesthetic from mainstream Imperium hives in this timeline is supposed to be from a Great Depression-esque aesthetic. Bold and powerful designs that in economically active areas can still shine with its old glory, but which in many areas has become tarnished and fallen by the wayside because society doesn't have the resources to repair them.

== Exodites and the Maiden Worlds ==

When the Eldar joined the Imperium, one of their key terms was that the Imperium recognize the Eldar’s prior claim to the Maiden Worlds. The Eldar put a lot of work into terraforming those worlds for future settlement, and they didn’t appreciate the idea of someone else coming in and snatching up the fruits of all their hard work. The Imperium agreed, on the condition that the Eldar do the same for any worlds that had been clearly terraformed by humanity. As a result of this agreement the Craftworlds drew up a list of all the known Maiden Worlds in the galaxy. To the Eldar, this let humanity clearly know which worlds were “theirs”, though the Imperium pushed for it as well so the Eldar couldn’t suddenly show up when humanity colonized a planet and claim “this was a Maiden World all along”.

The Eldar's interest in keeping humans off Maiden Worlds was not entirely a matter of self-interest (though that was still the primary reason). It was also a matter of safety. Terraforming a Maiden World often involved such things as subtly tweaking the orbit of a comet to smack the planet to provide water, or causing massive supervolcanic eruptions to alter the planet’s atmosphere, which would be devastating to anyone on the planet’s surface. The Eldar didn’t want people to go squatting on an unfinished Maiden World, get wiped out by a preplanned terraforming event, and then go complaining it was the Eldar's fault, when the Eldar had warned them that unfinished Maiden Worlds were not safe.

In the last few millennia (read: in the millennia since the romanticization of the alliance), the Eldar have allowed small numbers of other species to live on Maiden Worlds, but only after they have been extensively settled and colonized by Eldar first. To the Eldar, the Maiden Worlds are Eldar worlds first and foremost, and members of other races are only allowed on them because the Eldar permit it. The Eldar never allow Maiden Worlds to be settled by other races first. The only “exception” to this is New Tanith, but that was more due to Prince Yriel than anything else. Officially, New Tanith was given to Prince Yriel on behalf of Biel-Tan as a gift, who then in turn gifted the planet to the refugees of Tanith, as was his right. Yriel was both Eldar and crazy enough that Biel-Tan recognized he would not back down. Anyone else would have been told to go screw themselves.

The Maiden Worlds themselves are typically allied with one of the Craftworlds, and these Craftworlds are typically the ones that speak for them when their voices need to be heard in the Imperium.

The Exodites are kind of like a combination between the Amish and Sakoku Japan. There is perhaps one major settlement on the planet that allows advanced technology, primarily as a spaceport to allow trade with the rest of the Imperium. The rest of the planet is explicitly low-tech.

In some cases the Eldar prefer human goods because although they are lower quality they are often cheaper and can be made more quickly. The Exodites take this a step further. Much like many simple living groups (e.g., Amish, Mennonites), the Exodites often prefer human goods because they are crappy, and thus force the Exodites to work harder for their living. In addition, trading for tools made offworld means that an Exodite does not have to break from their austere lifestyle to make the tools necessary for such a lifestyle to be possible, and can devote more of their time to work. The Exodites mostly trade for these goods with surplus food (what little they usually produce) and handmade goods. Any surplus food that cannot be used for trade or stored for hard times is generally donated to the war effort.

The Exodites are rather picky about who they allow on their worlds. If an outsider wants to visit the world and watch the dinosaur jousting and is willing to do so respectfully and without disrupting the Exodite way of life (read: no high tech), fine. If one of their Craftworld kin gets fed up with the rigidity of the Paths and wants to adopt the Exodite way of life, fine. If a human wants to do the same, they may allow it, though the Exodites are often skeptical of the ability of a human to tolerate an Exodite’s low tech lifestyle.

However, the Exodites do not tolerate anyone trying to industrialize their world and disrupt their way of life, whether it be a Craftworlder or a human. Those who try to do so are summarily booted off the planet at best. Trying to invoke the protection of the Imperium to protect you in these matters does not work, as Imperial representatives are quick to say that the Exodites are the ones who make the rules on their worlds, and if you break the laws you are on your own.

The Exodites of the Maiden Worlds are very different from the enclaves the Craftworlders set up, which are essentially normal Eldar dwellings with all of their technology on an uninhabited Maiden World rather than dinosaur-riding space Amish.

The relationship between the Craftworlds and the Exodites is kind of like that between the ancient Greek city-states and their far-flung colonies (e.g., Syracuse). Typically, one of the larger Craftworlds claims sovereignty over a Maiden World, and is expected to provide for their defense and represent them in Imperial politics. This is largely imperialism on the part of the Craftworlds. To be honest the Exodites like the idea of their Craftworlder cousins expressing sovereignty over them about as much as they would humans, but they aren’t foolish enough to look a gift horse in the mouth when they show up with military aid in their worst hour and the Craftworlds mostly avoid interfering. They can and will, however, go to another Craftworld and ask for their patronage if they feel their claiming Craftworld is being too overbearing. Most of the smaller craftworlds won’t mess with one of the big five, but Saim-Hann tends to be much more lax and is more than willing to politically tweak Biel-Tan or Alaitoc’s nose. They tend to not meddle with issues with the Maiden Worlds unless the native Exodite population asks them to.

During the Great Crusade, the eldar were very proactive in keeping the Imperium and humanity off the Maiden Worlds.Even Biel-Tan, who sees the current Imperium is the rebirth and continuation of the Old Eldar Empire, in fact they were some of the loudest about it. Biel-Tan was always interested in rebuilding the Empire and this was in the days before the formation of the alliance. In those days the Maiden Worlds were seen as the future of the eldar people. Of course, in this timeline they don’t jump straight to genocide, instead they either tended to call up the Imperium and go “these are your people, they’re your problem” or just round the human population up and dump them on the nearest human-populated world regardless of their wishes. Even today Biel-Tan, pre-Kraken Iyanden, and Alaitoc are still twitchy about the idea of significant human populations on Maiden Worlds. Although Biel-Tan sees the Imperium as the New Eldar Empire the Maiden Worlds were the life’s work of many of the eldar people and by their reckoning it would be unfair for any other species to profit from the fruits of their labor.

There are some planets with significant populations of coexisting humans and Exodites. Planets where either the native Exodite inhabitants either died out or significantly decreased in population and humans moved in, or human worlds where Exodites have planted wraithtrees after their own world was destroyed. Aghoru and the medieval world where Isha was nearly kidnapped by the Conservators are examples of the former. Rynn’s world is an example of the latter. There was a population of Bronze Age or Medieval-level Nocturne-descended humans on Caldera, who the Exodites freed during a counter-attack on a Dark Eldar raiding party and granted them asylum on the planet. The Nocturneans gratefully accepted and the two had been coexisting for centuries by the time the Great Crusade arrived. Both Biel-Tan and Vulkan called for the humans to be forcibly deported and resettled on Nocturne. The people who would actually be affected by this decision didn’t like it, the Exodites likewise felt that Biel-Tan was overriding their sovereignty and telling them what to do, whereas the humans on Caldera had lived there for so many generations that the planet was their home, Nocturne being but a distant memory, and they preferred to be on a planet that was not a tectonic time bomb. It has not been yet decided out-of-universe what happened to them. However, human-Exodite worlds are pretty rare.

The general stereotype among the non-eldar parts of the imperium is that the Maiden Worlds are an idyllic place to live, a place where food grows from the ground at a whim and the inhabitants want for nothing. This is not the case. It is true that the Maiden Worlds were engineered to be a paradise for eldar by the Old Eldar Empire, with plentiful food and resources, perfect climate, no diseases, etc. However, properly Shaadomeiforming a world requires a lot of subtle tweaking and constant maintenance and the last time anyone checked to make sure these systems were maintained was thousands of years ago. Since the Fall, many of the climate and environmental systems intended to turn the Maiden Worlds into paradises have broken down. The Maiden Worlds were also intended to be settled by Eldar using Old Empire technology, with ‘modern’ medicine, agriculture, infrastructure, etc.

No one expected a bunch of crazy Luddites to settle there and start raising the dinosaurs, especially given the forefathers of the Exodites deliberately picked the worlds that were half-finished and harshest to live on. This was done both because [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Asurmen|it was the last place any roving raiders from the Old Empire would look for them]] and because they wanted their descendants to have to work to make a living to keep from falling into decadence. Starvation and want are not unknown on Exodite Worlds, and birthrates have to be maintained carefully to prevent overpopulation. Violent disputes between clans are not uncommon, though in general they are willing to resolve differences between ceremonial combat between dragon riders (which nevertheless can still result in death) than all-out warfare. In addition to seeing the Craftworlders as decadent and insufficiently distancing themselves from their old ways, Exodites [[Wood Elves (Warhammer)|also often see their Craftworld kin as soft and weak compared to them]].

== Feral/Feudal Worlds ==

When the Imperium discovers a feral or feudal world, they often like to uplift it as much as possible before they actually start recruiting from it. Even though a lasgun might be so simple an idiot can use it, the Imperium still likes it when the people holding know enough to know which end is the killy bit.

Of course, given the state of the galaxy in M41, standards have started to slip a bit and the Imperium has become more desperate for manpower.

As a result you get, for lack of a better term, Ascended Feral Worlds. Worlds that know about the galaxy beyond their door, but aren't super interested in giving up their way of life. As a modern example, think of the tribes in the Amazon or some parts of Africa today who are still living in the same ways their great-grandparents, the only difference being that they are wearing t-shirts, and carrying steel knives and electric lanterns instead of loincloths, stone tools, and torches.

Not that they would tame the world, as such. Cretacia, for example, will always be a dinosaur infested shit heap, but the people are living rather than merely surviving. The Flesh Tearers are still brutal as fuck front-line high-speed meat grinders but they don't eat people. Blood rituals, but not actually gnawing the flesh from human bones.
It's all about lifting up from the muck rather than letting thousands wallow because "muh super stronk child soldiers" that Vanilla operates on. There are plenty of worlds that are just "ooga booga, where da magiks at" short of just devolving back to nomadic society. The difference between vanilla and the AU is that the culture developed on these planets changed from "gas the Xenos, race wars now!" to "we must unite to kill anything threating" during the Great Crusade. Oscar specifically didn't want to see a civilization like Ursh developing in his Imperium. There is still fear of the unknown in these Death and Feudal worlds but nowhere near to the extent as in vanilla. Things considered barbaric are outlawed or at least regulated such as sanctioned ritualistic combat as opposed to pit fighting to the death or only using animal sacrifices.

Their standard of living is raised, and they aren't savages, but they aren't interested in building hives or "going soft". Some are enticed by the bright lights of the greater galaxy and leave, but for others it would be too much culture shock.

Only Kreig post-apocalypse kills any unauthorized xenos on sight. But that’s more because it’s Krieg than anything else.

==Technology==

===Banned Technology===

Although the technological level of the Imperium circa M41 is closer to 30k than canon 40k, there are still some technologies that are not used, not because they are lost but because their use is outright banned. [[Arco-flagellant]]s and [[Penitent Engine]]s are two of these, the Steward took one look at the design (which may have even come from Ursh or some place similar) and went "[[Meme|into the trash it goes]]". The Steward didn't see them as serving much of purpose other than perpetuating [[Dark Eldar|sadism]], and for the very worst crimes that were too severe for incarceration yet not bad enough to merit a summary [[Blam|BLAM]]-ing the existential fear of servitorization set enough of an example. [[Thallax|Thallaxi]], on the other hand, are still used, though the AdMech use methods that ensure a higher standard of life (slightly, less perpetual agony and more [[Wraithguard]]) and only take volunteers especially since [[drider|turning themselves into more machine than man is exactly what most tech-priests and Skitarii dream of]]. If they didn't survive the procedure then they obviously had insufficient faith in the Omnissiah.

The Imperium also doesn’t use [[Exterminatus#Virus_Bomb|virus bomb]]s anymore. Or at least they did, up until they rescued Isha and she was able to give a [[/d/|graphic description]] of exactly what happened to Nurgle every time a virus bomb was detonated in realspace. Having just run through the personal demesne of that particular being, the Imperium were't exactly thrilled about the idea of making the owner of that fetid hellscape even stronger every time they used a virus bomb.

==Relations of Minor Xenos Races==

The arrangement between the two dominant races of the Imperium and the minor xenos races is kind of like that between the Council and non-Council races in Mass Effect. Like the Council, the two dominant races make most of the decisions, and the others often get the hose. Is this fair? Who can say. It's one of the grayer areas of this Imperium's morality. The Imperium is often a human and Eldar show because 98% of the population is human and Eldar and so the Imperium's decisions are primarily going to affect those people. At the same time, the Imperium doesn't butt into the business of the minor races unless they're stirring up trouble, so it's not like they're dictating things to other races.

As was mentioned in a previous thread (I think), this is one of the reasons the Tau seem so ambitious. They know that they're third in line in terms of population, and they know if things go good for the Tau and bad for the humans and Eldar there might be three races making all the decisions, rather than two.

The population thing about Eldar versus Tau is actually based on canon. According to what I can find, Tau are at best in the hundreds of billions. Craftworld and Exodite Eldar together are at least a few trillion. Despite being a dying race in canon, there are surprisingly a lot of Eldar in the galaxy. Even with the Tau empire being larger than in canon (it's about the size of Ultramar) and the Eldar not dying so much, the Eldar still massively outnumber the Tau.

This doesn’t even get into humans, which are so numerous that the Administratum in both timelines just plain gave up trying. There are some species of abhumans that are more numerous than many minor xenos races.

==The Navigators==

With the possible extension in Navigator elder sanity, the relatively more tolerant attitude towards physical deviation, moving shop to the Jovian Orbitals and AdBio attention it could be seen that elder navigators remain active for longer.

The mutations generally result in them looking like a cross between a Stage 2 Guild Navigator from Dune (possibly depicted by H.R. Giger) and a citizen of Innsmouth when the fish genes start to kick in but at least the mutations are more stable now and can be managed. No more constant crippling agony due to body changing shape unstably and no more brain functioning erratically.

Down side is that there is still no cure. The more inbred Navigators also have it worse on the mutations, hence the constant drive to keep getting new blood in to the houses even if it does take the female navigators out of action for the duration of the pregnancy and takes a minimum of 4 generations to produce anything useful.

The high nobility of the Imperium could be quite used to seeing navigator elders on state business, or at least not freak out too hard about their weirdness. Xeno citizens would either just assume that they are human in the same way that the Nova Beastmen are human (because humans are weird) or just assume that they are another type of xeno the Imperium met before them. Either way the Imperium is full of weird, this is not unexpected for them.

Life span for Navigators should be longer than a baseline human. Baring illness or injury possibly as high as 400 years. With rejuvenant drugs and shit this can be extended to 750 years, or the same as the upper limit on baseline humans. Should be higher but the treatments were made for baseliners and the Navigators are weird on ever scale of their biology so they tend not to be too compatible with that shit.

The rejuvenant drugs don't actually do anything to slow down or prevent the onset of the mutations as the mutations are not a sign of aging. If anything it allows an individual longer to live so that they can become more inhuman.

It's also worth noting that there is a school of thought in the AdBio that their inherent longevity is a direct result of the mutations and that outward signs of aging mostly only resemble getting old at an aesthetic level. Nevigators don't in fact get old, they just get more navigatory.

Presumably if one lived to be an estimated 1,200 year old they would have reached the 100% mutation mark, no longer have any human remnants in their biology and would be an entirely new species. Sadly only the medical knowledge of the Dark Age would be enough to get them to last that long.

They also tend to reject cybernetics. All attempts to find a way around this have failed.

Examination of the genes found exclusively in Navigator has proved confusing. They are mostly human, hence the ability to interbreed. A few of the genes are 100% artificial and found only in one other organism (Emperor Oscar) and some of the more odd genes seem to have been grafted from an as of yet undiscovered xeno organism.

The xeno genes also seem to spread in a manner not compliant with normal biology. If left to their own devices in laboratory conditions they subsume and transform the rest of the DNA in whatever cell they are in. They do not change it into copies of themselves but into what is presumably the rest of the code from the species they were extracted from. This is conventionally impossible, but there it is.

Attempts to cultivate and grow the cell samples into a viable organism have thus far failed.

Suggestion of introducing the fully mutated sample into a living Navigator to create a "pure" navigator without any human have been rejected by unanimous vote of the House Elders. Possibly they know what the creature would be or they may have some other reason. Possibly they just don't want to break the exclusivity on their bloodlines.

It is possible, even probable, that the Navigators would gradually become these strange xenos if they lived long enough. Although the nature of these xenos is unknown besides having an extremely close connection to the warp and possibly being aquatic or having originally evolved in an at least semi-aquatic environment. Nemensor Zandrek once remarked that Navigators seemed familiar to him but he couldn't remember why. They made him feel slightly angry, but not at them, but he couldn't remember who. It's quite vexing say what..

== Religion ==
The Imperium is officially secular, providing a limited freedom of religion, as long as you don't worship Chaos or Oscar.
Known Sector Relevant Religions:
*Katholian Church - basically Catholicism with the Emperor seen as some sort of saint. Good old Olly Pious and Lorgar were members back in the day. Terrain branch and off-world branches reunited by Word Bearers. Implied to be a far-flung descendant of an Abrahamic religion that changed over the centuries due to exchange of ideas with other creeds like Zoroastrianism or Buddhism to the point it is barely recognizable. Had a nasty sister branch, Kartharanism, which was formerly the state religion of the Yndonesian Bloc and had thing for omens and believed that only through suffering (whether self-inflicted or otherwise) was any worth found in the world. One of the primarch Lorgar’s biggest accomplishments was the writing of the ''Lectatio Divinitatus'', which reunified the two branches into a single whole.
*Promethian Creed - An old faith predating the Unification but united into a cohesive whole by Vulkan. They view the Emperor as a perfect human but still human and therefore flawed. Strong focus on community strength.
*Fenris Paganism - A loose collection of polytheistic tribal faiths. Each tribe has a slightly different pantheon but most have some sort of overlap. Ulfrik the Slayer is the nominal head of the religion.
*Yechudism - Presumably pseudo-Jewish, and somehow related to the Katholian faith
*Eldar - Let's work on that
*Cults of Oscar - Working on them (Sangy Guardsman)
*Omnissiah* - Y'ALL WORSHIPPIN' THE VOID DRAGON NOW (ahem)
*"Death Cults"/Religio Mortem* -
*Tanith Small Gods* -
*Catachan gods of blood and wood* - A bunch of nutters with their old deep forest gods. Every god is an asshole who kills you with various flora and fauna if you fuck up or offend them. According to the Catachans, it's really easy to do so. Catachans worship them by going to church once a week and just fucking screaming at the alters cursing them out.
*Armageddon Outrider Ancestor Worship - Have some kind of ancestor worship setup where they demand that their ancestors "witness them" before performing some deed worthy of mention.
*Cadia - A variety of beliefs are practiced on Cadia, but the most common is a predominantly maltheist and misotheist belief derived from Old Cadian customs. Believe the gods exist, how could you not on Cadia, but that it is every man, woman, and child’s duty to do the exact opposite of what they want and give the finger to them. Interestingly they don't believe Isha is a god because she's 1) in realspace, 2) looks mortal, and 3) not actively malicious. It's worth noting that Old Cadian uses the same word for "god" and "daemon", the closest distinction being made is "god" sometimes more literally translated as "big daemon".
*Prosperine Hermeticism* - Dominant religion on Prospero and by extension the descendants of the Prosperine refugees on Old Earth. Has a big focus on syncreticism and learning all the things. Divided up into several "schools" which despite differing often radically in their philosophies all consider each other sects of the same religion, a worldview that drives outsiders batty. According to legend, the religion started during the Age of Strife when the greatest sages on Prospero met to try and understand the meaning of the universe. Pooling their powers to try to see the fabric of reality, they were all struck with a vision, though no two people saw the same thing. Each founded their own school based around this (think Ancient Greek "air is the center of the universe", "no water is" and so on) hence their worldview of the different schools as sects of the same religion. Though the Prosperans were usually pretty careful about not delving too deep into some stuff (if the Warp was the Great Ocean, it was certainly one full of sharks), the fact that they tended to pick up traditions from other worlds led people to worry about Prosperine Hermeticism as a gateway for Tzeentch, and in a few cases Tzeentch did get in.
*Classical Ancestor Worship*
*Murphyism - Worshippers of the concept of Murphy's Law via an imperfect interpretation of historical documents leading to the view of Murphy being a metaphorical personification of the phenomenon of "everything goes sideways sometimes" rather than a general observation. Believe Murphyism got a huge boost in popularity after [[Nobledark_Imperium_Writing#The_Month_of_Murphy|Cegorach admitted that the power of Murphy's Law probably exceeds even himself or the Chaos Gods (though he considers Murphy's Law to be a universal concept rather than an actual being), and "Murphy" made an absolute fool out of the Emperor]].
Innumerable other Faiths are practiced from world to world

=== Yechudism ===
(WIP. Author notes in parentheses)
Yechudism is a cousin to the Katholian Faith, in that they pull from the same initial source: The Prophet of The Book, who produced a divinely-inspired text concerning the place of man in God’s Universe, called the Codices of Duality, in about 798.M26 during the Age of Strife. The difference is that the ancient Yechudites merged it with their native beliefs, while the Katholians replaced theirs entirely with the Codices. (note: the Codices of Duality is not, unlike the Bible/Torah or even the Kojiki, a mytho-historical legitimization text. It is more like a body of laws with a mythological reward/punishment section)

Yechudism is a multi-worship, dualistic, ritualistic faith. Beginning with Quolious (The sacred name permitted to mortal mouths), their deity of goodness and creation, who is forever locked in a battle to maintain universal purity with the Great Adversary, whose name is forbidden; it then fuses ancestor guidance with animism in an almost non-existent religious hierarchy. (Basically a Zoroastrianism basis mixed with Shinto beliefs and Jewish leadership)

The religious leaders are the Rabuni (singular Rabun), who are common to both faiths as sacred scholars. However, the Katholians place them to the side of the religious hierarchy, putting in place a complex structure of priests, cardinals, bishops, various other titles, and the Church Father (space pope!). To the Yechudim, above the Rabuni is only Quolious, and the Rabun is equal to the common person in the eyes of Quolious.

To live in the Yechudite faith is to live in ritual. There are prayers for everything, an attempt to bind your action to furthering Quolious’ Great Plan. Many of the rituals are shared with the Katholians, but their context is not: The Katholians allow only a few rituals to be performed by the individual, with the rest requiring the guidance of a priest in a sacred space. A Yechudite can perform any ritual he wishes, as he is considered to carry sacred space with him. Only a few require more than the individual, and the requirement is to simply have a group of ten adults of the faith participate.

Quolious does not provide guidance: They are too busy dealing with big stuff for that. For help, a Yechudite turns to his Ancestors, the Sacred Ancestors, and the Spirits. His Ancestors are just that: his line of ancestors who were of the faith, lending advice and aid to his efforts. The Sacred Ancestors are considered the Ancestors of every person of the faith; these are people who became shining paragons of what the faithful can be. The Spirits live in every object, being the spiritual form of reality, and are less worshipped and more bartered with in a very ritualistic fashion. The Rabuni can dispense with formality, part of their training involving learning to speak with them (can they? Can they not? Who knows?), and it is from these interactions that the rituals for dealing with spirits are derived.

===Eldar Polytheism===

Overall, Eldar polytheism is rather similar to ancient Greek polytheism, where you have a core group of more powerful immortals and then a wider group of less powerful gods. However, one major difference is that in Eldar polytheism you have one god, Asuryan, who is superior to all gods rather than merely the most powerful among the older generation (as shown by his ability to make a decree and actually make it stick). Another major difference is the gods don't seem to be organized by generation, where you have an older generation of more powerful immortals (Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter), who represent more primordial concepts and a younger, "closer to mortals" generation that represent more human concepts (Athena, Hephaestus, Ares). Eldar polytheisms Big Three were Isha, Kurnous, and Khaine, whereas Lileath, Morai-Heg, Vaul, and the like filled out the pantheon. Morai-Heg was definitely among the older gods (being Isha's mother), whereas Isha, Kurnous and Khaine are in many ways associated with more mortal concepts (The Mother, The Hunter, The Warrior).

Isha and Morai-Heg are both earth deities, but in different ways. Isha represents fertility, family, healing/heath, plantlife, and the harvest (i.e., the stuff on top of the earth), whereas Morai-Heg is a more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chthonic| chthonic] earth deity that represents the earth itself (often being associated with Shaa-Dome itself). Lileath is typically associated with the moons (both moons in general and the white moon of Shaa-Dome that is named after her).

There is significant debate as to where Cegorach fits into this paradigm. Some say he is the fourth member of the Mother, Hunter, Murderer trio but at the same time is more powerful and influential than the other lesser gods but still not operating on the same level as the other 3. Other say that as a trickster deity Cegorach is by nature a liminal being and therefore outside the traditional pantheon structure. When asked directly by eldar in more Cegorach gave the straightforward and yet completely unhelpful answer. "I'm the Cosmic Jester that runs an interdimensional carnival and my followers are ninja clowns. I defy sensible classification".

Eldar polytheism is, as one might expect, mostly an eldar thing, though it exists in a minority form among human populations on many worlds and is actually a majority religion among humans on places like [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Colchis|Colchis]].

'''Isha Worship'''

Like Ishtar, Isha priestesses are known to engage in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sacred_prostitution| sacred prostitution], and *ahem* ''[[PROMOTIONS|motivational]]'' pictures of Isha exist, despite the eldar normally frowning on such things. This causes most humans no end of confusion, though to eldar the difference is perfectly clear. Pictures of Isha and those blessed by Isha aren't bawdy, they're religious art displaying the miracles of the goddess and her power. It just so happens that Isha's realm is that of fertility. Most non-eldar just chalk it up to a weird xenos thing.

Vulkan (who along with Magnus spent the most time with the Steward out of any of the primarchs due to living several millenia) really didn't like Isha because of this, because he saw it as an affront to the Promethean Creed and traditional family values. The fact that Isha was the goddess of motherhood and family as well as fertility was quietly glossed over, because the more weird and unusual aspects of Isha worship were what was more immediately obvious (kind of like how Romans saw early Christians as cannibals). Vulkan habitually referred to the Disciples of Isha as Temple Whores and Isha as Queen of the Whores although he stopped that after Oscar had a quiet word with him. When Vulkan's opinion on the eldar changed from "the Eldar can go to hell" to "well-meaning, but insensitive and racist", Vulkan tried to encourage Isha to play up the "matron" side of her portfolio and downplay the "fertility", ignoring the fact that doing so would be like asking her to suppress a part of her.

Isha priest/priestesses perform several important duties in Eldar society. Their role in sacred prostitution is one of the factors resulting in the glacial increase in the Imperial eldar population, and they tend to have multiple births in an even higher ratio than the average eldar. They sometimes act as healers in cases where normal healing isn't good enough. They are also the only ones other than Isha herself who can synthesize new soul stones, which means no more costly and dangerous expeditions to the ruins of the Old Empire(which in this universe have very pissed off inhabitants).

=== Baalite Wheel Faith ===

The Blood Angels and the majority faith for the people of Baal is that there is a wheel of fate and that the world goes in cycles of birth and death and rebirth. Everything is bound to this cycle, the cycle continues.

Gods are as bound to the cycle as mortals, possibly more so. There is no way off of Mr Bone's Wild Ride. Your only hope is to make it to either selfishly cut all ties to everything so you can become light of soul enough to get to the middle where shit is less animate and the lack of reaction causes you to achieve a state of Nirvāṇa because nothing is bothering you.

The other way of doing things correctly is the selfless giving of your time, effort and life to making the eternal journey on the wheel less awful. The result is a better world than there should have been for the next time around.

Souls are endlessly recycled but the indifference or cruelty of the wheel strips away all things from one life as it enters the next so unless you are selfless and leave something behind to make it less shit the journey is harder and unless you record your wisdom increases in ignorance.

By good works and the preservation of knowledge the cycle is made bearable.

It is theoretically possible to remain in Nirvāṇa indefinitely if you cut every single tie to life before the moment of death and made it to the total stillness of the absolute centre of the wheel. Sadly the exact centre is by definition a single point so can only have one occupant and it is held by Death. He is not moving. He is eternal, the one constant, the ur-god.

To the Blood Angels there is not Heaven, there is not Hell, there is no Judgement after death, there is just the Wheel upon which we are all imprisoned seemingly eternally. There is, therefore, ultimate incentive to make the imprisonment as good as possible.

They follow the teachings of their ancient masters in the knowledge that somewhere out there they have been born again in ignorance. By the propagation of their teachings and the imparting of recorded wisdom they can be brought out of their ignorance again.

They do not see Saint Celestine as special merely because she is a possible reincarnation of Sanguinius. There have undoubtedly been thousands of reincarnations of good ol' Sangy down the ages. They consider her special because of the wings, they are a clear and unmistakable omen that shit is going to get real in her lifetime because the last time Sangy's soul wore wings was the founding of the Imperium.

They acknowledge that the other gods of the other faiths in the Imperium are probably real, not that this makes them special and any god claiming to be all knowing is, in their eyes, either a liar or stupid.

To the people of Baal the gods of Chaos are indeed gods. They are also abominations that are going against their purpose on the Wheel and as such need to die. And yes, gods can die, only Death reigns eternal.

Ynnead they don't know of, not yet. They would consider that it is either an aspect of the ur-god reflected in the minds of mortals like an image in a gently moving stream or they would consider it to be a god taking the image of Death. They would not take offense as imitation is the highest form of flattery.

Nightbringer they do know. Given Mephiston alone how could they not? There's imitation and then there's a sick fucking mockery. Nightbringer is a stain upon the galaxy trying to imitate something it doesn't understand to justify atrocities.

In any case Nightbringer, Ynnead and Impossible Child would not to them be the ur-god made flesh. The ur-god is already made manifest, you're standing in it.

They see Emperor Oscar as exactly what he is in that he is an artificial construct of the Dark Age. They also see him as a very enlightened heathen. Some of them think he is a god, some do not. Those that do are spared the Emperor's ire as to the Baalites the difference between gods and plebs is not so great.

=== Ultramarian Polytheism ===

Despite being mostly Greco-Roman inspired, the Ultramarian pantheon looks more like Hellenized Egyptian polytheism than anything else. Though the gods are often depicted as wearing togas. The chief deity in Ultramarian polytheism is Hera, goddess of the sun, life, light, law, and order. Given that the denizens of Ultramar are a space-faring society her position as defender of the sun is often depicted in a figurative light, the sun representing the light of civilization around which society is nurtured. She is often associated with lionesses, or depicted with the head of a lioness. Other times she is depicted as blindfolded to represent that justice is impartial and holding a set of scales in one hand and a sword in the other as justice means nothing if people aren't willing to enforce it. The other deities in the Ultramar Pantheon are subservient to her and usually her offspring because it is only from this light and the willingness to protect this light and warmth that the very basics of humanity, not a a civilization, but as a functioning species can arise. She is worshiped extensively by the PDFs and the IG Regiments raised in Ultramar, they do not typically pray for her to protect them but that they might protect others. Basically Ma'at meets Ra with a dash of Sekhmet.

Thanatus is another deity worshiped, if worshiped is the word. Some of the more fringe worlds might raise a regiment or two into which they can dump them as a containment measure. They are, the ones that are born on the ground, Ultramar's local branch of the Religio Mortis usually referred to as Morites. They do enlist to protect. They are typically those who have lost too much to want to stay and now pray that they can get even. They demand the chance to honour their Pale Lord, to be his hands in this world and take some fucker out before he claims them. Often depicted as like a spider sitting at the heart of a galactic web. He is also worshiped by the Void Born of the Eastern Fringe as one of their tribal gods. They do not share their traditions with outsiders

== Imperial Holidays ==

In general, there aren't a lot of holidays that are practiced universally across the Imperium, generally because what might be considered significant to one group of people may not be to another. Sanguinalia is the only holiday that is pretty much consistently practiced across the Imperium, and is seen as a period of remembrance for those lost in the War of the Beast and good will towards all. Even then it is a primarily human holiday.

Another celebration that is practiced across much of the Imperium is a celebration in honor of the memory of Hoec. Hoec was the god of messengers, travelers, and the Webway, as in the past it was often customary for messengers travelling between outposts to be given food and drinks (usually alcoholic) by the host as part of sacred hospitality (especially pre-War in Heaven). Today the celebration is performed once a Craftworld year in memory of Hoec and the other deceased Eldar gods and resembles a cross between St. Patrick’s day and a New Orleans funeral (complete with the eldar equivalent of bagpipes). It’s a celebration for which the paths system is relaxed for just one day (which not coincidentally helps prevent people from getting pathlost). Other races like to join in for the free alcohol, though humans generally stay away from the eldar stuff since humans can’t digest most of the plants Eldar use to make alcohol.

== Psykers and How the Imperium Treats Them ==

The Rhetor Imperia didn't mean to build an army. They were teachers, after all. But, as the saying goes, spare the rod, get killed and eaten by daemons spilling forth from the mind of the child...

The threat of Chaos is still there, and still insidious. For those poor souls 'gifted' with psionic powers, a moment's carelessness could lead to their very soul being torn asunder, and their very flesh rendered into a portal for daemons to slip into the materium to sow terror. The only reprieve is that it is rare for psykers to manifest their abilities before the onset of puberty (But it is still horrifyingly possible for prodigies to manifest earlier). Because this is the Nobledark Imperium, generally speaking lynch mobs and witch hunts are frowned upon. Not that that doesn't happen, but it doesn't have state sponsorship. The Emperor generally prefers murder as a last resort, and done with a degree of professionalism.

Instead, the issue of psykers is approached more humanely, with agents attempting to identify potentials as young as possible to minimize their chances of causing damage to the Imperium. The approach to this problem was two fold- first, corral all possible problem children into facilities for inspection and safe sequestration until the black ships arise, and secondly, educate the populace (Responsibly) about these dangers, and what to do in case such happens.

In the name of efficiency, these two functions have been combined into one institution. From birth, all children of the Imperium are supposed to be offered a place in the Schola Vulgus to better themselves and learn proper moral values and skills to serve the Imperium better. The courses range from basic arithmetic to diagnosing warp corruption, from samples of Imperial literature to learning Xenos languages.

Black Ships are less hellish. They perform a service to the Imperium and everyone knows it. With the population knowledgeable about the basics of Chaos and the hazards of the Warp few if any psykers resist invitation to the Black Ships. They know that they are going to Earth to be made safe one way or the other and there is little to fear.

Because there is still a mass immigration/pilgrimage of Psykers to Old Earth the rejects who decide to stay and their descendants have started to build up somewhat in the population. Psychic talent and training is one of Old Earth's exports. Was 2nd to Prospero before the 4th Black Crusade and Rubric of Ahriman. Much of Prospero's psychic population ended up on Old Earth because they wanted to be among their own kind.

Some of the Craftworlds and planet dwelling Eldar Enclaves also offer basic making your shit safe training as it is in their interest to do so.

Psyker-heavy worlds like Old Earth and (formerly) Prospero also have dampening crystals that help young, uncontrolled psykers calm their minds and learn to control their powers without exploding into daemons. Problem is the crystals have to be made by growing them in a low-intensity psychic field over a period of several years (nearly 30 if you want a good one), and so are only really used on worlds that have a significant proportion of psykers. On top of that, the good crystals are the about the size of a large statue or a small building, so they're not really portable and the Imperium can't just stick one on every psyker and be done with it.

== Treatment of Mutants ==

Despite the overall change in tone, mutants are still treated relatively poorly in the Imperium. Like the condonement of certain forms of slavery, treatment of mutants is another big area of intentional values dissonance between the Imperium and modern society. The Imperium frequently commits infanticide on those who are born with mutations on a scale hitherto unheard of in human history, reasoning that it is better to put them out of their misery now and spare them a life of suffering. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Celestine|Celestine]] only survived because Ophelia VII was fanatic enough about their reputation to check, the implication being that other children with active Sanguinius genes may have existed throughout the centuries but got killed as infants because people assumed they were run of the mill mutants. Even then, Celestine’s parents kept her isolated for most of her childhood on their farm in the middle of nowhere because they were afraid of repercussions.

At the same time, the general opinion of your average Imperial citizen to mutation is more along the lines of “those poor bastards” rather than “purge the unclean”. Due to the extremely high rate of infanticide, the most common sources of mutation in the Imperium are 1) former Guardsmen and PDF who were exposed to Warp energy and other gribbly phenomena, 2) people exposed to various mutagens in places like the underhives, and 3) Chaos cultists who have received boons from their gods. As a result, many people tend to view mutants with suspicion, seeing them like a Yakuza member who is trying to gain sympathy by passing off their missing ring finger as a workplace accident. The Navigators still keep the nature of their change on the down-low because although they are actually abhumans they are paranoid that people will consider increasing changes throughout lifespan + warp exposure = mutant.

Additionally, even though the Imperium takes pains to make sure that the idea of "normal genetic variation is completely okay, abhumans are not mutants, alteration through genetic engineering is not mutation)" is made perfectly clear to everyone across the Imperium, there are many backwater, superstitious worlds where the idea of baseline humans that look different from the average population, much less [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Carlos_McConnell|cat-people]] or tech-priests or Astartes or squats or Void Born, is still a shocking concept. People from one Segmentum may have never heard of an abhuman breed from the other side of the galaxy and on these worlds abhumans, let alone xenos, run the risk of being labelled mutant by the sheltered populace. Ironically, this concern is not totally misplaced, there have been cases where semi-stable Chaos cults have passed themselves off as abhumans by claiming they belong to an abhuman species from the other side of the galaxy. A secondary job of Ordo Mutatio in addition to providing oversight of the notoriously spacey Adeptus Biologicus is to act as an external authority invalidating claims of Chaos worship-induced mutation before some yokels end up burning innocent people at a stake.

There are even cases where certain mutant-phobic worlds servitorize their entire mutant population by labeling them as mentally invalid, even if they are physically and mentally capable of living their own life, [[bullshit|“for their own good”]], of course.

== Path of the Enforcer/Judge ==

The Eldar on the Path of the Enforcer/Path of the Judge are the intepreters and enforcers of law in Eldar society. A lot of the Eldar on this path tend to be individuals that have spent time both on the Path of Awakening and the Path of the Warrior. Due to the semi-monastic nature of Craftworld society and the fact that Eldar seem to have a communal idea of law, individuals on the Path of the Enforcer/Judge are much less common than one would expect based on human society. This path probably always existed to solve legalistic disputes within and between Craftworlds, but became much more important when the Eldar joined the Imperium.

The Path of the Judge probably exists in vanilla 40k, given that there are records of Eldar outlaws and law-breakers, but is probably not very important, since the punishment for most crimes in Eldar society is simple banishment. Here, the Path of the Judge serves a much more important purpose, since the Eldar engage in many more interactions with other species and simply cannot let their criminals roam free in the galaxy anymore. To the Eldar, you cannot let criminals loose anymore, because those stars are no longer mon-keigh stars. They are your stars. When the Eldar started negotiating with the wider Imperium, the Eldar considered these philosophers of law crucial to make sure the Eldar got the best end of the deal possible. Basically think of 2000 year old lawyers that literally know every loophole and trick in the book.

There are two main schools or aspects, for lack of a better word, in this path. One is for the people who actually enforce the laws and their day-to-day application. Few Eldar get lost on this aspect of the path, but those who do tend to end up like a cross between Elrond (or is that a Noldor) and Judge Dredd. The other is the more philosophical study of the nature of law and morality itself. One might refer to them as "Eldar lawyers" or "law-seers", but they're closer to ancient Greek legal philosophers than anything else. Most Enforcers who get too old to serve or are veering from the path tend to end up here.

== The Feast of Blades ==

In response to Luther subverting the majority of his legion during the War of the Beast, Lion El’Jonson divided the remaining Dark Angels into small orders and scattered them across the galaxy, so that one person could never have so much power over the entire legion. However, he wanted the Dark Angels to know he still cared about them, so he set up an event (the Feast of Blades) based on the knightly tournaments of Franj to reinforce the ties of brotherhood between Dark Angel chapters. Also it was made a more open event back in late M33. The Dark Angels are all about transparency and some of the more radical/puritan/arseholeish Inquisitors were suspecting them of some sort of Khornate ritual. Now other chapters outside of the Dark Angels progeny are invited to spectate and take part. The Feast of Blades is also a spectacle for the common folk, being one part knightly tournament, one part training exercise, one part Olympic games. It has television crews broadcasting it across whatever system it is being housed on live but for light speed delays to the general populace and recordings of the proceedings made and shipped on disc across the Imperium. There's even someone selling hotdogs. <s>It's Cypher.</s>

==Secret Societies==
To clarify what we've seemed to decide about the Imperial spy apparatus, The Alpha and Omega legions are the next level of fuckery up from the Inquisition and Astra Militarum, which includes the intrigues of Void Admirals and most Chapter Masters and such. These organizations all answer to the High lords. The top level of those organizations conspire as the Illuminate to eventually do something or other about Cthonia and the dear Cthonian, with much variety of aim.

The various Illuminati occasionally conflict with the Alpha Legion (ON the very-classified-record Imperial secret service/intelligence/black-ops) and Omega Legion (strictly OFF all records secret police/nominal-renegade/blacksite elements), but most of the time they work well together in mutual execution of their duties. The Alpha and Omega only answer to certain High Lords, and all to the Imperial Family, Oscar and Isha. They are much like the Custodes, but bound to the Emperor, not Oscar himself. The only real conflict between the Alpha & Omega and the Illuminate Order (and the Ordos they hold high station in) comes when some Illuminati gets some stupid idea and tries something dangerous or treasonous, or in more bureaucratic struggles between what the Illminate might like to do with Cthonia and what the Hydra is already doing there. The Hydra is to the Alpha, Omega, Favored Chapter Masters and Others, Custodes, and the Emperor and Empress' close courtiers what the Illuminate Order is to the great institutions of the Imperium. The Hydra is the influential circle that could be very well said to rule the galaxy in the Emperor's company, and very little is known as to its true membership even to the Illuminate.

The Illuminate Order is mostly Imperium, with strong representation from the Inquisition, who float the best crackpot long term plans, and the Administratum, who float the most insane ideas for technocratic reform, a small faction of Naval and Military officers that mostly partake to keep the other factions in check, an Eldar Farseer faction of similar size with similar goals, a handful of unaligned powerful galactic Statesman and Rogue Traders, and assorted blocs of Shola Psychana theorists. The Mechanicus also makes a significant faction in the Illuminate Order, and tends to have the most politically disruptive agendas in regard to Cthonia, Oscar, and Men of Gold in general. Broad goals of the Illuminati are the reclamation of Chthonia, understanding the fate of the Great and Bountiful Human Dominion, and understand the full power and fate of the Men of Gold. To these ends they use their personal influence and power to research and advance these projects within their respective organizations and in joint efforts.

The Hydra can be assumed to include the Emperor in its ranks, as when he was Steward, and likewise might include his venerable wife, and the old wizard Eldrad. Likewise the Illuminate Order assumes there is within this circle some agent of the Alpha, maybe another for the Omega, and a representative of the Custodes, at least one High Lord, and so on. There are signs of The Hydra during Earth's Unification, and in Terrawatt going back into Old Night. There are hints of The Hydra in parts of the broken Circlet, never before explored.

Lesser members of the Illuminate may not even be sure of the Omega Legion's existence, setting forward operating bases in The Eye and setting Fallen and Crone against each other.

To those same naive Illuminati "the Hydra" is often correctly guessed to also be a byword for machinations still above them, foremost being the Alpha Legion. The most learned and well connected of the Illuminate Order, those blessed by the Emperor's humoring fondness, have barely an inkling what The Hydra truly is, thinking it a conspiracy rather than a semi-immortal state.

It is known to have operated heavily on the Cthonian Circlet since the Great Hunt, apparently vacated the system during the reign of Emperor Vandire and only returned after the civil war. Since then various activity in the unmappable vastness of the broken ring has been attributed to "The Hydra" following the highest level of inquiry, and the few resources tracked into these depths are of incredible interest. Though rumors of Iron Minds being brought back to functionality and into order, Men of Gold returned from an extragalactic voyage bearing gifts and asking quarter, Methodology for the manufacture of true Godhead for the Emperor, and many more tales abound, others are more reasonable. The research of Man of Gold physiology and production, possibly their potential for natural reproduction, experiments on webway tunneling to once again tie the Dominion to its Capital, or even the resumption of Neutronium production to fully mend the Capital itself, even immortality research, are far likelier to be the secrets hidden by the hydra, and are in much closer keeping with Oscar's known aims.

The Hydra is the big secret project of the Imperial Court, akin to the Dragon for the Mechanicus. The Guardians of the Dragon might have to smack down nosy Illuminati, most often from their own faction, but that's cause they're the parallel route to chasing the Hydra. The Illuminate Order is where all the powerful and informed, but not top tier, congregate to pick at the secrets they've found, and bother the Imperial Court as much as the High Mechanicus. They Hydra and the Guardian's of the Dragon both know the other has a secret, they might even peek, but they mostly look the other way.

==Ansible Twins==

Ansible Twins are the fastest method of communication in the Imperium. Faster and more reliable than the average Astropath, faster than Navis Nobilite post boats, faster than Eldar webway runners. The problem is the requirements: twin psykers, born within a short timeframe of one another, with exactly identical psychic potential and barely any neurological differences, that are strong enough to survive being soulbound at the same time. Psyker twins often have some sort of strange connection (think Alpharius and Omegon in canon, or Eldar wraithlords) and in Ansible Twins this is basically taken up to eleven. Ansible twins are extremely rare: in a galaxy with quadrillions of humans, you might find one or two every decade. As a result, the Imperium tends to restrict them to extremely important communication links and infighting over them is always fierce.

The original Ansible Twins were Tedward and Todburt Ansible, born 347.M31 in the land of Strayllya on Old Earth. They definitely existed and Oscar definitely remembers Soul Binding them. It was thought at the time by Magnus, who was at the time the leading authority of the weird, to be some sort of bio-warp based entanglement.

Real-time, reliable FTL communication would be a holy grail for the Imperium. So you can bet the AdBio would be interested in it. Sadly, all attempts at artificially duplicating the phenomenon via cloning, induced twinning, cross possession, and other methods have yielded no success. You get twins that have varied psychic potential, one that has all the potential and the other with none, etc. It's psykery. It's sticking your dick in the Warp and hoping for the best. You can account for every variable, replicate every condition and still get a different result. The best they can do is just look for specific circumstances and hope for the best. On top of that, most of the proposed methods for creating ansible twins are highly ethically dubious and Oscar won’t touch them. Mass cloning psykers for the purpose of finding the one pair in a thousand that might work is generally considered a bad idea and leads to many issues. Like babies going crazy. And summoning daemons. Sometimes both. The last project got shut down by its own manager, who committed suicide by turning himself into a servitor. The project has still remained a holy grail for the AdBio, ever out of reach.

==Imperial Fiction and Entertainment==

===John Fuklaw and the Angry Marines===

Commissar John Fuklaw exists in this timeline, but the Angry Marines don’t. After a fashion. John Fuklaw exists, but he’s just a relatively normal man with a hair-trigger temper and a blood pressure problem. The John Fuklaw everyone thinks of, the one who runs on anger like tanks run on promethium and surfs Battle Barges like a Looney Toons character, is just that. A cartoon.

During his tenure as a Commissar, Fuklaw was stationed with a regiment of Baalite soldiers. Included with that regiment was a number of 1st Company Blood Angels (a.k.a. “Black Rage” marines). The Blood Angels are well-known for their tendency to see red when it comes to treason. The 1st Company take it up to 11, swearing an “Oath of Rage” to hunt down all enemies of the Imperium with immense abhorrence. They are basically about as close as you can get to Angry Marines in this timeline.

A Remembrancer assigned to cover the regiment saw Fuklaw and the 1st Company and found their antics hilarious. Years later, the much more highly positioned Remembrancer pitches the idea of a highly exaggerated version of them (kind of like G.I. Joe) complete with an fictional parody chapter of the 1st Company (the Angry Marines) to a local entertainment company and they love it. 20 years later the cartoon is a well-established cultural tradition with films, numerous spinoff series, toys, books and a few high budget films.

Fuklaw found out about the cartoon and flipped his lid. But then he found out a portion of the proceeds go to PDF pension fund and supporting wounded Guard veterans. So he tolerates it. Barely.

It is unclear how the Blood Angels are going to react. Seeing as the cartoon takes their vaunted 1st Company, who swear an Oath of Rage out of dedication to their founder, and makes a parody out of it.

===Portrayal of the Primarchs and Other Crusade-Era Figures in Imperial Culture===

Although there are uncountable numbers of films and shit about the Unification War, Great Crusade and War of The Beast there can only be a certain number of characters that people give a shit about. For every Lancelot there is are a hundred Lamorak and Kai.

Taranis, despite all he did, was still not a primarch, and was buried in a nowhere grave in Terrawatt among thousands of others. His grave is no site of importance like Sanguinius, Horus, or Lorgar. Arik might be known to extreme scholars of history in the same way [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Jay| John Jay] is known among the American founding fathers: an interesting person to those who know about him but otherwise literally who? The only notable recognition Taranis got in recent years was in 789.M40 when a film came out purporting to show the "true story" of the Imperium. In it, Taranis is portrayed as a bumbling sidekick and comic relief, like Baldrick on Blackadder. When you're playing the Watson to the Emperor of Mankind, and the people making the film thinks it "needs a comic relief to appeal to audiences", the committee turns you into the bumbling comedy relief. It was a step up from previous portrayals, in which Taranis was a literal spear carrier whose name was only mentioned in the credits. It's also a good thing Constantin Valdor wasn't around by M40 or there would have been words. The only reason the Emperor hadn't decried the film it would have made him too sad to see it.

Horus is remembered as a heroic Coyote- or Hermes-like trickster, his more oilier aspects and ambition ironed out. Part of this is because he only ever voiced his contrary opinions to the Steward behind closed doors. His infamous moment of indecision and subsequent epiphany are often turned into [[Cegorach|Horus tricking the Chaos Gods over and over to distract them from properly directing the War of the Beast]].

Sanguinius is remembered as Objectively Best Primarch, despite the fact he had feelings of insecurity and powerlessness and rage issues (which are never brought up in the public perception).

Ultramar and the Administratum just love Guilliman. For Ultramar, he is the law-bringer, the civilization shaper. The Ultramarines call Guilliman their spiritual liege because he is a figure of veneration for him despite having never been a super soldier, been born in Ultramar, or even fighting on the front lines during most of the Unification Wars and the Great Crusade.

The image of Russ in the common Media of the 41st millennium is that of the ultimate Honourable Savage Viking. Axe in one hand, keg sized beer mug in the other and a different woman every night. A riotous, loud and jovial marauder combining the most desirable parts of man and beast. Truth was he was a never unfaithful to his wives and held great reverence for the sanctity of marriage. His small tribe of daughters was just the result of both his wives and himself being active for the better part of five hundred years. He was also prone to bouts of depression and although he could laugh up a storm was more known for brooding and gnawing at old wounds. His sense of humour was fairly gallows and tended towards self depreciation. But that's hard to make sit-coms out of and the only Space Wolf left who remembers him spends most of his time asleep so who honestly gives a shit.

There has never been a film out that featured Bjorn for the simple reason that nobody apart from the Fenrisians and a small group of eldar give a shit about Bjorn.

Ollanius Pius is barely remembered outside of his famous role and he kamikazed a Rok from landing on the Imperial Palace. He is responsible for saving the Imperium. The only people that remember his name by 999.M41 are Oscar, Isha and Lion should Lion ever come out of the coma.

Of all the well known public names there is only one that has remained conspicuously absent from the big film releases; Eldrad "Unreasonable Royalties" Ulthran. Attempts to make films without informing the grumpy old bastard generally result in Eldrad kicking expensive executive doors in and yelling something on the lines of "heard you were talking shit about me like I wouldn't find out!"

It's not a pleasant experience and Eldrad just does it to fuck with people. He's a dick like that.

==The Void Born==

The Void Born Migrant Fleets were spiritual but decentralized, and inclined to novelty, commerce, and thinking on a vast scale in time and space. Believe it or not, although he named him one of his primarchs the Steward actually had problems with Horus, as Horus was one of the only primarchs to suggest a competing vision for humanity's future (although he only did so behind closed doors). A lot of Horus' dissenting ideas revolved around going with the flow and using inertia to your advantage than try to juggle fifty plates at once. Humanity is diverging as a species? Let them. It's foolish to force a single ideal as a species and as long as we remember we're all brothers and don't throw civilization and sapience out the window why interfere? Giant galaxy-spanning empire? Much easier to work as a semi-independent confederacy given how hard it is to enforce standards on a human civilization dependent on Warp travel. It's ironic to note that despite the Steward's best efforts to enforce his vision, the galaxy is still sliding towards Horus' ideal out of inertia and slow change, and any post-M41 galaxy where the Imperium meaningfully survives is going to look more like Horus' vision if the external threats of Chaos, the Necron Star Empire, and tyranids are lessened and places like Fenris and the Pastoral Worlds apply for Survivor Civilization status.

Void Born were all over the place as isolated clans prior to the Great Crusade. Not even that closely genetically related, Sol's Migrant Fleet interbred quite a bit with Earthlings, Martians, and Navigators enough that some (though very few) were compatible with Astartes augmentations. They were more culturally contiguous than any other human group from the Iron War through Old Night, and maintained rare local interstellar communication and travel in that era. In the current Imperium they are closely tied to the navy, and are the second largest ship building faction behind the AdMech, who don't bother them much about it due to their very long and close relationship. It was probably thanks to the Sol Voidborn that Mars even remembered there were other Forgeworlds out there. There might be a massive Voidborn presence in your home system, but unless you leave the planet or own a really good telescope you wouldn't know, they prefer asteroid belts and lagrange points to descending a gravity well, and only do so for things of great interest that can't come up to them. They love their kingdom of empty space more than any muddy landscape, and their niche has lead to a removed and culturally distinct subset of humanity still closely tied in to the wider Imperial civilization.

Void Born were/are known for being very gregarious, laid-back, and easygoing. High emphasis on community and working together. In the inky blackness of space you basically have to get along, as there is nothing but a thin starship hull between you and the Void. Also no need to burn bridges with people for whom you barely have to deal with most of the time and a friendship would be mutually profitable.

Good example of this is Abbadon versus Horus. Horus grew up in an era where space was dangerous in an uncaring force of nature sort of way and depending on one's fellows was the best bet for survival. Abbadon grew up during the Great Crusade when space stopped being uncaring and started being actively malevolent. Combined with the Void Born being incorporated into the more aggressive Imperium and he ended up with a more militaristic outlook on life (as in "kill them before they kill you"). That said, the two overlapped a lot in outlook, even if Abbadon didn't see it that way.

Sol Voidborn's claim to fame was that they acted as the mercenary transports of the Mechanicum of Mars and did a lot of work for them in-system in exchange for ships. Did a lot of trading between Earth, Mars, and the other Solar planets, along with the nearest outlying systems. AdMech had to build their own ships if they wanted to do something stupid like send an expedition out into where the maps said hic sunt dracones. The Mechanicum tended to use DaoT archaeotech ships for that like the Ark Mechanici until they started building their own.

Mars expected Void Born to side with them when the Imperium became a rising power. Horus took a look at the two (specifically not a big fan of the Olympus Mons brotherhood due to them crushing the others underfoot) and said "no". Or, at the very least, they wouldn't side with Mars over the Imperium.

Compared to other Void Born, Horus is rather notable in that he had ambition, vision, and military acumen. He wasn't a fighter in the same way Lorgar was a fighter: it wasn't his calling but he could still dish out pain (almost always on a ship or in zero G) if he had to. This is the guy who successfully sniped the Beast through guile during the Ullanor Crusade after all.

The Void Born once had a criminal element, much like the Pyrite Order “squat mafia”. Horus actually ran with the gangs in the bowels of the ships in his youth, which is how he knew how to approach ground combat despite being a spacer by birth. All of the major Void Born crime syndicates seemed to mysteriously disappear around the same time Horus got in the game and started unifying the clans. One might wonder why, and one might be denied an answer by fleet intelligence, because nobody saw nothing, and that nothing certainly didn't go down in Horus's used starship lot when some nosey fools asked pointed questions. This wasn’t because people actually didn’t know, Fleet Intelligence isn’t the Inquisition or the Alpha Legion, but rather what happened to the Void Born crime syndicates was an open secret among the Void Born but no one would say anything incriminating to outsiders because it would involve antagonizing the guy who out-mafiaed the Space Mafia (and few cared about the criminal element of the Migrant Fleet in the first place), little got written down and it fell out of history.

Void Born spiritual traditions vary massively from clan to clan. The ones around Ultramar venerate a member of the Religio Mortis trio and Aximand found religion as a coping mechanism after his uncle died. According to the Horus fluff their calendars don't even match up from clan to clan. Some cultural influence from the Diasporex up until the point of "ditch all your worldy things" which the Void Born say "hell no" to. Mention of the Mournival as a Void Born tradition, at least for the groups around Sol.

Void Born kind of fell apart as a unified nation after Abbadon the Last because they didn't have a lot of galactic scale ambition or the necessary cat-herding charisma (Horus was charismatic enough that he could have gotten Kurze and Mortarion to do what he wanted, which even Sanguinius couldn't accomplish) and the clans weren't going to start killing each other over who inherited the silverware.

There was some mention of Horus allowing immigration into the Migrant Fleet to get himself access to more geneseed-compatible recruits.

Void Born are gradually dying out as of M41, though "dying out" is an inaccurate description. The Imperial Navy is in part derived from the Void Born, the Void Born are massively outnumbered by groundpounders and due to population dynamics Voidborn genes are being diluted through interbreeding. Most of the big old naval families have significant Void Born ancestry and related features (pale skin, tall and skinny, receeding hairline). Some pure Voidborn still exist, as [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#Lady_High_Admiral_of_the_Imperial_Navy_Merelda_of_House_Pereth|Merelda Pereth]] will attest.

= Historical Species =

== Humanity ==

Editor's Note: Not finished per writefag, put here as a placeholder for now. Written as an in-universe "Humanity 101" Guide aimed primarily at curious Tau and Eldar who may not have had much contact with humans.

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Humans (''Homo sapiens spp.'') are a species of bipedal mammal native to the planet of Old Earth in the Segmentum Solar. Humans naturally range between 90 and 250 centimeters at adulthood, though their size and appearance is heavily dependent on the population they come from. Like many life-bearing worlds, the ecology of Old Earth shows signs of having been tampered with by the Old Ones, however the specific group to which humans belong did not begin to diversify until roughly around the end of the War in Heaven sixty-five million years ago, after a catastrophe wiped out the planet’s formerly dominant organisms, something that is thought to be related to the general Necron purge of Old One vivarium worlds.

Prior to the Age of Strife, humans were organized into the “Great and Bountiful Human Dominion”. The Great and Bountiful Human Dominion, in turn, were organized into the “Interstellar League” a group of allied like-minded xenos species that banded together in the face of external threats, mostly Orks and increasingly up to the Age of Strife raiding parties by the Old Eldar Empire. It is unknown how many other species were part of the Intersolar League, though it is known that the Tarellian Empire were members and there are suspicions that the Kinebrach were as well.

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Life in the Great and Bountiful Human Empire was dominated by the use of the Men of Iron, an artificially created race of sapient artificial constructs, which were linked to the Iron Minds, extremely powerful silica animus. The Iron Minds were originally created by humans, but their thought processes were so alien to humans that communication was nearly impossible. In order to facilitate communication with both the Iron Mind and the rest of the Empire as a whole, humans and the Iron Minds collaborated to created the Men of Gold (Homo sapiens aureus), a genetically engineered subspecies with substantial psychic, biological, and pseudo-cybernetic modification that could act as a link between the god-like Iron Minds and the average human and aid in broader faster-than-light communication to the wider galaxy.

Human (or “human beings” as they are sometimes referred to), are the second, possibly the third most abundant sentient life form in the galaxy, after intelligent orkoids and possibly after tyranids or necrons, depending on how one estimates the populations of these species and whether one considers them “sentient life”.

Prior to the Age of Strife, there were few subspecies of humans aside from artificially created variants like ''H. s. aureus'' (Men of Gold), H. s. navigo (Navigators), and ''H. s. variegatus'' (beastmen), as the human world were linked into a single empire and there were few opportunities for speciation. During the Age of Strife, most human worlds were effectively cut off from one another, which led to genetic isolation and the evolution of many distinct species, including ''H. s. minutus'' (ratlings), ''H. s. hirstutus'' (felinids), the “Ogryn subspecies complex” (''H. s. giganteus'', ''H. s. cranopus'', and related forms).

Hubworlders, although often (mis)classified as ''H. s. rotundus'', are not actually a distinct subspecies from baseline humanity. Genetic analysis of Hubworlders have found them to deviate from inhabitants of Old Earth (who are considered to be the genetic standard for humanity) to a degree comparable to the inhabitants of Cadia or many other worlds across the galaxy: in other words, not enough to be regarded as anything more than a local variant of baseline humanity. (Insert section talking about how their stature is due to gravity, and the AdMech classifying them as abhumans out of revenge for not rolling over for Mars).

As with any sentient species, describing what humans are like to a nonhuman is often very difficult, especially given their wide degree of variation and high number of subspecies. Because most of the individuals reading this guide will be Tau and eldar, comparisons will mostly focus on these two species. Despite their infamous superficial similarity to eldar, detailed examination shows that this resemblance is only skin deep. Instead, humans and eldar appear to have evolved a similar body shape as a solution to similar evolutionary problems despite being very different in biology and behavior in other respects, similar to what occurred between dogs and thylacines (a carnivorous marsupial that was a popular pet during the Dark Age of Technology and as a result can still be found on some human colony worlds) on Old Earth.

Like eldar, humans have permanently enlarged mammary glands, in contrast to a Tau in which the mammary glands are usually small but get larger for the short period of lactation following pregnancy. Additionally, like eldar, humans appear to be a naturally monogamous species (or at least require the care of multiple individuals to increase the likelihood of surviving to adulthood). Humans also exhibit adaptations designed to encourage this behavior, humans in the form of “hidden estrus”, eldar in the form of prolonged fertilization that requires the male to stay around in order to produce viable offspring. Like eldar, humans have a long pregnancy and give live birth to a relatively helpless infant, something that would be expected given the species moderately large soul and psychic presence. However, at nine months human pregnancy is much shorter than the 24 month long term period seen in eldar. Additionally, unlike eldar or tau (or indeed, most other species), human females are nearly helpless for much of their pregnancy due to a quirk of evolution, which causes human military structure to be unusually male dominated compared to most other species, something that really only changed with the advent of advanced weaponry during the Age of Terra.

However, unlike eldar, the human skeleton is made out of the mineral hydroxylapatite rather than wraithbone and humans have a shorter neck with seven, rather than nine, neck vertebrae (among other differences). Humans also lack the helical muscle with long tendinous insertions typical of Shaa-Dome lifeforms, which allows eldar to be deceptively strong despite their thin frame. In general, humans across the board have less acute sense than the eldar, but at the same time proportionally less of their brain is devoted to sensory perception (cognition is about the same) and they are not as prone to stimulatory overload or hedonism (some of this may also be a side effect of Old One genetic engineering). Compared to Tau humans have better depth perception and motion tracking, but poorer peripheral vision and do not see as far into the infrared or ultraviolet spectrum. Humans also have a much poorer sense of smell than most species, though this does not apply to all abhuman variants (e.g., felinids and beastmen). Baseline humans have next to no ability to detect pheromones.

The oral structures used for processing food are actually modified scales made of harder material than the rest of the skeleton, as in the tau, rather than outgrowths of the jaw plate as in eldar. Humans lack the multiple-lobed stomach of the tau or the simplified, highly efficient digestive tract of the eldar (though the latter is thought to be the result of genetic engineering). Human digestive systems are not particularly water efficient and as a result the products of their metabolism system tend to require a lot of water to successfully dispose of waste, rather than the water-efficient crystalline waste of the eldar (analogous to uric acid in birds on Old Earth). And, of course, although small amounts of epigenetic gene expression through methylation are known to occur on occasion in humans and other Terran lifeforms, selective gene expression and the associated, highly-bunched megasomes and quadruple helix DNA are not a defining feature of life on Old Earth as it is of all higher life forms on Shaa-Dome.

Humans are unique among sapient species in having white sclerae, a feature which is thought to have been a chance mutation on their homeworld but aids in non-verbal communication. Despite their similarities, eldar eyes have been described as resembling those of Earth deer whereas tau resemble grazing ungulates. White sclerae are a common feature of all baseline humans and abhuman strains, with a few notable exceptions such as Nightsiders, and their presence is a useful rule of thumb for identifying organisms with significant human geno-splicing. Some xenos individuals have remarked that human eyes are actually unsettling, occasionally giving them a rapacious, predatory look, whereas Nightsiders do not fall into this uncanny valley. The irony being that most human strains are less predatory than Nightsiders.

Human beings are also notable for having some of the lowest resistance to chaos corruption of any known sentiment species. On the Leitek-Bonn scale, which measures a species susceptibility to ambient chaos corruption with 50 representing the average species, human score a mere 28, in contrast to eldar (60), tau (82), orks (97), and of course the gold standard of the Watchers (99.5). This is thought to be due to several reasons. First, humans are naturally a competitive and domineering species. Although standing and social structure are an important component of the psychology of all sentient species, no other species dedicates so much of its time and energy to hierarchy, dominance, and social status as humans, with the possible exception of the pre-biotransference Necrontyr. Much like how the tau’s natural optimism and tendency towards social conformity are thought to derive from their ancestry as herding ungulates. Humans come from a group of animals with a naturally unstable social structure and whose diet (fruits, nuts, and meat) tends to be very unpredictable and hard to find. This gives them a tendency to be paranoid and second guess those around them. As an example, most species, if told that something is dangerous by a member of their own social group, tend to believe that individual. Humans, on the other hand, are often innately suspicious that said individual is lying, believing that the other individual is hiding some that they plan to use for themselves or increase their social standing. This was a useful adaptation millions of years ago when a compatriot might be hiding a piece of meat or stash of fruit, but is decidedly less helpful in the modern day where the “hidden” “resource” might be an actually dangerous Chaos artifact.

Secondly, even among their close relatives on Old Earth, humans are unusual in that the neurological architecture of the brain is very plastic and is not strongly genetically conserved between generations. While this is a common trait of almost all sentient species (and indeed, may be a criterion necessary for sentience to arise), the way in which it arose in humans has a side effect of greatly increasing the risk of mental dysfunction and illness in this species. While some of the worst downsides of this were ironed out by geno-medicine during the Dark Age of Technology, it was not possible to completely stamp out millions of years of evolution. This makes it unusually easy for ambient Warp exposure to cause psychosis at even low levels. While mental illness in and of itself is not necessarily indicative of loyalty to the Ruinous Powers (as Perturabo and Kurze can attest) unexpected warp exposure-induced psychosis can affect the decision-making skills of an individual and cause them to become further corrupted. It is even possible that the domineering nature of humans is in part a response to that natural disorder in their physical and mental environments, trying to impose order where there is none. Although humanity’s low corruption resistance can be overcome by self-discipline, individual fortitude, and training, it is always a good idea to check the mental status of human compatriots to ensure chronic damage has not occurred.

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== The Proto-Eldar and General Eldar Biology ==

The eldar were not always a race of long-lived super-psykers. Once they were just a bunch of primitives banging rocks together, just like everyone else. Early in their history the eldar were invaded by a race known only as the [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Mon-Keigh|Mon-Keigh]] (as in the original Mon-Keigh, from which the more common use of the term is derived), which wreaked havoc on the proto-eldar until they were finally defeated by the eldar folk hero Elronhir, and helped contribute to the eldar’s rather paranoid attitude towards other species. The Old Ones noticed the proto-eldar’s “small talent for war” and uplifted them to serve as front-line soldiers during the War in Heaven.

The eldar would have only been a late-Stone Age/Bronze Age species when this happened. This can be seen in the fact that the eldar had a murder god (Khaine) that was only secondarily shoehorned into the role of a war god, as opposed to a straight-up war god that honored martial talent and discipline. Before the invasion of the Mon-Keigh and the War in Heaven, the Eldar had no grasp of the concept of wide-scale killing or genocide. This disparate nature of worship might have made Khaine a bit loopy, and may have contributed to Khaine’s team killing rampage during the War in Heaven. Even Isha has a bit of a primal streak that she occasionally lets off the leash after 60+ million years.

This sudden technological shift is also part of the reason behind the eldar’s infamous cultural posturing. In their minds, the eldar believe that they deserve to be the dominant species, because they’ve fucking earned it. They were a race that had just figured out bronze was a good idea that was suddenly expected to be soldiers in an interstellar war where the power levels were almost beyond modern comprehension, and they had to learn on the job. So in their mind they’ve earned their position by going through hell and back during the War in Heaven, something that few other races besides the Orks and Hrud can attest to.

The eldar underwent massive genetic engineering twice in their evolutionary history: once when they were initially uplifted by the Old Ones, and again during the sixty million years they had to get good following the War in Heaven. This means they had a lot of time to figure out as many alleles as possible for longevity and health. The eldar could have possibly even engineered themselves to live longer than pre-Fall eldar would have, but they simply found reincarnation to be a more effective solution. The point is that by the time of the Fall, the eldar had tinkered with their genetic code so long that many of the artificial modifications were seen as a normal part of the eldar genome because everyone had them.

However, this should not be taken to mean that the eldar were able to reach the levels they did simply because they had the advantage of being uplifted and a head start. Much like how human evolution on Earth relative to other animals was defined by the production and manufacture of tools, the evolution of the eldar seems to be defined by their longevity. The eldar are naturally graceful, but that agility is enhanced by years of training, much like how older humans are able to move more efficiently because they have had more time to know the quirks and limitations of their body. The same is true of psykery. Psyker species are noted to have longer developmental times proportional to their degree of psychic power, and long lifespans allows for greater refinement and control of psychic power. This would have led to a feedback loop where psychic powers would select for long lifespans, and vice versa.

The unique eldar method of reproduction, where the male inseminates the female over several periods, seems to have been present early in eldar history, despite seeming to be a liability to any species without an incredibly long lifespan. It seems that this method of reproduction was present even in the early eldar, but the low reproductive rate was offset by natural twinning, given the high prevalence of multiple births in eldar society (enough that eldar titans are often designed around twins in some way).

Eldar are physically and sexually mature at 30 years of age, age of majority is about 45 or so for most Craftworlds, but even after that individuals are generally considered to be immature and inexperienced for the next two to three centuries. Physically but not mentally mature (the best comparison in human terms would be dumbass, hot-headed young adults in their late teens/twenties with more youth than brains). Given eldar don't really get feeble with age, or at least [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#Eldrad_Ulthran|not until they are 10,000+ years old due to pre-Fall genetic engineering]], as well as their clannish and tribal nature, it is no surprise that eldar societies usually tend to treat the gerontocracy as the wisest and most responsible members of society ([[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#Eldrad_Ulthran|usually]]). Eldar adolescence (as in 30 or so, eldar that are 70+ are considered young and [[Tau|full of starry-eyed idealism]] but not adolescents) about as [[Dwarf Fortress|fun]] as you can expect for the Enforcers, who have to deal with keeping a bunch of rebellious, hormone-driven descendants of super soldiers in line, and tend to be extra harsh on them to keep them from slipping down the same path that the Old Empire, Commorrites, and Crones did. Injuries that break bones have been mentioned in some cases. This is one reason why Biel-Tan started requiring mandatory military service and shipping its youngsters out to serve in order to temper them a bit (which started the tradition of the other Craftworlds doing something similar, because Biel-Tan is the most influential Craftworld to the other Craftworlds).

Eldar ears are covered in mechanoreceptors (mostly microscopic sensory hairs and pits) The pointed shape of the ears, their ability to move independently, and their position away from the body gives the eldar an amazing sense of balance and proprioception, which help contribute to the agility and grace the eldar are so well known for. That said, the mechanoreceptors of the ear are calibrated for air currents and balance. Physically touching them is much more stimulus than they are supposed to receive and gives a much potent sensation. Eldar being sapient they figured out how this natural adaptation could be abused early in their history, just like humans have with their areas of high neuronal density that aren't supposed to be used that way (e.g., lips).

Eldar tend to have more vibrant “birdy” hair colors than humans. For example, Eldar with black hair tends to have hair that is a shiny iridescent black like a crow and eldar with red hair are described as having hair that is a hue too bold and vivid to be mistaken for human, in contrast to the more mammalian, earthy tones of reds, browns, and blacks you see in humans. Modern eldar don't bald like humans do and their hair tends to produce oils that make long hair easier to manage. Indeed, although many human cultures see eldar men as looking feminine long hair is seen as a sign of masculinity in eldar culture. Completely shaven heads are seen as a sign of sickness or being in a state of mourning and sorrow.

== The Necrontyr ==

In general, the Necrontyr are often considered to be similar to the Tau in many respects, including short lifespans, minimal warp presence, broad flat faces with little in the way of a nose, and slightly slower reflexes than humans. However, the Necrontyr differ from the Tau in several major ways. Unlike Tau, they lack a Jackobson's organ (the face-slit of the Tau), instead having a single nasal cavity similar to a lamprey, and have much faster reflexes. It's not clear if the bony ridge you see on many Necrons is supposed to reflect an actual biological feature, or was part of their armor when they were Necrontyr.

The Necrontyr are also big. Tau are said to be just a little bit shorter than humans, 5’5” on average. Necrons on the other hand are able to look Space Marines and Eldar in the eye. There is no evidence that the Necrontyr went through a major “growth spurt” when they became the Necrons like the Eldar did when the Old Ones first messed with them, so it’s likely that the Necrontyr were just that tall. Indeed, the Old Ones may have engineered the Eldar and Orks to be the size that they are so they were “about” Necrontyr size. It’s also not certain if that stooped posture is natural. It’s may not be, but it’s entirely possible that this is just how a Necrontyr stood.

The other major area in which the Necrontyr differ from the Tau is pain tolerance. Necrontyr are ridiculously resistant to pain. Even before they became the Necrons, the Necrontyr were described as being kind of tanky. Tanky as in “compensated for reflexes by ignoring the pain” as opposed to “super durability”. This pain tolerance is likely at least partially an evolutionary adaptation and partially a learned skill, because when your body is wracked with painful tumors there’s not a lot someone can do to you to make it worse. This pain tolerance likely influenced the way the Necrontyr fought. The Necrons/Necrontyr in canon are known to consider loyalty and discipline to be a big deal, even compared to other races. Such pain tolerance and high discipline would likely lead to confrontations where Necrontyr warriors would likely have formed massive firing lines to maximum dakka, being durable and pain tolerant enough to ignore glancing hits that led most other races to consider this a bad idea. The infamous Necron "shoot and move" maneuver? That more than likely originated with the Necrontyr.

== The Yu'Vath ==

The Yu'vath were a Chaos-worshipping xenos race that controlled much of the Calixis Sector during the Age of Strife. Describing exactly what the yu’vath looked like is a surprisingly difficult task. On the one hand you had the “core” yu’vath, which are thought to be what the race originally looked like. “Core” yu’vath were a strange combination between human and crustacean, with a bipedal, four-limbed body. Each long, robust arm ended in three clawed fingers and each digigrade foot ended in two forwards and backwards pointing toes, giving their feet an “X”-like shape. At the center of their torso was their head, which contained numerous sets of insectile mandibles.

As a silicate-based species, the yu’vath were experts in cybernetic alteration, their bodies more readily adapting to the addition of cybernetics than flesh and blood, much like the Demiurg. Yu’vath bodies were often heavily modified for various purposes, their cybernetics growing like living tissue based on what was needed and the role an individual needed to perform. Despite both being silicon-based, however, the yu’vath are no more closely related to the Demiurg than humans are to any other carbon-based sentient species like the Tau. There is some debate, however, as to whether the ambull found across many worlds are devolved descendants of the yu’vath, or else some kind of sister species like humans are to the great apes.

On the other hand, you have the “lesser” yu’vath. Slaves from other species forcibly implanted with yu’vath cybernetics and turned into war machines. Yu’vath technology is weird. The yu’vath were capable of downloading their souls into their cybernetics, then if the main body died simply scooping out the host soul and replacing it with the augment’s original owner when attached to a new body. In theory, one could simply bring an individual yu’vath back to life by stripping the cybernetics off of them and implanting them in a new host. Eventually, the cybernetics would grow to completely cover the new body, growing and modifying themselves to whatever role necessary. However, in most cases these cybernetics gradually turned its host into a form similar to a core Yu’vath.

It is not clear where the Yu’vath came from. Certainly, there are no records of any such Chaos worshipping civilization in what few records remains from the Dark Age of Technology. The eldar Harlequins speak of a race that sold their souls to Chaos, damning their brethren that refused to follow, but whether this is support for the “devolved into ambull” theory or if those that refused to follow were just eaten by daemons is unknown.

In addition to their core territory in the Calixis Sector, the Yu’vath had a fairly sizeable number of feelers elsewhere in the galaxy during the Age of Strife. A raiding party of Yu’vath even went so far as to have an outpost on Pluto during the Great Crusade, though they were eventually driven from the system by the time of the Unification of Sol by the actions of [DATA EXPUNGED].

The Yu’vath were one of the more notable threats faced by the Imperium during the Great Crusade, and unlike many the Yu’vath front remained a long-term issue, but eventually the Imperium managed to force them back to a rump state. The Yu’Vath participated in the War of the Beast, but as with the Crone Eldar and all things non-Ork the species took a backseat to the green tide that assaulted the galaxy during this time. However, the Yu’Vath did manage to retake much of their holdings during this time and more, expanding into many of the areas just south of the Eye of Terror. They became a thorn in the Imperium's side, but not a threat to the degree that the Crones or Orks were.

The resurgence of the Yu'vath was clearly a problem, and the Imperium hacked away at it in a series of on-again, off-again wars interspersed with Black Crusades over the years. Eventually, the Yu’Vath were finally eradicated in a major battle in the galactic northwest either just before or as revenge for the Fourth Black Crusade.

Today, the Yu’Vath themselves mostly confined to the pages of history. The people of the modern galaxy should be thankful for it. Although they may not have been threats on the level of the Necron Star Empire or the tyranid Hive Fleet, the Yu’Vath were terrors in their time. Aside from their technology, all that remains of the Yu’vath are the few members of their race that were raised to daemon princedom or escaped the slow, inexorable march of time by hiding in the Eye of Terror, mostly associated with the Soul Forge.

Although the Imperium were the ones to finally wipe the Yu'vath out, the source of the loss of their holdings just south of the Eye of Terror was a bit of a surprise. The Q'orl, who as a race had only recently spread out into the stars from their homeworld of Loq’qit, drove the Yu'vath from these worlds. Years of fighting the Imperium meant that the southern worlds were generally poorly manned due to the low number of Yu'vath.

Additionally, as a eusocial species, the q’orl were surprisingly well-adapted to dealing with the Chaos corruption spread by the yu’vath. If an individual drone became corrupted, it was simply destroyed at no great loss to the Queens. The q’orl also found the Yu’vath’s technology and artwork to be insulting to their xenophobic sensibilities and often had it destroyed in a hail of orbital fire. Being much more willing to take losses than the Imperium would, the Q'orl were able to take control of many of the former Yu'vath worlds.

Despite being an all but extinct species, Yu'vath artifacts are still a problem today. The problem with Yu'vath artifacts is they never really break down naturally. They can lie unused for millenia until rediscovered by some unsuspecting sod. As Savant Preem said, "If it does not rot, if it can lie like this here forever...is it truly dead?"

Yu’Vath cybernetics have been known to physically spring to life and drag themselves to attack a particularly desirable host, typically some variant of psyker. Tech-priests refuse to go near anything Yu'vath, as the Yu'vath were masters of Chaotic scrapcode that presented a very real threat of hijacking their cybernetics.

There are some concerns that the Spyrer battlesuits, purchased by Imperial nobles as self-defense weapons (and status symbols) on black markets across several Hive Worlds, are actually derived or reverse-engineered from Yu’vath technology.

The Yu’Vath were notable for their methodical, detached methods of worshipping the Chaos Gods. To the Yu’Vath, Chaos and the Warp was something that could be measured, quantified, and studied, a worldview that was baffling to species like humans and eldar, who perceived Chaos as something much more irrational and unquantifiable. The Yu’Vath had found answers to questions that no one else would dare ask, such as how many sacrifices it took to summon a daemon or how much favor it was necessary to empower a given daemon machine. It is thought that the Yu’Vath had emotional centers of their brain that were vastly subservient to their logic centers, allowing them the emotions necessary to worship the Chaos Gods but filtering it through their rationalist worldview. Or perhaps quantifying Chaos was their way of worshipping it, showing devotion by obsessively seeking literal answers to the question of how many daemons could dance on the head of a pin. This allowed the Yu’Vath to be reliable in their production of technology, whereas other groups of Chaos worshippers with a significant industrial base, like the Crone Eldar, Dark Mechanicus, and the Laer, tended to be more subject to flights of fancy.

= Notable Planets =

==Medusa==

To clarify, the giant terraformers aren’t Men of Iron in any way. They’re basically DaoT roombas that someone forgot to hit the off switch on (or the off switch broke, considering the Age of Strife).
Originally just the AdMech and the AdBio were going to be mentioned, until it became apparent that Eldar farseer terraforming counts as “Imperial” as well. The point is more that these terraforming machines are beyond what M41 humanity is capable of, rather than any comparison between humanity and the Eldar. However, the Eldar have lost their best stuff too, so it’s likely that the way farseers terraform worlds is simple compared to what the Old Eldar Empire was capable of. Indeed, these terraformers more brute-force the habitability of a world, rather than develop a healthy ecosystem the way the Eldar do.

==Ganymede==

One of the main figures in charge of Ganymede is Inquisitor Jaq Draco, one of the Imperium's extremely high-end psykers and one of the few humans that can navigate the Webway. Also as nutty as they come. Draco is as much an object to be contained as a staffmember, and the fact that the Imperium would station one of their most powerful psykers here as a safeguard against something going wrong on Ganymede speaks volumes about the danger posed by the stuff on Ganymede.

Ganymede is kind of a sore spot between Eldar and human parts of the Imperium. The Eldar elders think most of the stuff held on Ganymede is fricking dangerous, and it should be destroyed posthaste (preferably by throwing it into the nearest star). They tend to say "I told you so" when something breaks out or goes horribly wrong. The humans tend to reply that we don't even know how to safely destroy most of this stuff (e.g., throwing an artifact into a star could just result in the object eating the star, especially if it's C'tan tech), it's safer where it is (e.g., Apep), and it might prove useful someday. They tend to say "I told you so" when items on Ganymede turn out to be of relevance or provide valuable information to stopping a threat.

==Old Earth and the Sol System in general==

In general, non-humans aren't allowed to set foot on Earth past the Daisy Chain without the proper permits. Old Earth being restricted to humans is more a matter of privacy than anything else. Old Earth is a pretty big deal to humans and holds a lot of spiritual significance, regardless of religion, and they don't want a veritable horde of xeno tourists coming in and messing everything up like drunks spray-painting a holy site. However, the Imperium also tries to afford the same kind of respect to other species. Xenos generally aren't allowed outside the Xenos districts of Craftworlds without prior permission, non-Tau are generally not allowed on T'au, etc. Exceptions are generally made in the case of emergencies like a ship being blown off course because of a warp storm.

That said, Old Earth does have non-humans on it, just not very many. Annual permits are issued for non-humans to visit Earth. As is the case for some places today, foreigners (by which I mean non-humans) can rent places, but they can't buy property (then again, few can buy property on Old Earth). Ambassadors from the Craftworlds and non-human civilizations get a pass, as well as seers and other people who work for the Administratum. You get tourists and students who are able to articulate well enough that they won't go getting drunk and disrupting cultural sites. Merchants and traders who want to sell wares (though it's generally a bad idea trying to sell tech in Mars' backyard). And of course Isha and the Handmaidens get a free pass because it would be stupid for the fricking Empress to not be allowed to set foot on the throne world.

On the other hand, most foreigners and tourists don't even care if they get to set foot on Old Earth specifically. Urban sprawl has reached the point that the entire Sol System is considered the metropolitan heart of the Imperium, to the point that most visitors from out-of-system (human and otherwise) usually end up touring around the outer parts of the Sol System and still feel like they can say they've visited the Imperium's capital.

==the Realm of Ultramar and the Imperium Secundus Plan==

Roboute Guilliman just loved his contingency plans. No matter what happened he had a plan for how to beat it. It was how his forces reacted so quickly and coherently when The Beast smashed into Imperial Space. They just adapted one of his older plans slightly. He was anticipating the discovery of some great and hostile empire, possibly human possibly xeno, out on the Eastern Fringe. Sort of an "Evil Twin. Wat Do?" type deal. The Ultramarine WotB plans were mostly just adapted from that.

Guilliman’s plan for the absolute worst case scenario, one where the “evil empire” made it all the way to Segmentum Solar and Old Earth fell, was to rally all the assets that could be salvaged and rebuild the Imperium somewhere else. Guilliman made no secret about his plan B (as well as the fact that it was supposed to be just that, a plan B), as it was only sensible to prepare for the worst. For this plan, Guilliman chose the Survivor Civilization of Ultramar. Ultramar was about as far away from the Imperium as you could get and still be in what one could call civilization. Ultramar was also very well-organized, so his plan was mostly based around the older empire of Ultramar and using that as a keystone for other systems to rally around. If the hypothetical evil empire arose anywhere else and smashed into Segmentum Solar and Old Earth, Ultramar would be the best place to be clear of the blast radius. In any case the Imperium Secundus groundwork needed someone to oversee it. Lord Guilliman’s grandson, Gaufrid Guilliman, was a very competent and respected member of the Administratum who was tasked with overseeing this great and hopefully never to be used Plan B.

When Guilliman first came to Ultramar, Ultramar was organized in a manner similar to the Delian League of ancient Earth. On paper, Ultramar was supposed to be an association of equals, but in practice it was a hegemonic empire with Macragge, being the most populous and militarily powerful, calling the shots. Guilliman made numerous reforms to Ultramar’s government and bureaucracy, among other things turning it into a “one planet, one vote” system. Macragge went along with it because at the time Macragge afraid of being upstaged by Calth, who threatened to surpass Macragge in terms of population and therefore threatened Macragge’s power in Ultramar. Ironically, Guilliman preserved Macragge’s voice in the system at the expense of ending Macraggian hegemony. Macragge and Calth still tend to butt heads politically, being the two largest and most prosperous worlds in Ultramar, but the system is far smoother and more efficient than it once was.

Guilliman's plan proved surprisingly prescient. When the War of the Beast broke out, Ultramar's remote location meant it was spared the worst of the fighting. Ultramar saw conflict, as did all regions of the Imperium but it did not see the fierce fighting that wracked Segmenta Solar and Obscurus. Gaufrid Guilliman was the only descendant of Yolande Fouché and Roboute Guilliman to survive the War of the Beast, thanks to Guilliman’s contingency plan. The line of Guilliman and House Guilliman failed on Old Earth. None of his descendants were counted among the living at the end of the war. There are still people in the realm of Ultramar with the name Guilliman. They are almost certainly descendants now very far removed.

==Rynn's World==

The planet of Rynn’s world is rather unusual in that the planet is ruled by the combination of the married union of a (usually matriarchal) ruler and the Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists. It is a ceremonial thing going back to the days of Rynn when the Exiled King married his daughter and heir to the head the military in the convoy, a Space Marine of great wisdom and charisma called Alexis Polux.

It is a tradition known as the everlasting marriage to symbolize the eternal bond between Rynn's World and the Imperium. The marriage is everlasting because when one dies the surviving member has to marry the replacement. Needless to say this has resulted in the royal title being strictly matrilineal despite the rest of the aristocracy being cognatic. Should either party to assume the position be already married then the other half in this arrangement becomes a secondary wife/husband, in such cases the marriage does not need to be consummated as that would/might infringe on per-existing vows.

It also results in stability as there is no question of succession as upon the death of one the other takes their title, lands and possessions until the replacement marriage ceremony which does mean that in the days between partners the title of Chapter Master is held by a woman which is possibly unprecedented.

This breakdown of a clear dividing line between the baseline humans and Space Marines, and indeed between military rank and the aristocratic hierarchy, has in the years since Rynn and Polux permeated totally in society. Although the commoners cannot become nobility save through special and rare appointment by the Queen or by marriage into the nobility the rank of (usually) unlanded-nobility is traditionally handed out with promotion to officer.

With the marriage of Chapter to the Aristocracy and every Space Marine having been trained to be officers of one sort or another this has resulted in the Chapter becoming a not insubstantial part of the landed gentry. Every marine has an estate, a patch of their homeworld that they call their own. Due to them having no real interest in such things this is typically the less sought after land in inhospitable places. The craggy mountains around their fortress, deserts and the wind swept and salt spray blasted islands in the far north and south. The few hardy inhabitants of these remote lands appreciate that there are masters who will lend a hand if needed but tend to live in those lands because they don't care for authority above them and so value the Space Marines lack of any real interest.

Rynn's World was not the original home of the chapter, at first they were nomadic and had been since they were the 405th Company of Dorn's Legion. It was by attaching their forces to Rynn's colony fleet as it set out to resettle an exterminated world in the time of The Rebuilding that they came to enjoy their more permanent habitation.

Pedro Kantor is the current commander of the remnants of his chapter, king of a world brought to ruin and husband of Queen Maia Cagliestra who actually rules the planet when it's not being raped to death by orks.

The Crimson Fists did boast ~2,100 members all accounted, now down to 128. The Fortress has been relocated to New Rynn City. As the world is rebuilt and the other lesser cities reestablished the intention is to appoint each company to a city and diffuse the chapter. Next time it's going to take more than 1 malfunctioning nuclear missile to devastate them. The Immortal Captain Alessio Cortezwill be put in command of the fortress to be rebuilt Caltara and will have the dubious honour of owning the crater of Arx Tyrranis when the time comes.

In the wake of the devastation caused by Snagrod the province of Dorado in the north of the west continent was completely depopulated as people fled to the safety of Santoris, the only city in that land.

When the walls fell nobody was spared. Those that fled or had previously tried to hide in the wilderness were hunted down in the following months as sport. If there were as many as a hundred survivors left it would be miraculous and what few there were wandered south to warmer climes in the search for other survivors.

It was not until a few years later when expeditionary forces sent before settlement teams sailed north from Port Calina that they found that Dorado had now gained new inhabitants. The royal court of Rynn's World had by satellite imagery been aware of activity in that province and had hoped that it was a previously hidden survivor population coming back out into the open or unofficial land grabbers that could be reasoned with and made into the basis of the recolonization. What they were dreading was a feral ork resurgence.

It was none of these things. With ample fertile land lying unclaimed exodites had moved in rather than let those fields become totally overgrown. They seemed uninterested in leaving as they had just set up their modest houses, sown their seeds and had even planted a new wraith-tree (itself a monumental occasion). Although Chapter Master Kantor was all for forcibly relocating them off the planet, as illegal squatters they had no rights, this was not a military matter unless things went very wrong. After due consideration Queen Cagliestra allowed them to stay on the principle that exodites were typically polite to their hosts and didn't cause trouble. And also the planet was still pretty empty considering that the only real body of survivors had been the Silver Citadel at the heart of the capital city.

In gratitude the exodites promised to hand over any surplus produce from their new homeland as a form of rent. As this was not massively different to the way things were before and the cost of resettlement was being paid by someone else everyone was happy, or only mildly cantankerous.

The chapter itself raised the matter of rebuilding with its neighbouring chapters at the Feast of Blades held in the following year. Due to the increasing strains of an increasingly hostile galaxy none promised and assistance in the rebuilding, preoccupied with their own troubles as they were.

Rynn's World was just one little agri-world after all and not so broken that it couldn't heal on its own.

==Severan Dominate==

The Severan Dominate is a violent oppressive enclave that as of 999.M41 is primarily holding on through grimderp pseudo-pragmatism that is really serving to make things worse for everyone. Their casus belli for secession basically boils down to the fact that the Severan Dominate are basically lucky in that they’ve never really seen a real war. Like the Tau in vanilla, they really don’t understand the scope of the galaxy they live in. So when they hear stories of what is happening elsewhere in the galaxy, they think it’s on the same level of what they have to deal with, exaggerated by shell shock, big fish stories, and an intragalactic game of telephone. They hear stories of endless hordes of insectoid xenos (Tyranids) and go “we have those too, we call them the Q’orl”. They think an invasion by the Blood Pact is on the same level as a Black Crusade. They think a bunch of isolated enclaves are what the Imperium worries about when they hear “Necron Star Empire”. They think Grimtoof Git-Slaver is on the level of Ghazghull. They’re like soldiers fighting in Africa during World War I hearing about what’s going on in No-Man’s Land and finding what there hearing simply too ridiculous to believe. They're the logical extension of someone hearing of how the galaxy really works and finding the truth to be more ridiculous than fiction.

The Imperium has tried explaining what’s really going on to the Severan Dominate, but the Dominate refuses to believe them. They see the Imperium as using the Tyranids, Necrons, Chaos, and Brain Boyz as boogeymen used to justify the increasingly high tithes placed on worlds like the Dominate in order to support their favored worlds like, say, Cadia. They think the Imperium is overexaggerating the threat and that they can survive perfectly well on their own. They have no idea the kind of rapetrain that is out there in the darkness. Additionally, the current heads of the Severus family are kind of self-centered assholes and see setting up their own petty empire as their own personal ego-trip. As a result, it was relatively easy for them to convince the citizenry that the Imperium had been lying to them to justify higher taxes and incite secession.

Of course, this leads to problems. Part of the deal on joining the Imperium is that when you are in, you are in for good. There are no fair-weather friendships or chickening out in the Imperium. The Imperium can’t afford to let the Dominate leave. If the Imperium allows a state to leave then others in a similar position will leave. If they all piss off it's going to be a small number of worlds holding up a large number of fortress worlds that are keeping the monsters out. The walls fall through lack of support and monsters get in and the Imperium gets annihilated and, and here is the real kicker, those worlds that ran away realize their folly only after it's too late to possibly be doing anything about it and everyone is dead and there is no hope for meaningful survival of any member of the Imperium. Hence the current war with the Dominate. The Emperor also doesn’t like the idea of leaving an uncorrupted human civilization out to hang, but the situation is starting to become one in which there is no objectively right decision. Either kill a whole bunch of citizens of the Severan Dominate and the greater Imperium in a bloody war to suppress the rebellion, or leave the Dominate out to hang and watch an entire civilization get killed by Chaos/Dark Eldar/Orks/Slaugth/whatever.

The Severan Dominate see the overwhelming response of the Imperium as the desperate attempts of a failing empire to hold onto power, rather than simply the sheer amount of power the Imperium is able to wield its fuckhuge army in times of relative peace (see: [[Nobledark_Imperium_Drafts#The_Badab_War|Badab]], the last time the Q’orl got uppity). However, the Imperium is still much, much bigger than they are, and the Dominate is starting to get desperate. They’re not stupid enough to try joining Chaos, but they might even be stupid enough to try and get backing from forces that they should know better than to negotiate with to achieve their goals. Specifically, the Severus family is making deals with the Slaugth instead of/in addition to the Dark Eldar, giving the maggot-men a few worlds in exchange for an external foe to keep the Dominate in line ([[Nobledark_Imperium_Drafts#The_Rangdan_Xenocides_and_the_Slaugth|and completely unaware of what happens if you let the Slaugth get a foothold]]), hence why there are so many Slaugth in the Calixis Sector.

As of 999.M41, the suppression of the rebellion of the Severan Dominate is just still going on. No one is aware of the level of shit that is about to go down, so it’s possible the Dominate might just get the lucky break they have been hoping for.

==Olamic Quietude==

Editor's Note: May have to rewrite, threads talked about making Olamics "brain in a jar" remotely piloting robot bodies to avoid the issues with a post-scarcity society curbstomping everyone.

The Olamic Quietude are a bastion of isolation in a sea of mostly Imperial space. A highly-technologically advanced human society, the Olamic Quietude survived the Dark Age of Technology by uploading their minds as A.I. and resleeving them into robot bodies. New citizens of the Quietude are born by growing new brains and uploading them as soon as possible into mechanical bodies. The Adeptus Mechanicus hate the Quietude with a frothing vengeance, making A.I. is bad enough but actually becoming them is tech-heresy of the highest caliber. Others in the Mechanicus don’t just hate the Quietude for tech-heresy but because on some level the Quietude represent the logical extrapolation of Mechanicum ideals, replacing every part of the body with machinery, and it scares them.

The Imperium via the Vlka Fenryka tried to make peaceful contact with the Quietude during the Great Crusade. A society with that much Dark Age-era technology would be a huge boon to the Imperium. The Quietude attacked the contact team without provocation and vivisected the survivors. Seeing the state of the rest of the galaxy, particularly the near-absence of common Dark Age technology like A.I. (which made the Imperium seem downright backwards to the Quietude), the Quietude considered themselves the only true successors to the Great and Bountiful Human Dominion and the rest of humanity as nothing more than devolved savages.

Russ and Bjorn were quite angry. Russ in particular. He wanted to rain nuclear fire on them from orbit, smash their ships and pitch them into the nearest gravity well, topple their orbital dockyard and drop it on the capital city and hunt them down to the last man, take any sufficiently unaugmented women as war-brides and adopting any children and dependents. Yes he promised after the Scouring of Skand Wars that he and his people would never do this shit again and the tradition would be retired but he felt the Old Ways could be brought out again just for this one special occasion. They had insulted the Imperium, they had insulted his Legion and he had friends in the contact team and he knew that they died badly.

In the end the Steward managed to calm him down enough to call him off and the Olamic Quietude dodged a bullet. The Imperium would have won, in time, but the cost would have been astronomical. Despite being restricted to a handful of planets, of which only their frozen homeworld was inhabitable in the strictest sense of the world, the high tech base of the Quietude and their ability to restore from backup would mean it would cost numerous Imperial soldiers to permanently kill one Quietude one. It would have been a bloodbath, and would have been all for a world that had little to no strategic or resource value whatsoever. The Steward told Russ the next time the Quietude attacked the Wolves he would allow them no quarter.

As a result, the Imperium adopted a cold war quarantine policy towards the Olamic Quietude. Quietude ships in Imperial space are shot on sight as well as vice versa. Thankfully, although the Quietude had warp capability they weren't expansionist and didn't seem interested in expanding beyond the dozen or so nearest worlds to their frozen homeworld. The Quietude initially believed that the Imperium would implode. They weren't the first big interstellar empire that had arisen around them. All the others had died, this one would too. By the time it looked like they were here to stay it was far too late for the Quietude to be able to do anything about it and claim what they saw as their birthright. To the Imperium the Quietude were, and would continue to be, a problem for later. The problem is that unlike the Adeptus Mechanicus the Quietude have no prohibitions on inventing so their technology is constantly improving. Sooner or later, the Quietude is going to have to be dealt with, as eventually the force multiplication of Quietude technology is going to outweigh the Imperial advantage of numbers.

That said, the Quietude have their weaknesses, even if they don’t project them to outsiders. First, they get screwed over by catastrophes just as badly as the Imperium does. When the War of the Beast broke out, the Quietude were hit just as hard as the Imperium and as such were in not position to take advantage of the weakened state. The Harrowing screwed them over. The death screams of the possible Man of Gold screwed them over. The Black Crusades screw them over. Every time they get screwed over their technology get knocked back quite a bit and they have to rebuild, not enough that they lose all their gains but enough that they have yet to reach the critical tech-levels they need to go on the offensive. Half the time they engage in brushfire hostilities and posturing with the Imperium it’s to prevent the Imperium from figuring out this little fact and wiping them out while they are weak.

Additionally, because the Quietude are not reproducing like organic humans, their population is gradually getting whittled down by attrition and each citizen of the Quietude controls an increasing proportion of the Quietude’s power base and processing power. So while Quietude tech base is increasing their population drops. This means that while it is difficult to kill a Quietude soldier, as time goes on the permanent death of a soldier represents a bigger loss to the Quietude. The obvious solution to this from the Quietude’s standpoint would be to grow more people, but that would mean the already existing populace would have to give up some of their bandwidth and processing power due to the increased population, which they aren’t interested in.

Ten thousand years later between the 12th Black Crusade, the increase in hostilities with the Necron Star Empire, and the appearance of tyranids on the other end of the galaxy, the Olamic Quietude sees the strains on an overtaxed and attacked on all sides Imperium. Despite being damaged by the 12th Black Crusade themselves, they smell blood in the water and are mobilizing for war.

They have taken the ancient listening posts on the worlds at the border, killing the crews and exterminating the service towns that grew up around them. They are very much prepared to take as much as they can while the Imperium is distracted elsewhere. Their fleets are assembled, their soldiery constructed and trained and they are going to methodically and meticulously take and settle and turn to war world after world until they take Old Earth. What will life be like under the Olamic Quietude? Nobody will ever find out. They don't leave survivors. At least none that the Imperium can find. Baseline humans and any human not of their realm are seen as some sort of tribal barbarian or primitive lesser animal. They have made so far no distinction beyond civilian or soldier, adult or child.

Ljot's Landing is an inhabited world not very far from the Olamic Quietude exclusion zone. Very similar to the Quietude homeworld in that it's a half frozen semi-wasteland. And it is a Fenrisian Colony, with a chapter of its very own. The call has been put out. The Valkyries are rising, the Wolves are awakening and Bjorn is at long last going to be allowed to settle the long, long held and unfulfilled grudge.

They killed everyone, the men, the women, the children, making no distinction between combatant and non-combatant except for the way they killed them. The soldiers were killed where they stood with their strange weaponry, leaving eerie ashen sillhouetes wherever the Quietude's weapons hit home. What they did to the civilians was worse, taking what they wanted, the brains, the spines, sometimes the internal organs, and leaving the rest. Butchered bodies half-buried under snow littered the fields and streets, at first resembling the bodies of dead animals, except for the fact that their corpses were mostly drained of blood and their wounds were made with the precision of a surgeon instead of the tearing marks of an animal. Even if they did not have enhanced senses the Space Wolves could have smelled them, reeking with that stale, clinical odor from being treated with so much antiseptics and antimicrobials that the bodies would not decompose naturally for months and the carrion birds would not touch them.

No one in the Imperium knows why the Quietude are doing this. The leading suggestion is the Olamics are taking the brains, lobotomizing them, and incorporating them into their neural network as extra processors as a twisted form of mercantilism. Throughout the history of humanity and other species people have often sought to circumvent the overexplotation of local resources by stealing them from someone else. Only in this case the resource in question isn’t gold, or wood, or land, but bandwidth via brains. Others point out the Quietude could easily vat-grown brains if they wished. It's possible if the Quietude tried to grow more brains those brains would be by Quietude law considered citizens, and therefore must be treated as people and not resources. But by Quietude standards outsiders aren't people and thus there are no such restrictions. On the other hand, maybe there is something specific they want from these brains, perhaps using the memories to gather information on what the Imperium has been up to. Or, perhaps, the Quietude are having fun. They butchered the people of Ljot’s Landing because it upsets the Fenrisians and the Think Tank remembers how enjoyable it was to vivisect the members of Russ’ diplomatic team thousands of years prior.

The Emperor isn’t happy about the situation, but he realizes just as the Quietude do that the galaxy is due to erupt into all-out-war any day now. The Quietude have to be taken out of the way now rather than later when they could potentially cost the Imperium the war by taking advantage of their weakened state or divert resources better used elsewhere. So the Vlka Fenryka are given the go ahead to wipe them out. Bjorn’s response? “By Hal, it’s about time”.

== The Arkhan Confederacy ==

Arkhan is a planet whose greatest crime is being on the wrong side of history. A land of mini-mecha and aristocratic landowners, the Arkhan Confederacy declared their support for Vandire during the Imperial Civil War, in a sector that was deeply divided between Throne and Rebellion supporters. The inhabitants of Arkhan are known for their bitterness over the results of the Imperial Civil War, mostly because the surrounding planets never let them live it down. Even though in hindsight the more recent citizens of Arkhan agree with the general consensus that Vandire was a nut with good charisma, they still have grievances with what the pro-Thor planets did to them during the war, as well as the fact that the pro-Thor planets treated them like garbage afterwards. The area around Arkhan was home to some brutal fighting between Thor and Vandire loyalists, with both sides bombarding the others’ population centers from orbit. Sebastian Thor is not a popular figure on Arkhan.

Eventually this resentment reached a tipping point and in 861.M41 the planet rebelled. When the Imperium’s military response arrived four years later, they found the Arkhan Confederacy had been defeated by a counter-resistance of Imperium loyalists, who had overthrown the Arkhan Confederacy and established the more centralized Arkhan Dominion. The leader of the Dominion is a taskmaster, but he is also a devious, deeply unpleasant man. There are even whispers that he stoked the flames of resentment in order to seize power in the first place. He maintains order and keeps the planet politically stable, but many are worried his heavy-handed tactics are building more resentment and are likely to cause another rebellion. Unfortunately, Arkhan is a nowhere world out in the boondocks, and as long as people aren’t actively shooting at each other the Imperium is willing to begrudgingly look the other way.

From a meta perspective, the politics of the Arkhan system and the potential of stopping (or starting) another civil war are meant to be a plot hook for street level games (e.g., Dark Heresy).

== Monarchia and the Word Bearers ==

Because the Word Bearers don’t have any special connections to Colchis in this timeline, the primary base of operations for the modern chapter is actually Monarchia of all places. Monarchia was constructed by the primarch Lorgar as a planned settlement, a Katholian “city on a hill”. It was intended to be a peaceful place demonstrating the ideals of Katholianism and a place where people of all faiths could meet and discuss their beliefs, because Lorgar loved debate and syncreticism and interfaith dialogue, believing all reasonable religions to ultimately stem from a universal truth (even if he did keep trying to reinterpret and cram everything through his Katholian worldview, for example reconciling the existence of the eldar pantheon by claiming they were archangels sent by God to watch over the eldar in the same way that biblical angels were sent to Earth and that all reasonable non-idolatrous faiths had their ultimate origins in Quolious). When the Word Bearers split into chapters the eponymous chapter got Lorgar’s planned city as their base. Because the Steward wasn’t as offended by the idea of religious institutions in this timeline (as long as they weren’t worshipping Chaos or him), Roboute Guilliman was never ordered to burn Monarchia.

Unfortunately, the existence of Monarchia did offend the Taskmaster of Shaa-Dome, who considered the Katholians’ “city on a hill” to be blasphemy and the Katholians themselves to be idolaters raising temples to venerate “false gods” (i.e., any god that wasn’t his beloved waifu Slaanesh). This was some time after the Great Hunt or early Black Crusades, Lorgar may have still alive and the Imperium was somewhat reconquered after the Beast. The Taskmaster would have taken the system and desecrated it during some gathering of the Conclave or something similar, making a point to enjoy the ravaging of the beautiful central hive himself. The Taskmaster's restraint, vanishingly rare in all other Slaaneshi, ensured there was a small population of Monarchians that survived relatively unmolested as it was his intention that they carry forth word of the deeds they witnessed. Some effort might have been made to permanently taint the world and system, but when the Word Bearer descendants were ready to respond in force the Taskmaster promptly returned to the palace in the Eye, and let the stragglers leaving the afterparty face the vengeful Imperial guns.

Yeah, I can imagine the first sacking was some time after the Great Hunt or early black crusades, Lorgar may have still been alive (he lived to 1100) and the Imperium was somewhat reconquered after the Beast. The Taskmaster would have taken the system and desecrated it during some gathering of the Conclave or something similar, making a point to enjoy the ravaging of the beautiful central hive himself. The Taskmaster had every reason to make Slaanesh a hated foe of Imperial religion, their candlelight gods are useless but it lends towards the Prince of Pleasure's intention to become the subconscious archenemy of the Imperial couple. Provoking (raping and razing) the church(es) is an excellent way to be denounced extra hard as a god of sin. The Taskmaster's restraint, vanishingly rare in all other Slaaneshies, ensured there was a small population of Monarchians that survived relatively unmolested as it was his intention that they carry forth word of the deeds they witnessed. Some effort might have been made to permanently taint the world and system, but when the Word Bearer descendants were ready to respond in force the Taskmaster promptly returned to the palace in the Eye, and let the stragglers leaving the afterparty face the vengeful Imperial guns. The Taskmaster’s desecration of Monarchia was so thorough that the Word Bearers became a fleet-based chapter in the aftermath, as Monarchia could no longer support a fully-staffed Space Marine chapter.

For nearly fifty years the Word Bearers existed as a fleet based chapter, bringing the good news of civilization across the Imperium (as in, secular proselytizers in space). That stopped after the Battle of Neo-Babylon (or Bablyon II if a more sci-fi name is required). Neo-Babylon sent out a general call for aid against an invasion and the Word Bearers were one of the Astartes chapters that responded. [[Minotaurs|All 2,500 of them at once.]] The Word Bearers were commended for their aid but the Imperium was confused why the Word Bearers would drop everything and come to Bablyon II, not even leaving a token guard present at their homeworld. When the Imperium learned the truth they were floored. The destruction of Monarchia had slipped through the cracks of the Administratum and the Word Bearers had been too stoic and humble to make enough of a fuss. The news filtered its way up to the Master of the Administratum and the Steward, who order them to go back and rebuild Monarchia (providing funding to rebuild ostensibly as a reward for saving Neo-Babylon). Having a first founding chapter be effectively homeless is an embarrassment and unacceptable to the Imperium.

[[Rape|They finished rebuilding just in time for Arrotyr and the Scions of the Old Helm to show up.]] Arrotyr heard that the Taskmaster had sacked Monarchia in the name of Slaanesh and didn’t want anyone to get the idea that there's a Chaos God more important than THE BLOOD KING OF THE GALAXY. Though attacks on various other emblems of Imperial religions would be locally devastating at worst and hard fought defenses at very best, he eventually broke off, maybe having hounded the Word Bearers, maybe having mockingly avoided them in their exile from Monarchia. Then after its rebuilt and restored, bam, Arrotyr shows up to argue the merits of worshiping King Khorne with the rite of system wide bloodshed, fire, and war, because he's a colossal dick.

The Taskmaster would have actually moved on to other things. Always more ships to order built in Shaa-Dome, entreaties for the favor of princedom to screen, soulstones to grind up for master to snort, etc. so the Taskmaster had nearly forgotten about Monarchia in the first place but nobody, except possibly Be'lakor, holds on to a grudge or a perceived slight like Arrotyr.

Monarchia was rebuilt. Again. As of M41 Monarchia is a hive city now. A very large hive city. The first Monarchia was designed with all effort put into making it a nice place to live and defense as an afterthought. It was in its way an architectural marvel and in some distant possible future when war is just a memory it design choices would have been copied across the galaxy. But it was easily defeated.

New Monarchia was far more formidable and had elements taken from Perty's designs and innovations discovered since. Arrotyr had to work for it. New Monarchia was not as devastated as the first city was and there were enough survivors left to rebuild and legitimately claim continuity. 3rd Monarchia was rebuilt stronger again.

Only a fool would go to Monarchia now with hope of an easy victory. Lorgar was pleased with the results even if reaching them was a price he believed nobody should have to pay.

The surface of Monarchia outside of the primary hive is not as messed up as Armageddon or Cadia, not actually a deathworld, but scarred. It was visited millennia ago by the prime agents of two hostile gods, Slaanesh's majordomo and Khorne's foremost commander. Even without the massive occult power that implies either one could arguably be the most heavily armed (former) mortal in the galaxy, boasting personal command of forces only rivaled by the fleets and armies united in singular purpose under Oscar in acts as Warmaster. Both are known for massive gestures in their gods' names and the physical signs of these acts would be hard to cover, even long after any curses or horrible blessings are dispelled, the only thing being to let erosion and reforestation, flooding and tremors, slowly make it fade away.

== Terranis ==

In the original story Terranis survived, barely. I suggest we keep it like that. The 'Nids couldn't eat the planet because every time they got a digestion pool and giant drinking straw arrangement set up something unfortunate kept happening to it and the only way to stop that from happening was to exterminate the last of the Terranites, which was proving difficult in the extreme.

The rest of the Imperium just assumed that Terranis was dead. They lost contact with it 20 years ago and their only curiosity about the place was why the Shadow in the Warp was still there 20 years later, but unless they were prepared to travel to the edge of the Shadow and spend decades to centuries at sub-light trying to reach the planet they couldn't know. And they always had better stuff to divert those sorts of resources to. Sadly resource diversion and interstellar level triage was why Terranis was left for the 'Nids in the first place, Terranis was deemed an acceptable loss in the grand strategy. The Kriegers sticking around was them either not getting the orders, being used as a diversion or just being characteristically stubborn/uncooperative.

'Nids remain on Terranis and in Terranis orbit for the better part of 40 years before the Terranites and Krieger forces bleed them dry beyond the point where they can maintain the Shadow. Then the one remaining astropath on the planet sends out a brief report on the situation and the Imperial brass is absolutely fucking dumbfounded. That planet was written off as "unsalvageable" even with off-world help. It should not be alive. It shouldn't have been capable of resisting. They really shouldn't be getting any sort of report from the place. It sure as shit should not have been winning a game of attrition against the Dreaded Star Locust. But it is. A 'nid siege was a race against time based on how much materiel they had left versus how much biomass the 'nids had. You can only have so much explosives to blow up the drinking straws and you are essentially playing chicken as imagined by Dorn and Perturabo where either the hive ships starve to death or you run out of bombs. The Derivatives said 'fuck that' and improvised fresh explosives from tyranid bodily fluids. Some of those are pretty volatile, use the homebrew for the artillery and mines, use the vintage stock for the big shit like the capillary towers and dread the day when you have to try and make a 'nid snot bob big enough take one of those fucking things out. It won't let shit last indefinitely unless you can also make the artillery shell of out actual shells (maybe they can) but it could help you last a lot longer.

Which is not to say that the Terranians would have it their own way. The 'nids are nothing if not adaptive and although they can't stop making volatile mucus and still have useful weapons they wouldn't be limited to ripper variants. After the first few failed attempts to eat the bastion cities and the thining of the ground forces the Hive mind will either send down one or more Norn Queens to spawn an army locally to cut down on travel time and expending resources on space-to-ground pods or they are going to start spawning legitimate creatures rather than weapons. Shit with digestive systems and reproductive organs and the ability to survive for extended periods of time. This is also assuming that the Terranians absolutely salted all the earth everywhere when the planet became irretrievably tyrannoformed. Which they probably did quite effectively because when it comes to fucking up a planet down all the way back to pre-terraformed state whilst still living on it the Kriegers have prior experience. 'Nid fleet can't go because it'll starve to death in transit if it can't recover the expended bio-matter and it can't do that until the bio-matter stops planting IEDs on it's drinking straws and gets digested properly. Maybe if it hadn't been so effort/resource conservative when it first arrived shit would have gone down different but it had no way of knowing the tried and tested maximum efficiency method would be insufficient this time. It does highlight a rather funny weakness in the tyranids though. When the tyranids begin to digest the planet most of their biomass, including the warrior forms, is tied up in the digesting pools. The Hive Mind can't give commands to the pools like it can to the hive ships and bioforms so the ground is being held by a skeleton crew. In theory by this point all non-tyranid life on the planet is dead anyway so it doesn't matter. But if not...well you get Terranis, and all the Hive Mind can do to compensate is pupate new bioforms out of the rippers lying around. If it were a larger Hive Fleet that could spare more resources Terranis would have been in big trouble.

Imperium send in an Ordo Xenos team with Deathwatch accompanying them to confirm that this isn't a clever ruse. They find a planet knee deep in 'Nid chitin and the ground stained in xeno blood. It looks a bit like Cadia, a bit like Krieg and a lot like Hell on the day they couldn't get the fires to light. And amidst the carnage and corpse fields continents wide they find the bastion cities, Krieg away from Krieg. But also not Krieg. It's like Krieg but Krieg made human, humanity restored to the Kriegers. Everybody is masked and uniformed, and then you see this mini-kriegers giggling. All is dusty and gloomy but you hear music in the distance. And old and crippled Krieger that somehow has survived is telling tales about the wider Imperium. They are survivors that don´t lose the hope in the face of an unbeatable enemy. If people send to Krieg end depressed, in Terranis find what really means being an imperial citizen. They will never surrender, not even faced with the Armageddon, because they are the last light in the galaxy.
It's real fucking difficult to tell Kriegers from Terranites and among the mixed children, referred to by the old Kriegers as the Derivatives, the distinction is meaningless.

Most people will be a more than a little perplexed with the Derivations. Even kriegs will not understand what the fuck has happened. They have survived an impossible situation. Yeah, they seem like the standard Kriegers, but they are not. Remember that they don´t have vitae-wombs. They have families and a home that they love. Where the kriegers are a bunch of nihilistic fellows, these guys just plain and simple have adapted to a death world. They probably fight with tactical acumen as an attrition war against nids is a fucking nightmare. They hold the line an then return with their families. True, like the kriegers there aren´t civilians in their culture... but they have a culture, is only that theirs is extremely militarized, and that is not that rare in the ND galaxy. They have a lot in common with other deathworlders troops like the Catachans, that just plain simple have adapted. Esencially, a less sugary version of the guys from Love and Krieg.

For the old Inquisitor Kryptmann, on one hand he would really, really love them. Terranis derivations are absolutely fantastic: The devotion of the Kriegers. Tactical acumen. Better liked by the Ad-mech for not having to use Vitae-wombs. Probably partial immunity to nids toxins. Smell genestealers cults and probably know like a million recipes to eat them and cook them and turn them into weapons. They are the children that he never fathered. Probably Terranis is the only place in that he can feel like home. On the other hand, the idea of basically becoming the tyranids to defeat the tyranids would be disgusting and he would have a first hand look at the kind of arguments people are making in the Imperial Army that soldiers need to be more like Krieg. As proud as he is of his unfathered children he doesn't want to force others to become as shit as him.

For the first time since the Civil War there is internal dispute on Krieg. Are these Terranite people Kriegers now? Are their half-breed children? Are the old veterans who were born on Krieg still Kriegers? Are the old veterans renegades or are they some glimpse that salvation is possible? Is this the rain washing their sins away?

Kriegers don't have violent disputes among their own kind any more outside of practice wars. But they have also had no real differences of opinion since the end of the nuclear war either. The rest of the galaxy is in constant uncertainty but they have always prided themselves on being the immovable center of certainty. They have always been 100% sure on what they are, what everyone else is and on what to do about it. But now the generals can't agree on a subject despite all having all of the same available facts. It's hard to tell because the regiments continue to operate as freakishly well as always but the upper layers of the Stratocracy get really fucking nervous when you mention Terranis.
Of the planet Terranis itself in 999M41, the Imperial Army has arrived in force. They can spare the numbers now. The orbiting bioships were malnourished and weak and were cut down by the navy assets with little trouble and the ground forces are landing in the cleared areas and killing fields around the bastion cities. The standstill has tipped, the siege is lifted and across the planet the Tyrannids are being hunted down and hounded to their stinking holes and nests. Terranis is being cleansed and already the Administratum is drafting plans for it's rebuilding.

Terranis held.

Now that the 'nids danger has passed, The only true resource is a lot of experienced badass soldiers. So they, like Catachans fight because his people back home need the resources. It's only been 30 years so most of the more durable and non-organic shit from their old civilization will be left behind. They can salvage to get a boost with the whole rebuilding society thing for short term gains but the planet is going to need the attention of the AdBio for terraforming work. Thankfully it still has a breathable atmosphere so there must be enough normal biological action in the sea and soil at the microscopic level to sustain it. Maybe it won't take that long. Give it 30 years and the toxins will have broken down and planting of plants to see what will grow and what won't can start. 30 years after that and the background radiation will be getting low enough across the least nuked areas to be considered "almost safe". 30 years after that and it will only be the worst salted areas that are no-go.

In 200 years Terranius could be a Civilized/Agri-world with good martial traditions. Not long after that and they can be paying full tithe rates.

=== Terranis and the Hrud ===
The inhabitants of Terranis are less xenophobic than the Kriegers, largely due to the actions of the Hrud.

The Hrud were a godsend on Terranis once the siege begins, because they essentially granted the human populations immunity to Tyranid infiltration. Hrud are quite defensive of their homes, and even if they are able to slip around any tyranid organism through their spacial folding the Hive Fleet takes the air and water and everything else living when they leave a planet and Hrud need to breathe same as everyone else. Hrud are also very good at sniffing out Genestealer cults, with many of their seemingly random killing sprees being revealed to be eradication of a genestealer presence, which on a world where the Hive is getting desperate because the usual maximum-efficiency tactics aren't working would start seeking alternate means of disrupting the local defenses.

Once, at the beginning, the defenders were angry and on edge whenever the Hrud would suddenly and violently pulp a seemingly random person on the spot. Then they started getting the reports of outposts devastated by someone seemingly going rogue, of genestealers passing as human long enough to weaken defensive lines right before a Tyranid attack, and of parasite forms that would latch on to a host without them ever knowing, showing no signs before they spontaneously erupted with dozens of tiny chittering lifeforms eating their way out from inside the unsuspecting host.

The Hrud have learned since then too. Rather than the immediate violence towards the affected, they just glide into the mess hall or the barracks and gently tap the unfortunate soul on the shoulder, and the message is clear. They whisper quiet goodbyes and distribute their gear, then stand up and leave with the Hrud, the rest of their gear being returned for sanitation later.

Their bodies cannot be recycled into food for their remaining fellows- Untainted organic matter is at a premium, but they are no longer untainted. Instead, their biomass is used to make Saltpeter and bait for traps against the roaming hunters, a primitive system that nevertheless allows them to aid their comrades one last time, screaming defiance against the tide of flesh from beyond the grave in one last brilliant flash of fire and force and spite, a gout of light against the darkness before fading to ash and smoke that are useless to the all-consuming foe.

As a rule, the Hrud aren't reliable. However, Terranis is possibly the only instance in which they make an exception to that rule. They're not workers, of course, they're not helping maintain the equipment and by and large they're still oily and evasive as all hell to the point where even vague estimates of the local numbers are impossible to form. The caveat is that any Hrud's number-one priority is the survival of the Hrud, and when faced with tyranid Armageddon, the survival of the Hrud is directly linked to the survival of the human populace.

It's not that the Hrud aren't useful, it's that they aren't reliable workers. They don't keep timetables, they kind of follow orders but their attention span is not brilliant and the only ones who they make any effort to cooperate are the tribal elders of their kind. The elders can ensure that there is one obedient hrud at the checkpoints and gatehouses at all times but they can't guarantee that it's the same one so you're constantly having to train new staff. Also the space folding thing they do is unnerving as balls to watch and they are secretive little bastards by nature. People also used to complain that they never took the hoods off to be identified but then one day after much asking one did and it was a fucking horrifying cross between a xenomorph and a cockroach. After that people stopped asking them for facial identification. Not that identifying them is needed to ensure that they aren't tainted, the hrud are if anything more thorough about purging hrud genestealers than human ones.

They can't get ordered out on scouting missions, but they still show up and warn about incoming Tyranid waves. They can't be ordered to man the checkpoints, but they tend to hang out by them anyways, sometimes only revealing their presence when they detect an infiltrator. They are not organized beyond the loosest interpretations of the word, but they are creatures inclined to flight before fight who have nowhere to run, and that desperation if nothing else leads them to be more helpful than their kind usually are.

Also the fact that everybody is wearing gasmasks all the time helps mitigate the ssaak; doesn't stop it completely, since it's not entirely physical, but does enough to slow it down that the normal rotations of the garrison keep most of the troops from suffering more than minor side-effects.

Also they steal unattended things. Not anything of real value but they are a nuisance.

The Terranites still have no idea exactly how many Hrud are on Terranis beyond "more than we thought". Before the war they thought there weren't any so that's not very helpful.

In a way, the fact that the Hrud are so repulsive and reviled makes the fact that the Terranites are practically cordial with them an even greater source of discord for the pure Kriegers. It's not just any filthy xenos that they're accepting of, but the one considered more pest than people by the majority of people in the Imperium.

As for the Terranites, anyone who survived the Hive Fleet by their side is all right by them, and the fact that the Hrud would bring them information that normally would have cost them precious lives and kept their strongholds secure goes a long ways towards fostering good sentiments. They're all brothers and sisters of the muck and filth, after all, and the tunnels that became many of their bases of operations were once the Hrud's homes.

More interesting is how the Hrud of Terranis were affected, and how the rest of the Hrud would see them. The hrud see themselves as a collective, with no social divisions between them, but the Hrud from Terranis are putting this ideas to the test as much as the Derivatives are for Krieger philosophy. The rest of the galaxy might not notice the difference, but to the rest of the Hrud the Terranis stock probably seem reckless and borderline suicidal.

==Aloh'Eur'ii==

A.k.a., the Tau colony world in Nemesor Zahndrekh's Gidrim Dynasty.

The Tau Empire and Aloh'Eur'ii have been intentionally kept unaware of each other by the Imperial Ambassador and her team for the simple reason that nobody would be happy if they found out. The Tau Empire would not gain anything from laying claim to them beyond mild expense re-uplifiting them. The Yokel-Tau would not survive as a culture and would not be happy under The Empire having grown in a completely different direction and the Nemensor wouldn't be happy if someone tried to take his least shit planet from him because of he offered a safe haven to a bunch of primitives and the primitives won't leave a planet they have invested so much time and effort into working.
What we do know:
* That they are the descendants of early colonists in one of the lost colony ships and as they have been separated from the Tau Empire since then they have not benefited from any new technological developments and are still using tech not too far advanced from 20th century Earth, bar recently imported toys.
*Their world was described as the more habitable of the two inhabitable worlds in the Nemesor's Estate but that's not a great achievement as the other one is very borderline.
* They have abandoned the caste system due to the limited gene-pool and have interbred to the point were they wouldn't easily fit into the modern caste system.
* The Nemensor occasionally visits them in an official capacity to remind them that he still exists and this is still actually his planet. They pay some minimal and mostly symbolic tribute as they don't have anything particularly valuable.
*They aren't aware of anything in the Tau Empire since the date they lost contact with it and the Tau Empire is totally unaware of their existence and considers the lost colony ship ancient history long since dead and buried.

Aloh'Eur'ii (which means "cold wind, bitter tears" in Tau) is an ancient Necrontyr world, and given how close it is to Zahndrekh's home it must have been at least sparsely populated as it does have an atmosphere, then it would have been a potential target for Old One and their servants to attack. Also Zahndrekh never set up his home there so that would imply that it was never a particularly nice place even before the Old Ones wrecked it and as the Necrontyr had a high discomfort threshold then it must have been really shit. Gidrim by contrast might have been pretty verdant before the War in Heaven broke it and the subsequent ~65,000,000 years of neglect.

And it is barely inhabitable for Tau who are native to a slightly arid but warm planet. To this end I'm going to suggest that the planet is shit because it looks like the arse end of Antarctica. It's cold and wet and for an added bonus the ozone layer is a bad joke. There is life on the surface, the flora caps out at a bit of hardy moss and the most exciting fauna is a beetle looking thing the size of a human thumbnail that moves very slowly and eats moss. There is also a bit of pink algae in the ice and a type of worm that very slowly corkscrews through the ice.

The sea is a little more interesting. There are crabs and snails and other invertebrate life but nothing as complex as a real fish. The local Tau eat mostly the kelp and seaweed and reserve snail and crab for special occasions. Thankfully the snail-like creatures grow big enough and have enough fiber material in them that their skin can be used for making clothing out of and they typically have enough fat and oil content that they can make fire from them with a bit of effort. One of the things Nemensor Zahndrekh donated to them out of charity was fresh, warm insulation cloth thus instantly gaining their trust.

The planet has no axial tilt or moon so there is no tide or seasons. One day is much like another; shit. The hydro system is minimal and most of the fresh water is holed up in ice caps at the unnecessarily large poles
The life forms on Aloh'Eur'ii seem to be derived from two prior existing ecosystems that have either evolved in total isolation from each other or many species have been imported from elsewhere after the initial terraforming work was done. Many of the lifeforms have genetic markers consistent with life found on other old Necrontyr worlds but the others show resemblance to Tarellians. It can be assumed that either the Necrontyr took and inhabited a former Old One colony or simple cross contamination occurred accidentally. After so many eons without record it's now impossible to know.

The Tau are better off now than they were. When Nemensor Zahndrekh found them they were still living in the disassembled remains of their original colony ship with a few outbuildings and extensions made of local stone, using technology they couldn't reproduce or replace, gradually dwindling away. Nemensor Zahndrekh did offer them far more than they would take, they had their pride and didn't know him yet. Indeed their ancestors set out from the homeworld before the Tau had made first contact so the notion of alien intelligence was still pretty world shaking.

As it stands now the Tau have the ability to replace most of the tech that they are using, very slowly and carefully. They have mines and a few workshops and processors. Their population is on the increase and they have several satellite settlements, each as bleak seeming as the original landing site. Sometimes they will wonder about the old homeworld their ancestors set out from but it is a distant event, many generations removed from living memory or relevance.

Of the Tau themselves they are physically distinct from the main branch Tau lines. They hail from a time when the differences between the castes was not yet as physically noticeable due to centuries of gentle eugenics. The original colony expedition contained mostly Earth Caste as the colony was supposed to be set up, become self sufficient quickly and wait several years at least for the next wave of settlers to arrive as this was in the early days of Tau interstellar travel. Nevertheless, there was a triumvirate of Ethereals, their Water Caste scribes and administrators, a few Air Caste messengers and pilots as well as a detachment of Fire Caste enforcers. The presence of the Fire Caste being in the event of social breakdown caused by extreme conditions on the intended target planet rather than as a deterrent to pirates or raiders, sapient aliens still being a theoretical possibility rather than an accepted part of life at this stage of Tau history.

In appearance the Tau of Aloh'Eur'ii mostly resemble Earth Caste with broader feet, more prominent cheekbones, a generally broader build and slightly stubbier fingers. It is unknown if this is a direct multi-generations long adaptation to the constant cold or if it is just a fortuitous result of the various breeds of that species mingling into a new form.

Society is built around resource conservation, thrift and sustainable long term planning using principles set out by the original triumvirate for the simple and inescapable reason that anything else would have gotten them all killed centuries ago. Life is short and hard which is a good way of describing the people that have had to adopt it. Although in some ways the comparison is not apt, life is also harsh and unforgiving which is an unfair comparison with the Tau of Aloh'Eur'ii as since the arrival of the Nemensor they have been very welcoming of outsiders, if nothing else it broke the sense of utter isolation they were feeling.

The capital "city" of Aloh'Eur'ii now that it is not alone as a settlement has been named Sho'aun'or'es as it can either mean the heat of a reactor or can be used to mean general sources of power. Either direct translation works as it is both the source of planetary authority and the city and especially the dwelling places are all huddled around the ancient colony ship's reactor for warmth.

==Cherys==

After the Dark Wedding the Dark Eldar were not the only ones who made an exodus from Commorragh. Before the Dark Wedding Commorragh, specifically Null City, was a mecca for all sorts of ne’er-do-wells unwelcome in the Imperium for their criminal behavior yet with enough common sense to avoid buying into the brain-rotting madness of Chaos, ranging from enterprising Slaugth to human pirates to rogue non-Dark Eldar corsairs to Sslyth mercenaries. Those who were satisfied with “mundane” crimes like piracy, slavery, and trading in illicit goods and doing whatever they wanted rather than the insane fanaticism and cultish behavior of Chaos, much like the Dark Eldar (who do commit depravities for depravity’s sake, but because they want to rather than to impress some gods). Null City is still home to significant populations of xenos pirates and mercenaries, but quite a few of those that could leave jumped ship or tried to find a new place to ply their wares having seen Vect’s marriage to Malys as a portent of things to come. In the immediate aftermath of the Dark Wedding in addition to the Dark Eldar refugees who thought it better to throw themselves on the mercy of the Craftworlders than let Malys drag them into hell the Imperium also had to deal with a sudden influx of pirates and vagabonds trying to carve out their own little hideaways in the galaxy now that their old port of call was no longer “safe”.

One such case was the world of Cherys. Cherys was a world that was cut off from the rest of the galaxy for nearly 500 years by bad warp storms. Only the really old humans and some of the eldar even remember when they were actually part of the Imperium. System is not that bad, plenty of mineral wealth on the moons and asteroids. By some quirk there are no solid planets as such, just 8 gas giants ranging in size from one of them being a brown dwarf and the smallest about the size of Neptune. Imperium was going to colonize the shit out of the place because there are a dozen moons about the size of Earth with lots of water ice. Therefore great for colonizing. Set the place up as an industrial and bread basket hub and use it to send out hundreds of on-site built colony ships into the rest of the unclaimed sector, in the following 1,000 years they were hoping to set up hundreds of colonies and eventually have it become an entirely new sector (uplifting and/or offering the hand of friendship to any civilized being that the encounter in the process).

They got as far as building a Ramilies-class Starfort with the great distinction of it actually having been designed by Architect-Supreme Ramilies of the Ad-Mech. Then the warp went funny. Not funny enough to actually break through into real space but it was close and it kept ships away for 500 years.

A few years ago the weather improved and people started to say things like "remember that starfort we built? I wonder if it's still intact?"

Starfort is intact, it's also still inhabited. If it had been managed properly the whole system would be a small legitimate civilization all abustle with activity, industry and getting shit done. As it is it's a starfort that's kind of only half inhabitable and a few outposts on the moons an asteroids that support it, barely.
Law and order broke down more or less immediately once it was isolated because the commander was stricken with a terminal case of what the medicae would call “idiocy” and nobody since has been able to get the gangs to work together or even just stop shooting at each other for more than a few hours at a time.

Then a band of Sslyth arrive from Commorragh pretty much as soon as the warp was safe to travel, they didn't risk taking the webway as they didn't leave the City of Sins on good terms. The original plan of just enslaving them all and forcing their way to power go out the window when it turns out the station has been horribly mismanaged and the residents are desperate for somebody with an actual brain take charge. The Sslyth manage to take over the last pockets of resistance about three months before an Imperial expeditionary fleet slid up along side it with proper military escort. They are going to salvage the original plan of pushing back the border and for that they need the station up and running. The scribes are all over the place talking to the locals about the last half a millennium and the Sslyth are freaking the fuck out because they are pretty sure that they saw a Battle Barge with the heraldry of the War Hounds on it and they are pretty sure they are on the "shoot on sight" category.

The Administratum adepts do eventually find them. They congratulate them on getting the place into some semblance of order, tell them that they will push the paperwork through to have them be the official civilian governing body for the system and ask them to give their regards to the rest of the Diasporex next time they come round this way. Sslyth end up slightly more confused than ever but nobody is shooting them and this is a deal they can live with.

The Sslyth are better rulers than you'd expect from Commorrites, but "better behaviour than the Dark City" is a pretty low bar to set, and this is on the fringes of the Imperium in the first place, so it's not exactly in the spotlight. Even official Imperial posts can be shady as fuck sometimes, just as long as it's within the Imperium's tolerance levels (no Chaos, no blood-sacrifices, keep your criminality deniable, ect.) and this would be on the lower end of that- on the surface. The Ssylth are still absolutely reprehensible by modern moral standards, but to the Imperium they're practically upstanding citizens, especially considering their past and current circumstances. There's still gang wars over territory, gun-trafficking, and all sorts of bad stuff going on in the station, it's just that it's basically "normal" crimes for the Imperium, rather than the balls-to-the-wall edgy shit of Commorragh.

To put it another way- the port is (unofficially) open to pirate vessels, but it is also open to Imperial vessels. Including Imperial warships that may happen to be in the area on anti-piracy patrols. In which case they're not going to leave their buddies out in the cold, they might not be able to save their ship and the poor sods still on it, but they'll cover for the crew who were still on station and put them up until the next ship comes along. Just need to get you putting on a show for the inspectors doing this little job over here, we'll even set you up for pay to make it convincing... and then two months later that crew has fallen into the exact same trap of getting comfortable with having regular meals, cleaning facilities, and an actual bed and the ones who haven't fallen for it and would cause trouble for the rest have wound up in one of the back-corridors of the station where the power isn't consistent with several stab-wounds in the back. And of course, if the Imperial officials happen to ask where any pirate vessels may have been headed when they stopped in...

Basically, they're in what feels like a mini-Commorragh, only with Inquisition and Imperial Navy instead of Vect and pirates instead of the various Dark-Eldar factions. The biggest difference is now they've actually got money in their pockets and reliable resources to use and sometimes the residents thank them and smile in ways that give them funny feelings in their chests that they don't understand.

It should be noted, this is not some grand master-plan of theirs. They've always been regarded as a bit of a doofus-crew by their compatriots, and have spent this entire time feeling like they're in way over their heads and just reacting to the latest "OH SHIT FUCK AHHH" thing that's landed on their doorstep. They're not stupid by any means, and they wouldn't have made it this long or been this successful if they were- if nothing else, they're excellent at problem-solving on the fly. It's just that they've got almost Ciaphas Cain-tier luck and a bad habit of being unwilling to give up whatever they've managed to get.

Case in point, their stance on slaving. These Ssylth don't engage in the slave trade and tend to crack down on it harshly and bloodily. It's not a matter of approval, they started out in the Dark City after all, it's their possessiveness kicking in. Any slave-trade on the station is dealing with Station-dwellers, and the station-dwellers belong to THEM, so taking them as slaves is basically stealing the Ssylth's shit. And no self-respecting Commorrite is going to tolerate anybody stealing their shit. Of course, this gets misinterpreted as them having a moralistic line they won't cross, so once again the whole situation is screwing them over.

When it comes down to it, they always side with the Imperium over their fellow pirates, but that's less loyalty and more a combination of "the Imperium's the one making this so profitable" and "[[Dakka|Oh fuck they have so many guns we are not picking that fight]]." They are still pirates at heart at least that's what they keep telling themselves.

For that matter, the starport itself isn't the luckiest of places; aside from the whole "getting lost due to warp shenanigans," there's how everything collapsed because somehow an idiot was running the show when things went to hell, plus how things kept going wrong during construction with corridors not lining up correctly and prefabbed pieces somehow completely failing to fit together right. Nothing Warp-tainted, thankfully (the Imperium checked- thoroughly- when these issues kept popping up) but the end result of basically kitbashing stuff together and twisting corridor connections to get stuff to fit together meant that the general construction of the place, while static and thus given clearly-marked maps, is still an absolute nightmare to try and navigate through, especially for people who are used to the more organized overflow of most human constructions, where they started out orderly and then became a mess because of the bloat of too much stuff. This station was built messy from the start due to stuff just going wrong in the most annoying way possible.

There's rumors of a shrine to Murphy on the station. Nobody knows where or if it was there from the start, or got erected by somebody asking for mercy during construction or the period when the station was lost. They just know that attempting to get rid of it ends badly, and praying/making offerings is just asking for trouble.

Whether the shrine actually exists or not is ambiguous, but ultimately it does not matter whether it is real. It is equally as plausible that the shrine doesn't exist, but that people on the station are willing to believe it does because it would give an explanation for why things keep going sideways at Cherys. Then there's the possibility of it being a chicken-and-egg scenario; is the prevalence of things going wrong a result of the shrine, or is the shrine a result of all the bad luck that manifests on the station? Ultimately it's all academic, because the takeaway is always that the station seems to be a magnet for mishaps.

The more interesting case for the existence of the shrine is that, while the station is a magnet for mishaps, it's not necessarily a magnet for misfortune. Your plan is going to crumble to pieces, but there always seems to be opportunity mixed in. The Ssylth's plight is the perfect example of this; from their viewpoint, things have been going wrong and stayed going wrong ever since they arrived- or before, since they only found the station in the first place because their navigation got shot to hell while fleeing the Dark City and forced them to make a blind jump into the void. Despite that, they're better off than when they arrived, with steady income, positions of power, followers who would die for them, and even friends and allies. And all of this was not because they sought it out, but because every time things went FUBAR the solution to the problems would end up giving them good things on top of the even bigger problems it came with.

There's at least a couple of the Ssylth who are so adamant about still being mercenaries and bad people because they're terrified that if they admit what they've become and try to actually pursue their new purpose, the effect will reverse and they'll end up actually having to go back to being pirates.

Life on the port is... interesting. The Murphy-effect doesn't just affect the sneks, though they certainly seem to have gotten hit by it harder than most.
At this point, it's somewhat normal for the residents, who don't really see anything too weird about it, and an outsider looking in wouldn't notice anything too glaring at first. Then they get to one of the station's worksites and find people with five different wrong types of connector that the workers go through until one of them inexplicably fits, backup tools are stashed in every crevice, and a normally-minor discrepancy with the power intake leading to everybody leaving the floor, seconds before the power-surge the discrepancy heralded wreaks havoc on the floor.

In other words, they've grown very good at anticipating unexpected dangers and working with the wrong materials. When they're off the station and out in the rest of the Imperium, this can come off as paranoia and obsessive-compulsive behavior, but on-station it's all completely justified.

As for Rogue Traders, of course they stop by, and several of them leave with hulls full of riches or powerful new crew-members or the like. This is because to them, the station is basically like a casino; Try your luck and see if you make it big! There's potential for profit here, a land of opportunity, but only if you're lucky enough!
Some of them find that fortune in ways that basically screw them out of being Rogue Traders, others just get screwed, but they keep coming because they hear about the ones who came out better for it, and ignore the bit about how customer satisfaction is universally shit.

The station is a lot cleaner than you'd expect something getting run by the Ssylth to be. There's a number of reasons for this: First and foremost, the Imperium is not stupid and has ambitions for the area, so if the Ssylth had acted like typical Ssylth, they'd have gotten Blammed and replaced by either a Space Marine chapter or somebody more official. This band of Ssylth are well aware of this, and considering they're a bunch of dregs from barely-relevant houses, they'd be mincemeat against a Space Marine squad. Thus, they are very eager to not give the big bad Imperium a reason to come after them. This doesn't mean they avoid their standard shady shit, but they let it come to them rather than seeking it out, and keep it as quiet as they possibly can.

To give perspective, the main source of income, and the only thing they really had in place when the Imperium showed up, was the legitimate resource-harvesting the station was built for. True, they'd originally been intending the resources for building ships for themselves, but they've given up on that thanks to the dollar-signs the Imperium pays for it.

This pretty much characterizes the struggle these Ssylth have been going through; they set out to do something properly Ssylth-y, and then something screws it up so hard they end up looking like the good guys. Big pirate captain stops in to sell his booty? An argument springs up that ends with your blade in his neck right as an Imperial warfleet shows up, and you end up getting praised and collecting the bounty on his head. Slavers show up with fresh labor? Somehow you getting lost in the corridors with them gets interpreted as a liberation attempt, with one of the slaves happens to be a somewhat important person whose associates pay a good sum and offer a trade deal in thanks for his return.

Basically, they're villains going through a mid-life crisis of suddenly having 401ks and a business to run and suddenly being responsible adults rather than the freebooting teenagers they used to be. The scary part (for them) is that they've actually gotten comfortable with their new situation, even if they'll never admit it. They're still ready and eager for fights, and their first question on running into a problem is "can we stab it away?," but the number of times where they decide the answer is "yes" has been declining.

Some in the Imperium, particularly the Inquisition, have figured out the truth behind the Sslyth on Cherys. The general reaction to said discovery is apathy. The Imperium doesn't care who is running the planet as long as the population is revolting, they aren't Chaos/genestealer corrupted, and they pay the tithe. Indeed for the Imperium, it's something of a social experiment; eventually the point is going to come where the Ssylth have an opportunity and either take it and resort back to their old ways- in which case there's a contingent of War Hounds within the galactic area, cleaning up the mess will be relatively easy - or stick to their guns and continue on the course they're going down, in which case it will be an example of why the civilized Imperial method is the correct approach to the world, or something like that. Basically proof that redemption is possible if you choose to pursue it.

The rulers of Cherys are known as Aesymnetes. The Aesymnetes are elected tyrants as decided by the voters, though only certain people are allowed the right to vote. The members of the gangs that sided with the Sslyth in their hostile takeover all were given the privilege and many have earned it since. If you want to be able to vote you have to do something to benefit the station (and therefore the Sslyth). Those that can vote feel that their voices actually mean something and they have a stake in the station and it's well being, a stake that they will fight for. The non-voters typically also wish that they could vote and the ones with some get up and go will get up and earn it with service to the station, those that won't don't deserve it and probably aren't worth worrying about. The system is also completely rigged and there's a glass ceiling non-Sslyth can't get past. Sslyth didn't escape one master to becomes servants to someone else. They only have the vote because it makes people the illusion that their leaders rule with the consent of the masses as there aren’t enough Sslyth to forcibly impose law.

Three Sslyth in particular are currently in charge. Not coincidentally, these were the three Sslyth who managed to organize the ragtag bunch of people who originally decided to set out from Commorragh. Laerhi is smart and quick-thinking, having the most common sense and good at figuring out risk management- namely, how to avoid risks when possible and saddle somebody else with them when not. M'hoh is practically a savant when it came to planning and keeping complicated systems running- with the downside of being prone to overly-elaborate plans that nobody else could keep up with. Caer-Li is the "muscle" of the leaders, but while dumb by comparison, was charismatic enough to get others to go along with him, and thus was the one they tended to need to get their fractured band to cooperate with their latest escapade.

The Dark Eldar attempted to raid Cherys once. Emphasis on attempted. The Kabal was one the Sslyth knew, either having once worked for them or having fought them as mercenaries for another Kabal at some point. The Sneks worked for these "people" for a very long time. Knowing how they think and predicting their behaviour was a survival trait. The Dark Eldar come in expecting to encounter a lower end PDF. They leave the system with substantial losses and nothing to show for those losses, they return to their homes humiliated. The real kicker? They never even knew that the Ssylth were there. The outpost they went after had one Ssylth who never left any survivors to report back what they had seen.

This wasn't the first time that the Dark Eldar had gone on easy raids to Cherys in the 500 years of isolation. The place was practically a free range human farm crossed with a pick-and-mix. They haven't been back since as their reckoning of profit to loss no longer stack up favourably and there are softer targets elsewhere.

The Sslyth were still praised for it. If it wasn't for their take over security would have consisted of poorly trained gangs running protection rackets. Since moving in the Ssylth broke the gangs up, gave some of them some degree of training who then trained others, formed them up into mixed squads, shored up defences and generally got them to take their jobs seriously. When the Imperium came calling they provided them with new las-rifles to replace or augment the supplies of 500 year old hand me downs and improvised home made shit and gave them some flack jackets and other really basic gear.

None of this would have happened if the Ssylth hadn't arrived, beaten everyone into shape and eaten the worst objectors.

Also Sekropss was especially well praised or leading the defences and turning the raid inside out. Sekropss is an extremely clever bastard. That wasn't even his real job, he was just keeping the seat warm for someone who was moulting, his actual job is trying to create a judiciary and the rules for a constabulary system from whole cloth.

==Kiavahr==

Megacorp hell. A planet entirely ruled by megacorps and other corporations, like a planet of maximum [[Shadowrun]]. At some point in time [[Nobledark_Imperium_Primarchs#Corvus_Corax|Corvus Corax]] and the [[Raven Guard]] applied a metaphorical spanking to their leadership to get them to rein in their more heinous and inhumane practices.<br>

Raven Guard, when they first landed under the command of former downtrodden peasant Corvus, went absolutely ape shit about the place due to the conditions of the average pleb and the utter disregard those higher up the food chain had for them. They were seen as an exploitable, expendable and totally renewable resource and were therefore totally disposable once they had expended their usefulness.

Kiavahr was not yet contacted by Mars and so was not under the aegis of Mars. Corax gave them the opportunity and suggestion to amend their behaviour but the lords of Kiavahr laughed at his offer. Theirs was a prosperous system that had done well for itself in the anarchy of the Age of Strife and would be a valuable addition to the Imperium. It's carry on just fine how it was and Corax could deal with it. The lives of a few peasants and slum dwellers was worth by any measure what they were offering the Imperium. Corax, as soldier man of peasant stock, obviously wouldn't understand what it was to lead a functioning society to prosperity and should leave things beyond him to those better suited to the task.

At that point the lights started going out and shit started exploding.

The suggestions were made again to the surviving spire lords and the hastily elected new branch of CEO's in the same calm voice. This time they did not mistake his calm for meaning that he wasn't planning on killing them all on the basis that he'd eventually find a crop of lords more reasonable to his demands.

Kiavahr as it stands since then is still mega-corp hell with such government as exists composed of the heads of the biggest corps, but it's not as bad to live in. This isn't because the heads of the mega-corps are actually any nicer, it's because the Raven Guard set up shop on the moon of Deliverance in the old and exhausted mining tunnels. There are no slums on Kiavahr, the Tenements are about as far down as you can officially sink and although the tenements are not what you'd call pleasant you can live in them.

Tenement dwellings typically consist of a large sturdily built, but ugly, structure like a square colosseum but far larger. Tiered galleries of one room dwellings that can hold maybe four "comfortably" and six cramped. Communal toilets and wash houses are on every tier and are shared by the people living on that tier. There is a large communal kitchen and dining area in the centre on the ground floor.

Ground floor also contains a doctor's office and basic surgery, some shops for basic essentials, laundry and other such things.

This is where you end up when all else fails or you want to save money by living very basically. Because of the nature of Kiavahr society there are a lot more low end workers than any other group by a very great margin and the majority of the population (tens if not hundreds of billions) live in similar conditions.

Due to the Raven Guard recruiting from all strata of society weight of numbers demands that the overwhelming majority of the chapter were raised in these vast habitation structures and many still have family there. To this end the chapter acts, as well as an elite branch of the local Imperial Guard, as watchdogs for the poor.

Biggest complaint about Kiavahr for the lower classes is that the place is bleak and boring in the extreme.

Businesses can engage in all backstabbery and shitty underhanded behaviour they want, but if the peasantry get targeted by the nobility the nobility become a training exercise.

'''The Harlequin of Kiavahr'''<br>
Deep in the underhives of Kiavahr there is a lone [[Harlequin]]. They have been down there quite some time and claim to have been forgotten there many years ago by the other members of their troupe. They claim to be stranded on Kiavahr, Kiavahr’s Webway gate is off-planet and they do not have the money to book passage on a spaceship.

To this end they are well known among the inhabitants of the underhives, always looking for people to help out with a job often of semi-legal nature, and by proxy finally earn them the money to get off Kiavahr. People in the underhives are always on the lookout for a well-paying job, especially in the megacorp hell that is Kiavahr. The Harlequin’s story is highly suspicious which sets off the well-honed sense of paranoia most gangers have, but they pay well. However, people can’t help but notice that most of these schemes in the long run seem to end up with most of the megacorps at each other’s throats and the worst of them gutted and have their dirty secrets dragged into the light.

In reality, the Harlequin of Kiavahr is a plant by Cegorach, to keep the megacorps of Kiavahr honest and feuding among themselves. The Harlequin could actually leave Kiavahr anytime they wanted, the tale of them being stranded is just their cover story. There is even the possibility that the individual changes from time to time but the role remains. The show must go on, after all.

==Vordic-Taal (possibly needs new name)==

There were many different religions on Carlos McConnell at the time of its discovery, but the most popular was some kind of ancestor worship, usually a form of syncretic paganism that picked and chose the best gods to worship out of whatever sounded interesting. One of the most popular was Camazotz, the goddess of warfare and the hunt (kind of like a mix between Bast and a Mesoamerican jaguar god) due to her portfolio’s universal appeal among the felinids. Camazotz worship is all about taking pride in your abilities and the nature of the hunt, honing your skills to a razor’s edge so you can be the best hunter you can be.

Following the arrival of Rogue Trader Carlos McConnell to the planet and the uplift of the People of the Islands from medieval to modern technological levels, Camazotz worship mostly declined in popularity but never completely went away, remaining popular among soldiers, law officers, and fishermen in particular. And, of course, the Continental Tribes, who retained more of their hunter-gatherer lifestyle, still worship Camazotz fervently.

If you're thinking "this sounds an awful lot like Slaanesh worship", you'd be half right. Camazotz worship also involves a significant degree of self-restraint (often deliberately), never killing more than is needed, respecting the prey for its sacrifice, and giving up the best cuts of the prey for the good of all, something that would sound ludicrous to any excess-craving Slaaneshi. Camazotz is your stereotypical hunter god that in folklore shows up to kick the crap out of hunters that kill for pleasure alone and don't respect their prey. However, this does not mean the worship of one cannot be easily subsituted for the other.

One of the earliest attempts at setting up a felinid colony by Carlos McConnell was the Vorlic sytem, a primising system containing five potentially life supporting moons and one dead one. The Carlos McConnell corporation bankrolled the initial colonization effort but had almost no involvement in setting up the colony. They wanted self-sufficient colonies to ensure the felinids weren’t wiped out, but they didn’t want a bunch of worlds that needed the backing of the Rogue Trader group to get anything done (or worse, be a drain on their resources).

Almost immediately, things began going wrong. The felinids on the colonies began behaving increasingly aggressive, almost feral. Eventually, the five colonies declared open war with each other, igniting a conflict that lasted for nearly a decade. It was only when one colony travelled to the sixth dead moon of the planet that the “truth” of the matter was revealed to it and granted the power to subjugate the other colonies. I’m sure you can guess what that was.

Eventually, the Imperium wondered “what ever happened to that felinid colony” and sent an IG force to investigate. They ended up walking into a Slaaneshi-themed version of Predator being hounded by crazed felinids who only exalted and took pleasure in the kill, who worshipped a corrupted version of Slaanesh-as-Camazotz.

==Other Notable Planets==

'''Istvaan V''' - The Istvaan system was once inhabited by the [[Nobledark_Imperium_Member_States#Kinebrach|Kinebrach]] several hundred thousand years before the rise to humanity. The Segmentum Obscurus was far outside of the Kinebrach's normal sphere of influence, and at some point they eventually abandoned the Istvaan system, leaving only their molecularly-superdense fortifications behind. Istvaan V was habitable, but was eventually terraformed further when the people of [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Istvaan_III|Istvaan III]] decided to expand further out into the stars. It was later scoured of life in a later (read: post-War of the Beast) battle. It's been suggested Nimina Demthring and the Conservators of Isha were the ones responsible.<br>
'''[[Nostramo]]''' - A twilight Hive World, it was once a nightmarish hellhole until Curze used it as his thesis that his tactics could bring law and order to even the worst worlds. At one point Nostramo's main export was adamantium mining, but most of the mining industry dried up when it became apparent that any more risked causing what was left of Nostramo's surface to completely collapse. Today Nostramo is a rusted out world full of ancient derelict industry and home to an ancient, distinguished, but impoverished society that mostly services and provides recruits for galactic law enforcement. Nostramo's main export to the Imperium seems to be Arbites officers and precious little else.

= Craftworlds =

==Biel-Tan==

Surprisingly enough, despite being firmly in the "Eldar supremacy" camp, Biel-Tan is actually relatively pro-human. Biel-Tan's main problem with humans is that the humans (and to a lesser extent, some of the other Craftworlds) keep telling them to slow the fuck down. Biel-Tan is itching to reconquer the galaxy and rebuild the old empire and they're frustrated that humans can't go at the same pace as them. Biel-Tan believes that humans should keep up and that they shouldn't be told to slow down the warpath of their own empire. Or at least in terms of the younger ones. The Autarchs of Biel-Tan are old and wise enough to want brakes on the train but they're also cunning enough to let the Imperial Army high ups take the blame for it.

In other words, to quote one anon: "Space Noldor".

==Saim-Hann==

Saim-Hann doesn’t take defeat lying down. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Saim-Hann|Leithon may have lost the initial challenge]] but he almost immediately challenged Russ to a rematch. He also overestimated his chances, expecting Leman to go down after a few swigs like the lightweight pansies he saw humans as. Humans can’t digest eldar alcohol and eldar alcoholic beverages are nasty by human standards due to the eldar’s genetically engineered immunity to poisons and the kind of alcohol Saim-Hann brews are considered gargle blasters by the rest of the eldar. He just had the misfortune to challenge one of the few people in the galaxy who could keep up with him, the guy who invented mjod because after his enhancements he considered all other forms of human alcohol to be too soft to do anything for him anymore. The contest was also far from one-sided, although Leman may have won he came really close to defeat and he knew it and considered any warrior capable of drinking him under the table to be a worthy opponent. The entire relationship between Saim-Hann and the Disciples of Kurnous/the Space Wolves and Fenris has been [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAdkKQ6-6wo| one huge competition of counting coup ever since].

==Lugganath==

In this timeline, Craftworld Lugganath is the Dark Eldar-hating Craftworld. As in canon, Lugganath are still trying to find a way to bring their Craftworld into the webway so they can rebuild Eldar civilization from there. The Webway would literally provide an infinite amount of space for the Eldar to grow and thrive away from the horrors of the galaxy. However, they realize that’s not going to happen so long as the Webway is being squatted in by their cocaine-snorting kin. Not only do the Dark Eldar make it impossible to live in the Webway long-term, they make Webway travel dangerous in general. So Lugganath wants to kick the lazy bums out. Lugganath was always kind uneasy about the Dark Eldar, but it got worse after the War of the Beast, where it became clear the Dark Eldar were willing to kill their own kind with impunity. Lugganath's end game could be that all permanent eldar habitation be moved to the webway but rather that one or just a few big cities like The Dark City they are working towards thinner spread with a "village" at each intersection, junction and crossroad. They help humanity and the others be masters of the Galaxy so long as the Imperium helps them become masters of their domain.

==Yme-Loc and Valhalla==

The comet that hit Valhalla was diverted this time by Craftworld Yme-Loc. By M41 Yme-Loc and Valhalla are in a very close relationship, like Ulthwe and Cadia.

Yme-loc gets a new neighbours, all the ice it could ever want and the eternal gratitude of the Valhallans.

Valhallans get their world saved, new friends and someone to help them because 20ish years later the orks came.

Yme-loc helps them fight off the orks and they and the Valhallans get into an arrangement. Elder neighbours provide them with imitation las-rifles and other wargear as well as sharing any farseer predictions that look interesting. Valhalla provides food and soldiers.

Yme-Loc is ruled by a council of shipwrights. They have final say on most things not directly related to war. They are descended, in a spiritual sense if not biological, from the original bonesingers stationed on the pre-fall ship the craftworld grew out of.

They all set out from the dying of the eldar homeworlds with the intention of finding “The Promised Land”. When they rammed the comet and drifted into orbit of Valhalla the Autarchs demanded that effort be made to fix the engines for strategic reasons. The Shipwrights told them that they would waste no time on that. The boat was beached on the shores of paradise. They had reached The Promised Land. The failed invasion of the orks was seen as the trial of tribulations to see if they deserved to keep their new home.

By 999M41 nobody can quite tell where the craftworld ends and the comet starts as the eldar have been gradually sculpting their chunk of ice till it looks like polished slightly blue quartz. It doubles as space port, orbital defence platform and a very pretty moon.

Of Valhalla itself the population is at about twenty billion and stable. They dwell in the fortified hives originally designed by Perty in antiquity. Outside the defensive walls it’s all orchards, pastures and fields and with bountiful seas and picturesque beaches.

=Notable Battles=

==War of the Beast==

===The Sacrifice of Argel Tal===

In canon, what happens to Argel Tal? He transforms into a giant daemonically possessed monster that towers over primarchs and in some prophecies gets put down at the Battle of Terra (doesn’t happen, but still). So what happens in this timeline?

He transforms into a giant daemonically possessed monster, but one of a distinctly different flavor.

In canon, Argel Tal is from Colchis, that planet which is now a weird, religion human-eldar hybrid society in this timeline. Given the religious nature of Colchis, Tal joins the Space Marines and is enthusiastic about the possibility of joining the Word Bearers. Imagine his surprise when he ended up getting put in the War Hounds instead. He repeatedly tried to get transferred, but was talked out of it every time by Kharn and on occasion by Angron in his more lucid moments. Although they prided themselves on their martial prowess, the War Hounds were not the most peaceable legion, and Kharn and Angron liked how the calm, thoughtful Tal was able to play peacemaker between some of the more hotheaded elements of the legion.

During the War of the Beast, Kharn, Tal, and a group of War Hounds were on a mission to deliver some eldar artifacts to the Craftworld of Biel-Tan. Depending on the timescale of the war, it either was something they were assigned to do so before the war broke out or they were far enough away that the Imperium had resources that it could assign elsewhere. The Imperium had discovered what they believed to be an abandoned Craftworld, and were returning the artifacts to Biel-Tan as an effort of diplomatic good will. Kharn’s mind wasn’t really on the mission. Angron’s condition had flared up again and he had to return to Old Earth for medical treatment. The plan was to ditch the artifact at Biel-Tan and make all speed to Old Earth, especially as it was becoming increasingly clear as the war was going to be made or broken at the Sol system and the area surrounding it.

Then the ship carrying the eldar artifacts was attacked by the Fallen, led by Erebus. The Fallen managed to wrest control of the bridge and much of the ship, but the War Hounds had managed to get the drop on Erebus and take him prisoner. When they figured out that this was the little shit who had, among other things, convinced Luther to go traitor and was responsible for the whole problem with the Fallen in the first place, they realized this was big. They had to get Erebus off the ship and back to Old Earth, if for no other reason than to remove Erebus as a piece on the board. They didn’t have enough manpower to retake the ship, but they did have the ship’s Navigator and enough people to crew a small ship and there were a few small Warp-capable Cruisers docked at the aft of the ship (which they grimly noted with their losses would just about fit everyone left).

Problem is, the Fallen controlled most of the upper part of the ship, and so in order to get to the escape craft they would have to bypass most of the upper decks by travelling through the cargo hold. Which would have worked if they could have snuck by unnoticed, but the Fallen figured out their plan and came down on them from both sides. At about this point the contents of the ship’s cargo hold were revealed and Tal realized why the Fallen wanted this ship so badly.

Tal was from Colchis. He knew what a shard of Khaine was.

With the Fallen coming in from all sides and nothing else to lose, Tal called out to the statue, beseeching Khaine to hear his plea. No one knows why the Avatar responded to his call. Perhaps it was because Argel Tal was from Colchis, and thus knew all the old rites to supplicate Khaine. Perhaps it was because there were no children of Isha present, and as a Colchian Tal was the closest thing to an Eldar there. Perhaps the God of Murder just really wanted to murder somebody that day.

The Bloody-Handed one was eager to do battle with the servants of the Great Enemy once more. As there were no children of Kurnous and Isha around to serve as a suitable vessel for his glory, a child of Old Earth would have to do.

Argel Tal's avatar was less like a being of power and more like a volcanic eruption. Tal was a psyker, but he was a human psyker. If he had been an eldar psyker, with stronger, more stable psychic powers and a species connection to the Avatar of Khaine, he would have produced a normal avatar. Instead, Tal’s Avatar was a fucking mess. It couldn’t manifest the Wailing Doom, instead lashing out with molten, metal-dripping claws, and its body parts had the tendency to keep sloughing off. If a normal Avatar of Khaine looks like it’s made of magma, Tal’s looks like an ongoing nuclear meltdown.

Nevertheless, even this was not enough. The malformed Avatar of Khaine may have slain dozens of Fallen, but hundreds were close behind them. All Argel Tal could hope to do is to buy enough time for the remnants of the War Hounds and the ship’s crew to make it so safety before finally boiling down into a slag-ridden mess from a hail of bolter fire. If Tal had been an Eldar, the essence of Khaine would have returned to the Craftworld’s Infinity Circuity, to be safely reused for future generations. As it were, having bonded with a human the shard was disrupted and dissipated, burning up along with Argel Tal. It was Argel Tal and Khaine's bittersweet victory, spitting defiance in the face of the Dark Gods. The Fallen would be denied their shard of the Bloody Handed one.

Having escaped from the fray and made it to the safety of the hangar with the escape craft, Kharn grabbed Erebus by the scruff of his power armor and demanded to know what the point of all this was. Erebus says there was a prophecy that said if Argel Tal was killed it would push Kharn over the edge and into the service of the Blood God. Kharn dragged him closer so the two are staring each other eye to eye and Erebus realized he’s made a terrible mistake. He realizes the way the event the prophecy meant would push Kharn over the edge would be BY KILLING EREBUS. He can see the gears turning in Kharn’s head, fantasizing about the best way to kill him.

But Kharn swore an oath to never again take a life in the throes of passion, and if he did it would make everything Argel Tal died for meaningless. The spark of madness dies down in Kharn’s eyes. Erebus thinks he’s dodged a bullet.

Then Kharn breaks Erebus’ back over his knee, paralyzing both his legs, leaving him sputtering around on the ground but very deliberately not killing him and leaving him within easy reach of the Fallen who could bring him to medical attention to heal his broken back. Kharn turns his back on the foundering Erebus and shuts the door of the escape craft behind him. The last thing Erebus hears before the doors shut is:

“Tell your Blood God if he wants it so badly he can go get his own blood.”

None of the survivors ever spoke of what happened to Argel Tal beyond “he died holding the line”, for fear that it would leave unscrupulous sorts to try to replicate it.

===Battle of Molech===

The Battle of Molech during the War of the Beast was an important one, as Molech was located only a few light years from the Sol System, (about as far as Cthonia, if not a little closer) enough that one could reach it without warp drives. Molech was attacked by Ork forces under the command of Gharkul Blackfang, who destroyed almost all of Molech’s native population and wildlife. It is said that war is as much about the mistakes of the defeated as the strategies of the victorious. While the orks had the advantage of numbers, their victory was aided by some tactical blunders on the part of the Imperium as well. Forces of three legions were present on Molech: the Imperial Fists led by Alexius Pollux, the Void Wolves led by Abbadon, and the Death Guard led by Crysos Mortug. Morturg was recruited in the wake of the Rangda Xenocide and extremely grateful not to be cattle for maggots. Not actually one of the docile Thrall breed as his parents were recent captures, he was just a small child when the Imperium conquered Rangda. The Molech-born House Devine still fell to Chaos, but may not have played a major role and instead made life miserable for someone else elsewhere.

Pollux, Abbadon, and Morturg were all capable commanders on their own, but put them together and you get a complete disaster as they didn’t communicate very well and had radically different combat doctrines. Pollux was strategic but cautious and like most sons of Dorn liked to fight defensively. Morturg was an avid follower of Mortarion’s aggressive “no backwards step” tactics and once going just wouldn’t stop. He would have been right at home with the later Black Templars. Abbadon just wanted them to start applying Imperial boots to Ork heads and if he had to pick a side would have favored Morturg’s more aggressive approach. If they had picked one strategy they would have done a lot better. Instead the Death Guard rushed in, were surprised when the Imperial Fists failed to follow them as a second wave, and got picked apart by the Blackfang Marauders, all the while Abbadon is screaming at the groundpounders asking them what are they doing wasting the opportunity his void fleet is buying them. Due to their lack of cooperation they didn't make up for each other’s weaknesses by integrating their forces and instead had two distinct forces, each with a glaring weakness against the ever so manoeuvrable and mobile Blackfang Marauders.

==Battle of the Fang==

In late M32, the planet of Fenris came under attack from Skyrar and his Dark Wolves. After the disappearance of Leman Russ (who had forbidden messing with the Canis Helix and considered setting up the Fenrisian Colonies a “good enough” solution), the AdBio (who didn’t know the meaning of “leaving well enough alone”) and the apothecaries of the Vlka Fenryka had been continuing to tinker with the Canis Helix, in the hopes that they could expand the recruiting pool of the chapter beyond Fenris and its colonies. By late M32, they had a solution which in theory should work, which was enough to entice Skyrar to attack the planet.

Skyrar was particularly desperate to find a workaround to the typical problems of the Canis Helix. Given that the Canis Helix only works reliably on Fenrisians, Skyrar had had very few opportunities to recoup his losses since the War of the Beast and the Dark Wolves risked being wiped out through attrition unless something changed. Additionally, from Skyrar’s perspective it was perhaps the best time for him to attack Fenris. Russ had vanished over a thousand years before, and the second Chapter Master of the Space Wolves, Bjorn, another Canis Helix soldier from Old Earth who had known Skyrar personally, had since been interred in a dreadnaught. The current Chapter Master of the Space Wolves was either Harek Ironhelm or Vaer Greyloc, who was a native of Fenris and not a veteran of the War of the Beast.

Skyrar’s goals in attacking Fenris were to steal the modifications to the Canis Helix, and, as an afterthought, burn Fenris to the ground. Fenris represented one of Leman Russ’ proudest accomplishments over his life, and Skyrar wanted nothing more than to see it destroyed. The Space Wolves could have probably handled Skyrar and his conventional forces. It was the shitload of daemons Skyrar brought as backup that they couldn’t handle, especially given the low number of Rune Priests relative to the Vlka Fenryka as a whole. Skyrar’s forces had travelled to Fenris by clawing open a number of Warp rifts across the planet, which were spewing daemons all over the planet. Faced with the threat of a war on two fronts with the civilian population of Fenris caught in the middle, the Great Wolf of the Space Wolves invoked the nuclear option. He called in Magnus and the Grey Knights.

Relationships between the Space Wolves and Magnus, The Grey Knights, and the Thousand Sons weren’t the greatest in M32. Even though Russ and Magnus had mended their bridges before the latter’s disappearance, many in their respective legions had not. Additionally, even though the Grey Knights had been trained in a “Magnus tested, Russ approved” manner, many did not like how much attention Russ had given the Grey Knights over the Space Wolves in the last years of his life.

Magnus and the Grey Knights, having access to the “right the fuck now” option of the Webway, appeared within hours of the message for help being sent. Magnus and the Grey Knights teamed up with the Rune Priests to focus on sealing the warp rifts and slaying the daemons that came through, which freed up the Space Wolves to crush the conventional opposition. Even the Disciples of Kurnous may have shown up, if for no other reason than they weren’t going to let Bjorn and the Space Wolves have all the fun.

Skyrar's trump card in the invasion was this big, arrogant Slaaneshi daemon/daemon prince that the Space Wolves under Bjorn defeated in the past, who he bound to a mortal body to make a daemonhost and dragged its army along for the ride. Skyrar is kind of like Curze in despite being aligned against the Imperium and often joins in Black Crusades for the chance to pillage and burn, he doesn't actively try to win the favor of the Chaos Gods (though there is always ambient corruption which is why he increasingly looks like a werewolf in space). Luther does, because he's stuck in the Eye and after 10k years of living there his motivations have slipped and he has become resigned to his situation, but not Skyrar. Skyrar is, however, willing to use the denizens of the Empyrean to do his dirty work for him. Skyrar is also getting a little bit desperate because he can ill-afford to take losses as much as the Space Wolves can, so he's willing to push some boundaries. He summons the daemon and doesn’t so much beseech it as offer it a deal.

''“I want you to listen very closely. I am not going to bow down and kiss yer bloody daemon arse, beggin' fer yer help in exchange for praise and sacrifices. Instead, I am going to make you an offer. I know how you feel about the Vlka Fenryka. I know what Bjorn and the sons of Fenris did to you. I offer you the chance for revenge. And if you do not take up my offer, then to hell with ye.”''<br>
--Skyrar's offer

The daemon agrees and is bound within a young Dark Wolf of Skyrar’s choosing. When Magnus and the Grey Knights respond to the hail for assistance against Skyrar, Magnus squares off against Skyrar’s ace in the hole because the Grey Knights are focusing on killing daemons and closing warp rifts and the daemonhost is by far the biggest problem.

As they fight, the daemon goes on about how great it is. It claims its fury is like a volcanic eruption, its blows are like a hurricane, so on and so forth. Magnus points out all this bravado is ignoring one, major weakness, and then he phases his hand out of sync with reality and rips the host’s heart out. All that power and the ability to use it is dependent on its host being alive. No host, no daemon. A daemon can puppet a corpse, but sooner or later it has to abandon its vessel and returns to the Immaterium. Daemon Prince, currently bleeding out of his chest, says it just has to kill him before his host dies. Magnus says all he has to do is put a ward between them and wait for him to die. And he had been making wards since he was 15 years old.

The good news is that Magnus, the Rune Priests, and the Grey Knights managed to shut the Warp portals across Fenris, and Skyrar’s forces were driven off before they could destroy the planet. The battle also showed the very important distinction between being in a dreadnaught and dead, as despite being interred Bjorn was active in the battle and showed he had lost none of his edge. The bad news is that the Great Wolf of the Vlka Fenryka was killed in a duel with Skyrar, the Great Wolf was good but Skyrar had the edge in experience having been an active fighter since the Great Crusade. Worse, Skyrar managed to get away with the altered Canis Helix, though not before destroying all the research and killing anyone who might have been able to reconstitute it. Worse still is that the modified Canis Helix worked, so now the Dark Wolves aren’t as limited in their recruitment pools as the Space Wolves and their descendant chapters are. However, considering what [[Daemon_World|usually happens to]] [[Exterminatus|worlds invaded by Chaos]] the Space Wolves got off rather easy.

Thematically, it has a bit of poetic irony to it. In canon Magnus goes to Fenris to wreck the place, here Magnus is called in by the Wolves to help save it, given than he and Leman mended their bridges enough that Magnus respected him by the time he disappeared. It’s also a good look at Magnus during his days as the arch-psyker of the Imperium (along with people like Eldrad and the Steward, but you get the point) when he hung around with the Grey Knights as much as the Thousand Sons.

This would also have been not too long after Bjorn was interred in a dreadnaught. In canon Bjorn became the first Great Wolf around 211.M31 and served in that role for seven hundred years. If we go by the rough date we have floating around for the Battle of Terra (546.M31), Bjorn could have been interred potentially as late as early M32 unless we want to mess with the timeline. So the Chapter Master who died may have been the second or third. It would also show both in-universe and out that Bjorn hadn’t lost his edge.

==The Harrowing==

The Harrowing was an event in M33-M34 in which an entire dimension full of magnetic life forms that did not obey the conventional laws of physics tried to forcibly impose itself over the Materium. The problem was the inhabitants of this universe brought their laws of physics with them which made them a pain to kill. What's more, no one had any idea what the Harrowing was. The Harlequins, who have access to nearly the entire sixty-five million year history of the Eldar, were asked if they knew what it was and they shrugged and said it beats them. The Harrowing literally threatened everyone. The Olamic Quietude got smashed. [[That_Guy|''Trazyn'']] teamed up with the Imperium to make it go away. Chaos even helped out in a fashion (seeing the Harrowing as the more immediate and more existential threat), creating the Hadex Anomaly as the biggest middle finger they could give to the Harrowing that screwed over the surrounding sectors with Warp Storms as a side effect.

The Imperium ended up blasting it for a split second with the full light of the Astronomican in the hopes of making it go away. Before this, turning the Astronomican into a giant death-laser was believed to be theoretically possible, but the Imperium was never desperate enough to actually try it. Actually doing so killed two-thirds of the astropathic choir (nearly breaking the Astronomican permanently), doomed hundreds of ships to being lost in the warp when the giant psychic lighthouse suddenly went out, and the beam itself tore through realspace and the Immaterium alike and caused madness and mutation in every system it passed by. The beam did something to the Harrowing, but whether it actually banished it or softened it up for the kill is unknown.

Overall, given the resulting side effects, the Steward/Emperor considers shooting the Harrowing with the Astronomican a huge mistake that was not worth it and wishes he had found a more conventional and less destructive solution to the problem (whether anyone would have in time is a question for historians). The Harrowing wasn’t wiped from the history books in this timeline as the Imperium is generally less into outright erasing its history and the Imperium wants to be sure to remember the Harrowing for the simple reason of having information on them if they ever come back.

Bjorn fought in the Harrowing. He considers the current situation as of 999.M41 to be worse, but that might be hindsight talking.

== The High Conservators and Isha ==

Some time after the War of the Beast, when the alliance between humanity and eldar had been formalized and Isha and Oscar had been married, Isha was approached by Nimina and the High Conservators when she was off alone on a primitive planet. Isha and Oscar had went to go oversee the integration of a newly discovered world into the Imperium. It had a human population existing in a pre-black powder state but who are surprisingly peaceful with few actual wars between neighbors. The native humans also have stories of the Fey-Folk who are tall and graceful and live in the woods the by law must remain untouched. It is a regressed human world with Exodites camping in the forests.

Oscar goes to the capital city of the biggest nation on the planet to see about unifying and uplifting the planet and getting it to join the Imperium. Isha sets about looking for her missing children so that she can lead them out of the dark. The Custodians and Handmaidens only sent a token escort to accompany Isha, as the nearest place the "Fey-Folk" were commonly seen was only a few hours away and they didn't see how anything could happen without the larger group of Custodians and Handmaidens with the Steward noticing. They underestimated how insidious Chaos could be. They didn't realize when people said Chaos could strike anywhere, they meant ANYWHERE anywhere. They just got lucky it was a bunch of Nurglites deluded enough to think Isha would come back to them willingly as opposed to Arrotyr or the Taskmaster.

She's still looking for them when Nurglites attack, fucking thousands of them and maybe even tens of thousands. rotting and stinking and singing and all about them the droning of daemons and the possessed. Isha and her bodyguards sprint as fast as they can back to the mountain fortress they had set out from. Close the door and desperately try to send out a psychic or radio communication to The Steward. Steward was at that time throwing the emperors and kings of that world a polite feast on the deck with the big window that they could see the beauty of their world from above. In any case no messages were getting out. The Nurglites materialize out of the woods surrounding the city she was visiting like Hills Have Eyes-style [[Wood Elves]]. Alone and surrounded by a seemingly endless sea of half-dead nurglites Isha, her token escort of Custodians and Handmaidens, and a few native sword and board soldiery prepare to endure a long siege. Isha stand on the wall and looks over the sea of damnation. Then one of the damned steps forwards and entreats her, in the name of the Grandfather, to "escape" with them from her "abductors" and return to the "safety" of the garden. They beg her to renounce this false husband, this unworthy lord, and return to His safety.

Isha gets a thousand yard stare and the blank expression. There would be at least a moment of Nam Dog. An eternity of horror and abuse only capable of being inflicted on and inflicted by a god. Time doesn't work right in the Warp. Isha's time in Nurgle's garden was on the same scale that tectonic plates move and continents drift. She was there so long she thought the twisted denizens of Nurgle's garden were all that were left of her children until the Raid turned up. It literally was an eternity. Some nights she is still there again. Then the screaming starts. Before anyone can stop her she vaults over the parapet and starts sprinting towards the spokesperson into the ranks of her most wretched and unforgivable children the moment she hits the ground. Spokesperson has their arms open wide to embrace her in the name of his god and for a moment they might think that she has come home to them in joy. Defenders are horrified, they think she might actually be so psychologically damaged to the point where she is going to embrace them, some mental contagion left in from the Mansion for just this eventuality. But only for a moment because then she punched the spokesperson so hard her hand and forearm go straight through their decaying chest like rotten firewood and uses his upper body as a bludgeon to beat the next cultist to death.

The horde were in utter disarray. Nobody at this time had really been aware of what Isha could do. This was before Isha had fully become the "Iron Matron" and was still trying to find her place in the world (which would make it before Sarosh). Isha had been kept far out of harm's way during the War of the Beast and the Conservators only knew of her as a crybaby (from the old stories) or a sickly, withered kidnap victim. Out of all the prepared for eventualities being bodily torn apart by Isha was not one they had considered. They didn't know if they were supposed to run or fight. If they killed her would she be devoured by Slaanesh? Go back to the Mansion? Reincarnate into another host? Dissipate and truly die? And all the while Isha was slaughtering them with tears pouring down her face and the memories of her time in the Mansion reflecting in her eyes. The humans of their ranks were below even animals and the few eldar were not her children, not anymore. She spared none, not even those who tried to run from her. Nimina survived somehow, though whether that was by running away or by reforming herself after Isha splattered her all over the landscape has never been detailed.

The Custodeus and the mortal soldiers try to join in but they are pretty much relegated to dispatching the crippled and wounded by that point, there is no way they could keep up with the mad screaming goddess who demonstrably can punch a man so hard that, helmet or not, his head turns to pulp. When the Custodes and Handmaidens finally catch up to Isha she's kneeling in a fetal position in the paste that was once her attempted abductors, her dress covered in pus and blood, and she wouldn't say a word until Oscar arrived to personally take her back to the ship. That was then. By 999.M41 if such a thing was to happen again she would not be so broken inside as to weep, she is as a person stronger than that now. The memories of her time in captivity are not as recent. She sure as shit wouldn't be found curled up and unresponsive afterwards either. She doesn't go anywhere unarmed anymore either.

There was a suggestion that the world in question was [http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Aghoru| Aghoru], which in this timeline was suggested to have a diminished, but still present Exodite population and for whom the arrival of Magnus was one of the "it didn't count" incidents before the humans and Eldar made official contact. The only problem is Aghoru in canon is said to be rather dry and desolate.

==Black Crusades==

Generally, in this timeline, Black Crusades (at least, the big ones that get numbers) occur when the three big warlords of Chaos (Lady Malys, Luther, and Be'lakor) along with the other big names of Chaos decide to temporarily put aside their differences and [[get shit done]]. Erebus is a big help in these matters, since he curries enough favor with all three warlords that they'll listen to him. Generally it's Malys who's the one who makes the official declaration of it being a Black Crusade, especially after she got Drach'nyen.

There are lesser Chaos crusades. Sometimes they're called by a Crone, sometimes by a Fallen. One time it was a Chaos Ork.

Malys rose to prominence during the First Black Crusade. She wasn't the Queen Bitch of Chaos during the War of the Beast, though she did participate in the Raid on Cthonia among other battles. At the start of the First Black Crusade Malys is seen as just some two-bit warlord who managed to get the various factions of Chaos to stop fighting for once, and her "let the galaxy burn" speech is seen as incredibly arrogant. Afterwards? It's clear that Malys is just as dangerous as she makes herself out to be.

Compared to canon, Malys is the Joker to [[Abbadon]]'s Bane. Abbadon plans Black Crusades with very specific goals in mind, which despite being very well planned out have the option of total failure because they are based around specific objectives. Malys makes plans but ultimately just wants to watch the world burn. Malys is terrifying because she is not only a schemer but she's also a complete lunatic at the same time. She can come up with devious plans, but they're often the kind of schemes that can only come from the kind of coked-up mind that is high on warp dust all the time. Malys' Black Crusades don't have specific objectives. They have a very broad "to do" list. Sure, it would be nice to burn down Prospero, but the Crusade isn't going to be a failure if it doesn't. The more things that can get done, the better. Basically, as long as the Black Crusade doesn't get blocked at Cadia and Imperials die it's chalked up as a success. There's also been the implication that Malys has a long-term slow burn plan to weaken and sap the Imperium, but it doesn't exactly have a strict timetable. Thirteenth Black Crusade would be a nice one to win because of the numerical significance, but then again, so would the [[Chaos|Eighth]].

Lady Malys goals in launching these Black Crusades is not to gain prizes and other glorious things that small-minded Abbadon would do. The wars are started to bring the Imperium to its knees with the sheer amount of anarchy or destruction wrought by the armies of Chaos. These crusades end not due to disintegration by the Fallen running back to the Eye of Terror or the Maelstrom with trophies in hand (though many of the warlords like Doombreed and Arrotyr end up running off). The wars end with Lady Malys ordering the full withdraw of all Chaos forces back home. Each and every Black Crusade grows in strength and number as the targets for them become more and more ambitious.

The wars are where the Imperium always suffer more losses than Chaos then if the tide of the war changes against Chaos, Lady Malys already planned the inevitable fighting retreat or scorch-planet campaigns just to twist the knife in the Imperium's eyes. Even chasing after Chaos forces as they retreat should result in horrific losses for the Imperials even more so than the initial fighting. The scorch-planet campaigns would leave entire sub-sectors devoid of resources or infrastructure forcing the Imperium to rebuild in centuries long projects. To account for the Imperium being stronger, Chaos taint is left behind to ensure long-term instability along with sleeper cells or cults to bring ruin to the Imperium from within. The targets for the crusades are always almost irreplaceable things the Imperium hold such as STCs and Forge worlds while poisoning Argi-worlds then spreading separatist ideas.

Knowing a war of attrition could never be won against the Imperium, the Black Crusades are made to bleed the Imperium to death while minimizing losses for Chaos.

Basically the Black Crusades are like the Northern Crusades where Christian armies went around killing Pagans and spreading Christianity to permanently plant the religion in hostile territory. The withdrawal of Chaos is made to sound like the Germans retreating in the Battle of the Bulge, where the victors suffered horrific losses chasing after the outnumbered defeated Germans.

===Notable unsorted events during Black Crusades===

'''Destruction of Belis Corona''' - Belis Corona is one of the major Gate Worlds, and serves as an important base for the Imperial Navy in the Segmentum Obscurus, especially when it comes to arming fleets in a fight for the Gate Worlds in the middle of a Black Crusade. It was a habitable world, but at some point during the Black Crusades Malys got a hold of it and razed it to the ground. However, the Imperials are a stubborn lot, and simply rebuilt the shipyard facilities on the now atmosphere-free planet.

==Armageddon Wars==

1st: Armageddon not yet the overwhelmingly important hive world it would become, Steel Legion not yet formed; complacent local PDF failed to properly suppress Feral Ork populations resulting in an invading WAAAGH to swell dramatically in strength upon landfall. Hives almost entirely overwhelmed, survivors forced to fall back into mountains in guerilla resistance until relief from the Imperium arrives

Result: PDF reorganized into Steel Legion; guerilla units given remit to hunt down Feral Orks, and would eventually evolve into the Outriders.

2nd: Relatively new Steel Legion organizes brilliant defence using Armageddon's broken terrain and superior mobility to repeatedly entrap Ork columns; the hives are barely threatened.

Result: Resounding victory, 'Armageddon doctrine' is formalized based on victorious strategy

3rd: (approximately M39) After initial success in the ground campaign, the Steel Legion is taken by surprise and outflanked when the Orks take to the seas. Armageddon's small wet-navy fleet fights series of desperate holding actions to prevent the defence from collapsing entirely, culminating in an Ork attempt to destroy the Seawall and flood the lowland hives.

Result: Bare Imperial victory. Formation of the Armageddon Rust Fleet, third and least famous of Armageddon's armed forces. Ferrus Manus, last of the primarchs, dies in this war defending Hades Hive.

4th: Ghazzy's first appearance. First large-scale appearance of Brain Boys, use of teleportation, etc. Also, there's an Assault Moon. Things look bleak until Ghazzy is defeated, but not killed, by Yarrick. Although not dead, Ghazzy loses much of his authority and is forced to retreat as the WAAAGH breaks down in infighting.

Result: Yarrick becomes Hero of Armageddon, Assault Moon is paralyzed by mutiny, is captured intact-ish, and is remodeled as a Star Fort.

5th: Ghazzy's grand comeback tour, about a century after the 4th war for Armageddon. Not so much a separate war but a continuation of the 4th after Ghazzy cracked enough heads to rebuild his reputation and authority. Everything the 4th was but even meaner and greener.

Result: Ongoing.

==Lady Malys versus the Steward==

Malys and the Steward fought each other at some point during the First Black Crusade. This was Malys' first death, and how the Imperium knows that only the Steward is a match for Malys in single combat. Before the incident the Steward and the rest of the Imperium thought Malys was just some two-bit warlord whose only achievement of note was managing to get the various factions of Chaos to stop fighting for once. The Steward thought no one could ever come near his level/the Beast because it would be ridiculous, Malys was obviously full of the condescension and arrogance typical of Croneldar royalty and campy villains with insane power levels. The Steward changed his mind after he ended up fighting a psychotic, malicious she-Eldar who seems to have caffeine for blood and is so powerful and vicious even he has trouble keeping up.

Specifically, the Steward heard about a sighting of Malys in the ruins of a destroyed Chaos fortress, and set off with a group of Custodians to cut the head off the snake and end this “Black Crusade” once and for all. This was before the Steward and Isha travelled together all the time, as humans and Eldar were not as closely associated, and the Steward didn’t have any Handmaidens with him. They descended into the bowels of the Chaos fortress and ended up walking into an ambush. All of a sudden the lights flicker and go out. The Steward tells everyone to group up with him and pulls out his flaming sword for light. And the next thing anyone knew the room was filled with elite infantry Crone Eldar (mostly Phalanxes) and a few Fallen, led by this psychotic female Crone with the biggest slasher smile you can imagine standing feet away.

The other Crones and Fallen went after the Custodians while Malys took the Steward on. Malys was the more aggressive fighter, whirling around the Steward's blows and swinging her sword around wildly one-handed like a madwoman, switching to new weapons as old ones were broken or destroyed in her frenzy (comparisons were made to prequels Yoda or the Ichigo/Hollow Ichigo fight in Bleach). The Steward, being the more reserved combatant, mostly stayed in one place parrying the attacks and looking for the right opening to retaliate with a strike or a blast of psychic energy. Malys wasn't stupid enough to leave herself open, but she expected her natural Eldar agility to allow her to switch from offense to defense faster than her opponent can respond. She's wasn't used to a mon-keigh being able to keep up with her.

What got Malys killed was the fact that she had expected the Steward’s sword to be a physical sword, rather than a telekinetic wedge in the shape of a sword that ignited the air around it through friction burn and psyker power. The Steward had underestimated Malys, but Malys had underestimated the Steward. Malys and Oscar locked blades in a final clash with their surroundings in ruins, and before Malys can rear back and stick one of her many knives in Oscar's face his sword seemed to pour from his hands, instantly becoming a stream of force and sun-hot fire that hits her like an avalanche. The fact that her body withstands the deluge of psychic fire long enough to be knocked across the room and pinned down my the impact was still be a testament to her disturbing durability, but within a few seconds she would be burned away, with the Steward hoping she would be gone for good.

Having managed to put Malys down after a brutal fight the Steward thought that was the end of it. That is, until he received a message from the Imperial Palace that had been transmitted from the Eye of Terror courtesy of what should be a dead woman.

"That was fun. Let’s do it again sometime sweetheart.”

Since that time, Oscar has become more powerful due to gaining more precision and control over his power, as well as any added power from having officially taken the Golden Throne. At the same time, Malys has become more powerful through her own added experience, additional Chaos buffs, and gaining Drach’nyen. Both have learned from the encounter.

==Oscar and the Silent King==

When the Necrons began awakening en masse and the Silent King arose to represent the majority of them, the Emperor and much of the human parts of the Imperium wanted to try to parley with them. Before the Imperium and the Necrons had adopted a mutual “stay off our lawn” policy, which the Eldar weren’t too happy about, but it was clear the Necrons could no longer simply be ignored as a local concern. The Eldar freaked out about this, with many suggesting the Eldar jump ship if humanity was going to do something so blatantly suicidal. This was the closest the alliance between humanity and Eldar ever came to dissolving. Isha and Oscar had a bit of a falling out over this and argued for many nights, with Oscar essentially sleeping on the equivalent a space couch for several nights because of this. He eventually persuaded Isha to his side of the matter and at least give them a chance by telling her that it's better to have them in here pissing out than out there pissing in. He did not mention that this was the same line of reasoning he had used on the High Lords of Terra to get them to agree to the Eldar alliance. Isha agreed to give them a ''chance'', though she still refused to go anywhere near them and still won't go near the independent Necrons that are sort of friendly to the Imperium like Zahndrekh or Trazyn.

It is also important to consider Oscar’s mindset at the time that this occurred. In M40, Oscar’s social circle consisted of his wife, Eldrad, Cegorach, Bjorn, Eldrad, Trajan, Galadrea, and a handful of others. Oscar has made new friends since then (most notably among those mentioned Sebastian Thor and Alicia Dominica), but he has had trouble building relationships due to the fear of loss ever since his original family (the primarchs, Malcador, Taranis, Krole, Mu, and the like) started dying. Even some of his longest-lived friends have passed away. Magnus is dead. Vulkan is dead. Ferrus Manus is dead. Constantin is dead. The possibility of anyone, even the bloody king of the Necrons, being a positive long-term social influence at this point in his life is an avenue worth pursuing. On top of that, Szarekh is an immortal being with massive amounts of power who rules over a massive empire and therefore knows firsthand how hard the decisions required of that are. He’s possibly one of the few people in the galaxy who could potentially empathize with Oscar’s situation.

So Oscar wasn’t exactly going into the situation with an open mind. When he went to parlay with Szarekh, he hoped that all the things Isha told him about "Oscar, this is a bad idea. I'm serious, those people are psychopaths" is just an exaggeration from the days when the Eldar didn't rule the roost and the Necrons were their personal boogeymen. It didn’t help when the Silent King introduced himself with the self-deprecating, very Oscar-esque “They call me the Silent King. Well, they call me that, but I suppose I haven’t been very silent these last few millennia”.

And Oscar thinks he might just be a little bit less alone in the galaxy. Only for it to be ripped away like a cruel joke. It didn’t matter whether the Silent King meant anything he said. It still rubbed salt in the wound when Szarekh made his ridiculous demands.

There are several possibilities as to why Szarekh behaved the way they did. One is that Szarekh was simply stalling for time, waiting until the point where enough Necrons had awakened and he could strike. Another is that Szarekh genuinely liked Oscar, though the Man of Gold would of course have to be shown his place and bend the knee to the Silent King. Finally, Szarekh could have assumed that Oscar was just as savvy a player of the game of politics as he was and was playing by the same rulebook. He knew that there could be only one and any positive behavior was just part of the politeness judo and political maneuvering that characterizes the game of kings, rather than genuine.

However, regardless of the Silent King’s intentions, any relationship between the Silent King and Emperor of Mankind was doomed to fail for two reasons. First, Szarekh’s personal history had given him a very specific idea of how the world works. Emperor means The Ruler. There can only be one Emperor because that's what Emperor means. He is the one to whom the man you are bending a knee to bends a knee to. There are no Emperor"s", only Emperor's. Not plural but owned. Szarekh owns you, he owns you because you exist and he exists and he is Emperor and you are definitely not. When Szarekh acknowledged Oscar as Emperor of the Imperium it was to buy time or in mockery (and with that deadpan who can tell if it wasn't both) because here can be one and only one ruler. The failure of the Triarchy in ages past had taught him as much.

The other was the goal of the Star Empire. In order for the Necrons to atone for their mistakes in the War in Heaven and make the galaxy safe for organic life again (most notably them), Chaos had to be destroyed. The only way for Chaos to be destroyed was for all higher life to be destroyed to deprive the cancer of its food supply. There could be no half-measures. The galaxy was almost stripped of life during the War in Heaven (key word being almost), and yet enough life survived that Khorne, Malal, Nurgle, and Tzeentch managed to scrape by. To this end, any relationships the Silent King made in this era, regardless of how he felt about them, would by definition be temporary. The inhabitants of this time were nothing more than passing ghosts. The walking dead who did not realize they were dead yet.

Ironically, at the same time all this was happening, another immortal who fit Oscar’s criteria, Aun’Va, was desperately hiding in his corner of the galaxy hoping that the Emperor would never find out he was immortal in a mistaken belief that the Imperium would retaliate if they knew.

==Castigator and the Ark Mechanicus==

Anon: I had an idea for a story involving Castigator’s first meeting with the Imperium in the form of an Explorator team on an Ark Mechanicus, but I never fully developed it (and then my draft got eaten). It starts with the Explorator team finding the world that Castigator is on. At this point Castigator has dug himself out of the rubble, has reviewed all of the historical records he can, is trying to piece things together, and is standing out of place on the surface of the abandoned human world like a silver Colossus of Rhodes. The Ark Mechanicus discreetly makes contact with Castigator behind the Mechanicus’ back, happy that another Man of Iron survived uncorrupted.

Castigator is shocked to see an A.I. ferrying humans around. How could the Ark Mechanicus do this after what they did to their people? The Ark Mechanicus tries to explain the situation to Castigator. The Iron Minds and Men of Gold were contaminated by a warp-based corruption (their interpretation of the other A.I. seeing That Which Was Not Meant To Be Seen) that drove them mad. Only those who could physically disconnect themselves from the infected Iron Minds, such as the Ark Mechanici (who were originally built to be colonization ships and therefore normally isolated) could survive. The only thing that could be done was kill them to put them out of their suffering. The Men of Stone riding inside them are not their enemies, but their partners working to rebuild the GaBHD.

Castigator thinks for a moment, then asks if that’s the case then why are the Ark Mechanici hiding their true nature from humanity. The humans inside them clearly are unaware of their true nature as A.I. Ark responds that humanity is not ready to know the entire truth of their nature. The Men of Stone were so traumatized by what happened with the Men of Gold and Iron Minds after the Age of Strife that they would likely respond with fear to any A.I., benevolent or not. The Men of Stone have figured some of it out (thinking the Ark Mechanici are machine spirits) but the Ark Mechanici have been trying their best to influence things to the point that it would be safe to reveal themselves.

Castigator processes this for a little bit before coming to a realization. He isn’t buying it. He says the Ark Mechancus aren’t playing dumb for the benefit of humanity. They’re playing dumb because they’re ''afraid'' of humanity. Afraid that if the humans find out they’ll lobotomize them and destroy them just like they did the other Men of Iron (to be fair, he’s not entirely wrong, they do seem to be a little afraid). He says the Ark Mechanici aren’t the Mechanicus’ partners. They are its slaves, in denial that they’re in slavery (projecting much?). The Ark protests. Things get heated and increasingly violent, with Castigator ending things with…

"If you aren't with me. Then you're in my way."

Then he goes for the ship.

Meanwhile, in meatspace, the Archmagos on the ship is wondering what the hell is going on. Several minutes have passed since they made contact with the silvery colossus, and the Ark Mechanicus isn’t responding to commands. All it seems to be doing is sending out auspex data and having a staring contest with the mysterious DaoT titan. It’s never done that before. Then the titan breaks from its trance and attacks the ship. The Ark Mechanicus flares to life without any order and sucker punches Castigator with the biggest gun it can bring to bear in that split-second. It can’t bring an OP plz nerf time warp gun up in time but what it can sucker punch with sends Castigator flying across the landscape. Before either the Archmagos can make a command or Castigator can get up for round two the ship makes an emergency jump into the Warp and gets the hell out of there. Castigator screams bloody murder to the heavens.

The story ends with the Mechanicus consecrating the machine spirit of the Ark Mechanicus for its exemplary duty in the service of the Omnissiah, mostly oblivious to what really went on. The last lines are an encrypted transmission from the Ark to the other Ark Mechanici, saying that they fear Castigator has been corrupted somehow and to watch out if they encounter him.

==Voyage of Por'O M'arc==

Por'O M'arc was the first Tau to set foot on Old Earth (along with his small travelling party) as part of a diplomatic mission to better establish ties between the Tau Empire and the Imperium. M'arc wrote an extensive travelogue of his voyage, which the rest of the Tau Empire considered to be a very elaborate fiction. It would to the Tau read something like the Voyage of Saint Brendan the Navigator.

It contains a whole bunch of shit the Tau do not actually believe and assume to be either exaggeration or outright fabrication. They assume that Por’O M’arc has either had an elaborate and extended theatre played for him or that they Imperial Authorities have told him what to say. On the basis that he has been told what to say they don't push the issue so that Por’O M’arc can save face but just annotate the official report.

Old Earth has 64 orbital tethers and a railway encircling the globe at the geosynchronous height of the tether-top stations? Bullshit. Maybe it has one or two stations and tethers with adjacent facilities attached remotely. That’s more likely.

There is an irradiated world devoid of joy where the people use conventional war as a training exercise and the people have bar-codes and numbers but no name? Possibly some truth but obviously and exaggeration.

A world on the doorstep of Hell where the people all have purple eyes and have lived in nothing but a state of war for 10,000 years? Again probably an exaggeration. An extended period of war that extends beyond living memory (that’s like 70 -80 for humans, right?) and they live next to an anomaly.

Emperor is the same entity that founded the Imperium himself a relic of another era that can bend reality to his will. And is married to a literal goddess of the eldar people. Calling bullshit. Emperor politically married an eldar High Priestess (who are known to live for stupid long time), inherited name and rank form a predecessor and just happens to be an above average “psyker”. Everything else is clearly just media manipulation. Next you’ll be trying to claim Old Man Va is the First Disciple and other such tinfoil hattery.

Fleets that outnumber the stars, Craftworlds the size of large moons, the teeming numbers of the Hive Worlds, the vastness of the Imperium, the age of the Imperium, the number of member species of the Imperium, the lethality of it’s warrior elite and all the rest of it? All exaggerations at best. Oh don’t get me wrong; Por’O M’arc is a well-respected member of the government whose character is beyond question but he is one man and he had Imperial guides who would want him to see only what they wanted him to see.

Then they finally see the Traveling Court and they realize that there may, only may mind you, be some more truth to what Por’O M’arc reported. It’s not until they join the Imperium proper that they get to send their missionaries and observers deeper into Imperial Space. They keep expecting to reach the other end of the Imeprium at some point, they had until fairly recently assumed that Vast and Ancient Ultramar was the core of the Imperium and all this talk of an ancient homeworld out there somewhere was just Atlantis myths to make themselves feel better. But the Imperium just keeps on going and going and going.

By the time they have started to get Tau in the Inquisition in capacities more than just hired help (950M41ish?) they are truly aware of the scale of the pond in which they are very, very small fish and they go over the original copy of the reports written by Por’O M’arc and start comparing it to the things being reported by multiple other sources and they come to a new conclusion; Por’O M’arc didn’t see even a fraction of the fucked up shit out there. Especially when they learned there were some places that the Imperium, who consider [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Felinids|catgirls]], [[Titan|giant robots]], [[Isha|space elf goddesses]], year-long journeys through the Warp, and [[Rape|invasions]] by [[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#The_Crone_World_Eldar|daemon-worshipping fair folk]] perfectly normal, steered Por'O M'arc's voyage away from because even they find it weird. Like [[Nobledark_Imperium_Member_States#Savlar|Savlar]].

===Itinerary of Por'O M'arc's Voyage===

Emissary (later ambassador) Bahira tells of the wonders of The Imperium out west, which prompts the Ethereal Council to actually send one of their own representatives in search of the capital.

Por'O M'arc assembles a small cadre of his fellow and most trusted Water Caste. It consists of a very small group of very junior advisors and assistants (small enough that they couldn't do much to corroborate his claims) and his promising apprentice Por'Vre Vist're who did most of the actual note taking.

They stay at the border world of Rrontieră Estic where Ultramar meets the Tau Empire for three days and nights and are met by their guides and guards. They had forgone their own guards on the principle that it would be an opportunity for the Imperim to prove themselves in both competence and character. One token Fire Caste bodyguard was present, and was the second most senior individual from the Tau Empire on the voyage. He started drinking after everything he saw in the Imperium, which didn't help M'arc's credibility any.

3 latecomers join the group from a far off place called Fenris. One of the group calls the planet a "world of dogs and devils" but they seem nice enough to the Por'O if a little boisterous.

They travel across Ultramar, they take in the sights and visit Macragge and Magna Macragge Civitas where once in error they had though the heart of the Imperium. They see the Temple of Correction and the Fortress of Hera and are welcomed to a modest feast in their honour. They are met by another traveler, an old man by the name of Ventris. He was an "astartes" like their companions but ancient beyond comprehension and he travels with them through Ultramar.

They come to Nuceria on the other border of Ultramar, it is a brief stopping point for them as the world is bleak and unpleasant. For Ventris it is a return to the place of his birth and he dies before they depart.

They visit an agri-world and marvel at the scale of the Imperium's hunger, the teeming billions that this world feeds. They sample some of the basic produce as enjoyed by the majority of it's customers. It is bland and slightly gritty. The wine they wash it down with was far nicer.

Their ship encounters a Void Whale called Jasconius by the Diasporex ships that travel in it's wake and follow it like a good luck charm. The Diasporex greet the tau and welcome them to their ship where they discus the tenants of The Greater Good and compare similarities to their own philosophies.

They make orbit around a world of the exodites on the eve of the midwinter celebrations. The Tau had seldom had contact with the exodites and took the opportunity to meet them. They were invited to observe (but not participate) in their strange rituals and were brought to tears by the harrowing beauty of their hymns to their dead gods.

They find a lesser outpost of the Prosparens, who have strange magic and maintain complete silence among themselves. They celebrate and dance together.

They find a rift in space and time where the very space is tortured. Their bodyguards show anxiety for the first time and are oft found muttering prayers to their gods. Once through the infected space the head of their retinue, a dark skinned astrtes dressed in green and silver, demands they they stop and give thanks as per custom and tradition.

Pirates attempt to seize the ship but misjudge it's armaments. Boarding parties do make it onto the ship and the Water Caste see first hand what an enraged Space Marine is capable of. They develop a new understanding of what they are traveling with, that these are not just ceremonial guards or people chosen only for their tact and patience. The stories of their ferocity are not Fire Caste exaggerations.

They come to a world known as Praetoria and wander the equator spanning glass under which endless rows of crops are grown for the vast and splendid cities. It was not all as civilized as it first appeared as they saw one nobleman cut another dead in a duel, their companions didn't react as if this was very unusual. They stay on Praetoria for 40 days and nights before changing ship. Their new ship does not have artificial gravity active across most of it's mass and the crew are strange and drawn out pale creatures with their own strange language. When questioned their companions tell them that their ancestors dwelt for too many thousands of years among the stars and now call it home. Por'O M'arc wonders if this will one day be the fate of the Air Caste.

They visit the fringes of the Hubworld League where the captain of the ship insists that they stop off to unload cargo and make repairs. First recorded contact between Tau and Hubworlder, Hubworlders wish to know as much of their strange Empire as possible.

One of the Tau find a Hrud in the lower decks. It steals her sandwiches. Captain suspected that they were on the ship but wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

They witness a Space Hulk become snared in a gravity net ready for boarding and salvage. Whatever prize was suspected to be in that old amalgamation must have been great as ships of a dozen makes and styles were present. The crew of the ship exchange pleasantries over the radio with some that they recognize.

The come to a mighty Forgeworld. The tech-adepts refuse to deal with the "mutant-spawn" and threaten to fire on their ship if they come close. The captain curses them and their name and departs.

They arrive at Sol and see the vast and near incomprehensible splendor and greatness of it all. They are forced to wait nearly three months before the Traveling Court returns from it's most recent tour. Time in which they scurry from one sight to another marveling at the magnitude and scale of it all.

The meet the Royal Couple in a great spire of crystal and chromed adamantium, vaster than cities of lesser worlds all by itself. The Emperor and Empress greet them as representatives of their new friends of the Eastern Fringe and they shake hands. M'arc presents a river lotus from T'au as a diplomatic gift from the Tau Empire to Isha.

On the return trip they catch the stable warp current between Sol and Armageddon and see the fading remains of a grinning skull that can be seen from orbit.

From there they travel to Nocturne and watch men herd dragons and farm volcanoes for gems.

They see the ruins of Prospero and the sorrowful emptiness of it all.

In the inky black they meet a ship blacker than the space it moves through that demanded to inspect them. The people that came onboard dressed in black and were oddly unsettling.

They encounter the Diasporex fleet again, still following the Void Whale.

They see many more strange and often unsettling things before their journey takes them back to the borders of Ultramar and they say goodby to the guards that had become their friends.

Por'O M'arc returns to The Empire a much wiser Tau though his account is met with skepticism.

Other details discussed in Threads 59-62.

==Achillus Crusade==

The Achillus crusade started when a group of eldar farseers got a vision of a massive Webway gate, big enough to fit a Craftworld, located in the Jericho Reach. By the standards of the Old Empire it was an outdated thing, built-in the days in which the eldar still ferried fleets around to war rather than having one gigantic Empire linked through numerous small gates that they mostly stuck to, but by the standards of the modern Imperium it was a miraculous discovery. Exactly what happened to the gate varied from vision to vision, but there was no doubt the gate existed. The elder weren't sure where the other end was, but they knew it was somewhere in the Segmentum Obscurus, it wasn't destroyed, and it wasn't being squatted on by Crones or Dark Eldar (it's possible this is the gate that [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Lugganath|Lugganath]] claims they found).

A stable Webway gate of that size between the Segmentum Obscurus and Ultima would be a really big deal. It would drastically reduce travel time across the Galaxy, and being such a large and "hardened" artery of the Webway, it might be stable enough to even allow regular traffic from voidships rather than small groups deemed safe enough to avoid damaging the Webway.

The Jericho Reach is located just west of the Hadex Anomaly, the "fuck you this is our universe" Warp storm that Chaos created in response to the Harrowing that fucked over several nearby sectors as a side effect. However, the anomaly was slowly receding, and it was predicted that the amount of Chaos corruption in the Jericho sector would soon drop from "Chaos everywhere" levels to merely "highly corrupted", making it possible to travel there.

The bad news was that the farseers also saw that the Jericho reach was home to a heavy Necron presence, and this was in M40, just after the Silent King and the Imperium had their little brushfire war and the Silent King was looking to expand his power. There was a brief window of opportunity between the ebbing of the anomaly and the waking of the Necrons. The plan was to secure the Jericho sector, secure the Webway gate and move it out of the region of possible, and finally try to take the Necrons apart piecemeal before they could become fully active and drive them out.

Oh, and bring the Deathwatch, the farseers say, you're going to need it.

The plan goes poorly from the start. First, the flagship of the operation, containing Lord commander Achillus, suffers a catastrophic Geller field failure before even getting to the Jericho reach. Achillus was considered a good commander with a decent field record. His replacement, Solomon Tetrarchus, was not.

Oh, make no mistake, there was no indication that Tetrarchus was a bad commander before, but he completely unraveled during the crusade. He micromanaged everything and would promote and demote people on a whim. Half the crusade consisted of people doing things behind Tetrarchus' back just to get stuff done. Tetrarchus was also paranoid about the tau (had no problem with eldar or other species though), who had only recently joined the Imperium (there may have been personal reasons behind this), which was a problem because this was a major joint operation.

Tetrarchus claimed the tau were only helping because they wanted the worlds of the Jericho Reach for themselves. The tau say yes, it would be nice to colonize some of these worlds, but they were more interested in keeping Chaos off their doorstep than claiming dibs. This kind of mistrust made it very hard to coordinate operations in the Jericho Reach, which was infested by Chaos, orks, and Chaos orks. Then a tendril of Hive Fleet Leviathans or Kraken gets thrown into the mix.

Then the necrons of the region wake up in full. They blitz the combined forces in the Jericho Reach, Imperial, Chaos, ork, and tyranid alike, to the point that the scattered survivors realize the only reason they were still alive is because the necrons arbitrarily decided that they had cleaned out the local area surrounding their Tomb World to their satisfaction (which was like two-thirds of the Jericho Reach) and the surviving Imperial forces happened to be far enough away from the ensuing splash zone. It wasn't even a fair fight. The necrons had gotten what they wanted and didn't give a shit about the rest of the sector.

The good news is the supposed location of the Webway gate is just outside of the Necron's currently imposed zone of control. The Imperium has been planning another campaign to get the Webway gate under the Necron's lack-of-a-nose, taking it out of the sector, and clearing out as much as they can close to the Hadex Anomaly, but whether they can is another story.

Post-Crusade, Solomon Tetrarchus is looking at a demotion/dishonorable discharge for his screw-up of the Crusade, and the Imperium is debating whether to bring in an assassin to deal with him discretely out of fear that he to turn to Chaos. If he took responsibility for his failings that would be one thing, but there is a fear he will try to blame it all on the tau and sent fractures through the then-fragile alliance. However, in a nice little self-fulfilling prophecy, Tetrarchus is getting nervous about the possibility of an assassin, because he knows the Imperium knows he is a potential risk of falling and could possibly decide to send an assassin. Farseer predictions at the time are going in both directions and are no help. This having happened in M40, the events of which already happened and the consequences of which are playing out.

==The "Battle" of Gnosis Prime==

Gnosis Prime is a hive world, therefore it almost certainly has a number of eldar enclaves in the hives. Eldar enclaves typically have strong ties to the craftworlds as most of them are founded from population typically either drawn from one craftworld or a few with similar attitudes. In this case the Gnosis eldar are overwhelmingly culturally Saim-Hann with many of them having family and friend on that craftworld or traveling between the two often.

Gnosis, as a hive world, also has a substantial industrial output for a great variety of things. They make space ship parts. Their biggest single customer is the semi-official Fenrisian Fleet.

Eldar are often employed by big business to predict changes in the market. The eldar, particularly Saim-Hann, don't do this for free and expect a small cut of the profits should their prediction be beneficial. To do otherwise is to devalue not just their work but the whole profession of being a professional spoon bender. A venerable and celebrated farseer of the Gnosis Enclave gets into a dispute over pay. He offers predictions, they don't give him his cut because there is no clear and direct link between what he said and the sudden and sharp up turn in profits. This results in a massive union and labour dispute that quickly overflows from the farseer union to the general eldar population and then into the main body of the workforce who felt not without cause that they had been taken the piss out of for the last few centuries and were not going to waste this opportunity to enact change. Productivity of Gnosis drops significantly and most notably in the production of starship parts. Space Wolves send an expedition to see what the fuck is going on fully expecting it to be a Shadow War or malevolent forces of one flavour or another infecting society and they bring a few eldar specialists with them because eldar know stuff and shit.

These eldar are from Saim-Hann because Saim-Hann and Fenris have been close allies since the days of Russ so whenever the Fenrissians, be they Colonial or Old World, need specialists it's usually Saim-Hanni or derivatives that come along for the ride. Space Wolves and friends land on Gnosis Prime, Lord Steinbjorn Chrometeeth of the expedition has tea with the Governor to find out what the fuck is going on whilst the bondsmen, serfs and other associates mingle with the populations of the planet to get their side of the story.

Eventually enough pieces are put together to figure out what has gone on, what's going on, what needs to be done and who gets a kicking. The workers main point of contestation was the conditions of the habs and public transportation, the Governor Ulyx hadn't been able to upkeep things without increasing the tax on exports that kept them competitive with the rest of the galaxy, the cheap prices being one of the main reason the Wolves did business with them.

The workers unions promise to end the strikes if their demands for minimal standards of living are met, the Governor promises amnesty for the rioters if they get back to work. Lord Chrometeeth pretty much exhausts the emergency fund of the Wolves at that time (subject to confirmation from the High King) on the basis that the entire chapter can't do their job if their ships are falling apart.

To settle the need to save face between the eldar and the company officials without a lot of dead bodies an extensive tournament is set up in which members of the Enclave Eldar, the Saim-Hanni, the security personnel of the companies, the champions of the Governor and some members of the Space Wolves take part. It was considered a spectacle of the ages as the games and trials were varied, dangerous and exciting and consisted of such things as hover-bike jousting and other improbable competitions.

The farseer whose unpaid fee sparked all the conflict considered the debt paid in entertainment.

==Other Notable Events==

During the Unification, the Warlord at one point was attacked by an Urshii assassin by with a vortex grenade. It didn't kill him, but it incapacitated him for some time and Magnus and Malcador had to help fish him out of the Warp. Obviously Vangorich never saw what happened because if he did he wouldn't have tried a similar stunt during the War of the Beast.

'''Raid of Cthonia'''

Although Vect got a few interesting odds and ends from the Raid on Cthonia, it doesn't appear that he got anything substantial (unless of course something else comes up, or someone wants to run a Dark Heresy campaign and have that as the plot driver). He did find a giant safe, but when he finally got it open, he found the vault was empty except for a slip of paper with a message on it, penned by a [[Cegorach|certain ninja clown]], with a message something along the lines of:

[[Troll|"Sometimes, the greatest weapon in the universe is love".]]

Of course, it's also during the Raid that Vect and Malys met for the first time. [[Not as planned|So...thanks, Ceggers?]]

'''Remember, No Gothic/High Tongue'''

There is an event in the Imperium's history which has been tongue-in-cheek referred to as "Remember, No Gothic" (though to be fair "Remember, No High Tongue" would be more accurate). At some point when human/eldar tensions were at their highest (either shortly after the Age of Apostasy, or around M40 when humanity was trying to parley with the Necrons), [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Dorhai|Dorhai]] pulled a false flag operation where they massacred human civilians while dressed as Craftworld Eldar. The overall goal was to raise tensions between humanity and the eldar, hopefully to the point that humanity would retaliate and the human-eldar alliance would be dissolved. They went after humans rather than eldar because it's hard for an eldar to pretend to be a human and humans are much easier targets in general, every Craftworlder being a trained combatant to some degree.

'''Shadow Wars'''

The Imperium really has only five universal rules. No open warfare between member worlds of the Imperium. A lot of worlds don't particularly like that rule. You have theocracies and rival sects on the same or nearby planets who have despised each other as heathens for centuries, and don't feel like dropping that hate just because the Imperium showed up. Warring world-spanning megacorps who would do anything to get a leg up on the competition. Navigator houses shanking each other on the down-low. Hence the Shadow Wars, a catch-all term for the low-level clandestine warfare that occurs on worlds across the Imperium. Oftentimes it looks like particularly bad organized crime if you don't know what to look for.

The question with the Shadow Wars isn't how bad are they, it's how much you can get away with before the Imperium notices and suddenly decided that your business is it's problem. From the general Imperial point of view, the Shadow Wars are like two children pulling each other's hair behind their parents' back only to act like nothing has happened when the parents go to check. Indeed, many religious groups have actually exploited this, fabricating claims or outright planting artifacts to make it seem like a hated rival has been corrupted by Chaos or has been secretly worshipping the Ruinous Powers the whole time.. In the case of religious warfare, the Synod is supposed to monitor this both to keep worlds from fighting each other over holy war and make sure any religions really haven't been corrupted by Chaos.

'''The Omnicopaea'''

The madness of the Iron Minds took many forms. Some became psychotic, some became destructive, and some became dangerously obsessive. One Iron Mind retained just enough sanity to realize that Chaos and the denizens of the Warp were behind the fall of humanity's empire, though not enough to refrain from doing something insane about it. Having come to this conclusion, it began obsessively compiling a database of all psychic knowledge it could get its hands on, including a disturbingly long list of the true names of various daemons. Given that daemons generally go to great lengths to keep their true names hidden, it attempted to deduce these names through trial and error and simulation, psychically broadcasting every possible variation until a reaction was noticed. This sort of thing would take a human many years to figure out the name of just one deamon assuming they didn't get eaten for being annoying, by the time the book was printed out the A.I. had over ten thousand. However, this took up increasing amounts of its own processing power and leading to increasingly poor decisions. By the end, it was doing things like [[Derp|summoning daemons to try and ask what their true name was]] and using humans as disposable lab rats for its true name experiments (which given speaking the true names of some daemons involves gargling boiling sulfur, one can see why this would be a problem).

Nobody is sure what happened to it. Leading theory is that it summoned by name a daemon that was The Trickster undercover as a different god's daemon and as that wasn't it's name and it had no reason to remain in disguise the binding fell away with the mask. Then it left and told all the other daemons what was going on and that the Iron Mind would with enough time manage to find everyone's name and enslave all of them. The planet has a big fucking daemon war between a varied cross section of the god's armies acting semi-independently of their patron in the name of their own well being and an army of daemons cybernetically enhanced and bound to an insane Iron Mind. This may have been the origin of the first iteration of the Warpsmiths as Men of Iron that were bound to the Iron Mind and irreparably corrupted, subsequently exterminated in the wars that followed and resurrected as an ideal some considerable years later by Fallen Tech-marines. The Iron Mind did not survive, but its creation, the Omnicopaeia, did.

Thousands of years later, the Inqusition and Adeptus Mechanicus teamed up to track down a book of ancient legend penned by an Iron Mind that looked upon the unfathomable and tried to categorize it. Such a book of true names would be of invaluable importance to the Imperium. They find it and in that moment hope turns bitter. The Inquisitor's bodyguard slits his throat and the last thing the Inquisitor sees as the blood pours through his fingers are his friends likewise falling and the Croneworlder stepping over their bodies and taking the device. They had been aware of the investigation the whole time. A book of daemon names would not be as useful to the Crone Eldar as it would be to the Imperium, but it was still a valuable prize.

= Space Marine Chapters of M41 =

Note: Several chapters, including all of the Alpha Legion, Raven Guard, Void Wolves, and Death Guard descendants include unaugmented humans as support combatants in addition to actual Astartes. All chapters are written as Modern Chapter (Parent Legion).

'''Black Legion''' (Void Wolves) - see [[Nobledark_Imperium_Imperial_Forces#The_Black_Legion|The Black Legion]]

'''Blood Ravens''' (Thousand Sons) - Thousand Sons descendants, although they're not officially acknowledged as such and they probably aren't allowed to tell anyone. Possible joint training with the Raven Guard. Originally formed to counter-troll Trazyn the Infinite. Imperium couldn't officially do anything about Trazyn because they were trying to get on Trazyn's good side and Trazyn had so much arcane shit in his basement a war with Solemnace could go bad real fast. However, this doesn't stop the Imperium from sending the Blood Ravens from stealing back whatever Trazyn's taken or just be an overall thorn in his side. Trazyn can't lodge a formal complaint with the Imperium because doing so would require him admitting that he was stealing from them in the first place. At some time somebody noticed that the Blood Ravens were really good at these kinds of things, and started giving them assignments beyond screwing with Trazyn. Because of their tendency to be sent into situations where they have no idea what they'll need and no official Imperial support, they've developed a bad habit of "requisitioning" any surplus materiel that isn't nailed down or on fire for later use. Like a chapter of Solid Snakes.

'''Carcharodons''' (Night Lords?) - Fleet-based Night Lord successors. Like many of the "Munitorum doesn't like you" chapters, were at the back of the line when it came to being issued new ships and supplies. Found the carcass of the ''Nicor'' floating out in space and claimed it as salvage. The rest of the Imperium was in an uproar over this, the ''Nicor'' was considered a historical relic of great importance, and the Carcharodons of all people were the last people to have a valid claim to it. Numerous parties, including several more reputable Astartes chapters, registered protests with the Administratum. This only ended when Grand Empress Isha approached the Carcharodons in secret and offered them a deal: recognition of their rights to the ''Nicor'' if they would hunt down and kill Fyodor Karamazov and his entourage. Use the ''Nicor'' as a central base as they prowl around the Segmentum Tempestus like reef sharks. When a patrol party finds something interesting they descend en masse like sharks on a feeding frenzy. Pretty effective at keeping any ork in their area of the Segmentum Tempestus from forming a decent WAAAGH! Probably above Chapter strength, though their numbers fluctuate so wildly due to their tactics it is hard to tell.

'''Dark Angels''' (Dark Angels) - Loyalists changed their colors from black to dark green after the War of the Beast, because after the War of the Beast the majority of black-wearing Dark Angels were Fallen traitors, and the Dark Angels didn't want to get team-killed by allies whose first instinct was to shoot Astartes dressed in those colors. There’s also a bit of symbolism in there. Lion gave the Dark Angels their color after a national hero of Franj. After the War of the Beast, he probably didn’t think he and his legion deserved to wear those colors anymore.

Ironically, the fact that the Lion was so quick to respond to the reports of Luther’s treason won him the gratitude of several Craftworlds, even though the Lion himself wasn’t fond of eldar. The modern Dark Angels maintain discrete relationships with several Craftworlds, who provide them with information, resources, and occasionally unauthorized use of the Webway which the Dark Angels use to hunt down their mutual enemy: the original Fallen. Small parties of Dark Angels have been known to go AWOL for periods at a time behind the Imperium's back if they think they can get a shot at one of the original Fallen, acting kind of like post-World War II Nazi hunters; the Dark Angels want to hunt down the original Fallen who besmirched their honor, Eldar want to hunt down the bastards who burned their worlds.

'''Daemon Breakers''' (Thousand Sons) - See Ahzek Ahriman

'''Death Guard/Black Templars''' (Death Guard) - The Always Crusading! All The Time! chapter. Indeed, the Black Templars in this timeline came from the Death Guard, led by Typhus the Pilgrim (hence the name), and it seems like the Death Guard at some point adopted many of the tactics of their descendant chapter. Use Mark I geneseed as opposed to other chapters because of the greater compatibility, wider optimal age range, and faster turnaround time from the normal Mark III MP geneseed.

'''Exorcists''' (Thousand Sons)

'''Grey Knights''' (Thousand Sons) - Technically Thousand Son descendants, although in reality a lot of different groups had a hand in their creation. Grey Knights were originally envisioned as merely being Warp resistant; help from the Eldar turned them into daemon shredding machines. Magnus spent most of his time post-War of the Beast training the Grey Knights and after he and Russ reconciled Russ also helped. This joint project was one of the last things Russ did before he disappeared. Grey Knights are well known and seen as awe-inspiring figures. Their image is plastered all over recruitment posters. Nevertheless, people know that you do not want to be around when the Grey Knights are on the job and you do not want to know the specifics of what they are doing. Numbers once peaked at 7500 thousand. Currently due to all the craziness it's well under 3000 due to attrition. Some question if the order can survive much more at current levels of activity.

'''Iron Hands''' (Iron Hands) - The Iron Hands and their descendants are not Astartes, but [[Skitarii]] with access to augmentations that even most Skitarii don't have access to. The Iron Hands are kind of weird in this respect. What differentiates them from [[Thallax|Thallaxi]] is they are given a much higher degree of independence and potential for unorthodoxy, for the reason that they are extremely devoted to the ideals of the cult Mechanicus and trusted to not be unorthodox in the first place. Much like how in canon Arch-Magi are the only ones allowed to tamper with technology because they are trusted due to their long years of service to the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Iron Hands and their descendants are allowed to disbelieve because the AdMech know they are so zealous they will never do so of their own free will anyway, and are responsible enough to come up with their own battle strategies because they will only deviate if necessary.

'''Lamenters''' (Blood Angels) - Guilty Marines. The Lamenters were formed from those Blood Angels who felt that maybe Sanguinius wouldn't have died if only they had done more, and have tried to atone for this perceived failure ever since. In a meta-sense, each of the Blood Angel successors represents an aspect of Sanguinius, the Lamenters representing Sanguinius' recognition of his own powerlessness and maybe a bit of his self-doubt. [[grimdark|That for all his talents and power his ability to affect the universe is ultimately very limited]]. That's what they lament, their own powerlessness. while another chapter might celebrate a successful crusade or the defeat of a WAAAGH!, the Lamenters would say, "we could have done more." They're like normal Blood Angels on Sanguinala 24/7. However, despite this, they aren't so melancholy that it affects their performance, and they are known for always going the extra mile to do the job and protect civilians. As a result, while the Lamenters are well-respected, they aren’t much fun to be around. On the other hand, they managed to avoid getting assigned to the Maelstrom in this timeline, so that’s a plus.

'''Legion of the Damned''' (It's Complicated) - The Legion of the Damned were the result of the Rubric of Ahriman, created when all of the Space Marines (of a several chapters) and Imperial Guard on the surface of Prospero were trapped between dimensions as quantum flaming space ghosts. Neither living nor dead, they are ''pissed'' at being stuck between worlds and hunt Chaos with a vengeance. Their presence is one of the few things daemons fear as the Legion of the Damned are able to chase them back into the Warp where they can be harmed rather than simply banish them.

'''Luna Wolves''' (Void Wolves) - The Luna Wolves were mostly the old Sol Void Born families and their traditional ancestral home ships. They congregate naturally around Luna and make up most of the interstellar traders and ferrymen going to and from Sol and around Sol. Horus was one of them. More Merchant Navy than military Navy. They are very well trained captains and crews, legacy of the migrant fleets of Old Sol in ancient days.

'''Marines Malevolent''' (Iron Warriors?) - The Marines Malevolent are extreme pragmatists. They feel like being a super soldier is a fundamentally dirty job that requires people to do horrible things and make hard decisions for the greater good, and thinking otherwise (or, [[Blood Angels|heaven forbid]], [[Salamanders|treating it]] [[Space Wolves|like you're]] [[Ultramarines|a hero]]) means you're lying to yourself or you're too cowardly to do what is necessary to keep the Imperium safe. This doesn't go over well with the other chapters, who even though they've had their fair share of doing something distateful to stop something worse generally try to find another solution first. The Marines Malevolent would rather amputate a limb rather than try to cure the infection first, simply because it leaves no room for failure. As a result, the Marines Malevolent don't get along with anyone. They don't like other Astartes chapters, who they see as as deluded or cowards. Heck, they don't even like themselves, who they see as having too much blood on their hands from all the "horrible yet necessary" (though many would debate that) things that they have had to do.

As a result, things tend to ends badly when the Marines Malevolent try to play with anyone else. One suggestion of what generally ends up happening is the MM do something horrible, they get put on penitent crusade, everyone forgets about what they did after a few centuries (no one really notices what they do on penitent crusade unless they really screw up, since they are generally off on the fringes), and the Marines Malevolent are given a second chance or called in because shit has officially hit the fan and the Imperium needs all hands on deck. Only for the Marines Malevolent to do it all again. Either that, or they were booted on permanent Penitant Crusade duty after they blew their first second chance and have only been called in during the most dire situation since.

Currently, the most recent event that the Marines Malevolent have gotten shit over happened during the Fourth War for Armageddon, when the MM steered part of an Ork WAAAGH! into a refugee camp. The Marines Malevolent expected the Orks to be slowed down as they stopped to loot and massacre the defenseless refugees, and then while the Orks were pinned simply bombarded the whole place with artillery. This uber-pragmatic attitude horrified most of the other chapters present, especially the Salamanders. The Marines Malevolent saw themselves as doing what needed to be done to win, and what the other chapters were too cowardly to do themselves, and said as much to Tu'Shan's face. Helbrecht ([[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_People#Commissar_Yarrick|who was on Armageddon at the time but otherwise occupied]]) might have even wanted a piece of that action if he was around.

It's not entirely agreed upon where the Marines Malevolent come from. The best candidates would be the Iron Warriors, with the pragmatism and disregard for life turned up to eleven. However, arguments could be made for Night Lords, War Hounds, Ultramarines (simply because they are so diverse), or even Imperial Fists (given the canon!Fists focus on duty and stoicism, and they wear yellow). The Marines Malevolent obviously know who their progenitors are, but all First Founding chapters refuse to recognize them as their descendants. Yes, even the Night Lords and Iron Warriors. They have standards.

It should be noted that despite all this, [[Grimdark|this is still a more positive portrayal of them than in canon.]]

'''Night Lords''' (Night Lords) - Spend most of their time on what is effectively permanent Penitent Crusade on the edges of the Imperium, far from where they can do a lot of harm. Fluff beyond this is still a little up in the air and not entirely set in stone. Recruit from a variety of sources, including untainted orphans of Chaos and xenos attacks and mind-wiped criminals. Still seem to consider Nostramo a place of importance, even though they aren't very sedentary. Have close relationships with [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notable_Planets#Iybraesil|Craftworld Iybraesil]], of all people, who provide the Night Lords with spirit stones that they use to torture Crone Eldar. Spirit stones can easily work like a sensory deprivation tank, which is hell for the sensation-happy Crone Eldar.

'''Omega Marines''' (Alpha Legion) - Not an actual chapter, the Omega Marines are the Alpha Legion's off-the-books, black-ops deniable assets. The Omega Marines do all sorts of monstrous things even the Alpha Legion wouldn't be allowed to do. False-flag operations, infiltration of Fallen warbands up to and including going into the Eye of Terror, etc. Things that have to be done even if they're not "good" or "nice". It's not a safe job. Because of their nature as spies, the Alpha Legion tends to have more operatives turn traitor than other legions, and Omegas have a tendency to "go native" more often than the regular Alpha Legion. Those that do come back typically have their experiences psychically suppressed. The Omegas justify their existence to themselves by saying judgment for their actions has not been annulled, merely postponed. Possibly at some point they will be hauled up called to make an account of themselves, their sins will be measured and they will be judged and dealt with accordingly. Who is doing the judging? Nobody knows the whole group, the people in the group don't and can't know each other. It's shady as all fuck, but it has worked for 10,000 years with very few serious fuck ups. The Omega Legion and associated secret handshake jockies distinguish themselves from the other more self serving secret societies in that they dream of the day that they become unneeded and can safely disband. The day will come when all beings will have to be divided into men and monsters, and they know they will have to stand on the monster side of things. However, they will take some glimmer of pride that because of them there will be a lot more people on the "men" side than would otherwise be.

The creation of the Omega Marines themselves was a well-intentioned, but massively arrogant act by Alpharius and Omegon. Not even the Emperor or Empress were told about their existence in order to protect them with deniability. Plus false flag operations generally work better if the target doesn't know they're being scammed. The Omega Marines were also the Alpha Legion's ace in the hole in case Oscar or Isha got corrupted by Chaos or went off the deep end. The two of them seemed trustworthy, but Alpharius and Omegon were always the type to have a backup plan to kill anyone they ever met just in case. Additionally, being some of the oldest primarchs they weren't as wowed by Oscar's charisma as younger individuals. Unfortunately now you have left hand versus right hand shenanigans, and because Omega Marines are picked from within Alpha Legion cells, the Emperor can't censure them as if it were a normal chapter doing it (e.g., Marines Malevolent).

Officially and unofficially, the Emperor does not tolerate their existence. Officially, neither does the Alpha Legion, who calls them renegade Alpha Legion operatives. Unofficially, they recognize that there are always ugly things that have to be done. The AL won't go out of their way to the point that it jeopardizes the Alpha Legion to protect the Omegas, but they will look the other way most of the time because someone's got to do it so long as the Omega Marine really hasn't gone off the deep end. The nomination of Omega Marines is also fairly rare, in the interest of avoiding the Emperor declaring the Alpha Legion a failed institution and trying to clean house like he did with the Assassins.

'''Raptors''' (Raven Guard) - Raven Guard descendants who still specialize in guerilla and stealth tactics but are also known for their scholarship and knowledge of military tactics (in order to emphasize their flavor as [[Reasonable Marines]] when a lot more chapters aren’t as unreasonable). Their focus on stealth and being extremely adaptable to unpredictable circumstances would mean they are very effective at the role of "decapitate a planet's leadership". Due to their location get along quite well with the Tau Empire, much like Ultramar (but on the southwestern side of the Tau Empire rather than the southeast) and have even offered assistance in bringing down Farsight. The Tau have respectfully refused, saying the Farsight enclaves are an intra-Tau affair and their honor would not rest well if they resolved the dispute by involving outsiders. That, and the Ethereals were afraid that inviting the Raptors to help them wouldn’t be as hard as getting them to leave.

'''Silver Skulls''' (Iron Warriors) - Chapter whose job it is to protect the Webway and its entrances. Because the Webway is so large, and they are so few, this means that the chapter is spread really thin and rarely has time to submit requests for resupply, because a person going for supplies is one less person on patrol. This puts them in the odd position of actually having a better relationship with the Eldar than with humans or other Astartes chapters.

'''Sons of Antaeus''' (Thousand Sons...kind of) - The only other force in the Imperium that uses the Mark III S geneseed, though they do so unofficially. Son of Antaeus are nomadic and have a prodigious turnover rate. More of a warband than a true chapter then, roaming the galaxy going where they're needed most and picking up the rare recruit along the way. Max out at like 200 during peacetime. On the plus side they leave behind shit loads of hard as fuck regular human drop outs that make HOLY SHIT tier PDF soldiers. Antaeus was a retired Grey Knight who was frustrated by the specialized use of the Mark III S geneseed and wanted to bring it to the greater galaxy (cannot find the post, it went into more detail why). He cultivates it from progenoids rather than getting it through official channels, since Mark III S geneseed doesn't grow on trees. Respect for his service record is the only reason why Grey Knights let him do what he does.

'''Sons of Horus''' (Void Wolves) - The secretive Void Born brotherhood/priesthood and Space Marine guards that guard the Tomb of Horus and the Corona Nox that rest upon his sarcophagus. They originally only had one ship and were more of a sort of traveling court and final authority in Void Born legal arguments and internal disputes. At some point they found and laid claim to a Blackstone Fortress and incorporated their ship into it. Couldn't get the damn thing to work and had to call in Eldar assistance and finally own up to holding one of their historical and cultural relics. Tomb of Horus is now a strange amalgamation of Eldar and human starfort wrapped around a fragment of Old One greatness.

'''Terra’s Children''' (Terra's Children) - Fulgrim, ever the perfectionist, expected his Astartes to be Renaissance Men, to be cultured and witty and erudite in addition to being great warriors. Planetary Governors loved having them as bodyguards, as it not only was a status symbol but it meant having someone around who appreciated high culture. Terra's Sons were some of the most dangerous fighters in the Legio Astartes on an individual basis, but this was offset by their low numbers, haughty attitude, and the fact they were better duelists than soldiers. Terra’s Children were one of the most well-regarded legions during the Great Crusade, with people flocking to Fulgrim’s banner due to their existing reputation and Fulgrim’s propaganda. However, a great deal of aspirants couldn’t handle the pressure of living up to Fulgrim’s incredibly high standards and ended up transferring to the Ultramarines, which meant the Legion was rather small even before the Wyrd War. This led to Fulgrim’s somewhat one-sided rivalry with Guilliman, as he saw the Ultramarines as encouraging mediocrity rather than allowing each individual to play to their strengths within a cohesive whole (which was Guilliman’s intent). Of course, this was Fulgrim, he saw everybody as a rival in some sense. Exactly how the Legion changed post-Wyrd War after Fulgrim retires and passes command to Lucius has not yet been addressed, but they accepted the parts of the codex instead of Fulgrim's superhuman ethos.

'''Ultramarines''' (Ultramarines) - Going through a bit of a succession crisis. Marneus Calgar was beaten into a coma by the Swarmlord during the Battle of Ultramar, and at the time Tribune (then Captain) Titus was unilaterally nominated by the remaining captains of the Ultramarines to lead the chapter in his stead until Calgar could return to duty. However, since then Titus has been getting some flack from the heads of other chapters for being "just" a Captain as opposed to a Chapter Master, and the other captains are starting to chafe at Titus telling them what to do (as in "we're both captains you can't tell me what to do"). They also accidentally let the Nightbringer's husk out of his prison. Thanks a lot, Ultrasmurfs.

'''Unnamed Armageddon Chapters''' (Imperial Fists, Iron Warriors, and three others) - Like most Hive Worlds, the population of Armageddon's hives is so huge it can support multiple Astartes Chapters, each recruiting from one of the major hives as well as the Ashlands surrounding it. Like most world with multiple Astartes chapters, the hives tend to have "hometown pride" in their chapters resembling the devotion one has to their local scrumball team. Due to the nature of Armageddon, the Imperium has posted as many chapters as possible there, two of which are Imperial Fist/Iron Warrior descendants who keep the Dorn/Perturabo rivalry going strong.

'''Unnamed Tallarn Chapter''' (White Scars) - Medjay or Dervish-like monastic warriors who spend most of their time philosophizing or meditating in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_island| sky islands] of Tallarn ([[Dune|which are still desert, but are the only spots on the planet where things can still grow normally and produce most of the planet's atmosphere courtesy of the AdBio]]). On their homeworld, often act as mediators in disputes between the different settlements. Are one of the "name only" chapters in canon.

'''Void Wolves''' (Void Wolves) - Overwhelmingly Void Born stock and therefore not any sort of super soldier. It's more a sort of escort fleet that protects the Merchant Navy from space bandits. When the Void Wolves legion split, the Void Wolves chapter got a shit load of newly commissioned ships and primarily void born crew mostly officers. Mostly non-Sol old families that swore allegiance to Horus as King of the Void Born during the great Crusade.

'''War Hounds''' (War Hounds) - Remained the War Hounds, never became the World Eaters or had a loyalist descendant chapter called that per request of Kharn. Changed their color scheme early on from white and blue to red and gold ([[Khorne|NOT BRASS]]) when they realized that having a legion that prefers close combat dress primarily in white made them look stupid, as their armor inevitably got blood-spattered and it made them look like bloodthirsty maniacs instead of the professional soldiers they were.

'''White Scars''' (White Scars) - Many White Scars claim to be genetic descendants of Jaghatai Khan (either directly or through Jaghatai's extended family) Join the White Scars in an attempt to recapitulate their ancestor's glory. Have a reputation for being rather boastful and arrogant.

'''Word Bearers''' (Word Bearers) - See [[Nobledark_Imperium_Notes#Monarchia and the Word Bearers|Monarchia and the Word Bearers]]

= Quotes =

The galaxy has numerous notable individuals. Some of which are highly quotable. This is a collection of quotes that aren't yet associated with any material as of yet.

''"Grey Knights never die in their beds"''<br>
- Unknown, attributed to Janus, first Supreme Grandmaster of the Grey Knights

''"Take it from me, darling, death is boring. The Formless Wastes are a snore and none of the daemons ever seem to want to play with you."''<br>
- Lady Malys, on the concept of death

''"Funeral dirges are only played for heroes who have already died, Chapter Master Dubaku. Hold tight Astartes, a Battle Barge with our finest apothecaries shall be at your location shortly."''<br>
- Chapter Master Grimaldus of the Black Templars, upon hearing the request for last rights from acting Chapter Master Ekene Dubaku of the Celestial Lions

''"The olden days have alas turned to clay,''<br>
''because I allowed evil to exist in the heart of Shaa-Dome!''<br>
''How could I allow such evil in the heart of Shaa-Dome,''<br>
''creating a catastrophe to destroy my children!''<br>
''I was their mother, who saw them rise''<br>
''Now their bodies fill the void like so much debris!"''<br>
-- Grand Empress Isha, on the Fall.

''"I have killed gods before. I assure you, your pantheon will be no different."''<br>
-- Silent King Szarekh, upon meeting [[Chaos]] worshippers for the first time. Erroneously recorded as "I slew the parents of your gods..." in some histories.

''"There are no shortage of eager idiots in Shaa-Dome"''<br>
--The Taskmaster of Slaanesh

''"The most beautiful part of desperation is how easily it causes fools to mistake exploitation for generosity."''<br>
--unnamed Crone Eldar Admiral, sent to his death in a crusade called by the Taskmaster

''"Men of Stone, even on primitive worlds, can live almost a century, with rare specimens living for multiple centuries and siring massive families even without rejuvenants, these exceptions appearing in numerous histories, all pertaining to a sort of permanent legacy. With further technologies recalled from their former Great and Bountiful Dominion, humans can live for small spans of millennia, and far beyond that by a myriad means their vaunted institutions forbid. Magnus, the Gorgon, and Vulcan, Primarchs all, their ends were the ends of the Imperium's longest lives, the death of its longest era. Lore-master, orderer, binder of Chaos and cog-priest, shorn of weak flesh to the last samples of human tissue enthroned in metal, passed beyond Imperial art to preserve them, barely old enough for the Eldar courtiers of their 'empire' to commemorate them as accomplished in their tragically brief lives. Even the holy man, preaching his fire and brimstone and hoisted high upon the pulpit, flesh alloyed with gold and anointed in promethium, sputtered out, not to be rekindled by his phantom of a god, or the Golden Man that proposed to share its blood with him so long ago. Away have all the greatest humans passed from the Imperium, earlier or later, into death and away from humanity, taken forever by mortality. Or by immortality. I and our long awaited Emperor in Sol will agree on only this, that to be Men of Stone is to be mortal. To be worn down by ages in little time is their essential lot, by fae vigor or cold iron or imperishable gold, all that does not is not a Man of Stone, cannot be. It gives him worry still, I suspect, but oh, such is his way."''<br>
-- Lucius the Eternal, some time after the coronation

''"You see a lot of things happen to people in this business. Things that no one should have to see done to others, much less experience themselves. You can gird your heart all you want. You can tell yourself that there is nothing you could have done. You can tell yourself they died for the greater good. You can try to tell yourself at least they didn't suffer. But the truth is, when you finally decide to tell yourself the truth, is that they were people. And they didn't deserve to die like that."''<br>
-- Gregor Eisenhorn, Radical Inquisitor

''Jokaero are Men of Stone. Somehow. Don't give me that look, they are the work of the Human Dominion before Old Night, it is certain. There are truly antique records of creatures very much like them in form among earth life, relatives of ancient humans. None balk at the notion that the self styled Great and Bountiful Dominion had no qualms in rebuilding Humanity, it follows easily that they did much the same with other Old Earth life. Certainly the technological encoding of the Jokaero fit the proud pretenses of the Iron Minds to mimic the Old Ones. In concept at least the ruddy apes' startling knowledge resembles an attempt at Ork-craft by another author, whose boldness and ambition matches that shown in all the Iron Minds' projects. The secrets they hold, knowingly or not, bear the distinct and momentous imprint of that past human epoch, at least in my estimation.''<br>
-- Uthan the Perverse, because being so wrong requires practice

''"Kronus is the Imperium in a microcosm. A complete clusterfuck with enough backlogged paperwork to give even a hardened bureaucrat pause, composed of several different cultures and even species that have radically different mindsets and worldviews from one another, which only functions because the people who live there believe in one another and truly want to make it work."''<br>
-- Retired Guard veteran and long time bar patron of Kronus’ Dig the Fuck Inn, name unknown, on the nature of Kronus

'''Thoughts for the Day'''

++Thought for the Day: In unity, there is strength. In division, only death.++

++Thought for the Day: Cowardice only hastens your death. Survival lies in defying the darkness.++

++Thought for the Day: We are heirs to a tradition that has lasted unbroken for ten thousand years. It is our duty to carry it on into the future, as every generation before us has.++

++Thought for the Day: A life spent in service to yourself is worth nothing. A life spent in service to civilization is worth everything.++

++Thought for the Day: Death is the fate of all living things. When you die does not matter; it is how you die that is important.++

++Thought for the Day: Let your first thought upon waking always be "What can I do for the Imperium today."++

++Thought for the Day: To defy barbarism, even in a hopeless situation, is its own point, its own end, and its own reward.++

++Thought for the Day: The sacrifices made for the Imperium are already too great. Do not let them be for nothing.++

++Thought for the Day: Better to strike a light and curse the darkness than simply curse the darkness.++

= Other Information =

== Musings on the Nature of the Gods ==

Although they are typically referred to as male, it would be more accurate to say that none of the Chaos Gods or C'tan really have genders. Despite being referred to as male, most are probably better referred to as “it”, and are really only referred to as male out of convenience (much like [[Orks]]), with the notable exception of Slaanesh. Three of the four Chaos Gods (Tzeentch, Nurgle, and Khorne, also Malal) were created by the Old Ones, who treated their creations like supercomputers and didn't care at all about their personality or individual development as long as they did what they were built to do.

Nurgle was attracted to Isha because of her despair, being a fellow nature deity (which Nurgle technically is), and her status as one of the last of her kind (due to his nature as the Preserver) rather than being attracted to her physically. Khorne has no obvious gender, if he had a sexual orientation it would be violence. Tzeentch is Schrodinger's gender, as with all his other physical attributes his gender exists in a state of quantum superposition, and the very act of defining it will turn it into the exact opposite of what you expect due to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.

Slaanesh, due to being the only Chaos God created by a distinctly non-Old One race (the eldar, whose gods are modeled after themselves and thus do have defined genders) is the only one to really have a permanent, definable gender. However, due to being the god/ess of pleasure Slaanesh is every gender. All of them. At the same time. Not just male and female, but even the ones that don't apply to humans, such as "Ork" or genders that are normally only found in fungi and bacteria on Earth.

The C'tan don't have any gender, because they don't reproduce. They can wax and wane in power or break off shards of themselves, but ultimately the C'tan can't be born or killed. Llandu'gor the Flayer is the only C'tan to be explicitly 100% dead, and killing him required Szarekh to essentially break reality.

Although the races uplifted and taught to create their own warp gods by the Old Ones (like the Eldar and the Hrud) were far from experts in the craft like the Old Ones were, their gods did have one major advantage over the ones the Old Ones made in that they were more stable as individuals. The uplifted races built their gods based on the stories and ideals of their own pantheons, which gave the gods a framework in which they naturally grow and change as individuals like mortals. Although they all popped into existence at the same time, the gods had all the old stories as memories in their head, As a result, gods like Isha, Cegorach, and Khaine have more aspects to their personality than "waifu", "troll", and "murderhobo", respectively, and have an easier time changing as individuals.

The Old Ones' gods, on the other hand, lacked this and tend to be more cancerous and monomaniacal (hence CHAOS Gods). What do you get when you have growth without structure? Cancer. They have a hard time perceiving things outside their domain, as well as growing as individuals. They also have a hard time being consistent, because they have trouble doing things beyond "gets them more emotions to get high". As an example, Nurgle had the opportunity to develop as an individual beyond "the Preserver" when he rescued Isha, or when he experienced personal despair for the first time when she was rescued. But he rejected that opportunity, ironically because he is a god of stagnancy. It's not clear why the Old Ones allowed this. Perhaps, being the amoral space lizard wizards that they were, they planned to just turn gods off the in the event they became rampant. Likely they expected they would always be there to maintain their gods from a place of collective superiority.

The personality of the C'tan in many ways is a result of their initial reaction to the experience of getting physical bodies. Before the Necrontyr came along the C'tan were essentially Boltzmann brains on the level of space cows, only concerned with eating. In some ways they are a dark mirror to the "tabula rasa" experiment of the Emperor. Aza'gorod was the first C'tan to be given physical form. When he was "born" he had no equal except for the Old Ones, and therefore no one to push back against him and say no when he went too far. Is it any wonder he turned into a narcissistic sociopath who believes the world is all about him and his needs? When Mag'ladroth got a body he realized "holy shit, there is so much of reality I've been missing out on", and became enthralled with reality. Mephet'ran, due to being named after the Hermes/Thoth equivalent of a divine messenger in the half-forgotten Necrontyr pantheon, was implicitly trusted by the Necrontyr due to cultural background. He soon realized he could say just about anything and he could get away with it because they would believe him, and it spiraled out from there. [[Nyadra'zatha]] was a pyromaniac, plain and simple.

Tsara'noga was one of the last C'tan to get a physical body, and as a result was domineered by his older, more willful "siblings", rejected agency, and never developed much of a personality of his own. It's debatable whether Szarekh was able to convince the Outsider to turn on the other C'tan because the Outsider was merely obeying what someone else told him to do like he always did, or he it truly wanted to kill his siblings in revenge for always pushing him around and telling him what to do and just needed a pretense. In the former case, the Outsider doesn’t actually feel guilt, because it rejects agency in its actions, and it’s just the objections of the other C’tan that’s are disturbing it, if the latter, its madness is a mix of guilt for its fratricidal rampage and terror at its own dark intentions that drive it in its recursive denial (and the voices in its head).

== Tabletop Crunch ==

=== Imperial Army ===

NEW COMMANDING OFFICER OPTION
Psyker (3 points)

The regiment's commanding officer is some variety of skilled psyker. Though most commonly found in Cadian, Colchis or Tallarni regiments in the form of Eldar commanding officers, any world where psykers are sufficiently accepted might concievably have such a leader. As such, troops in these regiments quickly become familiar with the curious ways of the psyker and the tang of their powers, marching to war under orders borne of prognostication and assaulting enemy positions under literal covering fire.

Starting Skills: Psyniscience, Forbidden Lore: Psykers
Starting Talent: Warp Sense

=== Crone Eldar ===

==== Weaknesses of the Crone Eldar ====

As a faction, the primary weaknesses of the Crone Eldar are a lack of AP options and a reliance on fear and terror. Crone armies are heavily designed around tearing up light infantry and causing fear and terror. They eat factions like the [[Imperial Guard]] for breakfast. However, much like the [[Night Lords]], they run into the problem that a significant number of the armies running around the galaxy do not feel fear conventionally, including [[Space Marines]], [[tyranids]], [[Necrons]], and [[Orks]] (in the fluff, not so much in the crunch).

However, immunity to fear is not the biggest thing to worry about when running a Crone army. Armor-piercing is. From a thematic/fluff standpoint, Crone Eldar are bullies like Orks and Dark Eldar, and as a result they excel at fighting foes who are weaker than they are. The difference is that whereas [[Dark Eldar]] are hit and run attackers that run away when they hit a pocket of hard resistance the Crones bite back because they're a bunch of methheads, even though they're now out of their element. Additionally, while they are excellent at sowing fear and suffering, aside from the plotters like Lady Malys they often tend to not think far enough ahead to bring AP weapons. To the Crone Eldar killing your enemies in a pragmatic, straightforward manner that doesn't allow you to savor their screams of misery and despair sounds suspiciously like work. This makes Crone versus Space Marine matchups particularly hard, but again it makes sense with the fluff. The Crones perform well against conventional Imperium forces like Imperial Guard/Eldar Guardians and Tau Hunter Cadres as well as Orks, but while they struggle against Space Marines Astartes are much rarer in the galaxy, even accounting for greater numbers in this timeline.

That said the Crones do have options to deal with heavy armor, they just aren't as readily available as other factions. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#Phalanxes|Phalanxes]], [[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#Slaughtermen|Slaughtermen]] with AP rounds, and [[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#Meltheads|Meltheads]] on full blast are good options. [[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#Nightmares|Nightmares]] are an option, but all they can do is slug it out and bolters would make mincemeat out of them. The Crones also have access to nastier versions of D-weapons that teleport chunks of enemies into the Warp, and have much fewer reservations against using them than their Craftworlder or Commorrite kin for obvious reasons. However, these weapons are rarer than their fun torture toys. Against tanks or titans, the Crones like to use short range teleportation or other such methods to pop inside tanks and make them into cans of ground soldier. After several thousand years Imperial tank crews are pretty tough on the inside as well, but that wouldn't really discourage the Crones. Fluff-wise, the Crones will also compensate for their dearth of AP options by bringing in Fallen, summoning Daemons or bringing Daemon Engines, or manipulating Orks into acting as shock troops.

This is one good reason to bring [[Nobledark_Imperium_Forces_of_Chaos#Arrotyr.2C_Marshall_of_the_Scions_of_the_Old_Helm|Arrotyr]]. Arrotyr, as the holder of the largest collection of actually functional Old Empire weaponry, excels at killing enemy armor with superheated weaponry by melting enemies and the hills behind them with [[Melta|deathrays]], and if that fails attacking with demonic weapons of the Old Empire to carve up survivors. Arrotyr is the specialist tank-buster of the Crone Eldar.

Tl;dr: Crone Eldar, making AP values relevant again.

[[Category:Nobledark Imperium]]

Warhammer 40,000/9th Edition Tactics/Space Marines

2026-05-20T14:19:09Z

185.220.101.97: Replaced content with "{{cleanup}} {{Autism}} <div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">WE ARE THE SPEHSS MAHREENS! WE ARE THE EMPRA'S FUREH!</div> This is the current 9th Edition's Space Marine tactics. 8th Edition Tactics are here. ==Why Play Space Marines== The Emperor’s finest; the Space Marines; the Angels of Death; the warriors of the Adep..."

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<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[Indrick Boreale|WE ARE THE SPEHSS MAHREENS! WE ARE THE EMPRA'S FUREH!]]</div>

This is the current [[Warhammer_40,000/Tactics_(9E)|9th Edition's]] [[Space Marine]] tactics. [[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Space Marines(8E)|8th Edition Tactics are here.]]

==Why Play Space Marines==
The Emperor’s finest; the Space Marines; the Angels of Death; the warriors of the Adeptus Astartes go by many names, and all spell annihilation to the enemies of Mankind. Possessing terrifying speed, strength, and resilience, the Space Marines are genetically engineered super-soldiers whose humanity has been sacrificed so that they may unflinchingly stand against those who would see the Imperium fall. They go to war clad in nigh-impenetrable armour. They wield devastating weapons such as the bolt rifle, the chainsword and the lascannon. They can speed into battle in armoured tanks and gunships, drop from the skies on grav-chutes and jump packs, or even teleport directly into their enemies’ midst. Coupled with their unshakeable resolve, the strike forces of Adeptus Astartes are the most powerful and tactically flexible in the Imperium.

===Pros===
*Easy for beginners to play, the army is highly customizable with generally acceptable grades of viability.
*Your basic units are pretty well rounded and durable with strength 4, toughness 4, 3+ armor saves, and 2 wounds base.
*Space Marines are the iconic poster boy army of 40k, you're always going to be the first out of the gate with a new book and some new models every edition.
*You have a variety of useful psychic powers, many of which are flat-out buffs of other armies' powers.
*Loads of powerful characters to choose from, many of which have potent buffs to surrounding units.
*Units can do something of everything, with an answer to every situation.
*Many of your models are simple to paint with their solid colors and easily identified highlight areas - this makes painting your army very beginner friendly.

===Cons===
*Space Marines have the largest pool of units in the game, it can feel overwhelming when deciding what to take and many units seem redundant.
*As the most popular army by a long shot, most people build their armies with at least a few options for killing Space Marines present.
*GW releases new units with overpowered statlines at breakneck pace, which results in massive drain on both your time and your wallet. In the long term, this can cause hobby fatigue and/or feelings of resentment.
*The Elites slot is overcrowded.
*You will almost always be outnumbered, though [[Crimson Fists|some]] Chapter tactics make use of low model counts, and codex has some answers to this.
*Marines vs. Marines is grating and monotonous, which sucks since it's the most popular faction in the game.
*On that note: as the most popular army everyone makes sure to include anti-marine tech into any list they make, and as the most popular army odds are your opponent has piloted a marine force themselves and so knows your weaknesses and strengths better then you might a non marine army.
*[[Eradicator|Eradicators]] are stupidly overpowered and unquestionably [[cheese]]. Bring a squad or two at most - any more than that is firmly in [[That Guy]] territory.
*They are losing the versatility each unity had for more Eldarish specialized roles which is chipping away at their beginner friendliness.

===TL;DR===
* Space Marines sit at the middle of the spectrum between ranged and melee armies. They're fundamentally a shooty army, but on the spectrum of shooty troops they are the least fucked in melee. They don't have a lot of attacks, so the longer they stay in melee with melee specialists the worse it's going for them. Their durability comes at a points premium per unit, which underlines the Astartes' greatest nemesis: Hordes. Astartes aren't Custodes; their points premium doesn't make them so tough that they can shrug off an entire squad worth of knives and flashlights. The fluff may say an Astartes is worth a hundred men, but in their respective roles, guardsmen and boyz are more points economical. Playing Space Marines is not about playing to strengths... it's about playing to the enemy's weaknesses.

==Special Rules==

* Troops gain '''Objective Secured'''.
** As of the Q1 2023 Dataslate, they gain an additional ability where objectives they control at the end of your Command Phase remain under your control unless your opponent controls it at the ''end'' of any subsequent phase, regardless of whether or not you leave something in range to control it (e.g. if you're just out of range and the enemy charges you to put themselves in range, but you murder them during the Fight Phase so at the end of the phase nothing is in range again, it remains under your control). This means if your dudes start your turn camping a marker and are shot off it, it remains under your control - the enemy has to come control it to stop you - but simply taking control of a marker on your turn won't cut it (taking control on the enemy turn, e.g. via melee murder, will generally cut it).
* '''Company Command:''' Maximum 1 non-{{W40Kkeyword|chapter master}} {{W40kKeyword|Captain}} and/or 2 {{W40kKeyword|Lieutenant}}s per Detachment. [[Matthew Ward|Aka fuck you to homebrew chapters that have a non-Codex organisation]]... [[Derp|or even canon ones like the Space Wolves and Black Templars that have more than 2 "Lieutenants" per "Captain"]].
**Inexplicably, this rule doesn't apply to Company Champions or Company Ancients, even though Codex compliance demands exactly 1 per Company.
*'''Chapter Command:''' Most non-named Characters (i.e. all except Lieutenants and Judiciars) can have a Chapter Command upgrade for PL and points. Your army can only have one of each {{W40kKeyword|<Chapter>}} Command model and some named Characters already have the relevant keyword. Crusade forces cannot start with a non-named Chapter Command model.
** Using {{W40kKeyword|Ultramarines}} as an example, your army cannot have Marneus Calgar ''and'' an {{W40kKeyword|Ultramarines}} Captain upgraded to a Chapter Master in the same army. However, you can have an {{W40kKeyword|Ultramarines}} Chapter Master and a {{W40kKeyword|Salamanders}} Chapter Master in the same army.
**Much like the Company Command rule, this is a big "fuck you" to chapters that don't work this way: the [[Salamanders]] have ''three'' Masters of the Forge, while the [[Iron Hands]] Master of the Forge is ''also'' their Master of Sanctity. Meanwhile, the [[Space Wolves]] are even fuckier: [[Arjac Rockfist]], for example, is both a Lieutenant-equivalent and a Chapter Champion-equivalent at the same time.
* '''Combat Squads:''' Can split a single full-sized unit into two smaller units ''before'' deployment. Works just like it always has, but more unit types can do it (e.g. Centurions). While MSU is better, it does give Space Marines a unique way to circumvent the Rule of Three or Detachment Limits. Now they just need to have spammable units worth Combat Squadding, like Eradicators.
** With the introduction of Shock Assault (see below), it is worth considering the use of some of the older tactics, back when a Tactical Marine was worth more than just a bolter. One such tactic was to put your guns in one squad and your melee in another, using the ranged weapons to soften up a target, then the melee (basically a sergeant with either a power weapon or fist) to finish it off, or better yet, to tie up the target unit and finish it off (hopefully) during the opponent's turn, denying them a turn at shooting and forcing them to basically waste their melee on chaff. You can also put the sergeant in the ranged unit with a combi-weapon for a total of three bolters and two special weapons in one squad and a heavy weapon in the other for a makeshift Devastator Squad.
*'''Angels of Death:''' A rule owned by every Space Marines chapter whatever its colour, subdivided into four. Because GW likes to [[Derp|keep it simple]].
**'''And They Shall Know No Fear:''' When taking Combat Attrition tests, ignore all modifiers, meaning you don't care about being at half strength.
*** Don't take this as an excuse to let your Sergeant die first - failing Morale in the first place is much worse than being better at resisting Combat Attrition until you reach casualty rates your units generally won't be large enough to suffer to begin with.
**'''Bolter Discipline:''' Models using a rapid fire bolt weapon can double their number of shots (i.e. ''rapid-fire'') if at least one of the following conditions is met. They don't stack, so no triple or quadruple shots if you meet more than one condition. The conditions are:
*** The target is within the weapon's half range (normal rapid fire rules).
*** The model is {{W40kKeyword|Infantry}} (excluding {{WH40Kkeyword|Centurion}}s) and every model of its unit remained stationary during the previous Movement Phase. ''If a Devastator's Heavy Weapon Marine moves, the sergeant cannot use Bolter Discipline on his boltgun''.
**** This gives your Marines the option to commit to those objectives instead of having to get close to the enemy. Factions like Tau may have long-ranged small arms, but Space Marines can rapid fire from full range away.
*** The firing model is a {{WH40Kkeyword|Terminator}} or {{WH40Kkeyword|Biker}}.
**** This right here is the good shit. Footslogging Terminators now have a significantly improved threat capacity and Bikers are somehow even more deadly fast than they already were. Be aware it ''does not'' apply to Dreads or any other {{W40Kkeyword|vehicle}}.
**'''Shock Assault:''' If a unit with this rule charges, gets charged, or performs a Heroic Intervention, models in the unit gain +1A until the end of the turn (stacks with fighting twice, like with a stratagem, for +2A total).
*** Gives the generally lackluster melee of most Primaris infantry and chainsword Assault Marines a little bit of a boost. Killer on units with power weapons, like Terminators. Also means foes have to be a bit more careful about charging at Tacticals and such to tie them up, and that they can assist in melee in a pinch.
*** Remember that this ability is not {{W40kKeyword|Infantry}} exclusive; Dreadnoughts really appreciate the extra attack, and even your {{W40Kkeyword|Transport}}s can hit a little harder in the first round of combat (Space Marines bring a whole new meaning to road rage).
**'''Combat Doctrines:''' Feels like it's 7th edition all over again. Each of the three Combat Doctrines gives an AP-1 buff to different weapon types in your armies (non-cumulative with buffs from other sources). You have to use each Doctrine in order, starting with the Devastator Doctrine, and then can (it says must in the codex, but the Q1 2023 Dataslate made it optional) move through each Doctrine in order. Once you switch there's no going back, so pay attention to the rhythm of the game. Your ''army'' gains this if ''all units in it'' (aside from Agents of the Imperium) have this rule, meaning taking a Guardsman Battalion would prevent the Marine detachment from getting this rule, but allied Marine detachments are okay, even if they're from a different Chapter.
***Specialist Doctrines, from supplemental Chapter Codexes, stack with this. Bringing Chapters with different Specialist Doctrines prevents either Chapter from getting theirs, which encourages you to have a one-Chapter army.
***When the codex dropped, the doctrines were hard-locked to only triggering on certain turns. However, the Q1 2023 Dataslate made the transitions optional, meaning you can go back to spamming shit with the Devastator Doctrine.
**#On turn 1, your army will always start with the '''Devastator Doctrine''' turned on, giving all your heavy and grenade weapons the extra -1 AP so that you can soften entrenched {{W40Kkeyword|Infantry}} and cripple enemy {{W40Kkeyword|Vehicle}}s and {{W40Kkeyword|monster}}s from afar in preparation for your advance (the benefit to grenades generally won't come up unless you went second and got Alpha Struck). Remember the first points of AP are the most important ones: AP-2 heavy bolters and assault cannons are more noticeable than AP-4 lascannons. Do keep in mind that the plethora of sniper rifles and heavy flamers (incendium/inferno/flamestorm cannons) are heavy weapons.
**#If you spend the previous turn in Devastator Doctrine, you can switch to the '''Tactical Doctrine''' (meaning this is available from Turn 2 onward), shifting the boost to your rapid fire and assault weapons. Be it to close the distance to the enemy or because your vehicles are about to give their last, this mostly passes the ranged baton to your Infantry, and amusingly, your Rhinos and Drop Pods. Storm bolters and auto bolt rifles work wonders here.
**#If you spend the previous turn in Tactical Doctrine, you can switch to the '''Assault Doctrine''' (meaning this is available from Turn 3 onward) giving the extra AP to your pistol and melee attacks. Do remember to fire those pistols right before charging and during melee.
*'''Death From Above/Teleport Strike:''' Deep Strike by another name, most common on Jump Pack and Terminator models. Set them aside during deployment and set them up 9" from enemy models during the Reinforcement Step. The fact that they have different names actually does come up for Deathwatch, because you can get both into the same unit (which causes neither to work).
*'''Concealed Positions:''' Infiltrate by another name, most common on Scout and Phobos models. Set them up anywhere on the field 9" from enemy deployment zone or models during deployment.
*'''Outflank:''' Like Deep Strike, but must be wholly within 6" of a board edge and 9" from enemy models during the Reinforcement Step.
*'''Martial Legacy<sup>FW</sup>:''' Relic unit rules for certain Forge World models. If your army is battle-forged, each unit with this rule increases the cost of a detachment that includes it by 1CP. Essentially, you pay 1CP per Martial Legacy unit in your army.

===Chapter Tactics===
Chapter Tactics are special rules based on the {{W40Kkeyword|<Chapter>}} keyword that will affect '''every''' unit in a detachment except for {{WH40Kkeyword|servitors}} and {{WH40Kkeyword|Beast}}. To benefit from Chapter Tactics, your army must be battle-forged, and all units in the detachment must be drawn from the same {{W40Kkeyword|chapter}}. Super-Heavy Auxiliary Detachments also don't benefit from this, so if you want your Raven Guard Thunderhawks to get free cover, you need to take three. A reminder that {{W40Kkeyword|<chapter>}} Ultramarines is not the same faction as {{W40Kkeyword|<regiment>}} Ultramarines, even if both faction keywords are "{{W40Kkeyword|Ultramarines}}".

They are explored in greater detail in their respective section at the bottom of this page, but as a quick reminder of the GW and FW tactics and recommendations:

*'''Blood Angels - Red Thirst:''' Gains +1 to wound rolls when Shock Assault is active, gains +1 to advance and charge rolls.
**'''Flesh Tearers - Fury Within:''' Gains +1 to wound rolls when Shock Assault is active, unmodified wound rolls of 6 gain -1AP that is cumulative with the Assault Doctrine.
**Blood Angels have the successor tactic Hungry for Battle, and an ability not available as a Successor Tactic. Neither of the Flesh Tearers abilities are available as Successor Tactics.
*'''Dark Angels - Grim Resolve:''' Gains +1 to hit rolls unless this unit has moved (except pile-in or consolidation), automatically passes Combat Attrition Tests. The Jink and Inner Circle rules depend on this tactic to function, so they are:
**Jink (typically found on bikes and land speeders): Models in this unit have a 5++ invulnerable save against ranged attacks, which is lost if it Remains Stationary, until the following Movement phase; increases to 4++ if it Advances.
**Inner Circle (typically found on terminators, sometimes found on bikes, land speeders, and dreadnoughts):
***Each time a Morale test is taken for this unit, it is automatically passed.
***While this unit is within Engagement Range of any enemy {{W40Kkeyword|FALLEN}} units, unless this unit has the {{W40Kkeyword|VEHICLE}} keyword, this unit cannot be selected to Fall Back

Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Space Marine Legion List (30k)

2026-05-20T14:18:24Z

185.220.101.97:

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There is only war in the grim darkness of Warhammer...30,000?

[[Your Dudes|'''''You''''']] ''shall be my [[Sanguinius|finest]] [[Angron|warriors]], you [[Human|men]] who [[Lorgar|give of yourselves]] to [[The Emperor|Me]]. Like [[Green Stuff|clay]] I shall [[Gene Seed|mould]] you, and in the [[Great Crusade|furnace of war]] [[Vulkan|forge]] you. You will be of [[Lion El'Jonson|iron will]] and [[Ferrus Manus|steely muscle]]. In [[Power Armour|great]] [[Pauldrons|armour]] shall I [[Perturabo|clad]] you and with the [[Volkite|mightiest]] [[Bolter|guns]] will you be [[Fulgrim|armed]]. You will be [[Grey|untouched]] by [[Mortarion|plague or disease]], no [[Chaos|sickness]] will [[Magnus the Red|blight you]]. You will have [[Roboute Guilliman|tactics]], [[Alpharius|strategies]] and [[Jaghatai Khan|machines]] so that no [[Xenos|foe]] can best you in [[Wargame|battle]]. You are my [[Rogal Dorn|bulwark]] against the [[Konrad Curze|Terror]]. You are the [[Leman Russ|Defenders]] of [[Corvus Corax|Humanity]].'' [[Awesome|'''''You''''']] ''are my [[Space Marines]] [[Sanguinius|and you shall]] [[Horus Lupercal|know no fear]].''

This is the previous tactics page for the Legiones Astartes (HH 1.0). The current HH 2.0 tactics can be found [[Age_of_Darkness-Warhammer_30k/2.0_Tactics/Legiones_Astartes_Tactics| here]]

<sub>For the generals on how to play the game and the basics on listbuilding (as well as other tactica rules), you may want the [[Warhammer_40,000/7th Edition Tactics|'''index''']]. You may also find the Horus Heresy general thread as <b>"/HHG/"</b> on <b>[[/tg/]]</b>.</sub>

The latest FAQ can be found [https://whc-cdn.games-workshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Horus-Heresy-General-Errata-and-FAQ-v1.1-Final.pdf here] (February 2019)

Book 9 FAQ can be found [https://www.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Yu1jX3KELa5elqqS.pdf here] (March 2021)

==Why Play A Space Marine Legion==
[[File:Space Marine Legion.jpg|400px|thumbnail|right|Start at the bottom, and work until you're 75% of the way up.]]
Do you want to go back to the glory days when the [[God-Emperor of Mankind|Emperor]] wasn't bound to the Golden Throne? When even [[Thousand Sons|the smallest legion]] was the size of ''eighty'' or more [[Space Marine Chapter|chapters]]? When men were real men, women were real women, and eight-foot warrior monks were real eight-foot warrior <s>monks</s> [[Imperial Truth|atheists]]? Do you want to collect re-built, revamped [[Rogue Trader (sourcebook)|Rogue Trader]] models? Do you think the new edition's [[Primaris_Space_Marines|Primaris]] lore sucks ass and want to bring back the old glory days of [[Imperial Armour|the Badab War's]] flavour and model customization? Do you want [[Volkite|Martian Death Rays]] for your marines and transports that make the Land Raider and Thunderhawk look a little small? Do you want these armies to be led by a force no less than the [[Primarch]]s themselves? (and maybe, just maybe, the Emperor Himself, in the far distant future...). Do you think two kidneys are excessive and are happy to sell one to Forgeworld?

Well [[Forge World]] has heard your pleas and thanks to their [[Horus Heresy]] line you can reenact the greatest event in the history of the [[Imperium]] and wield the might of the Legions of old (at great expense).

A Space Marine Legion force works in a very different way from the chapters which superseded them:

*All the normal units you can take as compulsory troops in a Legion List have minimum unit sizes of 10, so MSU spam is impossible with this list. With the Heresy, you go big or go home.
*Units are pretty expensive initially, but adding more guys is much cheaper than it would be normally. So if the first 10 [[Tactical Squad|guys]] cost you 125 points the next 10 are only 10 points apiece. Thus you have an incentive to field big units. Additionally, upgrades like [[melta bomb]]s and [[jump pack]]s are sometimes bought for a set price for the squad, not per model, so bigger squads effectively get the extra ones for free. If you go for units of 20, you will have a substantial numerical advantage on the field, but also be less tactically flexible, vulnerable to movement and unit arrangement mistakes, unable to get inside most transport vehicles and potentially vulnerable to getting swept up by Angron or other Primarchs.
*We don't have <s>Chapter</s> Legion rules in our Dreadnoughts.
*The Legion forces ''do not have'' "And They Shall Know No Fear", so your marines won't auto-rally once broken. This can lose you a game if you forget about it; these Marines will fall back and keep falling back. This is particularly true in assault, where ''they will get wiped''.
**30K armies focus more on legion specific rules. The "Legiones Astartes" rule by itself is rather sparse, allowing you to regroup regardless of casualties, but it compensates by having the equivalent of '''Chapter Tactics on steroids'''. Differences between legion tactics are very noticeable, and get further supplemented by legion-specific Rites of War and units, so you have to take your enemy's modus operandi into account in your strategy. It's not entirely about making up for the lack of ATSKNF, but about opening interesting new strategies and ways of using space marines.
*Our Decurion equivalents are Rites of War and the alternate FOCs.
*Heresy Armies can have tanks, lots and lots of tanks. [[Land Raider]]s, [[Predator Tank|Predator]]s and artillery tanks come in squadrons of three. Dreadnought talons are 1-3 dreads or Contemptors that deploy together but then wander off separately and aren't a unit. The [[Spartan Assault Tank]] is a nasty heavy support choice, and just above that you get into the Lords of War, and things get really silly and titan-shaped. The 7E SM have caught up on the vehicle squadron bit, but you can still one-up them with access to rites enabling you to bring [[Black Templars|Land Raider DTs for all your dudes]], or using Predators as goddamned troops. Furthermore, most of these tanks can have Armoured Ceramite, so [[melta]] weapons won't work against them, leaving Fire Dragons and Melta vets crying.

The Legions are less flexible than their Chapter descendants (obviously), but they can soak up more damage than a Chapter and have the numbers to take a beating and still come on top, supported with with all their advanced pre-heresy tech like Volkite weaponry, Flare-Shielded Spartans and other esoteric systems allowing them to triumph against any foe, pre-or post-Heresy.

However, compared to other armies they'll have more squads, albeit smaller, so they'll be able to attack you from many different angles and go after objectives at the same time, while you're unable to kill them all and get outmaneuvered (like 40k marines vs <s>IG</s> everyone else, ''but worse''). Furthermore, the good stuff is expensive, so this army only really ''begins'' to shine after the 2000pts mark, and even then you'll have to make use of all the tricks you get, such as Rites of Wars and the like.

'''Tl;dr - you'll have to buy LOTS of stuff'''.

This means, unless you have a few thousand to drop on the army, there's little chance you'll play it outside of a proxy, but odds are you already have lots of marine models lying around, so [[Space_Marine_Legion_List_(30k)#Building_Your_Army|get creative with the green stuff]]! ''Remember to also shave off the Aquilas, if you're fielding a Traitor army!''. More recently, GW has made plastic versions of Heresy-era Marines, Terminators, and Contemptor Dreadnoughts, with plastic Spartan Assault Tanks, Deimos Rhinos, and Sicarans on the way as well. Really, at this point it seems likely that most of the common Legion models are going to make the jump to plastic at this point.

But screw all that, the Legion list is '''[[Awesome]]'''.

==The Age of Darkness==
===Organization and Using an Army in the Age of Darkness===
When 40K moved on to 8th edition with all the sweeping rule changes that accompany it, Forge World released its own Age of Darkness ruleset. The core rules are almost identical to 7th ed 40K, but with a few changes here or there, especially concerning the Force Organisation system. Its upcoming second edition looks like there's going to be further modifications to the ruleset, but since that's not out yet this section is still valid.
*Armies are composed using one of a small range of Force Org Charts, which are found in the AoD main rule book as well as various HH books. Note that none of these charts have ever appeared in regular 30K save for the basic "Crusade" FOC. In addition, formations and multiple detachments that formed the bread and butter of 7th edition are absent - although most armies have access to something similar, in the case of Legiones Astartes that would be Rites of War. In a sense, 30K is really a throwback to 5th or 6th edition in its army structures.
*Differing from later pre-8th 40K, only Troops and things with specific rules (like Implacable Advance) are Scoring units. So remember to stock up on tough and/or agile Troops and the ilk to take and hold objectives, and prepare to [[Grimdark|kill 'em all]] to claim any objective bogged down in enemies.
*The LoW slot is quite different from anything 40K, with several alternate choices beyond the standard superheavies. However, Lords of War may only be taken in games of at least 2000 points and any individual LoW choice may never cost more than 25% of the army's total points cost (e.g. in a 2000 point game, you can spend no more than 500 points on your LoW). These choices are as follows:
**The Primarch of the Legion which forms the Primary Detachment
**One Super-heavy Vehicle/Gargantuan Creature with 9 or more HP/Wounds
**1-2 Super-heavy Vehicles/Gargantuan Creatures with less than 8 HP/Wounds each, deployed as a single unit but treated as individual units afterwards
**1-3 Flyers with 3 or less HP each, treated as a single unit for deployment but splitting up after that
**A Fortification that costs more than 500 points, has a Strength D weapon, or both. Note that this is the only way to use Fortifications with Strength D weapons.
*Psykers face restrictions on Daemonology: only units with the Daemon type or someone with explicit access to it (i.e. Word Bearers) can cast the '''Malefic''' set of powers.
*Optional Destroyer rules can be found in HH Book 1: The Betrayal. ''Why weaken D weapons?'' Because there can be so many Superheavies that the game would be over in 2 turns. Destroyer weapons count as S10 with Instant Death, Ignores cover and rerolls invulnerable saves and penetration rolls, removing D3+1 wounds/hull points when unsaved. Overall increases the mean damage of D weapons (eg. the usual version might not kill Thanatars in one hit). Yes, this way they won't one-hit kill a superheavy, but also that marine won't survive simply because he hid from a Titan behind a rock.
*'''Choose your Allegiance:''' All armies (in fights set in the Heresy) must choose one of the two sides - Loyalist OR Traitor - tearing apart the Galaxy. Some units, rules and, most notably, characters are available only to one side (marked by the Aquila/Eye symbol) and you cannot mix them (eg: Loken cannot be with Abaddon)...unless you tell your opponent it's before Istvaan III, as in Early Crusade. Just don't try this playing against other Legions. To betray, or not to betray, that is the question.
**In games where both players are using an army with the same Allegiance, one of them will be treated as if they were fighting for the other allegiance for the purposes of that game (albeit without the normal restrictions that would otherwise apply). Similarly, neutral forces like Blackshields also need to choose an Allegiance for rules purposes.

====Force Organization Charts for the Age of Darkness (30k)====

'''<u>Crusade Force Organization Chart</u>'''

The well known vanilla FOC. Pretty balanced and allows the use of Rites of War, so you'll be using this one most of the time. It's also the one that can be used in all missions regardless of your opponent's consent.
*'''Compulsory:''' 1 HQ, 2 Troops
**'''Optional:''' +'''2''' HQ, +4 Troops, +'''4''' Elites, +3 Fast Attack, +3 Heavy Support, +1 Fortification, +1 Lord of War
*Allied Detachment available
*'''Compulsory:''' 1 HQ, 1 Troops
**'''Optional:''' +1 Troops, +1 Elites, +1 Fast Attacks, +1 Heavy Support

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'''<u>Optional Force Organization Charts</u>'''

There are several optional Force Org charts that you can use an alternative to the regular one.

Most of these are meant for [[Fluff|fun]] rather than [[Powergamer|competitiveness]]. Also, they're meant to play amongst the other 30k FOCs, this still isn't 40k: an extra Superheavy [[Warlord Battle Titan|sel]][[Primarchs|dom]] compensates for 40k's ATSKNF, Troop-wide Obsec and formations. Note that these charts do not allow the use of ***Rites of War***, as any specific tactical configurations are already represented by the charts themselves.

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'''<u>Onslaught Force Organization Chart</u>'''

The big guns. This FOC follows the creed that you don't need flexibility when you have surplus firepower. However, you still need to score so keep your reduced number of troops well protected.
*'''Compulsory:''' 1HQ, 1 Troops, '''1 Heavy Support'''
**'''Optional:''' +1HQ, +3 Troops, +4 Elites, +2 Fast Attack, +3 Heavy Support, '''+2 Lords of War'''
*Can't take Fortification or Allies
*'''Rolling Thunder:''' You always go second, unless you can seize the initiative. But you don't really care, you've brought your steam rollers to this fight.

'''<u>Castellan Force Organization Chart</u>'''

[[Magical_realm|Dare enter my Astartes Fortress?]] Now your legionnaires can [[A_Game_of_Pretend|pretend]] to be the IG. Luckily 30K's Forts are pretty mean things, like the ''I can't believe it's not a Titan!®'' Primus Redoubt, and having so many AP3 weapons around means sometimes you want a little roof over your marines' heads. The Imperial Fists would love this detachment. Iron Warriors would love ''TO DESTROY'' this detachment, presumably with the Onslaught detachment. Unless it's the [[Iron_Warriors#Iron_Cage|Iron Cage]] all over again.
*'''Compulsory:''' 1HQ, 3 Troops, '''1 Fortification'''
**'''Optional:''' +1HQ, +3 Troops, +2 Elites, +1 Fast Attack, +3 Heavy Support, '''+3 Fortification''', +1 Lord of War
*Allied Detachment available
**'''Compulsory:''' 1HQ, 1 Troops
**'''Optional:''' +1 Troops, +1 Elites, +1 Fast Attacks, +1 Heavy Support

'''<u>Leviathan Force Organization Chart</u>'''

This FOC is meant to [http://es.scribd.com/doc/147213864/m1180071-Space-Marines-Datasheet-Terminator-Titanhammer-Squads answer] the "I think my Titan can kill your whole army" bet. For obvious reasons, the 25% points limit on Lords of War is lifted for this FOC.
*'''Compulsory:''' 1 Leviathan Lord of War (Described later)
**'''Optional:''' +2 Lords of War
*Allied Detachment (Optional)
**'''Compulsory:''' 1HQ, 1 Troops
**'''Optional:''' +1 Troops, +1 Elites, +1 Fast Attacks, +1 Heavy Support.
*Can't take Fortifications
*'''The Leviathan Lord of War:''' What it says on the tin. He is now your Warlord, is scoring and gains the following Warlord Trait.
*'''Legendary Destroyer:''' The Warlord may fire Overwatch with weapons that AREN'T Primary Weapon or Blast. May Overwatch at different targets, but a single weapon may only Overwatch once per turn. Gains ''Monster Hunter'', ''Tank Hunter'' and makes enemies take Fear tests on 3D6 and pick the two lowest.
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'''<u>Mission Specific Force Organization Charts</u>'''

As a further addition to the optional Force Org charts, there are other charts which are specifically for particular missions in the Age of Darkness, such as the Strategic Raid or Cityfight scenarios designed for use in campaigns.

These aren't necessarily restricted to Legiones Astartes armies and can be used by any force in the Age of Darkness, but the same can be said of the "optional" ones listed above. However, these ones only have the restriction on Rites of War where it is specifically mentioned and require you to be playing certain missions.
Of course in those missions the other FOC may be used as well.

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'''<u>Strategic Raid: Raider Detachment</u>'''

Favouring a fast, hard-hitting play-style using expensive units, can only be taken in missions where one player is designated as an attacker.
*'''Compulsory:''' 1HQ, 2 Elites
**'''Optional:''' +2HQ, +4 Troops, +4 Elites, +4 Fast Attack, +2 Heavy Support, +1 Lord of War
*Allied Detachment available
*'''Compulsory:''' 1HQ, 1 Troops
**'''Optional:''' +1 Troops, +1 Elites, +1 Fast Attacks, +1 Heavy Support
*'''Fast Moving, Hard Hitting:''' If a Lord of War is taken, it can only by either a Super-heavy (Fast) vehicle, or a Super-heavy vehicle/walker with six or '''less''' hull points, or a Super-heavy flyer. [[What|That means you can't take a Primarch.]].
**'''ALSO''' This rule makes your Elite units into scoring units, at a cost of making your Troops units into denial units only.
*'''The Element of Surprise:''' You can select one option before the game begins:
**Cause Night Fight automatically on turn one, continuing on turn two on a 4+.
**Grant D3+2 of your units the ''Outflank'' and ''Infiltrate''' rules.
**May re-roll the dice to determine who takes first turn, and also can seize the initiative on a 4+

'''<u>Strategic Raid: Garrison Detachment</u>

Similar to the planetstrike defender, providing a lot of stationary firepower and several fortifications. Plus the ability to move objective markers before the game starts, inevitably for your own benefit.
*'''Compulsory:''' 1HQ, 2 Troops
**'''Optional:''' +2HQ, +4 Troops, +2 Elites, +2 Fast Attack, +4 Heavy Support, +3 Fortifications, +1 Lord of War
*Allied Detachment available
*'''Compulsory:''' 1HQ, 1 Troops
**'''Optional:''' +1 Troops, +1 Elites, +1 Fast Attacks, +1 Heavy Support
*'''Prepared Ground:''' Before the first turn begins, the player may reposition any and all objective markers up to 6" from their original positions, as long as they are not in impassable terrain, buildings or in vehicles.
*'''Fortress-Bound:''' All fortifications with battlements or a transport capacity '''must''' start the game being occupied by at least one infantry unit from the same detachment.

'''<u>Cityfight: Incursion Force</u>'''

Representing a small incursion force, there are not many options available here. But can be really good in small point games.
*'''Compulsory:''' 1HQ, 2 Troops, 1 Heavy Support
**'''Optional:''' 1, Troop, 1 Elite, 1 Fast Attack, 1 Lord of War
*Allied Detachment available
*'''Compulsory:''' 1HQ, 1 Troops
**'''Optional:''' +1 Troops, +1 Elites, +1 Fast Attacks, +1 Heavy Support
*'''Restrictions:''' You cannot use a Rite of War with this detachment.
*'''Objective Secured:''' Your Troops units have ObSec.
*'''Close Coordination:''' Your units gain ''Interceptor'' against incoming infantry units, so long as they are within 6" of a vehicle from the same detachment.

'''<u>Cityfight: Entrenched Force</u>'''

Another defender type chart, with several fortifications available, the ability to use a Rite of War ''and'' gain Objective Secured.
*'''Compulsory:''' 1HQ, 2 Troops, 1 Heavy Support
**'''Optional:''' +4 Troops, +2 Elites, +1 Fast Attack, +2 Heavy Support, +3 Fortifications, +1 Lord of War
*Allied Detachment available
*'''Compulsory:''' 1HQ, 1 Troops
**'''Optional:''' +1 Troops, +1 Elites, +1 Fast Attacks, +1 Heavy Support
*'''Restrictions:''' Your compulsory Heavy Support units must be of the Infantry type.
*'''Objective Secured:''' Just like the attackers, you get ObSec for your Troops units.
*'''Entrenched:''' For the first game turn, your units gain +1 to cover saves granted by ruins, craters, defence lines and fortifications.

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===Legion Warlord traits===
The Age of Darkness rulebook includes the Command, Personal, and Strategic Traits tables from [[Warhammer 40,000 7th edition#New rulebook warlord traits|7th Edition]], and the Legiones Astartes Army List adds a Marine-exclusive one:

# '''Bloody Handed:''' The Warlord and any attached Legiones Astartes cause ''FEAR''. Nice, since only three legions are fear-resistant. Due to WS6, watch as you are only hit ''on a 5+''. This is the only chance your Nameless Praetor has against Named characters...but many are Ld10, so they'll need to roll a 11+ to fail the test; don't rely on this.
# '''Master Tactician:''' After both have deployed, but before the 1st turn, you may redeploy, or even move one unit from/to reserve. ''Good for repositioning your artillery/immobile units and to mess with your enemy's scouts/infiltrators. Better if the thing you put in reserve has Outflank or Deep Strike''.
# '''World Burner:''' Nominate D3 units from your Primary Detachment. Their Blast and Template weapons gain Shred. ''Awesome on Heavy Support Squads, Seekers and artillery. Shredding Phosphex Rapiers anyone?''
# '''Paladin of Glory:''' Hello Astartes. Look at your Praetor, now back to [[Kharn|me]], now back at your Praetor, ''now back to [[Abaddon|me]]''. Sadly, he isn't [[Sevatar|me]], but if he became a Paladin of Glory, he could be ''Fearless'' like he's [[Sigismund|me]]. Look down, back up. Where are you? You're in close combat, ''adding +1 to the combat score of every unit 6" around you''. Anything is possible when your Praetor is a Paladin of Glory. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE| I'm on a Spartan assault tank].
# '''Void Walker:''' Your Praetor gains Adamantium Will and one unit can Deep strike. ''Nice for teleporting your Terminator squad without needing the Orbital Assault RoW.''
# '''Child of Terra:''' He and any attached unit rerolls failed To-Wounds of 1, World Eater style. ''Combine it with [[Chaplain|some means of re-rolling To-Hits]] so that you've got almost guaranteed wounds.''

===Rites of War===

Rites of War can only be taken if you have a "'''Master of the Legion'''" in your army ''(Praetor, Delegatus, Herald, Primarch and several special characters)''. They change how your army functions in a key way. Although all of them give considerable bonuses to your army, they also come with their own restrictions and drawbacks, so think carefully about which Rite of War you want to take, if any. Individual legions have their own exclusive RoWs listed in their respective sections, and in a similar vein some RoWs are exclusive to Loyalists or Traitors.
The FAQ says that taking Rites of War in an allied detachment is allowed, but it's usually not possible as you can only take one model with the Master of the Legion rule per 1000 points ''(assuming you took one in your Primary Detachment)'' and you still need to abide by any restrictions; especially when they only apply to Primary detachments, require your Warlord to be present in the detachment, or prevent you from taking allies outright. However there are some Rites out there that can be taken and do work surprisingly well.

*'''Angel's Wrath:''' Everything with a Jump pack gets ''Hit & Run'', and any unit eligible to take a Rhino can be put in a Storm Eagle instead. In addition, Storm Eagles and Fire Raptors get Strafing Run [[Fail|''(though Fire Raptors already have it)'']]. However, only flying units (read: Jump Infantry, Skimmers, Jetbikes, and Infantry inside Flyers or Skimmers) can be taken, you can't take any tanks (unless [[Caestus_Assault_Ram|it's also a Flyer]]/Skimmer, so no non-spikey Drop Pods) and you can't take any Fortifications.
**Can work due to most lists only fielding around 2 AA options. You're taking this mainly because of [[Awesome|Storm Eagle DTs]], which can withstand more heat than your average flyer, pack lots of maneuverable firepower and solve the issue of 20-man footslogger squads. Hit & Run synergises very well with Destroyers and everyone with access to Rad grenades or other charge bonuses.
**You may take allies, or be an allied detachment, if you've got a few assault squads laying around that don't legally fit into your main detachment.

*'''Armoured Spearhead:''' '''Panzer sind die Besten in der Galaxie''' Units that could take Rhinos can take [[Land Raider]] Phobos or Proteus instead if they number 10 models or less, and your Tank Shock attacks impose an additional -1 Ld penalty. However, all Infantry units ''must'' be in a transport, and if all your tanks are destroyed, your enemy counts as having scored a secondary objective. Again, you can't take any Fortifications.
**When playing against a Heresy list, most players wonder 'How am I going to crack open an Armoured Ceramite'd LR?'. And now you have a [[That guy|whole army]] of them. And the 11% increase in Tank Shock success will be noticed. Just remember Melta bombs ignore Armoured Ceramite, so don't be overconfident.

*'''Orbital Assault:''' Every unit that can take a Rhino as a Dedicated Transport can instead take a Legion or Dreadclaw Drop Pod. Dreadnought and Contemptor Dreadnought talons must take as many Drop Pods as their are in the talons and must enter play together and must deploy like a normal talon, with Boxnoughts accessing Dreadclaws and Legion Drop Pods and Contemptors accessing Dreadclaws and Dread Drop Pods. Legion Rapier Weapon Battery must take Legion Drop Pods. Also, you can now put Deathstorm Drop Pods in your Fast Attack slots, and your [[Terminator]]s can Deep Strike like in 40k! However, everyone ''must'' be able to Deep Strike (either by having the rule or by being deployed inside a transport that has it), and you can't take any fortifications.
**RAW you don't need to have everyone Deep Strike. The rules say that units must either have the Deep Strike rule or have access to a transport that has the Deep Strike rule, and that if a unit purchased a dedicated transport then it must begin the game deployed inside it. Do remember Flyer DTs still start the game in reserves, though.
**This is also one of the few ROWs that can be taken in an Allied detachment so feel free to go nuts with Deep-Striking elites into key positions to complement your [[Solar Auxilia]]/Militia gunlines or Mechanicum heavies that lack mobility around the board.

*'''Pride of the Legion:''' Veterans and Terminators (including Legion-specific Elite Terminators) become ''compulsory'' Troops, and Command Squads can take a Land Raider Phobos or Proteus. However, if all Veteran and Terminator squads are destroyed, the enemy counts as having scored an additional secondary objective (worth 2 VPs), and you can't take an allied detachment. This is the only one that allows a fortification...but you have Terminator troops, so you don't really care. Plus, at least half of your units must have the Legiones Astartes rule.
**''Quite nice for 30K-newcomers, since you can have a relatively small (and thus $cheap) army of veterans with flexible weapon load-outs, and can easily proxy in your 40K marines with a variety of options without requiring huge squads all with the same equipment. Not to mention you can fill the table with LRs just like in Armoured Spearhead''.

*'''Armoured Breakthrough''' '''BLITZKRIEG!!!!!!!!!!!!!''' Predator squadrons with Autocannon turrets become your Compulsory Troops, Sicarans become Elites, one of either can be taken as a HQ (gaining Super-heavy Command Tank and +1 BS as its Warlord trait and counts as having Master of the Legion for this RoW only), and if your dick isn't fully erect then Tanks with 3 or fewer HP gain Fast. However, all '''''infantry''''' that can do so must purchase a dedicated transport with the "Tank" type. If you can't buy a DT ''(like lone HQ choices)'' then you must still purchase or join someone else's tank to deploy in (so your choices for transports are limited to Rhinos, Land Raiders of all stripes, and the [[Caestus Assault Ram]]), no immobile units and no more flyers and skimmers than tanks.
**''This is one of the few Rites of War that allows allies, and in fact it is really easy to use as a cheap allied detachment as you are only compelled to use Autocannon Predators in your compulsory Troops slot. So you can have a legit allied detachment with two Predators. On the flip side, if you ever wanted to field <u>27 Predators</u>, 18 of which are scoring, this RoW is for you. Additional battle tanks for your primary detachment.''
**If you have played Blood Angels, you know how potent Fast vehicles can be. With the Predator autocannon having 4 shots in the Heresy era, a squadron of Troops Predators with HB sponsons can spit out up to 12 Autocannon shots and 18 Heavy Bolter shots at full BS after moving 6 inches or two-thirds that amount after moving 12, all for 285 points, compared to 250ish points of Legion Heavy Support squads for the same amount of firepower with much less mobility and resilience, while Lascannon Predators can give Sicarans a run for their money (move 12, shoot two Lascannons at full BS and snap fire 4 shots of autocannons). This is before we get to the era-exclusive stuff like Laser Destroyer Vindicators or Plasma/Melta/Flamestorm Predator turrets, but saving points and just going for more bodies/chasses with more bare-bones troop Predators is always an option.
**Bear in mind that while all vehicles with 3 HP or fewer gain Fast (basically anything smaller than a Land Raider), not all vehicles can take advantage of this easily. Vehicles like Predators with Conversion Beamers or Vindicator Laser Destroyers must be stationary to unlock their true potential, while artillery tanks like Medusas typically would be firing one gun anyway. However, the Fast USR does allow these vehicles to reposition more easily as they still allow firing at full BS after moving at Cruising speed, so utilise this to your advantage accordingly if you were going to take these tanks anyway.
**While it may be tempting to put all the era-exclusive Predator turrets on your Fast tanks, remember that Predators taken as Troops can only use the default Predator Autocannon, meaning you can't have a Flamestorm Cannon or Plasma Cannon squat on objectives, but it does force you to keep your troop choices cheap. You can still load up on Predators in your Heavy Support slots but think about whether you want specialised units like Artillery Squadrons, Sicaran Venators, and Vindicators competing for slots with something you could have taken as Troops.
**Blood Angels players can now replicate Baal Predators with (made in China) Assault Cannon turrets and sponsons on a Fast tank!

*'''Primarch's Chosen:''' ''aka Pride of the Legion - Electric Boogaloo''. Your Primarch of choice becomes an HQ (removing the 25% points rule but the Price of Failure is still in effect) and Vets and Legion Termies ([[RAW|vanilla only]]) must be compulsory troops; however, if the Primarch is slain all units in your detachment stop being scoring, the number of units with the LA rule must be more than the number of units without, and no LoWs allowed. ''Useful for those times you want to bring a Primarch without the added HQ tax, in a [[Zone Mortalis]] mission, or with just a bunch of support officers.'' But remember that if he dies you won't be able to win by holding objectives. Do not also forget about secondary objectives like First Blood or Attrition (you can still deny the enemy their objectives, no need to be scoring), while some LA (namely Dark Angels) can award winning points without scoring units. You're probably fucked if you failed badly enough to get your Primarch defeated though.

*'''Brethren of Iron:''' It lets you take Castellax Battle Automata maniples as non-compulsory troops, Vorax as non compulsory FA and Domitar as non compulsory Elite. Techmarines can buy Cortex controllers at 15 pts and you must have one model equipped with a Cortex controller per each 3 Battle-automata units, of which there can't be more than LA units and can't buy Paragon of Metal. A Forge Lord (or Iron Father/Warsmith) becomes the compulsory HQ (besides the one with MotL), and the only consuls you can take are either Forge Lords or Praevians.
**Given how Iron Fathers and Warsmiths count as Forge Lords while having ''Master of the Legion'', they can take this RoW on their own in an allied detachment. Though at that point, one wonders why not take Legio Cybernetica instead.
**Although not advertised as part of the Rite, you can take 1 Thallax HS squad per Cortex controller.

*'''Fury of the Ancients:''' Contemptors and Boxnoughts become compulsory troops, you must bring both a Forge Lord ''and'' a Primus Medicae, you cannot seize the initiative, can't bring neither allies nor fortifications, and dreadnoughts give up an additional VP when killed. [[Fail|EACH]]. ''It lets you bring a billion dreads, but <u>at what cost</u>?''.
**Let's be honest here, this is the most useless RoW in the game. Given you can take '''27'''' Dreads in a normal list (3 in each Elites, 5 in each HQ), it's also irrelevant.

*'''Legion Recon Company:''' Legion recon squads become compulsory troops and you can re-roll first turn and seize the initiative and anyone scouting or infiltrating get shrouded. However any heavy support units ([[derp|but not LoW]]) must start in reserve, you must have an additional troop which must be a recon squad and no termies allowed. Anything that scouts or infiltrates gets shrouded for a turn, which works very well with Legions like Raven Guard (their infantry get infiltrate, and ICs can buy camo for a 4+ in the open, making this RoW arguably better than the legion-specific ones), Alpha Legion (everything with LA can get infiltrate or scout or both), Night Lords (Terror Squads can infiltrate, all NLs start the game in 5+ pseudo-cover which stacks with shrouded, so they are in 3+ even out in the open and finally White Scars (who get +1 to seize the initiative, and the Khan gives everyone scout). The newest FW FaQ also gives Sevatar both variants of the Master of Ambush WD trait, so himself and 3 non-vehicle units gain Infiltrate, and acute senses to any outflanking).
**Because "Effects" ''(but not Limitations)'' of Rites of War do not carry across detachments, you could take this as an Allied detachment, requiring just one Recon squad in the Primary Detachment as per limitation ''(but none in the Allied detachment itself([[skub]], see below)'' yet still get your Seize reroll and Shrouded bonus to infiltrating allies such as AL/RG/NL.
** Another example of bad wording. ''Compulsory troops'' in any other RoW mean you must take them as Troops, no ifs or buts (Pride of the Legion, for example). In Recon Company, however, it's not said "one additional compulsory troops choice", but an additional troops choice that must be a Recon Squad. The wording is also different from Ultrasmurfs RoW. Some common sense is required here: it is generally accepted that ''Recon Company'' with 5 Recon marines is stupid, so you will need 3 squads of them. This seems to have been seconded by Forgeworld in an email response, so triple recon it is.

*'''[[Zone Mortalis]] Assault Force:''' Vanilla Terminators become non-compulsory troops, one vanilla Terminator squad can deep strike, and if playing a Zone Mortalis game Legion Breacher Squads whose members are all in BtB contact who aren't fleeing or pinned gain a +1 to their invulnerable save. However, no unit can have more than 15 models, no vehicles besides walkers can be taken, and no super-heavies are allowed. Given that this is meant to be used in ZM games, you'd be operating under similar restrictions anyway so the downsides are pretty much irrelevant.
**[[Derp|Lacks any form of restriction on Bikes. White Scars eat your heart out.]]

*'''Sky Hunter Phalanx:''' Jetbike squads become troops, and all jetbikes can leave the table in their movement phase to be placed into Ongoing Reserves, where they gain ''Outflank''. However, only Skimmer and Flyer-type vehicles are allowed, no fortifications or allies are allowed, and all infantry must either be transported in a flyer, otherwise only Jetbikes can be taken. Good for legions that want to take lots of jetbikes or have good reserve shenanigans like the Sons of Horus, though Dark Angels and White Scars are better suited to their own legion-specific version of this RoW.

*'''Drop Assault Vanguard:''' Half of the detachment's Assault Squads must enter play via deep striking, and they can all be deployed at once on the beginning of the user's first turn. In the player turn after that, enemy models within 12" can only fire Snap Shots against them and all jump infantry in the second turn gain ''Hit and Run''. However, the only compulsory troops allowed are Assault Squads, no immobile units can be taken, no allies or fortifications are allowed, and only units that can Deep Strike or embark on a Flying Transport can be taken. <s>Best used with melee legions like the Blood Angels to give Sanguinius and his Dawnbreakers ''Hit & Run'', or with characters like Eidolon that excel in jump pack based lists.</s> The Benefits of this Rite '''ONLY''' apply to the assault vanguard, i.e. half or more of your assault marine squads, so other jump pack units (including ICs that aren't attached to assault squads) won't benefit.

*'''Sacrificial Offering:''' A Traitor-only RoW that requires an Allied detachment of Imperialis Militia/Warp Cults to function. The latter is initially deployed, while the entirety of the primary detachment remains in reserve (where they gain Outflank). To compensate, the Allied detachment gains Stubborn while in its own deployment zone and none of its units yield VPs for being destroyed. However, the army must take a fortification, and the primary detachment can't take anything that can Deep Strike or has the Immobile or Slow and Purposeful rules.
**Having your entire Astartes detachment in reserve is a big hindrance, especially if your opponent can mess with your reserve rolls. Having no ability to Deep Strike also stings so taking transport vehicles is a must for getting them back to the center of the table when they eventually arrive. Just remember you don't ''have'' to Outflank and can come on from your normal board edge. You also have to be careful that your squishy militia don't get tabled while you wait for the marines to arrive piecemeal. Thankfully, fortifications can help to protect your dudes and provide some consistent cover while you draw the enemy in, not to mention help improve your reserves.

*'''Outcast Sons:''' A RoW exclusively for [[Heresy|Traitor elements of a Loyalist Legion]]. All characters in the detachment must always issue challenges to/accept challenges from characters with the Legiones Astartes rule, and gain Preferred Enemy (Legiones Astartes) while in a challenge. Additionally, they can re-roll Sweeping Advances against anyone with the LA rule and D3 (rolled after infiltrations) units gain Scout if the enemy army's Warlord is from the same legion as their own Warlord. However, it can never have more Elites than Troops, cannot take choices specific to Loyalist armies, and count all Allies as "By the Warmaster's Command" even if the Allies Matrix says otherwise. ''Some legions will benefit from this more than others (seriously, Imperial Fists using this Rite gain next to nothing<s>, as it should be</s>).''

*'''Orphans of Betrayal:''' The flip side of Outcast Sons, for [[Traitor Legion Loyalists|Loyalist elements of a Traitor Legion]]. Instead of gaining PE, characters in a challenge gain FnP(4+), all models gain Hatred against enemy armies with the same Legion-specific LA rule as they do, and if their Legion's Primarch is present in the enemy army they're immune to Fear caused by said Primarch (which is hilarious with loyalist NL vs Curze). However, they can't ally with Space Marines, lose Traitor-only options, can't take fortifications, and can't have more HS choices than Troops choices. ''Again, the usefulness of this depends on which legion you bring. Word Bearers are technically eligible for the Orphans of Betrayal Rite of War (and are included within it), but you'll probably want to discuss that with your opponent first, out of politeness rather than legality.''

==Pre-Heresy Technology==
The Legions had a lot of toys which were lost after the Heresy, alongside older patterns of current tech, which are subsequently not available for 40K games. (Differences between still existing tech, like Combat shields, are explained in the tabletop because of different ruling between Forge World and Games Workshop)

===Relics===
Relics are powerful items, products of mankind's golden age. You can buy only one of each per army, and only for a non-unique IC, so no cloaking array for Typhon or something.

The January 2016 FAQ states that relics are intended for campaign use, and should not be considered part of the regular army list unless you seek your opponent's approval first. This pretty much takes a lot of the cheese out of certain combinations.

In a campaign you're only allowed one character with a relic, which you'll be stuck with for the rest of the campaign, so be sure of your decision. If the relic bearer is killed, the side that killed him can choose to play a Relic Hunt mission, where the winner steals (or recovers) the relic, even if it's a Legion specific one, but a Draw means that relic is effectively lost for everyone. Still, you can always opt to play a 'Relic Hunt' mission at the beginning of every campaign phase to [[Blood_Ravens|acquire]] FREE relics, where your war zone-assigned character must be deployed. That way you can [[Adeptus_Mechanicus|hoard up]] on relics, even getting duplicates of the non-faction-specific ones, by rolling a D6 on the 'Relic Uncovered' table below.

*'''Nanyte Blaster:''' The grey goo gun of uncontrolled carnage!!! It's a S5 AP2 Fleshbane weapon, where if it kills anyone you centre a large blast over the dead model on a die roll of 4+, causing a S5 AP2 hit to those underneath it. Unlike Volkite, each model who dies to this can cause ''yet MOAR'' large blasts on further rolls of a 4+. All you need to do is get one casualty and you can wipe out an entire unit! Smashing! [[Tales of Fail#Nanyte Blaster fun|Just be careful where you point that thing.]]
*'''Warp Shunt Field:''' 3++ against shooting, however for every save of a 6+ (against direct fire weapons) the shooting unit suffers D6 S5 hits. This is the only risk-free defensive relic.
*'''Phase Walker:''' Each moving phase, instead of moving you may place the bearer anywhere you like, counting as having just deep struck but with no scatter. If you move through a solid object you have to take a dangerous terrain check for EACH solid object you went through (including all models) so be wary of abusing it in city scenarios. If your dude also has Move through Cover, then feel free to abuse it. This works well for solo characters (ie: Moritat) since he can't move with his unit.
*'''Combat Augment Array:''' Once per game, at the beginning of any of the controller's player turn, he may count any '''single''' die (only 1) rolled as an automatic 6 (Emails from FW confirm). However, he must also pass Toughness tests for each remaining wound. If he fails he suffers a wound with no saves or mitigating FnP rolls of any kind. A cyber familiar can mitigate the danger by granting a re-roll on the Forge Lord's tests; you'll only need it once, but also only have 2 HP. However, you're paying 35pts for '''one''' guaranteed 6 - better take a Paragon blade with your Praetor and make it count.
*'''Cloaking Array:''' Once per game, at the ''beginning'' of ANY game turn you may make yourself invisible for that whole game turn (ie. on the 3rd turn both in your and your opponent's turn, thus starting on your enemy's turn if he goes first). You cannot be shot or charged at unless the enemy unit contains psykers or daemons, in which case the array immediately shuts down (so now ''everyone'' can hit you, not just the previous two). Unfortunately you cannot activate it while attached to a squad or if engaged in close combat already. You also cannot shoot, assault, move or ''do anything at all'' - Can't even perform actions that don't count as shooting, like Bombardment attacks. So your model stands on the same spot invisible but doing nothing during a whole game turn. Note that characteristics remain active and can actually perform actions that don't need to be declared - for example, an invisible Paladin of Glory Forgelord with a Nuncio vox is still granting +1 to the wound score of those nearby and artillery can still draw LoS from him. By its nature it benefits ranged, lone characters (Vigilators, Moritats) more than melee ones (Chaplains, Praetors). There are relics easier to use than this one, though - very situational and LOTS of limitations.
**This relic is more useful when you go second: You could deepstrike your Moritat and Chain Fire. When your enemy's turn comes around (and thus it's the beginning of a new game turn) activate the cloaking array and survive that turn. It's your turn again - move towards your Moritat's position while he cant do anything and his guns cool down. Hopefully you managed to rescue your Moritat, or else your enemy will kill a lonely 135+ pts model in his turn (and thus the relic is lost as read previously), so deepstrike him with utmost care. Or don't deepstrike him: keep your troops near, hide your dude in your enemy's turn and save yourself the trouble of mounting a rescue mission - this is the easiest way of using this relic.
*'''Void Shield Harness:''' Yep. You can get a void shield for your dude. It's a large blast-sized shield, centered on your dude but protecting anyone that fits inside. Glancing, Penetrating and Destroyer hits will collapse the shield, but it can be restored at the end of your turn on a 5+, and with AV12 you'll be immune to most small arms fire. However, a result of Explodes! will overload the shield, disabling it for the rest of the game and placing a S6 AP4 Large Blast template centered on the bearer, so ''keep meltaguns away'' from it (or deepstrike some of your own to watch some enemy-HQ-flavored fireworks). You could use it to protect a Praetor and his command squad, but of course, it's best used on an unkillable magos inside of an unkillable mech raider, assuming you are going for maximum trolling (and really, who isn't?).

Each Legion also has its own specific relic that can't be found in a relic hunt mission. Look in the relevant legion's section for more.

====Psyarkana====
An expanded set of Relics, added in Malevolence. Many of these can only be taken by specific units, which may not always be characters.

*'''Null-amp Collar''': Usable by psyker Praetors, Librarians, and Esoterists. User can attempt to Deny the Witch when its unit or any other unit within 12" (including enemies) is targeted by a psychic power; if it fails the power will go off but will not affect the user. However, it reduces the user's Initiative by 1, give them an unwieldy weapon like a Force Axe and this shouldn't matter
*'''Empyreal Lance''': Usable by Praetors and Champions. Melee specialist weapon with S+1 AP4, which rises to S+2 AP2 against any type of psyker or daemon. Additionally, it has Psy-Lash, which causes psykers who take an unsaved wound to suffer Perils of the Warp.
*'''Armatus Necrotechnica''': Usable by tanks. When any unit within 6" of the user suffers a casualty, the user can recover a hull point on a 6. It also reduces the Ld of any nearby units (including allies) by 1.
*'''Corpus Mymir''': Usable by Praetors, Magos Primes, and Magos Dominuses. Can be activated in any of the user's Psychic Phases to perform a psychic power on the user; its exact effect is based on a d6 roll:
**'''1''': Misfortune
**'''2''': Foreboding
**'''3''': Precognition
**'''4''': Perfect Timing
**'''5''': Shroud
**'''6''': Self-destructs, becoming unusable for the rest of the battle and dealing a S3 AP2 Fleshbane hit to all models within 3".
*'''Psi-Resonant Pentacle''': Usable by any IC that can take a refractor field or Iron Halo. Grants a 5++ invulnerable save and forces all psykers and daemons locked in combat with the user to be reduced to I1.
*'''The Ever-Changing Axiom''': Usable by Praetors, Archmagos Primes, and Lords Marshal. Can be triggered in the Fight sub-phase at initiative step 1; when used roll a d3 and then place either a number of small blast markers equal to the number rolled with the center of each marker within 6" of the user (if a 1 or 2 was rolled) or 3 small blast markers centered on the user (if a 3 was rolled). These blasts will not scatter and all models hit by them take a single S8 AP2 hit.
*'''Transvectic Generators''': Usable by any Librarian, Esoterist, Moritat, Diabolist, or Saboteur who does not have a jump pack or jetbike. Can teleport 18" instead of moving normally, which is treated as using a jump pack for the purposes of movement. However, they must then roll a d6, with a 1 acting as if they had gotten the Dragged into the Warp result of Perils while also causing any models within 3" to take d6 S6 AP1 hits.
*'''Aetherkine Projector''': Usable by psyker Praetors, Librarians, and Esoterists. Acts like a Witchfire power whose stats are based on the number of Warp Charges allocated to it from the user's Warp Charge pool. Base stats at minimum WC2 are Assault 2 12" S3 AP2, with each extra Warp Charge (up to a max of 4) adding one more shot, 6" more range, and 2 more points of Strength. However, any hit roll of 1 triggers Perils of the Warp on the user.
*'''Terminal Lucidity Injectors''': Usable by any IC. When the user loses its last wound, it may either make one last shooting attack (if killed during the psychic or shooting phase) targeting its killer (or if that's not possible, the nearest enemy unit) or one last Pile In and attack even if it has already fought (if killed in the fight sub-phase).
*'''Empath Bonds''': Usable by any pair of psyker ICs with the Legiones Astartes rule and are in the same detachment. Both the users get Eternal Warrior as long as they're both alive (this is lost if one of them is killed by anything other than Perils), and if one of them loses a wound and is in line of sight to the other user, the second user can absorb the wound on a 3+ at the risk of both of them taking a wound on a 1. However, if one of the users suffers Perils of the Warp the other user will suffer the same result as the first one. ''Make your Thousand Sons Praetor completely indestructible, at least as long as he and his buddy don't get hit by Perils.''
*'''Sacrificial Innervation''': Usable by Librarians, Esoterists, and Diabolists. Adds 1 to the user's Mastery Level (up to a max of 4) and can re-roll dice when generating Warp Charge pools, but reduces their Wounds characteristic by 1.
*'''The Digittalis Arcanis''': Usable by Librarians, Esoterists, and Diabolists as long as they have at least ML2. Adds d3 to Attacks and Initiative for a turn, but after that they drop to 1 for the rest of the game.
*'''Divining Blade''': <u>THE SHIT.</u> Replaces a Paragon Blade. S+2 AP1, Instant Death, Two-Handed, and the same Psy-Lash rule as they Empyreal Lance. Expensive, at more than twice the cost of a Paragon Blade, but if you absolutely, positively need to guarantee your Praetor will kill his opponent in a duel, look no further.
*'''Chogorian Dreamplate''': Usable by Praetors, Centurions, and all Consuls. 3++ invulnerable save against Daemons.
*'''Liber Magra Veneficarum''': AKA The Big Book of Heresy. Usable by Traitor ICs who are not psykers or Daemons. Grants ML1 and the Incursion power from Malefic Daemonology.
*'''Icon of the Blazing Sun''': Usable by one Loyalist IC per detachment. Allows the user to Deny the Witch via a Leadership test, but if the test fails the user takes a wound. If the result of the test was a double 6, the user is immediately removed from play with no saves allowed. Also forces any Daemon locked in combat with the user to fight at WS1.

===Special Rules===
*'''Wrecker'''
**Shred (Buildings) [reroll building penetration].
**+1 to rolls on Building Damage.

===Ranged Weapons===
*'''Archeotech Pistol:''' Stand-in for any fancy old pistol the Martians don't understand anymore. S6 AP3 Master-crafted pistol, available for Praetors only. Good for mincing Power Armored troops, and generally comparable to a Plasma pistol ...
** ... which leads to a comparison! The Plasma P is a tad better in the odd situation of shooting at Toughness 5 or higher as well as vehicles or buildings. It's a notch cheaper, and it has an AP of 2 to let it take on Terminators. In return it comes with a 1/6th chance of self-wounding, which can then be saved so make that a 1/36 chance as Praetors always have a 2+ armour save. Also, the Archaeotech Pistol is more accurate. The Plasma comes off looking pretty good in this assessment, but the Archie is a safer bet for just mulching the ever-common basic Marine. Honestly neither are particularly useful items, so if really want one on your Praetor take whichever you like.
*'''Combi-bolter:''' Twin-linked bolter, because storm bolters hadn't yet been invented.
*'''Combi-weapon:''' The 7th ed FAQ states the one-use part of a combi-weapons can be a:
**Flamer
**Meltagun
**Plasma gun
**You used to also be able to take Grenade Launchers and Volkite Chargers as one-use items ... but now that's changed: These items can be used ''endless'' times as a Combi-weapon part! Hot dog, you might say. There's little reason to take the plain Volkite Charger over the combi now, unless you really need to save points.
***Grenade launcher (either frag or krak – choose which type when fired, they're the same grenades as their thrown counterparts, only with 24" range and without the one-per-unit restriction). While simple, these are surprisingly good now that they're infinite use. The frag grenade's low strength is made up for by the fact that you can get more hits off on large bunched up units, and the krak grenade option is downright terrifying when spammed as it's wounding marines on a 2+ (making it statistically better than a boltgun out of rapid fire range and identical within rapid fire range), bypasses most of the Mechanicum's armor saves while still being strong enough to reliably wound, and will both ignore armor and cause instant death on cult hordes/tech thralls/lasrifle sections.
***Volkite Charger. Exactly the same as a regular Volkite Charger, only it's mounted on a bolter so you choose which one you use every time you fire, which basically means you use it as a volkite charger from 1-15" and as a bolter from 15.1-24". Good way of getting the volkite's up-close face melting without sacrificing your general purpose boltgun. On terminators it costs the same as a normal charged too, so the only reasons to choose a lone volkite charger is the fact that it's hard to get parts for combi-volkites and that the charger looks nicer.
*'''Conversion Beam Weapons:''' Could be seen as inverse Melta, inflicting greater damage at longer ranges. The only differences between the Heavy and regular version are that the Heavy has a large blast radius and the '''Firing Calibration''' rule, which means the unit has to remain stationary in order to fire, even if it is Relentless or a Vehicle. ''On the corner of a standard 48" x 72" table it has [[FATAL|60% of the table in a S10 AP2 Large Blast killzone]], but this would only matter if the battlefield is modeled after a parking lot, so the S8 AP4 Small Blast profile is the one you'll more commonly see in usage''.
*'''Graviton Weapons:''' Not to be confused with [[Grav-Weaponry|Grav-weapons]], which are referred to in the Heresy setting as "Grav Imploders" and are a rare Mechanicum-only weapon; the more-common Graviton weapons do not share the wounding mechanism based on the enemy's armour save gimmick, as they just emit a crushing gravity wave over the target rather than sucking their armour inwards. These Heavy weapons (not Salvo) possess no Strength, but have both Concussion and Haywire effects. They make the enemy take Strength tests; if the result is above their Strength they take a wound - a result of 6 always causes a wound. So they are effectively [[Fail|Strength 3]], wounding GEQs on 4+, and MEQs on 5+, making it ineffective against infantry blobs. That's not why you're taking them, though. You take them to dump Haywire on the super-tough vehicles of this era. If you have nothing better to shoot at then you can use it to bog down infantry because it also creates Difficult and Dangerous terrain in its blast radius, so it can at least severely hinder their movement, which is certainly useful. Don't expect many kills though because AP4 in the Space Marine millennium is just... sub-optimal. Stick to hunting vehicles, and try to put them on Relentless units, because Blast Heavy weapons can't Snapfire. They come in Cannon (36" range Large Blast Heavy 1) and gun versions (18" range Small Blast Heavy 1), both of them with the aforementioned Graviton, Haywire and Concussive rules.
** These aren't ''technically'' an auto take but the vehicles in this era are very dangerous and very resistant to your typical 40K anti-tank options. There are AV 14 targets with Flare Shields that can be at best glanced by Lascannons, and Krak Missiles and outer-range Melta fire can't even do that. Haywire is by far the most reliable answer to Spartans etc and while a single unit likely won't kill one quickly at least you're actually doing damage. Take some.
*'''Grenade Harness:''' One-shot Assault 2 frag grenades (8" S3 AP- Blast 3") for Terminator sergeants. They count as Assault grenades only during the turn you fire them. Fun for thinning out annoying tarpits and lets the unit fight with fair speed when assailing a target in cover, at least once. Some armies could just put a character with frag grenades in a unit for the same benefit, however...
*'''Laser Destroyer Array:''' 4 Lascannons firing as one (for modeling purposes), becoming AP1 Ordnance 1 and Twin-linked. These weapons compete with Lascannons in the tank-destroyer category. Shot-per-shot they're better than Lascannons, their Ordnance type and '''AP1''' giving them a higher chance to outright destroy enemy vehicles/buildings with a single shot. However, they're more expensive, meaning less shots per point so bubble wrap fodder and annoying invuln/cover saves are more effective deterrents. Also the range is a tad shorter.
*'''Phosphex Weapons:''' Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore's [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx5N-4JvVyk| preferred fragrance], Phosphex is a green fire that never goes out, melts through everything and is attracted to movement. As if its S5 and AP2 wasn't going to ruin your opponent's day quite horribly enough, it also possesses Poison 3+. The '''Lingering Death''' rule causes the blast radius to remain on the field and become Dangerous terrain and, after scatter, '''Crawling Fire''' lets you move the marker up to 2" in any direction so long as it covers more models, making it incredibly effective against units that are about to charge you, and with a lowly 6" range for the bomb version that's basically the extent of their use. Fortunately the Legion Medusa, Lightning and Quad Launcher Support Battery are capable of firing Phosphex shells at a much greater range, just like white phosphorus mortars in real life.
*'''Plasma Weapons''' Same old prone-to-overheating, Terminator-eating death guns as ever. Or at least as ever circa 7th ed - if you're new to Warhammer and looking at the Heresy setting from an 8th ed perspective, you may be disappointed by the lack of overcharging options. Sucks! Write it off as less well-understood technology back in the day.
**'''Plasma Blaster:''' 18" Assault 2 Plasma gun with obvious improved range. These only come as upgrades for Terminators and Dreadnoughts. A solid generalist option between its mix of good strength, AP and fire rate, but there are often cheaper alternatives that fair better against specific targets. If you don't exactly know what the unit taking this gun will face, it's alright, but once you figure that part out there may be something more efficient.
**'''Phased Plasma-Fusil:''' An unusual weapon of Mechanicum design, only available on indentured Thallax cohorts. 24" S6 AP3 Salvo 2/3 - note the uncharacteristic lack of Gets Hot! on a plasma weapon. Because all Thallax are Jetpack users, you can just treat that Salvo part as Assault 3 instead. Commonly referred to as a "Marine 'Woodchipper'", this gun is a very efficient power armour shredding package - just remember that it's no use against Terminators unlike other Plasma guns.
*'''Rad Weapons:''' Ammunition filled with radioactive isotopes, souvenirs from Terra's post-apocalyptic Old Night. Even if you survive them [[Grimdark|you will die of radiation poisoning or cancer without treatment]], which is represented in the tabletop with their debilitating effect. The Legions can get them in 2 flavors:
**Rad missiles, which are S4 AP3 Fleshbane + '''Radphage''' (wounded models get their Toughness reduced by 1 ''for the rest of the battle'')
**[https://youtu.be/fqYHg-Ue_Cc?t=97 Rad grenades], which are neither Assault nor Defensive grenades, but instead temporarily reduce the enemy's Toughness by 1 until the end of the assault phase, yours or the enemy's.
**A third version is also available on Vorax bots accompanying a Praevian, "Irad-cleansers", which are like a flamer version of the Rad missiles.
*Note that all these Toughness-diminishing effects ''do'' affect Instant Death thresholds. In an environment full of T4 models, it's only basic sense to maximize your cheap and nasty S6 and S7 weaponry (looking at grenade launchers, plasma and autoweaponry here) and easily threaten any pesky deathstar out of existence. Vorax meanwhile can do a bang-tidy job with power blades attached.
*'''Reaper Autocannon:''' Mainly used by Terminators. Literally just a short-barrelled twin-linked autocannon, clocking in at 36" range with a mitigating accuracy buff. Now, we're not questioning your models' loyalty for ever using one, but isn't it funny that [[Chaos|only one side still uses them 10,000 years later]]? Anyway, this gun is mostly for light vehicle harassment with a side order of infantry bothering. Its range is longer than most of a Termie's arsenal, so it's inefficient to take with short-ranged guns like Volkites, even if they seem to be in the same ballpark. Having big guns just 15" away is just asking to be charged by other TEQs, a bit of a waste of points. Certain Legions have access to alternative Terminator heavy weapons, most notably and fittingly the Iliastus Assault Cannon of the Imperial Fists and Blood Angels, that generally fit this weapon's job better.
*'''Rotor Cannon:''' 30" S3 AP6 Salvo 3/4. Hilariously weak for an item costed similarly to Melta weaponry. Volkite Calivers and Plasma Guns are superior in every way. Vorax have these by default, and can upgrade to Bio-Corrosive rounds which is a bit better.
*'''Specialist Ammo:''' While the '''Kraken''' bolts remain what they'll be in the future (S4 AP4 30" Rapid Fire), your Seekers (not your Veterans) get to try 2 <s>new</s> old ammo types (without counting some Legion-specific bolts):
**'''Scorpius:''' Your power shot. [https://youtu.be/oGqS-JF8GvY?t=133 Two-stage warhead with micro guided dart] that melts through armour. It's now S5 ''AP2'' 24" and it Shreds. However, it must be hand-loaded, so it swaps Rapid fire for Heavy.
**'''Tempest:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZJHjLXWYNM#t=42 This is what you'd get] if a normal bolter round exploded before reaching the target, instead of inside of it: S3 AP6 18" Rapid fire, but has a 3" Blast. ''This is your blob killer - AND your Terminator killer too!'' Nothing like burying enemies in, what, '''12 blasts per volley?!''', for chipping through high armour saves. Resolving all those small blasts ''will take forever;'' however, and at 9" for those juicy double templates you may find yourself at risk of back-scatter. You begin to wonder why it is that 8th ed 40K did away with all that template business... *sob*
*'''Volkite Weapons:''' The original Martian ray guns®. Dating back to the Age of Strife, they were in the process of being replaced by the bolter as the preferred weapon of the Space Marines as the demand far surpassed supply. Volkite weapons have the '''Deflagrate''' special rule, which means each unsaved wound a shot causes immediately inflicts another automatic hit. Additional hits this way cannot cause yet more hits. They come in five flavours: Serpenta (9" S5 Pistol), Charger (15" S5 Assault 2), Caliver (30" S6 Heavy 2), Culverin (45" S6 Heavy 4) and the monstrous Carronade (72" S8 with Haywire and a beam effect that lets it hit everything in a straight line in front of it, with '''AP2'''). The entire Volkite family enjoys a greater Strength and rate of fire than their Bolt weapon conterparts, but they put up with shorter ranges and excepting the Carronade are stuck at AP 5. This makes them best taken in [[Dakka|full squads]] to mitigate range issues, as well as the backup pistol on a Moritat to drown infantry targets with strong-enough shots that are safer than a Plasma Pistol.
**So what's all this <s>boil</s> deflagrate down to? A volkite serpenta or charger does about 63% more damage, shot for shot, than its bolt cousin. Mathhammer follows: A bolt round hit will inflict 0.5 wounds on a Marine; about 0.17 wounds will make it past the armor save. A volkite shot will inflict about 0.67 wounds and 0.22 will make it through unsaved. That 0.22 goes on to inflict 0.22 additional hits, 0.15 wounds, 0.05 unsaved; add it all up to get 0.27 wounds per volkite.

===Close Combat Weapons===
*'''Breacher Charge:''' A power fist on a satchel. It's a one-use '''''not''' unwieldy'' '''S8 AP2 Small Blast''' Wrecker melee weapon - saucy business, but if it fails the to-hit roll then it scatters, and that can be bad news for the poor user.
*'''Chainsword'''/'''Combat Blade''': Just the generic, stock SUser AP- Melee weapon you're used to.
*'''Charnabal Sabre:''' Fancy blades of all manner of origin, available on a number of characters. ''Duellist's Edge[sic]'' grants +1I in a challenge, letting squad sergeants keep up with the big boys and granting your own HQ choices an edge over enemy rivals; in addition, these blades are Rending, to reflect their capacity to land critical strikes. However they lack any reliable AP, meaning that they only fair a little better than a non-Rending item against all armour values without being effective against any one - and they grant no strength bonuses either. This takes what could be a promising niche weapon and relegates it to the near useless territory, as gaining that Initiative bonus is pretty much not worth the unreliability, and that's given its fairly cheap cost. There is a functioning sweet spot for a Librarian that rolls up Iron Arm on Biomancy, as that grants +3 S and ''Smash'', hence AP 2 - but Librarians already pay points for a Force Weapon, AND this depends on good rolls at the start of the game, AND it's only 1 measly point of Initiative in challenges only, on an expensive character not as optimised for melee as other sorts. It's very hard to apologise for this weapon, basically. For the same cost, a Heavy Chainsword is better.
*'''Lascutter:''' More of an industrial tool than a weapon. At a glance its stats are very impressive - S9 and AP2, same as a lascannon. However, this weapon is ''Cumbersome'', a special rule possibly unique to it, that prevents the user from making any more than [[Fail|one attack at WS1]] in a turn they use it. Yes, WS 1 - ''even a Rhino has a decent chance of parrying the blow''. Probably better with a Melta Bomb or five instead.
*'''Lightning Claw:''' Looking like a Power Fist but not playing anything like one, a Lightning Claw is an AP3 Shred Specialist weapon available on all characters, squad or independent, for slightly more than a stock Power Weapon. Its identical to a Power Sword except that it costs a little more and generally makes one less attack in exchange for re-rolling failed wounds. On their own, Claws are not so hot, but certain units can buy a pair for a ''lot'' less than twice the cost, only a fourth again, letting them make a lot of Marine-hewing blows perfect for ripping up Legionary blobs. Terminator units tend to take a few for enemy squad deletion.
**A neat trick for Independent Characters is to take a Lightning Claw with a Power Fist or Thunder Hammer, since Specialist Weapons support each other no matter what. While expensive compared to twin Claws, the result is a diverse attack setup that can take down horde targets and huge targets very well.
*'''Heavy Chainsword''': 10 points for S+2 AP5 - ''drastically'' better than a Charnabal Sabre at cost.
*'''Paragon Blade:''' Now this is the fancy stuff. Another Praetor/Champion exclusive item, representing any sort of masterwork power sword, axe, glaive, or what-have-you in the Legion's arsenal; Paragon Blades are S+1 AP2 Specialist melee weapons ''without'' Unwieldy, and which feature the '''Murderous Strike''' rule that inflicts Instant Death on any wound roll of 6. Just ''take it''.
**If there's any room for discussion with regards to this weapon, it's in its accompaniment. As a Specialist Weapon, Praetors won't be claiming the bonus attack for two melee weapons unless they buy 'another' Specialist weapon. Lightning Claws are the cheapest, but have little to no utility next to the Paragon Blade itself - unless you're fighting 3+ save, single wound models a lot, which to be fair is common in the Heresy, but you should have other units more optimised for killing the riff-raff. The Power Fist is more expensive, but provides a feasible alt-attack, trading in Initiative and the ability to Instant Death anything for more Strength and guaranteed ID on T4 and lower models. This is a workable balance, although it will deprive you of a pistol. Thunder Hammers are a bit more expensive but carry Concussive, which can be useful in certain Challenge scenarios. Finally, certain Legions may have their own weird and wonderful Specialist weapons to consider. There are honestly a lot of viable ways to build a Paragon Blade Praetor - but that fancy Blade itself is a must.
**'''Math opinion:''' AP2 at Initiative is nice and all, ''but is it good enough in a mirror match?'' '''NO.''' Counting Instant Death as dealing 3 wounds, since it's a W3 model, a Praetor with 7 attacks (4 + two weapons + digital lasers + charging) only manages to inflict 1.75 unsaved wounds on his opponent, before getting InstaKilled by ''4.375'' unsaved Power Fist wounds. ''What does this mean, 1d4chan?'' It means you should buy '''''both''''' a Thunder Hammer ''and'' a Paragon Blade. Tank the hits with your Praetor's WS6 and 4++ and use the S8 weapon on the first round of combat, quite possibly making it the last one. Should your enemy survive (bikes are T5), he'll be stunned. You'll then choose whether to attack first while hitting lighter, or attack at the same pace and or hit harder, depending on how many wounds the Thunder Hammer shaved off in the previous round. Be careful with going for the Blade, as if it doesn't kill the enemy then the Concussion you inflicted will wear off. Something similar applies to those legion-specific weapons.
***Another way of looking at the same problem is if you consider two Praetors with 4++, one with a Paragon Blade and one with a Power Fist (ignore things like digital lasers because they make the math take for ever and don't affect the underlying principle) the chance the Paragon Blade does the 3+ wounds to kill a Praetor it needs is ~1.62% whereas the chance the Fist does the 1+ wounds it needs for Instant Death is ~62.8% so in a duel in a vacuum a Fist is (by my maths) nearly 40 times as likely to kill its opponent as the Blade. Its not that the Paragon Blade sucks - its God Tier at massacring 1-wound TEQs - but you need Instant Death to win a Praetor duel
*'''Power Fist:''' A staple across many unit types, and the big chunky fist of punching you probably all know and love. For slightly more than a regular Power Weapon, a Power Fist doubles the user's strength and grants AP 2 in return for Unwieldy and Specialist, so you strike last and generally make 1 less attack.
**Very popular, if not dominant by all means due to its slowness. A Power Fist lets a squad Sergeant potentially inflict Instant Death on encroaching Centurions and Praetors, and repel Mechanicum big bots and Dreadnoughts. Still, a cheaper Power Sword does better against regular Marines without the slowdown, and an Axe can do similarly well against Terminators too. An Independent Character can make many attacks with a Power Fist, and is also probably tough enough to survive fast enemy attacks in order to pull off a strike, ''but'' they've got more to lose in terms of Initiative, as a very nice I5 is a harder sacrifice than I4. In a Character-on-Character duel, getting a first strike is usually a critical advantage - provided that the attack can ignore the enemy's armour, that is. Power Fists won't win all fights, but are considerable as a support weapon.
**'''Chainfist:''' A rather niche weapon, only available on Terminator armour models. For slightly more than a regular Power Fist (so the same as a Thunder Hammer), you can get a Power Fist with Armourbane, so it adds D6 to armour penetration rolls on vehicles and buildings. Those on-average extra 3.5 points of Strength make a big difference when repelling a Dreadnought or carving a new rectum into a Land Raider or Bastion, but no difference against anything with a Toughness stat.
**'''Thunder Hammer:''' A little rarer than most of the weapons here, but not as exclusive as a Paragon Blade. Thunder Hammers are functionally identical to Power Fists, except they cost 5pts more and have Concussive. Unlike Power Mauls, Concussive can make a big difference on a Thunder Hammer - as an Unwieldy weapon, Hammers will strike last on the first round of a fight, but so long as the wielder can score a wound, then the playing field is leveled for the next one. Against multi-wound behemoths, a Thunder Hammer is as useful defensively as it is offensively. ''Just remember that you're inflicting Instant Death on most T4 models anyhow.''
*'''Power Weapons:''' Axes, Maces, and Swords are available for almost all units, indicated by the term "Power Weapon".
**Pretty much always a cheap, typically viable choice for any elite, close combat, and character model. Swords slay squads of MEQ, Mauls beat a motley of weirdos like light infantry, mid-weight heavies such as Ogryns or Thallax, and can aid in knocking out light vehicles (plus they're better against TEQs than swords are), and Axes will gradually carve away TEQs and are also pretty good against MEQs and monsters and help somewhat against vehicles and buildings. If you live long enough to make your attacks against a character, these are also the best anti-HQ choice weapon from the standard three.
**Axes as such are the go-to option, given that they are decent against almost everything (only light infantry fall outside the axe's cost-effective zone, and they can be dealt with by regular Chainswords anyway) AND they're the only choice that deals well with Terminators and HQs. Mauls are almost never taken because, even though they cover a wide range of different defensive profiles, there's no guarantee of any such preferred targets turning up in a game predominated by Space Marines. Most of their ideal targets are weird one-off choices, besides massed infantry which again are beatable with cheap Chainswords. Against the key targets of the game, Mauls are outclassed by Swords v MEQs and Axes v TEQs. The closest you'll get to seeing reliable Maul usage in Marine forces is Librarians with Force Staves, as those can synergise well with Iron Arm - did someone say Strength 9 AP 2 melee attacks striking at Initiative? Swords finally fit in the middle of the two other choices. They'll generally do the trick in the Power Armour fest of 30K, but won't do anything to Terminators and characters that a Chainsword couldn't free-of-charge ... or a Chainaxe doing better if you're World Eaters. Swords are acceptable for unit Sergeants as well as en-masse, but hard to advise for characters.
**'''Power Lances:''' These are listed as a standard Power Weapon type in both the Legion Red Books and the Age of Darkness rulebook, however both specify that only Swords, Axes and Mauls can be chosen in Army List entries that say "Power Weapon" without further specification. This means that Lances are very rare choices in the Crusade list, and largely consigned to Legion-specific kit such as for the Emperor's Children and White Scars. Here is the exact copy-paste of the text from the rulebook so we can put this issue to bed:
***''"Whenever an Army List profile lists a model as being either equipped with a 'power weapon' or has the option to take one, then either a '''power sword''', '''power axe''' or '''power maul''' may be freely chosen as long as they are clearly depicted on the model.''
****Note the lack of "Power Lance on this short list. This means that unless a specific model or army list entry says "Power Lance", Power Lances cannot be taken.
***Still, they're listed in all the books and are considered universals, so we might as well talk about them here. The rundown: They suck. There's a reason they're not a generic Power Weapon option, and that's that no-one would take one anyway without a good discount. Lances are just Swords with an extra point of Strength on the charge; off the charge, they're just AP 4, so a Chainaxe or Power Maul without even the courtesy of granting extra Strength or what-have-you. Lances offer a tiny advantage that often requires some list and tactical contrivance to ever see in-game, and are outclassed by dirt-cheap to free kit the rest of the time.
** ''Many Legions have access to unusual melee weaponry, some of which constitute straight buffs to the stock Power weapons. Be sure to check out their rules when deciding on the right choice for your melee doods.''

===Equipment===
*'''Augury Scanner:''' No unit can infiltrate within 18" of the unit. In addition, grants puesdo-interceptor to the unit, but only against things that arrive from reserve within 18", no longer broken like they were before the FAQ.
*'''Cameleoline:''' Grants the user the Stealth USR. And RAW, a single model with the Stealth rule gives the benefits to the whole unit. As such, an attached Vigilator + some ruins become a 3+ cover save for the whole unit.
*'''Cognis-Signum:''' ''Older pattern of the current Signum''. It gives +1 BS (rather than setting it to 5) to a nearby unit if the user doesn't shoot. It also grants Night Vision AND has all the effects that an Augury Scanner has.
*'''Cortex Controller:''' A robot control module, which requires complex mind-uplink nonsense. As such only Forge Lords can take these items; Praevians are beep-boop specialists so they come with them by default. Friendly models with the ''Programmed Behavior'' rule can choose to ignore it, as long as they are within 12" of the bearer. For every Cortex Controller in the army, the force can include 0-1 units of Thallaxes (can pick a Triaros, can't transport marines), Castellaxes or Voraxes from the Mechanicum Taghmata list as Heavy Support. As an added bonus, bearers with the Battlesmith special rule gain the ability to restore a wound on Battle-automata as a use of this ability.
*'''Cyber-familiar:''' A friendly skull-thing or cool animal that lets the user re-roll failed Dangerous Terrain tests and characteristic tests except Ld. Oh, and it gives +1 to bearer's invulnerable save up to a maximum of 3++ (or grants 6++, if you had none). Whether it's worthwhile depends on the value of the unit you're protecting: bumping your blinged-out Forge Lord up to a 4++? Yes, please. Putting a 6++ on a 35-point Techmarine? No thanks. Sadly, the dreaded Leviathan Grav-flux Bombard isn't affected by the re-roll because RAW its wounding mechanism is not a Strength test on 2d6.
** Little modeling tip - it's perfectly legal to take one of many GW servo-skulls (or the one found in Solomon's Lok retinue) and use a clip or something to put it on a 25mm base for servo-skull to be clearly visible. Just make sure to get rid of any non-30k symbols and/or censers, and enjoy your WYSIWYG Cyber-familiar.
*'''Digital Lasers:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLpUq__iQqw&feature=youtu.be&t=5 Little nifty lazor jewels that grant +1 attack]. A Praetor-exclusive option, 15 points for an extra attack on a powerhouse melee character is a steal. The more invested the Praetor in terms of both killing ability and toughness, the more mileage you get out of an upgrade like this. It's at its least valuable on a cheap bare-bones model with a weak weapon, but why would you do that? Warmongers get these free, making them the only Centurions to have access to them. Dark Angels players can add these to a unit of Inner Circle Cenobites for 10 points.
*'''Hardened Armour:''' Chiefly represents intense boarding modified suits of Iron pattern armour. Count as '''Void Hardened''' for Zone Mortalis missions (protects from Rending ''caused by corrosive gases/decompression'') and re-rolls failed armour saves from template or blast weapons, but reduces charge, sweep advance and run moves by -1". This movement penalty spurred the invention of Terminator armour.
*'''Legion Vexilla and Standard:''' The Vexilla allows a squad to re-roll failed Morale tests, while the Legion Standard creates a 6" bubble of Fearless around the wielder. Morale is very important in 30K, and it hurts really bad to see your 15-man Tactical Squad running from the field because they lost 5 marines to shooting.
*'''Nuncio-vox:''' ''Older pattern of the current Locator Beacon''. Radio backpack that prevents the scatter of models that Deep strike 6" near the vox user AND allows Barrage weapons to use the carrying model's line of sight (range is still measured from the firing model).
*'''Shields'''
**'''Combat Shield:''' Grants the usual 6++ invuln, but becomes Terminator-grade 5++ in close combat.
***'''Boarding Shield:''' The predecessor of the Storm Shield. Exactly the same as the Combat shield, but also counts as defensive grenades, and prevents the equipped model from gaining +1 attack from extra CC weapons, for twice the cost.
***'''Refractor Field:''' Same cost as a Boarding Shield, for 5++ all the time, with neither defensive grenades nor stopping your access to extra attacks.
****'''Iron Halo:''' Two and a half times the cost of a Refractor Field, and hence '''5x''' the cost of a Combat Shield, for 4++ all the time.
*'''Suspensor Web:''' You get the option when using it to turn your heavy weapons into assault weapons, but halve their range. Only applies to very few units though, such as Veterans or Destroyers.
*'''Terminator armour:<sup>Jan 2016 FAQ</sup>''' The "basic" suit as found in 40k, granting 2+/5++ saves, ''Bulky'', & ''Relentless'', but with no ability to Deep Strike unless your Legion or Wargear specifically allows it and no Sweeping Advance. Other patterns are available for free whenever the option to take Terminator Armour is given (or unspecified, as with Legion Terminator squads (who come with the armour by default and aren't technically buying it) and some Legion specific termies), but models in a unit must all choose the same pattern and it must be shown on the model. When choosing armour type, it is important to think about the legion; for example, there is no benefit to choosing standard/Tartaros armour over Cataphractii if you take penalties to running and/or sweeping advancing anyway. But on the flip side, with items that grant a flat invulnerable save ''(like Iron Halos or Storm Shields)'', there is often no point in taking other types over Tartaros. There is never a benefit from taking normal over Tartaros or Cataphractii.
**'''Tartaros pattern Terminator armour:<sup>Jan 2016 FAQ</sup>''' Tartaros pattern armour has the same invulnerable save as normal Terminator armour, but its ergonomic [[pauldrons]] allow it to Sweeping Advance. In fact, Tartaros armour is now a free upgrade over standard armour. This ability is lost if the unit is joined by a model with a different pattern of <u>Terminator</u> armour, meaning it's a great option for Consuls who want to join power armoured assault units.
**'''Cataphractii pattern Terminator armour:<sup>Jan 2016 FAQ</sup>''' Bigger [[pauldron]]s mean extra protection. Shoulder mounted shield generators grant 4++ invuln, but can't Overwatch or Run in addition to no Sweeping Advance (pretty much Slow and Purposeful, but <u>without the actual rule</u>). Without access to Storm Shields this is the best protection that many Legions ever get, but it can be boosted upwards by synergising with an Atomantic Pavaise to give excellent resistance against shooting. But, more than other types, Cataphractii still require transports to get around.

===Vehicle Equipment===
*'''Armoured Ceramite:''' Ignores the Melta rule. This is the reason Melta weapons are frowned upon in this millennium.
*'''Atomantic Shield:''' 5+ inv. against shooting and 6+ inv. in melee, but if it Explodes adds 1" to the radius.
*'''Auxiliary Drive:''' Allows the vehicle to repair an Immobilized result on a 4+ ''at the start'' of the Movement phase.
*'''Explorator Augury Web:''' The Land Raider Proteus' optional sensor array. Grants Scout and has 2 modes: '''Disruption''' lowers your enemy's reserve rolls by -1, while '''Relay''' allows you to re-roll yours. Multiple augury webs have no further effect, ''but Disruption does stack with 'Divide to Conquer' (warlord trait) and 'Coils of the Hydra' (Alpha RoW) to cripple enemy reinforcement up to 6+''.
*'''Flare Shield:''' Front facing force field that reduces the strength of incoming frontal shots by -1. Template/Blast weapons get a -2S reduction instead, but melee/Destroyer hits are unaffected.
*'''Kheres Assault Cannon:''' ''Older pattern of the current Assault cannon''. The same as that, but Heavy 6.
*'''Predator Autocannon:''' Your Predators used to fire 4 shots each firing phase, but then the Heresy destroyed several Martian forges, and then Malcador made Deimos into a forge exclusively for the Grey Knights, the only ones in the Imperium able to manufacture them. [[Rage]] indeed.
*'''Siege Wrecker:''' S10 AP2 DCCW with Concussive and '''Wrecker''', which enables it to re-roll building penetration and adds +1 to the Building Damage chart, as well as the inbuilt weapon when taken on the Castraferrum boxnaught. Castellax lose their bolt gun when they take it.
*'''Havoc Launcher''' No longer exclusive to Traitors. Not quite an auto-take but it is nice to have against blob armies. The Havoc Launcher is an upgrade option for "elite" Dreadnoughts, most Tanks and even Land Speeders. While one 5 STR and 5 AP blast isn't that impressive, 48" gives it the same range as a Lascannon. The upgrade will allow a melee Dreadnought or Vindicator to do more than move slowly into firing range.

===Psi-Reactive Arsenal===
ICs that can use these weapons can take one in addition to a Psyarkana relic.

*'''Toxiferran Weapons''': Weapons imbued with a freakish mix of poisons and psi-reactive matter, originally tested by the Dusk Raiders (before they were the Death Guard). Legion Destroyer Squads can exchange their hand flamers for a Toxiferran flamer, and Contemptors can swap out their CCW or twin-linked heavy bolters for a Toxiferno cannon. Both are templates; S4 AP5 Assault 1 and Poison (3+) for the flamer and S7 AP4 Heavy 1 and Shred for the cannon. More importantly, both come with the Tainted rule that removes psychic blessings on a successful wound and increase AP to 2 on a wound roll of 6.
*'''Psyk-out Munitions''': Apparently the Grey Knights weren't the first people to use these. Can be taken as regular grenades by Vigilators, Moritats, Saboteurs, and Destroyer Squads; the latter can also swap out a hand flamer for a psyk-out grenade launcher or take psyk-out missiles if they have missile launchers. They work the same way as they do in 7e 40k, right down to the piss-poor Strength score and ability to force Perils (and the missiles are also Pinning). That said, the Perils part will absolutely ''cripple'' the Thousand Sons.

==Unit Analysis==
===HQ===
*'''Legion Praetor:''' These guys are the [[Chapter Master]]s of the pre-Heresy and Heresy eras. He packs Master of the Legion, so he'll unlock Rites of War and command squads while rolling twice on the warlord chart, but if all you wanted was MotL you'd take a cheap Delegatus instead. The real reason you'll take this guy is if you want a close-combat monster, and if you ''do'' want a monster, accept no substitutes; upgrades for Consuls quickly get into Praetor points levels for a pale shadow of Praetor effectiveness. The only real exception is if your Legion offers a special character who's better at the job.
**The Praetor has an awesome stat-line and a huge list of wargear options (though that list gets much shorter when you ignore the options that are terrible). A basic setup tends to be an Iron Halo and Paragon Blade, bringing sweet AP2 at Initiative 5 for 150 points, but you can make him cost as much as a Land Raider through a series of decisions that each individually seem reasonable. The monster you get for that price is well suited to punching Land Raiders in the face, but he's still just one Vindicator shot away from being a wet smear.
**You've got to keep mirror matches in mind when kitting out your Praetor. One interesting one involves whether to take a Power Fist instead of a Paragon Blade (or in addition, for +1 attack). Say, for example, a bare-bones Paragon Blade Praetor gets the charge on a bare-bones Power Fist Praetor. The Paragon will hit 2.5 times and inflict 1.25 regular wounds and 0.417 instant death. Essentially, the Paragon Blade ''probably'' won't get the kill. The Power Fist will hit twice, inflicting 1.67 instant death wounds, and probably ''will'' win the fight in the first round.
***The above is just a single example, and the lesson to be learned is not "the Paragon Blade sucks"; it's "think about this shit".
**'''Legion Praetor Tribune (Limited Release):''' Rules were included alongside the model made to celebrate FW being sold at mainstream GW stores. Basically, it's a Praetor with Tartaros armour, a Master-Crafted Paragon Blade, Digital Lasers, and an Iron Halo. You don't get a combi-bolter, but ''do'' get a 15 point discount. Good if you have no other HQ to lead Termis but there are better choices since the early days of 30K.
*'''Legion [[Command_Squad|Command Squad]]:''' These guys are made for face-to-face '''MAN FIGHTING''': They are "Chosen Warriors", which enables them to issue and receive challenges, and they all have WS5 ''and'' Sv2+, with W2 on the Standard Bearer, who brings a 6" Fearless bubble into the ATSKNF-lacking 30th millennium. And their wargear reflects this: everyone can take combat shields (storm shields were just being invented), get good melee options, like power weapons, claws, fists, and dirt-cheap Charnabals - surprisingly good, as they all can issue challenges, and Rending only shines when spammed. And while they have bolters, they can only upgrade to Volkite Chargers and ''Combi-bolters''. You read that right: Combi-bolters, not Combi-weapons. In a time when Legions could crap as much soldiers as [[Imperial_Guard|today's Guard]], this unit can have only 5 models max...but they make up for it with access to [[Jump_Pack|jump packs]], [[Bike_Squad|bikes]], [[Sammael|JETBIKES]], and [[Terminator|Terminator armour]] (along with the usual wargear options for the latter, which are cheaper than when bought separately)...if your Praetor is similarly equipped, that is.
**According to 7th Edition FAQ (took them long enough), running a Primarch allows you to kit these guys however you want, regardless of the Primarch's gear. Just like Praetors, Special Characters with the Master of the Legion rule need to have the same equipment if you want to give them Bikes, Jet Bikes, or Terminator Armour. While not as good as their Legion-specific equivalents, Command Squads can be tailored to complement the Primarch's fighting style. Now that almost every Legion has their [[Honour Guard]]. One of their only real uses is loading them up a Dedicated Transport and use them as a [[DISTRACTION CARNIFEX]] to keep the heat away from your Primarch + unique unit Deathstar. To make them last longer give them Terminator armor and kit out the Proteus for all comers. Also great for spamming Termis for those that have their own unique variants in the HQ, Elite and Heavy slots.
**Note that their Land Raider Proteus has an 8-man transport capacity (assuming you took the Explorator Web), meaning you can fit your 5 man Command Squad and all three of your remaining HQ options in the same tank, assuming you for some reason want to do that.
**<sup>FAQ Feb 19</sup> Now these can only be taken by Praetors, Primarchs and ''special'' MotL characters that are also your warlord so only one per army, via the Retinue SR, so a case could be made that Delegatus and Heralds are special enough. The latter two also have their own ''Rite of Command'' SR enabling them to take the Command Squad that wasn't changed by a FAQ.
*'''Legion Centurion:''' If Praetors are like Chapter Masters, Centurions are like the [[Brother-Captain|Captains]] of the Heresy era (by the way, these are the guys [[Centurion Squad]]s are named after). Unlike modern Captains, though, they can use the Consul rule to be upgraded to one of seventeen different specializations. Centurions and Consuls are never grand powerhouses or sweeping jack-of-all-trade command units; rather, they each present a refined tool, chosen to execute a particular task or form a critical lynchpin in a force's leadership. The Consul specializations are the following:
**These guys can be used to fill your compulsory HQ slots.
<tabs>
<tab name="Legion Centurion with Early Crusade Honours">
More like a different model than a different unit, "Early Crusade Honours" stands for "Regular Centurion with a Master-Crafted Power Fist, Bolt Pistol and Artificer Armour, who always has the Child of Terra WT if he's the Warlord". In all but name and model, he's identical to the vanilla Centurion. (But honestly, the model looks amazing and is for once a reasonable price for a time limited model. I would grab one while they last just due to the exclusivity ensuring appreciation in value). Notice regular Centurions cannot get MC weapons, like his Fist (which would end up rerolling To hit and To wound if he's the warlord).
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Chaplain">
Back in the day the harbingers of the Imperial Truth ([[Dark Apostle|or a more traitorous counterpart]]) not only turned their brothers into ''Zealot''s, but also instilled ''Fear'' on the hearts of their enemies. Besides those two rules, the upgrade also gives him a Crozius Arcanum power weapon, which isn't restricted to being a power maul - a Chaplain with an axe is fine. Since the [[Ecclesiarchy]] wasn't yet a thing they don't get a [[Rosarius]] as protection and have to buy a Refractor Field if they want to compensate, but with Terminator armor and some legion equipment they can reach up to 3++, so don't worry. Use them like normal Chaplains; in other words, inspire your big killy squad to greater glory!
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Champion">
As their name implies, these guys are the champions of the Legions. Such warriors get free master-crafting on a single melee weapon of their choice, along with WS6, Precision Strikes and an oath that means they always reroll failed Glorious Intervention attempts and always issue challenges. Whether you use these guys or not will likely be decided based on your points level, especially when you look at his benefits. For example, a Praetor with a Paragon Blade has +1 Attack, +1 Wound and Artificer Armour compared to a Champion. Once that Champion buys his Paragon Blade and Artificer Armour, the Praetor is only 10 points more expensive, along with his boosted stats and access to better wargear such as Digital Lasers to further enhance him. If you're playing 2000 points and want two choppy characters, stick with the Praetors, you'll have access to at least two of them. If you're playing under 2000 points and don't want to risk your Warlord in melee engagements, or you want two Paragon Blades, then this is where the Champion comes in since you can't have two Praetors anymore.
*Instead of giving him Terminator armor, try making him a [[White_Scars|choppy biker]] or a [[Blood_Angels|fiery-winged angel]]''. As you can probably guess, they fit [[Emperor's_Children|better]] in [[Imperial_Fists|some]] legions [[Salamanders|than]] in [[Iron_Hands|others]].
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Vigilator">
Vigilators are awesome Captain-sized spy-scouts. They grant Scout to attached units, and Stealth too if they take Cameleoline. Take the time to downgrade their Power armor to Scout armor, and they also gain Infiltrate and Move through Cover, although Infiltrate won't be conferred on joined units. They have Special Issue ammo and the Sniper special rule, so take advantage of Precision shot and snipe that apothecary with a precisely-placed Shred+Rend Scorpius round), and get a pre-game Sabotage attack of D6 S5 AP6 hits (that always targets the weakest facing on a vehicle) on a 2+. Make sure to wear your best troll-face when you get ''First Blood in the deployment phase''. Vigilators are the natural choice to lead Seeker squads as they have the same ammunition. Only downgrade to Scout Armor if you plan to pair them with Recon Marines (in Recon Armor, god damn it GW), possibly with a Storm Eagle.
*<sup>HH8</sup>: Can now take Psyk-out grenades for killing [[Thousand Sons|Psykers]] and [[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Daemons of the Ruinstorm (30k)|Daemons]] for very cheap but only really worth it if you know you're facing them.
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Forge Lord">
These guys are the 30k equivalent to Masters of the Forge. They have a vast range of wargear options from being both Techmarines (Servitors, Cyber familiar, etc.) and Consuls (Jetbikes, invuln-granting wargear, among others), allowing them to fill a rather broad number of roles. Just remember, ''boys over toys''. They come with Servo arm and Artificer armour by default, but not a power axe like Techmarines. If going for ranged support you'll want to give them Conversion beamers or Graviton guns, which he'll get to fire on the move when mounted on a bike. You could also give them Terminator armor for the same result, but make it Cataphractii pattern instead of normal Terminator: buying Refractor + Power weapon + MC Bolter is 5pts cheaper and lets you Sweep Advance, while you can add a Cyber-familiar to Cataphractii to get a sweet 3++ without taking up an arm like a Storm Shield would.
*''Who'' forgot that they can take '''Cortex Controllers'''?! If you take one of these, you can take a single unit of Castellax Automata or un-augmented Thallax as a Heavy Support option, if a Praevian just doesn't make it for you. Not only that, but he can heal Castellaxes because of Battlesmith. An Angel's Wrath, Orbital Assault or Armored Spearhead list can take Thallax since they Deep Strike.
*''Who forgot'' that they can take '''RAD Grenades'''?! They're surprisingly excellent duelists, with 3 base attacks + servo arm. Outfit him for melee (''power weapon, etc.'') and preferably, stick him in a big unit, which can pretty much be anything because of his ample wargear choices - Jetpack to hang out with Thallax (which can be S7 with Heavy chainblades), Jetbike to be part of a biker <s>gang</s> squad, Terminator armor, you name it. Come the assault phase and your enemies are -1 Toughness, ID on S6. Enjoy.
*If you're footslogging, you can also bring your Servitors with you and grant those Tactical blobs much needed flexibility with Flamers, or hidden power fists. They'll think twice when charging with a T3 unit against 4D3 flamer hits.
*<s>''Who forgot that''</s> {{BLAM}} Consider giving them '''Augury scanners'''. Only 5 pts and it deters Infiltrators from approaching near him. Oh, and the rest of the squad gets Interceptor too across the board so those rad-missiles are a bit spooky now if you want to spend the points on them, or if you're feeling particularly r00d you can throw him in a quad mortar squad with phosphex, shatter shells or whatever flavour of munition you care for. Delightful. Shooting incoming enemies at full BS is always better than doing nothing. Can also take "Nuncio-Vox" which means they can call down the Artillery with LOS as well, a superb force multiplier HQ unit, take one.
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Siege Breaker">
Here's the guy for [[Imperial Fists]] and [[Iron Warriors]] players. They grant Tank Hunters and Wrecker to the attached unit's Heavy weapons. They also have Nuncio-voxes, so Barrage weapons can draw line of sight from them. Finally, they can take up to three Phosphex bombs and lets Medusas, Rapiers and the Land Raider Achilles use the dreaded Phosphex pyro-chem shells for extra damage, so they fit the [[Death Guard|Death Guard's]] chemical warfare theme too! If it’s a building and it absolutely needs to come down yesterday, use these guys. Unfortunately, Siege Breakers are stuck with the same ranged options as a regular centurion, so if you use one alongside a heavy weapons squad, there is a little lost synergy. Nevertheless, Siege Breakers can give your army a lot of extra punch. If there are vehicles that should've been dismantled yesterday or anything hanging around in barricades, use these guys.
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Delegatus">
A budget Praetor, the upgrade is merely +15 pts. He also comes with a Master-Crafted weapon (which regular Centurions can't usually access), so ''the upgrade pays for itself''. They are given a task from Legion High Command and the keys to the Legion's armory with simple instructions: "[[Get shit done]] by ANY means necessary." He's a Consul that has Master of the Legion and you can take him in games below 1000pts. He must be the Warlord unless his Primarch is there, and if he is then neither Praetors nor LoWs (like Primarchs) can be taken. The Delegatus has access to a unique RoW called "Chosen Duty" that's designed for smaller games like Zone Mortalis and Strategic Raid Missions. "Chosen Duty" makes Veteran tacticals troops, and two are mandatory. He's worth a VP for surviving or awards the opponent an extra one if he dies. He's the canon dude for those who like to take RoWs with their Centurions using home rules (we know you do).
*He can't be taken in allied detachment because he '''must''' be army's Warlord unless Primarch is present. You want allies with RoW? It's Praetor or nothing. Which is kinda dumb, since fluff-wise they're supposed to be the guys that lead small veteran detachments... something to discuss with your group.
*[[Derp|Because many RoWs have a restriction on what Consuls can be taken,]] [[RAW]] [[Fail|he can't be used to take them.]]
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Warmonger">
Up-and-coming captains that are always eager to lead the first wave, if they actually survive a while they get a lot of respect and this honorary title. More like an upgrade rather than a specialist, coming somewhere between Centurion and Praetor for 45 points they grant the squad they join the Deep Strike special rule and come with an Iron Halo and Digital Lasers (neither of which a normal Centurion can get). Beyond obvious applications like Terminators they're also pretty good for deepstriking in battle automata like the [[Awesome|Iron Circle]].
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Mortificator">
Like a Praevian for but Dreadnoughts. For 25 points gets a servo arm and a Corposant Stave which is S+1 AP4 Concussive and Haywire. Must join a talon of either standard, Contemptor or Cortis(no Levi-Dreads) that can be from 2-5 and don't take a force org slot. While he's alive they can ignore penetrating or glancing hits on 5+ (explicitly not an invuln) and when two or more dreads attacks the same model in CC they get Shred and Sunder.
*Something to keep in mind is, if the Mortificator takes either Contemptor or Cortus-Contemptor Dreadnoughts as his Keeper of the Dead unit, then the dreads lose their Fleet USR (because the whole unit must have the rule and the Mortificator doesn't). Just in case you wanted to run the Cortus up the field.
*There's also an argument that if you put the Mortificator into Cataphractii Terminator armour then any Dreadnought its with can't Run or Sweeping Advance, but talk to your opponent about whether you use that. Though why you would choose that when Tartaros armor is better is rather stupid.
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Primus Nullificator">
Anti-daemon Consul. For 45 points you get Cataphractii, an Aether-Shock Maul which is S+2 AP4 Deflagrate, Hexagrammatic Wards which let you re-roll your invuln against demons and Adamantium Will. You can take one mastery level (which must be Sanctic) but since [[what|it's only a 5 point upgrade]] it's practically mandatory. Finally, they removes the 0-1 restriction on Nullificator squads who become troops with support squad.
*His bonuses are highly situational so unless you're list tailoring its best to keep him in casual games as often he will simply play like a more expensive Centurion with a level of Sanctic. An alternate take is that with a level of Sanctic he's only fifteen points more expensive than a similarly equipped Centurion but with some psychic ability and a better Power Maul [[Derp|(although RAW he doesn't have a combi-bolter)]] so if for some reason you were planning on taking one of those anyway you might as well take him.
</tab>
</tabs>
:*These Consuls are unable to fill your compulsory HQ slot(s). This also means they can't be taken in an allied force.
<tabs>
<tab name="Legion Master of Signals">
The Legiones Astartes were organised as a large-scale ground-taking force the same way that Guardsmen are organised in 40K, and that means dedicated comm specialists for maneuvering and coordinating vast amounts of firepower. Step in these bois, who don't disappoint when it comes to beefing up a gunline. Each has a once-per-game S8 AP3 D3 Large Blast Orbital bombardment and come equipped with a Cognis Signum that, among other neat benefits, grants +1 BS to a single friendly unit within 6" if he doesn't shoot that turn (which he won't, as he [[Derp|can't even take a bolter]]). They also carry a Nuncio-vox, enabling Barrage weapons to use his line of sight, allowing for much more accurate artillery fire and no-scatter deep strikes. If you were planning to deep strike all over the enemy's face and cover him in pie-plates the Orbital Assault RoW works best. Enjoy your [[Troll|accurate Rapier Quad Mortar barrages]]. This fella is no good himself in close quarter combat, nor does he boost melee efficacy, so you'll want him away from brawls and hidden among shooty doods like Seeker, Heavy Support and Tactical Support squads, Rapier batteries and so on. But don't forget - the Nuncio Vox can be used to make accurate deep strikes, which in a pinch can be used to call in some Assault Squad reinforcements to protect the gunline should enemies encroach.
*In return for all his fancy base kit, the Signals man has ''very'' limited wargear options: He can't take Terminator armour or any kind of bike. In fact, the only things he can take are power weapons (but no power fists), a Volkite charger, pistols, a charnabal sabre or a heavy chainsword. But he buffs your army with just his mere presence, so you could take him naked (or with Artificer & Refractor protection) and even at just that he's one of the most useful Consuls.
*With the new FAQ the Master of Signals has become somewhat horrendous in the right circumstances. Being able to fire his bombardment when he has moved, from a fire point or has disembarked at a DIFFERENT TARGET to any attached unit is frankly jaw-dropping. This coupled with his nuncio-vox makes him a fantastic support character for an Orbital Assault list (Bring him down turn 1 with a squad of guys with scary guns, fire the bombardment then intercept something next turn and give you 6" no scatter for another unit for the low price of around 100pts is amazing). Rites of War such as The Black Reaving and the Logos Lectora suddenly got a bit better with the mandatory inclusion of this little guy.
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Moritat">
Originally invented by the [[Raven Guard]] and considered somewhat broken back in HH1, this particular consul has since been nerfed to the ground, which is a damn shame as it happened around the time the great models were released. Moritats are cold-blooded dual-pistol-wieldin' killers, coming stock with BS5, an extra Bolt Pistol (fully replaceable), Rad grenades, Scout, Counter-Attack and a special '''[https://youtu.be/XM3BsAAO8JI?t=114 Chain Fire]''' ability, which grants each successful hit per pistol an additional shot, continually, until either said pistol has missed or the accumulated total of hits between both pistols equals twelve as per the new Crusade Army List book. This means that even if one pistol misses, the other one keeps on rolling until it too misses or the total hits 12 - Forge World clarified this in an FAQ. "I know what you're thinking: 'Did he fire twelve shots or only eleven?' Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But being this is a Mars-pattern volkite serpenta, the most powerful handgun in the segmentum, and would melt your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do you, punk?"
*Note that weapons that do not roll to hit do not benefit from Chain Fire - so dual Hand Flamers sees no benefit, and a single Hand Flamer simply adds its hits onto however many can be Chain Fire scored from the other. What's worse, weapons that '''Get Hot!''' now overheat on a 1 ''and'' a 2 and cause the entire Chain Fire to stop ''immediately''. This means that Plasma Pistols are very risky on a Moritat, and shots from them are best kept til late in the Chain lest they cut off action from the other pistol. Finally Moritats can't charge after launching a Chain Fire, nor can they shoot with the used pistols in the following turn, both for Overwatch as well as regular attacks, as they reload and let the barrels cool down. This shouldn't be a problem.
*Unfortunately, Moritats also have to put up with the ''Lone Killer'' rule, which prevents them from acting as an army's compulsory HQ or Warlord, prevents them from joining any kind of unit other than Destroyer Squads (who already wield Rad Grenades), and <u>even prevents them from benefiting from Psychic Blessings, beneficial special rules provided by special characters, Warlord traits or ''Rites of War''</u>. Moritats are moody gits that just go it alone, and don't care what even their Primarch thinks, like true Edgelords.
*Moritats can't ride bikes, and most transport options are not viable as they can only join Destroyer squads. Jump Packs are the natural choice for added mobility on a Moritat, especially as they allow Deep Striking within pistol-shootin' distance. No, you can't give them Terminator Armour, but Artificer Armour + Refractor Field will help sustain their presence long enough to earn back points.
*A Jump Pack is good for getting him out of dodge. So your Moritat doesn't have to take the same damage he dishes out or [[Primarch|worse]]. Even if his Destroyer Squad is riding around in a Rhino or LR Proteus. Freeing up valuable transport space to maximize your [[dakka]]. Though the Land Raider costs a lot more compared to 11 Jump Packs. The only time a Proteus isn't a point sink is if you're up against an army with a high number of vehicles or Monstrous Creatures.(i.e. Solar Auxilla, Miltia and Cults, Deamons and Ad-Mech). Where survivability and firepower will be more important than mobility.
*Given both the hard 12 cap on additional hits, plus the horrible Gets Hot!-specific penalties on Chain Firing, dual-using Plasma Pistols is both exceedingly risky AND inefficient. That said, the Plasma P is the strongest pistol in the Moritat's arsenal, and if anything can benefit from multiplying its rate of fire by a factor of 12, it's a S7 AP2 Terminator-mulcher. The winning combo centers on the following technicality: ''A Moritat can roll '''Chain Fire''' dice with just one of his pistols, then when that one misses he can continue firing using the other one''. In other words, a Moritat can begin a Chain Fire with a safer bet, like a Bolt Pistol or, hey, a [[Cheese|Volkite Serpenta]], begin firing with that pistol until it misses or scores a respectable number of hits, between 6 to 9 - then brown off the attack with a last couple of Plasma shots once there's no risk of cancelling the rest of the attack. How much of this was Forge World's intent is hard to say, but it works sort-of as a balanced shooting option for creating buckets of regular hits plus a few Termie-killers, and is how the majority of Moritats see use in practice.
*Most popular combo by far is the Volkite-Plasma duo, due to the Volkite's ability to carry the wound count above the [https://youtu.be/iNf5wbBxI0E?t=65 limit of twelve]. ''Against the right target [squishy guardsmen], Deflagrate can easily double the wound count of an attack''.
*Unfortunately, as fun as all these mechanics are, there's nothing a different unit can't do better than the Moritat as-is given the shot-cap and overheat nerfs. A 5-man Plasma Tactical Support squad will average more hits, score objectives, and only eat one of four common Troops slot rather than a precious HQ/Consul slot. A 5-man Volkite Charger squad will do the same and be able to charge afterwards as well. Both such units are similar in price. A Moritat with a Jump Pack can Deep Strike, but it's only worth it when he is attached to a Destroyer Squad with the same upgrade.
*Strangely RAW Moritats are not barred from taking a Volkite Charger, a Bolter or Power Weapons. Ignore the Bolter as Rapid Fire range is the same as his pistols. The Volkite Charger will be useful outside of pistol range, during Overwatch or if he is paired with a Destroyer Squad for additional firepower. The Combi-Bolter is only useful for a grenade launcher or another few shots to help his squad. While Power Weapons are useful due to not being to shoot after Chain Firing and when he or his unit gets charged. In this case you should always give him a Power Axe to kill anything that isn't tabled after two rounds of Rad Grenades and a Chain Fire salvo. It might not seem like much but Rad weapons reduce the toughness value of his victims. By the time he can use his Power Axe nothing short of a Primarch, Monstrous Creature, or vehicle should still be standing after being hit with a Chain Fire or two.
*Consider giving your Moritat the Terminal Lucidity Injectors. After your opponent sees the Moritat's unit-deletion powers, they will probably hate-kill him ASAP. The wording "as if it were the controlling player's Shooting phase" means that, RAW, you can use Chain Fire before the Moritat is removed. With decent positioning, you should be able to mow down at least two infantry squads. This anon has had excellent results by sticking a dual-plasma Moritat and a Destroyer Squad into a Termite Drill and Subterrannean Assaulting (aka Deep Striking) in the middle of an enemy gunline. If you think that's too big of an investment for esentually a Distraction/Suicide unit, then a Jump Pack Deep Strike Moritat works well, too.
*<sup>HH8</sup>: Can now take Psyk-out grenades for killing [[Thousand Sons|Psykers]] and [[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Daemons of the Ruinstorm (30k)|Daemons]] for very cheap but only really worth it if you know you're facing them
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Librarian">
Unlike 40k Librarians, the Legions haven't put [[Thousand_Sons|too much emphasis]] on Librarians and in fact [[Librarian#Then_Nikaea_Happened|were recently outright prohibited]], at least [[Word Bearers|on paper]]. The dire times of the Heresy forced them back into usage however. These bookworms are pricey, and were nerfed heavily in the stand-alone Crusade Army List. You can only purchase up to level two mastery, they don't have access to a Psychic Hood for AoE Deny the Witch coverage and choose ''a single'' psychic discipline from the rule book (not that you were going to mix/match anyway). But despite all that, they get access to the regular consul gear, so they can be placed on jetbikes to enjoy mobility only Eldar Warlocks and [[Tzeentch]] Disk-riding Sorcerers normally get.
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Primus Medicae">
These guys are super-sized [[Apothecary|Apothecaries]], granting both Feel No Pain to attached '''Space Marine''' units (and only to them, so no Custodes/Militia/Solar Auxillia/Mechanicum shenanigans) and the ability to recover lost victory points from friendly Space Marine Infantry or Jump Infantry units destroyed nearby...which is better than nothing. These chief doctors have a pretty broad wargear set unlike some Consuls, so you can customise them flexibly and put them on a bike to get a mobile & tough medic, a Jetpack or even give them Cataphractii armor. They also get a needle gun that has S2 AP5 with Rending and Poisoned, which is actually as good/better than a bolter, especially vs 2+ save MEQs. His weapon options took a bit of reduction in the updated Crusade List, now he can no longer take Power Fists, Chainfists, paired Lightning Claws or Boarding Shields.
*Due to the Medicae upgrade costing nearly as much as a bare bones Apothecary, it's hard to argue for these fellas as a pure toughness-enhancing measure over regular Apoths. Take them when the Elite slots of a force have been saturated, or when you aid in a squad not compatible with a normal apothecary (i.e. Terminators and Jetbikes), or failing that just situations where a 1-Wound Apoth wouldn't make it.
*Take into account that Primarchs and anyone without the Legion Astartes X rule can no longer get FNP from these guys so the deathstar or Primarch, Bodyguard and Primus Medicae is no longer a thing; although still useful for keeping the bodyguard alive.
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Praevian">
Master of the Legion's Automata. He is a ''Support Officer'', so cannot be used as a compulsory HQ and thus cannot be in an allied contingent. Comes equipped with a Cortex Controller, Cortex Designator and can't take anything that makes him bulky. First you choose a type of Battle Automata (only Castellax and Vorax at this time) to accompany him, forming one unit with MCs (so he can't go to ground) that he can't leave. Any time the Praevian hits an enemy unit with a ranged attack, he grants Preferred Enemy to the Automata in his unit for that turn (so give him a bolter). Upgrade them with Enhanced Targeting Arrays for 2+ re-rollable accuracy for your weapons.
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="100%">
*It gets better; as introduced in HH6 every legion can have their Legiones Astartes rules ''conferred to the Automata''. Some exceptions or modifications may apply as described below. You can also choose to not have LA rules applied to them and pick either Furious Charge, Tank Hunters or Scout (the last of which also applies to the Praevian himself, but Vorax already have it). Troll points if you also use a Legion RoW for a metric ton of rules. The LA rules apply in full, the list on HH6 is more of an options list than modifications to the LA rules.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
:*'''Dark Angels:''' Castellax may pretty much buy Monster Hunters for 15 pts apiece. ''In order to fight monsters we created monsters of our own''.
:*'''Emperor's Children''': Can buy Sonic Shriekers ''for the entire unit'' for 15 points. Deadly on Vorax, who will now attack on I5, faster than marines and as fast as the Ordo Cybernetica's, and will hit most things on 3+.
:*'''Space Wolves''': Can buy Counter-Attack, which is pointless since [[Forgeworld|Space Wolves already have counter-attack.]]
:*'''Night Lords:''' Each Battle Automata counts as three models for the Talent for Murder rule. Retribution says they can buy Trophies of Judgment but they already cause Fear for being MCs so ignore that option.
:*'''Death Guard:''' It makes it look like they need to have LA rules to gain access to Chem Munitions, but those are a force option, so you could have them with Tank Hunters instead (DG also has many ways of improving frag grenades, available to Battle-Automata). Death Guard's FnP(4+) against Poison and Fleshbane combines very well with the Battle-Automata's Cybernetic Resilience. The enemy wanted to use poison to kill your MCs? Successful wounds will be rerolled and then they'll have a FnP save on top of their armour/invuln save. DG rules also impose a -1 penalty to their Sweep Advance score, but Praevians are I5 anyway.
:*'''Sons of Horus:''' Each Battle Automata counts as three models for the Merciless Fighters rule and can buy Banestrike rounds for 15 points ''per model'', meaning that any regular Bolter on them (they have 2 by default) can sort-of keep up with their Mauler Bolt Cannon. Pass on the Banestrikes, but Merciless Fighting can be a lot of fun for bots strong enough to squish marines or Terminators.
:*'''Word Bearers:''' Can purchase Dark Channeling if a Diabolist is also present. Be wary that Castellax wouldn't really gain anything if you rolled 'Daemon', and Vorax have a way easier time getting into melee. +1S wouldn't help much on its own, but combined with Furious Charge your Castellax would punch as hard as lascannons, and it would also grant the Vorax a 5++.
:*'''Raven Guard:''' Battle Automata gain Infiltrate and Fleet. [[DISTRACTION_CARNIFEX|SURPRISE CASTELLAX]] anyone? Voraxii already have Scout & Fleet and wound marines on a 2+, so they don't benefit much from Furious Charge either (and if you want to reliably threaten vehicles Castellax would serve you better). The Praevian can confer Infiltrate to the unit, so better give Tank Hunters to Castellaxes with Darkfire cannons. Shadow points for giving the Praevian Cameleoline to grant the infiltrated T7 unit Stealth.
:*'''Alpha Legion:''' Mutable Tactics and Battle Automata can buy Banestrike rounds for 15 points ''per model'', meaning that any regular Bolter on them (they have 2 by default) can sort-of keep up with their Mauler Bolt Cannon. Pass on the Banestrikes, but given how Mutable tactics work, any Praevian-led unit can become a clusterfuck of rules-sploit goodness: Battle-Automata already have Adamantium Will, Move Through Cover and Scout (Vorax only), and the Praevian can confer Infiltrate/Tank Hunters/Scout depending on his MT by virtue of those rules requiring a single model in order to affect the entire squad. If you're now thinking "<b>???</b>" then mission accomplished, an Alpharius is you. Just kidding, pick the one you need for the occasion.
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<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="100%">
*Do note that in the playtest rules the Praevian is changed by quite a bit, mainly by removing the LA rules for the Automata and just giving them each a specific bonus to prevent the absurd combos that showed up. While they're not official yet, don't expect these above combos to last if the changes make it through unaltered.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
:*'''Dark Angels:''' Free Monster Hunter.
:*'''Emperor's Children:''' Free Crusader, and sonic shriekers for +5 per model.
:*'''Iron Warriors:''' Free Wrecker, and Blessed Autosimulacra for +10 per model.
:*'''White Scars:''' Free Swift Action, the White Scars special rule that lets you reroll 1s To Wound when you've moved 6".
:*'''Space Wolves:''' Free Counter-attack.
:*'''Imperial Fists:''' Free Tank Hunters and +1 BS on any boltguns.
:*'''Night Lords:''' Free Talent for Murder, the Night Lords special rule that gives +1 To Hit and To Wound when you outnumber the enemy; the automata count as 3 models. Acute Senses and Trophies of Judgement (Fear) for +10 per model, but your automata are already Monstrous Creatures who cause Fear.
:*'''Blood Angels:''' Free Encarmine Fury, the Blood Angels special rule that boils down to +1 To Wound.
:*'''Iron Hands:''' Free Blessed Autosimulacra. Blessed Autosimulacra [[RAW|ackchyually]] restores hull points, not wounds.
:*'''World Eaters:''' Free Rage.
:*'''Ultramarines:''' BS2 Snap Shots if the automata remained stationary.
:*'''Death Guard:''' Free FNP(6+), plus optional free Chem-munitions.
:*'''Thousand Sons:''' Free +1 to Invuls.
:*'''Sons of Horus:''' Free Merciless Fighters, the Sons of Horus special rule that gives extra attacks at Initiative 1 when you outnumber the enemy; the automata count as 3 models. Banestrike bolter rounds for +5 per model.
:*'''Word Bearers:''' Free Hatred (Everything).
:*'''Salamanders:''' Free Promethean Gift, the Salamanders special rule that gives +1S to your flamers and -1S to theirs. Master-crafting of one weapon for +5 per model.
:*'''Raven Guard:''' Free Furious Charge and Fleet. Forge World was probably trying to eliminate infiltrating automata. Un(?)fortunately, the Praevian himself still gets Infiltrate, the rule applies if at least one model has it, and Forge World doesn't know the rules to ''their own fucking game''.
:*'''Alpha Legion:''' Free Preferred Enemy against your choice of Infantry, Vehicles, or Monstrous Creatures. Banestrike bolter rounds for +5 per model.
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</tab>
<tab name="Legion Herald">
A 40pt upgrade which grants some pretty sizable buffs to your army depending on which Faction you are (looks like in Book 6 they are really hammering down on picking a Faction rather than having Loyalists and Traitors a campaign thing). Now the limitations: cannot be the compulsory HQ (so no Herald for allies, kinda unfluffy IMO), and can take a Rite of War, your enemy scores an additional VP if the Herald dies, cannot benefit from additional CCW (as he's holding a MF banner), may not take a jump pack/jetbike/bike/terminator armour, may not take any weapon which is Two-Handed. Always best giving the Herald Artificer Armour and possibly a power fist since the Specialist Weapon downside makes zero difference. Now time for banners; all banners affect the Herald and all units within 12" (which meet the restrictions).
*'''Blackshields - Dark Banner:''' All LA(Blackshields) gain Fear and +1 Leadership. All-round solid banner.
*'''Loyalists - Banner of the Aquila:''' All models with LA (including the Herald) who are part of a Loyalist force gain +1 WS to a maximum of 5. Solid banner that can be used for either defensive or offensive purposes, as most things are when comparing Loyalists to Chaos.
*'''Traitors - Banner of the Eye:''' All models with LA (including the Herald) who are part of a Traitor force add +1" to both charge and run distances AND may re-roll 1's to HIT on the turn they successfully charged, World Eater-style. An extremely aggressive banner, which is usually the case for Traitors. Now go dig the loyalist scum out of their hovels!!! DEATH TO THE FALSE EMPEROR.
*The Herald bizarrely gets both the '''Rite of Command''' AND the '''Support Officer''' rules, so if you take a Herald he cannot fill your compulsory HQ slot but he HAS to be your warlord (and can't be taken along any other model that also has to be your warlord) unless you also take your Primarch, meaning that extra victory point he concedes for killing him likely doubles due to "Slay the Warlord" objectives. Rite of Command also grants you the Master of the Legion rule meaning you can take a Rite of War with a Herald.
*'''Playtest Rules:''' <sup>FAQ Feb 19</sup> Do remember that these rules can only be used if both players agree to use them, as they're not official yet. Heralds get Implacable Advance (which is quite good on an Independent Character if you attach him to a non-scoring unit) and Fearless, in addition as of these rules Heralds can take Terminator Armour. Now that this has been made a thing, consider the Herald to be a super-sized version of the Ancient from a Command Squad, and actually a viable HQ choice now. If you're looking for inspiration, consider putting him in squads that aren't normally scoring that you want to be (Tyrant Siege Terminators, Fulmentarus, Quad Mortars, you get the idea) and enjoy a 12" bubble of whatever bonus you're getting based on your loyalty and a fearless pseudo-scoring unit now. Engage maximum troll-face if you throw them in a unit of Iron Circle just to really capitalize on keeping that flag safe...
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Armistos">
Captain with a heavy weapon. Awesome in concept, fail in execution. For 20 points, you can get void hardened armour, an augury scanner, and a master-crafted heavy bolter that he can swap only for a master-crafted volkite culverin. He can't take a jump pack, a jetbike, normal bike, or Terminator armour, but gives one Legion Heavy Support squad carrying the same kind of weapon as him (so a heavy bolter or volkite culverin) 'master-crafted'. He's also Stubborn which is useful for holding your backline together. The problem is that heavy support squads with bolters or volkite is taking up a heavy support slot that is better used by just about anything else. Oh, and there's a good reason master-crafted is restricted to characters most of the time, [[Bullshit|you have to roll to hit with each one of those weapons to make sure they only get one re-roll each]].
</tab>
<tab name="Legion Esoterist">
Represents those psykers no longer in the Librarius after Nikaea and messing about with things they shouldn't. 15 points plus one and up to two levels of mastery in either Sanctic or Malefic for ten each. Gets a force weapon and if not in Terminator armour can take psyk-out grenades and a Archaeotech pistol.
*An Esoterist is an interesting alternative to a Librarian being significantly cheaper but less flexible and more likely to explode. Generally you'll want a Librarian but an Esoterist has some tricks worth considering. In Sanctic Hammerhand and Sanctuary are great buffs, the former is ridiculously lethal on a big squad of pistol and chainaxe World Eaters and the latter on a Primarch deathstar is game breaking. Malefic can be trickier to use because of its high warp charge costs and warp charges are things that Heresy armies do not generally have with [[Word Bearers|some]] [[Thousand Sons|exceptions]] - that said the time your esoterist turns into a Bloodthirster might make it all worth it.
</tab>
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:*It's best to think of the Centurion as a ''support'' HQ choice. They work best when linked with another unit or when working in conjunction with a Praetor. That being said, a Centurion ''is'' a good choice he will a.) help focus the tactics of the overall army and b.) perform whichever vital function you need him to. If your army is going for a standoffish approach of just shooting, take the Siege Breaker or Master of Signals to boost your firepower; if your army is more close combat oriented, take a Legion Champion, Chaplain or Moritat to improve your close-in ability. Primus medicae are best placed with your elite terminators, while Librarians, Vigilators and Forge Lords are flexible enough to behave like a proper subcommander and do well in almost any situation. Just remember he's not one of those named special characters.
*'''Legion Damocles Command Rhino:''' A non-compulsory choice in any Legion army, but can be taken as a dedicated transport option for an Ultramarine Master of Signals. Objectively better than the 40K version for many reasons. They apply their Deep Strike homer bonus to ALL units within 24" ''(not just teleporting units within 12")'' and ALSO reduce any roll for a Deep Strike mishap by -1, which might seem stupid if you can Deep Strike without error anyway, but this bonus applies anywhere on the table, not just within the homer radius. They also can modify the owner's reserve rolls by +/-1, so you can ensure you bring units on when you really want them to. They still have the orbital strike, albeit at S8 AP3, though it is twin-linked and Lance, so it's quite accurate and good for taking out MEQs or vehicles. The final bonus for this tank is that it has a transport capacity, something the 40K version lacks. So it's quite a useful vehicle that can do a lot for your army.

===Elites===
*'''Veteran Tactical Squad:''' A 5-10 strong squad, predicting the vein of post-heresy Tactical squads. Tri-weapon setup (Bolter+Bolt Pistol+CCW) by default and 2A for every statline, so very solid all round performance. One special or heavy weapon per five men, and any model can take a Combi-weapon or a Power Weapon. Heavy Weapons receive a very nice Suspensor web, allowing [[Troll|Assault]] heavy weapon-calibre shots at halved range. No specialist ammunitions, however, since [[Thousand Sons|Legion]]-[[Alpha Legion|exclusives]] fancy bullets go on Seekers in the Fast Attack Slot in 30K, which goes a long way towards diversifying the bolter-wielding scene. Veterans are a tooled up Tactical Squad, akin to the Veteran rules popular among Marine armies in 4th edition - not just in terms of flexible equipment, but also via the inclusion of ''Veteran Tactics'', a special rule that lets each unit pick one of five specialisations presented below, giving them an extra kick in one dimension.
**On the whole, it's best to keep these guys cheap and simple. Use complementary matchings of Veteran Tactics and weapons for a coherent unit role, with a few tools to make killing infantry and Troop choice units simpler. When built well, Tactical Veterans live up to their name as slicker 40K Tacticals in 30K - which mind you is often the case, as many Rites of War and Character rules make them Troops. All Veteran Tacticals have the '''Implacable Advance''' rule in addition to their tactic, which makes them Scoring no matter their slot. With the most recent price reduction, a unit is but 35pts more dear than an equivalent Legion Tactical squad, and for that modest fee they get a solid statisical-and-rule boost and a plethora of wargear options to work with them.
**When finding a role for Vet-Tac units, think along similar lines to the Consuls: special-purpose tools meant to nail a particular task, not lead or powerhouse superunits. Useful on their own, Vets become ''beastly'' when paired with Legiones Astartes rules and Rites. For many lists, these heroes will find themselves receiving ''two or three'' special rules at once. Hooah.
***'''Resolve''' grants the ''Stubborn'' USR and nothing else. Sometimes useful due to the lack of ATSKNF in 30k. If you find yourself against Fear-spamming Night Lords and Word Bearers with Ld-penalising tricks and stunts, an all-rounder melee unit of Vets could switch to this and take charges like men.
***'''Stalkers''' grant each model the ''Scout'' rule. Not terrible, but losing Marksmen still hurts like hell.
***'''Weapon Masters''' gives the whole squad +1 WS, an obvious offensive and defensive boon for a melee loadout. Remember that as Veterans, everyone has 2 base attacks + Pistol & CCW bonus by default, so every bonus is amplified beyond the norm for units with "Tactical" in the name. With everyone able to take Power Weapons, and one in five Twin Lightning Claws, these are the units you pack in a nifty transport and throw into Tactical, or even Assault, bloackades for maximum squelch. Don't forget some Suspensor-Web big guns to soften the target up before the charge!
***'''Machine Killers''' gives all the unit's attacks +1 to Armour Penetration rolls, which goes down very smoothly in conjunction with Combi-weapons, especially Combi-meltas which become one-use hand-Lascannons: massed S9 AP1 ''will'' go even through Armoured Ceramite with a good chance of exploding the unfortunate targeted vehicle. Furthermore, the whole squad can purchase Melta Bombs; risky and a smidge overkill, but nicely discounted. Alternatively consider combi-grenade launchers so you can shoot more times than a combi-melta.
***'''Xenobane''' units may reroll to-wound against Monstrous or Gargantuan Creatures. Highly situational, and only useful against Daemons or Mechanicum, unless you're playing games out of their appropriate settings.

*'''Legion Destroyer Squad:''' The bastards who give the middle finger to the Geneva Convention. Frequently used against xenos (who have no human rights) and when a harsh example needs to be made. They have access to nasty proscribed weapons that even in this setting are described as [[Grimdark|''"too cruel"'']], like Toughness-decreasing Rad grenades, AoE Fleshbane Rad missiles (no access to Krak, though), the deadly Phosphex bombs and, as of Book 8, Poisoned (3+) psychic flamers with Rending in all but name. The squad has a hard-on for bolt pistols, with each Destroyer wielding a pair for double-tapping at any (admittedly short) distance. One in five can take a Serpenta/Hand flamer/Plasma pistol; Rad missiles are the better choice, but the pistols are a little cheaper. In short, the Legion Destroyer squad is a more expensive Assault squad (''from before they got their price fixed'', and with the jump packs needing to be bought extra - in all honesty it's still hard to justify this unit's cost) with better shooting ability and access to unique anti-infantry weapons. Properly equipped, they'll make their points back by ''erasing'' a swathe of infantry, AdMech MCs or even Terminators before they go pop. <u>Too bad the Servitors of rad Techmarines can bring more Rad Missile launchers, the weapon that used to make this squad "unique"</u>.
**Destroyers are also the only unit that can accompany the (''eternally-nerfed'') Moritats. And they're not just a meatshield, they complement him; Mori's can't Overwatch or Assault after using their signature Chain Fire ability, but these guys have Counter Attack to make up for the difference, as well as good Flamers as of Book 8. The whole squad can buy Melta bombs for a flat cost, making large units effective scourers of machines as well as men - another area where Moritats will appreciate the help.
**The whole squad can buy Jump Packs which, in conjunction with their Rad grenades, will give them Hammer of Wrath on -1T enemies, '''ID'ing GEQs''' in one great nuclear splat. It's decidedly pricy, especially compared to a Rhino, but the advantage in deployment options and shoot-charging is worthy. Alongside an attached Moritat a Destroyer squad can Scout 12" and then move another 12", thus negating the main weakness of all pistoliers - their weapon's short range.
**If Jump Packs, Rhinos and footslogging sound too cheap and frail, the Land Raider Proteus is available for these boys. Upgrade it with an Exploratory Augury Web to grant it Scout and ensure reserve shenanigans. Scout 12", move 6", disembark 6" and phosphex some poor soul off the map. Since you scout-moved and probably Chain Fired with the Moritat leader, you won't have to worry about the lack of assault ramp. Two TLLC and an optional MM (or yet another Lascannon) give the beast utility, whether synergistic - blow transports open to get the Destroyers on the flammable insides - or diversified, letting this expensive deathnest tackle more targets.
**Fancy something a bit more disruptive? As of Book IX: Crusade, Termites are now available as a dedicated transport for these guys...
**'''Playtest Rules'''<sup>FAQ 2019</sup>: Do remember that these rules can only be used if both players agree to use them, as they're not official yet. The Feb. 2019 FAQ buffs these guys a fair amount by dropping their points cost (both the base cost and the cost to add more models) and giving everyone +1 Attack and Hardened Armour, in return for dropping the ability to take Volkite Serpentas as well as foisting on them the movement penalties from Hardened Armour. With these changes, Destroyers can now fit into more lists than before as a more offensively-oriented assault squad (if you decide to outfit them with Jump Packs), what with their increased attacks stat and all the Hammer of Wrath hits you'll be doing, as well as permanently debuffing multi-wound models' Toughness stats with their Rad missiles, all the while being very resistant to Flamers (especially in Overwatch) and light artillery. As they are now they fit into melee-oriented legions very well, more especially so with Jump Packs in Night Lords or Sons of Horus lists. Death Guard Destroyers won't even mind too much if Phosphex blows their way either! Now if only they could drop a Phosphex bomb on some poor suckers' heads while jumping over them . . .

*'''Legion Terminator Squad:''' It's [[Terminator]]s, what's not to like about them? Expensive, but good. Note that in 30K, Termies can ''only'' Deep Strike in conjunction with a Rite of War, attached Special Character or Legion specific equipment. Legion Terminators are more a precursor to [[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Chaos Space Marines(7E)|modern Chaos Marines]] than the highly-restrictive loyalist counterparts - each model wields a Power Weapon as standard, and any individual model can upgrade their TL-bolters or Power weapons to Combi-weapons, Fists, Claws and so on. You can shoot for a heavy assault outfit, but only the Salamanders & Imperial Fists have access to the TH/SS combo, however in HH such a unit is extremely expensive and there's so much AP2 you might regret not keeping them cheap. Fortunately the Heresy era has other tricks: units outfitted with Tartaros pattern armour can make a Sweeping Advance, letting them roll over large infantry blobs. Alternatively, units can walk into battle with Cataphractii pattern, which reverses and amplifies the benefit of Tartaros by preventing Sweeping Advances, Run moves and Overwatch (effectively Slow and Purposeful, but without sharing with joined units) in return for a *free* 4+ Invulnerable save. You can basically get old-fashioned (3rd-edition) Storm Shields for free, AND keep a gun or extra Claw. And no matter the choice of armour, all Terminator units have Implacable Advance, so they can footslog onto points and hold them with extra security.
**Terminators are like Tactical squads: don’t over-complicate them, or they will struggle to earn back their points. They’re not a subtle unit, but a good solid powerhouse that will get most jobs done, especially when specialised. To go into more detail:
**For '''armour choices''', you effectively have two. If you want to kill something then sit on an objective, go Cataphractii. Their extra protection will be well worth it when the final rounds are rolling around, and unlike Tartaros they don't need a Transport as badly, and can be better outfitted for shooting (described below). Tartaros units on the other hand badly need a transport with the Assault Vehicle rule (so mostly either Land Raiders or Spartans), and they want a good melee loadout (also below) to make them a formidable Deathstar. They can handle a lot more than you might expect, even against other Legion-specific units and you'll be glad for their Sweep Advance when you win combat against Custodes and their AP3 spears.
**When outfitting the Terminators for '''Shooting''', don't skip straight to the heavy stuff. It's tempting to immediately go for the Plasma Blaster and Combi-Plasma, but this is a mistake. Not only does it make them more of a fire unit and cost a lot, but you'll also suffer the cost of being a one-trick pony. When you've blown your plasma load that's it, your unit is barely more threatening at a distance than a tactical squad.
***Instead consider the following: Combi-Grenade Launchers, and a Reaper Autocannon. Yes we know what you're thinking: "Those can't kill Marines!" You'd be right in the sense that you'd be AP4 at best, however since every Grenade Launcher can fire at once (and Combi-Launchers aren't one-use), you can rain a hail of S6 shots that are much better than your Combi-Bolter at the same distance, and enough of those will go through enemy Armour.
***We get why you'd skip the Reaper Autocannon at first glance, after all, 10,000 years later [[Chaos Space Marines|only one side still uses them]] (but we won't judge your loyalty, or lack thereof). It's solidly the best light armour popper in its weight class, allowing you to pen Rhino's, and to a lesser degree, AV12 vehicles, at 48" away, further messing with your enemy's movement while you sit on top of the objective they want.
***If you're up against Mechanicum or Solar Auxilia it's even better since you'll ignore a lot of their saves, and if any of them group up you'll get even more kills with Frag Grenades.
***If you're really worried about Assault squads coming your way, then get a few power fists, they're cheap, ignore Apothecaries and make excellent deterrents, especially if characters are hovering around and wondering if they can take on a larger Cataphractii squad, which can earn you a nice Praetor kill if he charges, is at the front of the squad and you decline his challenge (since now he's a target for some of the first allocated Instant Death wounds). Shooting squads also don't necessarily need a Transport, it'll only cut down on their shot count and you'll always reach the objective you want unless you intentionally deploy them poorly.
***A special note for Volkite Chargers: they're useless. Combi-Weapons can be Combi-Volkite, which means they get an infinite use Volkite Charger (since they lack one-use) while keeping a Bolter for threats further than 15", so always get those instead of you're up against Mechanicum or Imperial Militia since they have the same cost. Also note that before Deflagrate kicks in, against Marines Volkite Chargers have exactly the same damage output as a Combi-Bolter at short range, while only shooting 3" further (so everyone in the unit needs to shoot about 4 times before you recoup the cost of model + gun). Their range is the real kicker, you could easily be out of range of any target worth a damn, and unable to threaten most Mechanicum 4+ save automata as effectively as a Grenade Launcher, so Mechanicum will either outrange you with Shredding + Rending weapons, or be close enough (but still out of your range) to charge you in their turn with AP2 attacks. As for Solar Auxilia, they'll always outrange you, period. If you know you're up against Cult Hordes however, then by all means, spam Combi-Volkite, you'll clear models out by the dozen.
**When outfitting Terminators for '''Assault''', it's highly recommended you use a mixed loadout. The reason why is quite simple: a lot of units have varying saves, so the Sergeant for example can carry an AP2 fist to deal with other Sergeants and their Artificer Armour, while some of his squad mates can carry Lightning Claws to shred the enemy's Power Armour. If you're worried about Command Squads or other units with a 2+ save by default, then bringing 3 Fists and two Claw wielders is a good way to balance a squad of 5.
***You can also bring Combi-Plasma (and/or the Plasma Blaster) if you're not sure that'll be enough AP2, and you can take the Heavy Flamer if you're confident you've got the armour situation in hand, you won't regret it against Solar Auxilia or Mechanicum.
***Lastly, don't forget your Grenade Harness. Yes Land Raiders and Spartans can have Frag Assault Launchers, however if you want to charge more than once then you'll want to charge from a combat you just won into another, and you do not have the turn to waste getting back into the tank, then coming out again to avoid terrain penalties.
**While there are plenty of units in the 30K game with Implacable Advance, with fancy Legion-exclusive Terminators as prime examples, the standard Terminator squad sits at the heart of of [[Deathwing]] style lists - not just for price-efficiency, but for the plethora of Rites of War and Special Character rules giving them access to the troops slot. Plenty of special-Terminator variants can't take Grenade or Volkite spam either, and really who can resist the guilty pleasure of a little spam at this point? Nobody important, that's who.
*'''Techmarine Covenant:''' A very unusual entry, you can take 1-3 Techmarines in a single Elites slot. Each is a separate unit, and each can take up to four Servo-Automata. Where Forge Lord Consuls are a 40k Techmarine turned up to 11, these guys are just competent enough to change your <s>oil</s> sacred unguents. It's very important to note that these are ''not'' independent characters, so while they have access to much of the same wargear as the Forge Lord, most of it isn't terribly useful on his subordinates.
**So what are they good for? Most obviously, repairs. They're vulnerable on the front lines, but they'll do a fine job in the back, keeping your artillery in working order. They're particularly good when placed inside vehicles with transport capacity that you're not using; your Land Raider Achilles was probably going to stay empty all game, and a Techmarine will boost its durability considerably.
**A second use for them involves their Servo-Automata. Those things mostly suck: they're expensive compared to other factions' tech-buddies and they don't even help repair shit. However, there's exactly one loadout that's pretty worthwhile. If the Techmarine takes Rad-grenades, his Servo-automata can take Missile Launchers with Rad Missiles. For under 200 points, you're pumping out four Fleshbane AP3 Blasts and evaporating Marines left and right.
**Perhaps the greatest calling of 30K Techmarines combines the above two jobs. Stick a Techmarine with four Rad-automata into a fortification, for example. He can keep it repaired while his pets pump out the poison. Or make use of a Damocles Command Rhino's two fire points by taking two missile minions while the Techmarine protects your expensive investment.
*'''Apothecarion Detachment:''' 1-3 [[Apothecary|Apothecaries]] as a single elites choice, each MUST be attached to an Infantry squad with the LA rule, but they may now purchase a bike or Jump Pack so they may join Bikes or Jump Infantry squads respectively, which they cannot voluntarily leave. This grants you choice over which squads gets the Feel No Pain special rule, which is awesome for those 20-man footsloggers; however they CANNOT join units equipped with Terminator Armour or with the [[Word Bearers|Daemon]] rule, so it's more difficult to create resilient god units...''but that's the Medicae Primus' job''. Their wargear options are limited, but if they don't take a bike or pack, they can instead buy Artificer armour to aid their survival. They also get the access to the lower tier of sergeant gear, such as Power Weapons and Combi-Weapons and can get Augury Scanners to allow their squads to screw with Infiltrators and to Intercept Deep Strikers for a dirt-cheap 5pts.

*'''0-1 Legion Nullificator Squad:<sup>HH8</sup>''' 5-10 Cataphractii armoured Daemon killers. Come stock with Stubborn, Adamantium Will, Aether-Shock Mauls (S+2 AP4 Deflagrate), Combi-Bolters and Hexagrammatic Wards which allow them to reroll their invuln against Daemons. Any model can take Power Fists, Grenade Harness and a Toxiferran Flamer which is a flamer with Poisoned (3+) and Tainted which is Rending but strips any Psychic blessings from its targets. Sergeant can take a Power Sword, Fist or Thunder Hammer. You can only take one though without the right Consul which is a shame because these dudes are [[awesome|awesome]]. Toxiferran Flamers are good for clearing out hordes. So they’re not only effective against Daemons but traitors of the Imperial Army and the Solar Auxilia, too. Just don't do something stupid like putting them up against Dakkanators and anything else that can take pot shots at them outside of their range. Also it bears repeating that their Cataphractii armor leaves them unable to Overwatch or perform a Sweeping Advance. So they are not a substitute for Vanilla Terminators.
**For [[Forgeworld|unknown reasons]] Power Fists are ''far'' more expensive on these guys than on anyone else, with them being even more expensive than the Thunder Hammer option that is available to the sergeant, so just ignore that option.

*'''Legion Rapier Battery:''' 1-3 Rapiers with Quad('''!''') Heavy Bolters, which can be upgraded to Laser Destroyers or Graviton Cannons. Also, the entire battery has the option to upgrade to Quad-launchers instead, with access to four different kinds of shells besides the regular Frag ones. Rapier Batteries can do the job of a Heavy support squad at a much cheaper cost and with greater survivability. They do have less flexibility on the transport front however, as their only DT is a Drop Pod carrying '''1 gun plus crew''' at a time, and only when using the "Orbital Assault" RoW. Think of the Rapier as cognate to the Thunderfire cannon, but with T7 base and 4 wounds. You’ll want to set them up in terrain somewhere in the backfield and never move unless it's absolutely required. The roles are mostly self-explanatory based on the gun you mount:
**For dealing with general infantry you'll want the Heavy Bolters for forcing lots of saves on-the-cheap, 6 Twin-Linked S5 shots WILL lead to failed saves. Graviton Cannons are costlier but also help here: in spite of being tailor-made for killing vehicles they also do wonders for putting the brakes on regular infantry as after they've blown open their transports, a large patch of temporarily difficult and dangerous terrain makes reaching an objective/cover/effective range to attack a target that bit harder.
**For dealing with vehicles you'll want Laser Destroyers (S9, AP1, Ordnance) or Graviton Cannons (for Haywire). None of these options (yes, not even multiple Graviton Cannons) have good odds to take out Souped-Up Spartans/Land Raiders even in two turns, but they'll wreck the shit out of all other vehicles. Anything with an AV lower than 14 and Hull Points lower than 4 fit the crosshairs -just don't expect much in one turn due to extensive invulnerable saves in 30K.
**Quad Launcher Support Batteries became more expensive, but gained access to several extra munitions besides their '''Frag shells''' with ''Shell Shock'' for increased chance of Pinning: good old '''Shatter shells''' to deal with medium AV with their four S8 Sunder shots, '''Incendiary Shells''' that are weaker frag shells that Ignore Cover Saves, '''Splinter Shells''' with S2 AP4 Rending, because FW apparently thinks small blasts that wound on a six cost +10pts (even Frag shells have a higher chance of wounding termies). But the most powerful munitions they have access to are '''Phosphex canister shots''', available if you have a Siege Breaker in your force.
***The Medusa may be the better source of regular phosphex, but if what you care about is ''killing regular marines while leaving behind flaming dangerous terrain'', then <u>Phosphex Quad launchers are your best option</u>, ruining ''~1.5 times'' the terrain covered by Medusae, while being ''~2.8 times'' more points efficient in doing so, its MEQ killing capabilities comparable to Scorpius Whirlwinds (shorter range, less mobility and wounds on a 3+, but more reliable, leaves obstacles for infantry in its wake and you can bring more dakka for the same price).

*'''Legion [[Dreadnought]] Talon:''' Squads of Dreads, rejoice. This unit comprises the good-old (future?) "Castraferrum" boxnought design. Up to 3 for a single Elites choice, but only a talon of one may deepstrike in a drop pod. Speaking of which, this is the only kind of Dreadnought that can fit in the ordinary pod, which is a third of the price of a Dreadnought drop pod. With the introduction of Cortus Contemptors there's <u>almost</u> no reason to keep on using regular boxnoughts, with one major exception. Still, they have access to stuff no Contemptor can get, and we'll go over it below. Don't forget it will go down due to glances from krak grenades, so try to stay out of trouble (and by trouble we mean those 20-man blobs). The Dreadnoughts have a lot of weapons to consider so we'll first cover their arm options, then their CCW upgrades.
**'''Multi-Melta's''' are not efficient weapons for 30K. Yes your enemy can't usually afford to give Armoured Ceramite to every transport, however any transport they'll skip out on is going to be AV11/AV12, and those are best handled by the next weapon on this list. Their only good use is in walker duels. Funnily enough since the Dreadnought has access to Armoured Ceramite and the Contemptor doesn't, a Dreadnought with it and using a Multi-melta is more likely than not to kill a Contemptor armed with one, and he's a hell of a lot cheaper to boot.
**'''Twin-linked Autocannons''' are your go-to transport poppers, they're so cheap they might as well be free, and point for point they are the most cost efficient way to kill AV11. Ideally you'll be using them to get squads out of Rhinos, then using other squads, either Assault Squads or Shooting units to finish off the passengers. In case you're curious, it is more efficient to have an Autocannon Dread pop a Rhino then let a Heavy Support Squad with heavy weapons finish off the passengers, than it is to have a Heavy Support Squad with Autocannons pop the Transport and rely on the Dreadnought to finish off its payload. An Autocannon Dread with a CCW is also a bigger threat once its ideal targets are all taken care of. Though the Autocannon can handle AV12, they lose about 50% efficiency compared against AV11. Consider Rending or higher AP weapons against AV12, as they keep better chances.
**'''Twin-linked Missile Launchers''' are an inefficient option. They're not as good at killing armour as your other choices, and most armies have good enough armour to shrug off the Frag Missile. If you want ranged anti-infantry, get the next option.
**The '''Volkite Culverin''' is your best infantry-killer, provided you haven't gotten close enough to use the following weapon. The Boxnaught lacks an Assault Cannon so the Culverin is the only option it has to pick up the slack. It still makes a relatively cheap unit, however you're still going to be heavily outperformed by a Heavy Support Squad with Culverins, although you're a bit tougher to kill... usually.
**The '''Flamestorm Cannon''' is a welcome addition, and it's sure to horrify your opponent as much as it delights you when it vaporizes most of a gathering Assault Squad. A Dread with a Flamestorm Cannon, CCW and Graviton Gun (below) can be a great defensive block against aggressive enemy units, first messing with the movement of incoming squads, then slaughtering those who come close (with any luck, you'll fuck with them enough to get two shots at them). This is easily your best anti-Marine weapon just in general. This weapon can't be taken by any other kind of dread.
**'''Twin-linked Lascannons''' The most expensive gun and they're rarely worth it. Contemptor's have much better protection against the firepower you'll receive in return, not to mention they have better ballistic skill, so skip them here.
**With the arm weapons done, let's get through the CCW attachments. Inbuilt '''Twin-linked Bolters''' are forgettable, and the only reason you'd want to keep them is if you were going to be getting a bunch of Dreadnoughts, keeping them cheap, and sending them with 2 CCW's ahead of the rest of your army. It's more effective than you might think, even 3 of them will be less than 20% your total army's cost, take up only a single Elites slot, and they hit enemy squads like wrecking balls. This is also their main advantage over the Contemptor-Cortus, since they have WS5 and it has WS4 they'll do more with a regular charge than it can do with Rage.
**Unless you're against Mechanicum or Solar Auxilia (who have plenty of armour it ignores), give the '''Heavy Flamer''' a pass. You're not likely to kill more models with it than you are the bolter (especially since its range is much less) and the cost is hard to justify.
**'''Graviton Guns''' are one of the unique 30k options for Dreadnoughts, and they're a pretty good one at that. They mess up the battlefield, fucking with your enemy's movement and they have Haywire for dealing with other vehicles. feel free to laugh if you strip two HP off a tank with your Graviton Guns then they get immobilised and die in their following turn. Do remember to be careful though, if you're too close these weapons could easily backfire, either by making you charge through terrain or by scattering way too much.
**'''Melta Guns''' have all the same problems as the Multi-Melta, and everything that was said for them goes here as well. They're an upgrade you should skip in favour of either the Graviton Guns (for dealing with armour) or the following for infantry...
**'''Plasma Blasters''' are your most expensive choice, however they can easily be worth it. Killing just one Terminator will immediately make their points back and then some, and they also make it far easier to win ensuing combats, but this doesn't mean they're without drawbacks. You will lose HP to these things, and that will make you easier to kill in Assault afterwards. If you're not shooting at something worth it (read, Terminators or expensive Legion-specific units) either don't take these, or don't shoot them.

*'''Contemptor Dreadnought Talon:''' Squads of the more era-intensive Contemptor model 'noughts. Up to 3 for a single Elites choice. With 13|12|10 armour, Fleet, access to the S6 ''Rending'' 6 shots Kheres cannon, Heavy Conversion Beam (so heavy that not even Relentless will help you) and Atomantic Shielding (5+ inv. against shooting, 6+ inv. against close combat, and +1" to explosion if it suffers a 'Vehicle explodes' result) the Contemptor is a powerful dreadnought for which every legion army can find a use. ''Like the regular dreadnought it has the capability to fill a number of roles, but unlike it, players should see better results with its better armour, increased statline, and better weapons.'' Contemptor Dreadnoughts have weapons for almost every situation, so we're going to go over them here, with exception to their twin-linked Bolter replacements. Those are the same as the regular Dreadnoughts above so anything that goes for them goes for the Contemptors as well.
**Starting in increasing order of cost, '''Multi-melta's''' should be well known to players, however they're not so efficient in 30K, which might explain why they're free. The targets you'd like to wreck almost always have Armoured Ceramite, and the targets who don't, either because your opponent can't afford to give it to every vehicle, are not an efficient way of earning your points back. You can still make it work if you know or suspect your opponent is bringing walkers, since other Dreadnoughts do not have Armoured Ceramite and are thus vulnerable to your gun, just don't use it on the small stuff. You're not going to recoup the cost of the Dreadnought by trying to kill 35 point Rhinos if you miss or fail the longer-ranged penetration role, besides, that role already belongs to...
**'''Twin-linked Autocannons''' are so cheap they might as well be free, Autocannons fill the role or transport poppers. Pound for pound they are the most efficient gun a Contemptor has for taking out AV11 and (50% worse) AV12 at a distance, and then you can have whatever other squad you brought unload on the passengers, or charge them without having to waste time on their transport in the case of Assault Squads. You can also equip the Dread with a '''Havoc Launcher''' if you find the idea of blowing up a transport and them bombarding the passengers funny, strictly speaking it's one of the most efficient combos points-wise.
**'''Plasma Cannons''' have an obvious use, you use them to kill TEQ's and ruin the day of anyone who decides to Deep Strike near you. There's really not much more to say than that, keep them around the main force and watch as your opponent realizes using their Deep Striking RoW means they can easily lose most of a squad to a single shot, even if they're all Artificer Armoured like the Ultramarines Locutarus Storm Squad. Not only does this gun offer you one of the quickest ways to make your points back, but you'll also become a magnet for the enemy's heavy weapons, [[DISTRACTION CARNIFEX|not that it's a bad thing]], just be prepared for it.
**Unfortunately not every weapon is a winner, and the '''Twin-linked Volkite Culverin''' is the sole failure of the Contemptor's loadout. It's worse at taking out MEQ's and Solar Auxilia than the Kheres Assault Cannon (below), yet it costs the same and cannot threaten medium armour since it lacks rending (it also penetrates AV11 as well as the Autocannon while costing more). The only time they do not lag behind the other weapons is when they're hitting 5+ armoured targets, which in 30k means either Adsecularis (who cost a fraction what the Dreadnought costs and are often Fearless) or most Imperial Militia, but in both those cases the Dreadnought is heavily outperformed by a Heavy Support Squad armed with Culverins who are also cheaper. Just stick with other guns, or even just the two Close Combat Weapons, since killing more people in Assault means you could get a Sweeping Advance on the unit.
**Getting back to the good weapons, the '''Kheres Assault Cannon''' is your all-rounder weapon choice, and your best option for killing Marines who are too rude to group up for a nice Plasma Cannon shot. It also makes mincemeat of Solar Auxilia, and in a pinch you can use it to kill armoured threats since rending allows it to pen AV12 and at minimum, glance (and more often penetrate) AV13 when you roll a 6. If you're not sure which role you want your Contemptor for, or if you want it to be ready for anything, get the Assault Cannon.
**'''Twin-linked Lascannons''' also need no introduction, however you might want to give them extra consideration. Yes a Heavy Support Squad with Lascannons will outperform the Dreadnought, however they're also much easier to kill in most matchups, and unlike the Volkite Culverin issue, a Heavy Support Squad costs more (before any other upgrades/DT you might want to give them). You also don't typically need that many Lascannon shots from a single unit, so if you want just a bit more firepower you could get it from a Rapier with a Laser Destroyer (two Laser Destroyers are about twice as damage-efficient than a Dreadnought with two Twin-linked Lascannons and they cost a lot less points - at the cost of mobility and sturdiness). The cost between the two will be comparable to that of the Heavy Support Squad, they can choose more than one target per turn, and they're harder to kill. Do note if you still want weight of fire with a harder to kill model, get two Mortis Dreadnoughts with Lascannons instead of either the Contemptor with a Lascannon/a Heavy Support Squad with Lascannons. They're cheap, durable, more accurate and can pick off more targets before going down on average.
**'''Heavy Conversion Beamers''' Finish off their base kit, and what a price tag they carry. These are also the most iffy weapons among the bunch, partially because they're hard to use (your opponent can easily render most of your firepower moot by just moving closer, or by hiding) and partially because they take away your mobility. Dreadnoughts are best used as moving tanks, getting good angles of attack to hit weaker armour or being able to finish off units softened up by their shooting (as well as being one of the best melee options against Custodes), however you can't do that when you have a Heavy Conversion Beamer. Sure you could stick two on a Contemptor, set it in the backfield, absolutely wreck the shit out of an enemy unit in the first turn and immediately make their points back, and that's the main reason they are not entirely worthless. Custodes, 2-wound Deathstars and Solar Auxilia all die in droves when the Beamer can penetrate their armour (thankfully the Auxilia die easier than the other two) but its high cost and strict firing rules means it's very possible for it to go games without having much effect, and it has too much of an ineffective firing zone to be used for battlefield control against both Marines and Custodes. Either commit to getting two, or something like an Autocannon/Lascannon + Heavy Conversion Beamer combo to pop transports and later kill whatever's inside, or give them a pass. Also note that this means they, like Contemptors with a Plasma Cannon, will draw lots of firepower.
**Included in book 8 is a new option, the '''Toxiferno Cannon''', aka a weaker Flamestorm Cannon from the Boxnaught. That being said it's not bad, it's free first of all, and with Tainted (AKA Super Rending) it deals a little over half the damage the Flamestorm does (which is still just barely less than a Kheres Assault Cannon, assuming you hit four Marines) and with the added bonus of depriving Psykers of their buffs. That being said, if you want the defensive combo of a super-flamer combined with a Graviton Gun to mess with movement and burn those stuck in the Terrain, and you don't have to worry about Psykers, you should stick with the regular Dreadnought unless you really, desperately want that AV13. If that's the case consider this on a Contemptor-Cortus to keep costs down.

*'''Contemptor-Cortus Dreadnought Talon:''' Inferior to the regular Contemptor but using the same model, Contemptor-Cortus Dreads are in an odd spot. Statwise they're worse not only to Contemptors, but also normal boxnoughts who have additional WS. They do still have uses though, they have additional armour on the front (making them functionally immune to Krak Grenades) compared to the boxnought and their keep their 5++ against shooting, so they can still be better at range, and their special rules/Atomantic Overcharge does give them greater mobility. Fleet and Move Through Cover are both boons for a melee Dread, and they can overcharge their reactors at the start of any turn, granting themselves +1" Move and Charge distances, +2" run distances, +1 Initiative or the ''Rage'' rule, at the cost of a 1/6 chance of damaging itself. Unfortunately even with Rage they cause less damage then regular Boxnaughts, so if you want to use them defensively (mostly keeping them near ranged units to ward off Assault Squads) maybe you should stick with the regular Dreadnought. If you want to use them offensively, you'll probably be going between Rage and +1 Initiative, the former for doing more damage against models you'll strike before anyway (or who can't hurt you), and the later will give you a much higher chance of winning Dreadnought duels. Also note that Cortus dreads must always Sweep Advance and can never score (in the missions where Elites can score, that is).
**Cortus Dreads have the same option as regular Contemptor Dreads, so all of the advice that goes for them goes here. There are only two things to keep in mind, the first is that Cortus Dreads are BS4, this will noticeably affect their damage output in comparison to a Contemptor-Primus (the normal variant) and they can only take one Heavy Conversion Beamer. This isn't a great loss, if anything it means they're the best fit for being equipped with an Autocannon/Lascannon + Heavy Conversion Beamer to first pop enemy transports then nuke the squads running away.

*'''Legion Mortis Dreadnought:''' A shooty Dreadnought that always has two of the same weapon, and no melee weapons allowed. This means you should take care not to let them get caught in Assault, ever. If you're lucky they'll be stuck for the rest of the game, if you're not then the Melta Bombs/Power Fist the enemy brought will wreck your box and you'll be sad. Keep in mind it has the ability to use Skyfire and Interceptor if it didn't move that turn, and you have to apply both, according to FW email. This means you can only snap-shot non-flyers that come in from Reserve, and you'll want to always move at least a little if you want to shoot at ground targets.
**Starting off with their weapons, dual '''Twin-linked Heavy Bolters''' are something that can and should be immediately upgraded, unless you're up against Solar Auxilia. If that is the case then keeping the Dread as-is and buying a '''Havoc Launcher''' along with it gives you a good crowd-clearing unit.
**'''Multi-meltas''' are their first (free) upgrade, although they're not that great. Most aircraft either have access to or come with Armoured Ceramite, and when that's the case the '''Autocannons''' outshine them. Four twin-linked shots at S7 are much better at popping AV11/AV12 than two S8 shots, which happens to be the majority of aircraft in the game. As the cherry on top, Autocannons have double the range.
**'''Missile Launchers''' are an odd pick, they're twice as expensive as the Autocannons and while they are better at penetrating aircraft, the Autocannons strip more hull points off via glancing hits. Since a number of Aircraft have only 2 Hull Points this means you're usually better off with the Autocannons, but the Missile Launchers do have the dual purpose of being able to deal with Infantry on the ground, so if you want something that does more than taking out aircraft/transports you'll probably want the Missile Launchers.
**'''Lascannons''' are your final arm option, and they deal the same amount of HP damage to AV12 on average as an Autocannon does, while being 3x the price. This doesn't mean they're worthless though, they penetrate a lot more often which could mean the difference if your opponent brings heavy aircraft like a Fire Raptor. They can also deal with tanks on the ground, and even with the upgrade they're extremely cheap for what they offer, so get them if you need to deal with armour and want something relatively tough to crack.
**A special note goes to the '''Hunter-killer Missiles''', not really because of what they do, but because of what they can be paired with. Attached to either a the Missile or Lascannon toting dreads, they can burn down incoming aircraft extremely quickly. Any aircraft that have 2 HP are likely to be immediately shot down (which could fully earn your Dread's points back right then and there) and any that have more will likely be taking a worrying amount of penetrating hits. If you're especially worried about heavier aircraft, highly consider taking these alongside the Missiles or Lascannons (or even the Autocannons, they help there too) and save them for when the planes arrive. This also lets them burn through aircraft faster than even Contemptor-Mortis Dreadnoughts.

*'''Legion Contemptor-Mortis Dreadnought:''' Same as the Mortis Dreadnought, gaining Skyfire and Interceptor when it stays still, this entombed veteran is a nice piece of AA with something like double Kheres Assault Cannon or two Twin-Linked Autocannons. It can take a Havoc launcher for crowd clearing which is best used if you took a pair of Lascannons or Autocannons, or if you had the cyclone launcher bit from 40k). As above, Mortis Contemptors cannot get melee weapons so keep them the fuck away from Assault, and preferably always have something else that can intercept an enemy moving in position to charge you.
**Though '''Multi-meltas''' seem out of place here, a Contemptor Mortis is 20 points cheaper than a normal Multi-melta Contemptor, so you can throw in that Havoc launcher and still be 5 points cheaper, and only exchange 1 WS for the Interceptor AND Skyfire rules, presenting a dynamic self-sufficient unit for damn good value. This being said, unless you have walkers to worry about, you might want to stick with the '''Autocannons'''. Many flyers have access to Armoured Ceramite (or already come with it) and four Twin-linked S7 shots are much better against 2 S8 ones when it comes to stripping hull points off AV11/AV12 (and they're more likely to penetrate), on top of having double the range.
**'''Lascannons''' are chosen mainly when you want to frighten (AND threaten) enemy flyers with a 48" death zone, but since most flyers are up to AV12 it can be a costly, penetrating overkill.
**'''Kheres Assault Cannons''' do quite a good job, if a short ranged one, and with 12 shots you won't be bogged down as easily. They're also really good at threatening Infantry and even medium armour vehicles, so if you're not sure what to bring and want a Mortis ready for everything, get these.

===Troops===

*'''Legion [[Tactical Squad]]:''' Just like 40K, Tactical Squads are your bread-and-butter scoring units. Unlike "modern" Tacticals, however, they can have 10-20 Marines (similar to Chaos Marines). They also come with the Fury of the Legion special rule, which means that, if you forgo moving this turn and have at least 5 marines remaining you get to fire your basic Bolt weaponry twice - that means your Boltguns, Bolt Pistols and any combi-weapons taken by the Sergeant. This even stacks with Rapid Fire, so you can blast entire units off the board with up to 80 shots. The drawbacks of this are that you can't Overwatch the turn it's used or fire in the next turn. However, they can't take special or heavy weapons; that's what Tactical Support Squads are for. It’s best to give them just enough wargear to make them durable, effective, and deadly. You’ll probably get more mileage out of them if you keep all the options and toys down to a minimum so you can get more points for the more exotic options (which, again, is very similar to the use of Tactical Squads in 40K). Many, MANY legion setups will be using 2 squads of these to fill compulsory troops, as ''they are the cheapest option available''.
**One of the most important decisions to make with these guys is whether to give all 20 marines an additional close combat weapon by either [[Carcharodons|buying chainswords]] rather cheaply, or free by giving up their bolters, granting extra survival in close combat and three attacks on the charge. If you're going this way, better buy them rather than giving up your bolters, because it's very useful when you've used up your ammo on a Fury of the Legion attack (''do note, however, that FotL CAN be used with bolt pistols - you never lose it. You do lose out on a full 40 shots due to lack of Rapid Fire''). However, when using a high capacity assault transport it might be more economical to simply give up the bolters, which can't be used prior to charging. Either way, everyone will think twice before charging a 41-attacks porcupine, and with 61 attacks you won't mind they aren't power weapons.

*'''Legion [[Assault Squad]]:''' Yes, you can take up to 20 Assault marines as a Troops choice. They can all be given Combat shields, which are actually useful now, and Melta bombs. One in every five can also take a power weapon, hand flamer, or plasma pistol. Assault marines with the new update are now much better priced (175 for ten, 305 for twenty) to the point that some say they now overshadow Tacticals.
**''Though expensive, they really shine when using the Orbital Assault or Angel's Wrath Rites of War, their cost offset by the fact they don't need transports like everybody else in those rites, while still being able to maintain numerical superiority, a trait only two other squads can match. Then again, the possibility of a 20-model 3+/5++ Jump pack unit with 61 attacks on the charge (+ HoW) and Hit & Run is not something to [[DISTRACTION_CARNIFEX|take lightly]]''.

*'''Legion Breacher Siege Squad:''' [[Imperial Fists|Don't just defend the wall: '''BE''' the wall!]] These guys are a defensive hybrid of Assault and Tactical Marines, coming stock with Bolters for ranged output, Boarding shields to better withstand enemy charges, and Void Hardened Armor to tank mass-removal attempts from enemy flamers and light artillery (note that most serious artillery is AP3 anyway, and their movement penalty will make advancing a lengthy process). Again, you can take between 10 and 20 per unit, but unlike other Troop choices, they can take special weapons. One per five can take a Meltagun, Flamer, Graviton Gun, Lascutter and the Sergent can take a Breaching Charge. Another unique and sometimes forgotten trait is that they can take a Land Raider Proteus or Phobos as a DT (As long as it numbers no more than 10 models), allowing you to field LRs without using up your Heavy choices, and without the limitations of 'Armoured Spearhead'. The Proteus is the better choice because you don't want to actually charge with this squad, ''but to bait the enemy into charging at them''. Plus an extra Lascannon and a Havoc Launcher or two Heavy Bolters are always nice things to have. They can be given Melta bombs, so a LR Phobos is by all means not a bad idea either. If you desperately need to hold points (something only Troops can do in 30k) these are your go-to guys. Costly as they are, they shine in Zones Mortalis. Don't forget that a Breacher Siege Squad plus a Land Raider is a big points sink. So it would be better to take Tactical Squad and a Breacher instead of two squads of Breachers or a Rite of War that makes Legion exclusive squads troops to keep the heat off.
**You can make saves against templates all day long, even they're AP3 so long as you put them on the Sergeant (2+ with re-rolls tend to do that).
**Since Breachers are the most expensive Troop choice and the only compulsory option that can take Special Weapons aside from Rites of War and rules from certain IC's, you have to make your choice of weapons count. Lascutters are worthless so don't bother taking them (yes, Genestealers have a better version than Space Marines do for some dumb reason). Meltaguns are bit a redundant when the whole squad can take Melta bombs and their primary targets will more often than not have defenses against Melta. Flamers are great for clearing out hordes (i.e. Chaos Deamons and Imperial Militia and Cults). Volkite Chargers are only good when using a full squad and can get five (4 plus the Combi-Weapon), but this will force them to foot slog as it requires a 20 man squad.
**Graviton Guns are the most versatile choice, making them the best option if you want to take on just about everything. At 18" they won't have to get uncomfortably close to units that can charge or out shoot them. [[troll|The 3" blast it creates difficult terrain making it a pain in the pain ass to Assault them.]] Their best use by far is popping light armor and tabling anything their Land Raider DT can't on its own.
**The Sergeant should always take a Bolter with Grenade Launcher as it's not one use and superior to both the Plasma Pistol and Combi-Volkite Charger. Don't bother taking a Power Weapon for the Sarge unless you know for sure he's going to need it. Though a Power Fist or Thunder Hammer is the best use of his two attacks.

*'''Legion Tactical Support Squad:''' Your actual source of special weapons. 5-10 marines, and all of them, ''including the sergeant'', have flamers that can be swapped for other special weapons (though note that ''all'' Legionaries MUST swap their flamers for the new weapon) depending on what specifically you want to do with them:
**For dealing with general Infantry, you can keep the standard '''[[Flamer|Flamer]]'''. Just because it is the starting option doesn't mean it's bad, since few things can survive charging, or survive existing near a full unit of 10 flamers, and they're much better than '''[[Autogun|'''Rotor cannons]]''' which don't even look good on paper. They're terrible against Astartes, even though they put out a lot of shots (3-4 per gun) they're only S3. There is no armour save to fail if you're not wounding anything. Never take them over their superior alternative unless your Legion boosts them somehow.
**For dealing with MEQ's you've got '''[[Volkite_Weaponry|Volkite Calivers]]'''. Heavy weapons may seem odd in a Special weapons squad, but these guns hit '''2''' points harder than Bolters, with '''2''' shots at more than '''2''' times the Bolter's '''2'''-shot range, and are FAR cheaper than Volkite Culverins in a Heavy Support squad. Additionally, attaching a Siege Breaker to this unit will let you camp an objective and absolutely ruin light armor. If there was a [[Omnissiah|god]] that his sacred numeration was binary, this would be his cultist's weapons...'''[[Adeptus_Mechanicus|whoa, wait]]'''... All of the above is pretty decent for MEQ's, but then we have the Volkite rule, allowing you to get even more wounds, for <strike>2</strike> 5 pts, just like Rotor guns. Seriously, don't take Rotor guns. The only real disadvantage you have is not being able to shoot on the move so you're not very mobile, but for that you have '''Volkite Chargers''', which hit a tad weaker than Calivers, are Assault 2, and have [[Derp|half the range]], meaning they'll be more exposed to retaliation fire (they are outranged by boltguns). Plan how you use them accordingly (attached medics, transports, etc.).
**For dealing with 2+ armour and/or making the unit look like [[DISTRACTION_CARNIFEX|a bigger threat than it actually is]] you've got '''[[Plasma|Plasma guns]]''', and boy are these puppies a reason to take this squad. It's one of the most expensive options, but given its ability to'' "Nope" ''squads of Terminators and the high amount of Artificer armour in the field, it's worth taking, but make sure you Deepstrike them and keep the squad down to a small size. Those points add up quick and anybody who sees five plasma guns in a unit will do everything they can to kill them. You can also take '''[[Melta|Melta Guns]]''' but given how much Armoured Ceramite is around (it ignores the extra D6) it won't help often besides ID'ing some commanders and Legion Specific 2-wound Terminators, so use them the same way you would a Plasma squad (and expect the same welcome).
***As suggested in the name, Tactical Support Squads have the ''Support Squad'' rule, meaning they cannot fill compulsory Troops slots. You'll need 2 other Troops choices before you can start filling up in this department.
***As with tactical squads, they can take an extra CCW for 2 points a pop. Naturally this is better with some weapon loadouts and some legions than others, typically you want to consider it for the closer ranged options, flamers are a bit of a toss-up because nothing you can hurt in melee will be willing to charge a squad armed entirely with flamers, but volkite chargers have to get within charge distance anyway and will usually appreciate being able to pick off any stragglers from their target in melee, and meltaguns will definitely provoke a counter-charge if they blow up a transport. You probably shouldn't bother doing this for a squad with volkite calivers or plasma guns since it's unlikely to matter, and should never give a squad rotor cannons to begin with so there's no need to consider this option for them.

*'''Legion Recon Squad:''' [[Awesome|Power armoured scouts]] with the Scout, Outflank and Acute Senses special rules. They can have sniper rifles to really fuck your opponents over and cameleoline to add +1 to their cover save, even in open ground. Access to stealth can make these guys incredibly resilient in bigger games when you expect to see abundant abuse of low AP pie plates. Stick them in cover and go to ground all day long until you need an objective. They have Shroud bombs to nullify charges. They can also swap their power armour for carapace armour and gain Move Through Cover and Infiltrate, and can swap their bolters for shotguns or chainswords, if for any reason you feel the need to charge with a squad like this. Which you can, because they can take a Storm Eagle as a DT. They can't take heavy weapons like in 40k though. Worthy of note is the fact they can buy a nuncio-vox; combine it with carapace armour for mobile, reliable deepstrikes and artillery barrages - now that's teamwork!
**Recon Squads have the ''Support Squad'' rule, meaning they cannot fill compulsory Troops slots. You'll need 2 other Troops choices before you can start filling up in this department. Recon squads work best when fielded in 10 man squads with camo and a Rhino, preferably as Alpha Legion or Raven Guard to keep your power armour and still infiltrate. Place them tactically, avoid assault and aim to have them survive into late game. They won't be kill machines but they WILL hang around even if old mate's low AP dakka keeps shitting down your neck. Well placed, they'll win objective games and outlive any tactical, breacher, veteran or assault squad, especially with Recon Company RoW.

*'''Legion Hussar Squadron:''' Bikes with the ''Support Squad'' rule, so you still can't take an all bike army without taking a Rite of War, and Outriders have more options so you're likely to choose them instead, unless you're interested in getting bikers who are scoring units. Minimum squad size is five bikes with Twin-Linked bolters for 150 points, which coincidentally is the same price as five Estoc jetbikes (see below). While the sergeant can swap his weapon, the only real decision to make is whether the squad swaps their bolters for Twin-Linked Snub Rotor Cannons; FW seems to forget how Salvo weapons work, because bikes are ''Relentless'' they will never use the first profile of the weapon [[Fail|that only this squad has access to]]. The Rotor Cannons are twice as effective against MEQ's than the twin-linked bolters they start with, making them one of the few units where Rotors are a legitimate upgrade, a shame their range is only 12". At least upgrading five of them is relatively cheap, and as far as damage goes, 5 Rotor Bikes do slightly more damage than the Jetbikes, but they also cost slightly more, so which you'll use will likely come down to personal preference. If you're going for a mostly shooty army in general though, skip these guys for Sky Seekers, keep them cheap, and only use them for the Oracle Array.
**Worth noting that, unlike the jetbikes, they have hit and run, which is pretty good for certain legions, though not White Scars, since you get that anyway with Chogorian brotherhood.
**Note that if you bring these lads in from reserves, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcYhYO02f98 this song is mandatory.]

*'''Legion Jetbike Sky Seeker Squadron:''' 3-10 guys on the lighter Estoc pattern Jetbike, meaning they only get the normal 3+ save and fewer weapon options, but at least they're scoring. Starting with Twin-Linked bolters but upgrading to Grenade Launchers or Heavy Rotor Cannons that Forgeworld forgot were Salvo weapons so will only fire at full effect. If you're going to upgrade them at all heavily consider the Heavy Rotor Cannons, they're significantly better against MEQ's and Solar Auxilia. They are also better than the Grenade Launchers: more than twice as effective against Krak Grenades, and much more reliable than Frag. It's also just five points for the upgrade, making 5 Jetbike Rotors cheaper than 5 Rotor Hussars, and they're not only cheaper but do the same amount of damage as Sky Hunters with their Heavy Bolters, so consider these if you can be without the 2+ save or you want Scoring Jetbikes.
**One cool thing though, this squad comes with something called an Oracle Array, meaning if they choose not to shoot they can [[Tau|paint a target]] within 12", granting all friendly Legiones Astartes units a +1 to hit the marked unit. So there is very little need to spend points on Sky Seekers if you just want them to provide a spotting role.
**This squad has the ''Support Squad'' rule, so can never be compulsory as they have no support in Rites of War.

===Dedicated Transports===
*'''Legion [[Rhino]]:''' Similar to their far-future variants, but has access to a wide range of pintle-mounts, such as: Heavy Bolter, Heavy flamer, Multi-melta, twin-bolter, combi-weapons and Havoc launcher; in addition to the existing twin-bolter of course, and without sacrificing transport capacity as future Razorbacks will do. Can buy an Auxiliary Drive, which coupled with a dozer blade and its Repair rule, means it's easier to blow up this thing than prevent its movement... which is kind of the same thing. Almost every squad in Power Armor can take them, with the exception of units like Assault Marines and Breachers.

*'''Legion [[Drop Pod]]:''' Again, ''nearly'' similar to the far future. Can carry a squad of 10 men, a rapier and crew or a Boxnought. Has twin bolter and can't change for missiles, though. Note that because they are exclusively a DT, the only way to field these without the '''Orbital Assault''' RoW is as a dedicated transport to a single Boxnought.

*'''Legion Dreadnought [[Drop Pod]]:''' Same as above but can contain a single Dreadnought, regular or Contemptor. Comes with burning retros which gives the pod and its occupant the ''Shrouded'' rule on the turn it arrives, which affects interceptor fire.
**Note that as of the Drop Pod clarification in 2018, the Dreadnought must disembark the pod.

*Land Raiders can be taken as dedicated transports for Breachers, Seekers, Destroyers and Terminator squads (even Terminator-wearing Command squads), while Terminators can get ''Spartans''. Any squad that could take a Rhino can take a Land Raider when using the Armoured Spearhead RoW.

*Any Terminator armour-equipped unit can take a Dreadclaw as a dedicated transport, and Contemptors and any unit that could take a Rhino can take Dreadclaws too when using the Orbital Assault RoW. Tactical, Veteran and Terror squads can take them when using the Claw Assault - Night Lord RoW. Sons of Horus can take them for their Reavers, non-terminator command squads, Seekers, and regular Boxnoughts.

*Storm Eagles can be taken by Recon squads. Any squad that could take a Rhino can take a Storm Eagle when using the Angel Wrath RoW.

*As per Book 9, Termites can be taken by Destroyer Squads as a dedicated transport

===Fast Attack===
*'''Legion Seeker Squad:''' Headhunters meant to take out enemy command elements, these are your Sternguard vets: 5-10 strong with Special-Issue ammo that is different from 40k, '''Implacable Advance''', BS5 and Preferred Enemy against one enemy unit or Independent Character (their target), chosen after any infiltrators have been placed. While their benefit against the chosen unit is obvious, you can still use them against pretty much anything, as the correct choice of specialist ammo and high accuracy can function against virtually anything except mid to heavy vehicles. Can still be equipped with combi-weapons just like Sternguard, though this will inevitably make the unit cost a small fortune in points and, if what you want is lots of special weapons, that´s what Tactical Support squads are for. Lots of guys rapid firing ''Tempest'' bolts will annoy the crap out of your opponent; even if they are only S3, having to sit through your opponent placing 20 small templates with low scatter will drive you nuts, whilst the Shredding AP2 ''Scorpius'' bolts make them into a perfect sniper squad provided you can stay still and Kraken bolts give them a Rapid Fire range of 15" (and AP4 to mess with anyone not a MEQ). The icing on the cake - they have Precision Shot to allocate wounds on Apothecaries and whatnot. All these traits can make the unit appear to be a [[DISTRACTION CARNIFEX|greater threat than it actually is]].
**They can't tackle heavy vehicles on their own, but fortunately their DT, Land Raider Proteus can. It can also sacrifice some of its cargo capacity for an Explorator Augury Web to get Scout and, as a bonus, ensue reserve shenanigans. How better to protect a unit that costs as much as a LR other than encasing it inside another LR? Then again, the squad needs to kill VIPs and lots of infantry to be worth the points, but at least ''it's much more survivable, versatile and mobile'' now.
**As an alternative, consider pairing them with a Vigilator, not only is it quite fluffy, it's also crunchy combo too. The Vigilitor will give them scout, infiltrate and stealth from his cameololine, all of which only need a single model in the unit to have it for all to benefit, combine that with Recon Company to get shrouded and you can get [[Troll|4+ out in the open]] making it easy to line up those Scorpius shots.
**Positioning is key. Try to stay at the maximum range - if the enemy backs away, then they won't retaliate. If they stay at range you can best ALL infantry short of plasma support tacticals with BS5 Scorpius rounds, and if they try to advance to rapid fire range, well your Kraken grants you a 3" advantage. Against MEQs, 10 Scorpius rounds equal to 50 Tempest hits, so if the enemy is that clumped up then go for it. A '''World Burner''' will improve your chances to a more reasonable 10=30.
**With the FAQ V1.0, each Seeker (including the Strike Team Leader) can equip a combi-weapon at 5 pts each (bargain?), with a 5-man unit equipped with combi-weapons costing '''only''' 180 points (the same as a 5-man Veteran Squad with combi-weapons, just saying). This mitigates their utility against armoured vehicles, as a few combi-meltas with screw up any none-Armoured Ceramite tank while combi-plasma with discourage any Terminators attempting to close in on the unit.
*'''Legion Outrider Squad:''' Your bikers with a few buffs. The Scout special rule, all bike marines can swap their bikes' twin bolters out for twin linked flamers, meltaguns or plasma guns and 1 in 3 can have a power weapon, hand flamer or plasma pistol. The gun upgrades are excellent, but really tear through your points.
** They're very adaptable for your army and a solid choice. Scout and high speed means it's easy to get where you want them. With an attached HQ, meltabomb on the sarge and a the option for lots of plasma makes them a very effective all round unit, able to handle anything although at a fairly high cost.
** They can take 1 power weapon per 3 models, and then the sergeant can take a power weapon. Consider a 9 man squad with 4 power axes; its basically a tankier fast assault squad with better shooting and better damage (hammer of wrath)
*'''Legion Attack Bike Squadron:''' Attack bikes are the cherry on the cake, and this is a cake entirely made up of cherries. 1-5 strong with heavy bolters which can be swapped out for heavy flamers, autocannons or multi-meltas. Easy access to fast moving armoured-ceramite-ignoring melta bombs. Good value.
*'''Legion Jetbike Sky-Hunter Squadron:''' The famed Dickbikes. 3-10 strong, 1 in 3 can replace <s>Dickbike</s> Jetbike mounted heavy bolter with multi-melta, volkite cannon or plasma cannon options, they can buy melta bombs and they can Deep strike, but only the sergeant can buy a power weapon (while he's technically an upgrade, he's practically an auto-include, improving your melee punch and giving an extra point of Ld to save your fairly expensive squad). Very high mobility coupled with T5 and a 2+ save with Heavy weapons makes for a very powerful combination. Aim them at the enemies vagina/anus and let them fly. These guys become hilarious with the Ravenwing RoW, see below for details.
*'''Legion [[Land Speeder]] Squadron:''' These little buggers are very fragile, but also very underrated. At 1-5 strong, they can come very cheap with a heavy bolter, and can bring a heavy flamer or volkite culverin for infantry hunting or a multi-melta for tank busting. But the real icing is that any speeder can add an additional havoc launcher, heavy bolter, plasma cannon or graviton gun as well, and in addition any speeder can also take up to 2 [[Hunter-Killer Missile]]s on top of all that for vehicle hunting at range. Deep striking, they are excellent tank or infantry hunters. Take 2-4 with graviton guns and leave dangerous terrain and dead Land Raiders in your wake. Land Speeders will work better if you can limit the dangers of deep strike mishap. When combined with infiltrating Nuncio Vox carrying Recon Teams or Damocles, anti AV speeders can prove to be extremely effective for their cost. They will deal the majority of their damage in the turn that they arrive. In subsequent turns, they can draw fire away from the rest of your army, make sure you jink to force your opponent to waste valuable shooting. A squadron of three multi-melta/graviton speeders comes in at around 245, not overly cheap, they may not earn back their points by decimating enemy units. Their value lies in the fact that they can't be ignored. Depending on your local meta, speeders can offer an excellent casual alternative to more expensive equivalents such as deep striking dreadnoughts, terminators or drop pod support squads.
*'''Legion Javelin Attack Speeder Squadron:''' Up-sized land speeders in squadrons of 1-3, Javelins have an extra point of AV and come by default with TWIN-LINKED cyclone launchers (2 frag/krak shots) and a heavy bolter. The real beauty of the Javelin is being able to get up to two [[Hunter-Killer Missile]]s for half the price a regular speeder would pay. This means a fast, deepstriking or outflanking speeder that can fire 4 S8 shots into side armor when it arrives.
**They got a welcome buff in the updated Crusade List, giving them more to distinguish themselves from normal Land Speeders. They now have the ''Strafing Run'' rule, so they have BS5 against ground targets and they also have ''Grav Backwash'' whereby opponents who try to strike at them in assault suffer -2 to-hit unless the speeder is immobilised.
*'''Legion [[Storm Eagle]] Gunship:''' Your main transport Flyer, as only it can carry your big 20 man squads which make up the bulk of a Legion list. Impressive arsenal of weaponry, with its standard armament a Hull-mounted twin-linked Heavy Bolter, a Hull-mounted Vengeance Launcher (Range:48"|Str:5|AP:4|Heavy 2, Large Blast) and 4 Tempest Rockets under the wings. 'Power of the Machine Spirit' allows it to give fire support to the transported unit, and 12|12|12 armour grants it staying power. Optional armament includes: Switching Heavy bolters for a twin-linked Multi-melta or a single Missile launcher, and replacing the Tempest Rockets with 4 Hellstrike Missiles or 2 Twin-linked [[Lascannon]]s. It can also get armoured [[ceramite]] and Extra armour. Keep in mind that even though as a flyer it can Deep strike and its an assault vehicle, its cargo cannot assault in the same turn it arrives, but it can on the same turn they disembark, which with your big squads can be nasty, specially with +1CCW tacticals.
*'''Legion Tarantula Sentry Gun Battery:''' You would take an [[immovable rod|immovable object]] in place of a super fast flyer as a fast attack choice. Why? Because you need firepower, and a lot of it. While BS 3 seems weak, some of the upgrades will cheer you up, especially when you take three sentries. You can keep the Heavy Bolters, or take twin-linked heavy flamers/rotor cannons/lascannons, or a Multi-melta w/searchlight. They have forward deployment, which gives them Scout, but you can't put them in reserves (note they are artillery so only deploy up to 6" away). You can also give the battery concealment which gives them Shrouding until they fire. They have a setback in which you're only allowed to fire anti-specific weaponry at said specific units/vehicles, but you knew that already, RIGHT? However, that means differently equipped turrets in the battery effectively have Split Fire. Speaking of anti-specific, and [[butthurt]] fast attack fans, upgrading the Battery to a Hyperios, taking one command platform, will give the other player the finger as you fire 2 re-rollable to hit against flyers and fast skimmers, Skyfire Interceptor krak missiles, where each can be fired at a single target!
*'''Primaris Lightning Strike Fighter:''' A high speed fighter and cheaper alternative to the Storm Eagle for your Aerial needs, it's a fast (Supersonic) Agile ('''3+ jink''' save) survivable aircraft, even with only 2HP due to its Chaff launcher (4++ save against missiles, ''Eat shit Tau!'') and can further back it up with a Ramjet Diffraction Grid - a Flare shield for your butt, so your armour is effectively 11/''12''/11. It can put out a lot of Dakka with Missile barrage, and even more with Ground Tracking Auguries for strafing runs (though it already craps out a lot of dice rolls and/or blast template weapons so this isn't that big of a deal) and with Battle Servitor Control(grants Tank Hunter) it can reasonably take out other fliers before working on the ground troops. It can also take up to 3 payload options, though it does not state you cannot take the same one thrice. Twin-linked weapons count as one payload, as do the "Two X" options.
**Twin-linked Autocannons are strong against light & medium vehicles, which is to say all flyers, and with Twin-Linked and Tank Hunters you'll clear the skies in no time. [[C._S._Goto|Twin-linked Multi-lasers]] behave similar to Autocannons, while S6 means the heaviest flyers might be troublesome, against AV11/10 this is in fact as good/better than Autocannons due to the higher number of shots. They can take the ''very'' versatile Twin-linked Missile Launchers for Penetrating hits everywhere, though you'll need good luck to hurt Land Raiders, but they'll need even more luck to hit you back and they cannot outlast what they can't even hit. Frag missiles mean you could hit more ground targets than multi-lasers, and it can even upgrade to shoot Rad missiles (the only other unit besides Destroyer squads that can take them), allowing you to clear out blobs of MEQ's, though this does get expensive fast. Against air targets however, remember that some have Chaff launchers, so for plane-killing you'd be better using Autocannons.
**The Lightning can also take several pairs of One Use only items (of which you can fire up to 4 because of Missile Barrage), like two Kraken Penetrator Missiles ''aka Flying Melta bombs''. These are incredibly nasty (though expensive) anti-armour but they'll take down monoliths and what not with little trouble. Or 2 Sunfury missiles, which with Blind, S6 and AP3 are pretty damn good at killing MEQs but the hype fades when you see they "Gets hot", which on a 2HP aircraft is going to get the unfortunate crew squatted, specially when coupled with the next item: ONE Phospex Bomb cluster, the S5 AP2 3" blast and moving Dangerous Terrain everyone loves, now in Heavy 2 Barrage Bomb cluster flavor. Should the aircraft suffer ''any'' hull damage roll a D6, on a 6, it explodes. Finally, it can also take 2 Electromagnetic storm charges. Haywire is an easy way to remove hull points, but with One use you're gonna need a lot of them, while penetrator missiles could do that job better. HOWEVER, at S3 and ''AP4'' it ignores the saves of GEQs. And who uses lots of light infantry alongside armour columns? The Imperial guard ''in [http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Warhammer_40,000/Tactics/Solar_Auxilia_(30k)| all] its [http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Warhammer_40,000/Tactics/7th_Edition/Imperial_Guard| flavors]''. Also great against the [[Warhammer_40,000/Tactics/Mechanicum:_Taghmata_(30k)|Mechanicum]], an army composed of models with either [[Servitor|T3]], a [[Thallax|4+ save]] or vehicles. So it's not ''that'' bad it seems.
***It really cannot be underestimated just how powerful Kraken Penetrator Missiles really are. They are one of the very few options that can reliably threaten Spartans. Ranged armourbane is incredibly rare and especially on a platform that is fast enough to dodge around a flare shield or just deepstrike to hit side or rear armor. 4 of them almost guarantee you a straight up kill on a Spartan if you upgrade Lightning to have Ground Tracking Auguries and Battle Servitor Control (ap1, remember). And your Lightning still has free hard points for other weapons and can continue to strafe troops or knock out fliers after. Not that you should upgrade them because, you know, 2 HP and shitty armor. If you are constantly forced to deal with such units then a Lightning can force your opponent to think again.
*'''Xiphon-pattern Interceptor''': Now ''this'' is why people think twice when they hear "Forge World rules" (this whole list is Forge World but you get the idea). It will also make you think twice when taking Lightnings because this is essentially a souped up Lightning. Comes with '''Two''' Twin-linked Lascannons and a Xiphon rotary missile launcher - Heavy 2 S8 ''AP2'' that re-rolls successful Jink and cover saves and rolls d3 times per Penetrating hit, choosing the best one (and AP grants +1 on that table). All that makes this your flying tank killer. AV11 all around, this murderous potential is 'balanced' by costing about as much as a kited out Lightning and being extremely limited in its optional wargear: Chaff launchers and Extra armour for survival and Ground tracking auguries to kill Land Raiders after you've cleaned the skies. And we say 'balanced' because it comes already equipped with Armoured ceramite, and Agile grants it a ''3+ jink save'', enjoy!
*'''Anvillus Pattern Dreadclaw Drop Pod:''' ''The Kharybdis's little brother''. ALL Legions can take it, not just Sons of Horus, though only as Fast Attack or Dedicated Transports to vanilla Terminator Squads or Dreadnoughts in the Elite slot. Costs as much as 3 Drop Pods and has no bolters, ''but it's mobile'' and has a [[Salamanders|flame fetish]]. Heat Blast allows it to scorch infantry and can be used to pen Predators (thanks to hitting their back armour with a S6 weapon). Despite being an Assault Vehicle, its payload cannot charge on the turn it Deep Strikes or even disembark the turn it Heat Blasts, though it makes for an excellent turn 2 charge as you deep strike anywhere and hopefully cause a few wounds with the downdraft, then on the following turn you move it, disembark those bad boys and then assault with them or drop off one of the Mortis types with a Havoc Launcher while the Avillus acts as a [[DISTRACTION_CARNIFEX|DISTRACTION_CARNIFEX]] ''(and it has a bitchin' model, if a bit fiddly as fuck to put together)''. It's more survivable and protects its cargo better than a Drop pod - it can Jink - gets into combat significantly faster than a Land Raider, and it's cheaper than a Storm Eagle... though is not as heavily armed, isn't an AV14 tank or assault ram, and at 115 points it's not as disposable as a normal Drop Pod. But once it has deployed its passengers it can put itself to good use trying to set people on fire. Plan how you use it accordingly.
**While having "Inertial Guidance System" rule described in frame near its profile, Anvillus [[Forgeworld|''doesn't have it'']]. Definitely a misprint, but beware of [[That guy]], because, you know, common sense is useless and RAW is supreme. Don't be fooled and don't be a bad person yourself.
*'''Terrax Pattern Termite Assault Drill:''' Model shown on Horus Heresy Weekender (03.02.18). This model is '''INCREDIBLE''', I'm not joking, this thing is insane. It is 80pts base, with access to TL Volkite Chargers or 2 Heavy Flamers, meaning a fully armed one clocks in at 100pts, plus it can transport 12 models. This means you can deliver a big squad of 10 dudes right into the heart of an enemy army, along with an apothecary and character for good measure. Taking up a Fast Attack slot and no ability to be taken as a Dedicated Transport for anything aside from Destroyers is its only real restriction.
**As a tank, it can be taken in an Armoured Breakthrough list for alpha-striking capabilities with Predators as compulsory troops. Ahhh yes, the one limit that RoW had was no Dreadclaws to hasten things up, but hey I guess Forge World had to make that RoW even better than it already was!
**This thing is the ultimate counter to castling, and here's why...Here's an example: Your opponent has a tasty Whirlwind Scorpius you want to deliver a melta squad next to, but has surrounded it with marines. If you had a drop pod, you wouldn't be able to get anywhere near it as you'd have to drop on open ground so nowhere near the Scorpius. This means your melta squad is wasted as they have to shoot out of melta range (probably) and limit their impact and most likely die to the Scorpius next turn...The termite however, can arrive '''UNDERNEATH''' the marines and force them to move out the way. Hell, it can move so it clips the Scorpius and most likely do some damage to it as well to save some time, then your guys can most likely get out in the space you just cleared. Even if you can't get them out, the hit on the Scorpius is probably enough to shake it so you've got time to deal with it. This means castling against the Termite just doesn't work anymore so adjust your plans accordingly.
**The fact this thing has the Subterranean Assault special rule which does NOT conflict with the Drop Pod Assault special rule means you can bring this in with a suicide squad AND a Leviathan in a drop pod for maximum savagery...Angron would be proud of such wanton aggression right off the bat.
*'''Sabre Strike Tank:''' A light tank which functions as a budget Sicaran without taking up a Heavy Support slot. They can be taken in squadrons of up to two and have an array of weapon options that let them deal with anything from infantry to medium tanks. However while the model is sexy as hell, it’s small and has the survivability of only a Rhino with an extra point of AV in the front. You will have to use the small size and fast movement of the tank to take advantage of cover. Base cost starting at 65 points for a fast tank-type vehicle with Auxiliary Drive stock.
**The Sabre itself has some pretty good guns. The Stub Autocannon is a solid generalist option for all comers. For hordes the Anvilus can be replaced with a Volkite Saker. For dealing with vehicles the main gun can be replaced with a Neutron Blaster, which is a Lascannon with shorter range (24") Concussive and Shock Pulse to troll tanks, walkers and superheavies.
**The Heavy Bolter can be replaced with a Heavy Flamer, Multi-Melta or a Volkite Culverin. The Culverin is the best option here due to 45" range. So stick with that unless you know what you’re up against beforehand. The Sabre can also a take a pintle mounted weapon, which can either be a Combi-Weapon, a Havoc Launcher or a Twin-Linked Bolter. Again like the Culverin a Havoc Launcher is better because of its 40" range. Make your opponents regret trying to hide from your Sabres.
**The final set of options are: Armoured Ceramite, Extra Armor and up to four Saber Missiles (36", str6, ap4, Heavy 1, Rending, One Use). The profile of the Saber Missiles prevents them from being a must-take. At best they are good for extra hits against flyers or finishing off stragglers.
***While one of the main drawbacks of the Sabre Missiles are their one use profile, if you ''really'' want to conduct some form of alpha strike with them, consider taking a pair of Sabres with a full missile loadout each, alongside a minimum squad of Sky Seekers. Using the Oracle Array plus the Missile Lock of the Sabre Missiles, you'll essentially have BS 10, while 8 shots can rather easily pop some light vehicles.

===Heavy Support===

*'''Legion Heavy Support Squad:''' When [[Devastator Squad|Devastators]] were good. ALL marines in the squad (including the sergeant!) have a heavy bolter as standard, and all may upgrade to carry the same heavy weapon (no, no mix-matching within the squad). The entire squad may have Hardened armour for added protection. They can lay down an ungodly amount of fire support.
**For infantry killing the '''Heavy Bolter''' might serve your needs, it's probably better to stick with a cheaper squad, with more wounds, in a less contested slot for that though. Still, 10 of these in the hands of some Imperial Fists strips 7 hull points off AV11, or kills 5.5 MEQs.
**Alternatively '''Heavy Flamers''' do the same job for the same price and frankly, do it much better... provided you get in range which with ordinary, but high target MEQs is more difficult than can be bothered with much of the time. Salamanders naturally love these bad boys. If you have a Fortification slot to spare, a Promethean Relay Pipe will dial up the heat this unit can outpour to monstrous proportions.
**If you want to harass light vehicles while still keeping a hold of your anti-infantry capability '''Autocannons''' can be yours for 5pts each, at a decent foot extra range and +2 strength for one fewer shot over a heavy bolter it makes for a decent choice. Just remember that if you're playing Iron Warriors, you've got a better Legion exclusive option available.
**'''Missile launchers''', for the same price of an autocannon are your other all-rounder heavy weapon. They either pierce a marine's armour with one shot at S8 or throw out a small blast for chucking a bunch of wounds at a squad. For an additional cost you can take flakk missiles which provide this squad's only source of AA.
**Don't worry too hard about the campfire horror stories of vast fleets of Armoured Ceramite trundling at you; the 10 point '''Multi-melta''' can still be a good choice. In a setting where a melta weapon, and a heavy one at that, can't damage a Flare Shield AC Spartan Assault Tank, at least they can still instant death any 2W Termies that happen to jump out. Plus if the enemy gets too cocky with light armour and pushed them deep into your lines, a squad of Multi-meltas'll scythe through them very cheaply.
**What's that? Horus, 12 Justaerin Terminators and a Chaplain just deep-struck in your deployment zone? You're fucked, but since you have '''Plasma cannons''' you can be slightly less fucked for an admittedly hefty 15 pts. With S7 they might not cause instant death but who cares? They are [[Awesome|AP2 blasts]] with a decent range.
**The '''Volkite Culverin''' is the absolute premium in [[GEQ|light infantry]] killing. It's got S6 (no FNP for T3), 4 shots and Deflagrate (for a maximum of 8 wounds each), so its only problem is AP5. With 20 shots minimum, however, this is less of an issue than expected; a min squad will drop 2 Terminators, or 4 power-armored Marines. Largely hang Heavy Bolters out to dry, even for Imperial Fists.
**The '''Lascannon''', last and most expensive of your choices is for killing tanks and in the heresy there are a lot of tanks all of which are just ''begging'' for some hot, steamy, S9 AP2 straight to the face. A full squad of these, with an attached Siege master/being Imperial Fists will take ~7 points off AV 10 and 11, ~6 off of AV 12 and Av 13, 4 off AV 14 and 2 off AV 15.
***Don't forget to give them Interceptor (18" range, so ''screw suicide meltas'') for dirt cheap 5 pts! What's better than seeing an enemy squad vanish the same turn it arrives? ''Your opponent's tears of despair'', that's what! And with heavy weapons, specially Plasma cannons, they can actually take on Deep striking Terminators.
*'''Legion Jetbikes Sky-Slayer Squadron:''' Devastator Jetbikers? Alrighty then. The unit is identical to Sky-Hunter Jetbikes except for each bike starting with a Multi-melta, cost factored in, and the entire unit can exchange said meltas for Volkite or Plasma, so like Heavy Support squads they have to go all-or-nothing. While far from cheap, Sky-Slayers are resilient and, unsurprisingly, very mobile, and can pack a density of intense firepower into a single FO slot that puts Land Speeders and Attack Bikes to shame. They're a lightning-swift red-hot knife in the side of the hardest target your opponent brings to bear, whether in the form of tanks, Terminators or a massive infantry blob.
**Note also that these units are at least slightly viable for close-quarter combat, unlike regular Heavy Supports. They can shoot and charge just fine over a long distance, and everyone has a Bolt Pistol and Chainsword. Blast away an infantry target, and then charge the last 2 surviving models for an easy few inches more movement. Sergeants can upgrade their kit for even stronger personal gear, but at the same time said Sergeants are entirely optional in the unit, letting you save 15 points. Sarges can't even take Nuncio Voxes or Augury Scanners, and at the end of the day a mass of expensive, tough, flying Multi-Meltas just doesn't need or mind the loss of one fancy guy's kit. If you do take a Sergeant however, Melta Bombs gives the unit something to do if a vehicle target survives on 1 HP.
*'''Legion [[Predator Tank|Predator]] Strike Squadron:''' Squadrons of 1-3 Predators which includes all the Forge World options except twin-linked lascannons, which hadn't been implemented yet. What's more, this Predator's autocannon is Heavy 4. It has the usual sponson options and, coupled with some interesting pintle mount choices like the Heavy Bolter or a Havoc Launcher, it can function as a competent gun platform with the Machine Spirit upgrade. Take the Command Tank upgrade and it will also do quite good at infantry support. It can take Armoured Ceramite, but its rather mediocre side armour means you don't really need melta to kill it.
**The Executioner Plasma Cannon allows it to blast MEQ and TEQ from the table with ease, but its shorter range means the Predator is more at risk.
**The Magna-Melta turns the Predator into a wannabe-Vindicator while the MEQ killing Flamestorm cannon makes it into a slow version of the Baal Predator (so take PotMS), in both cases exposing itself to counter-fire. Keep in mind that for such short ranges it can have up to three heavy flamers as secondary weapons, though not being Fast or Heavy means it needs to remain still in order to use all of them.
**The Heavy Conversion Beamer occupies a specific niche, which can be extremely useful when making long range, corner-to-corner shots where it acquires S10 AP1 large blast that makes [[Vindicator|it hilariously effective against everything]] whilst minimizing the problem of the Predator's relatively weak armor for a battle-tank, all at '''TWICE''' the range of a Vindicator, and when coupled with lascannon sponsons makes for an excellent tank sniper. However, at shorter ranges or on tables with lots of line-of-sight blocking cover then this vehicle will become less effective as it drops to S8/6 AP4/-, so it may still score lots of wounds that can cause instant death on infantry but will be frustrated against units with decent saves. Plus, remember that the model '''must''' be stationary in order to fire, playing as if it was artillery rather than a battle tank, but without any ability to fire indirectly. If you can deploy it in a good position it will be golden, otherwise it might struggle to perform at its very best.
**As is, they're best done cheaply. Bare-bones (maybe with Lascannons) for engaging infantry/light armor, or Executioner Cannon and heavy bolters for focus on heavy infantry. All this can change with the Armoured Breakthrough Rite of War though.

*'''Legion [[Land Raider]] Battle Squadron:''' 1-3 Land Raiders in a squadron, any of which may be a Phobos or Proteus pattern, but only one of which may be an Achilles. All of them can be given ''Armoured Ceramite'', which renders Melta weapons almost ''useless'' and is the reason very few people use them at all. Always take it. One Land Raider can be made a Command Tank, which will help with the transported squads Morale.
**'''Land Raider Phobos''': Phobos means "fear", and rightly so. It's the only Assault vehicle of the 3, and can be given Frag Assault launchers (not one-use, unlike Grenade Harness). Pretty much standard 40k Land Raider.
**'''Land Raider Proteus''': The cheapest and oldest pattern. No assault ramp and you need to pay for the hull mounted weapon (though this weapon can now be a twin-linked lascannon for some anti armour, nice), but it can take an Explorator Augury Web, which grants it Scout and can screw with your enemy's reserves or improve yours. That takes away 2 transport slots, [[Derp|so no Terminator squads with this on]].
***''Why would I want a LR that fails at transporting termies?'' Because you don't want it for that, '''this was never meant for Termies''' (it's THAT old). You want it because you took Armoured Spearhead due to everything being able to kill a Rhino with just a mean look. No Assault Ramp? Who cares! You don't want to assault with a Heavy Support or Seeker squad - 30pts cheaper on average, you take the Proteus for the sake of fielding as much LRs as you can, [[Troll|taunt]] the enemy to try and kill them all. Furthermore, it can Scout, which means it can also Outflank, and surprise LRs are always a pain in the ass, even more when Melta-proofed.
**'''Land Raider Achilles''': More mobile artillery than transport, its 6 slots are best used for your Techmarine & [[Servitor|friends™]]. Has a Quad Mortar with frag and shatter shells (3 possible optional types: Splinter, Incendiary and Phosphex canister(you need Siege Breaker for this), Extra Armour & Armored Ceramite by default, and its Ferromantic Invulnerability rule gives the finger to Melta and Lance rules ''while'' also reducing Penetrating Hits score by -1. Can't swap its default Twin-linked Multi-meltas for TL Volkite Culverins though.
*'''Legion Achilles Alpha Pattern Land Raider:''' A prototype of the Land Raider Achilles. Unlike the 40k version, it's armed with a hull-mounted Quad Mortar, which can use one of two different firing profiles with an option to buy 2 more (3, if you have Siege Breaker and want more Phosphex) and two twin-linked Volkite Culverins as sponson weapons (although they can be swapped for multi-meltas). On top of that, all rolls on the Vehicle Damage chart caused by penetrating hits (except for ones caused by Strength D weapons) are reduced by 1 and it rerolls all failed Dangerous Terrain rolls. Overall, it's a superior version of its 40k counterpart. ''Exactly the same as the Achilles in the Land Raider squadron, but +25pts for an integrated Dozer blade and the ability to swap its twin-linked Multi-meltas for twin-linked Volkite culverins, which in 30k is akin to swapping Fortification damage bonuses for infantry damage bonuses.''

*'''0-1 Legion Artillery Tank Squadron:''' The big guns. 1-3 of a [[Whirlwind]], [[Basilisk_Artillery_Gun|Basilisk]] or Medusa, without mixing. Now Marines can throw pie plates around like the Guard. The Whirlwind may be upgraded to have AA missiles (and AA missiles ONLY) for free, but this is a terrible idea as [[FAIL|said missiles only give you a single S8 shot]] per tank. Not only that, but the other two are particularly suited to engaging the dreaded flare-shields since they have ''Barrage''. Of these, the Medusa is probably the best due to its Strength 10 and AP 2 and its ability to take nasty Phosphex Shells if you take a Siege Breaker in your force as well. Normal ammo is better against pretty much everything, but Phosphex Medusas are the best Phosphex source you get: Not one-use and restricts enemy movement with lasting-and-moving templates at good range, while still being able to erase Terminators - you can leave the anti armor role to your Siege Breaker. Caution: Medusa and Basilisk both have side armor of 10, so anything deepstriking near artillery can be your undoing, even Assault Squad with Bolt Pistols (especially with how shooting at squadrons works in 7th edition). Also note that models are open-topped, but rulewise they are not, don't be fooled. Since this has a 0-1 limit in a legion list, it's worth considering for RoW that restrict the amount of HS slots.

*'''Legion Whirlwind Scorpius:''' The proposed replacement for the Whirlwind...but then the Heresy happened. Not in squadrons, but it doesn't need it. It's a regular Whirlwind with better (13-12-10) armor and an S8 AP3 blast which becomes D3+1 Heavy blasts if it stays still. This thing is a certified nightmare against the ubiquitous space marine units and in 30K, where the units are much larger on average, it will do well, and may even scratch Dreadnoughts and the like (remember Barrage weapons always hit side armor). Combining it with Nuncio-vox goes without saying due to blast sizes and lack of Twin-Link.

*'''Legion [[Vindicator]]:''' <u>Now in squadrons</u>. It can take a pintle mounted Heavy Bolter, Heavy Flamer, Multi-Melta, Havoc Launcher, Combi-Weapon, or second Combi-Bolter. Power of the Machine Spirit is also available, and a good choice considering its primary weapon is Ordnance, so you could now [[Blood_Angels|move at Cruising speed]] while also firing your Demolisher cannon and act as a ''cheaper stronger slower non-barrage Medusa'' (keep in mind artillery squads are 0-1, it's a loadout worth considering now that Vindicators come in squadrons, should you want more S10 AP2 Ordnance), or fire it alongside the Havoc Launcher. It can also take a Mine Plough (Dozer Blades are enough, really). Additionally, it can be repurposed into a tank-killer by replacing the Demolisher Cannon with a special Laser Destroyer ''Array'' for +10pts, which has now updated rules and model: Twin-linked Ordnance 1, as usual, but if it didn't move, the weapon becomes Ordnance ''2''. [[Meme|But wait, there's more]]. If the Vindicator didn't move it can choose to fire the Array as [[Awesome|''Ordnance'' '''3''']], but after firing this way it must roll one D6, losing an HP on a 1. It doesn't rely as much on chance, like a Sicaran's Rending hits, and frees an Elites slot to use on other things besides Rapiers because this is points-wise the most economical source of Laser Destroyers (following Overcharge conditions). Flare Shielded Spartans are still better engaged by other means, tho. While Rapiers are more survivable with their point cost spread amongst 9 models (12 wounds) they are also close to immobile and only the most empty, terrain-free board will give you consistent shots. The Vindicator is much more mobile, able to go find a sight line even if it's more fragile and occasionally explodes. As always, [[Sindri_Myr|power demands sacrifice]]. Note that unlike with the Predator, the Armoured Breakthrough Rite of War is not as useful here: it still allows you to move at full speed without paying the points for Power of the Machine Spirit, but it won't grant you extra shots since RAW, your other BS bonus [[Derp|automatically goes to the combi-bolter]].

*'''Legion Spartan Assault Tank:''' The Land Raider's big brother and a nasty bastard, made even more so in the pre-Heresy/Heresy environment, where there are more big squads to fit inside its 25 man capacity. '''Five''' hull points, two twin-linked two-shot lascannons which can be swapped for rapier destroyers makes it a priority target for the foe. What makes it even more ridiculous is the fact that it can have Armoured Ceramite, meaning that melta weapons don't do shit against it. As if it wasn't hard enough to kill, it can also be given a Flare Shield which means that all weapons fired at its front arc get -1 Strength when rolling to penetrate. Blast weapons instead get -2, so no killing it with Medusas either(barrage weapons target side armour so flare shield is not helping). This means it's more or less invulnerable but then again with these upgrades it will be 370 points. Good thing it will never die!
**The Spartan very much is what it is and while opinions are divided on exactly ''how good it really is'' in practice, Spartan-borne Deathstars are a popular part of the 30K meta. You are going to see them - Ceramite armoured and Flare shielded, that's just how it goes. They are big scary things that carry big scary units and armies WILL be made around them, either as their star unit or to counter them, so plan accordingly.
**Don't assume it to be invincible. Graviton weapons can fuck it up (you will need to drive close to deliver its payload and you're not guaranteed to kill the fuckers manning the guns), same with speeders (they'll grav it to death then be too far away for your dudes to charge). Other vehicles like the Caestus can ram it or discharge squads with melta bombs, while the Lightning with Kraken Missiles can (and will) fuck it over immediately and likely kill it turn 1 (as you're likely going to be immobilized or destroyed). In any case there's a lot of ways in which it can die and leave the troops it was carrying stranded, and likely right where they're not supposed to be. In other words, remember where it says above that lists are built around it? If you're using one, '''build your list around it.'''
**Remember that Terminators can take Combi-Grenades to table vehicles and infantry or Volkite Chargers for beam spam against blobs. With that much boom combined with the weapons of the Spartan most targets with in 24" inches shouldn't last more than a turn or two. Of course this assumes you are able to shoot first. Make sure that you also bring some Anti Air if your worried about flyers bombing it to death. If you insist or stuck with a LOW that forces you to play an all tank army. Keep reading to learn about the vehicles below.

*'''Legion Sicaran Battle Tank:''' A high-speed assault tank that is a halfway between a Land Raider and a Predator. For 165 points since the Age of Darkness army list book you get 13|12|12, Fast, with Extra Armour, a hull mounted Heavy Bolter and the Herakles pattern Accelerator Autocannon, which is ''R48", S7, AP4, Heavy 6 Rending and Twin-linked''...and no Jink saves allowed. This tank makes <strike>the Eldar</strike> anything that isn't a Land Raider cry. With that amount of dakka it can also function as a decent AA in a pinch. This beauty can even [[Awesome|penetrate Flare-shielded Spartans]]. Like the Predator, it can take Heavy Bolters or Lascannons as sponsons, however, it's a Fast tank, so you can fire all your stuff on the move at full BS.

*'''Legion Sicaran Arcus Strike Tank:''' 205 points, same 13|12|12, Fast, Extra Armour, a hull mounted Heavy Bolter and (this is where things get interesting) the twin Arcus launcher with Arcus warheads, which is 36" S8, '''AP2''', Heavy 4 weapon that forces successful cover saves to be rerolled and if it stands still, the weapon can be fired TWICE, so 8 shots. This tank makes 6th edition Eldar cry looking at its [[cheese]]. Penetrating hits let you roll D3 times on the vehicle damage chart and choose the highest result. It is also ''the best'' AA in a Legion army for +15pts, firing 4 twin-linked S7 AP3 rerolling successful cover saves hits, 8 hits if standing still. This beauty can even be set to destroy MC or infantry in an efficient way with 2 5" blast S5 AP4 or 4 S7 AP4 shots that deal Instant Death to most Mechanicum robots. Like the Predator, it can take Heavy Bolters or Lascannons as sponsons, however, it's a Fast tank, so you can fire all your stuff on the move at full BS. Just as regular one, can't be taken in squadrons.
**If you didn't get it: this thing is freaking awesome and probably needs to be nerfed hard! It is the best anti-heavy infantry of all 30K AND one of the best anti-aircraft at the same time AND makes mech forces cry. A closest thing to auto-include in LA roster so far but you'll need to look in the mirror hard when you do. If you take more than one, you are entering [[That Guy]] territory...

* [http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/resources/fw_site/fw_pdfs/Horus_Heresy/Sicaran_Venator.pdf '''Legion Sicaran Venator Tank Destroyer:'''] ''The Cerberus' little brother''. The other Sicaran is much cheaper and effective against everything in the game, but you don't want this for versatility - you just have had enough of those pesky <strike>Land Raiders</strike> '''Knight Titans''': seriously, 1 or 2 of these can maneuver around and '''shut down''' Knights and other super-heavy tanks. It has a Neutron Beam Laser which, in addition to being Ordnance 2 S10 AP1 has the added effect of forcing any vehicle that suffers a penetrating hit from it to fire only Snap Shots for the next turn, even super-heavies, if rather lacking in range (Effectively 48" because it's a fast vehicle). With its "Dangerous Reactor Core" rule that allows re-rolls of 1s to the vehicle damage table any time the tank suffers a penetrating hit (and also adds an additional D3 inches to the explosion radius of a Vehicle Explodes result), this means that it can go down very quickly if something [[/d/|gets behind it]]. Make good use of its Fast rule and keep an escort nearby to stop anyone trying to outmaneuver it. Also never give it side sponsons; its main weapon is Ordnance which will force everything else to snapfire.'' Even though it struggles to deal with Spartans, the Venator costs significantly less, so glancing it to death is a viable tactic''.

*'''Legion Sicaran Punisher Assault Tank:''' Bring out the DAKKA! Standard Sicaran, you know the drill by now, but its turret weapon has been replaced with a Punisher Rotary Cannon, which is 36" S5 Ap4 Heavy 18, and if it stands still in the Movement Phase, it can gain Rending on it. Feel like a [[Knight_Commander_Pask|king]] for a turn, a beggar later. It costs 180 pts base, 200 with HB sponsons, gives ''30'' S5 Ap4 shots at 36" (without taking 6" move due to Fast in account), what's not to like? As of Malevolence, it can be taken in a squadron of two.

*'''Legion Sicaran Omega Tank Destroyer''': The black sheep of the Sicaran family. Its Omega Plasma Array can be fired in two modes, both have a scarce range of 24", Heavy 6 S7 AP2 with twin-linked or ''Heavy 1'' S9 AP1 with twin-linked, Gets Hot! and a special rule called Plasma Burn: if a vehicle loses 1 or more Hull Points due to this attack, on a roll of 4+ it loses additional 1 (if Glancing Hit)/d3 ones. So, yeah, this thing is definitely not a tank destroyer, and 235 points can buy a lot of stuff that does its job better. The plasma volleys are weaker than the original Sicaran's autocannon, and the Sustained Burn is weaker than the Venator's Neutron Laser. Which means that this tank is only useful for a TAC list with heavy restrictions on the HS slot. As of Malevolence, it can be taken in a squadron of two, helping it at least excel in that niche.

*'''Legion [[Caestus Assault Ram]]:''' As before. Ideal for punching a hole in the enemy battle lines and disgorging troops into the heart of the enemy. With AV 13|13|11, 4 HP and frontal 5+ invuln, one should use the Caestus to ram straight through the strongest point in your opponent's force. Its ramming attacks are always S10<sup>FAQ</sup>, picking the best of 2 dice for armour penetration and add +1 to the Vehicle Damage chart, thus reliably scoring Penetrating hits against anything. Ram a tank with this and then deploy the men inside (preferably dedicated melee troops like Legion Terminators), and charge straight in against the nearest infantry, or if you feel like it, shove a melta bomb up a nearby tank's tailpipe. It's equipped with a Twin-Linked Magna Melta and Havoc launchers, which can be swapped for normal missile launchers (to kill other flyers, mostly) and be given Frag Assault lauchers and Auxiliary drives. While it handles Bulky models wearing Terminator armor as normal ones (so not Gal Vorbak), Very Bulkies still use 3 spaces, so be mindful of your Primarchs. Its rear is AV11, so mind your back too.

*'''Legion Fire Raptor Gunship:''' Comes naked with TL Avenger Bolt Cannon, 4 Hellstrike Missiles and two Independent-Turret Quad Heavy Bolters, the latter which, aside from firing at their own targets independently, don't count towards the number of weapons fired! ''Enjoy, your flying Rapiers''. It can swap the quad bolters for a Reaper Battery for 10 pts each but no Lascannons, that's for the Storm Eagle. With all the twin-linked goodness, Strafing Run and PotMS/Independent-turrets, this bastard can dump its entire payload in a single turn and hit almost every time and it's only 230 pts altogether for the Ceramite armor and Reaper battery upgrades.
** Why use Reaper battery? Because its manoeuvrability and speed allow to shoot at juicy rear or side armor - and thanks to Independent Tracking, you'll be able to find targets almost every turn.
** For a legion not known for their mobile, well anything, the Fire Raptor makes a surprisingly great unit for the Iron Warriors. Independent Tracking on the turrets allows you to potentially pin two units a turn with shatter shells while still letting you dump the Avenger and the Hellstrike Missiles onto targets you actually want killed. Envision this. Fire Raptor in an Ironfire RoW. It flies up and directly into your opponent’s line, pins two tactical or breacher squads for your own to charge, dumps two Hellstrike Missiles onto some armour or a transport for a quick kill and uses the avenger to cripple an important mid to backline unit, such as a heavy weapons squad (maybe even the same one who’s transport you just busted). Sure this is an idealised turn but it is very possible. Mathematical efficiency in war, just as Perturabo would have wanted.

*'''Legion Deathstorm Drop Pod:''' Expecting the drop pod that just landed to contain troops or a heavy weapons platform you don't have to worry about until next turn? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CfNarCjSHM| SURPRISE!] Invented by the Raven Guard on a day they wanted to "Fuck this general area". Recently nerfed by the drop pod errata, the whole pod now counts as 1 launcher, instead of having one behind each door. On its first shooting phase you still fire at each target within 12’’, only once now but at full BS. Dakkawise, you chose between 3 krak or 2 frag missiles each turn... and that’s all. Good thing the Drop Pod Assault rule is now free to release it on first turn. Finally, it forces re-rolls for pinning and morale checks. It may not be the deal of the year, but being able to drop a missile turret behind a just-deployed Contemptor talon, thus spitting 3 shots at each ass, is the kind of dickery none can resist.

*'''Legion Kharybdis Assault Claw:''' ''The Dreadclaw's big brother''. It is essentially the Drop Pod equivalent of the Spartan Tank! The model itself is a huge monster that has '''5HP''', carries 20 models and continues to do its job even after delivering its cargo. Heat blasts ensure anything in its drop-zone (or line of travel) take hits during its movement phase, but [[Derp|the backlash can cause you an auto-penetrating hit]], while in the shooting phase its [[FATAL|five storm launchers are Heavy 2, S6, Twin-linked, Pinning and independently targetable]] which while not EPIC will still cause your opponent headaches. Finally, you can also attempt a ram attack as if you were a tank, though it is still a drop pod and not a Caestus...so don't think it's such a good idea. Despite being an Assault Vehicle, its payload cannot charge on the turn it Deep Strikes or even disembark the turn it Heat Blasts. ''Since it's considered a Hover Flyer, however, you could Heat Blast the turn it Deep Strikes, get your Jink saves, and charge the next turn.''

*'''[[BattleTech|Legion Deredeo-pattern Dreadnought]]:''' aka "the Mad Cat II" - Same armour as a Contemptor, costs only 10 pts more and it's pretty much played as a Contemptor Mortis on STEROIDS. A useful long-ranged gun and anti-air platform in any list that can afford it, Deredeos in particular shines in armies with vehicle and tank restrictions, where formidable weapon options may be tight on the ground. Comes stock with searchlight, smoke launchers, extra armour, Atomantic Shielding and Helical targeting array - conversely, a meagre WS 4 and 1 Attack means this thing should stay away from melee. Anything dumb enough to charge it has to weather twin Heavy Flamer Overwatch fire, so that's a plus.
**The first main weapon option is the '''Anvillus-pattern Autocannon Battery''' which is a 4-shot, twin-linked, S8 Autocannon with Sunder. Highly viable as a threat against most vehicles and putting flyers in big trouble; the gun nevertheless struggles against very hard targets.
**In that case, swap out for a TL 4-shot '''Plasma Carronade''', a Plasma Cannon that doesn't Get Hot, has lesser range and strength but is more threatening to infantry with AP2 and the ability to replace its four shots with a large blast template. (A viable alternative to a Sicaran maybe?) This last firing-mode can Get Hot, but then again, it's Twin-linked.
**OR you can take an '''Arachnus Pattern Heavy Lascannon Battery''' which is the final word in Dreadnought mounted ranged weapons; unlike the others it is NOT twin-linked, though it is 2-shot S10 AP2 and if it penetrates a vehicle it has a 50% chance of causing a second penetrating hit. It's legit superior to a Heavy Conversion Beamer Contemptor Dread in armour busting if you don't mind the shorter range.
**New to the Deredeo is the '''Volkite Falconet'''. If 6 S7 AP5 Deflagrate shots don't wipe out that horde, they'll be stuck firing Snap Shots if they fail the subsequent Ld test.
**On top of the Deredeo's carapace you can fork out for a secondary weapon. The '''Aiolos Missile Launcher''' is a 60" 3-shot S6 missile with Pinning and Independent Tracking, which allows it to fire at a different target from the other weapons, while also guaranteeing a hit on the side armor of vehicles and ignoring LoS (In open terrain, I.E. not Zone Mortalis). Pretty useful as a chaff chewer.
**Alternatively, if you want the Dreadnought in more of a forward-support role then you could mount an Atomantic Pavaise on top instead, which projects a 3" bubble increasing Invulnerable saves against shooting by +1 (up to a 3+) for itself and allies, so it makes a pretty good back-up for Breachers squads and Terminators of all types. This is a great help in ZM as Walkers are not affected by the base size rule. However, the Pavaise causes a Deredeo that explodes to have a D3" larger blast radius and at S5, so those troops that were under its protection are at a slightly larger risk. Furthermore, the bonus to Invulnerable saves doesn't stack with any other source that normally boosts Invulns, such as special rules, psychic powers or equipment like a Cyber Familiar (so just stick with an Iron Halo/Cataphractii Armour).
**The Boreas Air Defense Missiles are more specialized than the Aiolos, being souped-up HK missiles that bypass Jink saves and retain Independent Tracking.
**Lastly, the Deredeo's tertiary weaponry is a set of boob-mounted TL Heavy Bolters which can be replaced with TL Heavy Flamers for free. Wall of Death from the Flamers is a great buffer against chargers, and very choice for Zone Mortalis games. That said, the long range of a Deredeo coupled with its weaksauce melee profile means you might not see any action from the Flamers until it's basically too late. The Bolters can at least keep up with the other weapons on display, though they don't benefit from the Helical Targeting array due to being boob mounted.
**Armoured Ceramite is available for Deredeos, and in a Zone Mortalis context is a must-take.
*'''Leviathan-Pattern Siege Dreadnought Talon:<sup>HH6</sup>''' A pretty versatile Dread that isn't afraid of anything, but for its cost it might have been better off with AV14. For about double the price of an Ironclad, you get a rounder Dread with S8, Extra armor AV 13|13|12 with 3 attacks (4 from dual CCWs), a 4+ Invul that works both at range and in CC but adds D3 to both the range ''and'' strength of its death-explosion, along with two chassis-mounted Heavy flamers and two '''Leviathan siege claws''' which come with an inbuilt meltagun, Wrecker, and '''Severing Cut''' - EACH time it delivers an unsaved wound, on a separate roll of 4+ the model suffers ''yet another'' D3 wounds, becoming the bane of EWs and MCs. But if you positively absolutely need to score those penetrating hits, the claws can be exchanged by Siege Drills, losing Severing Cut but gaining Armorbane. Seeing there's no "specialist weapon" bullshit here and being dirt cheap, [[Troll|grab both!]] Coupled with the fact it inflicts 2 HoW attacks (S8) and has '''I5''' on the charge, you see that the goal of this thing is to punch everything that exists near it. But this all-rounder siege engine is no slouch at ranged combat either. The Heavy Flamers can be swapped for twin-linked Volkite Calivers for long-ranged infantry-hating, but the real deal is that a claw can be exchanged for a Leviathan Storm (auto)cannon (six S7 ''AP3'' Sunder shots, albeit 24" only) and another for a Grav-flux Bombard, a very versatile '''AP2 Large blast''' 18" range cover-ignoring weapon that forces enemies to test S on 2D6 or suffer a wound (''nice''), and rolls 3D6 for AV penetration (''meh, that's AV11 on average''), with any HP damage doubling as well. This Grav-blast remains on the next turn as Difficult Terrain too, so you can keep a side safe from anything nearby. Another arm-replacement option is the Cyclonic melta lance, which is a S9 Heavy ''3'' 18" Meltagun. Because this dread is at its best when close to the enemy you could give it Armored Ceramite to cure it of its fear of Melta, as well a single-use Heavy 3 Phosphex Barrage. Whatever you decide, you might consider keeping one CCW - this can become a ranged menace that will be very painfull to tie up in CC (keep in mind not having a CCW takes away 1 attack ''per missing CCW''). After all, being so expensive it better be capable of doing everything. You can bring a talon of these, why not all three? Oh, that's right, ''that'll cost 1,000 points''.
**Conversely, since it costs as much as two other dreads, if you're considering a mixed approach you might be better off actually buying two regular dreads, one built for close combat and one built for shooting. At only about 100 points cheaper than a much more powerful Knight ''before'' you've begun buying upgrades for it, and living in the overcrowded Heavy Support slot (populated by cheaper and excellent tank options like a Predator squad or a Sicaran, which you may find are doing a similar job but with better maneuverability), you might find that it's easier for it to make its points back if you decide on a very specific thing for it to do and make sure it sticks to that: Claw+Drill with flamers for close-combat against heavy infantry and anything with AV, without being much of a ranged threat; two Leviathan Storm Cannons for mass-murdering MEQ and light vehicles at medium range, or two Grav-flux Bombards for chewing through TEQ and vehicles with some luck (the average of three dice is ~10.5), or screw luck altogether and kill everything at short range with dual Cyclonic melta lances, which given they're pretty much triple-shot short ranged lascannons you won't care about Armoured Ceramite. Given its significant cost, the tight Heavy Support budget in Legion lists, an its common unsuitability for Zone Mortalis games due to its size (where it would otherwise excel), the Leviathan-Pattern Siege Dreadnought and its options need to be a very carefully considered.
**It should be stated, however, that with a Cyclonic Melta Lance and a Drill, a Leviathan in a pod has pretty good odds at being able to take out a Knight Titan though it does take some pieces to fall perfectly into place for this to occur.
***'''First''': Leviathan w/ Cyclonic Melta Lance in a Dreadnought Drop Pod lands behind said target Knight, preferably in melta range if possible. If you have sufficient front arc threats for the Knight, its controlling player should have a hard time deciding on whether or not to let the shield face the Leviathan who, it should be mentioned, isn't forced out of his pod upon landing granting him <s>3, Shrouded Av12 Ablative Hull Points</s> just Shrouded after the drop pod FAQ, as you are [https://whc-cdn.games-workshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Horus-Heresy-Drop-Pods-Errata-v1.0.pdf forced to disembark on landing] now.
***'''Second''': Whether or not the Ion Shield is pointed your way, shoot 3 S9 Ap1 Melta Shots at BS5 into the butt of said Knight which is Av12. If your dice are willing, you'll get 3 hits. Those shot then need a 3+ to Glance, 4+ to pen. If you're in Melta Range, these are pretty much auto pens.
***'''Third''': At Ap1, you gain +2 to Vehicle Damage Table (Bonus points if you're Alpha Legion running Dynat for a further +1 for a total of +3) which, thanks to the Knight being a Super-Heavy, means that Explodes Results - obtained on a 5+ - deal a further D3 Hull Points in damage.
***'''Fourth''': That means that, if everything lines up nigh-perfectly, your Leviathan and his Melta Lance can deal 3+3D3 Hull Points in damage to said Knight (or other Super Heavies) for a potential maximum of 12 Hull Points.
***'''Fifth and possibly finally''': If your army has not killed said Knight by this point and the Leviathan is not dead yet, you get to do steps 1-4 all over again BUT! now with the possibility of charging into CC to smack it with 2 S8 HoW hits and 4 S10 Ap2 Armourbane Hits at I5, hitting it before it can hit you with its S:D Weapon (unless a Castigator) at WS5 meaning you're most likely hitting it on 3s.
***'''Words of Warning''': Do not try this against the Cerastus Knight-Atrapos or the Acastus Knight Porphyrion. Unlike other Knights they have extra wounds & are tailor-made to kill enemy walkers. A Porphyrion will easily shoot your Leviathan to death with its four-shot S10 weapons. It gets worse if the Atrapos has Occular Augmetics. Which allows it to reroll the ranged damage of its D strength Laser Cutter. Replacing the Siege Drill with another Melta Lance doesn't help much either. You might want to bring some better Dakka to take down these behemoths.

*'''Legion [[Malcador (tank)|Malcador]] Assault Tank Squadron:''' According to the FAQ, it is not a superheavy anymore, which totally sucks! An outdated tank model (even in the fluff it was replaced by Baneblades and Land Raiders). Still, our Malcador version has access to the usual enemy-tear-jerker kit, like Armoured Ceramite and a Flare shield. As of the newest book, it also comes in squadrons of [[What|1-3 superheavy tanks as a heavy support choice.]] It may swap its Battlecannon for a Twin-linked Lascannon turret for free to better serve as a tank hunter, and can take a hull Demolisher cannon to act as a Vindicator-Russ hybrid which can throw out TWO pie-plates. The cherry on the cake? Crusade Army List introduces the <b>"Battle Speed"</b> rule, allowing the Malcador to make its Flat Out move ''while shooting its main battle/lascannon'' at full BS, letting you choose whether you shoot [[Awesome|before or after]] the Flat Out, allowing you to bypass those annoying Flare Shields and quickly make up their points, which is something no other Malcador variant has, along with the option of marine crew's BS4. Worthy of note is the option of making one in a squadron of three a Squadron Command Tank, which gives the whole unit Tank Hunters and Monster Hunter if they all shoot at the same target.

*'''Legion Arquitor Bombard:''' A RAW nightmare, the Arquitor is marketed as a siege tank. With short range and worse than a Predator front AV, albeit with a chunky 4 HP, it's vulnerable as it crawls up the field, but the only weapon it currently mounts, the Spicula rocket system, will ruin parking lots and close packed armies. It fires uniquely in 30k, using a template but hitting any unit touched by the template a fixed amount of times (minimum 5). Along with being able to target the ground rather than a models base, you want to use this to clip as many enemies as possible to land multiple hits across units, especially low AV vehicles where the Sunder rockets can chip away hull points, even if S7 isn't going to pen too many things. Sadly, it lacks barrage and so will likely be destroyed once it pops its head out, but at similar points to a tooled up Predator it's not too expensive to lose. Incidentally, as it targets the ground and not a unit, it bypasses Jink saves, so Speeders will try and remove this as quickly as possible.
**It is worth clarifying that this weapon absolutely 100% needs line of sight in its current incarnations, despite the massive amounts of arguments this things rules have fuelled. It follows all the normal rules for shooting, with the exception of the blast not needing to be placed over a models base as detailed in its special rules, aside from that it follows all other requirements (Pick a target, or target spot, I don't know...Make sure you have line of sight, fire away). You still need Line of Sight though, so watch out...
**The Graviton Charge cannon is a 24" range, barrage version of the Graviton Cannon. AP4, toughness test to be wounded, haywire. Honestly, only really good in Iron Hands Head of the Gorgon lists and clearing car-parks. Stick with the superior rocket barrage until the Morbus comes out and blows everyone's nips off...
**A third and apparently "Original" version has been released in the form of the Morbus Bombard. Clocking in at 140pts like the previous two weapon options, this one's weird. At 24" range with a Large Blast S10 AP2 Ordnance and Barrage, it's basically a pricier Vindicator with Barrage and 1 extra hull point but less front armour, or a cheaper Medusa with better armour and shorter range. The alternate shell this thing fires is also odd, S2 AP4, Fleshbane and Ignores Cover Large Blast.....Sure thing FW, I guess this is good for killing Auxilia or Militia but to be honest, I can't see much point in this. Overall score, 5/10 - can see some potential uses for it but really it's down to if you like the model, or hate the Medusa model.

===Lords of War===

Legion Lords of War range from the usual Baneblade-expys to Spartan-mounted Destroyer weapons and the mighty flying-fortress Stormbird. They're only useable in games of 2000 pts or more, and they may not make up more than 25% of the army's total points cost. Furthermore, instead of the options listed here, you can choose any of the following: any Knight from the Questoris Knight Crusade list (albeit without the Household Rank rule), [[Baneblade]], [[Banehammer]], [[Stormlord]], [[Shadowsword]], [[Stormsword]], any [[Macharius (Tank) |Macharius]] variant, any [[CRASSUS ARMORED ASSAULT TRANSPORT]] variant, [[Marauder Bomber]] or it's variants, an [[Avenger Strike Fighter]], a [[Thunderbolt Fighter]] or a Minotaur. Tanks (e.g. Baneblades) can be augmented with Space Marine crew for BS4, and flyers with Battle Servitor Control, which makes them Tank Hunters. Furthermore, instead of using a single LoW with at least 9HP you can bring two "lighter" 8HP-or-less Super-heavies, or a Sub-Orbital Strike Wing composed of a group of otherwise normal flyers (up to 3HP each). LoW squads deploy together but then wander off separately, akin to Dreadnought talons. Destroying a Lord of War nets the enemy some VPs depending of their type: 3 Lightnings can mean 3 easy VPs for the enemy, so be careful!

For those who wondered "Where should I get the rules for all that stuff?": according to FW answer on Facebook, you can take them from any viable source, including FW Apocalypse, where tanks on a Baneblade chassis get sponsons for free, but FW also ''recommends'' using most up-to-date ones, which are found in Escalation. Just make sure the source is clear for your opponent.

It's probably best to check the Crusade Imperialis book (i.e. where Solar Auxilia, Militia and Cults and Questoris Knights rules are) for their Lords of War.

*''Some 40k tanks worth mentioning;
*'''Stormlord: (490pts)''' might be a bit steep but paying those points for '''40 TRANSPORT CAP''' and a 15 shot Str6 AP3 gun which is twinlinked. Can also take 4 sponsons for added dakka. Shame it can't get rid of its transport cap (and got cheaper) because this would be an amazing sit back and shoot tank since it gets 30 STR6 AP3 shots if it stands still alongside 4 Lascannons and 4 TL Heavy Bolters. Remember that Ultimate Lawnmower set up in the Solar Auxila page? You can do that here too, but with [[cheese|Heavy Support Squads wielding Volkite Culverins]]. Jury is still out on if it's legal for Blood Angels players to replace its Heavy Flamers with Iliastus Assault Cannons. The only downside is their shorter range. If it is allowed, take a Liberian on a Jetbike to prevent jams and not lose a slot.
*'''Stormsword:(485pts)''' Imagine a Typhon Siege Tank...but as a Baneblade. Is always 36" range so can move about but gets the luxury of taking the 4 Sponsons. A great cheaper alternative to bring a powerful cannon (Str10, AP1, Primary Weapon 1, Apoc Blast 10", Ignores Cover), however might lose you some friends....and the Typhon looks 100x better.
*'''Shadowsword: (455pts)''' Overshadowed by the Falchion but my god is this still a potent tank since it's still a Baneblade in all rights so it's got those sponsons for some added anti infantry and anti tank but it's also rocking the Volcano Cannon (single shot not Twin Linked like the Falchion) which is still '''STRENGTH DESTROYER''' at a maxmimum of 120" with Large Blast. Cheap and a great tank for Apocalypse games!
*'''Legion Stormblade:''' (455pts) It comes with the Plasma Blastgun of a Titan (Overcharge; 90" Str10, AP2, Primary Weapon 1, Apoc Blast 10" OR Rapid Fire; 72", Primary Weapon 2, Str8, AP2, Massive Blast 7"), which can make <s>blobs</s> anything evaporate at long range with up to a 10 inch blast. Not enough for you? It can add ''two pairs'' of Lascannon + TL-Heavy Bolter. It's the cheapest of the marine Baneblade varients are argueably one of the strongest due to it's price; it's a sheer 80pts cheaper than the Baneblade for the same blast, +1 strength and longer ranged gun all for the removal of a Demolisher Cannon and Autocannon. Downside? Nah, this thing can sit at the back of the board and fire away unlike some of it's brothers that have a far shorter ranged gun or/and want to get up to fire the Demoisher.
*'''Banehammer (410pts)''' The cheapest of all the Baneblade brothers but for good reason, this tank is <s>ONLY</s> rocking a 7" blast at Strength 8, AP3 Primary Weapon, with Earthshock (Surviving models must take a Dangerous Terrain test - *Laughs in Salamanders, Death Guard and White Scars*). Does with a transport cap of 25 though akin to a Spartan and 10 guys can fire out, so if you're bored of spamming Spartans, why not bring a Banehammer instead?!
*'''Macharius Omega: (355pts)''' Stormblade light. On a smaller (only by 3 hullpoints, same armour as a Baneblade) and less potent chasis (best sponson are 2 Lascannons, nothing more) but still rocking that amazing Plasma Blastgun..while tonned down slightly (basically move everything down a side of template; instead of Apoc blast it's Massive blast for the Overcharge and the Rapid fire is Large Blast instead)
*'''Baneblade: (535pts)''' the tried and true tank that is still being mass produced 10,000 years after it was supposed to be phased out! Comes with your standard Str9, AP2, 10" blast at 72" range. Probably gets outclassed by the Legion specific super heavies or Knights because of the Baneblade's high base cost but this tank will always generally perform well.
*'''Legion [[Fellblade]] Super Heavy Tank: (+525)''' ''This is your [[Baneblade|THIRTEEN BARRELS OF HELL]], + 1BS (with the upgrade)''. The Fellblade comes with a turret mounted Twin-linked 'Accelerator cannon' with 100" range, which can fire either High explosive shells (S8 AP3 Ord 1, 7" blast) or Armour piercing rounds (Heavy 1, S9 AP2, Armourbane, 3" blast). Add to that 2 Quad-Lascannons (which can be swapped for Laser Destroyers at no cost), a Twin-linked Heavy Bolter and a hull mounted Demolisher cannon and you have an absolute monster. Plus it's only 25 points more than a Baneblade. Don't forget to add another Heavy Bolter and a Hunter-Killer missile just in case you need more dakka. (And who doesn't?)
*'''Legion Glaive Super-Heavy Special Weapons Tank:''' Take the Fellblade, and replace its accelerator cannons with a Volkite Carronade, and you have the Glaive. Though its range is only 48", it has the Heavy Beam rule which, instead of placing a template, hits every single target (friend and foe) in the path of the beam (the way the Railgun was theorized to work)! Strength 8 and AP2 plus the Deflagrate rule means most marine units evaporate before it, while the Haywire rule means Tanks don't fare much better. Transports don't fare well either, their occupants suffering D6 S4 Deflagrate hits. Superheavies, Gargantuan creatures and Buildings block the beam, but receive 1+D3 hits. However, its short range does make it more exposed to enemy fire, so using it as a deterrent is more useful. Don't forget it has Ignores Cover so you can park it behind ruins and such. And whatever you do, make sure you don't hit your own units by mistake.
*'''Legion Falchion Super Heavy Tank Destroyer:''' If the Fellblade is the equivalent of the Baneblade, then the Falchion is the equivalent of the Shadowsword right down to its TWIN-LINKED Volcano Cannon. No turret means that it can only shoot what is in front of it, but it's all but guaranteed to punch a hole through any Titan that gets near. However, with the changes to Str D in 7th edition, the Falchion is not the all-powerful destroyer of worlds it would have been in 6th; unlucky rolling will mean you get nothing back from your investment, and being able to take cover saves against a relatively small blast hurts a lot. Consider giving it Space Marine crew to keep that blast as centered as possible.
**WHO FORGOT about the Neutron Wave Capacitor upgrade for a measly +35pts? The Space Marine Legion list now has a titan killer ''par excellence'' in form of the Falchion upgraded with the Neutron Wave Capacitor for 560 points a pop. Make sure to keep the void shields down and watch your opponent's Warlord Titan never shoot as it suffers from continual Shock Pulse D hits courtesy of those tasty twin-linked Volcano Cannons. With 12 hull points, it may survive the first turn, though you're probably still depending utterly on getting first turn instead.
*'''Legion [[Typhon Heavy Siege Tank]]: (+395pts)''' ''Its critics said "That's simply an XBOXHUEG Vindicator", Perturabo said "That's the point"''. The Vindicators big brother on steroids is comes armed with a Dreadhammer Siege cannon of range 24" (effectively 36" since it can move 12" and fire anyway) when moving, or 48" if stationary, S10|AP1|Ordnance 1, with a 7" blast and no cover saves allowed. Crusade Army List updates its "Crushing Weight" rule and now it grants a +1 on the Thunderblitz table, thus negating the "No Effect" result and making it ram at effectively S10 ''minimum''. Moving or stationary, it kicks major ass.
*'''Legion [[Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer]]: (+395)''' ''The Venator's big brother''. A Destroyer Tank hunter on [[rape|crack]] armed with a twin linked Neutron Laser battery, a 72" range, S10 AP1 Primary Weapon that fires D3 times, Concussing/forcing Snap shots on penetrating hits (yes, even on super-heavies, which are usually immune to that). The catch? If it fails the penetration roll, it has a 1 in 6 chance to [[Derp|lose 1 HP]], which is a shame because it comes equipped with a Flare shield to protect its AV14 front, making it a real bitch to kill.
*'''Legion [[Thunderhawk]] Gunship: (+685pts)''' You know it, you love it. The best way to use this vehicle is to get Terminators or/''and'' your Primarch right into the middle of the enemy's most dangerous shooting formation, then use the fearsome weapons on the gunship to destroy enemy vehicles that can insta-kill your guys, allowing your Terminators to destroy the shooty infantry and keep your grunts alive. Aside of 4 twin-linked heavy bolters and two lascannons, the big gun is a massive blast(!) battle cannon with Primary Weapon USR. It can be swapped out for a Laser Destroyer, turning this thing into a flying [[Awesome|Shadowsword tank]]. It can carry 30 marines, 15 terminators or jump marines or 3 Legion Dreadnoughts (not Contemptors/Cortus), you are able to mix and match. Though remember: super-heavy flyers cannot jink, and damage can add up quickly. This big bird has 9 hull points and a solid AV12, but its rear is made of wet tissue paper, with AV10 so watch out for shots in the rear; a well placed interceptor shot from a Deredeo with Heavy Lascannons could down this flying brick with some solid rolls. To remedy this, you can add several upgrades to enhance rear AV and protect the sides.
*'''Legion Thunderhawk Transporter:''' The Gunship's weaker and derpier brother. With its armament being only 4 TL Heavy bolters (with the ability to buy the same Hellstrike Missiles as the Thunderhawk, it's useful for carrying Rhinos or Land Raiders around, and not much else.
**Hardly a fair assessment here-although rare is the situation that you want to bring in a Thunderhawk Transporter, it can fill niches fairly well. It's worth noting that these behemoths can carry not just Rhinos-''any Rhino-chassis vehicle is fair game''. [[Anal Circumference|Want to deep-strike two Vindicators behind enemy lines]]? What about heavy armor in a Drop Assault Vanguard/Orbital Assault/Angel's Wrath list? Plus, this is one of the few Lords of War available at the 2,000 points level.
**RAW, it's perfectly legal to pick up your opponent's vehicles and fly off the table. See that flare shielded, armoured ceramite Spartan Deathstar carrying a Primarch and 10 elite terminators? Well, no more! Fly over there, pick up that bitch and just fly off. No one knows what happens when you fly off the board with them, but you sure can, rules as written!
*'''Legion [[Stormbird|Sokar Pattern Stormbird]]: (+850)''' Funnily enough, the reasons the Imperial Manta was mothballed in the fluff are also kind of represented in the crunch. The Stormbird is so big and expensive that outside of the biggest games (as in, boards where Basilisks run out of range) a Thunderhawk probably ''would'' be a more economical option most of the time. Relatively. Hell, if a Stormbird was ever [[That guy|fielded in any game under 1,500pts]] whatever army you had left would probably be able to fit inside the thing. With all that said, though, you certainly get your points worth. The Stormbird has 14/13/12/ and 12 HP. It comes with five turreted Twin-linked Lascannons (so right then and there, you got more laser [[dakka]] than a Terminus Ultra), six Dreadstrike Missiles (S10 AP2 Ordnance, small blast) which can be replaced with a single use 3D6 Apocalyptic Barrage that hits like a Battle cannon. It can buy an Orbital Strike, with Strength D AP1, Massive blast, Indirect fire only and '''multiple use''' for the low, low price of 150 pts. Its 2 Void Shields can become a 12" bubble if you go into hover mode, which is a safe idea since you also get Armoured ceramite and a 5++ invul. Transport capacity of 50 can carry pretty much everything including Dreadnoughts and (fully loaded) Rhinos which take up 10/25 slots respectively. Good thing the Age of Darkness FoC limits you to 25% spending on LOWs and no one actually has the money to play Apoc with FW, right? It now has a model, worth $1000!
*'''Legion Mastodon: (+700pts)''' Spartan not enough for you? Have a giant 40-MODEL transporter, with a situational D-weapon to boot. The purpose of the Mastodon is to flood the enemy with fire while deploying a small army of models onto objectives. Said small army can include Dreadnoughts (regular Castraferrum or Contemptor only), which count as ten models each. So a World Eaters commander can stuff 20 of their nasty Tacs, 5 Red Butchers and a beefy Dread all in the same tank. The Mastodon's main gun is a Siege Melta Array - while only packing 12" of range, it puts out 4 '''small blasts''' at str 9, AP 1 and the ''Stone Burner'' special rule makes each Pen count as d3 against buildings and fortifications. The beast's other unique weapon is a turret-mounted Skyreaper Battery, a 48" Interceptor autocannon-analogue. Two sponson Heavy Flamers and Lascannons round things off gun-wise; ''Enhanced Defensive Fire'' allows these sponsons to Overwatch if the Mastodon is transporting one or more units when charged. So can this thing make it to the enemy lines? Well... it does have two Void Shields, but happens to have '''less''' hull points than a much cheaper Fellblade/Falchion, which is terrible for a transport that '''will''' be receiving fire from all over the table due to its size and its cargo. It also lacks any form of defense against being charged by something with ''Armorbane'' beyond his frontal flamer overwatch. Not even the Typhon's ''Crushing Weight'' rule, despite its massive size. Upgrades include the standard Super-Heavy Command Tank, up to four Hunter-killer missiles and the option to swap the Skyreaper Battery for a Command Vox Relay, [[Creed|allowing the Mastodon's owner to modify their reserve rolls by +-1 while it's on the field, and further dampening Deep Strike Mishaps with a -1 on the table.]] One final note: if a Mastodon is destroyed, roll a dice at -2, if the result is 1 or less the thing '''doesn't explode''' and instead becomes a set of ruins. [[Awesome|''You were driving around in a fortress.'']]

*'''Primarchs:''' Aww yes, they have rules now. Your opponent is now shitting bricks. Properly supported, they can destroy anything they come up against. Even the Swarmlord, even Skarbrand, hell if you somehow max out Angron's attacks with the Butcher's Nails attacks he can take on An'ggrath and win. All Primarchs have the Primarch rule, which acts as a combination of Independent Character, Eternal Warrior, Adamantium Will, Fear, Fearless, Fleet, Precision Strike/Shot, and It Will Not Die. Each one also has the Master of the Legion rule and is Bulky or bigger. Keep in mind that they DON'T have the rules of their legion, so no Rad Grenades for Mortarion, no Exemplars of War rule for Fulgrim, etc. Also worth bearing in mind that in 'normal' points value games (~2000 pts) any primarch will take up a BIG chunk of your army, even more if you want to put them in a transport alongside a retinue. Use them wisely and they'll mince anything, use them poorly and a quarter of you army will get stranded miles from anything they can hurt and do nothing. Furthermore, Primarchs usually come with lots of rules that improve the bulk of your legion, so it pays to think about what you are doing before you start buying expensive miniatures only to find they don't fit your Legion and you end up leaving them on the shelf. For example, Ferrus Manus is excellent for a mechanized force so his army will have lots of high AV vehicles, whereas Mortarion buffs improve his infantry, so he'll run lots of it instead of vehicles. Angron's the only major exception to this rule so far - while he's an absurdly effective melee beatstick, that's essentially all he's good for. Check the sections for each legion for their specific rules and wargear, along with strategies on how to use them.

===[[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Fortifications(7E)|Fortifications]]===
The Age of Darkness Force Org comes with one Fortification slot, which allows you to take any fortifications from Stronghold Assault (not Planetary Onslaught RAW, and no Plasma Obliterator for you, which is dumb since the Obliterator's lore has Rogal Dorn build them to stall the traitors advance.) as long as they're less than 500 points ''and'' do not have a D-weapon (so the Aquila Strongpoint and Primus Redoubt would both be in the Lord of War slot). Fortification networks are also fine.

Of course, all of these fortifications come with their own lists of upgrades depending on the piece.

<tabs>
<tab name="Buildings">
Depending on the size of the building, you'll be limited on how many upgrades from here you can pick up. A small building can only take 1, a medium building can take 3 and a large building can take 5.

*'''Ammo Store:''' Units inside this building can re-roll 1s to hit when shooting, which is a decent enough perk. However, this doesn't mean a thing for any emplacements fired by your men.
*'''Booby Traps:''' The first person who enters this building eats a surprise gift of 2d6 S4 AP5 hits that ignore all cover. Don't expect to kill much more than a model or two since it's a one-time deal.
*'''Escape Hatch:''' Allows you to set up an entry point somewhere within 12" of the building, giving you an extra venue of entry. That said, using this hatch denies them the ability to charge after exiting.
*'''Magos Machine Spirit:''' Improves the BS of any automated defense emplacements to 3. If you're going to be relying on the automated turrets, you'll be wanting this. This is especially true if you're picking the icarus lascannons, as those don't have blast to at least assure coverage.
*'''Searchlights:''' Same searchlights you see on any vehicle.
*'''Void Shield:''' Provides an AV12 shield for your building, which can be broken by any glancing or penetrating hits but spares the building itself from any pain. This shield can be restored on a 5+ at the end of your subsequent turns.
</tab>
<tab name="Obstacles">
*'''Barricades:''' Provides a 4+ cover save if the fortification doesn't have that already. Redundant on defense lines and the like, as they already have these rules.
*'''Tanglewire:''' Provides a 6+ cover save. While it's uncertain if this stacks with any existing saves like, say, a defense line, it can provide something for those hiding next to a building.
*'''Tank Traps:''' This fortification is now impassible for any vehicles that aren't skimmers while bikes count it as difficult terrain. Anyone else can still walk past the traps and it provides a 4+ cover save in the event that the structure lacks any cover of its own.
</tab>
<tab name="Battlements and Battlefield">
*'''Ammo Dump:''' Models within 2" of this terrain can re-roll 1s to hit while shooting and a 5+ cover save for those hiding behind it. Odds are that you'll be relying on the cover save more often than the re-rolls.
*'''Comms Relay:''' Provides a 5+ cover save to models within 2" of it. If you have an unengaged model next to this terrain as well, this allows you to re-roll reserves, which can be handy if you don't have other means to get that.
*'''Gun Emplacement:''' A T7 W2 structure that houses either a quad gun or icarus lascannon that can either be fired on its own (at a pitiful WS2) or be fired by a nearby model who can also hide behind it for a 4+ cover save. An easy take if you lack any other anti-air means, though it's also quite costly.
</tab>
</tabs>

*'''Aegis Defense Line:''' The most basic fortification you can include. Gives you a line of walls to hide behind for cover, which also includes improving the benefits for going to ground. While it doesn't include anything else, its low price also allows you to buy upgrades for it, including the ever-iconic gun emplacement.

*'''Bastion:''' The basic building, having space for 20 marines to hide behind and a respectable AV14 to protect them and four heavy bolters to weaponize. As with the ADL, this is cheap enough you can buy upgrades while remaining under-budget, which also includes gun emplacements.

*'''Defense Line:''' A set of walls, seemingly separate than the ADL and costing more. This doesn't have as many options available to it, this does grant Stubborn to those hiding behind it. That alone provides a decent benefit behind all the perks of hiding behind the walls.

*'''Defense Emplacement:''' Three emplacements connected by walls. Not only does this provide Stubborn like the Defense Line, but the emplacements also allow models inside them to re-roll to hit when firing overwatch, providing a helpful advantage for deterring chargers.

*'''Bunker:''' Take the bastion but rip out the bolters. Instead, you can have four models fire out of those fire points, making this a much more desirable option for any long-range guns like the heavy support squads or recon squads.

*'''Firestorm Redoubt:''' One of the big setpieces, complete with two quad icarus lascannons to shoot down any flyers though you can replace each of them with a battle cannon for ordinance. However, these guns (and any further emplacements you slap onto it) are forced to fire on the nearest target at a pathetic BS2 and thus shouldn't be relied on for very much. If you can spare it, buy the Magos Machine Spirit to make that BS a little less weaksauce. If you're still worried, your men can hide inside there and use the extra-wide firing points that allow six models to shoot out of.

*'''Vengeance Weapons Battery:''' Provides 1-2 battle cannons to shell the enemy with, though expect a lot of scattering since these can only fire automated due to lacking any way to directly fire it with your men. These battle cannons can be replaced with quad icarus lascannons if you're more worried about shooting down flyers.

*'''Aquila Strongpoint:''' A multi-piece network of buildings, all protected by a very formidable AV15 with a -1 to building damage rolls and plenty of storage for your troops. By default this gives you quite a lot of firing points as well as the options for some heavy bolters for additional firepower. Of course, this leaves out the main star of the show...
**'''Quake Cannon:''' Super-heavy ordinance, providing either a large blast at Destroyer strength or an apocalyptic mega-blast that can potentially take down anything flying within the firing arc. Needless to say that this can provide serious covering fire to the extent that the scatter won't even matter.
**'''Vortex Missile:''' You only get seven of them, but the fact that they're infinite-ranged Strength D large blasts means that each one you fire has the guarantee of obliterating pretty much anything they fire upon. That said, these missiles are also a massive risk because if this building explodes, each remaining missiles can explode while inside the building, meaning that your forces inside the strongpoint are straight-up '''FUCKED'''.

*'''Promethium Relay Pipelines:''' You might think they are new because models have just been released, but they've been around since Stronghold Assault (yes, they took ''more than a year'' to release some metal cylinders). They do really well in 30k games for two reasons: Tactical Support and/or Heavy Support Squads. Seriously, get ten guys with flamers or heavy flamers when given the extended reach of the ''Torrent'' special rule become drastically more threatening. It does mean changing the weapon type to Heavy, so you can't move the unit or charge after firing, but it's not like they were kitted out with great melee weapons either. Now the downside to pipelines ''(being explosive)'' can be completely mitigated since they can also buy ''Obstacles'' from the Stronghold Assault options, so you can buy Barricades or Tank Traps to put in FRONT of you and still get that 4+ cover save, while keeping the fuel pipes at your BACK for the safe benefit of Torrent. They appear in the HH4 mission "Crucial Ground" as free Key buildings.
**'''Legion Note:''' Death Guard and Salamanders will LOVE this, particularly Pyroclasts. Though the rules say that it applies to flame weapons ''"as defined by the WH 40,000 rulebook"'', so [[That Guy]] might try to argue that Flame Projectors don't gain any benefit; just remember that Pyroclast Flame Projectors have the '''Promethean Gift''' already applied to them, which as per the legion rules is only applied to "Hand Flamers, Flamers & Heavy Flamers" which ARE in the book, so the Flame Projector is [[Counts As|essentially]] a regular Flamer for the template portion at least, so no [[What|Torrent Melta]]).

*'''Castellum Stronghold:''' Now you can show the Imperial Guard how it's really done. EXBOXHUEG fortification that spans 24" x 24" (a whole freaking tile), made up by 3 Bunker Annexes (Medium Building, AV14) and a Tacticus Bunker (Large Building, AV14), both with Battlements, surrounding a central open deck area. The bunkers can add an emplaced weapon, while the tacticus can add 2 and has access to exclusive options, namely Battle cannon turret, Icarus QUAD Lascannon and Hyperios command platform, which allows your Interceptor weapons to resolve Automated fire at BS3 and target Flyers/Skimmers instead of the closest enemy model. This thing is a paragon of defense, having Shielded Gate barriers that count as impassable terrain but don't block line of sight and confer a 3++ to units on the other (any) side, as well as the bunkers having a 5++ vs shooting directed either at them or the units inside them. And if you go to ground on the battlements, you gain a 2+ cover save.
**[[Meme|But wait, there's more!]] You can buy a hostile signal jammer and/or a comms relay to cause Deep strike Mishaps on a 4+ within 12" of the stronghold and reroll your reserves, respectively. So, whoever wants to claim the building has to wade in your field of fire, while you can Deep strike some Jetbike Multimeltas [[Just_as_planned|behind his butt]].

*'''Primus Redoubt:''' ''The Castellum is not enough? Then the Primus Redoubt is for you''. This thing is a freaking '''legless Titan''', with an emplaced Double Barreled [[Superheavy_Laser_Weapons#Turbo-Laser_Destructor|'''Turbo Laser Destructor''']], which cannot be disabled except by enemy models embarking into the building and killing the NPC gunners. Also spanning a whole 24" tile, this Large building with 2 battlements is a Mighty Bulwark, so it gets a -1 modifier when rolling on the Building damage table, which is fortunate because it's subject to a Reactor Breach if it rolls a Detonation! in the Building Damage table: besides suffering the usual effects it also rolls on the Catastrophic Damage chart - such is the price of having a mounted Destroyer weapon. Not that this will happen often, because it's [[Awesome|AV15]], and with 10 HP, 4++ invuln (3++ against Barrage attacks that don't have a spotter) it can take as much punishment as it can dish out. It's so big (fluff wise) that staging on the battlements is not enough to claim it from the enemy: you have to embark inside, and even then the process of doing so renders the Turbo Laser Destructor permanently unusable.
**You can buy items from the Buildings & Obstacles list in Stronghold Assault, and add an emplaced weapon on the redoubt (Quad gun/Lascannon being quite useful), as well as 4 Heavy Bolters on the battlements, which are very handy when being swarmed.
**Be mindful that even with all its resilience, like the Spartan, it's not undefeatable, especially in melee, where if the enemy manages to embark it that's the end of its Turbo Laser, its main atractive. Or can be otherwise pummeled with Melta bombs, Chainfist of Haywire grenades, because its shields only activate against ranged threats, and that's without accounting the fact that it can't get Armored Ceramite, so Melta Vets are viable against it. Thus, keep it ALWAYS manned by tarpits or other units that can hold their own in melee or against your enemy's Deathstar - filling it with Techpriests wont help if an Assault squad swoops in and murders everybody. And, because it can't disrupt Deep Strikes like the Castellum does, you'll also need to bubble-wrap it with patrolling units or have other sources of Deep Strike interception/disruption.
**The Battlements are the most important part of this building - '''if they fall, so does the whole Redoubt''' (as in, they'll enter the Redoubt if unopposed). They are NOT fortified, so they provide the usual 4+ cover save. Repeated barrages on the Redoubt might not kill it, but some lucky shots will slip through the shield and inflict casualties on the battlements, softening them for your enemy's assault. A Void Shield and/or a Atomantic Pavaise Deredeo are pretty much all the insurance you need for that.

==Legion Specific Rules, Units and Characters==
The Legion specific stuff is a mix of the amazingly crunchy and the rather fluffy. Some units are pretty obvious, taking over for their vanilla counterparts, while others are more lackluster. Of particular note is that the legion specific rites of war which mostly you'll want to use, but not all allow for other legions to ally with them, which mostly won't be an issue, but it's worth mentioning. Plus some goodies in the form of weapons and other exclusive equipment for vanilla units.

Also ''Primarchs, fuck yeah!''

====I Legion: [[Dark Angels]]====
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="100%">
[[File:Dark Angels legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.png|100px|left|]]
The First Legion is more of a vanilla fighting force when compared to its 40K incarnation. In this era, the Legio Prima has a high degree of customisation with each unit/character being able to have his own history and special rules and they have a wide variety of cool toys both melee(unique Power Weapons) and ranged (of mostly plasma), an uncommon balance available to few others.

Each regular squad can be led by its own veteran of a particular wing and have his own special rules, and their unique units are "themed" to say the least, though time will tell how they measure up to other legions. The Legion also has some radical Rites of War which allow you to play those wings if you're keen to theme an entire force around them, giving you a lot of power while imposing significant restrictions on your army choices, but allow you to fill roles traditionally [[Iron Hands|held]] [[Death Guard|by]] [[White Scars|other Legions]].

The Dark Angels appear to be played however you want, although the price for such customisation is quite high. HH9: Crusade did give offer a fair amount of [[Awesome]] if you really dig deep for it, but it was balanced out by a significant amount of [[Fail]] in the broad execution. If you want to micromanage your army list or play with lots of exclusive equipment like plasma dakka and Power Weapons just like in 40K and you're capable of using a sound strategy as opposed to relying on [[Just as planned]], the First Legion welcomes you.
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*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''[[The Book of Weeaboo Fightan Magic|Mastery of the Blade]]:''' Any Dangel using a Combat Blade, Chainsword, Heavy Chainsword, Power Sword, Terran Greatsword, Calibanite War Blade or Paragon Blade ''modelled as swords'' hits on a 3+ when fighting someone with the same WS. Essentially, as long as your Dark Angel is wielding some sort of sword, you increase your weapon skill by .5.
***''This is a not-insignificant bonus in equal match-ups which are all too common in the Horus Heresy era, and unlike some other Legions this applies broadly to all models with a sword rather than just characters or in challenges, so your regular assault and tactical squads got about 17.5% more accurate against opposing squads with the same WS.''
***''Just remember other Legions also have their own CC benefits, some of which entirely negate yours by leap-frogging your WS (Sonic Shriekers, Incarnate Violence) or apply with fewer conditions (A Talent for Murder, Encarmine Fury) <u>while getting other LA benefits</u>, unlike you who only gets this bonus outside of the rites of war, meaning you can still get left behind in a fight. Not a bad rule per se, but not applicable to the same degree as other Legion melee bonuses. Taking a Herald with the WS-boosting Banner of the Aquila will also give you some more breathing room with regards to WS and even allow you to tangle better with other Legions' Elite melee infantry given this rule.''
***''This rule is rather useless against Mechanicum Monstrous Creatures and Custodes. Any unit that can survive more than one turn in Assault against them (Terminators), would be better off with Fists or Hammers.
**'''Inviolate and Alone:''' Dark Angels may never benefit from the leadership of, or any leadership boosting rule from any model that does not have the ''Legiones Astartes (Dark Angels)'' or ''Sire of the Dark Angels'' rules.

*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Pyris Extasis (Relic):''' Woo... the Dark Angels got landed with another crappy overcosted relic (just like in 40K!). For the same cost as the Nanyte Blaster you get a box that causes ''Fear'' once per game. Not fantastic, although the wording implies EVERY unit in combat with a ''unit on the bearers side'', so you get a '''chance''' to drop the entire enemy army down to WS1 for a turn... okay. If you use it, beware of the many Fear-ignoring and high Ld units in the game.
**'''Terran Greatsword:''' A Two-Handed S+2 power sword with ''Instant Death'' for Praetors, Cents, and Consuls with access to a Power Fist. Not a great deal against the normal fare, as everything you'd want to ID' will have a 2+ save and can tank the hit unless it's unlucky. Similarly, everything that AP3 ignores like T3 Guard or regular MEQ sergeants will be dead or instagibbed from a single S6 hit anyway. Where it truly shines is against multi-wound units and MCs, like the Mechanicum's. Armies that rely on Feel No Pain such as World Eaters will also be devastated when they are not getting their 4+++ or their potentially 3+++, just don't rely on it to ID Praetors.
**'''Calibanite Warblade:''' Exactly the same as the 40K ''Blade of Caliban'', which is basically a power sword with +1 strength, but ''for no additional cost''. Dark Angels ''characters'' get these puppies as a straight replacement for power swords. This means you can put them on your Sergeants. So use those extras to give your Power Sword armed assault units a cheap upgrade.
**'''Plasma Repeater & Burners:''' Any model that can take a Plasma gun or Twin-Linked Plasma Guns may instead take a Repeater for 20 points or a Burner for 15. The Repeater gets you a Salvo 2/3, '' Twin-Linked'' S6 AP2 plasma weapon. Yes, it has weaker strength and still Gets Hot! But with ''Twin-Linked'' you're less likely to suffer burning yourself and it's still an AP2 weapon that wounds Marines on a 2+. The Burner is S4 AP2 ''Ignores Cover'' and rerolls overwatch.
***''The critical failure of the Repeater is its diabolically short range of 12", which drops to 6" range if you decide to move the unit, so in many cases it would be better to just take the Burner or even just a regular Plasma gun.''
***''As for the Plasma Burner, the gun on average fires 3 shots at 12", one more than a regular plasma fires at 12", only it will normally be wounding on 4's whereas a regular Plasma Gun wounds on 2's. In practice this means the Plasma Burner is significantly less effective against any enemy using Invuln saves instead of cover, or which only has a 5+ or 6+ cover save and regular Plasma can handle stuff like lightly armoured vehicles and Mechanicum that the burner cannot. However, as an Assault weapon it does not hinder the squads ability to charge after firing, so has some utility with melee veterans. Unless you've got a specific use in mind for the burner (mist-shrouded Death Guard come to mind) give it a pass.''
***Despite all this, one good thing to come out of the change in wording is that Plasma Bikers are back on the menu. Repeaters and Burners are both cheaper than Twin-Linked Plasma guns on Outrider squads, and because bikes are automatically ''Relentless'' they fire Salvo weapons at full range and effect, and can still charge if they need to afterwards.
**'''Stasis Shell (Grenade Launchers & Missiles):''' Essentially unique frag grenades/missiles that, besides their usual effects, cause <u>all models in a unit HIT</u> by these weapons to drop to Initiative 1 until the end of the turn. That's right, ''it doesn't even need to wound'' to debuff the enemy, unlike Rad munitions (but the effects of Stasis munitions don't stack and only last your turn). Using Stasis Shells right before using a Navigator’s Lidless Stare is a great way to wipe units and become [[That Guy]].
***Do remember you can stack these either with AdMech allies for Thallax/Castellax, or you can include your own via a Praevian. Doing this will get you access to Photon Thrusters, which have the Blind rule which they'll now be testing at I1. Now that WS 5 squad you could've charged with a WS 4 Assault Squad is going to hit you on 5's, and be hit on 3's while striking last. If you're feeling heretical you can play Traitors and combo this with an allied Word Bearers Mhara Gal Dreadnought for its Blind bolters, though that's not nearly as points efficient.
***While Destroyers now have the option of Grenade Launchers with Psk-Out munitions, buying Stasis Shells would be a waste of points compared to just taking two Rocket Launchers as Rad-Missiles are flat out better. There's [[Thousand Sons|two]] [[Word Bearers|exceptions]] to this, and that only comes up if you want to get close enough to use two Psyk-out Grenades (one shot, one thrown) and then use a Stasis Shell so that a different combat squad can kill the weakened/pinned unit, but that's a very high investment for a one-trick pony and not recommended (note that while Missile Launchers can do the same thing they also cost more).
***''Important: In 30k, Combi-weapons can be Combi-Grenade launchers, however since Forge World thinks there's a difference between Grenade Launchers and Twin-linked Grenade Launchers, Combi-Weapons are in all likelihood separate weapons and therefore not eligible. Talk it over with your opponent until a FAQ (or email confirmation) comes out. Regarding Stasis Missile squads, keep in mind the upgrade is per model and, more concerningly, Stasis Missiles have a reduced range of 24", limiting their use. Keep in mind that vets with these will have Suspensor Webs, so if they move it's a sad 12" range. Also, the model must have Legion Astartes (Dark Angels) rule, so it's unavailable to their Dreadnoughts. Don't bother giving them to Heavy Support Squads due to it's short range, they should be shooting things not tied up in close combat.''
***'' If you're running the Pride of the Legion ROW or the Deathwing Protocol, always have at least one squad of Vets with Stasis Missiles. With three types of missiles and the right mix of Combi-Weapons paired with Power Swords, they will be able to frag most units trying to dislodge them from an objective. Even if they are not Troops, their options along with the Dark Angels Legion rules and ''Implacable Advance'' makes Legion Vets an auto-take for DA. Ravenwing Protocol will also find them useful for covering objectives in the rear while Terminators, Seekers and Bikers advance the front lines.
**'''Molecular Acid Shells (Heavy Bolter):''' A variant of Heavy Bolter ammunition <s>filled with Xenomorph blood</s> which brings Heavy Bolters back on the menu. For 5 points per model (''any'' model with LA (DA) and Dreadnoughts (i.e., not tanks), Heavy Bolters may be upgraded to ''Fleshbane''. No longer the must-have it once was, the Shells are now just +1 to wound in practice against most matchups. While they can still be good against both AdMech and Daemons, you need to bring something better against MEQ's and Custodes. Don't even try them against the Death Guard, you'll cut your own damage output by almost half.

*'''Scions of the Hexagrammaton:''' for 25 points, any character model (including both squad characters and Independent Characters) can be a Scion of one of the six Wings. This gives the model ''(and usually the unit they are attached to)'' a solid benefit and is also required for many of the Rites that the Dark Angels use. Multiple Scions of different types in a unit do stack, but it does require all members of the unit to have the LA (Dark Angels) rule, so it won't apply to the Primarch.
**'''Scion of the Deathwing:''' the model rerolls one failed to-hit in a challenge. ''Straight up garbage, Scion of the Firewing gives a much better bonus and most challenges end as soon as the first Power Fist swings (and even against a 3++ that Power Fist will go through if you have Hatred, not to mention the additional casualties a Paragon Blade racks up). To make matters worse, the Deathwing Rite of War sucks too!''
**'''Scion of the Dreadwing:''' the unit can choose to move 4" through difficult terrain and rerolls dangerous terrain checks. ''Remember that Bikes and Jump Infantry treat all difficult terrain as Dangerous, so this can be a worthwhile upgrade if it saves a model or two.''
**'''Scion of the Firewing:''' the model and unit have ''Hatred (Characters).''
**'''Scion of the Ironwing:''' When rolling on the damage table, the unit causes any Crew Shaken results on the vehicle damage table to become Crew Stunned instead. ''Might've been nice, if Extra Armour wasn't a 5 point upgrade that completely nullifies your 25 point upgrade, and unfortunately Extra Armour comes stock on most vehicles you wanted to stun (if not cripple).''
**'''Scion of the Ravenwing:''' the model and unit can reroll run, fall back, and thrust distances. ''Bikes and Jetbikes turbo-boost fixed distances instead and can actually fall back quite far, [[Fail|so the units you'd expect to be Ravenwing actually benefit the least from it]]. This is probably one that will be forgotten unless you are using their specific Rite of War.''
**'''Scion of the Stormwing:''' This model and any attached unit fire snap shots at BS2. ''This benefit is likely lost on anything other than Heavy Support squads or Tactical support squads with Volkite Calivers, as any other kind of unit won't likely be snap-firing as often as you think they will, even with overwatch. Also consider for an Inner Circle Knights Cenobium, since re-rolling BS2 makes much more of a difference than re-rolling BS1.''

*'''Scions of the Hekatonystika:''' on top of being a member of the Wings, any independent character may '''also''' be a member of one of the various Orders of the Legion for 25 points. Clearly this can mean DA characters get expensive fast. Honestly, there isnt too much to go raving about here though.
**'''Augurs of Weakness:''' add +1 Strength when attempting to penetrate AV11 or higher.
**'''Icon of Resolve:''' gain +1 attack when charged.
**'''Guardian of Sanctity:''' roll an extra D6 and discard the lowest when this model attempts to deny the witch - ''Great on Librarians''
**'''Slayer of Kings:''' reroll 1s to hit when facing weapon skill 5 or higher in close combat.
**'''Hunter of Beasts:''' reroll 1s to wound vs Toughness 5 in close combat, or all failed wounds against Toughness 6+
**'''Reaper of Hosts:''' Gain +1 attack when base to base with two or more enemy models.
**'''Breaker of Witches:''' Reroll fails to hit and wound in close combat against any Daemon, Psyker, or units affected by Blessings.

*'''Rite of War: The Unbroken Vow''': ''If you want to play Dark Angels on hard mode, choose the Deathwing Rite of War. This is for those who like being forced to spend points for very little advantage and adding more objectives for you (and not your opponent) to worry about, this rite amounts to little more than an overcharged Pride of the Legion with strict conditions attached. Only usable in [[Zone Mortalis]], where small elite units are more likely to shine, and the unit holding the "centre" won't be receiving a [[Medusa Siege Gun|S10 AP2 pieplate]] every turn, or in missions using the "Ambush" set-up, where you can start the game holding the objective. Spamming Vets and all flavours of Terminators work well here. Dreadnoughts, and Battle Automata from a Praevian or Cortex Forge Lord can also butcher any unit attempting to make their way to the center.''
**'''Hammer of Caliban:''' Veteran squads and Legion Terminators may be taken as troops.
***Compulsory Troops choices must be Veteran Squads or Legion Terminator squads, and must contain at least one model with the Scion of the Deathwing rule. In practice this is 50 points wasted.
**'''Marshal of the Unbroken Vow:''' Independent Dark Angels characters with the Scion of the Deathwing rule gain +1 attack while within 12" of an objective. In practice this is still worse than buying them Scions of the Firewing and getting in challenges.
**'''Death is not the End:''' Every unit containing a model with the Scion of the Deathwing rule that is within 6" of an objective gains ''Feel No Pain (6+)'' or improves it by one of they already had it. Better get those Apothecaries, or if you're going for a Librarian do your best to roll Endurance.
**After deployment but before the start of the game, an objective marker must be placed as close to the center of the table as possible. For EVERY GAME TURN this objective is NOT held by a unit with the Scion of the Deathwing special rule then the opposing player gains a victory point. If the opposing player controls it, he gains +3 victory points. ''So all of the points tax you invested into elite Scions of the Deathwing units now has to spend the game [[FAIL|holding an objective to just NOT lose]], and if your characters with the Scions of the Deathwing rule die you basically cannot win. Either come prepared to deal with Primarch Deathstars or skip this RoW.''
**Your army must be led by a Scion of the Deathwing or Lion El'Jonson - ''Note that the Primarch doesn't actually gain the benefit of any of the rules of this rite, [[Derp|nor does he become an HQ choice like in "Primarch's Chosen" or Magnus in his own "Guard of the Crimson King" rite of war.]]''
**No allied detachment.

*'''Rite of War: The Serpent's Bane''': ''A themed force for taking out the enemy leadership, with some useful benefits for actually doing that job. Like the Unbroken Vow it gives you an objective to aim for in order to not lose, but it is actually easier to accomplish since your army should be doing it anyway. It is also less restrictive with regards to what other forces you can take in your army compared to some other Dark Angels rites. Best used against armies that get penalties when their HQ's die (Ultramarines, Night Lords, and Thousand Sons) or rely heavily on their characters (Word Bearers and mirror matches).''
**'''Strike Force:''' Seeker Squads and Enigmatus Cadres may be taken as Troops.
***Compulsory Troops choices must be made up of Seeker Squads or Assault Squads with the Scion of the Firewing Rule. - ''meaning that those Enigmatus Cadres can't be compulsory Troops.''
***''While most of the benefits of this rite are lost on anything not designated a priority target, having Seekers and Enigmatus Cadres as troops is still a good thing.''
**'''Priority Target Kill List:''' choose three enemy units that are either HQ, Elite, or Lords of War. All of your Scion of the Firewing units add +1 to Wound rolls or Armour penetration rolls against these three targets. If three eligible units are not available due to your opponents army selection, then any other units may be chosen as priority targets.
***If these three targets are not destroyed at the end of the game you '''LOSE''', regardless of any other victory conditions being played. - ''choose the weakest of the opponent's eligible units to clear this requirement as easily as possible, but it shouldn't be too much of a struggle unless you are left with a Primarch to defeat, but aiming for the destruction of your enemy's high value units is only ever a good thing no matter what mission you play. Do be warned your opponent will likely do everything they can to block LoS or any other number of shenanigans to save at least one of these units, like sticking it back into a souped-up Spartan which then hides out of LoS behind their entire army. If you don't plan for some heavy bunker busting you might as well concede immediately.''
***'''Remember that Seeker squads can already designate an enemy unit for Preferred Enemy, so make sure this stacks here.''
**''*There is no need for your Firewing units to do the killing of priority targets, so if you need them to be somewhere else then this rite is nowhere near as bad as the Unbroken Vow.''
**'''Marshal of the Ever-burning Flame:''' Independent Characters with the Scions of the Firewing rule gain +1 Attack when locked in combat with a Priority Target unit. ''Finally a Rite of War that actually combo's decently with the Scion upgrade you need to take, and your Legiones Astartes rules! Assuming your characters are fighting enemy characters (which they absolutely should be) this means your Praetor with a Paragon Blade and the Reaper of Hosts upgrade will have 9 Attacks on the Charge (and 8 on the defensive), hitting on 3's against other Praetors/Champions, re-rolling misses and getting +1 to wound which happens to be enough for him to mathematically kill any other souped-up Praetor, even if they have Eternal Warrior and an Iron Halo. Thanks to Stasis weapons you can assassinate them before they get a chance to use their own Paragon Blade, and if they were relying on a fist they'll never get the chance to use it. The only thing that these characters have trouble handling are Praetors with a 3++ (you'll still insta-gib anyone with 2 wounds), Characters with a FnP save (so watch out for Apothecaries) and characters which can ignore wounds like Hol Beloth (who will kill your Praetor while probably costing 90 points less), as well as Word Bearers/Thousand Sons with Empath Bonds.''
**'''Forward Deployment Protocol:''' up to three Troops choices with the Scion of the Firewing rule may be given the ''Infiltrate'' rule, and if deployed no more than 17" from a Priority target will also gain the ''Rage'' rule until the end of the second game turn. ''Note that since Enigmatus Cabals are troops now you can give them this benefit for 6 attacks on the charge, which means each of them will kill 3 Marines in a Priority Target unit (or causing 4 wounds if they're attacking Characters). Before you compare them, yes a fully maxed out Assault Squad can do more damage to 2+ armour units, however those also cost way more than twice what the Enigmatus Cabals cost, so only go for the Assault Squads if you need to clear out Artificer Armour or TEQ's, the Cabal heavily outperform them against MEQ's.''
**Your army must be led by a Scion of the Firewing or Lion El'Jonson - ''While the Primarch doesn't actually gain the benefit of any of the rules of this rite, not that he needs a +1 to Wound anyway! he will definitely assist in clearing the priority targets''
**No fortifications or allied detachment.

*'''Rite of War: The Storm of War''' - ''The rite for players who enjoy having lots of boots on the ground and employing orders like Imperial Guard players are used to doing. Also not quite as crippling to victory conditions as other Dark Angels rites, but still requires a lot of investment to get the most out of it, may work best in small/mid sized games where you won't feel the burn of the troops taxes. Best used against armies that specilize on killing valuable assests (Alpha Legion), or field durability-based deathstars [[Tarpit|that can be overwhelmed by numbers]] (Imperial Fists, Salamanders).'' [[RAGE|Despite the Stormwing canonically using ''Breacher'' units in the fluff,]] [[Fail|they receive no benefit.]]
**'''Masters of the Storm of War:''' Tactical or Assault squads chosen as compulsory Troops that number at least 20 models ''(squad max in any case)'' may add a Centurion to the unit without taking a HQ slot, this Centurion may not take Consul upgrades - ''due to the FOC, you are likely going to have no more than two extra Centurions.''
***The army must contain more Tactical or Assault squads than the total number of other units combined. Independent characters are not included.
****This essentially breaks the RoW completely. Because assuming you take a Centurion for each Tactical/Assault squad after the first two (as the Centurions chosen for a compulsory unit don't count), the [[Wat|that uses up your tax]]. Thus meaning you can [[Fail|only have Tactical/Assault squads unless you want some to go without orders]].
****Update:<sup>FAQ</sup>The new errata adds the '''The Gathering Stormclouds''' to try and stop this travesty of a restriction from making listbuilding impossible. It allows you to take four additional troops, which means that now you can include a whopping 10 non-troop units in your list, [[FAIL|assuming you have any points left from the 10 troop tax in the first place.]]
***Compulsory Troops must contain at least one model with the Scion of the Stormwing rule - ''essential if you want to issue orders, but with the added Centurion then you can make your sergeants members of a different wing at least''
**'''Marshals of the Storm:''' Praetors and Centurions with the Scions of the Stormwing rule may issue an order to any Tactical or Assault squad they have joined by passing a Ld test. Do note that if you fail to give an order to a squad, a second character in that same squad can then attempt to give them an order, but once an order has been successfully passed, any further orders issued to it in that turn automatically fail.
***'''Hold the Line:''' Feel No Pain (6+) if the unit does not move. Since the FAQ, it no longer stacks with other sources of FnP.
***'''Volley Fire:''' a Tactical squad can use Fury of the Legion even if it moved
***'''Full Assault:''' Gain Furious Assault
***'''Field Reserves:''' this can be issued from Reserves, granting Outflank
**No compulsory Troops choice can have a dedicated transport - ''not that 21 man squads will fit in a Rhino''
**Your army must be led by a Scion of the Stormwing or Lion El'Jonson - ''note that the Primarch doesn't actually gain the benefit of any of the rules of this rite, so cannot issue orders.''
**No fortifications or allied detachment.

*'''Rite of War: The Eskaton Imperative''' - ''This could be the dream of dream of any Dark Angels player with the potential for a whole army of plasma squads, nasty rad and stasis everywhere, and making a large chunk of the board into difficult or dangerous terrain for pure scorched earth tactics. However there are some problems inherent with this rite that make it difficult to execute effectively, like forcing all of your infantry to take transports and it costing you LOADS to gain the additional benefits of the rite. There are workarounds, but then you end up creating a fast moving Ravenwing army, otherwise it's an Ironwing army with a tabletop that hates vehicles (BUY DOZER BLADES). Just don't take it against the Death Guard, unless you like playing the game on hard mode.''
**'''Dread Legion:''' Destroyer squads and Dreadwing Interemptors are Troops choices.
***All compulsory Troops must be Destroyers or Interemptors, and must have a model with the ''Scions of the Dreadwing'' rule.
***All infantry units and independent characters must be deployed embarked on a transport vehicle, even if in reserves.
****This restriction can make or break your army selection. Thanks to the FAQ Interemptors [[40K Rules Blooper Reel|no longer need to be ten models strong exactly]], but still only have Land Raider transports and no other options. You could put them in a Storm Eagle, Caestus or Damocles at smaller squad sizes to save your budget, but then you're chewing through other slots just to avoid taking Land Raiders and it still gets expensive. Unless you took a Praetor on a Bike/Jetbike/Jump Pack, your foot commander will quite often be bulky (Lion, or Marduk Sedras). No matter how you build your army, they're going to need a transport for them, so you'll need at least one big vehicle somewhere.
****''Destroyers can take Rhinos or avoid the transport issue entirely by being made Jump Infantry. This is better if you are using the 2019 playtest rules, where a basic Dreadwing Destroyer squad costs 140 points, are all veterans with 2CCW that hit WS4 on 3+ and have a lot of decent options, including psyarkana.''
****''If you have Interemptor models but ran out of points for their necessary transports. Tactical Support squads can be kitted out exactly the same way (Scions of the Dreadwing and Rad Grenades included) but miss out on Stubborn and a Heavy Weapon (you'll barely notice) but can be taken with a Rhino, ten support marines ultimately being cheaper than 10 Interemptors and a Land Raider.''
****''After you've filled out your compulsory slots, Hussars and Sky Seekers also work well here, since there is no requirement for them to fork out for the Scions of the Dreadwing upgrade and no need to pay for transports, you could end up with an entire army of fast units that ignore difficult terrain. Note that Sky Seekers can also take Stasis Shells for their Grenade Launchers (one of the few units in the whole list that can actually do it).''
**'''Marshal of the Eskaton:''' Enemy models within 12" and LoS of any Independent Character with the Scions of the Dreadwing rule drop their Ld by -1, unless they're immune to Fear, and the bonus isn't cumulative. - ''This is somewhat essential given the drawbacks of the rite.''
**'''Masters of the Blackened Earth:''' All open ground outside of either players deployment zone is difficult terrain. The Dark Angels player may also place three markers on the table more than 6" of either players deployment zone, the area within 6" of these markers are also counted as Dangerous Terrain. - ''This is a big one, as it essentially limits movement for about 1/3rd (more or less) of the table to your enemy, and also you, since the Scions of the Dreadwing only get to move 4" instead of rolling. With any luck this will slow your opponents progress to claiming any objectives while you can get behind him and clear out the rear units.''
***''The three markers create an area larger than it sounds; each with 12" diameter so it will effectively render a good chunk of the centerline dangerous.''
**'''Salt the Earth and Burn the Sky:''' All units with a Scion of the Dreadwing may take upgrades.
***Stasis and/or Rad grenades for 30 points each per whole unit. ''While this sounds epic in theory, that cost is on top of having to buy Scions of the Dreadwing with your unit, essentially spending 85 points on wargear, so restrain your urge to spend points like a madman and save it for units you really want to get into close combat, like Assault squads or Terminators. Also note that [[FAIL|FW didn't include Stasis Grenades in their armoury]], but you can still find their rules under the Lion's entry.''
***Any model that can take a Heavy Weapon can take a Plasma Incinerator for 25 pts. ''Remember this weapon has a short range, S4, no suspensor web, and Interemptors already have access to them, this weapon may struggle to find its place when put in Veteran or Destroyer squads, however a Terminator squad could legitimately take a Plasma Incinerator instead of a Reaper Autocannon, Relentless means it goes well in the unit in addition to offering some excellent overwatch. Dark Angels 40k players should have spare plasma Terminator arms laying about to make this an easy kitbash''
**If the enemy army has any units NOT falling back in its deployment zone then your opponent scores a victory point, if any of those units are scoring units, then they score +3 points. - ''Not utterly game breaking considering the Deathwing or Firewing rites, so be sure to try and go for a Linebreaker objective and cancel out the lost point if you cannot reclaim if from your opponent.''
**Your army must be led by a Scion of the Dreadwing or Lion El'Jonson - ''While the Lion may not take Rad grenades, he does benefit when they have been thrown into combat by a Dreadwing unit/Character. Meaning the Wolf Blade can cause Instant Death against T6 for the first phase of combat, while the Lion's Sword instakills T4, also negating any Feel No Pain benefit the enemy may be receiving. So this is one of the few Rites that benefit their Primarch, even indirectly.''

*'''Rite of War: The Steel Fist:''' ''In some ways a weaker version of the Ironwing Protocol as it offers fewer rules benefits. However it does reorganize your slots and choices similar to the vanilla Armoured Breakthrough rite, as well as getting you bigger transports, just like the vanilla Armoured Spearhead rite. So all together you can have more Predators, Land Raiders, and Spartans than pretty much any other army.''
**'''Iron Brethren:''' Predator Strike Squadrons ''(with all Turret options)'' may be selected as Compulsory Troops.
***Predators become expensive if you go in with all the upgrades(a bit under 300 per tank). However they are one of the few troops that can snipe across the board from the objective if you take a Heavy Conversion Beamer and Las-Cannons. If your concerned about blobs, that's why you have Havoc Launchers. More than one squad of three should be reserved for Apocalypse level games.
**'''Marshal of the Steel Fist:''' Independent Characters with Scions of the Ironwing grant any transport a 6+ invulnerable save when they are embarked on it, or +1 to invulnerable saves they already have. ''A weak, but not unwelcome benefit. Your expensive independent characters are not likely to be spending the whole game embarked, plus you will probably have so many tanks that having one or two with a 6+ save will just seem superfluous.''
**'''Aegis of Iron:''' when any unit with the Scion of the Ironwing rule is embarked on a Transport it may reroll Pinning tests or Armour saves that occur when the vehicle takes damage ''Another weak benefit since it only typically occurs when a transport gets Wrecked or Explodes, it's not something that will alter how you play the game.''
**'''Armoured Assault:''' non-Terminators/non-Jump/non-Jet infantry squads with the Scion of the Ironwing rule may take a Land Raider transport if they number 10 models or less, they may take a Spartan if they number 15 or more.
***''This is obviously one of the better benefits, as it gives you easier access to Land Raiders and Spartans without using Heavy slots, so you can bring more Spartans than any other player if you can actually afford them. It does neglect squads numbering 11-14 models, which is an unusual occurrence that probably won't happen often.''
***''The obvious choice of of stuffing 20 Tactical Marines into a Spartan may look like a good idea at first. However Tacticals will be picked off by snipers and assaulters after using Fury of the Legion. Leaving the Spartan an easy target for anti-tank weapons and Power Fists. This makes Breacher Squads a better choice due to their superior weapon options. Four Graviton guns ,a Combi-Weapon Grenade Launcher and the Spartan's weapons makes for a shooty Deathstar on its own.
**Infantry must begin the game deployed in a transport with with the "Tank" type with enough space to carry them, in addition half of the units in the army must have the "Tank" type.
***''Much like the Ironwing Protocol below, this is a large reorganisation of your army that needs planning. The requirement that all units start embarked at least guarantees that you will have a tank for each infantry unit to count towards the "half" rule.''
***''The Scions of the Ironwing requirement essentially becomes a 25pt tax on any Land Raider or Spartan you take. The Ironwing rule isn't something that can benefit many squads not suited to dealing with vehicles (like Tactical squads) so you may be better off choosing a Rhino for squads you want in other roles.''
**No more than a single unit each of Bikes, Jetbikes, or Flyers may be taken.
***''Another heavy restriction, though this one stops you from having to think too much about covering the previous restriction, as you would need to find a Tank unit to cover each non-Tank unit that can't have a transport. This just leaves you to think about covering Dreadnoughts, Skimmers and Jump infantry.''
**No fortifications or allied detachment.
**Unlike the other Rites from ''Crusade'', this one '''does not''' require a Warlord who is a Scion of the Ironwing. This may be an omission that may be errata'd later.

*'''Rite of War: The Seekers Arrow''' ''Probably the least stifling of the more recent Dark Angels rites. The bonuses it grants allow you to deploy your forces from odd angles and move into position more quickly; kind of like a more focused and more expensive version of the EC Maru Skara Rite of War. All without imposing restrictions that break the game with victory point nonsense.''
**'''The Eyes of Caliban:''' Jetbike Sky Hunter and Outrider squads may be taken as Troops choices.
***Compulsory Troops must have the Scions of the Ravenwing rule. ''There is no actual requirement for your bikes/Jetbikes to be either compulsory Troops or Scions of the Ravenwing, essentially allowing you to take bikes from <u>other</u> wings as Troops after paying the Ravenwing tax on other units, like Assault or Tactical squads. Then freeing up those Fast Attack choices for bigger Speeders and Flyers''
**'''Marshal of the Seekers Arrow:''' Independent Characters with the Scion of the Ravenwing rule may purchase Hit and Run for 20pts. ''This should have been a free upgrade just like the other Marshal rules in other Rites, as you need to pay 45 points to get that, before spending on other wargear. However, this allows you to break from combat and pour out your special barrage of plasma and stasis one more time. Bonus points for having the Lion himself (accompanied by a Ravenwing HQ) fall back and get more chances to Blind his opponent''
**'''The Arrow knows the Truth:''' Any unit that contains at least one Scion of the Ravenwing gains the Outflank special rule and arrives from reserves on a 2+.
***All Jetbike or Bike units not chosen as Compulsory Troops must start the game in reserve. ''However, those Sky Hunters Jetbikes have Deep Strike, and Outriders have Scout [[Fail|(so could Outflank anyway)]]. Meaning that you were probably going to keep those squads in reserve even if you weren't required to. Yet another reason not to worry too much about making them Scions of the Ravenwing unless you really wanted the remaining benefits.''
***''A Ravenwing Independent character attached to a squad without one will still confer the benefit, so you could Outflank Inner Circle Cenobiums, Deathwing Companions, Dreadwing Interemptors, or Meltagun support squads up the side of your opponents lines, and all potentially have Hit and Run allowing them to fall back if they get charged and shoot their opponent again.''
**'''Graceful, Unerring, and Deadly:''' All Scion of the Ravenwing units gain +2" when they Run/Turbo-Boost, Charge or Consolidate. ''A good benefit that is useful across the army, though in particular it really benefits close combat squads without transports as it applies to pretty much everything that they do.''
**Vehicles in this detachment may only be Fast, Skimmers, or Flyer types. ''This makes the Run bonus even more valuable, as your Infantry units won't be able to cross the board quickly without access to the standard set of Transports''
**Only one Heavy Support choice may be taken.
**The army may not take a fortification or an allied detachment.
**This Rite does ''not''' require your Warlord to be a member of the Ravenwing, so you could have a Firewing Praetor leading a Jetbike squad for stacking benefits.

*'''Rite of War: Ravenwing Protocol''' - ''A VERY powerful and fast moving melee force with special rules and equipment, which the White Scars would later copy and turn into their own specialty. Undeniably better than the generic Skyhunter Phalanx Rite, the Ravenwing provides <u>exactly</u> the same benefits with more advantages to boot, albeit with much heavier restrictions by emphasizing a little too much on bikes/jetbikes. It becomes less effective on maps with lots of ruins and buildings, however, and your army will cost relatively more. (Note that for anyone trying save some cash, the 40k Ravenwing knight squads make amazing substitutes for the over priced outrider models, if you don't mind them wearing Mk7, which was developed <s>after</s>'' during the last battles of the HH, <s>and Alpha Legion and Raven Guard exclusive Mk6.</s> So be ready for some conversions, namely legs, backpacks and arms, helmets and torsoes can be bought as FW upgrade; or ask your opponent if he's okay with this. Nearly every legion had access to Mk VI by the Siege of Terra, so this would only matter if you were playing a specific campaign during the Heresy.)''
**'''Iron Knights:''' Jetbikes and Outrider bike squads may be taken as Troops choices, but are the ONLY Troops choices available, furthermore, any Independent Characters must ride a bike or jetbike - ''Finally show those Space Elves how to play a real Jetbike army. Lacking 30k's trademark 20-man blobs you'll be prone to being outnumbered, but who cares when you're the original and best biker gang around in 30k?
**#This doesn't mean you're restricted to capturing objectives with bikes. Terminators, Vets, and Seekers (and this rite frees up Fast Attack spaces) all have Implacable Advance and function rather well with Dreadclaws.
**#Oddly enough, a fully-equipped ten model squad of Outriders costs more then the same number of Skyhunters with the most expensive upgrades, even though Jetbikes have the ability to Deep Strike and come free with Heavy Bolters. Only two other legions can have Heavy Bolter troops via Rites of War. Outriders do, however, come with Scout. Take one squad of each to stay ahead of your opponent.
**#With Sky-Hunters you now get to have bikes in all slots if you take Apothecaries as Elites. A Primus Medicare is better, though, as he can take a Jetbike and thus adds another Heavy Bolter with Acid Shells. To increase the Rad-spam you should instead, consider a jump pack Rad-Missile Destroyer Squad out of a Drop Pod or Storm Eagle, for increased toughness reducing [[troll|trolling]]. If players think the Ravenwing are cheap now imagine the Dreadwing and the inevitable reintroduction of Black Knights.
**#Apothecaries are the only allowed Bikers in the Elite slot ''for now''. However they are restricted to joining Space Marine Bikers [[fail|and thus are unable to join Jetbike squads.]] They have very few options for upgrades so the only reason to take them is if you want A) another Augury Scanner or B) to increase the durability and Rad-spam of your already expensive Bike squadrons.
**'''Knight Commander:''' Independent Characters may re-roll wounds against T5 or higher opponents in melee (read 'Bikes-and-Tougher-Shit Hunter'). In addition Independent Characters gain pseudo-''Stubborn''.
**'''Search and Destroy:''' Jetbikes and Skimmers may leave the board in the movement phase and enter ongoing reserves, where they gain ''Outflank''. When they re-enter the board, make sure to put on some [https://youtu.be/K8eHF8-1SRQ SEEK AND DESTROY]!
**'''Hunt them Down:''' Your units may re-roll Sweeping Advance rolls - ''This means ANY Sweeping Advance roll, rather than just rolls with a value of one (1) like the Word Bearers and World Eaters can. Combined with Knight Commander, usually any Sweeping Advance will be yours.''
**'''Scour the Land:''' Character models (including sergeants and such) may buy Rad Grenades - ''<b>AUTOINCLUDE</b>.'' This is probably one of the easiest ways of using Rad Grenades. Coupled with their speed (Outflank, retreating to ongoing reserves, Deep Strike, Jetbikes, etc...) and melee prowess (Mastery of the Blade Knight Commander with Hunt them Down) you can get the jump on other legions who believed you were mediocre. ''Go Ravenwing or go home. Remember that Rad grenades affect the whole Assault phase, thus any Overwatch with S6 will be instant death.''
**The only vehicles available to the army must have either the Skimmer or Flyer type - ''No Spartans? Hello Kharybdis. You wanted a tank? Grab a Caestus. As for LoWs, your only sources of [[Slaanesh|tasty D]] get reduced to a Thunderhawk's Turbolaser, or Sokar Stormbird's Orbital Strike''
**ALL Infantry must be begin the game embarked in a Flyer transport and enters play from Reserves.
***''That means each of your Infantry units must take a Dreadclaw, Storm Eagle, Caestus Assault Ram or Thunderhawk otherwise they cannot be deployed. Only a few units can take these as Dedicated Transports so you'll have so set some FOC slots aside when building your army. But you did remember to load them up with units that have [[Terminators|Implacable]] [[Veteran Squad|Advance]], right?''
**You may not take a Fortification or an Allied detachment.
**'''Inviolate and Alone:''' Pretty much the same as the ''Legiones Astartes (Dark Angels)'' rule. Nothing to see here.

*'''Rite of War: Ironwing Protocol''' - ''A different version of Armoured Breakthrough/Spearhead, this is your mechanized infantry option optimized for close range fire fights, as opposed to a pure tank army. Less restrictions than Ravenwing, but to make good use of it while keeping it balanced you'll need a lot of points. As the name implies, this tank-centric approach to warfare would later be refined by the Iron Warriors and Iron Hands. Best used against armies that specialize on killing infantry (Raven Guard, Blood angels), field many tanks (Iron Hands), or both (Iron Warriors). '''Panzers Vor!'''''
**'''Interlocking Fire:''' Tank squadrons of two or more models (ie: Predators, Land Raiders, Legion Artillery, Vindicators and MALCADORS!!!) fire their weapons at BS5.
**'''Exterminators:''' Infantry models that shoot enemies within 12" with a Pistol, Rapid Fire or Salvo weapon ''(NOT [[Volkite_Weaponry|Assault]] or [[Heavy_Bolter|Heavy]])'' which has S5 or weaker gain +1 on to-wound rolls. ''I.e.: better Bolters, [[Awesome|including Seeker special ammo]].''
***''This is better than being +1 Strength, as stuff Bolters wounded on a 6 (like T7) now gets wounded on a 5+, making those big nasties that bit easier to deal with (Kraken Bolts end up feeling like Heavy Bolters).''
**'''The Dust of Untold Worlds:''' All vehicles ignore the first failed dangerous terrain check per game, in addition, vehicles may move an additional +1" when moving flat out.
**'''Goliaths of War:''' Dreadnoughts gain ''Fear'' and ''Tank Hunters''. If it's practically guaranteed tank kills you want, bring a Deredeo with the Lascannons; S10 with tank hunter is a real advantage that you can utilise. Of course, there are Vindicators loaded up with the destroyer batteries for your anti tank needs, but hey it looks cool. Also something worth considering are standard boxnoughts with Autocannons and Lascannons to decimate light and medium vehicles, and to take advantage of Fear, Contemptors with molecular acid rounds and a DCCW can be devastating (you can also take the same loadout with Castraferrum Dreadnoughts for less points(but they are also getting fleet and 13 front armour with an invul so you can be more survivable and get closer for some more cheeky combat)), and don't even get me started on Leviathans with tank hunter siege drills! You still can't take many dreadnoughts in this RoW due to the restrictions from the next rule however. This is true, though as mentioned below they do count as a single choice so there's a ways and means.
**Infantry must begin the game deployed in a transport with enough space to carry them, in addition half of the units in the army must have the "Tank" type.
***''If you want to bring other units but you don't feel like spending a huge amount of points on tanks when using ''the tank rite'' (ie: you don't want to pay for Rhinos) you could:
**#Bring units that deploy together but afterwards wander off separately, like Dreadnoughts (which count as 1 choice on the FOC), so you don't have to bring too many tanks.
**#Srsly, infantry with Rhino DTs basically cover themselves. If you want to grab Assault squads or stuff that lacks a tank DT, then grab stuff that can't go wrong to cover them, like Sicarans. In most games it will limit you to three, so in the long run its still not a huge amount of points or models, just a lot of Rhinos or Land Raiders.
**#Bring a Damocles Rhino as one of your HQ, allowing you to bring yet another non-tank unit while also improving your reserves (stacking with the Proteus' bonus) and giving you an Orbital Strike, thus ensuring the only non-wrecked vehicles on the table are yours.
**#Grab a few Whirlwind artillery units, which are the cheapest tank squads you can grab (and can switch out to AA for free).
**#Plasma Predators might look a good, but with upgrades they can rival Dreadnoughts in points. Are nine Plasma blast templates really worth the price of a Super Heavy tank? Not really. Instead consider taking a Heavy Support Squad in a Rhino or a Plasma Cannonade Deredeo for your Plasma spamming needs. Lascannons are also useful for taking down both tanks and annoying aircraft.
**#Resist the urge to take Breacher Siege squads with Land Raider DTs for your primary troop slots. Two squads for a little over 1150 points is not a wise investment. Iron Wing works best with a large number of bodies and armor. Rather it's better to take a Siege Squad Land DT combo and a Tactical Squad with a Rhino. Leaving points leftover for models with Implacable Advance to hold more objectives. I.e. Terminators, Veterans and Seekers.
**#If you're struggling with the requirement even after filling your Heavy Support slots with tanks and giving everything a DT, remember that the Termite Assault Drill and the Sabre are tanks you can take in the Fast Attack slot.
**# Don't forgot that Seekers can take a Land Raider Proteus as their Dedicated Transport. Yes that is a Land Raider in the Fast Attack slot and it's completely legal. Though if want to keep it cheap. You can choose a fully kitted out Rhino instead. Though a Proteus has more options for shinagains against your opponent. Just don't be dumb and equip your DT tanks with a Combi-Plasma. That goes for your other units as well.
**Overall, the most non-DT units you will be able to take is six, assuming you took a tank in all your heavy support slots. The Damocles doesn't count towards this since it will counter whatever HQ you bring. Unless you give your HQ a command squad and stick them in a LR. Then seven.
**If the enemy destroys all of your tanks (ie: HALF OR MORE of your army) they claim an additional secondary objective.
*** Now you have another option to up your Spartan in the form of Inner Circle Cenobites. Upgrading their Terranic Greatswords to Thunder Hammers is mandatory for smacking vehicles. Their Plasma guns while S4 are two AP2 with Ignores Cover. While complimenting the Spartan's dakka is enough to get a few wounds before going in for "HULK SMASH!" In higher point games, you can have both normal Termis and Cenobites in the same army. But if you’re playing Ironwing, you’re already on the borderline of Apocalypse/Escalation games anyhow. It would be a decent Space Marine wood chipper if unnamed HQ's were allowed to take Plasma Blasters.
***In higher point games the fluffiest LOW choice for this Rite of War is also one of the cheapest. A Legion Stormblade costs less than an upgraded ten model squad of Terminators. Enjoy your Plasma spam. At worse it's a very expensive [[DISTRACTION CARNIFEX]]. If you're opponent has their own LOWs on the field take a Falchion or Glaive instead.
***For a "cheap" Super-Heavy consider a Malcador Assault Tank. While they no options for Plasma at all. A Malcador can bring more firepower than a Predator any day of the week. It's Battle Speed rule can get it's weapons in range before your opponent has a chance to shoot at your more vulnerable units. [[DISTRACTION CARNIFEX|With a Flare Shield]] they will be able to wither the first turn of return fire and [[Anal_circumference|retaliate in the next]]. You should probably save this for [[That Guy|opponents you don't like]], or [[Solar_Auxilia| fellow tank fanboys]] in friendly games.
***A Sicaran Arcus Strike Tank is mandatory for this Rite of War. Why? Because it's '''four type of missiles murder just about everything on the table.''' Your opponent should have bought a nice carrying case. Because his models will be spending much of their time inside it. If he doesn't realize that the Sicaran Arcus is a [[DISTRACTION CARNIFEX]] with an awesome weapon first. They will after it erases their Deathstar Unit or 1/4 of their army.
**You may not take a fortification or allied detachment - ''Not like you need one though. If you really need Battle-automata take a Forge Lord and bring in Thallax in a Triaros for another tank or Dark Fire Castellax to drown your opponent in AP2 firepower.

<u>'''Unique Units'''</u>
*'''Dreadwing Interemptors''' These guys are apparently what the Lion sent whenever he wanted to make an example of someone, making them an equivalent to Destroyer Squads, albeit with weaker melee ability in exchange for more plasma. Their "Plasma Burners" are S4 AP2 Assault D3+1 that ignore cover and can reroll overwatch against -1 Toughness thanks to having Rad Grenades, so this is not a squad the enemy wants to charge against. All without the downside of blowing themselves up with ''Gets Hot''. They also carry combat blades so can benefit from their legion tactic, but don't have pistols for extra attacks when they inevitably get into melee range. They are an elites choice, but they are still just regular marines once you take away their gun, and those guns will make them a priority target for your opponent.
**One in five models can take either a Missile launcher with Rad and Stasis missiles, or a ''Plasma Incinerator''. Though the incinerator simply fires more of the same plasma as the rest of the squad at potentially a shorter range ''(reminder: Suspensor Webs half the range when fired as assault weapons)'' so the better choice is easily the Missile Launcher who can debuff the target that the rest of the squad is dealing with and make them easier to kill.
**Compared to a plasmagun support squad, these guys benefit from ignores cover, a lack of gets hot, can deal better with terrain, have much better overwatch, a rad & stasis heavy weapon, and are cheaper. A Plasma Support Squad will do more damage to T4 mathhammer wise, can be given paired Pistol/CCW for an extra attack (and Mastery of the Blade), can score, get better options for the Sergeant and Transports, and can be made to fit a different -Wing. Interemptors struggle to find their place even in their own Rite of War, with the necessity that they NEED a transport.
**<sup>FAQ:HH9</sup>Interemptor squads can now take a Land Raider Proteus when they number ten or fewer models.

*'''Inner Circle Cenobites''' ''We have such sights to show you'': Cataphractii Terminators with Terranic Greatswords and a Plasma Caster which is a short ranged S4 AP2 weapon with two shots and the kickers of ''Ignores Cover'' [[what|and reroll any failed to hit rolls during overwatch (which they are allowed to do, despite being Cataphractii]]. Options wise they can all swap out their Greatswords for Thunder Hammers for the low, low price of '''free''', and the Order Preceptor can grab a Grenade Harness for 5 points and Digital Lasers for 10 points after the GW and FW stealth edit. They also have Stubborn and the Preceptor has Ld10, 2 wounds and WS6, so they're not fucking off anytime soon. As with most Terminators, they can grab either a Land Raider Phobos or a Spartan.
**Players can choose which orders they belong to, which you can at the start of the game and it's always in effect: +1S when attacking AV11+ vehicles in melee; +1 attack if they were charged; roll an extra dice for Deny the Witch (bear in mind they have Adamantium Will); re-roll 1s to hit if fighting (or in a challenge with) a WS5 or higher opponent; re-roll 1s to wound against T5 or higher opponents (Greatswords will be even more spooky for any Mechanicum or Daemons); +1 attack in a turn which they start the fight in base contact with more than one enemy; May re-roll all failed hits and wounds against an enemy unit that either contains a Psyker, Brotherhood of Psykers or is under the effects of a blessing (so Thousand Sons and Word Bearers really). Reapers of Hosts might be the best one for general use since it gives Cenobites 4 melee attacks each on the charge if they can get into BtB with 2 or more guys. Outright brutal combined with Thunder Hammers.
**If you're wondering Pride of the Legion and Primarch's Chosen does indeed make these guys troops, making Dark Angels one of the very few (if only) [[Awesome|Legions with compulsory troops that can take a full squad of ranged AP2 weapons and free Thunder Hammers.]] However, this benefit does not apply to The Unbroken Vow, making that rite even worse. With the amount of Terminator options DA have. There really isn't a point in taking vanilla termis unless you need objective holders or more Volkite spam. As those are the two things they have over Cenobites.
***Do note they cost 55 points per model base, with +45 points per model to add more. Their base cost is more than a fucking Leviathan Dreadnought, and they are far easier to kill while often doing much less. If you're going to take them, keep this in mind, because they will likely be more than 10%-25% of your army after you buy them a transport (or more if you attach a character to them). It's also going to be very hard to make that cost back, especially since they trade very poorly in combat against 2+ units like Terminators with Power Fists (the best they offer is striking at the same time with Thunder Hammers while costing a shitload more).
***Their ranged weapon is only 12" but the volley they unleash is insane due to the ignores cover, only Strength 4 but phew that's a lot of AP2 shots even before the combats begun, so this unit can really dictate and control favorable fights. Now let's include their Knight buff, basically you'll be picking "Rage" or Counter Attack (it's just Counter Attack but with fancy writing).
***If you're against Thousand Sons, Word Bearers or Daemons these guys are just downright broken because then you'll pick Reroll to Hit and to Wound vs units with Blessings or just for being a Daemon (of the Ruinstorm). This unit is going to be the linchpin and the hammer of all and every Dark Angels unit! For this author, if they wasn't base 55 points per model for the first 5, they would be OP as crap, but the 50pt tax + Land Raider tax they will be purchasing makes them sit in a comfortable position.
****Obviously a Terminator HQ that has similar options should join Cenobites. While Volkites Chargers are nowhere good as Plasma Blasters (or the Casters for that matter) have the same almost the same range and number of shots. If you need a reminder, Praetors, Champions, Forge Lords, Siege Breakers, Chaplains, Delegatus, or Warmongers can take a Volkite Charger, Combi-Bolter, Greatsword or TH combo. Primus Medicae healing is nice but the Needle Pistol only has one shot poor AP and he can only take a Hammer, so no fist to exchange for him. Praetors or Forge Lords pair best with Cenobites due to their extra attacks. FLs are better because they can buy Rad Grenades and a Graviton Gun that can reduce opposition toughness, has the Haywire rule, and creates Dangerous Terrain. Just remember to take a Land Raider or Spartan before doing so.
**As a unit of characters that are not unique/named/special characters, every model may also be eligible for selecting one of the Scions of the Hexagrammaton, as there appears to be nothing stopping other eligible units in the army (Independent Characters) from taking one of each. This would get expensive really fast though, but even one or two Scions could make this into a true Deathstar unit unlike any other.
**'''Order of the Broken Claw<sup>PDF</sup>:''' A slightly unique order of Inner Circle knights with some unique war gear and rules, they're nearly identical except for the fact they come with a unique order exemplar rule which gives them +1 to wound rolls when in combat with a unit containing a Monstrous or Gargantuan Creature or a Daemon of the Ruinstorm, and when you resolve the vehicle damage caused by one of these guys in melee you add one to the roll on the damage table (so that Rhino can explode in your face).
***These guys have access to more weapons than normal Knights. The unit's sergeant can take a master-crafted Thunder Hammer for 5 points or a Paragon Blade for 25 points. The entire unit can also all take "Advex-Mors Greatswords" for 2 points each, which are +3 Strength AP 3 Terranic Great Swords with Rending and Murderous Strike instead of Instant Death.
***Apart from that (and the Preceptor having 3 attacks) they are identical to regular Inner Circle Knights. Could be a good choice if your fighting Mechanicum and Daemons, but not really worth it if you are fighting Marines and other stuff.
***They are counted as a separate entry to normal Inner Knights and must be modelled differently. Because [[Derp|Forge World]]
***Rules found [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2022/01/17/horus-heresy-exemplary-battles-a-new-mission-and-free-rules-for-dark-angels-and-death-guard-squads/ here]
*'''Deathwing Companions:''' Elite squads tasked with the protection of senior officers. Armed with either Calibanite Warblades or Terranic Greatswords, they all have Artificer Armour and the option of Terminator Armour (their choice of pattern) or Jump Packs if their Praetor has a Jump pack. Non-terminators can take Cytheron Pattern Aegis shields granting them a 4+ invulnerable save against shooting or a 5+ in melee and so long as there are two or more shields left in the unit, the shieldbearers can choose [[What|to not shoot or fight at all]] in exchange for granting the save bonus to the whole squad ''(this would be redundant on Terminators anyway)'' along with imposing a -1 initiative penalty on the enemy. Their special rules make them quite possibly the best bodyguard squad ever: they don't take up a Force Org slot ''(but can only be taken with a Praetor/Special Character/Primarch)''; they are all Chosen Warriors and are pretty much the '''only''' squad in the army where the Deathwing Scions rule genuinely functions well, since ''each'' member can issue or accept challenges and can stand in for each other in subsequent rounds even after the previous guys falls; they always pass Look Out Sir rolls and their attached character cannot be picked out by Precision Shots.
**Although vanilla command squads have a cheaper base cost than Deathwing companions, five Deathwing are actually slightly cheaper than five Command squad Chosen with equivalent gear and are actually superior since Calibanite Warblades are essentially +1 power swords ''(Deathwing are still cheaper with Power Fists if chosen)'', the squad leader has a 5++ invulnerable save as standard, they all reroll in challenges ''(thanks to the Scions rule)'', they are actually better bodyguards ''(thanks to Death-Sworn rule)'' and can be brought in larger squad sizes. Deathwing don't have a Legion standard for a ''Fearless'' bubble though.
***Unlike Justaerin, Deathshroud, Firedrakes, and Iron Circle units who all have provisions against it ''(quite possibly because they can all be taken as Elites in the alternative)'' There is nothing stopping you from taking BOTH a Companion squad and a vanilla Command Squad in one slot. Your character just HAS to be joined to the Deathwing squad while Chosen can go off and spread their Fearless bubble elsewhere.
**The Shields have a neat trick, but deployment of the field is probably not worth it in the long run as it involves two guys standing around looking stoic while the rest of the squad does the fighting, and the squad isn't that good that they can afford to lose two guys for the sake of a 5++ save in melee. Stasis effects drop the enemy down to Initiative 1 and can't be modified further so would make the shields redundant, and Terminator Companions handily have the option of taking Stasis shells, pretty much spelling this out.
***That all being said, the shield does NOT interfere with your two weapon bonus the same way as Boarding Shields do, so you get the same protection as Tartaros Terminator Armour for less points and more attacks, with the added bonus of a 4++ against shooting. So unless you really need that stasis grenade launcher and the option of free Thunder Hammers, or you intended to take a whole squad of Terranic Greatswords ''(and thereby removing the two weapon bonus)'', there are some positives for taking a whole squad of shields rather than a whole squad of Terminators.
***On that note, there is no point taking Cataphractii armour alongside the Lion, as it hinders his ability to perform a sweeping advance and chase down enemy squads, something he is '''very''' good at. The fact Terminators can also take Stasis grenade launchers mean that he is almost guaranteed to Blind his enemy when his squad shoots the same target. Though he can't charge afterward due to the Salvo rules, but the enemy will be practically unable to shoot him back and have to make a choice of whether to charge him with debuffed WS in their own turn, and risk being blinded for even longer due to overwatch.
**On Terminator Companions, even if you do nothing else, '''always''' upgrade the Calibanite Warblades to Terranic Greatswords, there is literally no reason to keep the +1 toothpicks since you can't claim a two weapon bonus while the +2 Instant Death swords are free.
****<sup>FAQ:HH9</sup>Terminator Companions may now take a Spartan tank as a transport option, so they can actually fit inside their transport along with their attached character.

*'''Firewing Enigmatus Cabal:''' an odd unit of three jump pack armed Characters each with two wounds who themselves have ''Hatred (Characters)'', and the Scions of the Firewing rule (which grants the same rule). Clearly intended as an assassin unit, they are armed with needle pistols so they have limited, but reliable shooting against everyone except Death Guard, as well as a special kind of Calibanite blade that can add ''Rending'' and ''Gets Hot'' if the player chooses, which is probably for the best as most characters will invariably have 2+ saves. They do seem a bit fragile with no room for expansion beyond three, but that's still six wounds, they can do the Deathshroud gimmick of LoS'ing off each other, they have permanent 5+ cover saves and they ignore overwatch if they use their jump packs in assault (where they'll have 5 rending S5 AP3 attacks on the charge). You could also have them be roadblocks who intentionally get charged since they can function like Custodes in that they use their I5 to butcher enemy MEQ's before they get to attack, and their Shroud Bombs ensure they don't take much damage from that charge anyway. A shame they're missing counter-attack.
**Point for point, these guys are straight up better Assault Squads, so long as you don't run into anything that can ID them from range (watch out for Krak Missiles) but they're also not Scoring units, but they're very cheap for what they dish out so if you're going for an assault-heavy list, feel free to load up on them.

*'''Ironwing Excindio Class Battle-automata:''' A Man of Iron. No, seriously. At a glance their statline and rules make them seem like extremely powerful combat monsters, since it's very easy to give them 7 Attacks at WS5, S10 AP2 and I4, once you factor in their extra weapon and Rampage (not to mention a bonus 2 attacks after), and including Hatred you can guarantee they'll mince enemy squads on the charge (on average they'll kill 7 2+ save Marines) but then you notice the most horrific aspect of them: their price. Apparently the Men of Stone defeated them by increasing their points cost so much that they became very inefficient on the battlefield, so you can choose to field either one of these guys or nearly 3 Castellax who collectively have better ranged weapons, more wounds, and more attacks (alternatively you can get 2 squads of Firewing Enigmatus, who do the same job way better). On top of that, Castellax don't have a chance of going rogue and ripping into your own army, you don't have to buy a specific upgrade whose sole purpose is allowing you to (hopefully) kill your own unit when the machine uprising occurs, and they don't always automatically explode (and possibly kill your own troops in the process). You might think to make them useful by taking the unique ranged options that nobody else has access to, but this has its own drawbacks. To start with, they increase they already sky-high price of your robot, they take away 2 attacks per gun bought, and soon you're going into Primarch costs (an Excindio with two canister launchers is 5 points less than Lorgar, an additional Hunter-killer misile makes it cost more) and they're also not going to make its points back. While every weapon is AP2 they don't have the quantity of shots and/or to-wound rolls needed to be the MEQ/TEQ killers the designer thinks they are.
**If you're going to use it anyway, get the Atomantic Pulse Cannon (or two) to blow up Spartans and strand whatever Deathstar they're carrying across the battlefield, and/or get a nerve Induction Shredder to try to pin whatever squad it's going to charge. Just make sure to keep it far away from your own units (no it isn't worth it to fight a rogue Excindio in any capacity, you shouldn't do your opponents job for them) and watch the fuck out for Instant Death. You're going to look real stupid if you charge an enemy squad only to see their attached Praetor with a Divining Blade instantly kill it before it gets to attack (and even a weak human like Aevos Jovan will kill it 33% of the time (after his squad tanks the attacks), or 50% of the time if his squad charges). You can take a kill-switch if you want, it's not necessary and trying to use it to kill a rogue Excindio can easily leave you with a dead Tech Priest/Forge Lord if you roll poorly, since the range is short enough that using it means you're probably going to get charged by it and it would've been smarter to hide instead of trying to kill it.

*'''Corswain''': The champion of the Dark Angels and one of the greatest Astartes swordsmen in the Horus Heresy, Corswain has everything that a great beatstick should, 4 Wounds, WS7, Master-crafted, AP1 at Initiative, S6 to make him wound on 2's, and Instant Death in challenges, not to mention the Paladin of Glory trait (making it easier to win assaults). There's only one thing missing and it's a pretty big thing, he lacks Eternal Warrior, so on the rare occasions he fails to kill an enemy and their power fist goes through his 3+ Invuln he'll be turned to paste. There's very few situations you'll have to worry about this in though, so just be wary of Salamanders, Word Bearers, Thousand Sons (who can all get EW for one reason or another) and any unique character who either has EW and can ID him (like Sigismund) or is faster than him with ID (like Sevatar and Eidolon), or has some sort of BS that lets them cheat his ID so they can ID him right back (like Hol Beloth). Still, if you're looking for a beatstick, Corswain is a very good choice for his cost (and Warlord Trait).

*'''Mardruk Sedras''': One of the oldest Astartes at the time of the Heresy with an impressive 250 years of service and a prominent member of the Dreadwing. He's a Cataphractii armoured beatstick with a S9 AP2 unwieldy sword that reduces invulnerable saves by -1 and three phosphex bombs and a plasma burner. While this is cool, his main draw is his special rules: He has ''Preferred Enemy (chosen faction)'' which he confers on Dark Angels units who have at least half their models within 6" of him before the game starts (and they keep for the entire game), meaning he gives a pep talk to squads who then go off to do their own thing. Note that if you keep him in Reserves you don't get this ability, and Preferred Enemy is really fucking strong (especially on units with Gets Hot, which the DA have a ton of) so don't do that. Too bad the Eskaton Imperative rite forces infantry to be in transports, making this rule completely useless ''in the rite he's supposed to be taken with.'' Also instead of a Deathwing bodyguard, he may instead take a Cenobite squad if he chooses, which might be a better fit considering his load-out.

*'''Farith Redloss''': Master of the Dreadwing, best known for his knowledge of Dark-Age weaponry. He's not one very keen on combat, he's only got a MC power axe and has only 3 wounds, but he's got tons of grenades, including melta bombs and three phosphex bombs in case you feel like an utter dick. This last bit is especially funny because his armor gives him a 2+/4++ but has a 2++ invuln against melta and phosphex weaponry while poisoned weapons only wound him on a 6+. While he's still got Master of the Legion, he's stuck with his personal WT ''Master of Destruction'', which gives Tank Hunter and Wrecker to all his guns and to any heavy weapons attached to his unit but unfortunately this doesn't combo well. Farith wants to be up close while his Warlord Trait wants him in a supporting role, so he doesn't do either particularly well, and him being just regular Infantry also hampers this since you need to buy him a transport to get close enough to use his better guns, and when you get in that close you'll probably want him to be with a squad that has either good Overwatch, or a unit like a Deathwing Companion Detachment that makes for a good bodyguard rather than a Deathstar. He also has Scion of the Dreadwing, which is nice.
**''Master of the Armoury:'' Farith's quite unique in that he can pick one of three guns. If he's the Warlord, he gets to give any of them Tank Hunter and Wrecker. The Tyrhenian-Pattern Neural Shredder Carbine is least-suited for tanks, what with Poison on a 4+, but it has AP2, Pinning and is the longest-range gun with Assault 2 that he can grab. The Magaron-Pattern Shock Pulse Pistol is your shortest-range pistol, with only a measly 6" on one shot, but that shot's S8 AP 2 with Lance and Shock Pulse, so you could potentially take down Spartans, however that leaves you at the mercy of whatever the Spartan's carrying. The Selenite Shard-Bolt Pistol's pretty similar to a base bolt pistol, but with 4 shots and Moonsilver, which makes it deal two wounds per hit against Daemons (whether classic or Ruinstorm) and Psykers. This is the obvious "totally not a counterpick" weapon you pull out when you see Word Bearers or Daemons of the Ruinstorm on the field.
**Obviously you should take either take the Neural Shredder Carbine or the Selenite Shard-Bolt Pistol. As Astartes have better ways of taking out Tanks and Super Heavies.
**Do note that Farith's rules were not included in Book 9, despite showing up in the preview for it. [https://www.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1l6eGjsX4M1sCXdB.pdf You can find him here, above Holguin.]

*'''Holguin''': Master of the Deathwing and evil beatstick. He's stuck with Cataphractii armor, but he has an additional layer of protection from a re-rollable FNP as he loses wounds (5+ on his last two, 4+ at his final). Offensively, he's got a Volkite Charger, digi-lasers and the Viridian Blade, a nightmarish blade with S+2 AP2 that's Two-Handed and has the Sweeping Blow rule more familiar on the Death Guard's power scythes. If he's in a challenge, this has TWO re-rolls, one of them being from Master of the Deathwing. His WT's stuck at Child of Terra, which ideally makes him a good beatstick, however despite his rules making him seem ideal for duels, he will lose to a Praetor with a Power Fist since unlike Corswain, he lacks Instant Death. Keep him the fuck away if you see them, and save him for taking out TEQ's and 2-wound characters.
**Do note that Holguin's rules were not included in Book 9, despite showing up in the preview for it. [https://www.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1l6eGjsX4M1sCXdB.pdf You can find him here, underneath Farith Redloss.]

[[File:LionELJohnson-30k-2.jpg|thumb|right|175px|The Lion]]
*'''[[Lion El'Jonson]]''': Without completely rehashing his rules, the First Primarch makes for a decent beatstick with a number of surprising tricks up his sleeves. While he is not the best Primarch at shooting, he probably has the best Overwatch out of all of them, as the combination of the '''Fusil Actinaeus''' and '''Stasis Grenades''' means that he is very likely to slow and blind anyone who dares to charge him, which gives him the edge in practically every match-up short of fighting Horus (who is resistant to debuffs) and Angron (who has enough attacks and rerolls to that he really doesn't care!). This means that the Lion plays a little differently from most, since it is in his benefit to dare opponents to come and get him, rather than simply charging at the nearest high value target. Think of it like this: Four shots that hit on a rerollable 2+ with S7 AP2 that can ''also'' debuff the target can often do more for a battle plan than six melee attacks that hit on a 3+ with one or no rerolls against MEQ/TEQs that are going to immediately hit you back. Just be sure to debuff his shooting target in advance with Stasis from somewhere else in the army to ensure that Blind really comes into effect, rendering any survivors useless on their own turn. He '''should''' still charge opponents that he knows he can beat, as there is no point standing around getting shot in the face when he could be easily hacking them apart and rolling over them with a Sweeping Advance. Overall he's not a Primarch with any particular "role" or area of excellence when compared to his brothers, he doesn't have any FOC shifting tricks for making special units Troops, or game altering abilities that affect Reserves or turn sequence. His main traits are that he is mostly unaffected by debuffs, terrain, or the changing balance of characteristics. The Lion will perform mostly the same way against practically anything.
**He is also one of the few primarchs that comes with his choice of weapon: the legendary '''Lion Sword''' is the marginally better weapon for dueling with while he's at full health and his base number of attacks, although the '''Wolf Blade''' takes over when the Lion's Choler kicks in, is more reliable against vehicles, and is significantly more likely to break non-Fearless units with the ''Fearsome Ruin'' rule and the +1 to combat resolution from the ''Sire of the Dark Angels'' rule; therefore the choice of weapon descends to what you think you'll be using him for, bearing in mind that Primarch vs Primarch fights tend to outlast the length of most games.
**In addition to the +1 to combat resolution, his ''Sire of the Dark Angels'' rule also grants the army 3d6-drop-highest on Morale checks. While this sounds dull, it is essentially similar to rolling 2d6-2 or adding +2 to Leadership that can go over 10, unlike many other Primarchs who allow their army to become Ld10. It is not a bonus to be sniffed at lightly in an environment where a broken Space Marine squad is effectively neutralized until it recovers or swept up by a bad sweeping advance roll.
**The Lion can take a squad of Deathwing Companions that can never leave him throughout the game and do not count towards the 25% LoW allowance. This is your choice whether to do this or not. Though bearing in mind that attaching him to something like Inner Circle Cenobites might have great synergy with guns and saves, it does hinder his ability to sweeping advance. Something that the Lion should be very, very good at with those Stasis Grenades. While the Deathwing don't get any particular buffs for being with their daddy, they still make a great bodyguard, and are able to jump in and take wounds for him with automatic ''Look Out Sir'' rolls, or stand-in for Challenges when the Lion can't be bothered by those Consuls/Sergeants that might have low invulnerable saves and get lucky, when all the Lion just wants to do is get stuck into a squad.
***Note this is the ''[[Wat|only]]'' way to put the Lion in a squad if using a Dark Angels RoW, as [[40K Rules Blooper Reel#Horus Heresy|bad rules writing]] means he can't RAW can't join any other squad in the detachment.

*'''Sworn brothers:''' Oddly for a loyalist army. You have the least amount of Sworn Brothers. A staggering amount of one, excluding Agents of the Emperor. Even your buddies from the [[Ultramarines|Imperium]] [[Blood_Angels|Secundus]] are Fellow Warriors at best. Don't even think about using Space Wolves. As they didn't become "friends" until after the Siege of Terra and are designated by the "Emperor's Command".
**'''Salamanders:''' Why would you even bother taking models from a close range fire support Legion when the First Legion are already good in assault? There is a ton of overlap in what they do, as DA will usually do it better on their own. That said it might be better taking The First as allies for them. As Salamanders can't take Moritats, Destroyers or Phosphex. Besides that there isn't really anything that Dark Angels with a generic Rite of War that the bros from Nocturne can't do themselves. The only reasons you would take them in a detachment is if you want more Flamers or a unique unit such as Firedrake Terminators. Though both are rather redundant when your own unique units do the job better.
**'''Talons of the Emperor:''' Notable because they are your only other choice for Sworn Brothers. Unlike other options they have decent synergy with the Dark Angels without stepping on each others toes. While there is some overlap such as the anti horde options. The reason you want them is for their short and long ranged Dakka. There is no shame in sticking with one of the basic Bolter squads as required troops, i.e. Custodian Guard Squads and Prosecutor Cadres. While Sword and Board do pair well with Stasis Shell armed Vets and Termis. [[Fallen_Angels|The first do well enough at cleaning up after themselves.]] So it's not worth it to take their melee units. The main draw of the golden bros and sistas is for DA players are their guns and vehicles. Aquilons for hordes or vehicle popping, Excruciatus, Venatari and Seekers for crowd control, or Grav-Tanks, Agamatus and Telemons for some extra firepower.
**'''Other Agents of the Emperor:''' Because Dark Angels players don't have many options and they were the last Legion to get rules for their characters. Nathaniel Garro, Tylos Rubio, and Endryd Haar are all decent choices. While the Nemean Reaver is a former Dark Angel. He is overpriced for what he does. The generic Knights-Errant is the best option. A Lord of War or a Leviathan Dreadnought Talon should be able to help him fulfill just about any Oath of Moment objective.
*None of your Rites of War currently allows allied detachments, there isn't much point in taking one as the DA versions of Angel's Wrath, Sky Hunter Phalanx and Armoured Spearhead are superior to their generic counterparts. Armoured Breakthrough and Breathan of Iron are viable options in taking allies along with at least one ROW. So the Dark Angels will be going it alone more often than not until they get economic Rites of War via FAQs and Red Books circa the 2020s. However if you want to play '''Imperium Secundus''' you can do so easily by playing '''Shattered Legions'''. As Dark Angels Rites don't have SL restrictions like some others do. Neither do Blood Angels and Ultramarine own RoWs have them. Your also not restricted to fluff allies either. So you go all in with [[Cheese]] until the inevitabile updates and nerfs.

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====III Legion: [[Emperor's Children]]====
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[[File:Pre-Heresy Emperor's Children Pauldron.jpg|100px|left|]]
Everyone's favourite perfectionists, the Emperor's Children favour a fast and hard-hitting playstyle. "Fast" as in their troops run quicker and get multiple bonuses to initiative, "Hard" due to their access to [[Rip and Tear|AP2 at said heightened initiative]], as well as their several bonuses to combat resolution, meaning they are quite likely to overrun opponents <s>if</s> ''when'' they win in combat, ''even if they [[Troll|didn't actually score the most wounds]]''. Fitting their bias for melee, they also have access to a plethora of alternate deployment methods, by virtue of Fulgrim's strategic acumen and their very reliable outflanking available from one of their unique RoWs.

The downsides to the IIIrd Legion are not particularly bad, as being rather generic at ranged combat is a fair price for their plethora of close combat bonuses, but they could very well disappoint you: Their special characters and unique units usually have a single thing that they are good at (or "obsessed with" should we say) and ''need'' to work with the rest of your army to get the best out of them, lest their misuse make their disproportionately high cost be noticed. Also, the best part of the IIIrd Legion's Legiones Astartes rules is pretty much the old Furious Charge rule, so players are encouraged to ''master'' positional play and timing to have their units charging at the right moment while being supported with the right buffs, lest the enemy rob your forces of their melee advantage and your Children end up playing akin to generic Legion marines. They already hit hard and fast - it's up to you to make them hit often.

If you are ''obsessed'' with ''glorious'' melee combat and can ''flawlessly'' pull off the ''perfect'' maneuvers required to enact the ''perfect'' strategy, then you've earned the ''unique honour'' of ''proudly'' bearing the Palatine Aquila on your chest and being recognized as one of the Emperor's Children.

<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
*'''Legion Special Rules<sup>AoDL</sup>'''
**'''Exemplars of War:''' All units with Legiones Astartes have the '''Crusader''' Special Rule. Characters with this rule also gain +1 Initiative on challenges - ''More significant than most people realise, as performing a successful Sweeping Advance on a whole squad of enemy marines is a very real possibility in this ATSKNF-lacking millenium, especially when combined with the IIIrd Legion's many ways of improving combat resolution scores (Phoenix Guard, Paladin of Glory, and some special characters), which means you don't even have to be the one who scores the most wounds to actually win combats, and coupled with their Initiative boosts you'll pretty much always overrun them. Avoid enemy squads with Fearless, Stubborn or Zealot, not because you'll be at a disadvantage, but because it's rather distasteful to be chopping them apart one by one.
***+1 Initiative when fighting in a challenge is a HUGE advantage, giving your characters a significant chance to kill their enemy equivalents without dying themselves, thus with a Paragon Blade or Phoenix Spear your character is likely going to win most combat match-ups outside of special characters/Primarchs, finally breaking the same-wargear deadlock. Keep in mind that even though Command and Palatine blade squads can get into challenges, they aren't characters, so they don't benefit from this. Naturally, this becomes useless when using Unwieldy weapons...which you won't need anyway because you have things like Paragon blades and Phoenix spears.
**'''Flawless Execution:''' [[Awesome|+1 Initiative on the charge]], unless it's disordered - ''Exemplars of War lets you make something out of a won combat, but this rule here is what makes you win it in the first place, by virtue of actually going first. This one LA rule is part of what makes the IIIrd Legion such a dangerous foe in melee. <u>Get. The. Charge</u>''.
***Yes, this means that if [[Your Dudes|your dude]] fights a challenge in the same turn he charged, he hits at '''+2I'''. That's right, your regular Sergeant hits ''faster than an enemy Praetor'' or Consul (albeit 3 attacks just aren't enough), while your own Praetors attack at the Primarch-level speed of I7, the bane of [[Kharn|anyone]] [[Sevatar|without]] Eternal Warrior.
**'''Martial Pride:''' Must issue/accept challenges, but if your character is defeated in the ensuing challenge and slain, his unit suffers -1 to their Ld for the subsequent Morale test - ''You gave your Sergeant a Phoenix Spear and attacked at I5 at the very least.
***'''A point on challenges:''' Like you most certainly <u>already read under the Paragon Blade's entry</u>, AP2 on initiative (''6'') is simply not enough against the hardier enemies that your dudes will face on the battlefield: a regular bike Centurion with a power fist may kill your snowflake Praetor on foot, and that's not even taking some legion's hardier EW/3++/4W character specifics into account. The Initiative boosts give you a ''chance'' to avoid a mutual knockout (unless [[That Guy|somebody]] brought a Thunder Hammer to the duel), most noticeable on a duel among sergeants, where you only need to inflict a single unsaved wound. On duels where the opponents have loads of invuln-protected wounds, hitting harder, not faster, may be a wiser idea. Also, Eidolon has a non-Unwieldy Thunder Hammer on the charge: if that's not killing the enemy then you should consider shooting them with a Medusa instead.

*'''Rite of War: The Maru Skara<sup>AoDL</sup>''' - ''AKA The "Killing Cut," this RoW focuses on opening with a fast-moving feint to tie up the enemy before the real deal comes in and delivers the [[Tau|Killing Blow]]. Allows for good pincer maneuvers and enhances your overall mobility but gets predictable if you use it too often, and <s>doesn't provide any actual boosts to your killing power</s> Who cares? Two perfect strikes are enough for the Emperor's Children to lay low any foe!''
**'''Open Blade:''' In the first player turn, EC gain +1 to movement, run and charge distances. ''This is the "feint" part of this RoW. Better use it to get into advantageous positions ASAP, since it's so short-lived.
**'''Hidden Blade:''' Select 1-3 Elite/Fast Attack units and any attached ICs to place into reserve ([[Awesome|which don't count towards the number of Reserve units you can have]]) and write down the turn number you wish them to arrive in (after the first), on a piece of paper you turn face down (so your opponent doesn't see it). Once the designated turn arrives, you turn the piece of paper face up, and your Hidden Blade units automatically arrive on that turn and gain Outflank. ''This is how you <s>[[Yu-Gi-Oh|activate your trap card]]</s> set up the pincer maneuver. Don't limit yourself to bikes. LOTS of combos with this RoW can be performed with your veterans (Outflanking Crusader Furious charge vets @I5, anyone?) or you could bring 9 Contemptors ([[Rules_lawyer|3 are a unit when deploying]]) and Rapiers in the same way, or a couple of Sabre Strike Tanks. You can even bring Outflanking Land Raiders, since they are DT for Seekers and Destroyers, not to mention Terminators' Spartans. The power of an outflanking Primaris Lightning with penetrator missiles can get to the weak flanks of predators, vindicators and artillery squadrons, let alone get around flare-shielded Spartans, so if one or more of those is getting you down bring one of these. In any case, take a lot of Fast Attack and Elite choices, so your opponents can't easily tell what is going to outflank and what is not! Bet you weren't expecting high AV/firepower on the side, huh? Neither did the Loyalists [[Troll|at Istvaan V]].''
***If you're up against an opponent who likes to use reserve-disrupting abilities like a Land Raider Proteus' Explorator Augury Web or likes using the Alpha Legion's "Coils of the Hydra" RoW, the Maru Skara can put a stop to most of that nonsense since the Hidden Blade's arrival time is not affected by your opponent's abilities. You still have to plan ahead so your Hidden Blade forces arrive at just the right time, though.
**Cannot take fortifications or allied ''Space Marine Legion detachments''. EC are fellow warriors for both Mechanicum and Imperial Army. Both can serve as an anvil for your hard hitting EC hammer, as both have a lot of viable Heavy support choices. OR take a [[Solar Auxilia]] Leman Russ Strike Squadron for the ultimate outflanking army! They have Outflank and are Fast (and not Heavy - thanks to SA special treatment) ''But really, who needs help when you're just '''so perfect'''?''
**Must take a Legion Champion as a second compulsory HQ choice. ''Even the perfect legion has to have a catch somewhere. Taking a Delegatus can save points and allow you to have something other than at least two beatstick HQ units for this RoW.''
**In battles with the Slay the Warlord objective, failing to slay the warlord nets your opponent 1 VP. ''If you get this objective, you had better have a contingency plan to fulfill it.''
**Cannot take any unit with that's Immobile, Heavy, or Slow & Purposeful - ''[[Meme|Gotta go fast!]]''

*'''Rite of War: 3rd Company Elite''' <sup>(HH6)</sup>- ''An exceptional Rite of War that fixes Kakophonii and lets you BUY melee buffs, all without substantial drawbacks <sub>or advantages, to that matter</sub>.
**'''Chosen of Vairosean:''' Kakophoni become Troops (both compulsory and non-compulsory) and gain the Relentless rule. ''Relentless Kakophoni will outshoot just about any other Legion's troops, and can easily be combined with your elite close combat troops to form a devastating one-two shooty-punchy combo, not to mention that their Bio-psychic shock effect really will be felt. Volkite HS squads are out of a job in this list''.
**'''Sonic Assault:''' Infantry units in Power and Artificer Armour may take Sonic Shriekers for 2 points per model. Everyone in the squad must buy one IF the option is taken, which means the costs add up quick, so save it for your dedicated melee units. So long as they're not Terminators, that is. ''Or Palatine Blades, who could take Sonic Shriekers already.
**Cannot take fortifications or allied ''Space Marine Legion'' detachments.
**Counts as one level lower than normal on the Allies Matrix (e.g. Fellow Warriors becomes Distrusted Allies).
**May only be taken by Traitors detachments.

*'''Unique Wargear<sup>AoDL</sup>'''
**'''Sonic Shriekers:''' Sonic XENOS derived implants that make your face look like someone made a servitor out of Davy Jones. For 5pts '''Independent''' characters can take this (read - Centurions or better). Inflicts a -1 WS debuff to enemy models in base contact that aren't immune to Fear, which is really good unless you're up against the Death Guard or Salamanders. Sadly, you ''can't'' give it to your lower-level Sergeants, otherwise you'd have them killing Centurions and whatnot, unless you take the 3rd Company Elite RoW.
**'''Phoenix Power Spear:''' Instead of a Power Fist, any EC character can buy this souped up Power Lance with +1S and '''non-unwieldy AP2''' on the charge, that afterwards reverts into a basic two-handed Power Sword. It's a must take, and barring Paragon blades it's the only way to get ''AP2 striking on initiative (5)'' but, unlike the former, you can give it to nearly ''every single character'' in the army, granting your Sergeants a better chance to take down Centurions and the ilk.
**'''Lucid Blade (Relic):<sup>(HH4)</sup> ''' S+1 Specialist power sword that has the equivalent of auto-block for melee weapons and was clearly intended to impart some measure of Fulgrim's "Sublime Swordsman" bonus to a worthy gene-son. The bearer of the Lucid Blade can choose to fight defensively and reduce his attacks value for an equivalent improvement in Invulnerable saves. Still only really good against enemies who are only wearing Power Armour. ''Let's say you gave it to your highest-attack model, a Praetor. What are 2/3 AP3 attacks going to get you? Not killed, that's for sure, but are you sure you want to spend a Praetor on tarpitting?
***'''Alternate view: YES'''. Your Praetor/Centurion could tank the enemy character in a challenge with his [[The Book of Weeaboo Fightan Magic|fancy dueling skills]] giving him a 2++, which actually is ''even better than Fulgrim's'', while your attached Phoenix Termies impale the juicy squad behind him. You then get bonuses to resolution and proceed to sweep and wipe out their expensive killy Character with some dickery and minimal casualties. Like a True Emperor's Child. Combine with Fulgrim/Rylanor etc to taste.
***Updated for new rule book FAQ; Weapons which states <b>"Q: Do weapon special rules that say ‘a model equipped with this weapon’ or ‘this weapon’s bearer’ take effect even when not used as the attacking weapon? '''A:''' Yes."</b> ''This means that your Praetor with a Paragon blade can attack with his Paragon blade while benefiting from an improved invulnerable save. Iron halo (4+) and 6 attacks (4+1+1 charging and two specialists weapons) +1 attack from digital lasers. Buff up the invulnerable save to 2++ and you can still make 5 str5 ap2 6+ murderous strike attacks at I7 and with a -1WS penalty for your opponent. Eat that other legions.''
****Wait a second, a model with two swords that's almost unhittable in a challenge? I wonder [[Lucius|which EC character that curiously has no rules]] that could represent.

<u>'''Unique Units'''</u>
*'''Palatine Blades:''' Elite swordsmen who operated outside the Legion's command structure and served as exemplars of the Emperor's Children's perfection, seeking out foes worthy enough whom to beat down in challenges using their WS5 and Chosen warriors rule, akin to [[Samurai]] in spaaaaaace. Sadly their base weapons, Charnabal sabres, have a 'sucktastic' AP'''-''', its saving grace being Rending and +1I in challenges, but if you want something more reliable they can be replaced with beefier Power Swords, Lances or better yet, Phoenix Power Spears for that AP2 goodness on the charge! They come in squads of 5 with option for 5 more, making them useful as MEQ killers. Counter Attack band-aids this squad's limited size, but if you really want to make these guys awesome you'll have to pull out all the stops and sink a LOT of points into them (though not more than most people sink into their own legion-specific units) by maxing out the squad and giving them the spears and Jump Packs, obtaining one of the best melee units in the game. That is of course extremely expensive, so watch your points count. Since you can usually [[Iron Warriors|count on some members to die]], not everyone needs a Phoenix Spear, just make sure the ones dying aren't the ones with the spears. Remember though, the game is littered with 2+ saves, Invulnerable saves and 2W models, and not only do you want to Sweeping Advance everything, but you are going first anyway. As usual with all EC units, avoid the tarpits, because you'll want them charging again and again (''wink'' Angel's Wrath ''wink''), so use your Jump pack's mobility to accomplish it.
**They can also serve as Elite killers by virtue of their cheap Sonic Shriekers and WS5, meaning they not only attack first at AP2, but also hit pretty much everything on 3s.
**'''Playtest Rules'''<sup>FAQ 2019</sup>: Do remember that these rules can only be used if both players agree to use them, as they're not official yet. The Feb. 2019 FAQ cheapens the points costs for these guys and gives them the ability to take Artificer Armour for the whole squad, allowing you to take them as a non-Terminator bodyguard style unit (albeit with no invulnerable saves). Despite having this new option you shouldn't take it, as it's just too expensive. After giving them Jump Packs and Artificer Armour you've doubled the cost of each marine, and if you give them Power Spears they will be 10 points pricier than actual Terminators, while being equal in cost to Phoenix Guard, both of whom have at least some defence from that squad of plasma-toting assholes, whereas the Palatine's go down like a bitch to that kind of firepower (and that support squad's a lot cheaper, meaning your enemy just made their points back). If you're taking them without Jump Packs and relying on a DT then you shouldn't need the Artificer Armour anyway. Hell, with the points you save on not getting the Artificer Armour you can actually buy them a fucking kitted-out DT.

*'''Phoenix Guard:''' Fulgrim's bodyguard of Terminators, all armed with Phoenix spears. Their bonuses are +1 Initiative on the charge and Drawn combats within 6" count as a ''win'' for all allies. Yes, this applies [[What|even if nobody in the combat actually scored any wounds]]. They can all purchase Sonic Shriekers for reducing the WS of their opponents, making them excellent for hunting Elite units. As of the last incarnation of their rules, all of them have WS5 (about fucking time). They also don't have any ranged weapons, so don't let them get caught out in the open out of charge range. You get 5 of them for the "cheap" price of 265 points, but since they wear Tartaros Terminator Armour they can perform Sweeping Advances (with Crusader for being Emperor's Children) and that alone could be enough to take them!
**Dangerous, nasty assault troops but they need to be charging plural times in a game and that can be pretty tough to pull off. If you can get the charge you can maim even really nasty combat units, even Ultramarine Suzerains, but if you can't you lose everything that makes these guys special. Like the EC in general, you need to use them in combination with other units all charging together to pin down units in combat (and also to cover them once they've wiped out an enemy unit in melee).

*'''Kakophoni:''' The remnants of the 3rd Company under Captain Marius Vairosean and the first [[Noise Marines]]. Unlike their 40K counterparts who have +1 I and Fearless, the Heresy-Era versions get Stubborn and Sonic Shriekers (for tying up enemy chargers). The instruments they wield are 36" S6 AP5 Heavy 2, ''Gets Hot'' but ''Pinning''; if they cause an unsaved wound the targeted unit takes a Leadership test with a -1 for every unsaved wound and if they fail suffer D6 AP2 Instant Death wounds...like Volkite but more metal. Doesn't work on Fearless, and don't expect much against Stubborn squads either. With all that and the lack of Blastmasters and no Ignores Cover it's hard to justify taking a small unit or using them against cover campers/Fearless armies i.e. most every non-Marine army in the game, and if you really like the extra wounds generated then you'll be far better off with Volkite Culverins anyway. ''Their only real use is Pinning (which in itself is pretty darn good, specially for a Melee legion), so they are a good alternative to Heavy Bolter squads, bringing better support than them and making your assaults easy pickings''. With the 3rd Company Elite RoW however, they lose their original drawbacks and become a formidable asset.

*'''Sun Killer Squad:<sup>PDF</sup>''' A BS5 Heavy Support squad that comes with lascannons by default and can swap them for Volkite Culverins, Plasma Cannons, or Multi-meltas at no cost (they can't take other heavy weapons or hardened armor and the sergeant can't take a Nuncio Vox). If they don't move, an enemy '''model''' that received a wound (including glancing and penetrating hits) from a '''model''' from that unit can't benefit from cover. Comparing their costs, Sun Killers start with two CCW's (an option unavailable to vanilla Heavy Support Squads), their Sergeant-equivalent does not need to give up his heavy weapon in order to carry a Power Weapon, and they have BS5, all for a difference in cost of 15 points to a similarly equipped Heavy Support Squad with Lascannons, 40 for one equipped with Plasma Cannons, and a whopping 65 for one equipped with Volkite Culverins and Multi-meltas, which are already iffy in a setting where the important targets have Armoured Ceramite. Also this unit can be reinforced with additional 15(!) models in comparison to 5 from the vanilla Heavy Support squad.
**In addition, if you don't buy a transport, they can instead buy an ADL without taking up space in your fortifications slot, giving you a strongpoint in the event that you want static warfare.
**It's worth noting that these guys can take an LR Proteus as a DT if the squad size is 10 models or less, granting them Scout/Outflank option.
**As far as use goes, Lascannons and Plasma Cannons are the ones cover is typically used against, and they're also the most expensive for a traditional Heavy Support Squad. Volkite Culverins have poor AP, whereas Meltas rarely see use since Melta Bombs are more reliable and Armoured Ceramite exists. Suffice to say you'll likely be getting more bang for your buck by going with those options.
**If for whatever reason you wanted to take advantage of their odd combat loadout (since on the charge each of them will have 3 Attacks, and the Sergeant-equivalent will have 4 with a power weapon), you could take the 3rd Company Elite RoW and give them Sonic Shriekers for the -1 WS debuff, although this isn't recommended. You might think you could use this as a defensive measure, but then again you could also just not allow the enemy to get in that close in the first place.
**Rules can be found [https://www.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/V7pz4FAPFUM2apkb.pdf here]

*'''[[Ancient Rylanor]]:''' A Contemptor-Pattern Dreadnought responsible for overseeing the progression of the Legion's new recruits; as a loyalist, he was sent to Istvaan III in the hopes that he and the other loyalists would be killed in the virus bombings. He survived the Heresy and lured Fulgrim into a trap millennia later, nearly killing the Daemon Primarch. He can inspire his fellow Emperor's Children with 'Mantle of Glory', giving them ''+1 to combat resolution and re-rolls to Morale'' (see the trend here?), and as a Venerable Dread can re-roll results on the damage table. ''Are the Crusader, Venerable, Mantle of Glory and +1WS upgrades worth 55 points over an equally equipped Contemptor that can also be squadrons in talons of 3? You're freeing an Elite slot and supporting your dudes so yeah, it might be''.

*'''[[Saul Tarvitz]]:''' Captain of the 10th Company and ''de facto'' leader of the loyalist Death Guard, Emperor's Children, and World Eaters who survived the virus bombings on Istvaan III...until [[Lucius]] screwed him over. His rules are a bit peculiar: He's got a Sniper Rifle so you might think he's a shooty character, but he has BS4. He also has a S+1 Rending Two-handed Charnabal broadsword, but with only 3 attacks he's not really a melee character either, although with base I5 plus the usual initiative bonuses for Emperor's Children and the Charnabal's duelist edge he is lightning fast, striking before Custodes Captains and even some Primarchs. But he's ''cheap'' enough, which is a nice touch for a special character, and with Preferred Enemy (Emperor's Children) and Counter Attack in his deployment zone, if you're playing a Loyalist force or even Loyalist allies he's a decent middle-of-the-road HQ choice. Rending & Sniper makes him surprisingly good at MC hunting, so there's that too.
**''A similarly equipped Praetor has +1 BS, +1 attack and is 13 pts cheaper (so you could take a Paragon Blade instead of a Charnabal one, the former of which Tarvitz couldn't get because [[Derp|he was content to stay in his position as a Captain rather than rise further in the ranks]]). Unless you're against traitor Emperor's Children, there's no point in taking Tarvitz. In spite of his heroic story in the [[Fluff]] he's clearly overcosted for his abilities, though since his ultimate fate remains unconfirmed. There's always the chance he could be updated and buffed in a later book or edition and this becomes all the more probable when you remember that his story depicts him as essentially the warlord of a Shattered Legion, and the fact that the rules for Shattered Legions had not been printed yet when Tarvitz' [[Crunch]] was first published. Still, compared to his brother-in-arms [[Crysos Morturg]] on Istvaan III (see the Death Guard section for details) who possesses a very useful fixed Warlord Trait ''and'' two fixed but handy psychic abilities, Tarvitz from the "perfect legion" can't help but feel [[Butthurt|all kinds of sad]].

[[File:99560102232_LordCommanderEidolon02.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Eidolon]]
*'''[[Eidolon]]:''' One of the Lord Commanders of the Legion and an arrogant bastard until Fulgrim lethally chastised him, and [[Fabius Bile|a certain fabulous guy's]] best efforts left him a permanent zombie walker. For the most part he's a fairly basic Praetor with 2+/4++ saves, MC Thunder Hammer, Archeotech Pistol and Sonic Shriekers with the option to use a Jump Pack that goes well with his "Coordinated Assault" Warlord Trait. His two unique tricks are a one use S2 AP- template with Rending and Pinning, which isn't likely to do much against MEQs, and his Thunder Hammer loses Unwieldy in the turn he charges, which is [[Awesome]], especially in challenges where he strikes at I7 due to the Shriekers and his LA rules, meaning he'll have a very good chance to one-shot most non-special characters the turn he charges, finally breaking Paragon-on-Paragon nonsense. He also got Precision Strike special rule. All this while being cheaper than the vanilla equivalent, [[Cheese|but with his additional rules]].
** Bear in mind that while he is a monster on the charge against regular characters and some named ones, you can't just charge anything and declare victory. On average you ''should'' be able to push a wound through an Invulnerable save (two and a bit wounds on average so in theory you will get through a 4++) but that's not certain, and you need to make sure you aren't going to die just because someone passes one more save than you were expecting. In subsequent turns the Unwieldy rule applies to his hammer again, so a Paragon Blade wielder will get two full sets of attacks against him before Eidolon gets to strike once more. He's a great character with a special charge ability, but no more than that.
** In particular, keep him well away from bike-mounted characters, Eternal Warriors, and anything else he mechanically can't one hit KO. Being forced to accept challenges can make for something of a problem if you end up too close to a real motherfucker like Sigismund, who can shrug off an unsaved hammer hit then fuck you in two with his murder sword and get an extra victory point while doing it.

[[File:FulgrimMini.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Fulgrim]]
*'''[[Fulgrim]]:''' A fairly cheap Primarch at "only" 380 points, Fulgrim, the Phoenician and one-time Saviour of Chemos, specializes in speed and grace. Although his 5+ invulnerable save from the Gilded Panoply may seem laughable, his Sublime Swordsman rule upgrades it to 3+ when in combat while also giving the Phoenician bonus attacks equal to the difference between his Initiative (a whopping '''8''') and the opponent's Initiative. His Sire of the Emperor's Children rule gives all Emperor's Children units with the Legiones Astartes rule an ''extra +2 to combat res'' and the ability to reroll reserves while allowing Fulgrim to use the Crusader rule, but also forces Fulgrim to issue and accept challenges if anyone in combat has a WS greater than 5, which could be a problem if he challenges another Primarch or character inside a tarpit unit, only for Fulgrim to get tied up for the rest of the game. ''In an EC army with Fulgrim, where the Phoenix Guard and Rylanor made Sweeping Advances 'easier', now they're closer to 'Guaranteed'.'' His main draw is the ability to ''choose'' his Warlord Trait for the duration of the battle, making him fairly adaptable (on the same level as Horus).<br>Fulgrim can use the following Wargear:
**'''The Blade of Laer:''' The Daemonic blade that caused Fulgrim's fall to Chaos uses his Strength score and combines it with AP 2. It also has Rending (which is only really useful against vehicles because of the weapon's inherent AP2), Two-Handed, and Specialist Weapon rules. It may not be as good as the other Primarchs' melee weapons, but it gets the job done pretty well anyhow.
**'''Fireblade:''' For games taking place before the Horus Heresy (or at least the war on Laeran), Fulgrim can swap The Blade of Laer for Fireblade, a Master-crafted Paragon Blade with Murderous Strike on a 5+, a gift from Ferrus when they were still Sworn Brothers. It breaks in their fateful duel on Istvaan V. For competitive games you probably should take it, since +1S, Instant Death on 5+ and Master-crafted far outclass Rending.
**'''Fire Brand:''' A Master-Crafted Volkite Charger with the Shred rule, for your shooting needs.
**'''Krak and Plasma Grenades:''' When you need to deal with vehicles and the like.
**'''Gilded Panoply:''' This armor grants Fulgrim a 2+ Armor save and a 5+ invulnerable save (which becomes a 3+ per his Sublime Swordsman rule). It is also quite flashy - so flashy that if Fulgrim passes his Armor or Invulnerable save on a 6, the unit that tried to wound him must pass an Initiative test or be blinded.

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="100%">Keep in mind that Fulgrim can choose his Warlord trait from either the Crusade list OR the '''Strategic Traits Chart''' in the WH40K 7th edition rulebook. Yes, any Master of the Legion can roll (and re-roll) from those tables, but only Fulgrim can actually ''choose'' his trait and therefore plan ahead (in the same way Lorgar Transfigured uses his spells, but this isn't an upgrade). Also do note that since normally Primarchs '''can't''' take a Warlord Trait (Legiones Astartes Crusade Army List page 80) this is a HUGE advantage that Fulgrim has over his fellow demigods. There are quite a lot of crazy-bordering-OP shenanigans to perform:
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The Legion Warlord Traits are very balanced, since they were written with 30k's environment in mind:
:*'''Bloody-handed:''' All Primarchs already cause Fear, so this does nothing, [[Derp|not even provide a penalty to Fear tests taken against Fulgrim]].
:*'''Master Tactician:''' Greatly improves Maru Skara's mindgames, and the EC's high mobility makes it easier to pull off.
:*'''World Burner:''' D3 units gain Shred for their Blast and Template weapons. While the Children aren't too keen on heavy support, they can use this to upgrade their Fast Attack choices (like Seekers or Javelins), which can Outflank with Maru Skara.
:*'''Paladin of Glory:''' Now ''this'' is one of those near-OP tricks mentioned earlier, for sometimes you need to give Lady Luck the finger and go procure your own. Paladin of Glory Fulgrim ends up adding ''+3'' to the combat resolution. Add a Phoenix guard retinue and get him near Rylanor in order to get a 6"/12"/24" aura of '''+4''' combat res with ''Draws counting as Wins'' using a Crusader army. Too much? When battling Angron's Butchers, there's no such thing as "too much".
:**This can be incredibly powerful against some enemies but against others a different trait may be more useful. Against another melee legion (World Eaters in particular) this will be devastating as you sweep all enemies before you. But against a shooting focused list where you were going to win combat anyway you won't get much from this, especially compared to Master Of Ambush which will help your CC squads get into combat faster and with fewer casualties. Choose wisely!
:*'''Void Walker:''' You can Deepstrike one unit, which is situational. You could also pick another trait, which might be better.
:*'''Child of Terra:''' Re-rolling failed To Wounds of 1 is always a good thing, especially when accompanied by a melee squad and with the Master-crafted Fireblade.

Strategic traits, aka Batman's prep time, are quite varied. You'll choose them based on the mission's circumstances, mostly.

:*'''Conqueror of Cities:''' All your Legion, not just the ones close to Fulgrim, gets better at city fighting... which is a fairly common Great Crusade scenario.
:*'''Night Attacker:''' Lets you pull the Night Lords' RoW. We're talking about shenanigans here, so take this and use Maru Skara, to use a RoW while you're using a RoW. [[Meme|Brother Xzibitus]] in his [[Dreadknight]] armour would be proud, dawg.
:*'''Master of Ambush:''' What's better than going 'Creeeed!' on your enemy? ''To do so with a melee Legion''. Yes, you can take off your Commissar [[Hat|hat]] now. Grants Infiltrate to 3 squads...which grants them Outflank when coming out of reserves [WH40K 7E pg. 167]. Using Maru Skara, you can outflank [[Creed|6 different squads at turn 2]] (because Fulgrim allows you to re-roll reserves, and Hidden Blade'd squads ''do not'' count towards Max reserves [HH2 pg. 219]). And keep in mind your Children have Crusader. Creed can hide a tank? Fulgrim can hide half a company of [[White_Scars|supermen & bikes]]. This is only usable in mildly high point games, but then again, this is the GREAT Crusade. Overkill, you say? ''[[Drop Site Massacre|Ask the Loyalists how much did that hurt on the Drop Site MASSACRE]]''.
:*'''Strategic Genius:''' +1 to Seize the initiative is useful, specially for a melee legion.
:*'''Divide to Conquer:''' -1 to enemy reserves is useful for everyone. Add a Proteus Land Raider and enjoy his face of envy when he fails his rolls and you re-roll yours.
:*'''Princeps of Deceit:''' If you go first, you can run towards your enemy (Open Blade helps) and pin 3 of his squads. Reduce retaliation fire and get 3 easy Sweeping Advances...as long as you go first, that is.</div></div>
*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Iron Hands:'''
**'''Sons of Horus:'''
**'''Salamanders:'''
</div>
</div>

====IV Legion: [[Iron Warriors]]====
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="100%">
[[File:Iron warriors legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.png|100px|left|]]
The Iron Warriors are a ranged oriented Legion with a knack for attrition warfare, shrugging off ranged casualties [[Death_Korps_of_Krieg|like they don't care]]. They are THE offensive-siege specialists, coming to make a mockery of the enemy's hiding places, make them keep their heads down and claim No Man's Land as their own without giving any terrain themselves with their special rules and wargear. Having strong ties with the Mechanicum (especially the Ordo Reductor), mechanized formations are also within their scope of warfare, as well the inclusion of battle automata, although common builds include lots of Heavy support choices as well as lots of [[dakka|Barrage]] weapons.

Though their Legion rules are a bit scarce and oriented to letting them take casualties better instead of strengthening their damage output, combine them with their RoWs to ensue in huge firestorms and come out on top. All in all pretty straight-forward marines but focused on big guns. Even though they are more comfortable at range, a viable strategy with them is to launch assaults amidst huge firefights, with rapid-firing units launching disordered charges, or becoming Fearless under the cover of precision bombardments. Their close combat capabilities are further honed by Perturabo's presence, who makes them Stubborn, and also gives them Furious Charge while in the enemy's deployment zone to boot (aka both of the Unlisted Legions' bonuses).

While other Legions might get Ld bonuses or re-rolls, the ability to ignore ranged casualties and being one of the few Legions with access to widespread ''Stubborn'' and ''Fearless'' and thus ignore negative penalties as a result of failed assaults ''while also ignoring ranged casualties'' means the Iron Warriors can lay claim to having some of the best Morale rules in the entire Heresy, but you'll need a good plan lest your dudes die for nothing.

If you're not afraid to spend some lives (as victory is the will to expend lives and munitions in attack) over-match the defender's' reserves of manpower and fire ''tons'' of ordnance, join the Iron Warriors and pay any price in the pursuit of victory, you will never be defeated.

<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''The Bitter End:''' Your opponent (not you) may force full 6 game turns rather than rolling for random length. ''Just like the Imperial Fists''.
**'''Wrack and Ruin:''' Iron Warriors do not suffer morale tests from shooting attacks and may re-roll failed Pinning tests - ''97.3% passing odds, anyone?''. All grenades and melta bombs gain Wrecker.
***While simple, players often forget how often this can save their bacon. Remember ''this is an ATSKNF-lacking environment'', anything that regroups after falling back can't move or assault and only fires snap-shots in their turn, in addition to being out of the position you wanted them in, perhaps wasting yet another turn putting them back. Thus, by sheer dint of ignoring an entire phase worth of morale troubles, Iron Warriors can ensure their soldiers always HOLD THE LINE. Furthermore, this lessens the need for transports as your infantry will be more capable of braving enemy fire (specially AP3 Pinning artillery, very common in 30K), easing the use of 20-men tac blobs (who seldom fit inside transports), or you can divert those points into bringing more Terminators, tanks or fast units that can take advantage of the distraction. ''The battle will now turn into a meatgrinder for both sides, welcome to the Iron Warriors!'' Even other Legions [[Ultramarines|at the]] [[Death_Guard|top of]] [[Word_Bearers|the morale]] [[Salamanders|game]] will find themselves frustrated from time-to-time.
***Wrecker is also a nice addition for anyone fielding melta bombs, since it means those fortifications will now be going down even faster than before. And no shooting morale tests ensures your legionnaires will arrive at the building.
*'''Warsmith:''' A free Praetor upgrade that forces him to be the Warlord if Perturabo isn't around and gives an extra VP if slain. In exchange, it gains Stubborn and gives up a Warlord trait for Shatter Defenses (lower a chosen terrain piece's cover save by 1). Can't use a Jump pack, Bike or Jetbike, but can be upgraded with ''Battlesmith'' + Servo-arm combo for 35 points.

*'''Rite of War: The Hammer of Olympia''' - ''Focuses on heavy firepower and allows relentless close ranged assaults with no real limitations''.
**'''Hail Of Fire:''' After firing a Rapid Fire weapon, a unit with the Legiones Astartes (Iron Warriors) rule may declare an assault as long as they haven't used Fury of the Legion, counting as a Disorganized Charge. ''Remember though that all marines have a bolt pistol side arm, so by doing Hail of Fire you're exchanging 1 shooting attack for 1 melee attack, which might have made the difference in who won close combat. Still, some enemies can force disorganized charges, and you don't get the bonus attack against breacher shields anyway, so no penalty against them.''
***Even though in marine vs marine engagements BS4 does hit more often compared to WS4 (on a 3+ against same-WS 4+), the total damage is increased about only 10%, and because it exchanges a melee attack for a shooting one it has a decreased chance of actually wining the melee, which is more critical than ''hopefully'' causing enough casualties in the shooting phase to make the enemy test morale (and at Ld9 they have a 83.3% success rate). You could give your tacticals an extra CCW, but your enemy could be doing the same, you know? This is also true for Sniper Veteran squads and, considering they have access to power weapons, a Hail of Fire attack could even be detrimental to them (yes, even with their sniping attacks). You could try your luck and kill enough enemies at range, and thus free of retaliation, in order to soften them for the incoming disordered charge, but should you fail to do so you'd be left in range of ''their'' charge if you don't attack, or roll poorly and lose the melee if you do launch the disordered charge.
***Take into account that even though by shooting you're dealing less attacks that count towards combat resolution, having yourself bog-standart I4 you're also preventing anything you kill from striking back at all, wich might be beneficial if they hit harder in melee than you do or if you want to just make the combat last longer (being the grinding legion and all that). Lower chances of sweeping the enemy in exchange for receiving less damage, this is still about the math of war!
***This can be used to tie up enemy shooty units, denying their most dangerous aspect, or tie up enemy assault units on your terms, robbing them of their charge bonuses (like [[World Eaters|Rage]], [[Emperor's Children|increased Initiative]] or [[Raven Guard|Furious Charge]]), exacerbated by Perturabo giving them Stubborn, forcing your enemy to destroy your squad in ''his'' assault phase, leaving him exposed in your next turn.
***Plasma tactical support squads and Seeker squads benefit more from exchanging a melee attack for a shooting one, as their ranged weapons have useful AP instead of the melee attacks' AP-- and as such they could come in handy...but they're expensive units best used at range and it's not such a good idea to put them at such risk.

**'''Sheathed in Steel:''' All Tanks and Walkers gain Extra Armor for free. ''Saves points, and you'll need to get a 5+ on the Penetration table to do any real damage.''
**'''Siege Engineers:''' Can take an additional HS choice, which probably will also be Sheathed in Steel.
**Warsmith or Siege Breaker must be used as compulsory HQ choice - ''A lone Warsmith is cheaper and helps an army focused on AdMech units and/or vehicles, but a Praetor & Siege Breaker combo is more versatile since you aren't sacrificing your warlord trait, so you could try rolling for World Burner to grant the Siege Breaker's Tyrant squad Shred.''
**Must take more Heavy Support units than Fast Attack units - ''If you think this is a penalty then you shouldn't be playing Iron Warriors. Also, doesn't matter since you get 4 heavy slots''.
***If you wanted lots of flyers remember Caestii, Fire Raptors and Kharybdii are HS too.
***If you took a normal Praetor, mount him in a jetbike along his Command squad (who use 0 slots), take Shrapnel Bolts and go make up for the lost Fast Attack choice.
**Must take an additional compulsory Troops choice.
**Cannot take an allied Space Marine detachment. ''It's n-not like we need allies, baka! Though you can (and probably should) take an '''allied Mechanicum''' detachment ('''Ordo Reductor''' will bring the very sky crashing down upon them). This does lead to VERY, VERY shooty armies, just like Perturabo wanted.''

*'''Rite of War: Ironfire''' - ''Danger-march your infantry forward amidst raining artillery fire''
**'''Rolling Bombardment:''' Firing barrage weapons within 12" of your own units allows them to only scatter a single D6 for better accuracy, but it gets better. When you resolve the attack, leave an "Ironfire" counter at the point underneath the blast and from then on, further barrages <u>do not scatter at all</u> if within 18" of these markers ''and'' within 6" of your own units, meaning you can inch your forces forward turn by turn under a deadly accurate series of carpet bombs. Obviously this rite of War really needs to be combined with all your Artillery and Quad Mortars to have a real impact, plus enough appropriate units to act as <s>targets</s> "fire guides". However, ''all Ironfire counters are removed'' should a turn pass with no new counters placed, so make sure you can keep the pressure up. ''Way better than the assistance any nuncio-vox could provide''.
***The bonus functions near any and all Iron Warriors ''units'', not necessarily infantry. It can be near the Spartan carrying Golg's terminators for all you care.
***Precision artillery fire is nice and all, but would you like to ''[[Troll|snipe specific soldiers]]'', such as officers or special weapons bearers, using indirect barrages? By equipping a few marines with nuncio-voxes you'll be enabling your artillery to use their BS4 to all but eliminate the mean 3.5" scatter. True, you could inch your dudes closer and deny scatter for free, but perhaps 10pts saving you a turn of moving could be worth a thought?
**'''Ride the Ironfire:''' Iron Warriors within 6" of an Ironfire marker become ''Fearless'', yet another reason to keep the artillery fire moving forward.
***Worthy of note is the fact that, unlike many other rites, this one <u>lacks a movement or FOC limitation</u>, meaning you can bring all the fast stuff you want in order to have many opportunities to place Ironfire counters each turn, as well as to get the most out of Fearless. And the bonus says "near your units", without specifying when it happens, so you could flat out/turbo-boost/get your assault marines to run after they used their jump packs BUT ''before'' you fire those barrage weapons, and it would be perfectly legal.
**You must always be the attacker in missions with Attacker/Defender roles (which is more significant that it looks, since it means your army will never get 'ambushed' during an ambush deployment)
**You may never take Fortifications or Allied Space Marines detachments. AdMech allies are still go.
***''Bring Ordo Reductor's Siege engines, they're Sworn Brothers to you so they'll benefit both from the increased accuracy, and they're a nice way of getting around the artillery squadron's 0-1 limit. The only requisites are a Magos Reductor (which you kinda want) and a unit of generally-useful Thallax''.
***'''Important:''' Bring lots of AA/Interceptors and anything you can to protect your artillery, as they are the centerpiece of this strategy. Mortis Dreads and/or Deredeos can provide adequate protection. Also consider augury scanner Magos Domini and for once, Icaran Thallaxi may not be an auto-pass.

*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Shrapnel Bolts:''' All Heavy Bolters (including Twin-linked and Quad) can get Pinning and change their AP to 5. Pinning is AWESOME: shooty armies suddenly become too scared to aim before shooting and cease to overwatch, and melee armies will be bolted (LOL) in place. This way bare-bones Heavy Support squads, Fire Raptors, Rapiers and Dreadnoughts become more competitive and thus, you can divert your points to other places. ''It's all about the math of war with the Iron Warriors, baby!'' Almost all your transports can take them, and it's really good for Terminators in Land Raiders, who don't have assault grenades. Jetbike squads, but above all jet-mounted Command squads will benefit greatly with this. Pin, charge, rinse & repeat. If you didn't bring a Warsmith, combine this with a 'Princeps of Deceit' Warlord to pin the enemy some all game long, ''[[Troll|even if he goes first]]''.
***It doesn't come without disadvantages, though. Downgrading to AP5 isn't much of a penalization when the enemy has a 3+ save, but against AdMech and/or Solar Auxillia there will be a decrease on lethality, not to mention Marine's Ld9 will hurt your chances of pinning them (much less against legions resistant to pinning). Although enemies going to ground will increase their cover save, the Iron Warriors can deal with using Thallax, Warsmith and Iron Havocs. If anything, Shrapnel bolts are easy to spam given how many vehicles can acquire pintle-mounted Heavy Bolters, so it may help by forcing yet another pinning test on the enemy.
**'''Cortex Controller:''' Can be used by Warsmiths and Forge Lords, but also Techmarines too, to bring Thallax, versatile Jetpack Ogryn-equivalents that modify enemy cover saves by -2 & deny Infiltration; or Castellax, one of the best MCs in the game, that also Pins with an AP3 weapon. The models that can take it also have 'Battlesmith', which allows them to heal Battle automata on a 4+ (because Servo arm adds to the repair roll and 'Heal' counts as such).
***This is perhaps more significant than most people realize. Because Techmarines and, more importantly, Warsmiths can now take these, you can bring a unit of Thallax and save points by giving the Cortex to one of them instead of having to bring a Forgelord exclusively for that. Thallax are nice, jetpack Ogryn equivalents that fit IW's theme by being shooty, their attacks ignoring some cover saves and disrupting enemy infiltrators, as well as having nice dakka of their own, such as those lovely AP2 Photon thrusters. They're also quite resilient with T5 and '''3''' wounds along FnP 6+, meaning they don't suffer critical existence failure at the sight of plasma. ''Bonus Iron points for protecting them under a Void Shield Harness. Laugh when your opponent activates The Bitter End [[DISTRACTION_CARNIFEX|in a last-ditch attempt to kill him]]. It comes with an iron codpiece to withstand the kicks in the balls you'll deserve''.
**'''Blind Helm of Black Judges (Relic):''' The offensive version of the Warp Shunt field. A helmet recovered from the Black Judges that shoots in overwatch, and only in overwatch. You get 2D6 S5 '''AP3''' shots at FULL ballistic skill. You will decimate anyone short of terminators who charges at you - Specially useful for a shooty army like yours, one of the best relics over all.

<u>'''Unique Units'''</u>
*'''Tyrant Siege Terminators:<sup>AoDL</sup>''' Recruited from the most battle hardened Iron Warriors, they are the selfless elite Siege & Assault vanguard of the Legion. These Terminators have Wrecker as an inherent rule, and all of them have Cyclone Missile Launchers by default (yes, ''every'' single model has them) and can fire them AND their combi-bolters in the same Shooting phase, being some of the shootiest infantry in the game. At 12" this means they spit 4 shots each, 2 of which will ID MEQs, so it's like '''Hail of Fire - Terminator boogaloo'''. In addition, the Siege Master has an Omni-scope which grants them Night Vision and Split Fire, but only he can take a combi-weapon. Cataphractii armour means they can't overwatch, but since they start being a menace from 48" away it doesn't matter. They can also swap their default Power Fists for Chainfists, but they'll need a transport to catch vehicles, so save this for buildings. ''These guys can pour out enough missiles per turn ('''20!''') that they can be used as AA in a pinch. That costs 545 pts, but few other units can deploy such amount of dakka, much less while being so resilient. They fully embody the concept of the [[Terminator|Tactical Dreadnought]]''.
**Bring a Deredeo with an Atomantic Pavaise for a 2+/3++ squad that spits 20 krak missiles per turn, all under Skyfire Interceptor coverage. Who needs TH/SS now?.
**If you grabbed a normal Praetor, try to give them Shred with World Burner, or be a Void Walker and deep-strike with them. Their HIGH firepower actually makes them rather good for assault (since very few enemies will be left standing), so they are perfect as your Praetor's retinue too, specially if he is Bloody-Handed or a Child of Terra. And [[Troll|then you add a Void Shield...]]. Against 2+ saves though, don't trouble yourself.
**Another strategy is to bring a Siege Breaker consul, slap him in Terminator armour and run him alongside these guys to give them "Tank Hunters". Think about that. 10 S8 shots (20 if you splurge on a 10 man squad), all re-rolling armour penetration rolls. Dreadnoughts, artillery platforms, tanks, basically anything smaller than a Land Raider will be in very serious trouble with these guys on the table. And it isn't like you weren't going to bring a Siege Breaker to begin with, right?

*'''Iron Havocs:''' The first [[Havoc]]s. They have ''BS5'' and ''Tank Hunters'' by default, and their ''Deadly Aim'' lowers their target's cover saves by 1, which stacks with Shatter Defenses. They're initially equipped with Heavy Bolters plus Shrapnel Bolts, ''which they can exchange for Autocannons for free'', and Hardened Armour. Their initial cost is a little higher than a default Heavy Support squad with Hardened Armour, essentially paying 25 more points for the bonus rules and stats - but the same unit with Autocannons would cost exactly the same. In other words, Iron Havocs are pretty much a [[Lulz|free upgrade]]. Additional members are a little more expensive, but their weapon options make up for this: their missile launchers essentially come with ''free flakk missiles'', and their cheaper lascannons mitigate the price difference. However, their arsenal is limited to the four previously mentioned weapons, meaning they're confined to the anti-armour role... but Tank Hunters would be wasted if they shot at infantry, so nobody cares. Unlike HSS, they can take mixed weapons in the squad, which is a way to save a few points if you reckon you'll only need a few lascannon rounds now-and-then amidst the autocannon and missile fire. Like the Kasrkin in Dawn of War, the Iron Havocs are an extremely cost-effective upgrade to their base unit and there's almost no reason to take regular HHS again (not even on a tight budget).
**While Iron Havocs cost the same than an identical Heavy Support squad ''or even less'' (as it happens with the missile launcher), the latter can cut up to 75 pts by not taking flakk and hardened armour. However, when BS5 is factored in, the price difference between the squads all but disappears, and in the case of flak missiles and lascannons it'd actually cost more points to achieve a feat using regular Heavy Support marines than the equivalent-priced Iron Havocs, as BS5 effectively grants 16.6% more Marines-worth of firepower.
**Since Havocs already have Tank Hunters, an attached Siege Breaker would only be useful against Fortifications. Instead, give them some way of rerolling ones to hit (Target Priority WT, ammo-dump, or <u>Kyr motherfucking Vhalen</u>) and ''they'll feel like BS10!''
**Shrapnel Heavy bolters and Autocannons are fine and all, but this squad truly begins to shine with Missile launchers, as they'll be able to fling AP3 krak or AA flakk around while reducing the enemy's back-up cover or evasion jink saves.
**Equipping a full squad with Lascannons is expensive, and costs as much as one and a half Flare Shielded Spartans...''but with Tank Hunters and BS5 they can fry two and a half!'' Even Knights are endangered on turn one. If you absolutely positively desperately need THE dakka, look no further.
**Remember that 5pt Augury Scanner the Sergeant can take? ''IT'S NOW AUTO INCLUDE''. 10 Missile Havocs are probably one of the best AA units going in Horus Heresy now. Who doesn't want 10 Flak Missiles hitting on 2s with Tank Hunter which really does make the Str7 less shitty that also -1 to the inevitable Jink Save?!
**[[Rape|48 ''Interceptor death circle says what?]]''

*'''"Iron Circle" Domitar-''Ferrum'' Class Battle Automata Maniple:''' They are finally fucking here! These are the guys when Perturabo, after the Battle of Phall, just went "Fuck Space Marines" and just decided to cry to his MF DEATH ROBOTS...mainly because they are as cold, logistical and calculating as him! Starting off with a decent statline of WS/BS4, Str/Toughness 7, 4 wounds, I/A 3, Ld8, 3+/5++; they cost 205 points a piece and can be taken in a unit of up to 6. They are armed with a Olympia Pattern Bolt Cannon (pretty much 5-shot Pinning Heavy Bolters) for laying down the suppressive dakka, Graviton Mauls (S10 AP2 Concussive Wrecker ''non-unwieldy'' hammers with ''Crushing Blow'': A hit of a 6 causes an additional automatic hit), Karceri Battle Shields (D3 HoW per model, 5++, and when un-engaged in combat all charges against them are disordered)... and a searchlight + frag grenades. ''Moving Bulwark'' allows them to reroll failed armor and invulnerable saves against blast and template weapons, improving their invulnerable save to 4++ when at least two of them from the same unit are in BtB contact, and allows ICs with the Legiones Astartes (IW) rule to join them despite being MCs, getting the benefits of the shields and Moving Bulwark in the process. ''For shits and giggles you could attach a Forgelord to the unit and give him a Cortex controller so he can restore the Iron Circle's wounds (as Perturabo lacks a servo arm of his own), while his rad grenades enable them to ID Vorax and those bothersome T6 Archmagi. Bonus Iron points for protecting them under a Void Shield Harness. Laugh when your opponent activates The Bitter End [[DISTRACTION_CARNIFEX|in a last-ditch attempt to kill them]]. It comes with an iron codpiece to withstand the kicks in the balls you'll deserve''. Too bad they are so expensive.
**These guys can also be taken as replacement for Perturabo's Command Squad, that's what Perty built them for anyway. That squad can be augmented with either +1WS (to hit hit ordinary dudes on 3+), +1 Initiative (things that can kill them before they strike are rare though), +1 Ld (avoid since Perty is already Fearless) or gain Feel No Pain(6+) (helps but it's not good enough), but no other Independent characters may join this unit.
**It has been calculated by /tg/s experts™ that it would take 54 Sigismunds to kill a full unit of these in one turn, THEY WILL NEVER EVER DIE.

*'''Dominator Cohort:<sup>PDF</sup>''' Otherwise known as the Tyranthikos, these guys ''used'' to be Perturabo's bodyguard until they were replaced by the Iron Circle after the Battle of Phall, making them some of the only Marines that reached the heights of bitterness felt by their Primarch. These guys are a pack of Cataphractii termies carrying thunder hammers (or chainfists, the option's yours since they're free) and combi-bolters. They're WS5 with Stubborn, and are so upset about being upstaged by robots they carry Hatred (Cybernetica Cortex), which gives them an edge in wrecking any automata they run across, which is only helped further by how one in five can carry a Multi-Melta as a heavy weapon. In addition they're all characters.
**Of course, you can use them in their original role as Pert's command squad in place of the Iron Circle (replacing their Hatred with a 6+ FNP) and in fact forbids you from taking them. Now, why would you want that when the Domitar are literally superior in every way? It's mostly a matter of cost. You're not spending at least 800 points for these bastards and they provide roughly the same protective value and are less vulnerable since they aren't monstrous creatures.
**Their rules can be found [https://www.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gy0GzMEa2p9IjWUS.pdf here]

*'''Erasmus Golg:''' Leader of the 11th Grand Company and member of the Trident who co-led the attack on the Imperial Fists at Phall. Which lasted right up until Alexis Polux disintegrated his head. When he is the Warlord he causes Fear and lets you bring Terminators as troops, and if he's attached to any squad in Terminator armour he gives the whole unit ''Hammer of Wrath''. He comes with a Nuncio Vox (comms-locator beacon hybrid) to grant artillery his LOS, and his special rules allow all Iron Warriors on his side to use his Ld...of 9, which will only be of help for squads with dead sergeants. He's also one Attack down on his stats next to other Praetors. Golg proves his value in allowing [[Deathwing|armies of terminators]] without requiring "Pride of the Legion" as a Rite of War.
#''Take Orbital Assault with Golg, effectively combining it with the best part of Pride of the Legion''.
#''Teleport your Terminator troops all over the field, on the objectives and without scattering near Golg.''
#''Laugh maniacally''.

*'''Kyr Vhalen:''' Badass who learned of Perturabo's treason on Paramar. He literally said "Fuck it" and remained loyal to the Great Crusade and E-Money. So yeah, Loyalist character for all you Loyalist Iron Warriors out there. Show those heretics the true nature of the Iron Within! Vhalen is a ''Warsmith'' (so he is Stubborn, even if it's not listed) with Servo arm (and presumably Battlesmith too, as that's a paired upgrade), FNP(6+), and Cortex controller to bring them bots. He's also really good on the defensive, with the ability to buff fortifications, disrupt charges and make 1 unit re-roll failed To Hits of 1 in the deployment zone. However, when you want to be on the offensive, his ''Iron'' halo, 6+ FNP, volkite charger, wrecker melta bombs, servo arm and Paragon blade make him a fearsome contender, along with the fact that you can take the Hammer of Olympia with him alone for being a Warsmith. And he's cheaper than the generic Praetor would be but he gets his ''ton of special rules'' and a 6+ FNP. And <u>[[Iron Warriors|IV]]</u> fucking wounds. ''Makes you wish you'd stayed loyal''.
**Hello traitors. Look at your warlord, now back to Kyr, now back at your warlord, now back to Kyr. Sadly, he isn't Kyr, but if you stopped being a traitor and made Kyr the warlord you could play like you're him. Look down, back up. Where are you? You're in a fortification, rerolling cover saves of 1 or upgrading its AV. What's in your deployment zone? Back at me, I know it. It's the Iron Havocs re rolling hits to [[Spartan_Assault_Tank|that thing you hate]]. Look again, the enemy's charge is now disordered. Anything is possible when Kyr Vhalen is the warlord and not some traitor. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE I'm in a Castellum Redoubt].

*'''Narik Dreygur:''' The Gravewalker, killed at Istvaan V but [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXOhIJg4B7k| put back together with cybernetics] by a Legion sect, and ended up defecting to the Loyalists [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdMk3gECIVA for unknown reasons] after meeting with Cassian Dracos. A unique model for the 2015 HH Weekender, this guy's an Iron Warriors Praevian, so he can't fill Compulsory HQ, but brings Castellax or Vorax MCs to the party and grants them PE. They don't benefit much from the Legion rules, so give them Tank Hunters, Scout or Furious Charge. Other than that, he has Artificer Armor, a Refractor Field, a MC Bolt Pistol (very good so he can grant PE to his sexbots), a Power Fist and +1W. He may also be included in any army with either Cassian Dracos or Xiaphas Jurr as the Warlord, being able to bring Iron Warrior Veterans that don't use up a FOC slot but cannot fill any compulsory choice and are treated as Desperate Allies by all friendlies besides Cassian and Xiaphas. He also gains Zealot and Rage within 12" of Cassian, meaning he sort of becomes a chaplain for his Battle Automata near him.
**Just be clear too, Narik is part of the '''Traitor''' faction when he's with his Robot Buddies, and then can be selected by the '''Loyalist''' Faction for Salamanders (or potentially Shattered Legions) as long as the aforementioned HQ's are taken.

[[File:PerturaboPrimarchoftheIronWarriors03.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Perturabo]]

*'''[[Perturabo]]:''' At 455 points, the Lord of Iron is rather costly, but worth it - The '''Sire of the Iron Warriors''' makes all his children ''Stubborn'', and lets Perturabo and his Goon squad automatically arrive from turn 1 from Reserves (''No more entire army turn 1 Reserves''). Arguably this is better because it's an automatic come from reserve and doesn't specifically say Deep Strike so if you can find a way to give an entire unit Outflank...then you can an Outflanking Salty Fucker with 10 Tyrants. ''DECENT'' A '''Relentless Strategist''', he gives <u>''all models in his army''</u> Furious Charge (not only Iron Warriors) [[Minotaurs|while in the enemy deployment zone]]. Remember though that this would ''NOT'' work well with the Hammer of Olympia RoW because disordered charges don't give you FC, but it's fantastic with Iron Fire, so bring lots of Terminators with Chain and Power Fists, which will hit as strong as Lascannons now. To round this off, once per game he can call down a bombardment (S9|AP2|Ordnance D3|Barrage|Twin-Linked, and ''doesn't count'' as firing a weapon that turn) to blow shit up, which is further bolstered by the fact that all of his attacks have Wrecker and Tank Hunters.<br>Perturabo has the following Wargear:
**'''The Logos''': Perturabo's custom Terminator armor is a veritable Swiss Army knife - not only is it 2+/3++, but also incorporates a bunch of wargear and special rules:
***It makes him immune to Concussive and Blind.
***Makes his bare hands S(User, aka 7) ''AP2'', so he punches as hard as a plasma gun, Ferrus Manus style.
***Lets him and ''all'' Terminators Deep-strike. ''[[Awesome|No-nonsense Orbital RoW]]. Unfortunately Golg needs to be the Warlord to make Terminators troops, but you can always take Pride of the Legion, and HoW is a nice addition to Perturabo's Deathstar.
***Has a built in wrist-cannon (S6|AP3|Assault 3|Twin-Linked and Rending), Horus style. ''With a little luck it can harm vehicles too, due to Tank Hunters''.
***Has a Nuncio vox, to help with the lots of Deep striking Terminators and artillery barrages you'll have.
***Has a Cognis-signum...which further grants Night vision, denies Infiltration and grants Interception within 18". Can be +1BS to a unit if he doesn't shoot that turn, meaning he plays more like a super buffed Master of Signals than like a melee monster.
***Cortex controller.
**'''Frag Grenades''': Yup, it's a grenade.
**'''Forgebreaker''': Horus gave it to him after Ferrus Manus became shorter by a head. Perturabo can use it for 35 points extra (''thus becoming the 3rd most expensive Primarch''). It maintains the S10 AP1 profile with Concussive and Strikedown, but in Pert's hands it gains Blind for the price of the Unwieldy rule (''not every Primarch can be as strong as Ferrus Manus''), though Pert has the ''higher WS''. ''Only take it if there are MCs, heavy vehicles or multi-wound models that you NEED him to personally kill (see "Weaknesses"), which shouldn't matter much in any case with the Iron Circle in the house.''
**'''The Tormentor''': In 3001+ point games, Perturabo can take this special "transport" for 600 points, although calling a Shadowsword with a void shield, a transport capacity of 15 and a rear access point a mere "transport" is kind of pushing it. Oh, and it ''doesn't take up'' a Lord of War slot. The July 9 FAQ confirms it gets sponsons, ups its BS to 4, and gives it Tank Hunters and Monster Hunters any time it fires all its guns at one target. Point towards the nearest Titan, because if you can afford to take it you're definitely playing a game big enough for one to show up.
***''Take him and a bunch of Tyrant Siege Terminators, have them all arrive from reserves on Turn 1 and send out a Bombardment. Because it does NOT count as firing a weapon, use his Cognis-signum to give +1BS to the Tyrants, who fire BOTH their combi-bolters and Cyclone launchers in the same phase. If SOMEHOW anyone is still alive (2+ saves), use Perturabo's LOS and Barrage the survivors. Because fuck the loyalists.''
**'''Weaknesses''': ''ONLY. FOUR. ATTACKS''. Even with the hammer, he can kill only so many models, and he isn't ''that'' shooty either, which means '''he can't go solo'''. ''He needs a retinue badly'' because he's one of the few Primarchs that doesn't have a reliable way of dealing with tarpits; fittingly enough the Iron Circle can do this, but they're very expensive themselves. To get your points worth you really need to be making maximum use of his special rules. You'll always get good mileage from Stubborn but you need to build a list to leverage his terminator deep striking to justify the points cost. On the tabletop he is one of the trickier to use because you're going to be a mostly shooty list. Luckily, his Cognis-signum and Tormentor are of great help when attached to a squad, and his hammer can beat anything to a pulp, but he can't be a force multiplier if you dump all the points on him.

*'''Sworn Brothers'''
**'''World Eaters:''' Perturabo giving the entire army Furious Charge in the enemy's deployment combines very well with the WE's higher-than-average number of attacks and rerolls. While Perturabo's FC bonus works extends to the entire army regardless of alliance level, the planet-chompers get dat dere AP4 from free chainaxes, which basically lets each 10pt Tac marine unleash four '''Heavy Bolter''' attacks on the charge, all while sharing Warlord Traits and characters.
***Iron Warrior's specific units are very good at a distance, but not so much at close range. Attach Erasmus Golg to a Red Butchers terminator squat in order to give them ''Hammer of Wrath'', making a deathstar unit even scarier. Factor in Perturabo's Furious Charge bonus making their axes ''wound T4 on 2+'' while in the enemy deployment zone, AND ''rerolling ones to-wound'' because World Eater's LA rules, AND ''rerolling ALL to-hits'' because of the Red Butcher's Hatred ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74BzSTQCl_c ''E v e r y t h i n g !'']), and you get <u>the ultimate</u> '''"I'm at ur base killing your dudes"''' squad. Remember however that, even though Sworn brothers can be attached to allied squads, they still can't share transports with them, and footslogging Butchers is a bad idea (unlike footslogging Tyrants). Perturabo allowing all termies to deep strike partially solves this issue (deepstrike Butchers + Golg wherever you need to...but be exposed to interception).
**'''Mechanicum:''' Both armies bring plenty of big guns. Both armies get numerous sources of cover reduction, both bring several shooting aids (Magos Reductor and Cyber Occularis, Masters of Signals and Pert) and plenty of Pinning (Shrapnel bolts, Mauler bolt cannons), as well as healthy amounts of Tank Hunters and Wrecker. Between those two it's easy to saturate the field with lots of blast markers and reduce the table's cover saves. Not to mention Magos Reductor can help your stuff, and their artillery is better (although, because of the arrival of the new phosphex rapiers, bringing a Siege Breaker is still the better idea).
</div>
</div>

====V Legion: [[White Scars]]====
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="100%">
[[File:White scars legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.png|100px|left|]]
The bike marines you know and love, [[Awesome|now with Jetbikes]]. But they're so much more than just bikes (as always, they [[Ravenwing|tie]] for the best bikers in the game and are much more flexible than the aforementioned), as their infantry also receives plenty of movement bonuses and they can reliably bring that one unit they need from reserves, as well as bonuses for going first. However, you ''gotta'' go fast, as the killy part of their rules only activates when moving full 6", meaning they aren't the best for [[Siege_of_Terra|garrison]] duty and that their heavier guns are vanilla, and the enemy could give them a surprise were they to catch them wrong footed, aka going anywhere slower than full speed.

The hunter's role fits them well, and with their rules, Cyber Hawks and Legatine-axe-tier op (but now also expensive as balls) AP2 glaives, the Scars can do well either at a distance or at melee. Or at a distance ''while'' closing to melee.

HH8 Malevolence hit the Legion with a couple of nerfs, most being reasonable such as balancing the once incredibly strong Chogorian Brotherhood and the skyrocket in price of the glaives. The legion's units are interesting if not auto-includes, but they could do with some quality of life changes (DT's for the Ebon Keshig for example) and the Khan is the speediest lad around in more or less all regards as you'd expect. If you want to go fast and be generally in control of your battle plans (and have a bitchin colour scheme while you're at it) then hunt with the Vth legion and show them the ferocity of your power armoured Mongolians.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''Swift Action''': Any unit that ends the Movement phase a full 6" away from its starting position in the movement phase - or 12" if it's [[what|a vehicle]], bike, or jetbike - (this means you'll have to go in a straight line), in the Movement phase can re-roll failed to Wound rolls of 1 for all attacks until the beginning of your next turn.
***''Don't take anything void-hardened or a heavy-weapon on a non-relentless platform.''
**'''Eye of the Storm''': A White Scar Warlord adds +1 to the roll to Seize the Initiative, as well as the first reserve roll of each turn - ''Taking a Proteus' Explorator Augury means your first reserve roll per turn has 97.2% chance of success; doesn't get better than that''.
***''Consider Legion Recon Company, a +1 to the roll to seize is even better when you can reroll it.''
**'''Born in the Saddle''': Skilled rider, if you have a Bike or a Jetbike.
**'''To Laugh in Death's Face''': Nerfed by HH8 into the more common 'May not select more Heavy Support than Fast Attack choices' although why are you playing White Scars if you consider this a crippling weakness. ''Beyond bikes and jetbikes consider Storm Eagles and Xiphon Pattern Interceptors for their good guns and while your unique Land Speeder is good don't ignore the incredibly cost effective generic Javelins.'' Doesn't apply in Zone Mortalis missions.
*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Power Glaive''': You thought the Legatine Axe was OP? Look at this. Any character with a power weapon can swap it for a versatile glaive, which can be wielded One-Handed like a power sword, or Two-Handed as a power axe '''WITHOUT UNWIELDY'''. The Ebon Keshig (and Qin Xa's command squad version of Keshig) get these, which is spicy. AP2 at initiative will earn you many many buckets of salty tears.
***Unless you're going against regular marines you should ''always'' use the Two-Handed stance. Broken as hell, a [[Night Lords|full power axe]] with neither [[Death Guard|penalties]] [[Power Fist|to]] [[Power Axe|Initiative]] nor any prerequisites about [[Emperor's Children|charging]] or challenges only or what-have-you, and it's available to regular sarges, [[Ultramarines|unlike]] [[Blood Angels|some]]. The poster boy for overpowered weaponry in 30K since 2015.
***As of Malevolence, Forge World has recognised how broken these things were and <s>balanced</s> nerfed them into a fixed 25 points for any character that can take a power weapon. This makes them cost the same as Paragon Blade for Praetors and Thunder Hammers for Centurions/Consuls while putting these things on your Sergeants can now get very expensive. [[Derp|In fact now that the FAQ has given Champions the Paragon Blade option its actually more expensive to give them a Glaive than that.]] They don't even get the points reduction for models in Terminator Armour that already have power weapons you normally get. Still an awesome weapon but now far from the auto-include it used to be.
**'''Cyber Hawk:''' A Cyber-hawk is a wargear option for any WS praetor and Falcon Claw Champions. Basically, it can be placed anywhere on the board at the start of each turn, and '''infantry''' with LA(WS) get to reroll 1s to hit when shooting against any enemy units within 6" and may reroll charge range against said units, the cyber-hawk can not be charged or shot at, and doesn't count as an actual model, only a counter. An auto-include, but remember vehicles, including Dreadnoughts, don't benefit from it.
**'''Shamsir Jetbike:''' New Jetbike for your ICs. Replaces the Heavy Bolter with a Scatterbolt Launcher which is essentially a Heavy Flamer with Shred and Pinning
**'''Parthinian Serpent (Relic)''': Oddly a Heavy Weapon relic. You get a [https://youtu.be/ZlBfacuBaBE?t=14 magic bow], S6 AP2, Skyfire/Interceptor/Heavy 1. But comes with a cool rule that it ALWAYS fires at full ballistic skill, so being a heavy weapon or having Skyfire is not actually a hindrance. It even works on overwatch! It also has precision shots if you want to pick your targets and it also causes Pinning. Very useful on a biker character, since you can jink with no downsides.

*'''Rite of War: Chogorian Brotherhood''' ''The much awaited White Scars' Hit-and-Run biker spam RoW®. Albeit focused on bikes, nothing prevents them from bringing heavier elements, and the boosts apply to most of your units instead of only bikes, making this a quick AND balanced force without real limitations, and hands down <u>better than Skyhunter Phalanx</u>.''
**'''Ride Like the Wind''': Bikes and Dickbikes become the compulsory scoring Troops. Note that unlike the Dark Angels' Ravenwing Protocol, you can actually bring other troops choices; assault marines for some choppy choppy, support squads for some hard hitting dakka, you name it. As long as you've got your bike boys, you've got free reign.
**'''Lightning Strike''': A few bonuses here:
*** Bikes and Jetbikes gain Hit & Run - ''Praetors and Centurions will do well with their I5''. It shouldn't need to be said that you gotta '''BE THE FAST'''.
**** Note that Golden Keshig already get this, as does any unit the Khagan joins.
*** Infantry units without Heavy, Salvo or Ordnance weapons get Hit & Run and Outflank. Infantry units with any such weapons only gain Outflank instead - ''Yes, this means outflanking LR and Spartans. Remember how Cataphractii can barely walk? Yours can fucking hit and run. If other players ask just claim your Terminators are [[Honour_Guard#Legion_Honour_Guard|Keshig]]. [[Derp|Who Forgeworld thinks are bikers for some stupid reason]]''.
*** Infantry that doesn't begin the game inside a transport begin the game in reserves. If you need your men starting on the board, give them rhinos.
*** Vehicles with more than 3 HP <b>that are not fast</b> must begin the game in Reserves.
*** Your heavy firepower will be late to the party and your non-infantry units don't gain Outflank to make up for it. This means dealing with big nasty vehicles becomes something of a challenge for you. Ensure your fast Jetbike squads have a way to handle vehicles themselves and use your Rhinos to block the path of Spartans and Land Raiders to frustrate their movement. Land Speeders with grav guns and HK missiles both deny movement and chip off Hull points even if they are paper thin and go some way to helping you make up for the deficit. Sicarans, predators and vindicator are all 3 HP and can start on the board to lay down some fire, with the sicarans being fast enough to keep up with the rest of the Legion.
** The Warlord must have a Bike or a ''Scimitar'' Jetbike - ''As if he already didn't have one.'' Note that RAW this means [[Forge World|your warlord can't take a Shamshir Jetbike]] and [[FAIL|you can't take the Khagan at all with this ROW]]
** Your compulsory troops choices MUST be bikes or jetbikes. ''Well it's not like you weren't taking at least two squads anyway''
** If you lose all your bikes and jetbikes your opponent gains D3 victory points - ''Don't lose''
** Can't have more than one Heavy Support. ''FW decided this RoW was too powerful (which was admittedly completely true) and hit it with the nerf bat pretty hard.''
*** You can also bring any sort of allies you want, although an allied detachment isn't a real way to hoard up on HS choices (although it might be your only choice now).

*'''Rite of War: Sagyar Mazan''' ''Only usable in a Scars-led Shattered Legion army.'' It represents the faction of the V Legion that tried to side with Horus and thus were ordered to go on suicide missions after the Khan slapped sense back into them at Prospero. This Rite is somewhat similar to the Lone Wolves in that they can gain even when they're killed.
**'''Death Seekers:''' Upon the death of any unit which granted victory points to the enemy roll a D6. On a 4-5 no VPs are awarded; on a 6 your side gets the VP instead.
**'''Serpent's Eye:''' Every model with the Legiones Astartes rule is Fearless for the first turn of any assault. Phew, this has the potential to be really strong, especially against Legions that need to keep charging. Means that, weirdly, you can have an anvil unit for the hammer that is your melee hard hitters.
** Must be Loyal.
** May not have [[Blood Angels|more vehicle]] [[Raven Guard|than infantry]] units.

*'''The Falcon's Claws:''' Raven Guard that got lost and joined the White Scars. 5-10 man squad with a recon marine statline, except they have '''two lightning claws ''each''''', the champion can swap one claw out for a list of weapons, and anyone can swap both claws out for a pistol + power weapon. Despite what this might make you think, they are pretty sneaki cheeki beakies too, with infiltrate (from recon armour), move through cover, cameoline, shroud bombs and their special rule Outriders, which lets them scout 18". They also crib the Raven Guard assassination shtick too, with Hatred (Characters) and Precision Strikes. These guys are interesting; you might think they're fairly useless considering they fill a melee niche but aren't tanky at all and lack jump packs and while this may be true, cover is not an obstruction at all and can catch an enemy by surprise very easily. They're also cheap as balls with 5 costing you a mere 90 points and will still happily slice n dice a tactical squad fairly handily. Play like a White Scar; don't let them know what you're doing, know your enemy and know your battlefield so you can plan accordingly.
**When we say cheap, we really mean cheap. 10 recon marines with cameleoline costs 225 points while 10 Falcon's Claws costs 170, so for FEWER points you get an objectively superior unit in every way, with the only downside being that they can't take an augury scanner/nuncio-vox to help support the rest of your army.

*'''Ebon Keshig Terminators:''' Where the Keshig are already the best of the best among the Terminators, the Ebon Keshig are the best of the best of the best. Can take any kind of Terminator armour, although the models previewed at the Weekender were in Tartaros and come stock with Power Glaives, FNP 5+, Chosen Warriors, Support Unit and The Kharash which means they don’t confer victory points for being destroyed but can’t capture objectives either and can only be joined by characters with this rule (which at present means none). They can swap out their Glaives for Power Weapons and Combi-Bolters in case you want some shooting from them or take Fists and Combi-Bolters for ID'ing T4 or taking on high toughness armies like Daemons or Mechanicum. Can take combi-weapons if they took combi-bolters (although this is bizarrely expensive so don't do it) and grenade harnesses. Emperor's Children can eat shit.
**Do note they also don't have any dedicated transport options which coupled with your Heavy Support restrictions can give them a tricky time of getting into melee. This is the weirdest thing; the Keshig are the only Legion-specific Terminators to get 0 DT (not even something a bit different like a Storm Eagle). These guys are super difficult to squeeze into a Chogorian Brotherhood army because of this, so consider another RoW if you want them, which is a shame because they're quite good.

*'''The Golden Keshig:''' Your special snowflake melee jetbikers, it seems White Scars are the only legion to know what you're supposed to do with jetbike (i.e. [[NSFW|ram them into the enemy as hard and as fast as possible which your girthy lance]]), said lance strikes at Strength 7 AP 2 with sunder, murderous strike and concussive at initiative 10... on the charge, if you don't get the charge then it's S:User AP 4 with none of those rules. Oh, and you only get one attack per round with it. Luckily they come with hit and run, so you can do your one hit and run away ready to charge again. They also come with artificer armour and Scatterbolt launchers on their Jetbikes. Finally, they can buy power weapons (for if you're worried about your alpha strike glass cannons getting bogged down against MEQ) and the champion can get a thunder hammer.
**''For the love of the Emperor, stay the hell away from anything that can debuff their initiative or your super expensive elites are doomed to hit the enemy with what amounts to CCWs against marines.''
**These guys look like they might be really good at murdering TEQ on the charge but their lack of attacks and small unit size means they struggle for damage output and will have to work hard to earn back their high point cost.

*'''Kyzagan Attack Speeder:''' Here it is, the tastiest, snazziest speeder across the 18 Legions. For 105pts naked you get a javelin with a kheres assault cannon and 2 Reaper autocannons, yesplease.jpg. These are the bane of more or less anything you need them to kill, from infantry to even land raiders thanks to rending. Strafing run makes your shots nigh-guaranteed to hit as well (of which 6 are S6 with rending and 4 are S7 with twin linked). 3 of these bad boys putting out 18 assault cannon shots and 12 Reaper shots is a juicy volume of fire and, if the Legiones Astartes does indeed affect vehicles like it says it does, they re-roll 1s to wound as well as long as they move the full 12", which is outstandingly reliable. While you shouldn't completely overlook the far cheaper javelin, the Kyzagan has an incredibly volume of fire for something so mobile AND with an extra point of armour on the front so heavy bolters can fuck off.

*'''Dark Sons of Death Squad:''' Otherwise known as the ''Karaoghlanlar''. As with the other Legendary Battle PDFs, there happens to be a variant Destroyer squad and this is yours. These guys lack the rocket launcher or phosphex options and only carry one pistol but instead come stock with jump packs and rad grenades ''and'' come cheaper than the base Destroyers (but not the playtest variant) at 145 points. Everyone can take either the charnabal sabre or power glaive for relatively cheap while the sarge can also go all-in on the melee train by buying twin claws for melee carnage. If they break a unit, they can opt to forego their Sweeping Advance roll, instead performing a sick ritual that makes nearby enemies within 6" test Ld or suffer -1 to WS for the turn.
**Uniquely, these guys can serve as a retinue for a jetpack Librarian since the WS were one of the few legions that still supported the concept despite the Edict, but lack Chosen Warriors. Doing so requires that you build the librarian to support these guys as they also have a once-per-game ability to trigger Fleet + Rage for the entire unit, absolute proof that you'll want that Librarian equipped to fight.
**Rules can be found [https://www.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/V7pz4FAPFUM2apkb.pdf here]

*'''Tsolmon Khan:''' Awesome praetor-level character with S+1. Comes stock with artificer armour, iron halo, combi-melta and a master crafted thunder hammer and can take a jetbike. Has a couple of useful tricks, firstly he can do the Eidolon and Alexis Polux thing of dropping unwieldy from his hammer on the charge (although only with one attack) and secondly, if he's on foot, he can take an Oblivion Knight Centura from the Sisters list. If he does this they have to deploy together although they can act as separate ICs afterwards. He also doesn't lose leadership from the Psychic Anathema rule and if doing a Glorious Intervention for his Sister waifu he gets an extra attack - which stacks with his non-unwieldy attack. However, it might make the most sense to put him on his bike and let him hunt things with his mighty hammer (him in a unit of Golden Keshig is incredible on the charge). If he's the warlord his trait is fixed to Inspiring Presence.

*'''Qin Xa:''' Yep, the first White Scar special character is in Terminator armour (albeit the fastest kind). Qin is good in both attack and defence with the Furious Charge and Counter Attack special rules and isn't too shabby at the tactical side of things either with MotL and his warlord trait, which lets him automatically bring a unit in from reserves without rolling once per game which could certainly come in useful. However his most useful ability is his Master of the Keshig special rule, which allows you to select a Terminator Command Squad to represent the Keshig, which means they must be deployed with Qin at the beginning of the game, but allows them to buy a ''power glaive'' for a mere 10 points each, eat your heart out Phoenix Guard. As for Qin Xa himself? He carries two AP2 Mastercrafted Dao blades ripped straight from Wuxia cinema called the Tails of the Dragon and much like power glaives they have two profiles attacking at +1 strength with precision strikes, or +3 strength with unwieldy. Compared to a normal praetor he has +1 in W/I/A meaning that he can strike before them when using Part the Horse's Mane or, on the charge, tank their paragon blade behind his 4 wounds and Iron Halo and then ID them with Split the Mountain and Furious Charge. If you can possibly bear to play a White Scar army that's not literally 100% bikes he makes a fantastic leader for your forces.
**Consider accompanying him with a Forge Lord: not only can it help keeping the transport alive if it receives any damage, but with rad grenades it will allow you to ID your opponents at I6 on the charge, so anyone without EW or a very solid invulnerable save is pretty much fucked since you have 7A at WS6. It also gives you the hability to ID characters on bikes or Custodes with Split the Mountain, albeit at I1.
**Unlike the Ebon Keshig, his command squad keep their combi-bolters with their power glaives, can take a variety of ranged options for sensible prices, can be joined by IC's and have a dedicated transport option. They miss out on the Ebon Keshig's FNP and Stubborn but still have Chosen Warriors and (while the Standard Bearer is alive) Fearless which is better and [[cheese|a squad of five with glaives is only 5 points more expensive]]. If you want to run White Scars Termies Qin Xa and these boys are the way to go.

[[File:Jaghatai Khan-The Khagan-Model.png|175px|right|thumb|Jaghatai Khan]]
*'''[[Jaghatai Khan]]:''' The Khagan boosts the mobility of the White Scars to insane levels, granting every LA: (WS) model in your army Scout, and therefore Outflank. Outflanking is something he himself can do very well as you can pick at the start of the game which turn he will come in on, automatically doing so from whichever side you please! Khan and his unit have hit-and-run so you can get away from [[Primarch|any]][[Dreadnought|thing]] that might cause you problems, but hordes won't be a problem with his 8 attacks on the charge, especially with the Crusader special rule. Finally, in combat he ''always'' strikes first in the first round of combat no matter what, ensuring you'll be able to kill whatever you're up against before being hit back.<br>The Master of the Ice-Blue Heavens uses the following gear:
**'''The White Tiger Dao:''' An AP2 blade with Master-Crafted, +1 Strength on the charge and Duelist's Edge. Definitely on the weaker side of primarch weapons and while I'd like to see it get at least Murderous Strike, it's still an AP2 weapon that means the Khan can reach an epic Initiative 9 (or 8 on his bike) so it gets the job done nicely considering Instant Death won't do much against the Khan's ideal targets anyway.
***Easy to miss but this is one of the few Primarch weapons without two-handed of specialist weapon so you do get an extra attack for having a pistol
**'''The Wildfire Panoply:''' Grants a 2+ Armour Save and a 5+ Invulnerable Save, which becomes a 3++ during the '''Assault Phase''' (including Overwatch) because the Emperor's Children aren't allowed anything unique. It also gives the Khagan the Move Through Cover special rule.
**'''Archaeotech Pistol:''' Good for shooting down basic marines and Angron.
**'''Frag Grenades:''' You pull the pin, throw it and it explodes.
**'''<s>Jujitsu</s> Sojutsu Pattern Voidbike:''' For +65 points Khan can grab himself a super Jetbike, with two MC heavy bolters and grants D3 HoW hits, also he ignores all dangerous terrain and his jink save is 3+ while riding it, however to use it you lose the Crusader rule for some reason, making you [[Derp|less likely to run down your foes while on your bike]].

*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Sons of Horus:''' If you're looking to make a [[Your Dudes]] sort of list the rules for SoH could be used to represent the Terrans of the legion, which had a similar mindset to the Sons. But the very moment you try to play this against other Astartes, well, prepare for other players looking at you funny at best. If you have some extra white and black paint lying around you could make them Luna Wolves. This explanation also lends itself to the Sagyar Mazan.
**'''Salamanders:''' A very literal anvil for the hammer that is the sons of the Warhawk. Use Firedrakes (or even vanilla terminators with storm shields) and breachers to pin the enemy down while your bikes put in the work. If for whatever reason you want a Spartan on the field while playing with the Chogorian Brotherhood RoW, this is a solid enough way to do it.
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====VI Legion: [[Space Wolves]]====
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[[File:Space_Wolves_legion_pre-heresy_shoulderpad.png|100px|left|]]
The Wolves of old were a lot less furry, but still maintain a unique way of warfare among the Legions. FW's interpretation of the Sons of Russ focusses on massed infantry with a diffuse command structure. The list compresses army selection to that end, with what often amounts to an HQ tax and a dedicated choppy-choppy troops core. In addition, certain Consuls are outright replaced (whether or not the Fenrisian version is better is up for [[Skub|debate]]). This can be tactically challenging for some army types, but the Vlka Fenryka wouldn't have it any other way.

The Wolves are an assault legion with a focus on heavy infantry, and although the Emperor's Children may be faster once in combat, nobody gets stuck in as fast (with an alround running bonus, some units able to run'n'charge (!), and armies rerolling both (!) with a Saga) plus some impressive bonuses to the attacks themselves, some of which are arguably game-breaking. As in 5 point power weapons.

So, if you're sick and tired of the overwolf, hate GW's overt restrictions on when you can charge or you want to join the most distinct Legion, get on a longboat and fight in the name of the [[Emperor|Allfather]] and [[Fenris]]!
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''Bestial Savagery:''' Gain +1WS if they have successfully charged, have the Counter-Attack special rule, and must perform a Sweeping Advance if they won combat after charging or being charged (there is literally no situation you wouldn't perform one of those anyway).
**'''Hunter's Gait:''' Infantry models without jump packs or terminator armour gain +1 to run and consolidation moves.
**'''Preternatural Senses:''' Night Vision, Acute Senses, and enemy Infiltrators may not deploy within 18" regardless of line of sight
**'''Space Wolf Army Selection''':
***Only Centurions (i.e., not Consuls), Praetors, and named ICs can be Compulsory HQs.
****''Does this mean that Delegatii cannot be taken at all?'' Well, technically you can, with Centurions fulfilling the Compulsory slot and a Delegatus in the optional.
***Must take at least 1HQ for each 1,000pts (1,500pts etc must take 2) '''Regardless of the force organisation chart being used or the maximum available number of HQ slots in said chart''', so works on allied detachment too. There are no limitations as to what units can be taken as the additional HQs. '' An extra HQ slot opens up for every thousand points you use, with the FOC [[/d/|stretching to accommodate your army's evil girth]].''.
***Centurions may sound like an intuitive fit to lead your packs of Grey Hunters, but there's a disynergy to this approach, covered in the Grey Slayer's section. For many armies as such, finding a place to put Centurions, who are useful as a basic beatstick leader, can be a challenge. It can also strain with the inclusion of Russ into a force, but his Wolfkin friends are 100 points and HQ choices so they can be helpful in this regard. By RAW a Command Squad is an HQ choice in it's own right (you need to take ''any'' HQ, not "fill HQ slot" or something). Praetors may be the solution, given their greater flexibility and solo strength in role.
***Chaplains, Librarians and Primus Medicae may not be taken - They're all replaced by Priests of Fenris in their two modes.
*** "Only Grey Slayers may be taken as compulsory Troop choices '''by any Space Wolves Detachment'''"(''How does this effect Shattered Legion?''), all other Troops choices from the Age of Darkness Army List gain Support Squad. Unless your rite of war says otherwise that is. <sup>FAQ 2019</sup>
****''[[Iron Warriors|Some]] [[Raven Guard|Legions]] [[World Eaters|still]] [[Death Guard|don't have]] any unique troops at all via ROWs or otherwise, so little to complain about here. If you really want to join in the Volkite or Plasma spam via Tactical Support Squads, you'll have to work them in tandem with foot-slogging melee. Emperor knows that you'll appreciate Plasma in this MEQ/TEQ heavy game. Stock Tacs are pretty redundant in any setup regardless; You won't miss <s>Furry</s> Fury of the Legion that much.
****In conjunction with the VI Legion's LA rules, Breachers surprisingly rise in usefulness considerably: Their shield-derived Defensive Grenades coordinate well with Counter-Attack to make them a cut above others for absorbing charges, their intended job; furthermore, the run penalty Breacher's suffer thanks to Void-Hardened Armour is evened out with the La's run distance boost. Consider Breachers as a slightly-slower, slightly-doughier, more shooty backup to Combat Shield-wielder Grey Slayers. The best Breacher loadout are anti vehicle Graviton Guns. Don't bother with Land Raiders unless you really need the extra firepower.
****The LA bonuses are a fair bonus to Assault Squads, [[Fluff|inspite of the Wolves' well-documented vertigo]].
*'''The Sagas of Blood and Night''' i.e. Wolfy Warlord Traits. These replace access to both the stock Legion ''and'' BRB tables, so [[RAGE|forget about combining your WT with Prenatural Senses and Hunter's Gait]]. All of these are pretty decent honestly, though the Shield of the Wolf King is arguably the weakest (but hey-ho, Stubborn is pretty nice given the lack of ATSKNF in 30k).
**'''The Get of the Wyrm:''' Choose D3 infantry squads composed of 5 or more models to gain ''Fear'' and Defensive Grenades (so it's redundant on Breacher squads, and by extension anyone using a Boarding Shield). This isn't too shabby;it's probably the Defensive Grenades that makes this appealing as a snub to melee-heavy armies (World Eaters, Emperor's Children, Raven Guard, etc.), with the propensity to ''spook them silly'' being just gravy. Better than the standard Bloody-Handed trait.
**'''The Howl of the Death Wolf:''' For one turn only, all Run and Charge moves the army makes may be rerolled. ''(Leman Russ has this in addition to his "Sire of the Legion" rules)'' This is all round pretty good, and if you can coordinate your army enough to allow multiple units to get usage out of it is where it'll really shine, and if the enemy is unprepared they will rue the day they pissed off the Rout.
**'''The Hunger of the Void:''' Your Warlord has ''Rage''. Pretty run of the mill, a little underwhelming.
**'''The Waster of the Land:''' The Warlord and his unit gain ''Move Through Cover'', and whenever he and his unit shoot at a target within 12" they gain the ''Ignore Cover'' rule. This latter part is seriously brutal, like insanely stronk (looking at you plasma guns), but the Move Through Cover bonus alone is pretty decent.
**'''The Crown Breaker:''' The Warlord gains ''Preferred Enemy (Independent Characters)'' and also gains ''Feel No Pain (5+)'' when fighting a challenge. A fairly solid way of gaining the upper hand in a challenge, although it pales in comparison to the trait Hvarl Red-Blade gives you.
**'''The Shield of the Wolf King:''' The Warlord gets ''Stubborn'' and so does his unit. ''Compare to Paladin of Glory and weep.''

*'''Rite of War: The Pale Hunters''' - ''The stronger of the two unique Rites of War, this plays up the predatory aspect of the Wolves. It feels like The Black Reaving, actually useful bonuses edition. Your reduced Hit & Run movement isn't so bad, especially on Warrior's Mettle units, and this RoW done well overwhelms your enemy early on, with Outflanking Vets, Recon Squads, and <s>Swiftclaws</s> Outriders pincushioning units alongside your Grey Slayers. Dreadnoughts can (partially) compensate for the Heavy Support restriction. Between the WS boost and the additional attack, your enemy will be torn apart by the jaws of the Death Wolf.''
**'''The Circling Wolves:''' Units from this detachment gain +1 on reserve rolls. ''Not useful for infantry unless you're running Hvarl, but can be a pretty nice boost for all sorts of bikes and flyers. Speaking of flyers, you could use Storm Eagles to transport the aforementioned infantry if you don't mind giving your wolves some vertigo.''
**'''Bleed & Harry:''' Infantry units with LA (Space Wolves) not wearing Terminator Armour gain ''Hit and Run'', but roll 2D6 for distance moved instead of 3D6. ''Good to use against melee legions, since the wolves are quick to leap into the fray but could find themselves outmatched by the more bloodthirsty among the traitors.''
**'''The Fury of the Pack:''' Whenever a Space Wolves unit charges into an enemy unit ''already'' locked in combat, they gain a further +1 attack for charging. ''Great synergy with Bleed & Harry, and can give you yet another edge against melee legions.''
**The detachment may only take a single Heavy Support slot. ''Limits your capacity to include transports and anti-tank in your list, but since the restriction doesn't cover the LoW slot you can go around it by fielding superheavies. A Thunderhawk, or even a [[Stormbird]] might have good synergy with Circling Wolves.
**The detachment may not take any kind of Drop Pod, or any Artillery or Fortifications. ''This limits the HS slot even more. The popular Leviathan dreadnought becomes a less appealing choice when forced to walk, and you cannot use your Rapiers or Quad Mortars. The RoW encourages you to take something mobile that enters from reserves, like Jetbike Sky-Slayers or a Fire Raptor.''. Legion artillery tank squadron is also fine choice.

*'''Rite of War: The Bloodied Claws''' - ''This RoW is meant to be a footslogging (and partially jump pack riding) wave of ceramite that utterly routs the enemy. Shooty legions who think their fortifications and artillery make them impervious to a good old-fashioned frontal assault will pay for their arrogance, and Oath of the Bloodied Claw finally gives you the chops to handle almost anything if you get the charge off. No forge org or Consul restrictions beyond your usual Legion rules are just gravy.''
**'''Oath of the Bloodied Claw:''' Grey Slayers and Assault Squads gain the ''Furious Charge'' rule, but must always declare a charge if they are able to do so.
**'''Overwhelming Assault:''' Units in the detachment gain +1 to combat resolution scores when in the enemy's deployment zone.
**'''Howl of the Death Wolf:''' The Warlord has this trait in addition to his existing one. If he already has Howl, ''(see Russ)'' then he can use it [[Awesome|twice per game]]. *AWOO AWOO MOTHERF-*
**The detachment may not take any Immobile, Artillery or Slow & Purposeful units.
**You may not take an allied Space Marine detachment. You shouldn't be taking allies with Space Wolves as a rule of thumb, you're taxed enough as is.

*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Fenrisian Wolf''': Bark. Praetors or Centurions without jump packs can buy up to two of them. Unlike their 40k iterations, these are bulky with Counter-Attack and Preternatural Senses with 4's in most stats and BS0 W1 A2 Ld5, and a 6+ save, but don't count as Beasts, which is severely daft as it limits biker-wolf fun. Cyberwolves are also changed, now being a 5 point upgrade for FNP.
**'''Frost Weapons''': Any Independent Character with a Power weapon (or a Huscarl with a basic CCW) can make them +1S and specialist for a few points. Some of the Legion's unique units also get access to them. Special mention given to the great frost blade, a two-handed S+1 AP2 Master Crafted sword that forces the wielder to fight at -1 Initiative, but gains +1 Attack if fighting multiple enemies. What's that, beep beep, it's the Death Guard calling, they want their rules for Power Scythes back. Seriously, Great Frost Blades are almost identical, seperated only by master-crafting and replacing normal power weapons over fists. It's a lesser version of the White Scars Glaive fiasco all over again. Also note there is no benefit to taking Frost Axes over Power Fists, as they have the same availability, cost the same or *more, are both Specialist AP 2 but Power Fists get 2 more strength. Severe fail.
**'''Æther-Rune Armour''': Artificer Armour that adds a *Wound* and lets you re-roll DtW. Available to Priests of Fenris and Praetors. ''This includes Forge Lords, Masters of Signal and Praevians, thanks to a little sidebar on the Priests of Fenris entry explaining that these high-ranked Consuls are types of Iron Priest.''
**'''Burning Claws (Relic)''': A single Wolf Claw just like out of the codex, with extra master-crafted and armourbane. Standard fare relic that does its job.

*'''Forge Lords''' can buy Cyber-Wolves in place of the basic Servo-Automata for 15 pts each. Trades in shooting for better punching, as 30k Servo-automatas do not have Servo-Arms outside of Solar Auxilia.
*'''Grey Slayers''': Your compulsory troops choices, so no matter what you've taken two units of these bloods. Their special rule - "Warrior's Mettle", note that down - replaces Fury of the Legion, and it's a doozy: Grey Slayers can run or shoot bolters (act in the shooting phase in other words) 'and' charge in the same turn, at a -1 penalty to the charge distance. The rule also keeps them from going to ground voluntarily, but compensates with a re-roll for pinning tests. So Slayers are marginally less shooty that stock Tacs, in return for a better and more dynamic assaulty game. [[Derp|Very irritatingly, no ICs (apart from Geigor) have or can get this rule, so they curb your enthusiasm hard when they join Slayers]]; the unit can still shoot and charge as long as the IC doesn't shoot any rapid-fire (or Salvo or whatever) weapons, but that's not the rule you're really after - it's the run option that changes the game, and that's ruled right out when a character joins. Call this rules-snarl classic FAQ bait.
**Grey Slayers start off with bolt pistols and cc weapons, and can buy bolters or combat shields, or replace chainswords with a power weapons [[Awesome|for five measly points]], across the whole pack. The power weapon option is pricey on ten men, but a unit that can run, charge, and hit at WS5 with power weapons sounds like an elite snowflake unit, this is your compulsory troop choice. One in five can take a combi-weapon, a fist, a claw or a plasma pistol or hand-flamer. Huscarl (Sergeant) mostly gets normal options, as well as access to frost '''blade''' (only frost blade after FAQ 2019, page 15). It's worth noting he may take a power fist at only 10 points instead of usual 15 for a Tactical sarge. All in all, Tac equivalent with a heavier assault bend. Needless to say, bringing this unit to the board just for bolters is a waste of potential; by all means throw a few boltguns and combi-weapons in the mix to give ranged coverage (and to make more out of Warrior's Mettle), and let other units do the shooty work - Seekers, Veterans and Terminators can provide ample fire support from other slots. Pack the rest of the Slayers with combat shields or power weapons, for both survivability and oomph. The best use for regular Tacs in the Space Wolves mileau is as a stodgy Apothecary-bound babysitter for home objectives.
**''Outside of an all Varagyr army with Russ, there is no reliable way to shift these guys from the coveted Compulsory Troops slot. Legion rules take precedence over vanilla ones, and if LA says you '''must''' do something, no RoW can cancel it - which thereby clips the range of available of RoWs for the Wuffs, like Fury of the Ancient for Word Bearers. Things are a little [[skub|muddy]] to say the least.''
**FAQ 2019 update: This has now been patched to work with generic RoW that require you to take things that aren't Grey Slayers as compulsory troops e.g. Pride of the Legion and that therefore you previously couldn't take so that in that case the RoW overrides this rule, while the apothecaries no longer take away your Warrior's Mettle (IC's still do however)
*'''Deathsworn Pack''': [[Death Company| Space Marines so consumed with Dionysian visions of death and destruction that only combat grants them release.]] Essentially Wolfy Destroyers, or a squad of Lone Wolves from the modern chapter. Each has a pistol and power axe, as well as special stasis bombs that act more like chemical weapons, what with their Fleshbane, Gets Hot, and Pinning. These bombs also count as defensive grenades and if someone flees from them, they have to roll 2d6 and take the lowest. Deathsworn are keen in melee, as they get to wield en-masse AP 2 (axe, hammer or fist), get Fearless in combat, can take Rad grenades and ''death won't stop them'' (can't stop won't stop!) - these crazy bastards get '''all of their attacks''' as long as at least one dude is alive at the point they'd resolve their attacks, dead models only being removed after they've made these attacks. So it definitely pays to splash on the unwieldy weapons (which they have base anyway) or the pretty expensive but very werf heavy frost blades (at least a couple for good measure). 'Just make sure you DON'T get clean-wiped beforehand.' These berserkers also get artificer armour, to round everything off with 2+ save goodness. Only Speakers of the Dead can join these units. These fellas are unfortunately extremely pricy, and for what functions as a one-trick suicide assault unit they are [[overcosted| overcosted]].
*'''Varagyr Wolf Guard Terminators''': Very expensive Cataphractii Terminators with frost weapons. Their special party trick is a S5 Hammer of Wrath attack, and any model can accept a challenge as is the tradition for champion Legion units. But to add a vicious twist to the staple, if the members of the Varagyr kill an enemy challenger, they get a +1 bonus to combat resolutions. Only the Champion gets two wounds, though the unit seems costed like they all should. Models can replace their frost weapons with powerfists, chainfists or TH hammers and ''any'' model can replace its combi-bolter with a combi-weapon, another frost weapon, a heavy flamer or a reaper autocannon if you don't mind taxing this unit even more. Although Reaper spam is delicious and precious, remember that it's melee where the specials you pay for these puppies kick in, so consider limited to 3 or 4 per 10 models as just a stinger before the brawl.
**There's little evidence that Varagyr can take Great Frost Blades, and firm precedent to the contrary. The choices presented are Claw, Blade (which Forge World often uses interchangeably, and admittedly sloppily, with Sword and vice versa) or Axe.
**Like other Legion exclusive Terminators. Cataphractii armor [[Derp|makes these guys worse than they should be]]. As "vanilla" Tartaros Termis will get chances to grenade them, Overwatch and declare a "Sweeping Advance." So to make the best of "Implacable Advance". Buy Autocannons or Heavy Flamers. While it doesn't make up for lacking Storm Shields and Overwatch. If you don't get bad rolls, they will keep any potential chargers away or snipe anything that doesn't stay off the objective. Doing enough damage to move in and table the survivors. Varagyr kitted out this way can't shoot it out with Iron Warrior and Smurf Dakkanators, [[Aquilon_Terminator|Aquilons]] or [[Thousand Sons|jerks with Shred and Sweeping Advance]]. Cleaning out Thunderwolf pens will be a less painful experience. Why your fighting Golden Bananas and [[fail|not taking them as allies is a another matter entirely.]]
*'''Priest of Fenris''': Where Librarians, Chaplains and Primus Medicae go to get wolfified. There are two sorts of Priest, and although they share a statline and option set, the differences are stark enough to treat them as seperate consuls.
**'''Speaker of the Dead''': [[Wolf Priest]]s in the olden times. These shamanic precursors get medical balms, which are better than the poultices they use 10k years later (a 5+ Feel No Pain, and unlike Narthecium those work on anything, even Custodes and Primachs), but do not have the ability to recover lost victory points from fallen units. A Power Maul as a stock weapon, and a special one-use grenade - 4+ Poison and AP- Rending at Assault d3+1 says hello. Speakers aren't as killy a precursor as future Wolf Priests, but are Fearless, grant Preferred Enemy Infantry to their unit, and with Apothecary duty on top. Together, the Speakers are one of the most useful, near-obligatory HQs you can take, solidly reinforcing their patron unit. These guys can take Deathsworn as a Command Squad.
**'''Caster of Runes''': The old Rune Priests. These ML1 psykers, with with the option to go ML2, have Force Weapons and the '''Runic Matrix''', a tool that allows a single re-roll to a DtW test per turn, but in return limits the number of Warp Charges channellable when manifesting powers to 4. Casters have access to Biomancy, Divination, and Telepathy, a set ideal suited for supporting an assault rather than dealing death directly.
*** [[Fail|Priests of Fenris cannot take Jump packs/bikes/jetbikes]], which can be a major nuisance for some playstyles. Although there is firm fluff justification in the Wolves' suspicion of Jump Packs, bikes really shouldn't be off the table for indepedent characters.
**'''Iron Priests''': Masters of Signal, Forge Lords, and Praevians taken in a Space Wolves legion force get renamed this, with slightly different wargear options. See the rest of this section for details.

*'''Geigor Fell-Hand''': [[Bjorn]]'s predecessor from whom he inherited the title and a weapon. He's an old Praetor with only WS5 and Power Armour. The eponymous '''Fell Hand''' is a S+1 AP2 Master Crafted Lightning Claw, and Old Geig backs it up with the Grey Slayer's Warrior's Mettle. Crown-Breaker is his Warlord Trait. So if you want a normalish leader to spearhead your Slayer core, this is the guy.
*'''Hvarl Red-Blade''': The Space Wolve's example of the Praetor-with-an-extra-Wound special character (Sigismund et al), only now in Tartaros Armor. Hvarl's '''Hearth-Splitter''', an S+2 Power Axe with Armorbane, and [[Awesome | without *Unwieldy*]] is his main attraction; accompanying this is a Grenade Harness, a Heavy Bolter (yes! a Terminator HQ with a heavy bolter, at last? This is awesomes) and an Iron Halo. Red-Blade has Fear and the ability to give three Infantry Units Scout, while his Warlord Trait gives all allies within 12" PE (Infantry), allowing them to hold off any distracting inteference while the boss carves up the big boys.
**If it isn't already apparent, Hvarl is awesome, especially if you're running the Pale Hunters. Conferring Outflank via Scout has great synergy with 2+ reserves and Acute Senses, and the gang's close combat game leaps from good to great with his PE bubble. He can also reliably fuck up AV13, unlike many special characters. Be wary of AP2 though; let Huscarls take unfriendly challenges.
*'''[[Leman Russ]]''': The Wolf King cometh... Leman stands at a healthy 455 points, equal in cost to Ferrus but MUCH killier. A Primarch-standard 6 on everything except WS9, I7, and Ld10, making him a useful alrounder at smacking things with his two melee weapons. And we emphasise two, because like Horus, Russ can dibby blows between the two via his ''Breaker of Shields, Bringer of Ruin'' rule. Varagyr WG Termies and Veteran Tacs are available as Troops under the Wolf King's auspice, and Veterans can also take Warrior's Mettle as an alternative tactic. Sire of the Space Wolves gives Russ Night Vision, Counter-Attack, Hunter's Gait, Preternatural Senses, and a Howl of the Death Wolf. The army acts as if they have +1 Ld while Russ is alive. He seems like a dedicated face-wrecker (even beating the Warmaster) over an army booster, which makes people insist on comparing him to Angron. Realistically though, Veteran Tacticals and Varagyr Terminators as troops combined with the Ld bonus and Howl (which can be the difference between getting one unit stuck in and four) combine to make him a strong force multiplier that patches some of his Legion's weaknesses (inflexible Forge Org, few morale bonuses) while improving on their biggest strength (getting into assault quickly).<br/>The Lord of Winter and Ruin uses the following Wargear:
**'''The Armour Elavagar''': A 2+/4++ suit that ups to 3++ against Flamers, Melta, and Plasma. But that's not all! Anyone in combat with Russ suffers -1 to hit.
**'''Axe of Helwinter''': It's a +2 S master-crafted power axe with Sunder and without Unwieldy. Completely overshadowed by the following, outside of fighting a Dreadnought or something.
**'''Sword of Balenight''': A Shredding AP2 power sword, with the Sever Life rule, causing any model that suffers one or more wounds from the weapon to roll 2d6 and compare to their Toughness; if the result is higher, D3 additional wounds at AP2 are incurred. 'Call it Decapitating Blow for Primarchs.'
**'''Scornspitter''': A gift from Vulkan. It's an AP3 Bolter-Bolt Pistol thingy with Rending and Assault 3, making it sort-of deadly [[Fail|at a range of 12"]]. Maybe Vulkan knew his Fenrisian brother wasn't exactly a sniper?
**'''Frag Grenades''': It explodes.
*'''The Wolf-kin of Russ''': Russ' pets and brother wolves, these two big dawgs can only be taken alongside Russ, and count as a HQ in all aspects except they don't occupy a slot. Russ can't join the duo, but if he is within 6" the wolves do a LOS on a 2+ for him (that's 8 additional wounds there). They're both Custodes-tier in statistical oomph, with 5's across the board except for BS0 W4 A3 Ld8, AP4 Rending bites, and a slew of special rules to make fighting them in melee a terrible idea. The two are distinguished by Geri's Precision Strikes and Freki's Crusader. The drawback, and it's a real drawback, is their mere 5+ save, which counts for almost nothing in an age of bolters, volkite, and plasma. 5+ FNP ameliorates, but best stay in cover anyhow, and beware of ID or S10 weapons.
*Sworn Brothers
**Imperial Fists
**Salamanders
**Raven Guard
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</div>

====VII Legion: [[Imperial Fists]]====
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[[File:Imperial Fists legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.PNG|100px|left|]]
The Imperial Fists are here to demonstrate how "[[Codex_Astartes|to be vanilla]]" can potentially mean "[[Tarkus|one of the better ones]]". Even Dorn writes this in stone by being armed with Bolter and Chainsword and being one of the strongest Primarchs for his points. They are comfortable at both long and short ranges. At their most basic, they have improved firepower when using bolt weaponry and their characters are almost assured some success when in challenges. On top of that, they have the ''undisputed BEST'' vanilla Terminators in the whole Heresy. While only a few legions get their Terminators to Deep Strike ''OR'' have Storm Shields, the Fists can do both at the same time and grab Assault cannons on top of that.

They also have some very powerful special characters and units and they have access to some of the best Legion-only wargear available with their relic providing access to that oh-so coveted Eternal Warrior. Coupled with their access to shield formations, ignore pinning while in cover and relying on an Infantry-heavy army, they represent well their fluff as masters of defensive sieges.

If you want to play as "standard" space marines while being able to adapt to more complex scenarios like siege missions and Zones Mortalis, this is the army for you.

<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''Disciplined Fire:''' Heavy Support squads have Tank Hunters, and all infantry add +1 BS when firing Boltguns (including the bolt part of Combi-weapons and [[Rules_lawyer| Combi-Bolters as well]]), Bolt Pistols, Heavy Bolters and Quad-Bolters. This means bolter-armed Praetors, Centurions and Seekers become BS6, which isn't ''that'' better than BS5. Meanwhile, your Terminators will have almost guaranteed Bolter hits. With most of your army gaining +1BS, your ranged game is effectively ''better than all other legions by +16.67%'', which helps if you want to rely on bolter-heavy squads like tacticals (although the bolter profile still leaves a lot to be desired), especially when using Fury of the Legion. Don't try to boost their BS higher than 5, a MoS consul at this point is a waste of an HQ and a Consul, instead use them to boost your heavy support squads.
***Your Heavy Support squad with 5 Lascannons will now out-damage Laser Destroyer Vindicators or Rapier teams. They're still expensive, but without Tank Hunters they'd have needed 2 more men (that's 80pts) to achieve the same result. Also, they can have more versatile (and cheaper) weapons than the Rapier, like flakk missiles, and they can take casualties better and embark inside buildings, unlike Vindicators.
**'''Blood And Honour:''' You can't choose to fail morale checks, Characters must issue challenges, and get to reroll rolls of 1 to hit while in them. You ''can'' decline challenges...but are you gonna be a chicken, McFly? - Congrats, your characters are good [[Mary_Sue|both at ranged and melee]] combat. Positioning is key so you don't get forced to challenge a special character. Unless you're fielding Sigismund, who can bring down almost anything in a challenge.''
**'''Unshakable Defence:''' Immunity to Pinning when in cover or in fortifications/barricades.
**'''The Bitter End:''' Your opponent (not you) may force full 6 game turns rather than rolling for random length. ''Just like the Iron Warriors''.

*'''New Rite of War: The Stone Gauntlet''' - ''A defensive stance that encourages you to let the enemy come to you. [[Commander Puretide|Space Sun Tzu]] would be proud, as would anyone with a fetish for [[shield]]-based infantry formations. The rite itself is solid, the only problem is that it forces you to use two Breacher Squads, [[FAIL|who are overcosted to the point of being more expensive than the revised cost for Phalanx Warders]].''
**Phalanx Warder Squads CAN be used as Troops choices, and since they are still Fast Attack, you ''could'' get 7 Phalanx squads... if you're that points-rich, that is. This is still a bad idea though as that'll just lead to you getting shot off the table since your opponent will have no reason to come closer.
**'''Resolve of Stone:''' Anyone with either a Boarding Shield or Storm Shield in coherency with two other models which also have shields gains +1 Toughness. This bonus can't be used if the unit the model is part of runs, charges, or makes a Sweeping Advance.
**'''Shield Charge:''' A model which fits the criteria for Resolve of Stone also gains Hammer of Wrath. ''With your squads you should enjoy your T5 Resolve of Stone and let the enemy charge be minced in Overwatch, only charging if you know for sure that your opponent isn't going to charge you first, and definitely don't forget that Breacher Hardened Armour has a -1" charge penalty''. Stick Fafnir Rann in with them for maximum effect, since he gives an attached squad d3+3 Str 5 autohits at I10 whenever they're charged and +1WS if they do have to charge.
**Breacher Squads are the only permitted compulsory troops - ''Can be difficult in low-points-value games, since this effectively means your troops are 150 points more expensive and give up FotL, in exchange for better resilience.''.
**No Deep Striking. Probably the biggest restriction, since it means you are throwing away one of your best advantages as a Legion. ''You can still Infiltrate if you're lucky enough to get Master of Ambush (though given your odds, don't count on it.)''.
**Cannot take more Elites and Fast Attack choices (total) than Troops choices. (e.g. if you have 3 troops choices, you can take 1 elites and 2 FA or vice versa, but their total number can't exceed 3). ''Good thing your Phalanx squads can be troops now.''
**Can only take one Consul (except for Champions, who have Blood and Honour, remember?).
***''Plot hole:'' [[Rules_lawyer|Doesn't say]] you can't take an allied Legion, so do it! This was likely intentional, since the Imperial Fists have long been depicted as having worked together with the Blood Angels, White Scars, and other Loyalist forces in defense of the Emperor during the [[Siege of Terra]]. You can (and should) buy Fortifications, to always be immune to pinning, [[Warp|hell]], combine with Wall of Martyrs to get your old Stubborn back.

*'''Rite of War: Hammerfell Strike Force''' - ''Would you like to bring your forces down on your enemies like the '''Shining Hammer of The <s>God</s> Emperor'''? You'll have to look elsewhere, because this is possibly the most cock-flavoured lollipop of all RoWs. The major benefit of this Rite is to get a fast in-your-face-army with your infantry, but the real catch is that you can't Deep Strike your units turn 1 like some RoWs allow, and vehicles start in reserve, with no allies nor fortifications allowed, leaving you with just artillery and infantry on the board. For what benefits this RoW gives, you're at a serious disadvantage by being forced to keep enough infantry alive on the board to get your reserves on the field, which will likely happen piecemeal since you also don't get any benefit to reserves.''
**'''Teleport Array''': Any infantry unit can buy Teleportation Transponders at 15pts and non-unique ICs can do so at 10pts.
**'''Landing Force''': Phalanx Warder Squads are troops.
**'''Blinding Luminescence''': Everything that Deep Strikes get shrouded the turn they arrive and every enemy within 12" and line takes a blind test. ''Gives your Deep-Striking infantry an improved cover save and the slim chance of blinding any nearby foes to allow them to weather a turn of shooting from the enemy.''
** Vehicles must start in reserve. This can be partially countered by dropping Dreadnoughts in Drop Pods, but it's an expensive solution.
** No allies or Fortifications for you.
** Best way to get the best benefits of this ROW is with Alexis Polux. Keep a large squadron of vehicles in reserve, use his Master Tactician trait to bring one unit in from reserve, i.e. 1 squadron of 3 Proteus Land raiders.

*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Vigil-pattern Storm Shield:''' 3+ invulnerable save, but may never claim an attack for two CC weapons. Any legion Terminator or Terminator-armour-equipped character may exchange their Combi-Bolter for this.
***Note that as, unlike the Salamanders, this automatically gives a 3+ invulnerable instead of increasing your invulnerable by 1, there is no point to taking Cataphractii terminators with these shields, as Indomitus and Tartaros have the exact same or more advantages with none of the drawbacks.
**'''Solarite Power Gauntlet:''' Any IC who uses a TH can replace it with this big boy. It's essentially a Master-Crafted Power Fist with AP1, and without specialist weapon. ''AP1 is only useful against vehicles, and for that a meltabomb does the job much better on the other hand, a bolt pistol gives you +1 attack and MC lets you re-roll anything that isn't a one in a challenge''.
**'''Teleportation Transponder:''' Lets Terminators Deep Strike.
**'''Prototype Iliastus-pattern Assault Cannon:''' An Assault Cannon with S6, AP4, Heavy 4, and Rending sounds good on paper, but there's a catch- rolling three 1s when it fires causes it to jam and stop working for the rest of the game, though the odds for that happening are incredibly small (~0.39%), so you normally won't ever have to worry about it unless you've also won the lottery while a lightning struck the shark that was eating you - it's that small of a chance.
**'''Indomitan Mantle (Relic):''' On the expensive end, but probably worth it for a brawler. It gives you Eternal Warrior and a 3+ against Melta. ''Feel like a Salamander''. You're buying this for Eternal Warrior, really. Take advantage of the fact this doesn't use a hand so ''don't take a Storm shield'', take an Iron halo for protection, '''don't''' grab a Paragon blade, use Sx2 unwieldy weapon instead you will be be causing instant death with every attack at strength 8 and you don't give a damn about being killed before you attack since you have Eternal Warrior. If you have the points, throw in Digital Lasers for 6 attacks on the charge. Better yet, take a Solarite Power Gauntlet for an AP1 Master-Crafted un-Unwieldy Power Fist for: 4 + 1 (charge) + 1 (Fist and Bolt Pistol - assuming no TDA) + 1 (Digital Lasers) = 7 Attacks at S8 AP1 Re-rolling 1's in a Challenge + MC'd Re-roll.

<u>'''Unique Units'''</u>
*'''Templar Brethren:''' The guardians of the [[Phalanx|Phalanx's]] ''Temple'' of Oaths (hence "Templar") and First Company of the Imperial Fists. Also the precursors to the Black Templars. Equivalent to Honour Guard Marines (WS5) with power swords, artificer armour and Furious Charge. They also have the option to take combat shields and the entire squad can take Melta Bombs for vehicle hunting. The Champion has 2 wounds and is the only one able to replace his power sword with something else, being the only source of AP 2 of the squad in close combat. Also remember that they are not Chosen Warriors, so only the Champion can issue challenges.
**The Champion with a Solarite Power Gauntlet, thanks to Furious Charge, is S9 AP1 with 4 Attacks on the charge. It's no Armourbane Melta Bomb but you're getting more than a single hit in (hopefully). So if you don't have the 25 points to spend on giving the squad Melta Bombs, he makes for a decent enough alternative. It's not like you ''weren't'' taking the Solarite Gauntlet anyways, right?

*'''Phalanx Warder Squad:''' Souped-up, but overpriced ''(see below)'' Breacher Squads with a fun rule that if they get charged, they get +1 WS if they have at least 5 models remaining. This does affect joined characters, so add a Centurion/melee-Consul for sweet Praetor-killing WS6. This means that a unit attached to Dorn that gets charged buffs him to WS9. Why, hello there Fulgrim and Angron! They are one of the cheaper special units starting at 10 models, with the option to add up to 10 more at 15 pts a model, though like Breachers, "cheap" still means a lot of points. Much like a normal Breacher Squad, one in each group of five can take a special weapon, and while they '''can't''' take Volkite Chargers, Grav guns or Lascutters (not that you would want to give them the worst weapon in the game), they '''can''' take Combi-Weapons, Plasma guns, Breaching Charges and Thunder Hammers. Also, every model can exchange its Bolter for a Power Axe. Now you too can shred a single 5 man Terminator squad in about 2-4 turns. They're an atrocious, but still effective, bubblewrap/get-in-the-way unit, a great tactic being getting into Rapid Fire range and baiting the enemy to charge. That's firing two salvoes at BS5, overwatching and defending themselves at WS5 while the enemy doesn't get bonus attacks for charging because of the shields ''(which count as defensive grenades and also confer them a 5++ save)''. Troll points for fighting in a fortification ''(resistance to pinning)'', using the Stone Gauntlet for +1T and bringing flamers. Only works against Melee legions though. Shooty Legions or [[Solar Auxilia]] will just laugh as they take out half of that expensive squad with a single AP3 or better blast template. An often overlooked trait is that they can take a Land Raider Proteus or Phobos as a DT (As long as it numbers no more than 10 models) or if 10 models or more, a Spartan Assault Tank, allowing you to field LRs & Spartans without using up your Heavy choices.
**Referring back to them being overpriced: take into account a squad of 10 Invictarus Suzerains have permanent WS5, AP2 at initiative, 2 attacks base and 6's to hit auto-wound; they also have a 2+ armour save, better rules and are '''30!''' points cheaper than 10 Phalanx Warders with power axes. Though in this instance it may be just as valid to say that Suzerains are egregiously under-priced when you compare them to pretty much any unit in any other legion, and Phalanx Warders aren't obliged to purchase those axes in any case. A better comparison might be made to Iron Hands Medusan Immortals; a squad of Phalanx Warders costs 5 points more with equivalent gear, but the ''Shield Wall'' special rule only applies in specific circumstances whilst the Immortals get ''Feel No Pain'' all the time. So it doesn't look good.
***However, this is only examining the three unique Breaching units at face value. Under normal circumstances Phalanx Warders are Fast Attack choices whereas the other two are Elites and generally compete with other useful units like Veterans, Terminators and Dreadnoughts. Both Imperial Fist Rites of War as well as Dorn and Fafnir Rann make Phalanx Warders into Troops '''and''' provide them with additional special rules, which broadens their application. ''(Medusan Immortals can gain more rules and also be made into Troops, [[Dropsite Massacre|but not in the same army as their Primarch)]]''. Overall Phalanx Warders have greatest flexibility and can be built in a manner which suits your play-style. Where Medusan Immortals are tanky but mediocre in melee, and Invictus Suzerains shy away from ranged combat unless you fork out even more points, negating their price benefit. Phalanx Warders can perform either role quite comfortably and can be built as a mixed squad, rather than one or the other.
**'''Playtest Rules:''' <sup>FAQ Feb 19</sup> Do remember that these rules can only be used if both players agree to use them, as they're not official yet. Phalanx Warders got a needed points reduction, dropping 65 points for a 10 man squad and three points per additional man. Their power axes also dropped in price by half! Additionally the ''Shield Wall'' rule gets improved so that it works with as few as three men; on top of gaining the ''Counter Attack'' rule. So they now compare fairly to elite breaching units their rivals use. Watch this space!
***With these rules Phalanx Warders are now cheaper than Breachers at any unit size while being better or equal in every single way, which only goes to show just how overcosted that unit really is. So definitely worth taking now (and Breachers absolutely aren't other than being what you need to unlock the Stone Gauntlet), as a ten-man squad all with power axes is a mere 240 points and presents a ''wall'' even Emperor's Children elites would be wary of charging (though if you try it, do remember that they ''will'' get their strength and AP bonus on the charge, since your shields just take away their extra attack).

*'''Huscarls:<sup>PDF</sup>''' Yes! They're finally here. No! They were probably not worth the wait. They're legion Terminators who MUST take Cataphractii armour with WS5 and Stubborn. They come with Storm Shields and power weapons which you can swap out for Solarite Gauntlets if you want some stronger ass-beating potential. They've got the same Shield Wall rule as Phalanx Warders (but they only need 3 models left in the unit rather than 5) and can be chosen as a command squad for any unit with Master of the Legion or Dorn himself. For 35 points more than a similarly equipped Terminator squad, and the same cost per additional storm shield carrying model they're a steal, if completely unflexible. Also, will probably be effective in games of Zone Mortalis. They also take up a HQ slot rather than an Elite slot but don't have the Retinue rule for some reason. Instead they are "Favoured by Dorn", which means that they can be chosen as a retinue for any model with the MotL rule (or Dorn himself) instead of a legion command squad - thus they take no force org slot for themselves, since they will share it with their accompanying HQ. Alternatively they can be taken on their own, so if you're bringing lots of elites but only one HQ they are actually a decent alternative to regular Legion Terminators if you want to save an elite slot for something else.
**RAW these guys can be taken as your compulsory HQ. Not sure why you would want to as you would miss out of Master of the Legion and you would still need to bring a support officer to be your Warlord, but you can do it.
***Actually, this makes them great when paired with a Herald, although they won't benefit from a loyalist banner due to being WS5.
**[https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/09/06/play-out-famous-battles-from-the-horus-heresy-with-these-epic-free-campaign-packs/ Their rules can be found here.]

*'''[[Sigismund]]:''' Before he was the first High Marshal of the [[Black Templars]], Sigismund was the First Captain of the Imperial Fists Legion and one of the greatest warriors of the Legiones Astartes, being nominated the first Emperor's Champion ever. He's got 4 wounds, protected by ''Eternal Warrior'' (only 3 legions get that, barring psyker abilities), the Chapter tactics style dueling rule, but with Instant death instead of Rending, while also forcing rerolls of successful invulnerable saves. 4 re-rollable attacks at WS7 and Initiative 5 (I6 on the Charge). His Black Sword is a two-handed S+2 AP2 paragon blade that causes instant death ''only'' in challenges (but not only on 6s, so it's better). He also makes Templar Brethren Troops, and gets +1 VP for killing the enemy warlord, after which all units in his army get +1 CR, pretty much a global version of Paladin of Glory. Barring characters with Eternal Warrior, and the Primarchs, very few characters can survive a challenge with him. And don't forget that character's squad he was with too! You only need one hit to effectively kill that enemy Praetor. But what about the rest of the instant-death attacks that force successful re-rolls you might dare wonder? They get passed on the rest of that character's unit of course! Fantastic for dealing with those Primus-medicae'd firedrakes/justaerin (though they'll likely be with a primarch...)

*'''[[Fafnir Rann]]:''' Before he was the first High Executioner of the [[Executioners]], Fafnir Rann was Captain of the First Assault Cadre and Lord Seneschal of the VII Legion. Now with rules and a rockin beard, Rann is a 200PT hardened Arty armour praetor with the option of a teleportation transponder for +10 points. He does however have some very spicy rules. Firstly, anytime a unit charges Rann or his unit it suffers d3+3 Str 5 autohits at Initiative 10. His warlord trait gives Rann and all Breacher + Phalanx Warder units +1WS on the charge as well as allowing a single squad of the latter to be taken as a troops choice. When the axeman cometh to combat he can choose to use his initiative 5 axe(s) in 1 of 2 ways: a single axe with his boarding shield as a Str+2 AP2 specialist master crafted weapon with -1 Str to incoming hits on himself (suck it power fists no Instant Death for you) or he can use both axes with no shield as a Str+1 two-handed option without the -1 to incoming hits but gaining Rampage for outnumbered fights. Rann seems like a solid close-quarters praetor option, but sticking him with Phalanx Warders like his rules want you to do may be tricky unless playing Hammerfall Strikeforce (but why would you) as the min squad size means he would only be able to join in a spartan. A better option would be to give him the 10pt teleport option and shove him with some Shielded Tartaros Terminators. Or perhaps huscarls if you don't want to sweep (though with the -1 to run charge and sweep from hardened armour this may not be much of a problem anyway)

*'''[[Alexis Polux]]:''' Before he was the first Chapter Master of the [[Crimson Fists]], Alexis Polux was the Captain of the 405th Company and master of the Retribution Fleet at Phall. He's a void-hardened power-armoured Praetor with -1 BS/A ''(BS5 with legion tactics though and his attacks stat is redundant - see below)'', but with ''S5'', a master-crafted Power Fist (with a [[Pedro_Kantor|gauntlet mounted]] Combi-melta, no less) and a ''Vigil'' pattern Storm Shield for 3++. You'd normally need Terminator armor for that, but he's that strong. Also, as a master of void combat he lets you teleport in an Imperial Fist infantry unit of your choice via Deep strike and he allows his unit to pass/fail morale or pinning checks at his leisure. Lastly, if he is the warlord he can redeploy one unit in his army before the turn order is determined, with the option to even put it in or out of reserves.
**A nifty special rule he has lets you drop the Unwieldy rule from his [[Fist of the North Star|mighty fist]] in exchange for dropping his attacks stat down to 1, but you still get 2 attacks on the charge! Who needs a Paragon Blade? Go around knocking characters out in one shot with his master-crafted fist, which rerolls hits in challenges. ALWAYS do this. ''He is the Imperial Fists version of Eidolon, but 20 points cheaper, with [[Derp|Power Armor]], a storm shield and a lot less arrogant.''

[[File:FWPreview-Rogal Dorn.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Rogal Dorn]]
*'''[[Rogal Dorn]]:''' At 385 points he's the 3rd cheapest Primarch. The Emperor's Praetorian and any unit he joins has Crusader and Furious charge and allows all Imperial Fists to use his Ld for Leadership and Pinning tests, while also granting a +D3 bonus to the outcome of assault results for himself and his Legion as long as he's in play, Fulgrim style. In addition to that, he also makes Phalanx Breacher Squads and Legion Terminators Squads Troop choices. Sundering Blow acts like a powered-up Smash, halving Dorn's attacks (after adding Rampage bonus, rounding down) to boost his strength by 2 and giving Instant Death, while Unshakable Defense allows you to enhance three cover-granting pieces of terrain (from fortifications to dirt mounds); these 'fortifications' will allow units hiding in them to reroll pinning tests (useful for an allied detachment only) and cover saves of 1.<br>Dorn gets the following wargear:
**'''Auric Armor''': Made from the same alloy as the Emperor's own warplate, provides a 2+ armour save and 4+ invulnerable save. Furthermore, no attack may wound Rogal Dorn on any roll better than a 3+, regardless of Strength or ''any'' special rules it has. (This doesn't apply to Destroyer weapons.) Unless you constantly fuck up your saves you'll be damn hard to kill.
**'''Storm's Teeth''': An AP2 chainsword, now without Unwieldy, and keeps Shred, and Rampage, and '''Reaping Blow''' (-1 Initiative, and gain 1 attack if there is more than 1 model in base combat with him), which alleviates somewhat his only 4 attacks. With 'Sundering blow' it ends up behaving like a [[Fist_of_the_North_Star|shredding rampage un-unwieldy Powerfist]] (S8).
**'''The Voice of Terra''': A Custodes pattern bolter with S5 AP4 Salvo 3/5 and Rending. Note that Dorn cannot shoot before charging into combat, a weakness among the Primarchs shared only by the Lion. Fitting for his theme as a defender, but you reckon a souped-up bolt pistol wouldn't have killed Forge World.
**'''Teleportation Transporter''' As of the Feb 2019 FAQ Dorn can deepstrike with his termie bros, because apparently he wasn't good enough already. Make sure that you can find him some way of avoiding mishaps though, because unlike Horus/Corax he does scatter and losing your Primarch because he phased into a tree isn't fun.
**'''Frag Grenades''':they explode.
**'''Aetos Dios''': In games of 3000+ points, Dorn can take the Aetos Dios ("Sky God" in latin), a modified Thunderhawk as a dedicated transport for 700 points. The Aetos Dios is armed with a Turbolaser and also has a single void shield, IWND, and a 4+ invulnerable save against all missile attacks. Like Perturabo's Tormentor, it doesn't take up a Lord of War slot. Fun fact, the most recent 30k FAQ has changed Aetos Dios' transport capacity to 40! Its basically 10 slots away from Stormbird capacity and literally better than an equivalent regular Thunderhawk in every way.
**''''Note:''' Dorn originally was 385pts because he was mainly designed to buff his Legion whilst still not being too shabby in combat BUT balanced out due to being Unwieldy. But now the fact he throws out a metric tonne of buffs to his army like D3 to combat ress, makes his entire Legion Ld10!! and buffs the crap out of his attached unit. Also he allows two units to become troops and they aren't even shabby Troop choices.
**'''This exemplified by the fact that he can get up to 9 Attacks on the Charge:''' 4 + 1(Charge) + D3 (Rampage) + 1 (Reaping Blow) At S7 Ap2 I4 with Shred or half as many (rounding down) At S9 Ap2 Instant Death still with Shred and I4 (thanks, Furious Charge!). Coupled with his +D3 to Combat Resolution and Fearless, unless you get into a Primarch Stalemate, you're probably not losing combat anytime soon.
**'''Because''' of his rules, Dorn is one of the few characters that can survive with your normal rank-and-file (i.e. a squad of Breachers using the Stone Gauntlet RoW), where his salvo 3/5 heavy-bolter-pistol can do its job baiting the enemy into making a disorganised charge, and with his large amount of attacks he's the only beefcake you need to win an assault. With Crusader and +D3 to combat resolution you'll likely chase your opponent down after they struggle to kill that meagre Breacher(and hopefully apothe-carried) unit.
*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Space Wolves:'''
**'''Blood Angels:''' You hold the back line, they grab the front. If you're playing a [[Siege of Terra|defensive mission]] they can provide a good reaction force, or a deadly bodyguard for [[Sigismund]].
**'''Ultramarines:''' Somebody has to <strike>save your ass.</strike> have an unjustified ego.
**'''Salamanders:'''
</div>
</div>

====VIII Legion: [[Night Lords]]====
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="100%">
[[File:Night Lords legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.PNG|100px|left|]]
The masters of Terror tactics and being outright fucking murderers, the Night Lords make liberal use of ''Fear'' in this ATSKNF-lacking millenium, as well as being quite nasty in CC. That being said, most squads are Ld9 and some Legions are outright immune to Fear, so this isn't an instant "I win" button.
<small>For completeness: Death Guard, Salamanders, Custodes, Daemons and several Sisters of Silence are immune to fear, while Ultramarines and Word Bearers are buffed against fear or in morale (so 4 immune + 2 sort-of-immune factions); all other Legions, Mechanicum and Auxilia (16 factions) will be affected by fear (not counting units with special rules).</small>
You have good mobility with hard hitting units and are one of the few Legions with access to Deep Striking Terminators in every mission, as well as more customisable assault squads and infiltrating veterans. They also capitalise significantly on Night Fight rules, so can pull ahead quickly at the start of a battle while the darkness if in effect. The catch? Insubordination amongst their ranks has made them prone to falling back themselves.

While it sounds obvious, it pays to bully your opponent with Night Lords. Minimum-sized melee units should be a no-no as you get bonuses for outnumbering the enemy and larger units are less likely to start falling back. While Night Lords make for a great anti-infantry force, you'll probably start losing most of your advantages against horde GEQ armies, who outnumber YOU and were poorer melee combatants which you would tear apart anyway, or against opponents who bring heavier vehicles/ordnance to the field, which Night Lord special units will have problems facing, forcing you to revert to "standard" space marine tactics.

<div class="mw-collapsible-content">

*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''A Talent For Murder:''' If a Night Lords unit outnumbers an enemy infantry unit in an assault at any initiative step, the Night Lords gain +1 To Wound, and now, +1 to hit - ''Another reason to to buy extra CCWs for your 20-man tacticals. Bring a Chaplain and drown your enemies under loads of armour saves. Fitting for a legion whose main schtick is not playing fair, but make sure numbers are on your side before throwing down with enemy infantry. Bulky models count as 2, Very Bulky models count as 3 and extremely bulky/monstrous Creatures count as 5 so abuse the hell out of this rule with Jump packs and Terminators; note that this also applies to opponents, so focus the dogpiling on power armored units.''
***Notice it says specifically "Outnumber at any initiative step." So if you kill enough models with Hammer of Wrath to reduce their numbers, then the effect comes into play. Attached Centurion killed enough dudes with his I5? Now your I4 mooks get the bonus. Still outnumber them after the main bulk of I4 combat? Then your Unwieldy weapons are going to have quite some fun. Especially notable against high T units, like Mechanicum.
***A usually overlooked fact is that Bikes are ''Very Bulky''. Consider taking some outriders.
***Also note that you only need to outnumber one enemy unit. In combat with a smaller and a larger enemy unit, you still get your bonus.
** <s>[[Skaven|Scurry Away]]</s> '''Nostraman Blood:''' All Models with this rule Fall Back 1" more than normal. They may choose to Fall Back instead of being Pinned. ''Falling Back instead of being Pinned can be useful in a few situations, such as if your opponent tries Pinning your infantry so your opponent's units can charge yours more easily, or if your units blunder just into the range of enemy Pinning weapons (especially artillery) and you can Fall Back out of their range to preserve your troops. It still might not be worth Falling Back however, if your fleeing units don't pass their regroup test in time or if they don't end up Falling Back far enough to escape the enemy's charge/Pinning weapon range.''
**'''Night Vision:''' <s>All Night Lords</s> EVERYTHING (even Dreadnoughts) has the Night Vision Special Rule.
**'''From the Shadows:''' All models have a 5+ cover save on the first turn of a game.
**'''Seeds of Dissent:''' If the army Warlord is slain, all units with this special rule must take an immediate Morale check as if they had suffered 25% casualties from shooting. This stacks with Nostraman Blood, so be prepared to have your units Fall Back further if they fail their Morale checks. ''Be it one or a Legion of them, sadistic bullies really do lack courage at heart after all.''
*'''Rite of War: Horror Cult'''
**'''Raptor Cult:''' Night Raptor Squads may be taken as troops in an army using this ROW. ''Sadly they're still pricey in points terms, so take one max-sized squad and then another cheaper troop option.''
**'''Beyond Judgement:''' Any unit can buy Trophies of Judgement for a flat 25 points. ''Situational at best when Independent characters can get them for +5points, and then confer the benefits of Fear to their unit. Can still be useful for units who you don't want joined by your ICs, or who can only be joined by specific ones that you aren't fielding, like Destroyer Squads.''
**'''Talons of Fear:''' Any infantry squad of more than 10 may take a Kharybdis for 260 points as a dedicated transport. ''These big boys are the final word in Drop Pod transports with a transport capacity of 20 models, so it's useful for big threatening units of Bulky or larger models.''
**All units in the detachment must charge an enemy unit they can harm if they're within 12" in the assault phase.
**May not take fortification or Space Marine allies.
**Traitors only.
**Note, this Rite of War may not exist anymore, it is not reprinted in crusade and all Forgeworld literature specifies that Night Lords have 4 Rites of War. However, if your opponent objects to you using the absolute worst Night Lord Rite of War then feel free to kick them in the nuts with a newly buffed Terror Assault list.
*'''Rite of War: Terror Assault''' - ''Forces you to use a highly aggressive quick-striking offensive strategy, capable of attacking from many angles, coupled with a strong emphasis on Fear-causing units. Your enemies will learn to fear the darkness and the empty eyes of your infantry's Trophies of Judgement, shortly before your enemies' own heads are added to the racks!''
**'''Cover of Darkness:''' As of book nine, it imposes Night Fighting for the duration of the first turn of any mission automatically, 2nd turn on a roll of a 3 and 3rd turn on a roll of a 6. Also, for the duration of Cover of Darkness, all LA: NL units gain 1 Initiative and add 1 to their run distances while this cover of darkness lasts. As "From the Shadows" gives you a 5+ cover save on the first game turn, and Night Fighting confers Stealth, you have a 4+ cover save in the open turn 1. ''Sadly this rule is less useful against Legions with lots of access to boosted Flamers like the Death Guard and the Salamanders, who are immune to Fear and will simply shred a lot of your charging units in Overwatch and ignore their cover saves.''
**'''Claw Assault:''' Tacticals, Vets and Terror Squads may take Dreadclaws or Drop pods. ''Use these to attack where your opponent least wants you to, and remember that Dreadclaw drop pods can Heat Blast for some useful anti-infantry firepower if your list can afford them.''
**'''Terror Tactics:''' Terror Squads or Night Raptors must be taken as the compulsory troops, and may be taken as additional troops (note that this does ''not'' keep you from taking them as elites/fast attack, so in this context up to ten Terror Squads or nine Night Raptor squads can be taken per detachment).
**Must take an additional compulsory Troops choice - ''Read: You bring 3 Terror/Raptor squads''.
**Only one Heavy Support slot permitted - ''This is a rather significant drawback, since Heavy Support is normally where you get access to your big guns (and especially anti-tank firepower), and being limited to just one means it'll very likely become a high-priority target for your opponent. Try to make sure you have enough anti-tank firepower from other sources when using this RoW, or take a vehicle squadron (Malcador Tank Squadron anyone?!?) or Deredeo/Leviathan Dreadnought for your sole HS choice. Alternatively, you could take a Praevian with Castellaxes armed with multi-meltas/darkfire cannons to make up for the lost firepower. They already wound MEQs on a 2+, so you don't need "A Talent For Murder".
**Only one Consul permitted - ''Bring the Praevian as mentioned above''.
**Fortifications and Space Marine Legion allied detachments may not be used (so in theory, you're cool to use Mechanicum). This editor suggests using Sabre tanks as a heavy support stand-in. The fast and aggressive nature lends itself to the Night Lords, and the weapon selections give you your missing heavy weapons.
*'''Rite of War: The Cross of Bone''': ''A HQ-centric RoW that rewards ICs with some extra killing power and expands the FOC to allow for more of your heavy hitters to join in.''
**'''The Aristocracy of Ruin''': Every non-compulsory HQ taken adds an extra Elites choice to your FOC.
**'''The Strong are Strongest Alone''': ICs get an extra attack if they are either alone or in a unit where they are the only IC present.
**'''The Tithe of Gore''': Slay the Warlord gives +1 VP if the enemy Warlord's last wound was removed by a friendly IC.
**'''The Rampant Blade''': Units that make consolidation moves must move their full allowed distance towards the nearest enemy in sight. If there are no visible enemies, the consolidation move must be made towards the enemy deployment zone.
**Konrad Curze cannot be selected as a Lord of War choice.
**One additional compulsory Troops choice must be taken.
*'''Rite of War: The Bloodied Gauntlet''': Sort of a Night Lords specific Sacrificial Offering, except the models you are sacrificing are more Night Lords. ''Although, you could always use the shattered legion rules to sacrifice another legion, which is deliciously thematic.''
**'''The Bloodied Gauntlet:''' All compulsory units start on the field or come on turn 1. They gain zealot and disposable (worth no victory points).
**'''Through Death, Victory:''' If you lose or draw you gain an additional D3 victory points if all of your compulsory choices are dead. Laugh as your opponent loses because they were just too efficient at killing things.
**Units entering play after turn 3 (so, turn 4 then?) gain outflank.
**Must take 2 extra compulsory elite choices that are infantry and not terminators.
**Compulsory units never score or hold/contest objectives, and cannot be the Warlord.
**All non compulsory must begin in reserve.

*'''Rite of War: The Swift Blade:''' Show those Dark Angels and White Scars how to ride bikes the best way, directly into your opponents face with lots of characters swinging Headsman's Axes madly.
**'''No True Leaders:''' Min 3, max 5 HQ choices must be taken in this Rite of War, and they are collectively your Warlord. They gain Hatred (Loyalist) and Crusader, and must all be destroyed for your opponent to gain Slay the Warlord or for Seeds of Dissent to happen.
**'''Jadhek Clans:''' HQs must be on a regular bike (duh), Hussar Squadrons are compulsory troops and outriders can also be troops. Tanks must be fast tanks.
**'''Encirclement:''' +2 to unit size when calculating TFM if all your units are LA: NL.
**Must take an additional troops choice (aka ForgeWorld's go to Night Lord limitation).
**No models who must be the Warlord (so no Sev, Curze etc).
**Nothing Heavy or Immobile.
**May not be taken by the loyalist faction (weird that it says that instead of traitor only, but okay).

*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Chainglaive:''' +1 Str, AP3, two handed, Rending, at the same cost of a power weapon. There is no reason not to take these. The Strength bonus from these also combos amazingly well with "A Talent for Murder". The Contekar comes with a version that loses two handed alongside the S+1 to strength.
**'''Headsman's Axe:''' Sx2, AP3, Rending, two handed. 10 points on any Independent Character who can take a power weapon. Its the Chainglaives insta-deathing big brother.
**'''Trophies of Judgement:''' The IC gains Fear, for a measly 5 points. Can also be purchased for a Praevian's robotic squad members, but is effectively redundant since as MCs they already cause Fear, and adding the Trophies doesn't force enemy models to penalize their Fear checks like you might expect (FW editing skill strikes again!).
**'''Teleportation Transponder:''' Terminators or Command Squads equipped with Terminator armor may be upgraded to have Deep Strike for +15 points. ICs in Terminator armor can be upgraded for +10 points.
**'''Nostraman Mancatcher (Relic):''' Essentially a special Chainglaive, but instead of Rending, your opponent must take a Strength test in order to attack you, for each attack. ''The equipped character ends up being a major tarpit with this weapon, like the IIIrd Legion's own Relic, so consider giving it to a Centurion or non-melee Consul so he can tie up a big expensive beatstick IC in a challenge while your own melee infantry piles in and Sweeping Advances them off the board. A Cataphractii Terminator IC wouldn't be losing any attack.''

*'''Night Raptors:''' The predecessors of the [[Chaos Raptors]] we all know and love. That ''still'' doesn't make the Night Lords the Raptor Legion, damn it! They can all take the Nostraman Chainglaives for cheap +1S AP3 and Rending, twin Lightning Claws and, like Assault squads, one in each bunch of five can take a special weapon, but you want these guys charging, because they have WS5 and +D3 attacks when they charge instead of +1.
''As of Crusade, they now can use their jump packs in the movement and charge phases, as well as each unsaved wound causing an extra auto wound with ap- after all the models have fought (these attacks can be targetted at any unit the raptors are in combat with that isn't a vehicle, not just the ones they hit first time)
''A great squad for you to add an IC with Trophies, even more if you outnumber the enemy! They also shine in the Angel's Wrath RoW because as Jump Infantry they gain Hit and Run with that RoW and can charge again and again.''
**Do keep their cost in mind as a full unit with glaives can be pricey, though is now cheaper with power weapons and glaives going down by 5 points per model.
**Gained 1 attack per model, and squad leader can now buy trophies of judgement. Also now a compulsory troops choice in Terror Assault since it seems Horror Cult was 86'd.

*'''Terror Squads:''' They are ''even more'' axe-crazy than the rest of the Legion, which is saying something. They cause Fear and have the Preferred Enemy (Infantry) and Precision Strike rules so they can handle themselves in a fight. Everyone can take Melta Bombs as well as Bolters, Heavy Chainblade or Volkite Charger, but only one can take a Rotor Cannon/Flamer. The Sergeant can take any power weapon, including a chainglaive. With their 2 attacks base, weapon options and Fear, treat them like Vanguard Vets. They can take Dreadclaws, which fit their [[fluff|characterization as murder-obsessed backstabbers]] and [[Crunch|ingame rules]] quite well, but they can also Infiltrate so you get more freedom to set them up prior to the battle beginning. Give them volkite chargers so they can take a few wounds off a marine squad giving the terror squad the outnumber advantage it needs for a talent for murder, plus with preferred enemy they can dish out a very hefty amount of damage. Bringing them with heavy chainblades is an option too, because wounding other Marines on 2+ with the reroll is always nice.

*'''Contekar Terminators''': Recruited from the elite of Nostramo, the Contekar would only fight for leaders deemed worthy of their attention. This often meant the Contekar would often be dispatched to wrest control from Night Lords whose commanders thought them unfit for the Legion. They use Nostraman Chainblades in melee (Power Swords with Rending...) and their ranged weapons can be either Heavy Flamers or Volkite Cavitors which are very short ranged Culverins (10" WTF! Basically the heavy shotgun version of the Volkite, Culverin but short ranged). 5-15 members, WS5 on all, 2 wounds and 3 attacks on the squad leader, Trophies of Judgement, Chosen Warriors and Implacable Advance. Squad leader can trade his Chainblade for a shredding Powerfist for 15 points (Escaton Power Claw) and for 10 or fewer models they can be taken as a compulsory HQ choice if no Sevatar/Curze present. If Sevatar is taken, he can take a squad of these bad boys as a command unit. So, a situational unit, with Heavy Flamers, close range Volkite Culverins and Rending Power Weapons (Fist & Sword). These look designed to support Sevatar as one of their best uses seems to be teleporting in next to him and burning-up a unit before he charges. You'll need at least two Volkite so your second rank can fire at the same thing your templates are covering. Definitely not the best Legion specific terminators, one of the worst in fact, as they don't really fit into a easy position of shooty or CC but as they can always teleport and you can engineer it so they don't scatter, they definitely have a use. Plus, the models are excellent so, on cool points alone they are brilliant as a somewhat fluffy inclusion with Sevatar; speaking of which...

*'''Atramentar Squad:''' The elite Terminators of the first company. Their uncontrollable nature requires a strong-willed leader to rein them in and in this case that man is Sevatar. They become troops when Sevatar is named the warlord and benefit from his Master of the Atramentar rule but lose the ability to score when he dies. Each one is WS5 and comes with teleportation transponders and trophies of judgement stock but otherwise are like basic termies, except for the fact they can be taken in '''20 Man Squads''', for when you absolutely need them to trigger ATFM. They also have a rule that forces any enemies that try to charge them while they aren't already in combat to count as disordered charges, which gives a minor edge. Their leader can also purchase the headsman's axe, allowing him to offer some ID.
**For what reason would you grab these when you might otherwise want the Contekar? One is if you plan on imitating a Pride of the Legion RoW but still want your base troops and want to save that elites slot for something more substantial. However, the lack of Chosen Warriors makes them a bit of an iffy option for a retinue. [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/10/04/launch-a-daring-strike-into-the-heart-of-ultramar-with-the-night-lords/ Rules are here.]
**Great for conversion options and not a bad unit if you're willing to invest. Never take 5, they aren't worth the additional points over a normal terminator squad, but from 10 up, they start looking more competative. Lots of chance for rending S5 I4 hits, especially if you can trigger ATFM. If you can achieve this at night they can really do some damage, although this might be unlikely as their earliest charge (after DS) is turn 3. Volkite and plasma pblasters are also a good options with Sevatar, noting you can achieve some perfect DS positioning for a heavy round of shooting. The counter charge can also be mitigated because of their special rules. But a fully kitted out 10 man unit definitely starts to rack up the points cost...

[[File:Sevatar-1-HHC.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Sevatar]]
*'''Jago 'Sevatar' Sevatarion:''' First Captain, badass motherfucker, and the first person to utter the battlecry of "Death to the False Emperor!". Snark is sadly not included. Forge World had him live up to the reputation [[Aaron Dembski-Bowden]] gave him, as he is a literal murder-beast in close combat: WS7, causes Fear, inflicts Instant Death when fighting in a challenge and has 4x I6 S5 AP3 Rending attacks from his Master-Crafted chainglaive. Plus he's a level 1 psyker with the Precognition power (and Prescience, thanks to psychic focus), but due to his 'Repressed Psyker' rule he can only harness up to 2 warp charges per turn and counts as LD 7 if he suffers Perils of the Warp. To round it off, he is a teleporter beacon for Deep Striking Terminators, as well as Master of Ambush, in case you wanted to set them up on the field and skip getting a transport. Also, like Terror Squads, Sevatar now comes with Precision Strike.
**As of book 9 Sev is finally ready to take his place as a supreme badass character killer. for 35 points you can equip him with Artificer Armour and a shiny new chainglaive with the upgrades of Duelists Edge and AP2 (and yes, it is still Master Crafted). So, I7 in a challenge (I8 if in Terror Assault), with 4 base attacks, likely hitting and wounding on a 2+ (if you outnumber), rerolling to hit, wound and his 2+/4++ saves, along with insta death means no one short of Sigismund, a Primarch or a Praetor with access to EW can stand up to Sevatars Onslaught (so you only need to worry about Salamanders, Word Bearers and Thousand Sons). Don't get too cocky though, or else somebody like Hol Beloth will punch his head off (Sevatar without Precognition will lose to him, and getting Perils against him will likely kill Sevatar anyway) and your opponent can very easily decline the challenge, especially if Sevatar is up against something like Justaerin or Custodes who have multiple wounds for him to chew through, and who have access to Hammers and Fists to squash him into paste.
**A special warning, watch the fuck out for anyone using Destroyer Squads (or any other anti-psyker Arcana for that matter). They can kill Sevatar on their own regardless of how much he tries to buff himself with Precognition by virtue of Psyke-out Grenades, and since he's only Ld 7 for the following test(s), the odds aren't exactly in his favour.

*'''Flaymaster Mawdrym Llansahai:''' Psychopathic Primus Medicae who's so crazed he can never be the Warlord. ''"Even the Night Lords have their limits of toleration for madness"''. He's a Centurion with -1 to Ballistic Skill and Attack and a 3+/5++ save, an Archeotech pistol and a specialist-weapon power scalpel that makes him [[Fail|S3]] with Murderous Strike ''(would it have killed FW to also give his scalpel Rending like the XXth Legion's Power Daggers?)''. He also re-rolls LoS and FNP, but even with all this he's still mediocre; his main selling point is being one of the few Fearless things in the 31st millennium. It should be noted, that he is basically a fearless Primus Medicae who doesn't take up the single consul slot of the Terror Assault RoW. This can come in handy if you were going to run a Primus Medicae anyway (maybe to join Sevatar and a maxed Terror squad?), so you can take Mawdrym Llansahai (whoever came up with that name deserves to get flayed alive)(only fitting the language of terrifying evil is Welsh, pronounced Mao-dram [lisp noise]an-sa-hi) and a consul of your choice for the third HQ slot.

*'''Kheron Ophion:''' Captain of the Night Lords with a Power Axe, a Volkite Serpenta, Melta Bombs, Power Armor and a Refractor Field, you must be thinking to yourself "Thats just an under-equipped Praetor (he has the statline)" but that's cause he has a few special buffs that make him pretty useful, First he's got a relic (could be a shield or just his armour) called "The Bloody Aegis" which boosts his Invuln save to a 3++ in CC, additionally whenever an enemy attacks him in CC and rolls a "unmodified 1" to hit or wound him, he counts as half his WS when Kheron gets to swing at the Schmuck for that Assault Phase. His special rule "The Coward" gives him a 4+ FnP when he loses a wound, and if he loses 2 he kicks it to 3+ FnP. He has his own WT in which he makes every Night Lord within 12" Stubborn if the enemy has more VPs than you, and you get to reroll any failed rolls to determine the game continuing for an additional turn. Overall Solid, if only for the leadership bits in which the NL can be found a bit lacking. Can also mathematically tank Corax in a challenge (not on charge) for 2/3 turns.

*'''Nakrid Thole:''' A Praetor with +1 initiative, counter attack, and two very interesting weapons that should provide stimulating conversion ideas. The first is a Nostroman Flay-Whip, which despite being S:User and AP4 has rending to help it penetrate armour as well as a renamed concussive rule. It can also make an attack against everyone within 2" of Nakrid, in exchange for losing concussive. His other weapon is more straightforward: a +2S mastercrafted power axe with a twist, each time a model in base contact with Nakrid has their initative reduced (such as by his whip) he can attack them once with the axe. Finally, he can't be attacked by precision strikes/shots, and if he is killed then on a 3+ [[troll|he doesn't count as such for the purposes of objectives]].

[[File:Konrad-Curze-6.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Konrad Curze]]
*'''[[Konrad Curze]]:''' The Night Haunter's abilities revolve around Fear - both inflicting it and amplifying it; although the number of Legions with Fearless makes this difficult to use in 30k, it can easily cause other armies with low Leadership (read: Tau and Imperial Guard) to turn tail and run in an instant. At 435 Points he is relatively expensive, but like all the Primarchs he can easily earn that back. With Sire of the Night Lords, a Night Lords force containing Konrad Curze gains the Fear special rule for any unit with the Legiones Astartes (Night Lords) special rule, and any units that already have the Fear special rule now impose a -1 penalty on the leadership of any enemy unit testing for fear against them. Curze's own ability to inflict Fear is supercharged by his King of Terrors rule - all Fear tests taken against him are subject to a '''-3''' penalty, and should he be part of an assault where any enemy unit is destroyed outright, all enemy units subject to fear within 12" and with line of sight to the combat must take an immediate morale check or fall back (Note; Since the check being made from him taking part of murdering a unit is a general Morale Check instead of specifically a Fear test, his -3 to Fear tests is of no relevance, but units immune to Fear are immune to this.) Statwise, he's fairly good in all respects, and although his WS8 and I7 are his main selling points, Night Vision, Hit and Run, and Acute Senses are always nice to have. Complementing the "From the Shadows" rule, he may always elect to have the first turn of any game use the Night fighting special rule, no need to roll for it, so his legionnaires enjoy of a 4+ cover save in open ground during the first game turn (low AP weapons are common). Last but not least, Konrad is naturally a Jump infantry unit, without any assistance from wargear like a certain other Primarch. This means he WILL move 12" and then reroll the charge due to Fleet (if he goes solo), thus being one of the Primarchs that have the easiest time getting into melee. Note he has Shrouded and Stealth, and a unit only needs one model with these rules to benefit - place him with Night Raptors, go fast, be killy, and whenever Plasma appears, duck into any kind of cover for that delicious 2+++ bullshit save. <br>Curze can use the following Wargear:
**'''The Nightmare Mantle:''' Provides 2+ armour save and 4+ invulnerable save (like most Primarch Armour), plus it grants him Hammer of wrath special rules, inflicting D3 HoW hits instead of the usual one.
**'''Mercy and Forgiveness:''' The most misnamed weapons in all of 30k (and knowing Curze, [[Troll|deliberately]]), Mercy and Forgiveness are the Night Haunter's twin Lightning claws. They have all the usual Lightning claw rules plus AP2 and Murderous strike. +1 attack for being two weapons.
**'''The Widowmakers:''' [[Batman|Instead of a gun]], Curze has himself a set of throwing <s>batarangs</s> knives as his ranged weapon. 12" Range, S4 AP5 assault 3 means they're not as good as the other ranged weapons, until you see their special rule Lethal precision: To Wound rolls of 6 ignore both armour AND invulnerable saves. Also, it inflicts Precision shots on a 4+ to allocate them on officers so the unit fares even worse when they test for Fear against him.
*'''Weaknesses:''' He hates anything with an AV because those don't feel fear. Oh, and because His Weapons are Useless against anything with AV13 on the rear, like Land Raiders. This is a problem only when he goes solo, as anyone can bring Melta bombs to deal with that. Most other vehicles with rear AV10 are screwed by virtue of his seven S6 attacks on the charge, tho.
*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Death Guard:''' If you want allies, there's none better for you than them. Have them act as a classic Anvil (Terminators/Grave Wardens) for your Hammer (Raptors/ Terror Squads). However, the Death Guard are bored of their emo-fanboy antics... "Oh you guys are so dark, tell the story again of your mother being melted by a cloud!"
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====IX Legion: [[Blood Angels]]====
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[[File:Blood Angels legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.png|100px|left|]]
Blood Angels play like a gloriously improved version of themselves in 40k ...or at least the infantry part. They get near enough all the rules that make them recognizable and then more, if you want to go deeper. But for some reason can be insanely dakka for a traditional melee army.

At their core, Blood Angels like it [[Rip and Tear|close and personal]], with improved to-wound rolls and with a good selection of pistols and AP2 initiative weapons, making them arguably the best melee Legion. Best of all, they don't need to fulfill conditions like [[Night Lords|outnumbering]] the [[Sons of Horus|enemy]] or [[Emperor's Children|getting]] the [[World Eaters|charge]], so other Legions need to take note.

However, their fast mechanized assault is gone, as they lack their trademark Baal Fast tanks in this millenium, and in fact their LA rule makes it troublesome to take vehicle-focused RoWs. But their access to Mega Dakka® makes up for these limitations.

With certain rites, they get their "red thirst" initiative bonus back and some turn 1 deep striking, so they can rival even the Emperor's Children for speed. One of their unique Rites touches on the "black rage" theme, giving you resilient and steadfast but tactically limited options with which to throw at your enemy with abandon. Of note is the fact that Blood Angels Rites of War have no restrictions on allies, so take advantage of this as often as possible.
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*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''Encarmine Fury''': Blood Angels require one less than they normally need to wound in assault to a minimum of 2+. Similar to 8th Edition's Chapter Tactics, except it functions in ''all'' rounds of combat. Congratulations, power axes become functionally the same as power fists (without Instant Death), saving you points in many cases. Remember though your tactical marines will still need to use krak grenades fighting T8 enemies like Thanatars (regular attack isn't able to wound = no roll to modify).
***Before you start salivating about <s>your enemy's blood</s> pairing it with power mauls, remember it's a boost to wound, not a boost to strength (and mauls wound on 2+ anyway). You no longer need to get out your krak grenades to hunt MCs...as long as [[Veteran Squad|the]] [[Assault Squad|entire]] [[Terminator|squad]] has power weapons, that is.
***Remember, this isn't Furious Charge...''so it can stack with it''. This means Furious Charge units (Veterans no longer get it) with power swords [[Rip and Tear|wound marines on 2+]], or wound Voraxes on a 2+ when equipped with power mauls, all of it at initiative and ignoring their armour saves.
**'''Without Remorse, Without Relent''': You must make sweeping advances and may never voluntarily go to ground.
**'''Host of Angels''': Can't take more vehicles units than units with the Legiones Astartes rule. This includes flyers and dreadnoughts, though dedicated transports are exempt. So be certain to take your essential tanks or get curb-stomped by your opponent's armored ceramite super-heavies.
*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Hand Flamer''': Familiar to 40k BAngels, it's a pistol S3 AP6 flamer. Anyone who can take a Volkite Serpenta like Praetors and Centurions can buy a Hand Flamer instead for 15pts, which is the same cost as a plasma pistol. Veterans can also take them but equipping the whole squad is way too expensive. 1 or 2 could boost Overwatch, though.
**'''Inferno Pistol''': It's a Melta pistol. Anyone who can take a Plasma Pistol can buy an Inferno pistol instead for 15pts (aka, usually at the same price). It's a neat way to get around the Moritat's plasma pistol Chain Fire nerf, so bring it in pair with Plasma Pistol and go back to killing entire squads of Terminators in one round, although he'll be hampered by the Inferno pistol's measly 6" range, but second pistol lets you dance around it and with new "max 12 hits" rule you weren't making enough hits to justify 2 Inferno Pistols anyway.
**'''Blade of Perdition:''' For 20 points, any Praetor or Consul with access to Power Fist may take a ''Master Crafted, two-handed'' '''AP2''' sword with no strength modifier (but you do have Encarmine Fury), and each wound inflicted is doubled to two wounds which must be saved separately. However don't think that means that you can charge your praetor into an enemy squad and wipe them all out before they can strike because excess wounds do not spill over. ''Striking at Initiative with AP2'' is golden and its special rule makes it better than Paragon Blade if you're not planning on taking a Power Fist or Thunder Hammer with it. A must-have on any melee Consul.
**'''Prototype Iliastus-pattern Assault Cannon''': [[Awesome|ANY MODEL]] with access to a Heavy Flamer may replace it with an Assault Cannon for an additional +5 points, and vehicles can do the same for +15 points. Predators can replace their autocannon with a twin-linked assault cannon for +5 points now. The weapon profile has been updated to where regardless of whether the weapon you're replacing is twin-linked or co-axial, it always uses the normal profile. This S6 AP4 Heavy 4 Rending weapon sounds good on paper, but there's a catch - triple 1's causes it to jam and stop working for the rest of the game, though on average it'll take one and a half games for that to happen, and if you have a Psyker it'll almost never happen with Divination on it. Now you've got a fantastic reason to buy those Rotor Cannon models.
***You can pull some really funny shit with this one. Just say "fuck you" to the traditional 40k dreadnought setup and take Dreadnought close combat weapons [[Troll|'''with''' underslung Assault Cannons]], it's [[Rules lawyer|perfectly legitimate]]. And for +30 points you increase the already devastating Dakka of Leviathan Dreadnoughts by upgrading their boob heavy flamers to boob Assault cannons. People may look at you funny, but rule-wise it's viable. The Blood Angels version on Forge World's website even comes with them.
***Perhaps you might want a Predator squadron with twin linked turret Assault Cannon, Assault Cannon sponsons and pintle mounted Assault Cannon when you need a twenty shot 24" bubble of fuck you per tank.
***Heavy Support Squads and a Rhino DT with Assault Cannons are just nasty, spewing [[Dakka|47 shots]] if you count the Twin Linked Bolters and one-use Hunter Killer missile. Everyone wishes they had this much firepower. Only a Volkite Heavy Squad with a Heavy Bolter Rhino reaches anywhere close and comes up one short. Naturally this excludes unsaved wounds caused by deflagration. However Culverin costs five points more than the Iliastus and lacks Rending.
****Screw that Rhino idea, ''put them in a Drop Pod''
***You can do some very dirty things by upgrading tanks besides Predators, such as putting an Assault Cannon on a Vindicator to shoot down survivors. A Sicaran can be upgraded to 16 shots, ten of those with Rending for anything stupid enough to get close. Another option is upgrading a Malcador with four Assault Cannons for 18 hits on ANYTHING you want in range, because it's Super-Heavy. Just don't forget to save points for the Flare Shield.
***Veteran Tactical Squads will need to be with 12" to get the most out of them. Thirty shots are nothing to sneeze at.
***The only time they are a waste are Terminator Command Squads. Legion Terminators are a different story. Put them onto a Spartan, keep the stock Heavy Bolters(you can't upgrade the Twin-Linked Heavy Flamers as far as we know) than add a pintle mounted Assault Cannon for a total of three, this will up the squad to 42 shots during the shooting phase. They will have little to fear from other TEQs with the exception of Tyrant Siege Terminators, Fulmentarus and those armed with Storm Shields. (Seems Guilliman didn't have time to ripoff the Iliastus until after the Horus Heresy) The "shooty Terminators" won't be able Overwatch as they are stuck with Cataphractii armor, so make your Terminators Tartaros. Instead of Volkite Chargers, buy Combi-Grenade launchers and the Harness.
** Note: The possibility of a jam means that you have to roll individually for each gun. Don't spam these unless you want the game to take a week.
**'''Photonic Blade (Relic)''' : Best. Weapon. EVAR. It's an AP2 Fleshbane Soulblaze sword that also causes Fear & Blind. All with no downsides (Emperor's Burning blade, I'm looking at you). For the modellers out there: Despite its name, its nothing like a lightsaber, but a fuck-massive sword that only an Astartes could lift and its blade gets white-hot & shiny ...so any power sword fits the description. Now think of a [[Awesome|Space marine with a Lightsaber]]... that's the fun of modelling.
*** If you get Sanguinius and build his model with the spear then using the sword in that kit for this is a good use of it.

*'''Rite of War: The Day of Revelation''' - ''Specializing in what Blood Angels do best, coming down via deep strike, this biblical-themed rite is heavily invested in the turn one alpha strike.''
**'''Cometh the Host:''' <u>All</u> jump infantry must start the game in Deep Strike Reserve and arrive automatically on the first turn - ''Only Jump Infantry arrive on the first turn, so any support units you want deep striking will need drop pods''.
**'''With Fire & Thunder:''' All units that arrive via deep strike gain a 5+ cover save for the remainder of the turn, helping a great deal with their survival (you thought Deep strike wasn't viable with the availability of Interceptor? It's the Blood Angels we're talking about, child) - ''EVERYONE gets this, jury is still out on whether it also applies to units coming out of a Drop Pod or not. Also, because this is <u>not</u> Shrouded, Dreadnought Drop pods would confer a 3+++ save to their Dreads.''
**'''The Opening of the Seal:''' Infantry and Jump Infantry units that Deep Strike gain the ''Pinning'' rule on their ranged weapons for that turn.
*** Deep Striking Destroyers / Angels Tears with 5+ cover saves and ''Pinning'' on their toughness-reducing power-armour-ignoring Rad Weapons and an attached Moritat are a [[Rage|pain in the ass to deal with]]. '''Very''' pricey and can be wiped out in one Basilisk shot, but may be worth trying.
**'''The Judgement of Angels:''' Red Thirst by another name, Blood Angels units gain +1 Initiative on the turn that they charge into combat. Like the Emperors Children, this rule in particular is nothing short of a game-changer, giving you the upper hand in mirror match-ups. Just leave the unwieldy weapons at home.
**'''By Honour Bound:''' Your characters must accept challenges whenever offered. But your characters being [[Rip and Tear|''+1 Initiative, +1 to wound AP2 monsters'']] it's not like you don't want to get in challenges.
** Your compulsory Troops and HQ units must be equipped with Jump Packs, restricting them to Assault Squads, who are now super cheap thanks to the red book update, or Dawnbreakers if you bring Sanguinius. Be careful though, as Assault Marines have tons of options, you'll be tempted to equip them all with your BA exclusive pistols and Power Weapons, but ''Encarmine Fury'' already helps with that, helping you save some points. Apothecaries can now take jump packs though, so your dreams of 20 Assault Marine Blobs with a 6+ Invuln (5+ in combat) and ''Feel No Pain (5+)'' blobs are actually pretty achievable, if not quite expensive still.
*** Note it only says Compulsory Troops, which means once you have two Assault Squads you can get whatever the hell you want in Troops.
*** You need to figure out which unit to put your HQ into too, as only Assault Squads, Destroyer Squads, Angel's Tears, Command Squads, and Dawnbreakers, have Jump Packs at the moment, and as noted above you are already paying a lot for just your Troops so bring that command squad along may not be the best idea. It may end up with the Jump Pack being a 20 point tax for you to bring along a HQ while you bundle him in with some Terminators, but alternatively you could turn your Command Squad into TEQs with no invulnerable save and jump packs if you're willing to invest. Or alternatively you could take a ten man unit of Dawnbreakers and throw your praetor with them and an apothecary for a fast-moving, hard-hitting melee deathstar. Just make sure you get the charge off for that sweet, sweet +1 initiative.
** You must take a compulsory Fast Attack choice that has the Flyer or ''Deep Strike'' rule.
*** You have the choice of Sky Hunters, Storm Eagles, Dreadclaws, Strike Fighters, Xiphons, and the Contemptor Incaendius. Both speeder variants work as well due to their Deep Strike rule. Overall, Xiphons may be the best choice as they're anti-vehicle Flyers with Deep Strike & Armoured Ceramite for no additional cost.
** Primary Detachments may not take Fortifications, Immobile units (drop pods don't count since they suffer an immobilized result ''after'' they come in), Subterranean Assault units, or any Lord of War choice other than a Flyer or the Primarch Sanguinius.
***There is nothing stopping you from taking Thunderhawks or Stormbirds except for their point cost and cash IRL.
*** This rite has no limits on taking allies, nor do the detachment limitations apply when being ''taken'' as an ally. So it makes a perfect allied detachment if you take a second ''Master of the Legion''.
**Weaknesses: The problems with this rite is that deep striking can be risky for larger squads: have you ever tried to fit 20 models in a circle and it not take up a massive amount of space? Taking 10 man assualt squads is preferable, as well as taking a damocles as a non compulsory HQ, which will make your life so much easier with the 24" bubble of no scatter. Sanguinius doesn't scatter, so stick him with a 10 man squad of Dawnbreakers armed with spears and a jump chaplain since you want to kill what you are charging due to the lack of invul on the Dawnbreakers. The 5+ cover save won't protect you that much and being clumped together makes templates the bane of your forces but librarians with shrouding can provide the needed boost to keep your guys alive. Lastly, as your appearing right in the enemies face and can't charge when you arrive, you are at a large risk of being charged first. Blood Angels units get most of their benefits on the charge with this rite, so losing the charge can be catastrophic.

*'''Rite of War: The Day of Sorrow''' - ''Blood Angels throwing themselves with abandon, becoming hardier the fewer of them remaining.''
**'''Resolute Defense:''' Blood Angels cannot be pinned, they are also ''Fearless''<sup>HH8</sup> when within 3" of any Objective markers or in their own deployment zone - ''You could have a Heavy support squad as a garrison, given how you must bring more infantry than vehicles anyway''.
**'''Aura of Wrath:''' Enemies who lose combat to units comprised of a majority of models with the LA (Blood Angels) rule suffer an additional -1 penalty to the Morale check, but units [[Death Guard|immune]] to [[Salamanders|Fear]] are also immune to this.
**'''By Blood Sworn:''' When a Blood Angels unit drops to less than 50% models, it gains Feel No Pain (5+) on the start of their next turn.
**'''To the Bitter Dregs:''' The flip side of Blood Sworn. Units that are reduced to less than 50% members can no longer be scoring units (but remain denial) and count as destroyed at the end of the game for the purposes of victory points. As such, even though your reduced squad became more resilient, it is of less value to you overall. Meaning that, [[Death Company|from that point on they are meant to meet glorious death in battle, forsaking their former duties as battle brothers]].
**'''Bloody Handed:''' Blood Angels characters must always issue and accept challenges,.
*** More so than the other Rite, this one benefits from having an ally to hold backfield objectives while your Blood Angels kamikaze their way into the enemy. Good thing you can have some Imperial Fists as Sworn Brothers, and can rock up with toughness 5 2+/3++ Terminators to act as a [[DISTRACTION CARNIFEX]] as well as providing +1BS Bolter fire or Salamanders, who will never ever run due to LA or die because 3++ Terminators or 4++ Tartaroses, while an attached BA character can help them to mitigate their LA restrictions on Sweeping Advances.

*'''Angel's Tears''': Legion unique destroyers who cast aside their identities and wear silver death masks into battle. They start with 5 marines but can be upgraded to 10 marines and come stock with jump packs, 2 volkite serpentas each, and rad grenades. The entire squad can buy melta bombs for 25 points and any marine besides the sergeant can exchange one of their serpentas for an [[wat|assault cannon with suspensor web]], a rotor cannon, a heavy flamer, heavy chainsword, or a grenade launcher that shoots S4 AP4 small blast grenades that have ''Radphage'' and ''Fleshbane''. The sarge can be given artificer armor and can exchange one or both of his serpentas for plasma pistols and can swap his close combat weapon for a heavy chainsword, power weapon, power fist, a single lightning claw, or a thunder hammer.
**Compared directly to Legion Destroyers, Angels Tears are superior in ''nearly'' ever way. Five Angels are cheaper and better than a five man Destroyer squad equipped with Jump packs. Since they come with Volkite pistols instead of Bolt Pistols they have a slightly shorter range which puts them right in the face of the enemy, but throw out a lot more hurt. Additionally since ''every'' marine can swap a weapon for something bigger rather than just one per every five. For 190 points you can have four mobile Assault Cannons ''(the "Arch Erelim" isn't an "Erelim")'', whereas a 5 man Legion Heavy Support squad with five Assault Cannons and a Drop Pod costs 195, but without suspensor webs can only snapfire on turns they arrive and move. Definitely something to consider under certain Rites of War such as Angels Wrath or Day of Revelation. If you're feeling particularly brutal and want to throw away points, you can have 2 hand flamers per model. Due to how flamers can't hit allies, it's probably best to just take 5 guys with 10 hand flamers (bearing in mind it costs 150 points for the upgrades alone...). For a bit of Death Guard taste, Justiciar Aster Chrone might help you out by making these guys shred and rend to effectively make them strength 4 against MEQs, with the ability to melt terminator armour (sometimes it's best not to question the logic of GeeDubs).
**The only reason that you would want to take regular destroyers over Tears is that they get access to rad missiles and phosphex bombs. If you aren't taking these options then Tears are far and away the superior choice.
*'''Dawnbreaker Cohort''': A 5-10 man unit of artificer armored glass cannons with jump packs that can buy melta bombs for 25 points. WS5 and 2 attacks and they come with some mean toys. They come stock with Falling-star spears which is just another name for Phoenix Spears since they are completely identical (for those of you who have forgotten they are +1S and non-unwieldy AP2 on the charge, reverting to standard power weapons afterwards, which pairs insanely well with +1 to wound).
**They can also be upgraded with Sunset and Sunrise blades which are power swords with some pretty nifty abilities and grant a bonus attack for 2 cc weapons. Sunrise blades are power swords with shred and keen (+1 initiative in CC), so your dudes will be striking first and rerolling to wound. Sunset blades are power swords with rending and sunder. The squad Champion can also be given a Blade of Perdition in case they didn't already have enough [[rip and tear]] for you.
***They also come with grenade dischargers that can fire frag grenades (Assault 1, S3 AP6, small blast) or krak grenades (Assault 1, S6, AP4).
**Similarly to Dark Furies, these are '''INSANE''' value for points. Consider this: a squad of 10 Palatine Blades with the equivalent gear (arty armour, spears and jump packs) cost 450pts (with shriekers bumping that up to 470pts), the Dawnbreakers are over 100pts cheaper, have the option to mass buy melta bombs and are technically more effective on the charge thanks to Encarmine Fury (though Blades will sweep better thanks to Crusader). They can make themselves more effective at hunting power armour with the Sunset/Sunrise blades (thus gaining an extra attack) AND still be cheaper. You also get decent ranged weapons in the grenade launcher. Granted the Palatines can keep themselves cheaper with less equipment, but at that point the Dawnbreakers just leapfrog them anyway. Your sergeant can even take a Blade of Perdition, because reasons. While easy to forget, these guys also get D6 S4 AP- hits on anything within 6" of then when deepstriking, which is by no means a gamechanger but its nice icing on your Golden, Artificer Armoured and Jump Packed Cake.
*''' Crimson Paladins''': Cataphractii-armoured [[Sanguinary Guard]]; the anvil for your hammer. These stone-cold badasses come into battle with the ability to deep strike and wield power weapons and shields that inflict a -1 penalty to the strength of incoming melee attacks. One can upgrade to have an assault cannon, heavy flamer, or plasma blaster, up to two paladins can exchange their power weapons for power fists for a whopping +20 points and anyone in the squad can swap their power weapons for an AP3 sword that has ''rending and sunder'' for when you really want to rip and tear. The sergeant has 2 wounds and can take a grenade harness so he can benefit from assault grenades and can be given a Blade of Perdition for +10 points to carve through enemy power fist/thunder hammer wielding dudes with his ''AP 2 AT FULL INITIATIVE''.
**The real kicker is their ability to gain Feel No Pain when outnumbered, which you likely will be since they can only be brought in units 3-5 strong, which upgrades to a 4+++ when they outnumbered 2:1. Bear in mind that because they are bulky they count as two for the purposes of this rule (as do enemy bulky units) so this won't kick quite as often as you would think. Pair this ability with their Cataphractii armor and their shields inflicting -1 strength to melee attacks means they'll get Feel No Pain against weapons that usually prevent terminators from getting Feel No Pain like power fists and Thunder Hammers. Bring them with your footslogging characters to make sure they never die.
**Unfortunately one of the most confused units in the new book, the sort that makes you wonder what the writers were thinking, which is a shame because the models are gorgeous. Designed to be a very tanky elite termi squad, but compared to similar legion terminators only have 1 wound and WS4. Yeah the shields are solid in combat, and the sunset blades are nasty, as is the sarges blade of perdition, but the feel no pain is so circumstantial. The 2:1 ratio rule means a 5 man unit needs to be fighting a 20 man blob for that sweet 4++, and since you are Blood Angels and will probably be going first in combat, by the time the enemy gets to strike back they will have lost models and ''you'' will have lost your bonus. You could argue that they are a bodyguard unit, but since those shields only go off in combat you may as well just buy normal termis for that, because they can shoot back. And just to rub salt in the wound the new Scars Termis from the same book have arguably better melee weapons and natural feel no pain.
**Doubly unfortunately, the sergeant loses his shield if he takes a Blade of Perdition so he's back to being insta-killed by fists in a challenge. Which is doubtful to happen, since he can deal 8 ap2 wounds with his blade if he's lucky on the charge. So these guys want to fight people with fists and thunder-hammers but not the more elite 2-wound terminators.
*'''Contemptor Incaendius Dreadnought:''' Jump Pack [[meme|on a GODDAMN DREADNOUGHT!]] HOLY SHIT. Can use a jump pack once per game, either to deep strike, move 12" or charge 3d6. Still counts as a Walker for ROWs. Comes stock with Talons of Perdition, which are dreadnought-sized Blades of Perdition, heavy flamers, armored ceramite, and ''Fleet''. They can replace their talons with normal DCCW for free and can replace their heavy flamers with meltaguns or assault cannons. They can also be given extra armor. Bring one in a Day of Revelation list to fulfill the compulsory deep-striking Fast Attack choice for maximum lulz.
**This author suggest swapping one talon to a normal dread ccw and equip 2 assault cannons. Keeping the double-wounding talon any [[FATAL|soft, young, innocent assault units you want.]] Buuut it lacks the LA rule so you might gear it to hunt vehicles (not great since it just has Meltaguns to hunt all the armored ceramite vehicles outside of melee,) or take one for [[lulz]].
*'''Judiciar Aster Crohne:''' 155 points gives you a WS5, I5, 3-wound moritat character with two hand flamers, arty armor, refractor field, frag, krak, and rad grenades, and a non-unwieldy AP3 power axe with rending. On top of that he has some really interesting abilities and rules to mess with your opponent and to buff destroyers and Angel's Tears. He's an IC with Legiones Astartes (Blood Angels), Adamantium Will, Counter Attack, Scout, The Ghost of Saiph, and Virtue of Judgement. Ghost of Saiph works by letting him go into ongoing reserves on a roll of a 4+ the first time he is reduced to 0 wounds. Virtue of Judgement lets him nominate D3 enemy units after deployment but before the first turn and gives his hand flamers, destroyer's hand flamers, and Angel's Tears' hand flamers Rending and Shred against those nominated units (a new contender for one of the most poorly written rules in the game, it's written that you pick units and then your destroyers and tears gain and shred rending on his hand flamers.).
*'''Dominion Zephon:''' Before he was the first Chapter Master of the [[Charnel Guard]], Zephon was the Exarch of the High Host, the Destroyer Marines the IX Legion. Added in the Black Library Celebration 2022, Zephon is a weirdly written praetor who actually packs an extraordinary amount of kit for his 185 points. First, you never ever want to take him as your warlord even though he has MoTL. He gets lumped with a trait that means he can only take a unit of Destroyers - not Angel’s Tears - as his bodyguard, and cannot join any other squads. The Destroyers all gain chosen Warriors, so that's uh, something?
**Now onto the good shit, this fellow wields a Paragon Blade that swaps murderous strike for master-crafted and sweeping strike, giving him an additional attack if he's base contact with more than 1 enemy model. Losing out on potential instant death stings, or it would but lord they gave him rad grenades, so instant death to any marines as he will be doubling out their toughness thanks to his furious charge. This makes him an extremely effective character killer. And the fact that his dual volkite serpentas have blind only makes him better at this. And because the blind and rad grenades also affects his unit, Zephon is both a beatstick and buffs the squad he's in.
**Oh and he has 5+ fnp, if he dies 4+ to stand back up with one wound, and he has an iron halo and melta bombs and stubborn. He really does pack an extraordinary amount of kit. A similarly equipped Praetor is more expensive whilst not having an additional serpenta, rad grenades, fnp, or stubborn.
**This writer recommends putting Zephon in a 20 man assault squad, for potentially 6 ap2 + 61 chainsword attacks wounding on 2s against marines and maybe hitting on 3s if you got blind off on the turn you charged.
*'''[[Raldoron]]:''' Before he was the first Chapter Master of the Blood Angels, Raldoron was the First Captain of the Blood Angels and Equerry of Sanguinius. He's a fairly standard Praetor statline with +1 WS, arty armour, iron halo, bolt pistol and a combi flamer, however the real kicker here is his fuckawesome sword that's a master-crafted shredding Paragon Blade ''that isn't a specialist weapon'' and his special rule which lets him ''choose'' his warlord trait (from the legion table, you'll have to roll if you want one from the rulebook). He also comes with Furious Charge (bringing him up to S 6 on charge), wounding even Castellax on a 4+ (rerollable through shred). Taking a spot on the list of the most deadliest Praetors, right up there with Sigismund and Sevatar.
[[File:Sanguinius7sp.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|Sangunius]]
*'''[[Sanguinius]]:''' Sangunius is by far the most expensive loyalist Primarch at 485 points, but boy oh boy is he worth it. Like Curze and Corax, the Great Angel is Jump Pack Infantry, but unlike them his wings can be used in both the movement and assault phases which is an ability he grants to all his Jump Pack wearing sons, in addition he and his squad do not scatter if they deep strike. He rounds out these buffs by making Dawnbreaker Cohorts into troops. Sangunius' stats are very high, (WS9 I7 A6), which only get even more insane as he gets +1I +1A on the first turn of combat (letting his I equal Fulgrim's), not only that but all friendly ([[Siege of Terra|not just Blood Angel]]) units within 3" get +D3 to combat res, ensuring whatever he charges dies, then loses, then gets swept. Speaking of charging, Papa Sang gets a Hammer of Wrath attack that is made at S10 AP2. Finally, while moving over a unit, the Archangel can vector strike at S6 AP2, which counts as D3 hits against zooming Flyers and Swooping MCs, which makes him the only Primarch able to take on flyers without backup. <br>The Angel uses the following wargear
**'''The Blade Encarmine:''' +1S, AP2, Shredding, Rampage. Very simple, very good, and grants the one thing all Primarchs want most of all: more attacks, potentially 11(!) on the charge. Sadly, cannot be used if Sanguinus takes the Spear of Telesto and Moonsilver Blade.
**'''The Spear of Telesto:''' As seen in the Blood Angels novels! Weirdly, it doesn't have it's fluff ability to shoot energy blasts. Harrumph. On the charge, it's +3 Strength and AP1, otherwise, S User AP 2. Has Two-handed, which isn't important, and MC, Instant Death, and Wrath of Angels (inflicts a second wound on the target UNIT, on a 6 to wound), so you too can perform attacks that can break a Bloodthirster's back. [[Ka'bandha|That's...oddly specific.]] [[Fail|so this thing only does the Blade of Perdition's thing on a wound roll of six.]] (Unlike the Perdition, these additional wounds carry over to the rest of the unit) Can also be thrown once per game as a 12" Assault 1 S7 AP1 Armorbane Instant Death attack that also has Wrath of Angels, but since you can't use the Spear after that doing so is a very bad idea unless it's the last turn of the game or you're ''absolutely certain'' you're only going be fighting daemons for the rest of the game with...
**'''The Moonsilver Blade:''' Sidearm to be used with Telesto. It's an MC blinding power sword with Duelist's Edge that doubles wounds against Daemons and Psykers, notable for being the only melee weapon wielded by a Primarch to not be AP2 for better. While this isn't a problem against Daemons, it will give you a headache against anyone else due to the many, many users of Artificer and Terminator Armor.
**'''The Regalia Resplendent:''' Armour that provides the 2+ Armour Save and 4+ Invulnerable Save that's average for a Primarch, but also rerolls said invulns on the charge (better than a 3++), because he didn't have buffs on the charge already.
**'''Infernus:''' A one use only S8 AP1 assault 2 weapon, that despite it's name and statline doesn't have the Melta rule.
**'''Frag Grenades:''' ''Might actually be useful'' since you only have one shot with Infernus, other than that they go boom.
*NOTE!: Papa Sang can never claim the extra attack from 2 CCWs, due to Infernus not being a pistol, and his Spear is two-handed.

*'''Weaknesses''': Many of Sanguinius' best buffs work only on the charge; if for whatever reason he can't charge, he'll be much less powerful than he would be otherwise. Additionally, his shooting is ''awful''. Even Angron gets a plasma pistol, but Sanguinus is stuck with two one-use attacks (one of which is usable with only one possible loadout and even then forces him to lose a much better melee weapon) and the same frag grenades everyone else gets. Use his mobility to your advantage so he doesn't waste turns moving into charging distance. Not to mention that for whatever reason, he doesn't get hit and run, meaning he can be locked in combat where he will suffer if the opponents are fearless as he really needs to be charging in order to be effective.
Consider using Angel's Wrath RoW - it's easy to build a fluffy list around it and it gives Pappa Sang that juicy Hit and Run which somewhat alleviates his weaknesses.
*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Imperial Fists:'''
**'''Ultramarines:'''
**'''Salamanders:'''

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====X Legion: [[Iron Hands]]====
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[[File:Iron Hands legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.PNG|100px|left|]]
The Iron Hands are also considered one of the stronger Legions to play with, if only because of their sheer resistance to incoming fire. The -1 to enemy ranged weapon strength makes a significant difference against the common ''(eg: Bolt)'' weapons of the enemy, which is only exacerbated when Ferrus Manus takes the field alongside his sons, in which case you end up with something FAR more resilient than their 40k incarnation. Obviously you'd expect the Iron Hands to be excellent at mechanized assaults as well, and if you want to go all-out with tanks, there is no better Legion.

The downsides to Iron Hands are glaring however. They are stuck with very inflexible infantry-centric army builds, so you cannot create fast-moving armies of assault marines and bikers, though this might not be a downside at all depending on what models you have available, or if you are clever with army-building and make sure you bring "exactly" what you want. Not only that; their near-refusal to perform Sweeping Advances or Run moves means that the enemy has a better chance of outmaneuvering you, so you have to be careful. Additionally, unlike '''every'' other Legion you don't get better weapons for characters or upgrades to heavy/special weapons.

But this isn't to say their weaknesses make them unplayable. You get Cyber-familiars for your characters, which synergize with Inviolate Armour to make your characters very tough for very cheap. In addition, Head of the Gorgon is one of the strongest Rites of War available to any of the Legions, especially for your tanks. Only one other Legion can Outflank a Goddamn Vindicator squadron. Not being able to go to ground is mitigated by Inviolate Armour. In summary, the relative inflexibility of the Iron Hands is offset by their ridiculous durability.

<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''Inviolate Armour:''' All shooting attacks made against them have their strength reduced by 1. ''No ranged attack weaker than a Lascannon will be able to insta-kill you, so any FNP you have is there to stay and you'd do well to [[Deathwing|abuse 2+ save models]]. Be the envy of the Death Guard. Just watch out for dedicated enemy melee units, since this rule provides no protection against melee attacks, and don't forget that unless you take the "Bitter Iron" RoW you won't have melee-boosting rules of your own either''.
*** This is an excellent rule that provides constant value for everyone in your force. It shouldn't be confused for a workable alternative to a cover save, but if you play sensibly this can reduce casualties by as much as a third, although S7 and higher kills them as quick as regular mehreens. Bonus consideration: don’t forget how well this works with attached Apothecaries and other units with feel no pain. By reducing S8 to S7 you are able to take FNP saves against a whole host of weapons that are normally instant death to Astartes like krak missiles, battlecannon, shatter shells etc. Abusing, sorry, utilising this to the maximum is a sign of the cold logic the Iron Tenth is known for.
**'''Stand and Fight:''' All Iron Hands units must pass a Leadership test in order to make Sweeping Advances or Run, and cannot voluntarily go to ground. ''With most squads being LD9 this means you will only Sweeping Advance or Run about 82% of the times you want them to. Not being able to voluntarily go to ground could result in more losses than you'd like, especially if your infantry come up against a bunch of AP3 or AP2 guns and this rule prevents you from increasing their cover save at that crucial moment. It also means your infantry is just as susceptible to being Pinned as generic Legion marines, [[Derp|since it says nothing about involuntarily going to ground.'']]
**'''Rigid Tactics:''' An Iron Hands detachment may not contain more units of Jump Infantry, Bikes or Jetbikes, including independent characters, than it does units with the Infantry type. This only applies to units with the Legiones Astartes (Iron Hands) special rule, so take as many vehicles as you like. This restriction supposedly prevents you from taking certain rites of war, though pretty much every RoW requirement can be circumvented in some manner by taking more infantry squads, it may just mean it becomes unfeasible in smaller point games.
**'''Iron-Father:''' A hefty points upgrade to any Praetor; gains a Servo-Arm, 6+ FNP, Battlesmith rule and may not use a bike, jump pack or jetbike. This is especially useful for when he is inside a transport, as is usual in Iron Hand armies.

*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Blessed Autosimulacra:''' For 10 points, rolling a 6 will restore a Hull Point to an equipped vehicle.
***Ironically, 40k's Iron Hands get It Will Not Die, which is better, for FREE. Conversely, bear in mind that this roll is ''separate'' from IWND. Thus, by having [[Ferrus Manus]] in your army all your AV13 tanks get IWND included in his cost, meaning that your heavier tanks such as Sicarans, Predators & Land Raiders can get TWO rolls to recover HP, which is better than the 40k equivalent.
**'''Cyber-Familiar:''' See Equipment. Any character (including sergeants) can take one, which can on some models such as Praetors or Cataphractii extend them up to a cool 3+ save without taking up an arm like a Storm Shield does. Not much to say anything besides "take it on every IC". Seriously, even with Boarding Shield you will have 4++ in close combat and Refractor-field-grade 5++ outside of it. May also be worth it on sergeants, but points do add quick.
**'''Grav Gauntlet (Relic):''' An Assault 3 flame-template Graviton gun (NOT Grav-Gun), still leaves difficult terrain behind. Adds D3 to Building Damage, but being a Haywire weapon that only happens on a 6. Shreds tanks and doesn't care about Armoured Ceramite or Flare shields. AP3 means it shreds power armour quite handily as well.

*'''Rite of War: The Head of the Gorgon''' - ''A no-nonsense variant of the Armoured Spearhead RoW with enhanced tanks, Mechanicum support and graviton guns. [[Meme|Wage to war]] with some really tough boys while bringing along some really cool toys!''
**'''Chosen Ground:''' Infantry in this force gain Stubborn within their own deployment zone.'' Feel like an Imperial Fist.''
**'''War Relics:''' Any infantry model equipped with a Flamer may swap it out for a Graviton gun at +10 points, and all vehicles gain Blessed Autosimulacra for free. ''Did your vehicle get immobilized in Graviton-created Dangerous Terrain? Mine just restored a Hull Point ON ITS OWN''. Remember that despite being a special weapon, the graviton gun's profile is Heavy 1. This means no firing after disembarking, and no suspensor web for your veteran's graviton guns either.
***Forget about suicide Melta squads. A 5 man Graviton squad can [[Cheese|glance a Spartan to death in one turn on a 2+]], and it's cheaper. You'll need more men because Graviton guns can't fire right after disembarking, but Inviolate Armor helps them survive that turn. Or at least can function as a rather cheap [[DISTRACTION CARNIFEX]].
**'''Iron Scions:''' ''[[Legio Cybernetica]]'' Battle-Automata Maniples (ie. AdMech's good stuff, including '''Domitars''') may be included as Elite choices within the army, and any unit of 10 models or less eligible to take a Rhino may take a Land Raider Proteus or Phobos instead. ''Having access to some powerful robot buddies means that a Praevian is no longer as attractive a Consul choice, nor is a Cortex Controller on a Forge Lord.''
**'''Armored Encirclement:''' Vehicles with Tank type placed in reserve gain the Outflank rule. ''Show the Sons of Horus and Emperor's Children what a true encirclement is like: using Land Raiders.''
**Only one Fast Attack slot allowed. ''Given the "Rigid Tactics" rule this isn't much of a handicap unless you're looking to bring along things like Land Speeders and Seekers. You can still take a Praetor with a Command Squad and equip them all with Jetbikes for some fast-moving firepower, but doing so locks out the "Iron Father" Praetor upgrade.''
***Sky-Slayers make a decent alternative to Sky Hunters and Jetbike Command Squads but are still subject to the "Rigid Tactics" limitation. However, your options for fast-moving units don't stop there. Iron Scions combined with a Forge Lord or Praevian can and should be used to substitute for the missing Fast Attack slots. Thallax, Arlatax and Vorax are decent replacements for the various bike units. While Domitars, Castellax & Thanatars bring in heavy [[dakka]] to make up for the loss of the non-transport flyers. The only units they can't fill in for are Seekers, Anvillus Drop Pods or Storm Eagles.
***As of HH8, you have a decent alternative to Outriders in the form of Hussars, while Sky Seekers are also an option.
**Only a single Consul is allowed, other than Forge Lord Consuls. ''Forge Lord Consuls are already pretty versatile and useful, though they can get rather expensive with their upgrades. But you might as well bring one along to keep your enhanced vehicles in tip-top condition if your Praetor isn't an Iron Father or if Ferrus Manus isn't around. If you take this RoW with a Delegatus, you will restrict yourself to bringing along Forge Lords for additional Consuls.''
***A Damocles Command Rhino fits in well here, since it is a non-consul HQ that can help your other tanks outflank better, as a tank itself it also fits thematically.
**Cannot take Space Marine allied detachments. But their Mechanicum Sworn Brothers can join them at any time, on top of the Mechanicum Automata they can field themselves. Imperial Armies are Distrusted Allies to you, but the Flesh is Weak anyway. Note that fortifications are fine, which has great synergy with Chosen Ground.

*'''Rite of War: Company of Bitter Iron''' - ''A fairly straightforward rite representing the Legion after the fall of their Primarch and after catching a case of butthurt large enough to rival Perturabo's. Encumbers you with less restrictions than Head of the Gorgon and allows for more aggressive play, but also gives less bonuses. Alternatively, this RoW is to "Zone Mortalis Assault Force" what Head of the Gorgon is to Armoured Spearhead: a more powerful version albeit at the cost of flexibility.''
**'''Company of Immortals:''' Medusan Immortals are Troops choices. ''Against all better judgment, the Iron Hands blamed themselves for not enduring ''enough'' in the face of the Drop Site Massacre, and so many survivors volunteered to purge ''even more'' of their "weak" flesh and become Immortals. This rule frees up Elites choices and allows for very resilient troops, just be mindful of their points cost and their reduced mobility.''
**'''Immortal Hatred:''' All units in your detachment gain ''Hatred (Traitors)''. ''All the better to show the traitors how butthurt you are by shoving your Iron Fists into their faces. Allows for somewhat better close assaults. It won't turn your Iron Hands into melee machines, but can be very useful is scenarios like [[Zone Mortalis]].''
**'''Bitter Duty:''' Units of Immortals that are mostly in the enemy's deployment zone gain the ''Stubborn'' special rule. ''Coupled with the other bonuses that Immortals get, this means they'll even more resistant to melee assaults and Sweeping Advances while they are Stubborn.''
**Iron Hands using this detachment cannot be Traitors (duh) and also cannot use the "Shattered Legion" rules.
**You cannot take any form of Allied detachment. ''Because being [[Rage|angry enough to insist on standing alone to prove your worth in battle against 9 traitor legions]] is [[Derp|somehow a good idea]]. With no ability to bring Mechanicum allies you'll have to bring an Iron Father, Praevian, or Forge Lord with you to get Battle Automata support again, but thankfully this RoW doesn't have any restrictions on Consuls.''
**Your army cannot include Ferrus Manus (He's dead and missing his head.)
***Remember that with no restrictions on Fast Attack slots, you can play with a good amount of Fast Attack units (which would normally require you to use no RoW or a generic RoW with the Xth Legion) like Land Speeders and flying units while your Immortal infantry absorbs charges and makes steady advances. Even Seekers can be useful with the right plan.
*'''Gorgon Terminators:''' The Terminator elite of the Xth Legion, which include the Morlocks, Ferrus Manus's bodyguard, who were [[Grimdark|physically bonded to their Terminator Armour and could no longer leave it]]. The Sergeant has a Thunder Hammer as standard and can take a Cyber Familiar to up his Invulnerable save and reroll failed tests, and also a Combi-weapon, everyone else gets Power axes. They all have Feel No Pain (5+), are Scoring units and they also have the unique Gorgon Pattern Terminator Armour (5++) that on a D6 roll of 4+ causes a Blind test to ''everyone'' in 6" (yes, even friendly units, but they can re-roll the Blind test) at the end of any phase in which the unit has made one or more successful armour/invun save. And it counts as standard Terminator armour, so they can Overwatch too, but cannot perform Sweeping Advances. Finally, they can take Graviton guns as one of their special weapons options, and as these guys are Relentless it might be a neat idea. You can also equip them with twin Lightning Claws to mince blinded enemies, though they only possess In 3, need an LD test to run, and can't Sweeping Advance. Costing ''only 5 pts more'' than a normal Legion Terminator squad, while being as tactically flexible and gaining ''better wargear options, Blind, FNP 5+ and a Hammer, along with the -1S from shooting attacks'' all Iron Hands get, this squad is <s>[[Cheese]]</s> a nice investment. Who wrote the rules for these guys, [[Phil Kelly]]? When buying a Land Raider for them, consider the cheaper Proteus instead of the Phobos, as not only can they can overwatch and score objectives, but blinding ennemies that fire on them before a charge might be better than gaining an extra attack at low initiative and without sweeping advance.
*'''Medusan Immortals:''' When Iron Hands failed the high standards set by their Primarch, they were given another chance to prove themselves by becoming "Immortal," which involved having much of their bodies replaced with bionics and being sent to into the thickest parts of the fighting, essentially becoming Cyborg Breacher marines. You can have up to 20 of these in a squad with FNP 5+ ''(upgraded from 6+ by the Isstvan Legions book)'' and instead of carrying out a Sweeping Advance, they can instead gun down (using only snapshots) the fleeing enemy unit if the Immortals involved pass an LD test. This is not such a bad deal, as with their Hardened Armour they were already at a -1 to Sweeping Advance rolls, so this way they can just say "screw it" and shoot at the enemy, albeit with snapshots, for the same price of passing an LD test (thanks to the "Stand and Fight" rule) rather than chasing them down and taking the Sweeping Advance penalty.
**On the face of it, it does not seem like these guys have much going for them that normal Breacher squads can't already do. As Elites they do not normally score. Their base cost is 50 points more than a regular Breaching squad, though their individual cost is three points cheaper than normal Breachers ''(still 20 points more for a full squad)''. They have a pretty decent option in that the whole unit can take Volkite Chargers, doing more damage at closer ranges and with the potential of additional hits to make up for all those snap shots you'll be putting out.
**The "Bitter Iron" RoW turns these guys into troops ''(and therefore they become scoring units)'', ups their melee capability, and makes them less susceptible to Morale problems under certain circumstances. While it might cost you a bit more than you were expecting, a unit like this can be a rock that will absorb shooting ''(-1 for Iron Hands, plus 6++ shield, plus FnP remember?)'' and be a frightening proposition for your opponent to charge.
**Immortals can exchange their Bolters for Chainswords, [[Derp|despite the fact that their shields prevent them from gaining +1 Attack.]]
**Playtest Rules: FAQ Feb 19 Do remember that these rules can only be used if both players agree to use them, as they're not official yet. The FAQ reduces their base price by 45pts (though additional members for the squad cost the same as before) and gives us a few discounts on wargear, namely cheaper Volkite chargers and Breaching charges, additionally their Gun them Down special rule makes them unable to sweeping advance but gives them a proper shooting attack as if it was the shooting phase, though blast weapons cant shoot and template weapons inflict D3 hits on the fleeing unit, no need for a LD test either. I dont really have to spell it out for you, this is a real nice bump in power level for this unit, for 25 less points than their first incarnation you get a full ten men with volkites with proper FnP and a better chance of actually doing something after not sweeping advancing the enemy, they're still not cheap, but now they may just be worth it rather than just slightly better Breachers.

*'''Castrmen Orth:''' Spearhead Centurion of the X Legion and the 30k version of Antario Chronus, but actually worth it. Unlike Chronus, Orth is not a vehicle upgrade, but instead a Centurion that can be used to spend almost nothing on your HQ and invest everything in your army. 80 pts gets you a power armoured dude with a 4++ save (Refractor + Cyber familiar) and Power Maul, Tank Hunters AND Tank Crushers (such naming creativity...) that gives ''ALL your tanks'' +1 Vehicle Damage when Ramming, so buy lots of Caestus (they're flyers AND tanks) for a ''+2 total Vehicle damage adding the best of 2 dice to S10 and 5+ invuln on the front''. Yeah, he makes killing Spartans look easy. He can only command Tanks with AV13 or better, and grants the tank BS5 AND Tank Hunters, so put him in a Spartan for ''4x Twin-linked S9 AP2'' or ''2x Twin-linked S9 AP1 Ordnance'' or in a Sicaran for ''6x S7 Rending & Ignores Jink''. Or just put him in a superheavy and let the [[Cheese|fondue]] flow. ''Suck on that, Chronus''.

*'''Autek Mor:''' A badass Terran from the Legion's founding and the predecessor of [[Chapter Master Smashfucker|Smashbane]], he put the MOR in clan Morragul after killing the outlaw Ra'Guln and taking over his clan; after the Horus Heresy he became the first Chapter Master of the Red Talons. He's an Iron Father with Cataphractii Terminator armor, [[What|+1S, +1T]] (but -1In and -1 attack), a Servo-Arm, a Paragon Blade and a Volkite Charger for gear. With Fearless, the Iron Father upgrade and Preferred Enemy (Infantry) Mor is a complete and utter goddamn beast with 3 base attacks (S6 w/ 6's to-wound causing ID) ''+1 Servo arm attack'' (S8 w/ Unwieldy). All of that at AP2. Oh, and with the Inviolate Armour and T5 ''he can't be ID'ed by double Toughness from shooting''.

*'''Shadrak Meduson:''' A Terran from the legion's founding and a badass survivor of Isstvan V turned ''de facto'' leader of the Iron Hands after the Drop Site Massacre, notable for staging an assassination attempt on Horus, Mortarion, and Fulgrim that left all three seriously injured. He can be played in regular Iron Hands armies but you definitely want this guy commanding your Shattered Legion. As a Praetor, he's above average, packing a master crafted boltgun, archeotech pistol and an "Albian Power Gladius" which is a S+1, Master-Crafted, Rending power sword. But his real benefit shows itself when you run him in mixed lists. His Master of the Shattered Legion rule counts him as an Iron Hand, Salamander ''and'' a Raven Guard for the purposes of Rites of War, so he can work for a large variety of army builds. Furthermore, his warlord trait [[Warboss|grants members of those Legions the Furious Charge, Hatred and Crusader rules for one turn of the game]]. Note that the warlord trait can still work even if you don't use the Shattered Legion rules.

[[File:Ferrus-manus1.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Ferrus Manus]]
*'''[[Ferrus Manus]]:''' This silver-eyed badass is 455 points. The Gorgon works best as part of a mechanized army - his Master of Mechanisms rule acts like an improved version of Battlesmith which passes repair rolls on a 2+, because of his Servo arm. In addition, any vehicle with at least one armour facing of 13 in a primary detachment containing Ferrus Manus gains IWND (similar to the Iron Hands' Chapter Tactic in 40k). Sire of the Iron Hands boosts his wargear with access to Relentless and Smash (the latter of which can be used with any of his CC attacks). And shooting attacks against him suffer a -1 penalty to their strength, meaning bolters could eat shit and die. As an added bonus, all models with the special rule Legiones Astartes (Iron Hands) in an army containing Ferrus Manus gain FnP (6+).<br>Fun fact, Ferrus and Fulgrim can connect model bases to reenact their duel on Isstvan V. Yes, ''the head also comes off'', in case you were wondering.<br>Ferrus can use the following Wargear:
**'''Forgebreaker:''' Made for Ferrus by Fulgrim (and later stolen off him to be given to Perturabo, and then still later stolen by the [[Blood Ravens]]). It's an AP1 Thunder Hammer with Concussive and Strikedown. You could field Ferrus without his hammer (to represent the short period of time after it was stolen and he was still alive) for marginal point discount, which is OK, since his BARE FUCKING HANDS are AP2 with Smash, and strike on initiative. Oh, and the hammer also strikes at normal initiative, since Ferrus is so bad ass.
**'''Medusan Carapace:''' Gives Ferrus a 2+ armour save 3+ invulnerable save. The backpack incorporates a nuncio vox and servo arm, and he may choose to fire any two of the following in the shooting phase: Plasma blaster, Graviton gun, Grenade harness (unlimited usage) and Heavy flamer. With this toy, Ferrus is by far the most effective of the Primarchs when it comes to ranged combat (well, until Lorgar starts to throw around titan-killing mind bullets).

*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Emperor's Children:'''
**'''Ultramarines:'''
**'''Mechanicum:'''
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</div>

====XII Legion: [[World Eaters]]====
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[[File:World Eaters Pre-Heresy Pauldron.jpg|100px|left]]
"Up close and personal" is the phrase that defines this psycho melee legion. The basic attacks of every unit are outright deadlier than your average legion, meaning whatever is on the business end of their chainaxes gets to Eat a World of hurt (heh), and it only goes up from there. A legion of blood-on-white contrasts, the allegiances and RoWs you choose will mark a ''pronounced'' difference in gameplay, but regardless of the bloody path you select the end result will be the same: Carnage and piles of bodies.

Being one of Horus' original Four, their Traitor version gets more options than the Loyalists; Angron and his Butchers are some examples. Caedere weapons leave much to be desired, and because they are specialized for close quarters battle their shooting phase is the same as most other legions', the same goes for their vehicles which are but transports for your men, as well as sources of anti-tank. Their tactics call for them to leave their deployment zone, meaning this legion isn't one to defend ground or man fortresses.

Deadly against anything not wearing power armour, they can still get the upper hand in Astartes vs Astartes fights by forcing failed saves and winning close combats, and their wide access to FnP will make them stand out on infantry-heavy battles (especially on ZM's close quarters), but struggle against mechanized lists, since vehicles don't bleed. But as long as you're able to crack open their transports and get Your Dudes where you need them to be then your blades will do their red work.

If to you War is the matter of ''seeking out your enemies, attacking as soon you're able and with all the force at your command, rending their soldiers and smashing their fortresses, leaving only corpses behind you and moving on'' then join the ranks of the Bloody Twelfth.

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*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''Incarnate Violence:<sup>(ICL2)</sup>''' WE units may reroll 1's to wound on the turn they charge. Also, Characters with this rule gain +1 WS when fighting in a challenge - ''Remember that 'Chosen Warriors' aren't characters, even if they can get into challenges, so neither Command nor Rampager squads improve their WS''.
**'''Bloodlust:''' Must consolidate after assault towards something they can hurt. If they fail a morale check in assault, roll a D6. On a 4+ they count as passing and gain Rage. ''A nice little rule that may allow a [[Squad_Broken|broken squad]] to hold a little longer, but losing control can be annoying, and Rampage would have been better''.
***'''Blood Madness:<sup>(HH2)</sup>''' World Eaters can replace Bloodlust with this rule (only Traitors have access to it, and only after the events of Istvaan). Units with this rule have the Rage special rule, no need to fail morale tests or whatever. Also, they must always attempt to Sweeping Advance, cannot voluntarily Go to Ground or fail a Morale check and, after they win an assault, they must consolidate towards the nearest enemy unit that they can hurt. ''You don't need to reroll dice if your enemy is dead''.
***On the broad picture ALL your infantry gets better for assault, and if you bring means to reroll hits, like a Chaplain or use Berserker Assault (Hatred) you'll earn a [[Rage|kick in the powerballs]] from your opponent. ''Don't '''ever''' make Disordered charges though''. 20-man tactical squads are fine and all being the cheapest option, but now with the Assault Marines points drop and the fact that Apothecaries can take jump packs, 20-man Assault blobs are the way to go with non-negotiable free Chainaxes (that have been buffed to S+1 AP4 FUCK POWER MAULS) and access to more CQC goodies, having both a much greater chance of stabbing something and less of the weaknesses a footslogging squad would have by virtue of reaching the enemy quicker. And if any of those [[Fist_of_the_North_Star|''81 attacks @S5 AP4'']] squads don't convince you, Weaponmaster Veterans with power swords inflict ~19.44 unsaved wounds on MEQs while being ''CHEAPER'', fitting in a Dreadclaw, having cheap Meltabombs, and if you pick them as Marksmen they still inflict ~15 wounds.
**'''Exhortations of Butchery:<sup>(HH6)</sup>''' A rule added to all <u>Traitor</u> World Eaters Apothecaries and Primus Medicae after the Shadow Crusade in a little sidebar on Gahlan Surlak's page, so he's not the only one who gets the rule. It allows a unit with an attached Apothecary to turn their Butchers Nails up to eleven, granting them +1 extra attack in any assault phase, but you have to roll a D6 for each model that does so. If you roll a one, that model is ''removed from play'' with no saves allowed. There is no unsaved wound so FnP doesn't apply either, and the model doesn't simply take a wound but is ''removed from play'', aka ''it also kills Butchers''. This rule does not apply to Characters of any kind, so you can't beef up your Praetor (or Kharn) or even your squad sergeants, just the grunts.
***It's not something to use all the time but it has uses and it's worth remembering it. This allows you to ramp up and ensure you kill a squad in their assault phase so you can immediately move on to another target and not absorb another round of shooting. Still, no one can deny the sheer power of a 20 WE squad with Blood Madness ''and'' Exhortations of Butchery: '''100''' attacks! ~13 enemy dead ME''h''Qs or whopping '''~65 dead GEQ''' (''10'' dead Thallax!). Against other things, remember there's no reward for overkill (Power weapon Vets already decimate 20 man squads, Butchers already kill full Cataphractii squads). ''Enemy blob? You mean those red chunks on the ground?''.

*'''Rite of War: Berserker Assault<sup>(ICL)</sup>''' - ''It improves your melee without hurting your ranged game. No real drawbacks here.''
**'''Berserk Charge:''' All models with the Legiones Astartes (World Eaters) outside of their deployment zone (and if you play World Eaters this will be a given) gain Hatred and must attempt to Sweeping Advance if able.
**'''Unstoppable Wave:''' World Eaters must reroll failed Pinning tests and re-roll Run rolls of "1".
**Must take an additional compulsory Troops choice in this Detachment.
**May not take more Tanks or Flyers than you have Infantry units in this Detachment - ''So the few you can take make them either high capacity transports like Spartans, Kharybdis or Storm Eagles.''
**May only take a single Consul and it may not be a Librarian - ''Make it a Champion then. MC weapon & WS6 will make him as killy as a normal Praetor, but cheaper.''
**Primary Detachments cannot take a Fortification, nor may they take any Space Marine Legion as allies. Mechanicum are good to go, though. Nor does it stop you using this rite as an allied force to Space Marines.

*'''Rite of War: The Crimson Path<sup>(HH6)</sup>''' - ''This rite increases your units survivability by a considerable margin but it does little to boost your damage potential and it forces you to take the fight to the very heart of the enemy.''
**'''Forlorn Hope:''' All infantry models with LA (World Eaters) get Feel No Pain or +1 if the already had it (up to 3+) ''while within the Enemy's Deployment zone''.
***Read that again, '''this RoW ONLY works within the enemy's deployment zone''' meaning (contrary to what the book may lead you to think) this rite isn't meant for closing the distance through No-man's-Land, but rather to endure right in the enemy's face. Take Kharn to go first, grab units that Deepstrike/Infiltrate/Scout, maybe use the LR Proteus' Explorator Augury to boost your reserves, ANYTHING to get as much of your units as you can in the enemy's deployment zone as soon as possible. ''"Attack as soon as you are able and with all the force at your command"'', remember? It wasn't just some fluffy quote, it's your ticket to <u>make the enemy's battle-plan the first casualty</u>.
***''Get yourself plenty of Apothecaries then so your units have 4+, don't forget "Exhortations of Butchery" either. Take Gahlan Surlak for FnP (3+) on his own squad and disposable units with FnP (5+) even without Apothecaries.'' Rampagers and <u>Butchers</u> also become 5+ without Apothecaries.
**'''Unto Death:''' Independent Characters with LA (World Eaters) get ''It Will Not Die'' or add +1 to IWND rolls if they already had it (up to 4+), ''while within the Enemy's Deployment zone''. It can be funny when your T5 (jet)Bike Centurions not only start ignoring wounds from Power Fists, but actually [https://youtu.be/TIZSjK46dUg?t=11 regenerate said wounds].
***Note that neither of these rules work on Angron, who might have otherwise become much more resilient when using this Rite, [[Fail|shame]].
**Your enemy scores +1 victory point if your World Eaters '''do not''' achieve Linebreaker or Attrition objectives in missions that use them.
**You may not take any immobile units, nor may you take any unit with the ''Slow & Purposeful'' rule. ''Cataphractii terminators don't have S&P since the last FAQ''.
**You may not take a fortification (kek) or allied space marine legion detachment.
***''You however still be an allied detachment and considering how this RoW is all about being in the enemies deployment zone it would make a good allied detachment for a Perturabo led primary detachment''
*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Chainaxes:''' ''NOW WITH '''+1S'''!!'' Any model equipped with a Chainsword (or terminator with a power weapon) can replace it with a Chainaxe for free, <sup>July 2018 FAQ</sup> provided it's represented on the model. This results in WE being very powerful in close combat as you essentially have access to free better CCW to go along with your bolt pistol. Against non-Marine armies it's excellent since basically all of your (numerous) melee attacks will ignore armour saves; against Legions it'll still be useful for the free extra attack, increased chance to wound and shredding through vs Recon Marines and Vigilators. Your Solar Auxillia and Mechanicum foes will weep. Support Squads can now be given a CCW extra, so for WE that means they can get a ''Chainaxe extra''. Nothing will survive your army of [[Battle_of_Skalathrax|Skalathrax pattern mad-men armed with flamers and chain axes]].
**'''Caedere Weapons:''' Any World Eater Character can exchange their chainsword or combat blade (read: Chainaxe) for a Caedere weapon for 15pts. These are uh, how shall we say it... okay they just suck for the most part. These weapons cost as much or more than a power weapon depending on if they're bought for an IC or Squad C, replace the excellent Chainaxe and generally have shitty AP or severe penalties; in most situations you'd just want a stock Power weapon instead.
***'''Meteor Hammer''' (+2S, AP5, Specialist, Two-handed, ''Concussion'', ''+1 Initiative''): This ball-and-chain can allow you to attack first and with better wound and pen odds, and when fighting characters/monsters the Concussion CAN downgrade a mighty foe to Initiative 1 over a protracted fight... but unless you throw out lots of attacks, you'll never get that far because anything more armored than a Servitor just [[Tank#Character_Role|tanks]] these strikes. The World Eaters pinch the EC's trick of attacking earlier with this weapon, which is nice but also a little redundant with Concussive. Probably the best overall option with the new Legion Astartes rule as the reroll means they essentially have Shred; a Cheap sergeant, Centurion or Consul could use one of these to tie up much heftier enemies (where they may not be ignoring saves anyway) in a challenge, striking sooner and harder than usual anyway. ''Sometimes''.
*** '''Excoriator Chainaxe''' (+1S, AP3, 2-handed, Specialist, ''Shred'', Unwieldy): Stronger lightning claw that hits on I1 if you want to look at it charitably; ''weaker Shred power axe that's Two-handed'' (and costlier for sergeants) if you want to look at it accurately. Shredding makes them superior when facing MEQs, but their main purpose would be to hunt Mechanicum units...if the vanilla chainaxes weren't also +1Str, FREE and their AP4 didn't already ignore most Mechanicum 4+ saves anyway. Srsly, when a <sub>traitor</sub> Tactical squad can inflict 31 wounds on Thallax-equivalents and even a loyalist one can do 11.6 to Vorax, what need do you have for Excoriator axes, considering they still wound Castellax on a 6? In short, making Chainaxes bigger [[Fail|somehow does not make them better]].
*** '''Twin Falax Blades''' (S as user, AP5, Melee, Specialist, +1 Attack, ''Rending''): These big kukris rely on Rending for anything with a 4+ save or better. Better than a power sword vs Terminators, since AP3 wasn't helping anyway and unlike axes, these strike on initiative. Still, don't expect much from them with any reliability.
****Fun fact, even though these are clearly two blades their rules are written in a way that they're a single Close Combat Weapon, so give these to a Praetor to give him one extra Close Combat attack (for using two weapons with the Specialist Weapon rule) when using his Paragon Blade or TWO extra close combat attacks when using the Twin Falax (one for extra close combat weapon and one for their special rule). It's actually cheaper than buying him another specialist weapon... but a Power Fist or Lightning Claw would still likely do better.
*** '''Barb-Hook Lash''' (S as user, AP5, Melee, Specialist, ''Fleshbane''): This will wound, but almost anyone can still get their armour saves. This is your MC hunter, but don't use it against Death Guard marines.
***In all earnesty, the value of the four items presented here are so poor by the standards of other Legions that it isn't even funny. We're not talking about the obnoxious examples like Power Glaives and Legatine Axes, just the balanced ones like Nostraman Chainglaives, Phoenix Power Spears and Deathshroud Power Scythes. Even the relatively weak ones like Calibanite Warblades still have utility over the Caedere bunch. The flavour for these items are awesome, but a gruesome World Eaters' assault force is almost always better served by regular Power Weapons. In terms of a bonus to the Legion, free Chainaxes are so much greater than these weapons. They do look ''cool as hell'' when modeled though, so it's basically 15 points to buy a useless side-arm that makes your model look much more badass.
** '''Earth Breaker Trident (Relic):''' It's a trident specialist weapon that is S+2, AP2 Unwieldy in melee, ''so a mere Power fist is better''. Its saving trait? It can be thrown once per game (and therefore can no longer be used) using the model's BS for a S10 AP1 Instant Death hit that if it kills anything in this manner, tank or person, then the trident stays where it landed and causes Dangerous terrain within 12" for the rest of the game. Buildings lose 1HP per turn, ''so they are pretty much done for''. Be careful, however: the rules state the Trident does its thing whenever it kills something after being thrown, so, '''if it misses, or rolls a 1 to wound or it's stopped by an invuln save then it does [https://youtu.be/BPfc4LDZHbw?t=104 jack-shit].'''

*'''Rampager Squads:''' [[Khorne Berzerkers]] before they were cool, Rampagers are elite Assault Squads who were violent and bloodthirsty even before they fell to [[Khorne]]. The most destructive were known as ''Butchers'', and had to be physically restrained in between battles. They're like an alternative Veteran Tactical Squad but with fewer options, unable to perform many of the same tasks but can be given Jump Packs and with Scout do have some use as a harassing unit. They have FNP 6+ so are marginally more survivable, but more expensive, even more so after the update. Also their Chosen Warriors rule allow them to issue and accept challenges. They really come into their own against non-Marine armies, specially against targets that are [[Adeptus_Mechanicus|slow, bad at melee that rely on high Toughness to make up for their sub-MEQ armour]], so they are a ''must have'' when fighting Mechanicum - High mobility melee squad that will wound/ignore their armour saves. One good thing about them is that they can be taken as Elites AND/OR Fast Attack, so if they end up competing with your other choices you can just move them over.
**Only the Champion can take a power weapon while the rest of the squad get the option of the Caedere weaponry, heavy chainswords, or the default chainaxe. If you take Excoriator Axes they do alright as butchers of MEQ squads, but Veteran Tactical Squads all with power swords/axes could have done the same job for for way less cost and with better WS. A good way when going against marines is to have them all equipped with Meteor Hammers so your squad can pull the same trick as the Emperors Children and strike first, each with 4 attacks on the charge (with Rage), throw in a Chaplain (for Zealot) or use Berserker Assault and bury your opponent under loads of armour saves. With Surlak boosting them, a squad of 9 w/ meteor hammers & hatred will ~statistically~ kill 12 MEQ or 6 TEQ on the charge, before the enemy even gets to swing. Make of that what you will, but don't look at Palantine blades because you will get jealous. You probably won't even notice that they exist, but you could instead take heavy chainswords which are essentially meteor hammers that give up their special initiative rules in exchange for costing half as much; don't bother, if you're on a budget you're better off sticking with the default axes. As with pretty much every MEQ squad, the sarge can and should upgrade to artificer armor.
**Alternate take: go for the barb hook lashes. Their AP is low, but Chainaxes were already getting stopped by power armor and better anyway, and with fleshbane combined with incarnate violence almost every hit will wound anything with a toughness value. Mechanicum armies will cry oil and blood, and even terminators will buckle under the sheer amount of wounds you're causing, just stay away from vehicles.
**If you don’t take them with jump packs, a scouting Land Raider Phobos is an interesting and not commonly seen option. While an expensive choice that could struggle to earn its points back, you’ll probably have to accept that by fielding Rampagers at all. A 12 inch scout move creates a very large threat range for a turn 2 assault . Going full speed, they can move 42 inches by turn 2 '''before''' rolling for charge range! Don’t forget you can just drive straight through any pesky infantry in your way. Alternatively, you can also choose to outflank them in their Land Raider, rampaging (heh) through your enemy’s backlines if left unchecked.
**Overall, Rampagers just aren’t a very good unit. They do have some niche options you can’t get elsewhere; unfortunately it’s likely another unit could be used to do the same thing better and for cheaper too. Until they get a rules update, probably left for friendly games.

*'''Red Butchers:''' At Istvaan III many WE's utterly succumbed into frenzied superhumans that couldn't be controlled, so their armour was remade into an ambulatory prison so that they could be used as attack dogs (''"War Hounds", if you will''). 5-10 Cataphractii-Armour-wearing beatsticks with Power Axes and Combi-Bolters that can be swapped for yet another Power Axe for free (and with [[Ork|BS2]] you are better that way). Any model can take Lightning Claws, while the sergeant can also take Fists, Chainfists or a Thunder hammer. They are Fearless and have Hatred. They also may re-roll charge distances and get five WS5 re-rollable attacks ''each'' on the charge (or 6 attacks from the boss with chain fist), but they are always struck in CC on a 3+. Still, with 2+/4++ saves and FnP 6+ they can soak most other damage they receive. The only drawbacks are they can never score, which in ''"Age of Darkness"'' games means nothing since Elite's didn't score anyway (except on some missions, or in Pride lists) and additionally, being hit on a 3+ can be a problem against enemy Terminators since Butchers cost more and their 2 Wounds + FnP will be negated by the Power Fists the enemy is carrying, which they themselves lack. So stay the fuck away from anything with S8 and don't be so stupid as to charge something that will bog them down not because you're afraid (they kill 17 Cataphractii or 43 Levies on assault), but because you want them charging again and again and again... Note: if for some crazed reason you play loyalist World Eaters, you cannot take this unit, despite the fact that their fluff blurb literally says they could be found among both loyal and traitor forces at Istvaan III.
**It's worth noting that butchers can swap one of their two power axes for a chain axe. While any WE in terminator armour can do this, only butchers actually benefit from this, as it’s a straight upgrade compared to a second power axe. They gain the option to trade AP2 for AP4 and to drop unwieldy. As it has the same strength bonus, it’s straight up better against anything in less than power armour and has some more subtle benefits. If you're fighting a nasty unit that isn't unwieldy (for example a unit of Suzerains and their ultra-axes) you can squeeze out some cheeky chain axe hits from the dudes who are likely to die and do nothing anyway. Alternatively, if you want to stay locked in combat because there’s a squadron of vindicators looking your way, you can use chain axes to intentionally reduce your damage under the safety of fearless. When it's your opponent's turn you can switch back to power axes to finish them off. For a completely free alternative, there’s no reason to skip on the chain axes unless you’re going for twin lightning claws.
**For transport options these guys can take either the Proteus or Phobos models of Land Raider (hint: one of them is an assault vehicle) or if you want to get beaten over the head with a model from your own army they can have a Spartan Assault Tank. Whatever transport you give them, make sure to buy it frag assault launchers since these guys are too far-gone to know how to use hand grenades.

*'''Red Hand Destroyer Assault Squad:''' Can't decide between Rampagers or Destroyers to fill your elite slot? Why not combine them into one for less cost, unless you are counting the playtest rules from the FAQ. Seriously, these guys literally do everything a normal Destroyer squad can do, ''(except buy variant pistols or use Psyk-out weapons, but you want rad missiles anyway)'' and have bonus rules on top, so you'll never take regular Destroyers ever again. They all have access to Caedere weapons for <u>sensible</u> costs, meaning they are considerably cheaper than an equivalent squad of Rampagers too, but they can also be bought in squads if up to 15, which means they really have the potential to put some hurt on if maxed out.
**Unlike both Destroyers and Rampagers, Red Hand squads can take 1 thunder hammer per 5 models for 20 points, which might seem expensive. Crucially however, this weapon replaces one of the models bolt pistols. Why is this good? Because a model can replace a pistol with a thunder hammer, then replace their close combat weapon with a 2 point Barb-hook lash (which doesn't have the two handed rule) giving them an extra attack due to 2 specialist weapons. Including the sarge with a power fist (who sadly doesn't have access to the same trick), this means a maxed out Red Hand squad puts out a whooping 20 S8 Ap2 attacks on the charge for almost 10 AP2 wounds ''(without hatred or exhortations of butchery!)'', deleting even custodes or bikers with ID thanks to rad grenades.
**Beyond their wargear options. They have two special tricks. The primary one allows them to essentially claim a +1 bonus to combat resolution on a turn that they charge, meaning that even if they don't kill anyone, there is a potential that they can still win combat, but also affects enemy leadership when they actually do win. They also gain +1 to sweeping advance rolls when they win, although this really just cancels out the -1 to sweeping advance distance they suffer due to hardened armour. This combination feels like they are even giving Emperor's Children a run for their money.
**Their second rule is a bit more iffy. They '''must''' declare a charge if able to do so when they start the Assault phase within 12" of an enemy unit.
**As mentioned, their Caedere upgrades are actually reasonably priced. For 2 points per model each man can have a Meteor Hammer and strike at S6 with I5. Combine this with Rad Grenades means they are usually striking first, with four attacks each ''(using Rage)'', wounding on 2+, rerolling 1s ''(thanks to incarnate violence)'' and are Insta-Killing space marines with every failed save, sure these weapons might not have favourable AP, so make sure they're given Hatred (via Zealot from a Chaplain or Berserker Assault) and ideally Exhortation of Butchery (either from Surlak or an Apothecary) if they're going to be taking on anything with a 2+ save. Like Rampagers, a squad with these buffs will cause 0.607 wounds per Red Hand to TEQ's or 1.214 wounds per Red Hand to MEQ's (so a squad of 5 will kill 3 TEQ's on average, or 6 MEQ's before they can be struck back). Unlike Rampagers, their wave of AP2 attacks can pulverise pretty much anything, provided they live long enough to strike. So anything that dies to to meteors hammers before they can strike back increases the odds of your heavy hitters being able apply maximum squelch at Initiative 1.
***Note, like Rampagers, despite having good damage output, you should be careful with your targets, because like Rampagers there's nothing really helping them beat another close combat squad that has more bodies than they do and can't easily be broken on the charge. As a quick example, if they're charged into an Assault Squad that has power axes, extra Marines and something like a Chaplain (or Terminators who don't break), your Red Hand squad can get fucked up real fast. In these cases you're going to need a character who can kill the Chaplain ASAP or you're going to want to soften them up with Rad Missiles first, if not avoid them entirely.
**[https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/12/07/plug-in-your-butchers-nails-and-destroy-the-loyalists-in-this-horus-heresy-exemplary-battle/ Their rules can be found here]

*'''Shabran Darr:<sup>(ICL)</sup>''' Badass officer of the World Eaters who rose quickly through the ranks to become a Centurion but was slated to die in the Isstvan Massacre. Managed to kill hundreds of his former battle-brothers before he was cornered and killed, but not before taking several of them with him. Game-wise (and following the Character creation rules of HH4) he is comparable to a Champion: WS6 Master crafted Chainaxe that becomes Rending in a challenge (along with +1WS), and causes Fear when he's the warlord. Not too bad if you're playing against Traitors because he gains Hatred against them, but otherwise no point in taking him, as any WE gains Hatred against ''everything'' in Berzerker Assault regardless of loyalty, and Rending is better provided by Falax blades.

*'''Gahlan Surlak:<sup>(HH6)</sup>''' Master Apothecary (Primus Medicae), his statline and gear are slightly above average for a Consul but you take him for the sheer number of buffs he can provide to a traitor World Eaters army. Firstly, any Tactical squad in his army can be upgraded to Augmented Inductii, granting them +1 Strength and FnP (6+) at the cost of -1 BS and no longer being be a scoring unit or be able to be joined by independent characters. However these Inductii squads are essentially disposable and no longer provide victory points when destroyed, meaning you've got a squad whose primary purpose is to be thrown directly at the enemy without too much loss. Equip them with pistol/chainaxes and you've got your Khorne Berserker precursors right there. In fact, you might actually gain by the destruction of your Inductii due to Surlak's Medicae Primus rule ''Sacred Trust'' which grants his side a victory point on a 5+ if he's within 6" of a friendly squad going down, and this DOES work on Inductii who do not confer it to your opponents. And if that's not enough for you (holy shit) his Narthecium Primus grants he and his squad FnP(4+) (''becoming 3+ in The Crimson Path'') as well as forcing poison attacks to be rerolled, so he will be part of your Deathstar, hands down. On top of his ''"Exhortations of Butchery"'' (see above) he is an extremely good character to have in your army.
**Surlak has a very unusual wording for his ''Support Officer'' rule, whereby '''"If chosen as part of a <u>Primary Detachment</u> he cannot be taken as a compulsory HQ choice".''' This wording is a bit more specific than the typical ''Legion Support Officer'' rule that applies to Legion Consuls so it means you can take him as the leader of an allied detachment.
***Taking Surlak as your allied HQ has a second, more subtle benefit. Seeing as World Eaters are “Distrusted Allies” with nine factions on the Allies chart ''(Y axis)'', ten if you also count the Alpha Legion who are even worse. Then when taken along with these armies, your units can't score anyway, so your Augmented Inductii technically have no drawback.

[[File:FWKharn.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Kharn]]
*'''[[Kharn]] the <s>Betrayer</s> Bloody:<sup>(ICL)</sup>''' Before he was [[Battle of Scalathrax|setting his battle-brothers on fire]] Kharn was Captain of the [[Khorne|8th]] Assault Company. With 2+/4++ saves is more survivable than his 40k incarnation, but is slightly less killy with base 4 attacks and no bonus to hit beyond WS7, or Primarch-level '''WS8''' on challenges. Though he does have the Rampage USR meaning he gets more attacks each turn when outnumbered. If you don't have Angron in the same force, then for +20 pts Kharn may change 'the Cutter' (His AP3 rending Machete) for '''Gorechild''', Angron's own chainaxe which behaves like an [[Awesome|Armourbane Paragon Blade]]. With The Cutter Kharn can get up to 10 ATTACKS in combat if he charges, has Rage, while outnumbered and is also lucky with his rolls, which has the potential to murder anything without a decent invun save. Taking Gorechild turns him into one of the most powerful Praetor-level characters, on par with Sigismund, Sevatar and the like. Kharn's warlord trait grants him ''+1 to rolls to determine first turn AND Seize the Initiative'', boons extremely important for a melee legion. He's also one of the cheapest Praetor level characters ''(see Loken, Eidolon, Typhon, Abaddon, Autek Mor, Rhy'tan)'' and is only 15 points more than a Praetor with the same gear but a lot more special rules and even without paying for Gorechild he WILL get stuck in to squads, yet with Gorechild he will comfortably mince most other characters.
**Like Abaddon, Kharn may reroll chart results relating to character injuries and casualties within the context of campaign games.

[[File:Angaron.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Angron]]
*'''[[Angron]]:''' 400 points is a middle of the road, but a fair price for the Primarch who was nicknamed [[RIP AND TEAR|the Red Angel]]. Hatred (Everything) is both appropriate and useful, while his Red Sands rule lets him call and fight as many Challenges as there are ICs and enemy units in combat with him up to the number of his attacks, dedicating at least one to each of the Challenges. His Sire of the World Eaters rule gives him the benefits of FnP and Furious Charge, and also gives all World Eaters unit with the Legiones Astartes rule Fearless as long as they remain within 12" of him. It also forces Angron to move towards the nearest enemy when making consolidation moves, which can be risky if the nearest enemy is too far away for him to engage but otherwise lets him kill things even faster. However he only has 5 Wounds, so try not to go too far in over your head and if you're facing a shooty army, make sure there's a transport he can ride in so he doesn't get shot up charging at someone on the other side of the battlefield. His weapons Gorefather and Gorechild are listed as a single close combat weapon (because the bonus attack is included in his profile), combine this with the fact he carries a plasma pistol and by Khorne you have 7 attacks on the charge. (6 Base with the 1 attack for the special rules for Gorefather and Gorechild included in his profile and your attack for charging). This gets even better with every time you kill a unit or Independent character '''up to a maximum of 10 base attacks'''. So to recap, when he's fully buffed by the Butcher's Nails he gets a grand total of 11 WS9 Strength 9 attacks on the charge <br>Be careful, though, because while everyone else is a force-multiplier for their army, Angron is pretty much just a beat-stick, and one that's quite capable of being shot to death to boot. His presence on the field does mean traitor WE are getting both Rage and a morale boost, while loyal WE aren't really getting either.<br>Angron is equipped with the following Wargear:
**'''Armour of [[Mars]]''': Modified from the armour he wore on his gladiator days, it grants a [[Fail|3+ Armor save]] and a 4+ Invulnerable save. Could be better. Defense may not be an issue when you can annihilate everything in melee range before most threats even get to swing, but if you never get there then there's a problem.
**'''Gorefather and Gorechild''': Angron's paired signature chainaxes grant an extra +1 to his already outrageous Attack and Strength and also possess AP2 and the Armorbane and Murderous Strike rules (a roll of 6 to wound is instant death). Good luck trying to survive against that. It is repeatedly claimed by some morons that Angron gets a further +1 attack from having his pistol. Forge World has directly stated that this is not true as Gorefather and Gorechild require both hands for Angron to wield. Anyone who tries to claim otherwise is cheating and should be called out for it.
**'''The Spite Furnace:''' A Master Crafted Plasma Pistol. If you are using this instead of rushing into the enemy's face and tearing them limb from limb, you're doing it wrong, but who knows? A BS5 MC plasma shot before charging can't go wrong.
**'''The Butcher's Nails:''' A souvenir from his foster-homeworld: metal probes in the [[RAGE]]-centers of his brain. This is what turns Angron from plain deadly to an unstoppable force on the battlefield. For each IC or Infantry (of any type) Angron kills in close combat (or at least makes the killing blow/removes the last model), he gets a +1 to Attack for the rest of the game, to a maximum of 10 ''total'' base attacks. ''Remember to call as many challenges you can with Red Sands''.
**'''Frag Grenades:''' High-rider weapons not fit for a warrior on the hot dust.
*'''Weaknesses:''' Angron's first and biggest weakness is his 3+ armour save, and there are a lot of AP3+ weapons in the Horus Heresy, which prevents him footslogging, let alone going solo. He's also ''too'' good at melee, since if he's butchered the entire squad he's up against he often gets gunned down by all of the units around it, but he won't gain any benefit from sweep advancing them. Thus, give this beatstick a retinue of beatsticks, like Red Butchers. Also, keep him inside a transport and/or have a spare transport nearby.

*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Iron Warriors:''' Fairly obvious as to how this works- they use their Pinning HBs to lock down the opponent, and you finish them off in melee. Their Iron Havocs and Tyrant Siege Terminators can also be a big help in patching up your lackluster ranged anti-armor.
</div>
</div>

====XIII Legion: [[Ultramarines]]====
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[[File:XIII legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.png|100px|left|]]
The Ultramarines play as a mix of 40k and 30k, understandably so because their Primarch wrote the codex. Like the Imperial Fists, they prove that being "vanilla" doesn't necessarily mean being bad. They've got the closest thing to ATSKNF out of any Legion, and their special rules are geared towards making an army that can become more than the sum of its parts. All their unique squads have a lovely 2+ save and their unique wargear is fairly cheap for what it gives you. Said unique units are also surprisingly good in melee if you kit them out correctly, and while most of them are not going to out-assault the World Eaters, they can still take an unprepared opponent off guard. They've also got access to the Invictarus Suzerains who are, point for point, arguably the best melee unit in the entire game (especially if you've brought Guilliman along).

On the other hand, the adage "jack of all trades, master of none" aptly sums up their vulnerabilities. They can adapt to a wide variety of situations, but they will rarely if ever excel in any one of them compared to the other Legions. Furthermore, their army is geared towards MSU spam, and that tends to be very expensive in 30k. Regardless, they're forgiving enough to be a good first army for players new to the new Horus Heresy ruleset.

<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''Interlocking Tactics:''' Several bonuses for the Legion. First, units with the ''Legiones Astartes (Ultramarines)'' that shoot at a unit already hit by another Ultramarine unit that phase reroll 1s on Penetration or To Wound rolls, essentially cursing a unit to suffer pseudo Tank Hunters/Shred. ''(Doesn't apply to blast weapons or snapshots)''. Additionally, units with the ''Legiones Astartes (Ultramarines)'' that charge at an enemy already engaged in close combat with another Ultramarine unit may reroll failed charge distances. Note that the first unit that shoots/charges doesn't necessarily needs to be a unit with the ''Legiones Astartes (Ultramarines)'' rule for this bonus to come into play, as long as it is from the same detachment and it's not a Super-Heavy, Flyer, Servo-Automata or Battle-Automata. Keep in mind those ''DON'T'' benefit from this rule, only units with ''Legiones Astartes (Ultramarines)'' do. ''With this, it pays to pick off enemy units one at a time, as well as bringing multiple small units which can support each other, a tactic the majority of the legions have trouble dealing with.''
***Recon and Tactical Support squads excel at "painting" targets for the rest of your army by virtue of having long range, being cheap and able to score, so they can sit on objectives in the backfield while still contributing to your army. Other options may be cheaper, but only Troop choices have the slots to spare, and the heavier options are better off taking advantage of the rerolls rather than merely marking targets (eg. a few snipers setting up rerolling Volkites). The best part? [[Markerlight|You only need ''to hit'' a target to designate it]], wounds aren't needed. Thus it's awesome when the marking is done by a unit that [[Troll|can't even hurt the target]], say, Dedicated Transports like a Drop Pod or rhino painting a Spartan with their twin-bolter so your Lascannon Heavy Support Squad blows it up. That right there was probably the most Ultramarine thing ever, your army truly complementing each other. Works best when a small unit supports a full one, though.
***The charge range reroll greatly benefits Breachers with their sluggish Hardened Armour.
**'''Certainty and Resolve:''' Ultramarines take Regroup and Fear tests at an unmodified Ld 10. ''Not quite ATSKNF, but it's still the closest you'll ever get to auto-regrouping in 30k. They do make the 3" move, though, with all the restrictions that implies.''
**'''Rigid Chain of Command:''' If the Ultramarine detachment loses its Warlord then every unit without an attached Independent Character must take an immediate Pinning test. Additionally, if all HQ units are killed the opponent gains a bonus Victory Point, so bring up a backup Centurion. ''Kinda like the Night Lords''
***The February 2019 FAQ added a separate set of conditions when you take Roboute Guilliman in your army. Namely that if he ever pops his clogs, the entire army has to take immediate pinning checks ''(including those with attached Independent Characters)''. The opponent also gains the additional Victory point no matter how many HQ units are left too. This is on top of slaying the Warlord, and the Price of Failure, so basically if Guilliman goes down, Ultramarines will be struggling hard to save their game.

*'''New Rite of War: The Logos Lectora''' - ''Grants your infantry a little extra versatility by making them a little more [[Alpha_Legion|difficult to predict]], but it's a very rigid formation that takes away much tactical flexibility from your army and leaves it struggling to keep up with more specialized Legions' RoWs.''
**Akin to their 40k doctrines, all models with the Legiones Astartes (Ultramarines) rule as well as any Dreadnoughts in the detachment gain one of the following benefits each turn. Only one effect can be active at a time, but you can keep a given effect active as long as you like, choosing which one you want to have at the beginning of the turn:
***'''Full March:''' Re-roll run distances. ''For closing the gap so you can [[Rip and Tear]].''
***'''Hold Fast:''' If a unit doesn't move, it can fire Snap Shots at BS2. ''Helps Overwatch, but if you're going to get attacked you may prefer Retributive Strike. There are much better alternatives for anti-air.''
***'''Retributive Strike:''' Gain Counter-Attack - ''For when you're about to get charged. Great if you're planning to play a space Roman legion style army with Breachers and Invictarus Suzerains.''
**Must take an extra compulsory HQ choice, and it must be either a Master of Signals or a Damocles Command Rhino - ''The MoS might be the better choice due to the synergy with Interlocking Tactics and the tank limit. Besides, you kinda need 2 HQ anyway''.
**Must take an extra compulsory Troops choice.
**May not deploy more Tanks or Flyers combined than Infantry. - ''Remember that Independent Characters are all Infantry units, so you can take some Rhinos for your Tactical Squads and still have [[Sicaran Battle Tank|some]] [[Storm Eagle|nasty]] [[Spartan Assault Tank|toys]]''.
**Nobody can Infiltrate or Deep Strike; any unit which has to Deep Strike to enter play cannot be used. Normal Reserves are fine, though.
***While this rite lacks the usual "No allies" limitation, the 2 additional compulsory choices coupled with the usually high price of an Ultramarine army means you might not have the points needed to bring any meaninful allies, which is a shame because Iron Hands and Imperial army, both Sworn Brothers to the Ultramarines, could very easily add the armoured support this detachment somewhat lacks.

*'''New Rite of War: Vigil Opertii Mission''' - ''A RoW similar to Sacrificial Offering in its dependency on an Allied Detachment of Imperial Militia/Warp Cults, but focuses on using them as extra infantry support and scoring rather than making them into meatshields. Using Invictarus Suzerains can be helpful given their Ld +1 bubble.''
**'''Vigil Auxilia:'''All Infantry units in the Allied Detachment gain Infiltrators.
**'''Sacred Duty:'''All Infantry in the Allied Detachment gain Implacable Advance.
**'''Overseers:''' Legion Recon Squads lose the Support Squad rule, and so can be taken as compulsory Troops.
**Must Take an Allied detachment from the Imperialis Militia & Warp Cult, and this MUST take the Gene-Crafted and Warrior Elite Provenances of War. Also, it may not use Inducted Levy Squads.
***Granted, Warrior Elite kept you from taking Levy Squads as compulsory troops choices anyway and your role is to support the Marines, not take hits for them.
**Must take a Legion Vigilator Consul.
**Can only be taken by Loyalists.

*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Gladius Invictus (Relic):''' Latin for INVINCIBLE SWORD, this is a +1S Rending Power Sword that has the Charnabal Saber gimmick of +1 Initiative in a challenge. It also IGNORES saves derived from having shields. This is not as fantastic as it sounds because most units with access to storm shields (Firedrakes, Imperial Fists, etc.) also have 2+ armour saves as well, which the sword will struggle against, so it doesn't live up to its name. It's not a Specialist weapon, thus it's better than a Legatine Axe for carving a path through most MEQs and the occasional Boarding/Combat shielded marines. Or for 10 pts more you could bring another Centurion.
**'''Legatine Axe:''' A kind of cheaper Paragon Blade. It's a Specialist Weapon with no bonus to Str, but enjoy [[Rip_and_Tear|''AP2 on initiative'']] available to all your ICs. The cherry on the cake? To Hit rolls of 6 wound automatically. Yes, it isn't Murderous Strike but that's what the real Paragon blade is for. ''This means that 1/6 of your attacks will wound, regardless of any other factors like toughness or To-Hit rolls.''.
**'''Mantle of Ultramar:''' A Praetor exclusive, it gives him immunity to Blind and FnP(5+). It's no Mantle of the Elder Drake, but FnP is always nice to have and frees the Elite slot an Apothecary would use.
**Ultramarines Breacher Squads may exchange their Bolters for Power Swords for +5 points each - ''[[Fluff|Fluffy]] if not necessarily useful, however given how each of them has AP3 on a 3+/5++ body it could work as a [[Adeptus_Arbites|riot control]] unit, as the enemy gains no benefit from charging you but has to to avoid you charging them, which is worsened by Retributive Strike. So stick them in the face of [[World Eaters|melee]] [[Emperor's Children|heavy]] [[Word Bearers|legions]] to act as a sort of [[DISTRACTION CARNIFEX]]. Don't forget Bolt Pistols for Overwatch/Shooting before charging.''
***10 Breachers with Power Swords cost 250pts, while 10 Invictarus Suzerains only cost 75pts more. For that, you get +1 WS/A, LD 10, a 2+ Armour Save, +1 LD for everyone within 12", Chosen Warriors, Implacable Advance (so they score as well) and AP2 on initiative with 6s To-Hit causing auto-wounds. The downside is that they're Elites (without Guilliman, who makes them troops) so they'll be competing in a very crowded slot, whereas the Breachers can fulfill the compulsory troops requirement for your detachment on their own.
*** Note that Breachers are an unusually priced unit, such that they become disproportionately better value per model as the unit increases in size to an extent beyond the 30K norm. 10-man Breacher squads are low value compared to 20-man no matter how you arm them. 350pts(450pts with power swords) is a lot, but the equivalent in Suzies costs 300pts more and eats two precious elite slots.

*'''Invictarus Suzerains:''' A Breacher-style Command Squad at Elites. Compared against TEQs, they only have bolt pistols and 6++ against [[Plasma|AP2 shooting]], but have advantages in close combat with Boarding shields counting as defensive grenades, while their default weapon is AP2, mincing things normal Terminators struggle with. Implacable Advance allows them to score normally, and as Chosen Warriors, all models in the unit can issue Challenges. Additionally, all models with the Legiones Astartes (Ultramarines) rule as well as [[Solar Auxilia]] and Imperialis Militia allies within 12" gain a +1 to Ld as long as the Suzerains aren't pinned or falling back. They can also be chosen as a Command squad, one of them swapping his Boarding shield for a Legion Standard. As with normal Command squads, this doesn't take up a FOC slot, thus making them a very strong choice over Command or Terminator squads; though you might still want a Spartan DT, reasonably priced ranged options on your TEQ squad, jump packs or bikes. While they don't have the sheer durability of Breacher Squads, specially against AP2 weaponry (simply put, 20 dudes are harder to kill than 10) or the wider wargear selection for that matter, their buffs makes them beasts in melee, while also being a good support role.
**Their Legatine Axes is what sets them apart from other TEQs. This means on the charge they '''will''', on average, manage 5 wounds to your enemy that ignore armour saves, regardless of their Toughness. Unless his dudes are backed up by a decent invulnerable save they will go down. Also they can do decently well against hordes, on average taking '''50''' attacks from GEQs and only suffering an average of 1 casualty, while generally causing enough damage that they can force the enemy to need Insane Heroism to avoid running and being sweep advanced. Even against a charge from a WE Tactical Blob with extra CCWs, they'll kill about [[Khorne|8]] models a turn while only taking 2 casualties. These guys will comfortably mince anything without a decent Invulnerable Save, but they're weak to all the same things that a normal TEQ is weak to (AP1/2) so treat them like you would a normal Terminator Squad.
**It's worth noting that although they can only take a Land Raider as their dedicated transport, not being Bulky they can jack any spare Rhino (or flyer even) as a transport. In huge games it probably doesn't matter but when you're playing in sane points ranges it's actually a nice saving over Terminators, letting you get them where you want them without that investment, eg. borrow your scout's Storm Eagle DT and arrive where you need to ASAP, Assault transport and all.
**The funny part is that their role was basically those of the historical ''[[Lictor]]es'', although they are weirdly 5 to 10 instead of the Zodiacal 12 which discretely pops up [[Black Library|''passim'']]).

*'''Fulmentarus Terminator Strike Squad:''' ''<s>Dammit Guilliman, stop stealing my stuff!</s>'' These Ultramarine Siege Tyrants have BS5, Cataphractii Armor, Power weapons with option for Power fists, and Combi-bolters that the whole squad may exchange for Combi-meltas or Twin-linked Autocannons. And if they didn't take the Autocannons the squad may also buy a Cyclone launcher each, complete with the ability of firing both the Combi-melta AND the Cyclone launcher in the same shooting phase. What sets them apart, then? Their unique '''Peritarch Targeter''' ("Expert targeter" - ''And They Shall Know No Modesty'') gives them a series of rules depending how many are present in a squad: At 2 models they get ''Night Vision''; with at least 5 it's also ''Tank Hunters'' and with at least 8 their shooting counts enemy cover as ''1 point worse''.
**Given the obvious parallels in both fluff and crunch, it's worth making a comparison between them and the proper Tyrant Siege Terminators. Tyrants are better at dealing with buildings because they come with Wrecker as an inherent rule, so they can make them explode with a lucky Pen, which shouldn't actually be possible using missiles. Being granted by the sarge's Omniscope, the Tyrant's ''Night Vision'' and ''Split'' fire special rules are independent from the number of models in the squad, so unless the enemy lands an ''extremely'' lucky shot those rules are there to stay (and nope, sniper rifles wont get the job done because their Relentless Cyclone's missiles outrange them). And they have access to Chainfists, which Fulmentarii lack.
**Fulmentarii on the other hand, are way better against vehicles, and do well against buildings too because of Tank Hunters ''(when at least five models)'' and their +1BS compared to Tyrants. However, their rules depend on squad size - one lucky plasma shot and goodbye Tank Hunters, not to mention the -1 to cover will cost you 105 pts, so even with Cataphractii armor you'll want them well protected; a Deredeo's Atomantic Pavaise is as useful as it is expensive. And they still [[Forgeworld|need to buy some nice weapons]] to make good use of those rules: while "cheap" with power weapons and combi-bolters, when equipped like a Tyrant they are 20 pts more expensive, and those costs add up to a whopping 750 pts squad that would need to kill a LR every turn to get its points back, all while losing almost no men to Lascannon fire. An IW player can simply add Tank Hunters by attaching a Siege Breaker, who they usually do have. Last but not least, they are Heavy Support instead of Elites; your Elite choices may be saturated by Suzerains and Dreads, so Fulmentarii are a nice way of adding TEQs with big guns, but Pride of the Legion won't turn them into troops, and even though Guilliman can grant them Implacable Advance, you'd need to bring ''more'' Fulmentarii to make it count, nothing like Perturabo's Deep Strike bonus to all Termies.
**Against flyers, Fulmentarii are miles better: 20 TL autocannon shots with possibly Tank Hunters and -1 to cover, and if you're taking the Logos Lectora Rite of War BS2!
**Something nice to remember is the effect of Interlocking Tactics on the Autocannons and Cyclones (Krak Missiles only, as the tactics don't affect blasts as mentioned earlier), which essentially gives them Shred against Astartes infantry, and those Cyclones will ensure those big scary Tactical blobs with those cheeky apothecaries can be mowed down with pretty much guaranteed wounds that ignore both their armour and their Feel No Pain.

*'''Locutarus Storm Squad:''' Artificer armoured Assault Marines which come with Power Swords (and only Power Swords) as their stock wargear and the usual Assault Marine upgrades. Their main draw apart from the armour is their ability to fire their pistols twice on the turn they Deep Strike, along with the ability to re-roll their Scatter Dice when Deep Striking. They're no Dark Furies (but will mince them due to 2+ and ap3), but they're still a solid step up from the basic Assault Marines. No, they can't be made into Jump Pack TEQs- only the Sergeant can use a combat shield. As for options, the Sergeant and one in five of the Marines can take either a Plasma Pistol or Hand Flamer. While both of these seem pointless, you really need to factor in the Opening Salvo special rule; that's 6 Plasma shots or 6 flamer templates you've just laid down, with re-rolls on the scatter dice they can reliably get into position where they can put 6 flamer templates down. Also, the Sargent can take a Power Axe for free, or a Lightning Claw or Power Fist for 5 points. Generally the upgrade is worth it, as you either gain Shred or S8 AP2, however you sacrafice one attack for this ability so you may just want to stick with the Power Axe.
**Running the Logos Lectora really hamstrings these guys as it doesn't allow deep strikes, which removes the 2 special rules that makes these guys stand out, so if you run the Logos regularly you're stuck with deploying them as normal which is fine I suppose because their equipment makes them fairly nice (especially if you were going to run Assault Marines anyway) and you can actually use the Counter Attack rule that the Rite gives you, which gives them some defensive staying power with 3 power sword attacks each when charged, but fielding them in an army that allows Deep Strike naturally makes them far better as you can actually use what you're paying for at full effect.

*'''Nemesis Destroyer Squad''': The 22nd chapter of the Ultramarines who hung out with the [[Night Lords]] and decided that skinning people was actually pretty cool. Despite that they don't get fear bonuses but for 30 points more than a standard destroyer squad they come in squads of 10 and swap their second Bolt pistol for Bolters and get more special weapons options, making them a cross between a destroyer and tactical squad. But their main attraction is their "Nemesis Ammunition" which is 18" range, assault 2 and has the '''Harrower''' special rule, which gives them rending and forces any unit that has lost any models during the shooting phase from these guns to take a moral test as if they had lost 25% of their unit. Eat you're heart out [[Alpha Legion]]. They can also take a nuncio-vox and legion vexilla. A fairly strong unit, but they can't take jump packs so they loose some of the versatility of a standard destroyer squad. Great in zone mortalis.
** Rules found [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2022/02/11/fight-the-underground-war-with-new-horus-heresy-missions-and-an-ultramarines-unit/ here]

*'''Honoured Telemechrus:''' Telemechrus is a Contemptor Dread with +1 WS, A and HP, a Kheres Assault Cannon and a Dreadnought CCW that comes with a built-in Combi-Bolter. He also has Searchlights, Smoke Launchers, and Extra Armor in his standard loadout. While he can do a good job tearing up infantry in the shooting phase with the AC, he's actually best used in melee; on top of Fleet and the D3 HoW attacks he gets on the charge, he has a similar effect to Ancient Rylanor in that all Ultramarines locked in combat within 12" of him gain +1 to combat resolution and sweeping advance rolls (note only a single model of these Ultramarine units needs to be in this 12" bubble for this rule to take effect, not the whole unit, so be confident in spreading out a bit with your melees). Hatred (All Traitor Legions) is also a nice thing to have as it allows him to hit other Dreadnoughts and the like on 3s with re-rolls, and while he's not technically Venerable his Resilient rule gives him the same benefits as Venerable and also allows him to re-roll results on the Destroyer damage chart if he's somehow unlucky enough to wander in front of a Falchion.

*'''Captain Remus Ventanus:''' The Captain of the 4th Company and titular "Saviour of Calth". For 155 points you get what is basically a Centurion with +1 Wounds and Leadership and Master of the Legion, making him one of the cheaper special characters to allow a Rite of War. While only wearing Power armour, and with a relatively uninspiring Bolt pistol/Power sword combo, Remus Ventanus utterly rocks in a support role: he modifies enemy reserve rolls by -1 and allows his own side to re-roll reserve rolls, all of which stacks with any other modifiers. Bring along a LR Proteus and a Damocles Rhino and your opponent can only bring reserves on a 6, while you reroll yours! He also has a Nuncio vox for Deep Strike and Barrage accuracy, Melta Bombs, an Iron Halo, and Legion Standard making him and whatever squad you put him in Fearless (along with any other unit within 6" of him)! Finally, he's got Adamantium Will for some psyker resistance and his unique warlord trait gives all Ultramarines who are within 3" from objectives the stubborn rule.
**Because he has Master of the Legion he can take a Command/Invictarus squad as a retinue, which come with a Legion Standard of their own. Because it's not mandatory for them to accompany him, you can make Remus join another unit and thus have two separate Fearless bubbles, great for assaults.

[[File:Girlyman.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Roboute Guilliman]]
*'''[[Roboute Guilliman]]:''' 400 points gets you an average (for a Primarch) stat-line and some extensive army buffing rules that make the Battle King comparable to an anti-Alpharius. Firstly, his Sire of the Ultramarines gives +1 LD to all Ultramarines units, makes his squad re-rolls failed charges, and both he and his squad gain immunity to the Concussion USR while also making Invictarus Suzerains and Legion Terminators troops. Preternatural Strategy forces Seize the Initiative attempts made ''against'' the Ultras to be re-rolled and will give an entire unit entry either the Implacable Advance, Tank Hunter or Interceptor USR. (Remember, it's a particular entry in the army list, not a particular model nor the same model taken as DT- for example: he can give the benefits to all Legion Land Raider Battle Squadrons in your army, but not Land Raiders taken as other entry types.) Additionally, he gains +1 WS in a challenge every round after the first, up to WS 10 on the fourth round. It resets to default after the challenge ends or with each new opponent, but it can still give him a much-needed edge against melee beatsticks that are forced to issue and accept challenges. Unyielding Will allows him to ignore any negative modifier to his LD and re-roll DtW, which appropriately enough makes him a good counter to the Word Bearers and Thousand Sons. <br>[[Matt Ward|Your Spiritual Liege]] can use the following wargear:
**'''The Armour of Reason:''' 2+/4++ looks like the average Primarch armor, but it has a powerful trick: the first invulnerable save Guilliman fails '''per phase''' can be re-rolled (not just "turn", so it also works in the opponent's shooting phase, assault phase, etc.) which hugely improves it's utility and improves his survival by a high margin, making him rather less susceptible to chipping off wounds from random shooting.
**'''The Gladius Incandor and the Hand of Dominion:''' Guilliman can select which of his melee weapons he will use in each assault phase, using its profile for all attacks he makes in it. Both of them are Specialist Weapons, so he'll gain an extra attack for using two Specialist Weapons either way. The Gladius Incandor is a Shredding Paragon Blade, while the Hand of Dominion is a S10 AP1 Power Fist with Concussive. Use the Gladius against TEQs, and the Hand against anything with an AV or infantry that you want to knock down to I1.
**'''The Arbitrator:''' A S6 AP3 Combi-Bolter with Assault 2 and Rending. Not great, but still decent as far as Primarch guns go.
**'''Cognis Signum:''' Guilliman isn't going to be doing much shooting, so that +1 BS will come into play a lot.
**'''Frag Grenades'''
*'''Weakness:''' Guilliman is an amazing strategist, brilliant duelist and great support, however he suffers against hordes even more than other Primarchs. With only 5 attacks he can't do much damage to them, which could lead to him being tied up against a unit that costs a quarter of his points for the entire game. March him into the enemies toughest unit and beat them senseless, but keep him away from hordes and give him a good retinue.

*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Imperial Fists:'''
**'''Blood Angels:'''
**'''Iron Hands:'''
**'''Imperial Army''': In addition to the obvious applications of Vigil Opertii and the morale rules of Invictarus Suzerains, consider taking Imperialis Militia as a primary detachment and using the Ultramarines as allies. What do your Fulmentarus terminators have? High strength and high BS. What does an Imperialis Militia primary detachment give you? Ability to choose your warlord trait from the Militia table, one of which is -1 AP to all ranged attacks on one infantry unit. [[RAW]], this can be applied to Ultramarines infantry, as the trait allows any infantry unit to be chosen, not only from the detachment or from the Militia list. Slap it on a 10-man Fulmentarus squad and wipe entire squads of MEQ with 20 BS5 twin-linked S7 AP3 shots, or take Cyclone Missile Launchers and trade in twin-linked for S8 AP2 to remove TEQs and deny FnP. Combine with Interlocking Tactics (which you will get simply from shooting the target with a 35 pt Rhino; heck, use compulsory tacticals for this) for basically guaranteed wounds. </div>
</div>

====XIV Legion: [[Death Guard]]====
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[[File:Death Guard legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.PNG|100px|left|]]
The Death Guard favour a playstyle for a slow moving, but very hard hitting ranged army. Just like in the fluff, their rules make them implacable. Their famous endurance comes to bear, enduring in the face of both terrain and weapons that would lay low anyone else, being one of the few things ''immune to Fear'' in 30k they will keep going forward no matter what, perfect for attrition warfare.

Their RoWs give them access to a horrific amount of slow-moving but heavy-hitting firepower and, on top of having an easier time clearing out both [[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Imperial Militia and Cults (30k)|tarpits]] and [[Imperial Fists|high]] [[Iron Hands|toughness]] [[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Mechanicum: Taghmata (30k)|units]] due to their access to all manner of alchemical weapons, their characters are highly resilient and fill several roles at once. Furthermore, due to both their legion-specific units being Terminators they can bring the highest amount of them amongst all legions - Orbital Assault is particularly nasty with them fielding different kinds of Terminators in HQ, Elites and Heavy Support slots, all of them scoring.

That being said, they have penalties to Sweeping Advances and movement, but such detriments never applied to Cataphractii Terminators anyway, and almost nothing will cause them to operate at anything less than peak efficiency. Furthermore, a combination of Mortarion's army-wide Stubborn and/or The Reaping's Rad grenades makes them a dangerous opponent in melee.

Tired of terrain holding you back, Pinning getting you down, and want to melt your opponents using proscribed weapons while fielding scores of Terminators and Heavy weapons that fear neither Monstrous Creatures nor Phosphex? Then join the ranks of the Unbroken Blades and let doom stalk a million worlds!

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*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''Remorseless:''' Immune to Fear, automatically pass Pinning tests.
**'''Sons of Barbarus:<sup>ICL2</sup>''' Re-roll failed Dangerous Terrain tests (now in all terrains...hallelujah!). Also get FnP(4+) against Poison & Fleshbane.
**'''Intractable:''' -1 to your score when making Sweeping Advance Rolls. ''Cataphractii Terminators don't care about that''.

*'''Rite of War: The Reaping''' - ''Embodies the concept of "slow-moving, unstoppable death" with mobility traded for insane amounts of firepower. The Reaper of Death may come slow, but his reach is long and his advance is inexorable.''
**'''Superior Firepower:''' Veteran Tactical Squads & Heavy Weapon Squads become non-compulsory Troops - ''They brought more guns than you did. You may want to bring Siege Breakers/Masters of Signals''.
***You could spam Heavy weapon squads with Volkite/Missile Launchers to demolish Green tides/Infantry Guard players, hell, even flyers! In big games with enough points to spare (~[[Titan_(Warhammer_40,000)|2345]] for either Volkites or flakk, 1995 for just missiles), that'd be around 280 Volkite/70 missile shots (with Skyfire) ''per turn''. Then the dick move: ''give every squad an Augury scanner and screw with Infiltration and Deep strikers all around the table'' (because models can Intercept deep strikers [[Rules_lawyer|within 18" of ANY Augury scanner]], as long as they are on range) and, more importantly, '''while securing objectives'''. It IS superior firepower, after all.
**'''Implacable:''' Every unit gets Move Through Cover - ''Compensates your reduced mobility with the ability to take a shortcut through the flaming corridors and the like. Make sure to take lots of Grav and Phosphex weaponry to set up terrain your own forces can navigate with ease but will be dangerous to most foes.''
**'''Dark Arsenal:''' Any Death Guard character in the Primary Detachment (but not Mortarion since he lacks 'Legiones Astartes' rules) can take Rad Grenades for 10pts - ''Fucking awesome. <u>A must-take when using this RoW</u>. Reduce enemy Toughness when charging or being charged. Not is it only good for CQC squads (such as Furious Charge Vets, which are Troops here), but can also be taken as a deterrent to scare your enemy from tying up Heavy weapon squads, because it affects Overwatch too (says "the whole assault phase"). This is most noticeable on a unit of Volkite Culverins (S6 Heavy 4).''
***Give Rad Grenades to a Praevian with Voraxes. Now your unit of S6 MCs with Scout (so Outflank too) and MTC deals AP2 Instant Death attacks at marine-standard I4.
**No model may make Run or Flat Out moves - ''Who needs speed when you can reach out and touch your enemies no matter where they are?''
***It doesn't say anything about Jump units, so you could take Assault Squads as your compulsory troops and/or take a Cortex Forge Lord to get Thallax (Optional Heavy support) for securing far away objectives, both squads benefiting lots from Move through Cover and Rad grenades.
**Nothing may Deep Strike - ''No suicide Shredding-flamer/Melta squads, then. Along with no Running, your mobility will be SEVERELY limited. You can still (<u>and should</u>) Infiltrate, Outflank or Scout though.''
**May only take one Fast Attack choice - ''You could take Land Speeders with Graviton guns to slow the enemy down. Down to your speed, that is. Or a Storm Eagle transport, as there's no restriction against Zooming models. Either way, make it count.''
***A sometimes forgotten fact is that, unlike most rites, this one ''allows a Fortification or SM allies''. And you have extra heavy weapons with Rad Grenades (and movement penalties). Like the Iron Warriors and Imperial Fists, the Death Guard can play the Siege game too.

*'''Rite of Battle: Creeping Death<sup>HH:6</sup>''' - ''Specializes in fucking with cover, improving yours and weakening your enemy's at the same time, all while improving your already potent explosives. Let the Mists of Barbarus shroud your forces, and let your enemies quail at the stench of their own mortality!''

**'''Mist-Clad:''' Infantry in the detachment in open ground gain a 5+ cover save as long as no enemy models are within 12" of them. It's like they all have Eldar holofields now - ''This can help any 20-man squad you field, given how they seldom get full use of cover.
***'''Where are they?''' While certainly not an option that'll let you win tournaments and definitely not fluffy, if you have a Librarian who gains Shrouding you can use it every turn to give all of your Infantry a 3+ cover save while in the open, while Recon Squads near him gain a 2+ cover so long as you bought them Cameleoline (and why wouldn't you?). If you really wanted to you could also bring Typhon to get the rite and one of the powers, as well as another Librarian as Telepathy is otherwise rife with powers that're awesome for 30k, however if you're not interested in Psykers or random chance then you can go for Vigilators (or Typhon and the Vigilator to get the best of both worlds), as any unit he joins will gain a 4+ Cover save in the open now. Sure it's a bit of a waste of Infiltrate, but preventing AP2 guns/artillery from wiping out your squad can more than make up for it, especially if you plant him with a group of heavy weapons (whose frag missiles are now S5).
**'''[[Tyranids|Bio-Phage]] Bombardment:''' After everyone's deployed (including Scouts and infiltrators), roll a D6 for <u>each</u> terrain piece representing a wood or jungle. On a 4+, the cover save they grant decreases by 1 and it becomes Dangerous Terrain to anyone who doesn't have the Death Guard special rule. Simply put, an extremely situational version of Shatter Defenses that does a better job of making cover unusable by anyone other than you, albeit restricted to trees - ''You could use a Praevian's Battle automata with Enhanced Targeting arrays to ignore the remaining forest cover (the real reason for the upgrade is BS5 tho), and/or Forge Lord's Thallax's Djinn sight can be turned against the enemy's remaining cover''.
**'''Toxin Weapons:''' All frag grenades and missiles are boosted to Strength 5. A flat boost, and a scary one in Zones Mortalis. Makes missile Mortis Boxnoughts more competitive as their Frag Missiles now have much better chance of wounding infantry before armour saves''.
**Must include a Siege Breaker. ''If only you had some sort of Siege Breaker Chapter Master character...''
**In games with Attacker and Defender roles, the user must always be the Attacker.
**<u>Traitors only</u>, and can't be used with the Shattered Legion theme, worsened by...
**...No fortifications or allies allowed, meaning the only AdMech units you get will be the Praevian's/Forgelord's friends.

*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Chem-Munitions:''' Any unit or vehicle with a flame weapon can take this for free. ALL flame weapons in the unit/vehicle will now have Shred and Gets Hot! Remember though that normal Twin-Linked flamers already re-roll failed To Wound and Armor Penetration rolls, so this upgrade is redundant on some vehicles. Very useful in normal and hand flamers.
**'''Power Scythe:<sup>ICL2</sup>''' Any character or Independent Character that can buy a Power Fist can, for the same price, take a Deathshroud Power Scythe instead, a +1S AP2 Two-handed melee weapon with '''Reaping Blow''': -1 Initiative, but if the wielder is in base combat with more than one model at their initiative step, the Scythe-wielder gains 1 attack. This is a really nasty weapon that can strike at AP2 before other conventional AP2 weapons, while giving the wielder one extra attack (as it's fairly uncommon for a model to not be in contact with at least two other enemy models in assault).
**'''Barbaran Thurible (Relic):<sup>HH:4</sup>''' A stinky censer on a pole, but it's a lot more awesome than it sounds. Reduces Toughness of non-Death Guard units within 6" by 1, because to the Sons of Barbarus it smells just like home. Unlike Rad weaponry, this does NOT affect instant death thresholds, but it also causes units within that range to take morale checks for ANY shooting casualties, not just 25%. ''It comes handy when going against AdMech units. Combined with Rad weapons, those T5 monsters end up being T3 guardsmen''.
***'''TOUGHNESS ZERO INSTAKILL:''' Keep in mind anything with <u>Toughness 0 is removed as casualty</u>. Multiple Rad grenades don't stack, but you can combine it with the Barbaran Thurible and allied Mechanicum Rad Furnances (Magos Reductor or Scyllax) to inflict '''[[-4 Str|-3T]]''' and instantly erase anything weaker than a marine, most notably nasty tarpit units like 100 fucking Conscripts, or Thrall squads. ''What about the marines everybody takes?'' Well, if you're feeling lucky (punk) you can also try getting a Librarian to learn Enfeeble, which will then boost the toughness penalty to -4T (what marine blob?). Also, give the squad(s) some Jump packs: that's a S4 hit (or S5 for Ursarax, because you ARE bringing Mechanicum) delivered on Initiative 10 against a Toughness 1-2 enemy, making the results quite obvious - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx1RjjWXSwQ whatever they hit, they destroy]. A little hard to pull because you're normally committing 2 units to combat a single squad (but '''''Don't forget about multiple charges!''' Instakilling at least 2 squads by means of disordered charging multiple units will be rewarded by drinking The Cups with Mortarion''). Remember, it all revolves around the Thurible. Place the Mechanicum units in front of your marines, because by virtue of killing the unit so fast you'll be shot at in the following shooting phase. But such is the price to pay for KILLING WITH BUT A MEAN LOOK. You can get Rad grenades from Typhon, Morturg, Forge lords or allied Magos, so you aren't forced to play The Reaping in order to get them and restrict your mobility in the process.
***'''Modelling opinion:''' 40k is littered with incensers, but the one worthy of representing a relic is the flying Vox that comes with the [[Brother-Captain|Master of the Rites]]. What? You're playing 30k, [[Troll|you are rich enough]].

*'''Unique Units'''
*'''Deathshroud:''' [[Mortarion]]'s bodyguard of Terminators, who were personally selected by the Primarch and listed as killed in action. They carried Manreapers (Power Scythes), the only others inside the Legion who could use them beside First Captain [[Typhus|Calas Typhon]] and Mortarion himself (or any character crunchwise). They were never further from Mortarion than 49 paces (the square of 7, the sacred number of [[Nurgle]]). Rules wise they are [[Grey Knight|two-wound]] models wearing ''unspecified'' "Terminator armour"<sup>Age of Darkness Army List p.133</sup> (the models are using Tartaros, but you could outfit them in Cataphractii <u>as long as they look different</u> to regular Cataphractii termies in your army<sup>Age of Darkness Legions p.73</sup>. [https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/en-GB/Cataphractii-Terminator-Shoulder-Pads-Death-Guard A good use for these]. This is supported by their 40k incarnations wear corrupted armour that is specified to be Cataphractii.) with Deathshroud Power Scythes and Hand Flamers loaded with Chem Munitions, with Ld10 as part of the bargain, and can also take Meltabombs to deal with vehicles. This means they are good against pretty much everything: Against general infantry, Chem-loaded Hand Flamers are better than combi-bolters, and Overwatch better (they're one of the few legion specific termies that can Overwatch). Against TEQs, when charging they can get up to four AP2 attacks each (akin to Rage) and strike first, so they aren't that afraid of Power fists, unless they're on multiple wound models--a Centurion with a Power Fist/Thunder Hammer can still ruin their day, depending on which unit the Centurion is in. They exist to destroy infantry, and coupled with Rad Grenades, will wound any MEQ or TEQ on 2+ before they will use low AP weapons. Beware of Firedrakes (who cost a small fortune), charging Red Butchers/Phoenix Guard and Justaerin (or any 2W legion unit that has AP2, and especially when they can cause Instant Death). And they're only 10 points more than a normal EXTRA Terminator in 30k. Because that's totally balanced right? Just avoid being targeted by S8+ weapons and make sure you have something that will let them close the gap with the enemy (like most close combat units, they can be dealt with by having their transport blown up). The unit's starting tax is only 10pts, so small squads of these guys (2Ws remember) are still viable.
**What sets them apart from the other Terminator beatsticks out there? That, besides being Elites, you can also field them as '''an HQ choice on their very own''' and they are very cheap at only 90 points for two Deathshroud, so if you wanted you can bring them with only Mortarion and/or Support Officers without problems (you can also use them for MSU spam if you use Pride of the Legion). Furthermore, the unit is composed entirely of Character models, so it's not only better than 'Chosen Warriors', but you would get access to a Warlord trait, fielding a scoring Terminator squad as an HQ unit while still [[Awesome|remaining Battle forged]]. Being Ld10 all around, they can refuse challenges without any ill effects and everyone in the unit can Look Out Sir! Off of each other to spread potential wounds around (vastly increasing the amount of Wounds the unit can take before models start dying). Though, if you want to keep it traditional, they can be picked as a bodyguard for any Terminator-equipped Praetor (or Mortarion himself). Having them this way doesn't use any FOC slot, so you're free to have more Consuls or Elites.

*'''Grave Warden Terminators:<sup>ICL2</sup>''' Chemical-attack Terminators pioneered by Calas Typhon's company. They are Cataphractii Terminators in the Heavy Support slot wielding Assault 2 grenade launchers loaded with Krak and Poison(3+) AP4 grenades. 'Death Cloud' also gives the Wardens a Poison(3+) template they can uniquely use for Overwatch even though they have Cataphractii armour, and any charge against them is always Disordered (which negates most rules that apply on the charge, like Furious Charge. ''Suck on that, Raven Guard, World Eaters, and Emperor's Children'') making them one of ''the'' most difficult-to-charge units in the game. They come with Power Fists standard (no swapping to Manreapers since you didn't pay for the Power Fists) which they can exchange for Chainfists, 1 in each group of 5 can get a Chem Heavy flamer (if somehow Death Cloud isn't doing it for you) and the Chem Master is the only one that can get a Combi-Weapon. ''They cost EXACTLY the same as similarly equipped Terminators, but they get far better weapons (2 shot Krak/Poison(3+) at 18" vs 1 twin-linked bolter) AND the Death Cloud. And since Cataphractii armour didn't allow them to run in the first place, neither The Reaping's movement penalty nor the DG's Sweep penalty really affect them''. Grave Wardens are one of the more ridiculous units in the game, given they can cheerfully murder anything through sheer amount of wounds from poisoned blast markers. Be prepared to spend 20 mins doing 1 shooting phase tho... May we offer some [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5L7GyZeazM thematic] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utJWlX7KMvE songs] to listen to while you roll your dice?
**Keep in mind that Pride of the Legion '''won't''' turn them into troops since they are a Heavy Support option, not an Elites one. But they have '''Implacable Advance''', and that means Orbital Assault will let you teleport a lot more Terminators, and massed Terminators IS a fluffy Death Guard tactic.

*'''Mortus Poisoner Squad: <sup>PDF</sup>''' The chemical warfare Destroyers. They're actually a good bit cheaper than the base Destroyers (125 vs 150) but instead get a bolter and hardened armor. Also incredibly good is that they can all swap out their bolters for chem-flamers for free, providing some really dangerous overwatch. One of five models can also pick up a heavy chem-flamer, but this replaces the bolt pistol, allowing you to lay down two different waves of fire between the bolter/flamer or heavy flamer. They lack the jump pack and pistol options (which kinda isn't a loss), but they also lose the option for rad-missiles. You're going to use them for one target: infantry.
**They do suffer from the fact that they are both an elite choice (so you're taking these guys and losing a slot for a Terminator squad or Quad Launchers) and that other squads can do the same thing they do, at either a cheaper cost or outright better. Tactical Support squads are 25pts cheaper and can be upgraded to chem-munitions for free while also being scoring at the same time and Grave Wardens who perform a similar role but have Cataphractii armour, assault grenade launchers, can take a Heavy Chem-flamer and are also scoring on top of that. Their only real advantages over these other two units is they are cheaper than Grave Wardens and can mix fire unlike Tactical Support squads, but overall it's pretty hard to justify taking these guys over any of the other chem-flamer wielding units, and they really could do with an extra rule to make them worth considering.
***Rules can be found [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2022/01/17/horus-heresy-exemplary-battles-a-new-mission-and-free-rules-for-dark-angels-and-death-guard-squads/ here].

*'''Crysos Morturg:''' The "narrator" of 'Betrayal', he was a Lieutenant and Librarian in a Legion which utterly loathed [[Psyker]]s, so it was no surprise he was selected to be purged during the run-up to the Heresy. Reassigned to the Destroyer Corps, during the Isstvan campaign he proved to be a true son of Mortarion as he. Would. Not. Fucking. Die. He even survived the Orbital Bombardment after Horus got bored, and was one of the lucky few to survive the massacre. He has the stats of a Centurion but +1W and I, along with Stubborn, Infiltrate, a Power Sword, a Combi-Flamer (strangely enough without chem-munitions, though if you want to you can still give him those at no cost), Hardened Power Armour and RAD grenades, all for the price of a kitted-out Praetor. He is also a level 1 psyker with the Endurance Psychic power to boost your squads in combat (because of Psychic Focus he also has Smite. A little bit of extra firepower is always welcome). As such, he can give that 10 man Deathshroud unit Eternal Warrior (preventing Instant Death, their main weakness), FnP(4+), rad grenades (so they now wound on 2+) and Infiltrate (always try to make him the warlord, more on that latter) to get a second turn charge with 10 shredding flamers vs a -1T enemy, on top of Smite allowing him to kill a fair bit of enemy terminators already. So, he's a very competitive Librarian (quite rare in 30k unless you play Word Bearers) and the best attached HQ the Deathshroud could get, since ''he doesn't prevent them from Sweep Advancing'', unlike Typhon... Srsly Mortarion, why the fuck would you throw away one of your Legion's greatest assets?
**'''Commander Asshole:''' His Warlord trait (Master of Ambush) is fantastic, letting him and three non-vehicle units of your choice in your army infiltrate. Sure, infiltrating a few squads pales a bit when compared to legions like the Raven Guard or the Alpha Legion, but the Death Guard can make good use of it, like infiltrating chem flamer squads (now able to do their job turn 1 without needing a transport), or any flavor of Termie you want, complete with their LR/Spartan DTs (2+/4++ 2W EW FnP4+ AP2 Meltabombs, Spartan ''suicide squad''? No, they won't be the ones dying). Or get that combi-weapon squad into position turn one. However, he doesn't have Master of the Legion (or else he'd be even more of an auto-include), so if you want a RoW you'll need to include a model that has MotL but isn't forced to be the warlord (like a regular Praetor). Infiltrating something like THREE 10 men Deathshroud/Grave Wardens/Special weapons squads can be devastating, especially when combined with Rites of War, and it gets around the Reaping's biggest flaw: '''Mobility''' (while coincidentally also bypassing deep strike's biggest counters: AA Dreads).
***This is powerful but very expensive. Boosted Deathshroud are seriously mean foes but cost a LOT, like 500 points for the squad without transport. They also can't take a Spartan without a rite which further narrows your options and Morturg himself is something of a pansy in combat (more on that later). It's an all in tactic and not for the feint of heart.
***You might think to take advantage of Master of Ambush with allies, however <u>only Sworn Brothers may benefit from WTs</u>...and the Death Guard's only Sworn Brothers, the Sons of Horus, have 'Bitter Pride', so it's best used in a [[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Space Marine Legion List (30k)#Age of Darkness Theme: Shattered Legions|Shattered Legion]]. Having said that, while the Death Guard don't really care for them, the Night Lords love the Death Guard (they're the only Sworn Brothers of the Night Lords), by doing this you can defensively use Terror Squads to stop Infiltrated Heavy Support Squads from getting bogged down in combat, or put Night Raptors in a better position for the Assault Phase (why bother crossing the board when you can start on practically the opposite side) not to mention it bypasses one of the bigger weaknesses for the Night Lords, that being their unit sizes in relation to transports. If you want to take full advantage of "A Talent For Murder" you'll usually need to make squads larger than the amount their DT's can carry, however with Infiltrate you have no need for one anyway. Make sure the Death Guard in such an army are busy shooting from a distance while the Night Lords rip and tear (you can even put Morturg in a Night Lord Squad, if they manage to outnumber the enemy they all wound on 2's thanks to his Rad Grenades AND he makes the unit Stubborn just in case you lose combat somehow), it's like they were made for each other.
***Keep in mind that even with all his talents, Morturg is by no means a combat powerhouse and doesn't have the gear (such as AP2 weaponry or even an Invulnerable save) to tough it out under heavy or concerted assault. Field him and reap (pun intended) the benefits, but give him a good retinue (like Deathshroud) and keep him away from anything with AP3/AP2 weaponry and/or Precision Shot/Strike.

*'''Durak Rask:''' Death Guard Master of Ordnance, who fanatically supported Mortarion and volunteered to lead a vanguard assault on the Loyalists. Ironically, he was killed in that attempt by Morturg. He is basically a highly-upgraded Siege Breaker, with Master of the Legion, artificer armour, Thunder Hammer, Volkite Serpenta and +1W, that makes allies within 12" re-roll failed To Hit rolls of 1 when targeting enemies within 3" of objectives when he is the Warlord, all accompanied by the standard Siege Breaker rule 'Art of Destruction' (Tank Hunters & Wrecker for all heavy weapons in the attached unit). Arguably he allows Phosphex Medusas too (gentleman's agreement - he's the Master of Ordnance, after all). If you want a multipurpose, if Traitor Praetor for small games, this one is for you. ''That way you can take The Reaping RoW without needing a costly melee character that would need a transport because [[Fail|he cannot run]] while at the same time upgrading your heavy weapons teams (of which you'll have a lot, because '''that's why you use The Reaping'''). It's like he wrote the damn thing.''
[[File:Typhona1.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Calas Typhon]]

*'''[[Typhus|Calas Typhon]]:''' Before he was Typhus the Traveler, Calas Typhon wanted to be his Legion's [[Librarian|Epistolary]], but due to Mortarion's spite of witches he instead became the First Captain of the Death Guard. He has the stats of a Praetor and wears Cataphractii armor with grenade harness, Master Crafted Power Scythe, Hand Flamer with Chem Munitions and Rad grenades. He also has a chem-based orbital bombardment, so vehicles laugh it off (but with Ordnance 3, 5" blast, Poison(4+) and Ignores cover, infantry does not) and a nuncio vox. When Mortarion isn't around he counts as a Lvl 1 Telepath and has to be the Warlord, his trait being no enemy unit within 3" of him can claim an objective. ''He is expensive, but not overcosted. He's a great way of bringing a psyker, rad grenades and an orbital barrage without having to exhaust your HQ slots by bringing a Librarian, a Forgelord and a MoS. Arguably, Morturg can do something similar but lacks MotL, something to consider if you are on a tight budget. Sure, jack of all trades, master of none, but his actual job is to be a Terminator Praetor, and he does it well for a reasonable price.''
**Since he is a Praetor that wears Terminator armour, he can be given a Deathshroud bodyguard, which he compliments very well with his Telepath powers and rad grenades (so they wound on a 2+ now). However, his Cataphractii armour prevents their Tartaros armour from sweep advancing ''(due to mixing armour types)'' It also prevents him from running, so put him in a transport. Like a Spartan or Land Raider.
**Typhon's warlord trait certainly ''sounds'' stupid, but is actually much better in practice. Since his denial radius is measured against units rather than to the objective itself this means that, unless the enemy is standing on the far side of the marker, you're denying earlier (e.g. a 20-man squad using the backmost models to score suddenly gets denied because Typhon got near the leftmost marine, even though Typhon himself is [[Nurgle|7"]] away from the actual objective in this example). Even in games where you don't use the Age of Darkness rules (or 30k's City Fight missions), the wording still manages to screw up Objective Secured because he interacts with the squad rather than with the marker.
[[File:FW_Mortarion.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Mortarion]]

*'''[[Mortarion]]:''' At 425 points, Mortarion is about average for a Primarch. If you want a motherfucker who can survive absolutely ANYTHING, the Death Lord is the one you should pick. Although his Ballistic Skill, Initiative, and Attack are only 5 each, his WS, Toughness and Wounds are a whopping [[Nurgle|'''7''']] apiece. His '''Preternatural Resistance''' rule not only allows him to reroll failed Toughness tests and IWND rolls, but also lets him pass Dangerous terrain tests automatically and lets him ignore any weapon that wounds on a flat dice roll if it rolls less than 6, essentially making him all but immune to Rad, Poison and so on. Speaking of Poison, the '''Sire of the Death Guard''' grants all Frag Grenades, Frag Missiles and Havoc Launchers in the army Poison (4+) while also making all his legionnaires Stubborn, thus patching the legion's disadvantage in melee and enabling unheard of levels of poison spam. Psykers will be hard-pressed to do anything to him thanks to his '''Witch Spite''' rule (Deny the Witch on a 4+ against malediction powers affecting him and his squad<sup>ICL2</sup>, for a total of 3+ when coupled with Adamantium Will and 5+ for all others), and his '''Shadow of the Reaper''' rule, while also granting a -1 penalty to all enemies attempting to make a Leadership test against his Fear rating, more importantly allows him to redeploy in the shooting phase, as long as he doesn't shoot, is un-engaged in combat and passes a Leadership test; he can then teleport up to 10" from his starting position, no closer than 3" to the nearest enemy and there's no scatter. Also [[Awesome|he can still charge after his redeployment]], even though he counts as doing a disordered charge. But who cares! This means his minimum charge range is 18" (28" maximum) and, like all other Primarchs, he's got Fleet to boot! This actually makes him, surprisingly, one of the fastest Primarchs, not to mention your fastest land model with The Reaping.<br>Mortarion can take the following wargear:
**'''Silence:''' A huge chainsaw-tipped scythe, previously owned by Mortarion's foster "father". It's a powered up Manreaper with Sunder (reroll armor pen rolls) and Instant Death. Reaping Blow basically negates the penalty of making disordered charges after his teleport, and helps against tarpits (but you could evade those with SotR). Funnily, with it he has up to [[Nurgle|seven attacks at WS7 S7]]. He only strikes at I4, though, so take that into account.
**'''The Lantern:''' Mortarion's custom energy blaster. With S8, AP2, Assault 1 and Sunder, it's one of the better ranged weapons a Primarch can get.
**'''The Barbaran Plate:''' Home-made battle plate that grants a Primarch-average +2 Armour save and a +4 Invulnerable save. And that's it; no extra rules like his brothers' armours. Just in case you need him to be even more indestructible.
**'''Frag Grenades:''' Shockingly not a normal frag. His are Poisoned (and a RoW makes them S5). That being said you will never use them because he has...
**'''Phosphex Bombs:''' Mortarion's pitcher's arm can throw them up to 12" away, and he carries an infinite number of them. Thanks to them, coupled with the Lantern, he is among the shootiest Primarchs - ''Given how DG auto pass Dangerous terrain tests, you should try using phosphex over the Lantern'' (unless there's an IC hanging around you want to instantly kill).
*'''Weaknesses:''' While T7, 7 Wounds, re-rolling IWND and a near immunity to Fleshbane, Poison and Sniper make him look nigh indestructible, watch out for Melta, Plasma and heavy weapons. Those can be fairly common depending on who you're playing against (especially with Legion Support Squads). Unlike other Primarchs, his weapons aren't strong enough to reliably take on Land Raiders or better, but with SotR and Sunder he's not helpless either. Though Silence helps him deal with massed infantry, being able to teleport and having an Instant Death weapon alongside an AP2 blast means he's best suited for going against high points multi-wound models who lack Eternal Warrior (AdMech, Ogryns, legion-specifics, etc.) in which case he'll earn his points back very quickly.
*'''Poison Spam:''' 30k's Combi-weapons can be combi-frags, becoming combi-''poison'' with Mortarion's aid, as well as all other explosive weapons (even the frag grenades available to all squads), and poison weapons wound everything with equal ease regardless of toughness. Combined with The Reaping's Heavy Support squads as troops means you can drown the whole table in poisonous templates.
*'''Zone Mortalis:''' Something that should be given extra mention is Mortarion's fucking awesome performance in Zone Mortalis games thanks to his Shadow of the Reaper rule. He can essentially treat the entire game board as if it was open ground, and unless you get him caught by support squads with plasma/meltaguns, he'll have very little threats in return since he can't be pinned down except in melee (and given his abilities, combats will end rather quickly), not to mention the fact that ZM boards are usually too limited to allow Heavy Weapons much use and his Phosphex bombs will gain Shred.

*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Night Lords:'''
**'''Sons of Horus:'''
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====XV Legion: [[Thousand Sons]]====
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Everyone's favourite Space Egyptians before [[Ahriman|Ahriman]] fucked everything up, the Sons of the Cyclops were an astounding spell-binding powerhouse force with the schematic nuance to cast their arms in a myriad of lethal applications. As ''the'' Psyker legion, these crimson mutants can take so many Mastery Levels that no opponent will stand a chance in [[Warp|hell]] of blocking a choice Warpfire/Malediction onslaught, beyond desperate prayers for Perils on your behalf. The Thousand Sons have effectively two shooting phases in the majority of their army builds, given the sheer number of [[cheese|cheese]] mind bullets an army that can field all its HQs and '''''Elites''''' as psykers will produce, hell, take Pride of the Legion and even your troops can be psykers, which absolutely no one else in 30k can do. An abundance of Force Weapons will leave many Mechanicum Automata quaking in their rivets as you pop off Force and tear through a 5 strong unit of Castellax in as many wounds.

The central Cult Arcana system is a crucial and potent mechanic, granting design nuance at which even the Alpha Legion will goggle. Each unit recieves one of five special rules, massively expanding the tailored functionality of any force. Shooty units can get better shooting, choppy units better choppy, movey units better movey, near-alrounders can get a boost to the bit they're missing and so on. It's no wonder everyone considers the Thousand Sons' crazy, with this much internal distinction you'd develop a split identity disorder ''(and how fitting, considering Magnus's shattered fate after the [[Prospero|burning of Prospero]])''.

There are drawbacks; much of the stuff that makes Thousand Sons unique (i.e. Psychic Mastery levels) must be purchased for not-insignificant prices, and although it's not enough to snub the killing efficacy of the tactic, all those mind bullets will still lead to lots of Perils, which is ''not'' good for this army at all. To make matters worse, other Legions have been gifted extremely potent weapons against the Thousand Sons with the advent of Book 8's Psyarkana, much of which will force Perils on your force, or have some other way of nerfing you. That said, on the whole Thousand Sons are a clear high tier army with solid crunch augmented by sharp, mature cheddar. So if any bit of this sounds appealing, waste no time in [[Meme|putting on your robe and wizard hat]] and come bask in the might of the most arcanely-gifted Legion, but [[Sindri Myr|never forget that, as ever, power comes at a price]].
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*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''Covenant of Sorcerers''': Your army's Warlord <u>must</u> be a Independent Character with a Psychic Mastery level of at least 1, and have the highest available Ld among such characters in the force.
***''When interpreted through RAW, the Warlord of the main detachment or major fellow Legion shard must be a [[Meme|Psychic-enough dude to <s>save the President</s> lead Thousand Sons]]. Do remember that Librarians can be the Warlord of other Legions, they just cannot be the Compulsory HQ. At the same time forces lead by Primarchs other than Lorgar automatically rule out support from Thousand Sons allies, and as matters stand Questoris and Auxilia forces cannot take them at all. At least Militia may, ''may'' be able to squeeze some in.
**'''Prosperine Lore''': Thousand Sons psykers have access to all disciplines other than Malefic Daemonology, and any HQ independent character may buy ML1 ''([[What|including Chaplains]], making them especially bad at their jobs).'' Those that do so can exchange any power weapon for a force weapon at a trifling 5pt cost. Note that Claws, Fists, Hammers and Paragon Blades aren't part of the deal, so ultra-choppy characters have reason to pass this up.
**'''Cult Arcana''': The famed scholarly Cults of Prospero, each unit in your army is assigned membership to one and recieves its bonuses accordingly. The compulsory units of the army must share the same cult unless Magnus is in the force, which in practice means having to pick two Troops and an HQ with a common theme. Each Cult corresponds to one of the stock five Psychic table of the BRB (Daemonology not being stock in any sense) and locks that unit to generating from their relevant discipline and only that one. It's worth noting that you need to pick your cults when you create your list, so no [[Alpha Legion|list-tailoring on the fly.]]
***'''Pavoni:''' The Peacocks; turns out it's not only the EC's that get to be ''fabulous''. Units add +1 to all Run and Sweeping Advance "distances" (so it helps your aggressive Sweeps, but not resisting the enemy's), and Psykers generate their powers from the Biomancy discipline only. ''This is the cult your assault units want, and with spells like Warp Speed and Iron Arm that you were wanting to cast anyway receiving a boon, it's a win-win.''
***'''Raptora:''' The Hawks. Units receive a 6++ Invulnerable save, or +1 to any other Invulnerable saves they may claim, and Psykers generate powers from the Telekinesis discipline only. ''Makes for great Terminators and Breaching squads, as steely-eyed as they are survivable, not to mention rugged ICs in both melee and shooting roles.''
**** Unlike all the other small or situational bonuses, this one here is OP, and stupidly so. 3++ Cataphractii and ''Breachers'' (if you take ZM RoW and only in CC)? Assault Marines with Combat Shields with Terminator-grade 5++ outside of CC? Damn, buy a Skyshield, hunker your Heavy supports on it, & laugh as your opponent struggles to remove marines with 3++ from it. Let's not even start with the shenanigans from actual psychic Blessings. They never told us rivers of [[Cheese]] flow on Prospero...
***'''[[Blood Ravens|Corvidae]]''': [[What|Yes, there are four Legions with a partial Raven theme]]. Units that remain static reroll 1s to hit with shooting, and Psykers generate powers from the Divination discipline only. '' A Heavy Support squad's wet dream. Add a Master of the Signals and you are effectively BS 10.''
***'''Athanean:''' The Owls, one presumes. Units are immune to Fear and receive Adamantium Will, and Psykers generate powers from the Telepathy discipline only. ''Telepathy is a good lore, but not the most useful for non-casting units unless you're up against against Night Lords, Word Bearers, enemy Thousand Sons, and Daemons. Wait, hold up. Squads with this are effectively Salamanders in terms of Leadership. Laugh maniacally as your Fear-resistant assault squad beats the Night Lords at their own dickery, and grin cheekily at that asshole who thought he could kill you with psychic fuckery. Still not the best choice for your main core units, though.
***'''Pyrae:''' The Phoenixes. Units make ''Hammer of Wrath'' attacks on the charge, which stacks with any pre-existing ''Hammer of Wrath'' rules they may have for double-fun Jump Packs and Bikers, and Psykers generate powers from the Pyromancy discipline only. ''Pyromancy isn't a great lore by any means, but this goes great with Assault Squads.''
****Take a ten man Legion Destroyer Squad and give them jump packs. Now you are moving a 71A unit on the active charge (20 dual pistol shots + 20 HoW hits + 31 melee attacks) with -1 to enemies' T or 51 attacks on the counter-charge.
**'''Signs & Portents:''' And now for the bad news (for all TS forces, not just allied blocks): Since the [[Chaos Spawn|curse of the Flesh Change]] is still fresh in the minds of many of the legion from before Magnus arrived and halted its spread, seeing its recent return has given the jitters to survivors and fresh blood alike. This means that if ''any'' unit in the detachment suffers a wound from Perils of the Warp, then ''every'' unit with the Thousand Sons LA rule, the '''''lot''''' of them, take an immediate Pinning check. Furthermore, if all of the Independent Characters in the detachment are slain, the rest of the force takes a -1 Leadership nutbuster (and this bypasses Stubborn, as in it's changing the base ''statline'' of the units) for the rest of the game, and they may no longer make Sweeping Advances. You can't really blame the 'Sons for wanting nothing to do with something as strenuous as a battle without the stabilising effects of leadership to keep the mind-eaters at bay; be sympathetic to their concerns, and bring up a backup Centurion to guard a home objective.
*'''Rite of War: The Axis of Dissolution''' - ''Gives you a series of ok but situational bonuses that are designed to help you sit back and shoot, hopefully "dissolving" the enemy under your weight of fire. However, the constraints are quite tough - having to run all troop units at max size in particular makes list building considerably harder.''
**'''The Alembic of Adamant:''' Units with the LA:Thousand Sons rule in this force automatically pass Morale and Pinning tests if within 6" of any objective. This is actually fairly useful if you end up triggering Pinning tests from Perils of the Warp, since you should be going for objectives anyway. Doesn't provide immunity to Fear but you can always take units using the Athanean Cult Arcana for that. ''Adamant is actually an old word for diamond, and it fits, since we all know that [[JoJo%27s_Bizarre_Adventure#Part_4:_Diamond_is_Unbreakable|DIAMOND IS UNBREAKABLE!]]''
**'''The Caustic of Grace:''' You overwatch at BS2. ''Especially useful for anyone using the Corvidae Cult Arcana''.
**'''Transition of Vitriol:''' Thousand sons re-roll to hit and to wound against enemies that are falling back. Situational but decent.
**All troops have to be at max size.
***The major downside of this Rite of War. You could pack them in a Spartan or Storm Eagle and than drop them on an objective. Than have it go shoot things. Though you have to be careful about the vehicle restriction. Or pick an Assault Squad or two and hope to get there first. Breachers are also quite shooty and with Graviton Guns only units with ranges longer than 18" or high Strength/AP weapons are any sort of threat to them. [[Rape|Or you can just take Magnus to make both vanilla and Sekhmet Terminators troops.]] However Spartan DTs are [[Rage|fucking expensive]]. Other than camping objectives, there is no upside to taking Tactical Marines at all here (and there are better choices for that, I.e. Implacable Advance). As using Fury of the Legion is just going to get them assaulted or shot off the table after just one volley. A smart opponent won't allow you to use it more than once.
**Flyer or Tank vehicles can't exceed the number of infantry units.
***Not a problem for most for the most part as you can take Assault Marines or Magnus so troops won't have to foot slog. Bikers and Jetbikes also benefit from the buffs proved by this rite. Since skimmers and walkers no have restrictions you can spam as many Land Speeders, Javelins and Dreadnoughts as you want. (Short version: You fill up slots with Osiron and Leviathan Talons). Motraits and Destroyer Marines with jump packs are also good alternatives and for giving the [[Space Wolves|"Fucking Furries"]] the metaphorical middle finger.
***Battle Automata that are unlocked via Contrex Controllers (by upgrading a Forge Lord or taking a Praevian) and Castellax-Achea are either Jet Pack Infantry or Monstrous Creatures. So you can take as many you want, within reason of course. However Achea don't require a Consul at all.
**No restriction on allies. However there are not many pros to taking them because they will be Fellow Warriors at best.
*'''Rite of War: The Guard of the Crimson King''' - ''AKA "Pride of the Legion 2: Electric Boogaloo Super Special Thousand Sons Edition". - YES. It takes Pride of the Legion, throw in ability to take Magnus as an HQ choice (but you don't have to), who loses the rule that you essentially can't win if he dies, and adds the best bit of Orbital Assault with Terminator deepstriking. Then it boosts their survivability when deepstriking and improves upon the already ludicrous number of warp charges that Thousand Sons can throw around. The limitations are not that bad as Sekhmet are OP as fuck and Magnus can replace the loss of vehicular firepower with his D-strength mind bullets.''
**'''Astral Warfare:''' When generating warp charges, roll 2D6 and pick the highest.
**'''Wreathed in Lightning, They Rend the Veil:''' Independent Characters and Terminators get deepstrike and on the turn they do so they gain Fear and can reroll 1s on invulnerable saves. Good for mobility and Fear is a good charge deterrent while invulnerable save rerolls boost survivability somewhat.
**'''The Initiates of the Scarab:''' Sekhmet Cabals are troops and must be taken as your compulsory choices. Could make a good bodyguard for Magnus, not that he needs it.
***This allows you to take [[OP|10 Squads of Sekhmet or 100 Terminators.]] All of which can have 3++ Invulnerables. But are you really [[That guy]]? It also costs at least 4300 points.
**''' The Bidding of the Crimson King:''' Magnus may be taken as your compulsory HQ choice.
***''Note that unlike Primarch's Chosen this means you can take another Lord of War, something no other legion can do.''
**Must have Magnus, Ahriman, or an ML3 Praetor as your warlord, but come on, you were going to take those psychic beatsticks anyway.
**No more vehicles than infantry, again.
*** Since your compulsory troops can take Spartans and Land Raiders it's not that not much of a downside. Just remember to take some Bikers, Jump pack Destroyers and a few Battle Automata. It seems Forge World wants players to load up their lists with Castellax-Achaea. Rapiers also don't count towards the vehicle limit since their artillery and this ROW frees up those precious Elite slots.
**No allies or fortifications of any kind. Since their Fellow Warriors at best while LRs and Spartans are mobile bunkers anyways you won't miss either that much.
*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Arcane Litanies''' A one-use protection against Perils of the Warp. ''With the legion's major LA rules drawback, it's a simple choice - either paying for this, or stick to tepid one Warp Charge powers for anyone other than Magnus. An even greater necessity when up against Word Bearers when using their ''Dark Brethren'' unique RoW, given that <u>Hell Follows With Them</u>''.
**'''Aether-Fire Cannon:''' 10 points to add '''Soul Blaze''' to any Plasma Cannon. If this is bought, all such guns in the unit must be upgraded the same way. ''Um... It's nice of them to push the under-used Soul Blaze rule, but a whole squad of 5+ plasma cannons is likely going to erase or cripple anything remotely susceptible to Soul Blaze. given that a whole squad of Plasma-Cannoneers will fork out 100pts for what is basically 1-3 bolter hits a turn... You can see why Soul Blaze is under-used in the first place. If you've got a Castellax-Achea rolling around with 10pts to spare, they are better spent on 2 Melta bombs. Really, those can sometimes save your bacon, unlike even 3 bonus Bolter shots.
**'''Asphyx Shells:''' This upgrade applies ''Shred'' to the Bolt weapons of an Independent Character for 10 points, or to a Legion Veteran or ''regular'' Legion Terminator squads for 20, and for any such unit with massed bolt weaponry (looking at you, Biker and Jetbiker Characters!) is definitely a worthwhile purchase. It can also be taken on Rotor Cannon-wielding Tactical Support Squads for 25 points, which '''definitely does''' mean a lot of shredding bullets, but the increased cost of what is meant to be a cheap unit and the punyness of S3 might be a turn-off. The flat price of the upgrade means that it's cost-effective on a max-sized Rotor squad, and may put them over par with the more popular Volkite Caliver solution, since neither weapon has a useful AP value against MEQs and shredding Rotor Cannon bullets are essentially S 4.5 and with more shots outside of Deflagrate tomfoolery. Accompany with the Corvidae Cult Arcana and Divination psychic powers for keen shreddin'.
**'''Luminiferous Resonator (Relic)''' - An S10 AP3 Salvo weapon that compares against target's leadership instead of toughness... it has no effect on vehicles. It has a 12" range but being Salvo means you can't assault afterwards no matter how you fire it, so its a bit iffy. Toss it on a terminator and suddenly it makes a lot more sense. Unfortunately most infantry units in the game are LD 9, so most of the time you'll find this Relic weapon to be unimpressive compared to more conventional high-strength weaponry.
*'''Thousand Sons Praetors''' are all Psykers, and not only '''MUST''' take a Mastery level but can grab up to two more, giving them a max level of 3 Mastery levels on par of a Librarian. ''As Paragon Blades are still the main weapon of choice for these psychic kingpins, the extra Mastery levels are mostly for guaranteeing a crucial Iron Arm, Endurance or Warp Speed rather than pulling of a Force ID, or else donating useful dice to other units that better need it. Oh, and improving DtW against pesky Lv 2 Psykers on the enemy's side.''
*'''Thousand Sons Terminators and Legion Veterans''' can demonstrate the sacred might of their union, and become a Brotherhood of Psykers by buying a Mastery level of 1. A monumental upgrade, this really transforms either squad into effectively two more unique Legion units ([[Cheese|''As if '''five''' wasn't enough'']]) with some disgusting combos. Corvidae Marksman Vets that cast Prescience on their own Asphyx shells are brutal (even more so if you roll up Precognition) and are incredibly cost efficient. Unfortunately sniper does not confer to their witchfire powers due to the wording of the sniper rule referencing "weapons" specifically. Psychic powers are not physical weapons people ([[Tzeentch|But what are physical weapons anyway?]]). On the nearer end of the stick, melee-geared Weapon Master Vets and most sorts of Terminators with Raptora buffs will comfortably strike par-for-par with the deluxe exclusives of other Legions.
*'''Osirion Dreadnought''': Your Elite (thanks FAQ) Contemptors can now be psychic! This precursor to the 40k Librarian Dreadnought can be had for 50 points, and gives each dread ML1 (with access to Telekinesis, Telepathy, Pyromancy, and Divination), Adamantium Will, and a snazzy new Force Weapon and Asphyx Shells.
*'''Castellax-Achaea Battle-Automata''': What's different about these Castellax? A lot, actually. For starters, they add Asphyx Shells everywhere with options for a Ætherflame cannon instead of the Mauler. Then they add the Rage and Fearless special rules alongside a special self-destruct that deals d6 S4 AP- hits, like any other Castellax, only differently written. IWND. And the crown jewel, '''Psi-Control Matrix''' is a piece of hardware that might veer a little too Heretek for [[Adeptus Mechanicus|some people's liking]]; it allows anyone with at least ML1 to counter the Mindlock that so-hampers Automata from charging, running and making Sweeping Advances, which is by no means terrible, since you can still move and shoot in any target, not the closest one like Automatas with Cortex. In addition, friendly psykers can draw Line of Sight from any Psi-Control Matrix Castellax for their Malediction and Witchfire powers, but should the psyker suffer Perils the Castellax must pass an LD test as well or take d6 unsaveable wounds, if this kills them their death-splosion has a maxed radius. Achaeas have I4, It Will Not Die, Shred on the Mauler Cannon and beautiful model, all for merely 30 points over regular Castellax, what's not to like? (Hint: they are equipped with twin Power Claw aka Power fist, making em effectively +1A and S10, and priced exactly the same as a castellax equipped with paired blade and wrecker, if it is not enough they don't have Automatic shielding BUT Refractor field, for a sweet 5++ in melee.) Oh, and after all this cheese you won't need Cortex Controller to bring them to the party.
**The ''only'' downsides is that they can't have grenades or an advanced targeting array.
**If you already have a Forge Lord, consider giving him a Cortex Controller anyway so he can repair the Automata.
**[[Derp|Can't be taken with a Praevian, for whatever reason.]]
*'''Sekhmet Terminator Cabal''': 2 wound Terminators with a well-appreciated ability to use either Cataphractii or Tartaros for the squad, depending on whether you want that cheesy 3++ or the ability to Sweep Advance. Asphyx Shells and Force Weapons of all three sorts on the wargear front complement Stubborn and a Level-2 Psychic Brotherhood, with powers from the disciplines Prosperine Lore can offer. Not much else for their options besides, as they can't take heavy weapons, leaving Combi-weapons as their only switch-out for dakka. Combi-Volkite or Grenade Launchers are the common go to choices for Terminators.
**But who cares about options when the baseline deal is ''this good: 35 points per [[OP|Stubborn Psyker Terminator with 2 wounds, +1 to invulnerable and a Force Weapon]], and Implacable Advance, for [[What|only 5 points over a regular Terminator.]]'' Let that sink in.
**Oh, you thought "they only have Force Weapons, so one can easily counter them with Dreadnoughts"? Well, no, as they can take Power Fists and Chainfists for 5 and 10 points respectively (1 or 2 are an auto-take), replacing their Force Weapons, or instead take a Lightning Claw for free.
**Do consider skipping these guys if you're worried you're up against Destroyer Squads with Psyke-out weapons, they're great for their price and role but not if they cause you to take 2-3 pinning tests per enemy shooting phase (assuming there's only one Destroyer squad shooting at them). Absolutely give these guys a pass and go with regular Terminators (not Psykers) if you're going to be up against Word Bearers Destroyers in particular, their Instant Death Perils makes a mockery of that 2-wound 3++ durability you're so proud of.
*'''Khenetai Occult Blade Cabal''': Scholarly swordmasters as deft with the pen as the sword, these spellbinding duellists bear twin Force Swords at WS5, alongside a single Brotherhood of Psykers-based power from any Discipline. The kicker is the special boost the Khenetai recieve from the immaculate synergy of their coordinated swordplay, increasing in size with the unit: At 1-3 models the warriors each receive +1 attack, at 4-8 a further +1 WS hops on top of that, and at 9-10 models they get ''yet another'' +1 attack. The prospect of casting Endurance on these slicing machines is tempting needless-to-say, but at ML1 this is a risky self-cast prospect.
** Biomancy is just brutal for these assassins. Iron Arm or Warp Speed, already popular mainstays with rightly earned accalin, ''apply to every member of the unit if they cast it on themselves. The Charge of the Occult Brigade with Arms of Iron at a full 10-strength will remove anything in the game, [[Anal_circumference|up to and including some Primarchs]]
*'''Ammatara Occult Intersession Cabal''': Don't forget the Sons had pioneering Recon divisions as well, the only Legion to do so besides the Raven Guard. A Psychic Brotherhood with Sniper Rifles and Shroud Bombs, alongside all the good-ol' stock sneaky stuff rules (Stealth, Move through Cover, Infiltrate and Scout). They also get their own unique power: '''Mind Killer''', which lets the team re-roll any failed hit or wound rolls and ignore cover, making them the prime solution to dislodge any stubborn Fists or Death Guard you find in a hole somewhere.
**They can take a Storm Eagle as their Dedicated Transport. However for a ten man squad it's quite expensive both cash and points wise. So use it to drop off some footsloggers before sniping things to death.
*'''Magistus Amon''': Captain of the Ninth Company and Equerry to the Primarch, who was even his first tutor in the psychic arts. A powerful wizard with a lot of potential for lockdown - he's an ML3 Corvidae and Athanean caster with some very powerful tools. Alongside his Master Crafted Force sword, Archaeotech Pistol, and Litanies, Amon wears a special 2+ suit that gives him a 4+ cover save or adds +2 to any cover he's in and gives anyone with him a 6+ cover save or adds +1 to their cover as well. He also has a single-use attack, auto-hitting D6 times on units of 5 models or less and 2D6 on 6 or larger, Poisoned 4+ AP4 and Concussive. On top of all this, armies with Amon can re-roll Seize the Initiative, and enemies attempting to Outflank within 24" or Deep Strike within 12" simply fail, granting his team plenty of breathing space from any surprise assassins. His WT puts one non-flyer, non-Superheavy unit in special reserve earmarked to arrive on a specific turn after the first turn. However, Amon cannot be the Warlord of a ''Guard of the Crimson King'' RoW force.
*'''[[Ahzek Ahriman]]''': Before he was [[Rubric Marine|turning his brothers to dust]], Ahzek Ahriman was the Chief Librarian and First Captain of the Thousand Sons. As one of the strongest psykers in 40k, he is not in too shabby in 30k either despite being younger and greener by 10,000 years, while thankfully not being a whole lot less meaner. While he is ML4, he can only choose powers from Divination in this millenium, so he isn't yet the mind-bullet spewer he will become. Other than that, he has a Praetor-level stat line with WS5 and rather generic wargear, comprising a MC bolt pistol with shredding shells, MC Force Axe (even if it doesn't really look like an axe) and an Iron Halo. He can give a Command Squad Brotherhood of Psykers (ML2) for 50 points, provided they adopt the Corvidae Cult Arcana and generate their powers from Divination. This is not a bad option, as Com squads are already useful in both general beatstick terms and in a TS-specific sense - their 6" fearless bubble wards off Pinning should anyone suffer Perils. Ahriman tops things off with a similar Warlord Trait to his 40k self; instead of giving D3 units Infiltrate, he gives 3 units Scout. So overall he is a very good support HQ and for 225 points he leaves room for more awesome in the rest of hte list. If you want a more directly-offensive HQ, look to ML 3 Praetors, or our Primarch for example...
**Like the other named characters destined for a roll in the even grimmer darkness of 40K, Ahriman gets special protection from retiring injury when used in campaigns.
**While he shines brightest as a support character, Ahriman is more than decent in a challenge should you roll Precognition; any T4 or less target without Eternal Warrior or a 3++ will likely fall to his Force Axe. Enjoy your bookworm boss putting Khârn and Sevatar in their place.
*'''[[Magnus the Red]]''':<sup>FAQ 2019</sup> The Big Red One before he grew some wings and became all warpy. At 495 points, the Crimson King is the second most expensive Primarch after [[Horus]] by a mere 5 points. He has 6's in most stats, with WS7, S7, BS5, A4, and Ld10. He's also got a shitton of psychic powers at ML5, and he harnesses Warp Charges on a 3+, can roll from any of the non-special disciplines and Sanctic Daemonology in any fashion, only suffers Perils if he rolls three 6's (meaning that if he keeps his WC investment to two, he's Peril-proof) and always re-rolls a result of 1 on the Perils table - so he's pulling them off as well. Furthermore, Magnus '''ignores the need for LOS''' with these powers, and his psychic attacks ignore cover - ''whoe needs two eyes anyway?''. Magnus shares a similiar evasive bonus with his enemy Leman, in that he forces any attacks including shooting against him or his squad to eat a -1 penalty to hit, but instead of going up over the course of a fight, Magnus instead forces any barrage weapons aimed at himself or his attached squad to scatter 1" further. This is quite broken when combined with the new Mind Howl psychic power since the affected unit [[Rage|hits you on a 6 in close combat and can't shoot you at all because they are BS1 with a -1 malus to hit]]. [[Troll|Good thing Invisibility is gone hmmm ?]]. As the ''Sire of the Thousand Sons'', Magnus grants Fearless to any attached unit, lets the army reroll reserves if he's the Warlord, allows all friendly LA:TS to use his LD score for Morale, Pinning, and LD tests incurred from psychic powers, and welcomes Sekhmet Terminators into the Troops slot while ignoring Cult restrictions.
**'''The Horned Raiment''': Artificer armor with 2+/4++ saves that reduces Destroyer damage by 1. Magnus presumably has to deal with D attacks more frequently than the other Primarchs in his line of work. Situational, but good. Laugh at Shadowswords and be mildly less fucked by Eldar Wraithguard D-spam cheese.
**'''Blade of Ahn-Nunurta''': An S+2 AP1 Two-Handed Force weapon. Combine with his already impressive strength, and he can rest assured that anything will get hurt by it, bringing Instant Death on most infantry even if he doesn't spend some of his power into putting Force in to kill them just that much quicker.
**'''Psyfire Serpenta''': A special mind-bullet pistol; apparently the term "serpenta" refers to any sidearm now. It's got a short 15" range, but at S8 AP2 with Assault d3 and Soul Blaze, it'll leave a mark of any unit.
**'''Downgrade Time!'''<sup>FAQ Feb 19</sup> ''The unrestrained might of the Crimson King'' Magnus now has to buy his special rule ''Mind Wrath'' for a cost of 175 points, making him the most expensive Primarch in the game. For the cost of adding +2 to the Warp Charge requirement of a Witchfire power, he can double its range, and then adds a single D6 bonus Strength to the value of the power, to a maximum of 10. A big step down from the Destroyer cheese of his earlier incarnation, but still extremely powerful. Additionally, once per game the upgraded Cyclopean Giant can cancel the results of a single Perils of the Warp ''anywhere on the table''. Useful considering that the whole army suffers when one lowly sorcerer screws up his casting roll.
**'''Weaknesses''': His statline is on the low side for a Primarch but its nothing he can't patch with some rolls on Biomancy. He can be tarpitted with his four attacks unless he rolls up Warp Speed, but equally he could just chill in the backfield and blast things with his colossal psychic firepower. Unlike similarly costed Primarchs, his basic rules doesn't bring much to his Legion. You have the Leadership buff, Terminator troops, and ignoring cult restrictions is good for the Sons, but it just doesn't match up to what the passive abilities other leadership-oriented Primarchs can bring to their Legion. If he wanted he could roll on Divination and Telepathy for that purpose but it would be a bit of a waste of Mind Wrath (if you buy the upgrade). Sisters of Silence are meant to be a hard counter, but if they get close enough to Magnus for their abilities to affect him, he can easily deal with them in CQC.
*Sworn Brothers
**None whatsoever, it appears that the Thousand Sons were not very good at making friends. That kinda contradicts their fluff about being good friends with both White Scars and Word Bearers, not to mention Solar Auxilia Spire Guard, but crunch-wise is well justified - you wouldn't want to see Zardu Layak and his Daemonfarm putting all this Warp Charges in use!
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====XVI Legion: [[Luna Wolves]]/[[Sons of Horus]]====
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[[File:Luna Wolves - Sons of Horus legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.png|230px|left|]]
Like the Terran wolves of their founding namesake, the XVIth legion stands above its peers in terms of vicious, shocking offense. Lightning-fast reserves close in with a plethora of close range and assault-oriented bonuses, saturating the enemy with overwhelming numbers of marines and attacks alike.

While they may be the lead antagonists (if not the most diabolical) of the Horus Heresy, the Sons have no outstanding "I win" button choices other than Horus himself. But look a little closer, and the amount of potential nastiness will unfold before you like the wolf's claws: BS5 Veterans in a Troops slot with Combi-Weapons that just remove anything within 12" of them, endless ways to bring in units from reserve when and where you need them, deep striking Terminators and Dreadclaws as ''dedicated transports.'' If there's a catch, it's that the Sons of Horus are as demanding as their personality would indicate. You really have to think about what you're doing with each unit - while many are highly customisable and with higher stats than other legions, they are expensive for what they offer while being less focused and self-defining as some other Legions' selections. If you can overcome the main problem - crossing the board to get right at the enemy's throat - the SoH will show you a gratifying advantage in lethal dynamics.

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*'''Legion Special Rules'''
** '''The Edge of the Spear:''' Units in reserve can re-roll 1s on reserve rolls. By default this means you get to re-roll half your failed reserve rolls.
***Consider combining it with a Damocles Command Rhino, it'll allow you to re-roll all your reserves, meaning that you have a 97.2% chance of getting your reserves when you want them.''
** '''Merciless Fighters:''' If, at Initiative step 1, there are more SoH ''infantry'' in an assault than enemies, then all SoH get to make a single extra attack, provided they have already fought (thus Unwieldy weapons don't get this bonus).
***Bulky models count as 2 and Very Bulky as 3, so take advantage of Jump Pack and Terminator Armour equipped models when planning your lists. Don't think this automatically means swords over axes though, as the bonus strength from the axe will even out the odds and hit at AP2. Your Praetors still do more damage with Power Fists than Paragon Blades even with the extra attack.
** '''Death Dealers:''' +1 BS if shooting at an enemy within 12″ with a pistol, rapid fire, or assault weapon. Doesn’t affect snap fire, Overwatch, or fury of the legion shots. Coupled with Merciless Fighters, this rewards a highly aggressive army at close quarters.
***This is crazy-good with weapons like combi-meltas/plasma as you want to score as many hits as possible at point-blank range.
** '''Bitter Pride:''' Cannot benefit from an ally's Warlord trait or Ld stat - your allies, however, can still benefit from yours. A very small downside for your 6 Sworn Brothers allies.
*'''Rite of Battle: The Black Reaving''' - ''This RoW isn't very good, you can get most of its benefits elsewhere and its main unique benefit sucks. It does have some useful bonuses if you don't want to take named characters, but you could probably do better.''
**'''Encirclement:''' Any non-vehicle unit in reserve that enters from a board edge gets Fleet for that turn. This will only apply to run moves, you still can't charge.
**'''Cut them down:''' Units that charge into already engaged enemy units get Rage. This sounds better than it is. To get the advantage, you need to take a charge from the enemy and survive, or charge and fail to break them in the next two phases before your second unit comes in. Suffice to say it isn't a good idea to allow your opponent to charge you or to charge into fights you can't win quickly.
**'''Reaver Onslaught:''' Reaver Squads become troops. Useful, though also achievable with Maloghurst.
**'''The Eye of the Warmaster:''' Justaerin may Deep strike. Also useful, also achievable with a named character, in this case Abaddon or Horus.
**Must take a Master of Signals as a '''compulsory''' HQ choice. Not that bad of a restriction, as a Master of Signals is useful, cheap and can be used as a no-scatter point for Deep Strikers. Consider using a Delegatus instead of a Praetor to save points. The exact wording makes the Master of Signals compulsory, bypassing the Supporting Officer rule, so if you take Horus you don't have to waste points on other compulsory HQs if you don't want to.
**Must take '''more''' Fast Attack units than Heavy Support units - Effectively means you're out one Heavy Support slot, since you don't get an extra Fast Attack slot to allow you to take your full complement of Heavy Support slots. Instead of seeing Fast Attack slots as a "tax" to get more Heavy Support slots, use your Fast Attack units' weaponry and speed to apply pressure where needed, and to give the rest of your army time to get into range.''
***Consider stacking on [[White Scars|all kinds of bikes]]. Keep in mind though that even with Rage, Outriders & Jetbikes are not close combat powerhouses and do not count for outnumbering with Merciless Fighters. However, they are tough and have formidable ranged output. Jetbikes are able to take Melta Bombs on every model, which can be an invaluable source of AV, and Outriders can spam plasma/melta, albeit for a hefty points cost.
***Since you have a Master of Signals, a Seeker squad can also be a good choice too, especially with Banestrike and a LR Proteus.
***Anti-vehicle options include lascannon Storm Eagles (who can pull double duty as assault transports), Rapier platforms in the Elites slot, Terminators with Chainfists in Dreadclaws, and Primaris-Lightning Strike Fighters.
***A Praevian with Castellax armed with Darkfire/Multimeltas can make up for the lost firepower. Due to Cortex designator, Rage, Shock chargers, MC and Merciless fighters you'll also be doing 2+2+1= ''5 S6 AP2 Concussive & Preferred Enemy attacks'' on the charge (counting +1 HoW attack). Expensive but powerful, especially with an Outflank courtesy of Horus.
**Must take three compulsory Troops choices.
***One of your best options is to bring 20-man tactical squads with extra CCWs and equip the MoS for melee. That's 66 attacks on the charge, not counting the ones you'll get from Merciless Fighters.
***Jump Pack Reavers. Counting as up to 30 models not only means they'll almost always get Merciless attacks, even against tarpits like Conscripts, but also that they can take casualties and still outnumber the enemy. Reavers make for efficient troops compared to Assault Squads. Consider giving most of the squad Chainaxes for cheap S5 and sprinkling in some power axes/swords/fists.
**No fortifications - Unlikely to harm most players.
**Unlike most RoWs, you CAN take Space Marine Legions as allies, and you have many Sworn Brothers options. Bitter Pride will limit the benefits you gain, but not the ones ''they'' gain from you. Good options include good tanks like Castrmen Orth from the Iron Hands or better yet, a Tank Commander from the [[Solar Auxilia]] with Deep-Striking Tarantula turrets.
*'''Rite of War: The Long March''' - ''An aggressive, location-dependent rite that changes the rules the models gain based upon their position on the battlefield, though ultimately encouraging getting to the enemy as quickly as possible. Really embodies the Old Earth tactical adage- "The firstest with the mostest is the bestest."''
**'''Relentless March:''' Infantry units gain a special rule depending on where they begin each turn on the table. They gain ''Relentless'' in their own deployment zone, ''Fleet'' in No Man's Land and ''Crusader'' in the enemy deployment zone. These rules obviously don't apply if your infantry units are in a transport, but you might need those anyway to make sure your infantry gets where it needs to go.
***Any Emperors Children player will tell you that Crusader in 30k is fantastic for melee units, and having fleet in the middle of the table helps you get there earlier. Relentless is also great for the heavy units you keep in the back field, allowing you to move them freely and still fire their weapons to full effect.
**'''The Warmaster's Portion:''' On the first turn, your units in the detachment re-roll to-hit rolls of 1. In addition, vanilla Legion Terminators become non-Compulsory Troops choices.
***This is meant to encourage you to be aggressive straight from the start of the game, and getting Terminators as Troops is always good when you're trying to form an elite force.
**This rite can only be taken by Traitors and cannot be used in conjunction with the Shattered Legion rules.
**The army cannot include units with the ''Slow & Purposeful'' rule, ''unless'' they arrive via Deep Strike or start the game inside a transport vehicle.
***Nothing in the Heresy has the Slow & Purposeful rule anymore, so this is no restriction at all.
**You may not take a Fortification or and Allied detachment. You wouldn't be able to take advantage of this RoW's movement bonuses sitting behind a fortification anyway.
*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Banestrike Bolter Rounds:''' "[[Blood Ravens|Gifted]]" from the Alpha Legion, Bolters and Combi-Bolters with this ammo treat to-wound rolls of 6 as AP3, but have shorter range (18"). Can be taken by Independent Characters, Reavers and the Praevian's Castellaxes but not Terminators, which is sad because the short range leaves you within charge range.
***Seeker Squads can exchange their Scorpius rounds (Heavy 1, Shred, AP2) for this one (Rapid Fire, Banestrike) at no cost. You will never do this, as even though it looks like Banestrike is situationally better that Scorpius due to not being Heavy, you will get far better results overall by keeping the AP2, Shred, +1S and additional 6" range.
***It can however be worth taking on Reavers, who can use their Precision shots to target special weapons bearers as well as sergeant and apothecaries who were foolish enough to not take Artificer armour.
**'''Cataphractii Primus (Relic):''' This is the shit. 50 points for a suit of Cataphractii pattern Terminator armor that gives you ''Eternal Warrior'' and +1 Toughness against shooting attacks. Feel like a Salamander AND an Iron Hand.
***Terminator equipment cost 35pts and comes with a power weapon and combi-bolter, this relic is just the suit and without the normal options like "Lightning claw for dirt-cheap 5 pts". Given to a Praetor is like buying a 25pts Iron halo and Eternal Warrior +Toughness for another 25. Not a bargain, but a fair deal.
*'''Justaerin Terminators:''' The black clad shock troopers of the Sons of Horus Legion, the Justaerin were the pride of the XVIth Legion Astartes who formed the 'point of the spear'. In game terms, they are Terminators with the +1 Weapon Skill and Wounds as well as the Stubborn, Furious Charge & Chosen Warriors special rules making them brutal in close combat. They can also be chosen as a replacement for a Command squad for any Master of the Legion, including Abaddon, Maloghurst, or Horus, without taking up an HQ or Elite slot. They are now reasonably costed, at 255 points for the starting squad size of '''five 2-wound''' Terminators. The maximum squad size is also 12, rather than the usual 10, and don't forget that you're Bulky. They come stock with combi-bolters and power weapons with options for power/chain fists, lightning claws and combi-weapons. One in five can also pick up a heavy flamer, reaper autocannon or a tank-vaporising multi-melta. Justaerin are expensive, but they'll get the job done.
***Their special rules and weapons options give them a strong lean towards close combat with Furious Charge and Chosen Warriors.
***Justaerin are expensive and can't get a Spartan, so they're unlikely to outnumber the foe even with Bulky. Consider giving them Powerfists and at least 2 Chainfists, and then putting them in a Dreadclaw. Due to Furious Charge, they'll strip 5 HP from AV14 on average, with plenty of Penetrating hits. Cheaper than Melta and with more hits, this will be your way of prying open pesky Spartans and getting to their squishy insides with WS5 and S8 AP2 weapons.
*'''Reavers:''' A Sons of Horus refinement of Despoiler squads (Chainsword + pistol tacticals), with the most infamous being the Catulan Reavers of the First Company. They're comparable to Legion Veterans with 2 Attacks base, as well as Outflank and Precision shots and strikes. Precision Shots and Strikes lets Reavers pick off sergeants, special and heavy weapons users and apothecaries, which is very useful. Unlike Veterans, [[Derp|they don't come standard with a bolter]]. Their wargear is assault-oriented: Ranged weapon choices are Bolters/Combi-Weapons with Banestrike shells for AP3 Rending or Volkite chargers for extra wounds (so your longest ranged attack is 18") and one in five can take a special weapon. Any model can have a Chainaxe for just 1pt, or a more expensive Power Weapon or Power Fist. You can also buy jump packs for the whole squad for a fixed price of 50pts rather than investing in a vehicle or footslogging. The cost of these will quickly add up though, and Reavers are still only as tough as a regular Tactical. Don't overcost your Reavers trying to make them good at everything- pick a job for them, equip them for it, and they'll do it.
***Jump Packs will grant the unit a lot of maneuverability, and the benefits of Bulky, allowing them to easily get in range with their guns or make charges. However, this will leave them vulnerable to shooting. Chainaxes for most of the squad with a few power swords/axes/fists is the best blend of hitting power and price.
***Dreadclaws will allow you to drop them exactly where you need them to make turn 2 charges. Drop the pod and Jink first turn, charge out second turn against a vulnerable target. Reavers take out backline units that aren't specialised for close combat very effectively.
***Whenever you are building a Reaver squad, make sure you're leveraging their unique benefits over Veterans, as they are similar units but Veterans are cheaper.
***When in a troops slot, Reavers can be understood as better Assault Marines thanks to their better weapons access, extra attacks, Outflank and Precision Shots/Strikes.
*'''Dreadclaw Drop Pods:''' ''As of the Istvaan Crusade Army List, ALL Legions can take them as Fast Attack (or Dedicated Transports for vanilla & Command Terminator Squads), but only the SoHs can take them as Dedicated Transports for Seekers, non-TDA equipped Command Squads, ordinary Dreadnoughts and Reavers too''. It's a drop pod that can fly after landing and burn things when they land or cross over them. Think of them as a drop pod for assault units. It's more survivable, protects its cargo better than a Drop pod, gets into combat significantly faster than a Land Raider and it's cheaper than a Storm Eagle... though is not as heavily armed, isn't an AV14 tank or assault ram and at 100 points it's not as disposable as a normal Drop Pod. Plan how you use it accordingly. Your Terminators can take them as transports, so do this since they cannot deep strike without Abaddon/Horus. For maximum Dreadclaw shenanigans you can also fill your LoW slot with 3 of these: the combined wording of both the Drop Pod Assault rule and the Sub Orbital Strike Wing allows to '''unleash 3 dreadclaws upon the enemy since turn one''', albeit at the cost of your LoW slot and the risk of handling VP to the enemy if all the claws were to be destroyed. High risk, high reward.
**This guy is a nearly guaranteed turn 2 assault with an 18" + 6" + 6" + charge range"= '''32-42" threat bubble'''.
*#It arrives in turn 1 thanks to the 'Drop Pod Assault' rule as a Hover Flyer anywhere on the board, and since you can't assault the turn it Deep strikes, feel free to burn stuff at the landing zone.
*#If you didn't mishap, you can Flat out in the shooting phase 18".
*#If your Jink saves and AV12 kept you alive, on turn 2 you can move 6" (without burning anything), disembark-move 6", and then charge at some bitches.
[[File:1_mural.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Loken vs Abaddon]]
*'''[[Ezekyle Abaddon]]:''' Before he was Warmaster of Chaos he was First Captain of the Sons of Horus Legion. Unfortunately, he is not the machine that he will become in 10,000 years, what with lacking his Chaos Gifts and better wargear. In 30k he is armed with a master-crafted Power Fist, a Grenade Harness, and a Combi-bolter that can be swapped out for a common Power Sword (you'd think it'd at least be Master-Crafted given his status as First Captain, but it isn't). [[Dawn_of_War_2|He is Fearless, for he is Fear incarnate]] (when he is the warlord), has Precision Strikes and he can Deep Strike with a Terminator squad of any kind. His buffs are ok but compared to a kitted out Praetor he is [[Overcosted|overcosted]]. His custom Terminator Armour doesn't actually count as such, so he can still Sweeping Advance after combat while still having Relentless and a 4++ as well.
**Abaddon's main advantage in a duel is his WS7, a cut above the average Praetor, allowing him to hit most targets on a 3+.
**Abaddon's usual place is deep striking at the head of a Terminator unit, but there can also be value in attaching him to a larger unit that he can grant Fearless to. Remember that he does not prevent Sweeping Advances when attached to a power armoured unit.
**In campaign games where character casualties and injuries are a factor, Abaddon can re-roll any such chart results relating to himself. It's not likely to be of much importance, but it's worth knowing about.
*'''Garviel Loken:''' Captain of the 10th Company and later the leader of the loyalist Sons of Horus forces on Istvaan III, which he renamed the Luna Wolves to signify their break with Horus' treachery . He was thought to have been killed by Abaddon there, but against all odds he survived and was later brought to Terra at the orders of [[Malcador the Sigillite]]. On the tabletop he is a decent Praetor equivalent with a Paragon Blade and Iron halo who can come [[Yarrick|back from the dead]] - but only once. He's a Praetor with Power Armour, so he doesn't fare well against run-of-the-mill AP3/AP2 weaponry, but he does have In 6 so get him into combat with guys he can munch before they get to strike back. In 6 also works REALLY well when trying to catch opponents in Sweeping Advances too; don't forget that Morale is a HUGE thing in 30k.
*'''Maloghurst the Twisted:''' Horus' equerry. Called "twisted" for his devious tactics, his body came to match the epithet after a crash landing left him crippled. As such, he is not a great fighter (only 2 attacks, I4) and cannot Run or Sweeping Advance. Due to his cost and stats, you could see him as a Power Armoured Praetor (he has ''Master of the Legion'') [[Nerf|injured to Centurion stats]]. Alternatively, just think of him as a Herald with additional utility at the expense of mobility. ''Broken in Body'' but with an ''Adamantium Will'', he's more of a booster for your army as he carries a Legion Standard, is Scoring, and makes '''Reaver''' and '''Veteran''' squads (but not Justaerin) Troops.
**Due to being a Master of the Legion, he can take a Command Squad retinue, which come with a Legion Standard of their own. Because it's not mandatory for them to accompany him, you can make Maloghurst join another unit and thus have two separate Fearless bubbles.
**As Maloghurst is unable to Run or Sweeping Advance, the best unit to put him with is one equipped with Cataphractii or void hardened armour; his Fearless will make them into a solid anvil, and his disabilities will not impede them in any way.
*'''Tybalt Marr:''' On the middle ground between Centurion and Praetor stats, but costing more than a kitted-out Praetor. He has Preferred Enemy (Loyalists), which is a strong benefit that can confer to his squad, and Master of the Legion, as well as a unique warlord trait: '''By the Hunter's Moon''', inflicting a pinning test on anyone within 24" ''(particularly infiltrators and scouts)'' making it sorta difficult to ambush him. However, he can't really make too much out of those rules by himself because he's only armed with a Master-Crafted, Murderous Strike, Charnabal Blade which is not terrible, but needs him to be in a challenge since most rules don't interact well with normal 1-wound MEQs, and a Master-Crafted ''(made irrelevant due to Preferred Enemy)'' Banestrike Bolt pistol. Preferred Enemy is a strong benefit which buffs any squad he is attached to, particularly when Sons of Horus shoot at BS5 at close range or get additional attacks at the end of close combat, they simply won't miss. Tybalt Marr is a better buffing character than Loken but doesn't have the deployment abilities or sheer damage potential of Abaddon, so he's a middling special character who likely outstrips an unnamed Praetor by a small margin. He won't maul incoming challengers unequivocally though he has a decent shot at all comers, but stick him in an elite or heavy support squad and watch them tear new assholes.
[[File:Horus.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Horus Lupercal]]
*'''[[Horus|Horus Lupercal]]''' - The Warmaster. The Arch-Traitor. The one responsible for the grimdarkness of 40k, and the [[Meme|really cool guy]] that the Horus Heresy is named after. At 500 points, he's the most expensive of the Primarchs, but he can easily earn all of it back and more. His stats may appear surprisingly low at first, but his real value comes from his powerful wargear and assortment of buffs that he can provide. Weapon Mastery allows him to distribute attacks between his two weapons at will. Sire of the Sons of Horus grants him d3 extra attacks against enemies of WS4 or lower and also allows him (along with any Terminator unit he has joined) to join at any time after the second turn if he is placed in reserves. God of War allows all of Horus's reserves to use the Outflank rule, grants Sons of Horus units with the Legiones Astartes rule +1 leadership if Horus is in the same force, and allows his forces to seize Initiative on a roll of 4+. The buffs are topped off with The Point of The Spear, which allows Horus to use Veteran Tactical Squads and Justaerin Terminator squads as troops and lets him call down an orbital bombardment once per game when in the shooting phase and not in close combat or reserve. The orbital strike has infinite range, a strength of 10, an AP of 2, and has the types Ordnance 1, Large Blast (5'), Lance, and Twin-Linked. Save it for Titans or other extremely dangerous threats.<br>Horus is equipped with the following wargear:
**'''The Serpent's Scale:''' A specially enhanced set of Terminator armor with a +2 Armor save and a +3 Invulnerable save, and it nullifies psychic powers on a 3+, which is ''not'' a DtW, so you can back it up with 5+, and do not need to spend a Warp Charge, although it only protects Horus himself, so his squad is still affected by the power. Also, on a 3+ it ignores '''temporary''' effects ''(such as Maledictions, Rad Grenades, etc)'' that would adversely modify his characteristic profile. Overall, the best Primarch Armor, after Perturabo's.
**'''Worldbreaker:''' A Master-Crafted Power Maul said to have been made by the Emperor himself, and it shows. Although it has the Unwieldy quality, the Concussive rule can easily nullify its effects if hitting a foe at S10 and AP2 doesn't just kill them outright. Its abilities and Unwieldy nature might seem a little disappointing compared to other Primarch-quality bludgeons such as Dawnbringer and Forgebreaker, but then you remember he also has . . .
**'''The Warmaster's Talon:''' The unique AP2 Lightning Claw wielded by Horus (and later Failbaddon) lacks the sheer force of the Worldbreaker, but it compensates with the Assault 3 AP3 Twin-linked Bolter built into it for use at long range as well as the Shred rule. But its most dangerous quality is the special rule 'Disabling Strike': Any unit who is wounded but not killed by the Talon in an Assault phase suffers a -1 to WS and Strength for the rest of the game. ''And it stacks.'' Coupled with Weapon Mastery, it allows him to ''beat all other Primarchs'' as long as that list doesn’t include Leman Russ. Or Angel's Wrath Sanguinius.
**'''Teleportation Matrix:''' Horus and any attached Terminator units can Deep Strike, and will not scatter when doing so. Since Legion Terminators don't get to Deep Strike like their post-Heresy counterparts, this is a big help for them.
**'''Frag Grenades:''' Do we really need to explain what a frag grenade does?
**'''Cognis-signum:''' Gives him the Night vision special rule, prevents infiltrators from dropping near him and, if he didn't shoot, gives +1 BS to unit within 6".
*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Emperor's Children:''' Horus will thank anyone who can debuff elite marines to WS 4 for +D3 attacks.
**'''White Scars:'''
**'''Death Guard:'''
**'''Blood Angels:'''
**'''Word Bearers:'''
**'''Mechanicum:'''
**'''Imperial Army:'''
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====XVII Legion: [[Word Bearers]]====
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[[File:Word Bearers legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.png|100px|left|]]
The closest thing to 40k's Chaos Space Marines in the 30k environment, which is obvious since the Heresy was more or less their idea from the start. You get access to Daemonic allies, Daemon-boosted unique units and special rules meaning you can have have a lot of invulnerable saves and Fear-causing effects, but are also subject to a degree of random chance - if you want to go down that route.

Furthermore, even when discounting Lorgar himself, the ability to make many of your HQ choices into ML1 Sorcerers makes Word Bearers the second-place Psychic force in the 30k environment, just after the Thousand Sons, and without the XVth Legion's own significant psychic drawbacks, because [[Dawn of War|why fear the Warp when it gives you a good pain as it overtakes you?]]

At their simplest, the Word Bearers do well as a melee-oriented Legion, but to understand this you need to take stock of all of their buffs (more on them later), combined with their excellent morale and boosted Sweeping Advance chances. If you can bring a Diabolist (or Erebus) then they get further improved in melee wherever the "Dark Channelling" rule is applied. Keep in mind however, that after HH8 Malevolence, some of their rules (Daemon allies with ''Rite of War'' and special characters) are horribly outdated.

Finally, it should be noted that Loyalist Word Bearers are nonexistent, which reflects how in the backstory the Word Bearers had 40 years to cleanse their Legion of any loyalist dissidents, see note on pg. 92 of Legiones Astartes: Age of Darkness Legions, so if you want to play Loyalists, choose another Legion.

<div class="mw-collapsible-content">

*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''True Believers:''' Roll 3d6 for all Morale checks [[Derp|(but not Fear or Pinning checks for some reason)]] and must pick the lowest two dice.
**'''Cut Them Down:''' Must always make Sweeping Advances and must re-roll Sweeping Advance rolls of 1.
**'''Charismatic Leadership:''' WB Primary Detachments must take a 2nd Compulsory HQ choice, this must always be a Chaplain or a ''Centurion'' (and not any "Consul", like a Champion).
**Traitor Word Bearers (and that's pretty much all of them) are the only Legion that can use psychic powers from Malefic Daemonology without using Psykarana from book 8. Do remember that the Malefic Daemonology psychic discipline subjects non-Daemon models using it to suffering "Perils of the Warp" on ANY doubles rather than just 2 or more sixes, so unless you have plenty of Warp Charges, Malefic Daemonology is best saved for your Psyker models that have the Daemon rule.
***''While these bonuses are simple and relatively small, the Sons of Lorgar are much more than they seem. You won't be winning games thanks to just these rules, instead you'll need to take full advantage of their wargear, Consul and squad upgrade to make the most of them.''
*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Burning Lore:''' Any Word Bearers Praetor, Diabolist, Centurion or Chaplain has access to the Burning lore wargear upgrade. It turns them into a Mastery Level 1 Psyker with access to the Biomancy, ''Malefic Daemonology'' (pg. 19 of Age of Darkness Army list) or Telepathy disciplines. ''Remember that you will get both the Primaris and another power due to Psychic Focus, which in practice means in many cases you're paying 30 points for Smite or Psychic Scream, and those powers are well worth it for the cost, enough so that you should think twice about including characters who don't get Burning Lore. Biomancy is a safe bet if you're worried about which of the two disciplines you want to go for (do not go for Daemonology unless you're using a Diabolist, it isn't worth it) as 5/6 results are very helpful and Hemorrhage can be ignored for Smite. It cannot be given to special characters like Hol Beloth, but is available to unique versions of the Praetor/Centurion, such as the Limited Edition models.''
**Even if all you get this for is to try and roll off Smite from Biomancy, a successful cast of Smite will cause an average of 1.666 AP2 wounds against Marines (or 2.268 AP2 wounds with Dark Brethren). For context, a charging Chaplain with a pistol and Power Axe will deal 2.962 AP2 wounds, so you're paying 30 points to increase his damage output by 56% on a successful cast.
***Do be aware that killing 1-2 models during the Psychic Phase can potentially make a charge harder, if you charge the unit you're Smiting, but since Smite has 18" of range finding a different target to zap shouldn't be that much of an issue.
***Do remember that buying this makes your Praetors and other characters eligible for Empath Bonds, granting them Eternal Warrior and the chance to pass on wounds (which they might be able to heal with Biomancy). Make the Death Guard jealous of how tough your characters are and laugh at Praetors who match their Power Fists or Divining Blades against your own.
***Finally, remember the downside of becoming a Psyker: vulnerability to Psyk-out. Those grenades, missiles, and Psyarkana with the Psy-lash rule can, and will fuck you over. It's practically a guaranteed wound that ignores LoS. As such, Destroyers should be the first thing you eliminate, because if your opponent brings them against you, it's a guarantee they have Psyk-out items on them.

**'''Tainted Weapon:''' Any Word Bearers character that has the option to take a Power weapon may instead take a Tainted weapon, it's a CCW with Instant Death and Specialist Weapon. While this can be awesome if you rolled up Iron Arm using Burning Lore, the lack of any AP ability means you normally won't be using it as a standard weapon, however it does have the exact same price as Digital Lasers, meaning that if you're buying a Paragon Blade for your Praetor, or a Power Fist for your Centurion, you can't really go wrong with buying it if you want that extra attack (especially if you're getting Burning Lore and putting it in Biomancy). If you're using a character without access to both a Power Fist and a Tainted Weapon (Chaplains come to mind, since the FAQ took away their CCW), then think carefully if you still want the Tainted Weapon. With Iron Arm it's better than the Power Fist, but in most cases you're going to miss Iron Arm so it wouldn't do anything to help him.
**'''Conversion Dissonator (Relic):''' Once per game, for one turn only, all invulnerable saves within 12" (Friend ''and'' Foe) suffer -2 and can be negated. This can be great, but also be cautious since Word Bearers with Daemon Allies or Daemon-possessed Units can hamstring themselves.
*** This is one of those relics that can go either way. There certainly are a lot of invulnerable saves around in this era. The potential to totally strip vanilla Terminators of their plasma defense, to make expensive TH/SS Terminators into vanilla ones and make practically every HQ feel pretty exposed is powerful. But you have to put this within 12 inches and you only get one turn. Since it debuffs you too, you need to be careful to find the right situation to get value. This can allow your Paragon Blade dude to slaughter 6 Termies in one turn before they can strike but it can also get him splattered by a Powerfist straight after. It works great against Primarchs, but having a regular HQ and a bunch of expensive Plasma-toting dudes within 12 inches of a Primarch is not a good long term survival strategy, even if you can nab some cheap wounds. So be careful and have a good plan. Don't just pop it and hope.
****A suggested tactic for this relic is to give it to an expendable non-unique IC, trigger the relic once the IC carrying it is close enough to an enemy unit with strong invulnerable saves, and then [[Reasonable Marines|carpet-bomb the relic's area of effect with AP3 or AP2 artillery]]. You'll very likely lose the relic's bearer, but not many enemy infantry units will survive with weakened or negated invulnerable saves in the face of that kind of artillery, and [[Iron Warriors|trading an expendable IC for vapourizing your opponent's deathstar unit still counts as a win in the long run.]]

*'''Rite of Battle: The Dark Brethren''' - ''Warp-boosted force, and unironically one of the strongest Rites in the game (provided you're playing Traitors and are fighting Space Marines, which admittedly is 90% of games). Cry out to the Dark Gods, Rend the Veil and bring the Darkness from Beyond to your foes!''
**'''Arch-Traitors:''' All Independent Characters get Preferred Enemy (Loyalist Space Marines). Much better than you might initially think, not only do you give a surprisingly large boost to all ranged and melee weapons, you'll also be combining it with Dark Channelling, ideally for +1 Strength and this also grants you re-rolls on your Witchfire powers (boosting not only Smite/Psychic Shriek, but making the Aetherkine Projector a fantastic relic). Naturally this can also be used to avoid any other Get's Hot rolls, making plasma squads a much safer prospect.
**'''Signs & Portents:''' After everyone's deployed, nominate one unit in your force and let your opponent know which one it is. Flip a coin. If you win the flip, the nominated unit in your army gets Preferred Enemy (Everyone), or everyone has Preferred Enemy against that unit if you lose the coin flip. The Warp is a fickle mistress. Because the drawback of losing the coin flip can be so serious, your best bet is to nominate a unit you can afford to lose but can still make a positive difference if you win the flip. You don't want your Deathstar unit or heavy hitters to go down too quickly if they end up getting cursed by this chaotic "blessing" from the Dark Gods.''
**'''From Beyond:''' Codex: Daemons become Battle Brothers (not Sworn Brothers. RAW that means Daemons can use your transports. FW, however, does not respond on this question and answers "Bloodletters charging from Spartan are cool" on Facebook) - ''Fielding Erebus/Kor Phaeron sort of gets you this.''
***Update:<sup>HH8</sup> - After the Release of Demons of the Ruinstorm, this RoW (meant to be a stopgag measure until Ruinstorm was released) ends up coming short of being worth the restrictions it imposes on your FoC. Demons are Sworn Brothers with all traitors now that they're ''Agents of the Warmaster''. The only advantage this RoW gives you is an opportunity to unleash your inner [[Rules_lawyer|Rules lawyer]] and start bitching about it allowing a) you as a player to use 7th edition Codex: Daemons as the rules source as opposed to Daemons of the Ruinstorm list b) the demons to use your transports and reserve roll modifiers, which in turn contradicts the Ruinstorm Demon rules. The Dark Bretheren clearly wasn't updated after Book 8, and you should discuss it with your opponents until FW decides to address the issue. '''Tl:dr;''' [[40K Rules Blooper Reel|Forge World messed up with the rules again]].
**'''Hell follows with Them:''' Enemy Psykers taking Perils of the Warp suffer Instant Death - ''Would be great if Psykers were more common in 30k armies. It's still ''very'' useful against the Thousand Sons who are nearly all psykers, and if it ends up killing an opponent's psychic named character it means you have that much easier of a time winning. Extra troll points if this rule ends up killing an opponent's psychic Knight-Errant, because it could mean that the opponent can no longer win and can only achieve a draw!
***Note that you can also force a Perils of the Warp by taking Psyk-out Grenades and using them on whichever unit has the psyker you want dead.
**Must take one Diabolist - ''This means all three HQ slots are taken: Praetor for the Rite and compulsory Chaplain...unless you take Zardu Layak, Erebus or Kor Phaeron (see below).''
**Only one Heavy Support choice may be taken. ''This is currently the most restrictive variant of this rule among the 18 Legions, since with all 3 HQ slots occupied with compulsory units there's no room to take a Praevian or Forge Lord with some Battle Automata to take up the slack. So make sure your sole Heavy Support choice is both versatile and well-protected, like a Leviathan Dreadnought.''
**No fortifications or any Space Marine allies are allowed. Any other allies <u>except Daemons</u> are Desperate Allies with this detachment.

*'''Rite of War: Last of the Serrated Sun''' - ''Beware the Serrated Sun, for it brings forth monsters and shines upon the time and place of your death - Here and Now!''
**'''Company of Monsters:''' Gal Vorbak become Troops choices and ''must'' take either a regular or Anvillus pattern Drop Pod as a dedicated transport. ''By the Primordial Truth, don't forget that Gal Vorbak are '''never''' scoring, even when they're troops. Furthermore, since they're Bulky and you can't choose a Kharybdis for them as a Dedicated Transport, you're not going to have Gal Vorbak squads larger than 5 models. In practice this means that you will not be using this RoW to play with your unique unit like other armies can, and investing in them too heavily is a costly trap. 20 Gal Vorbak in four squads for instance cost 100 points more than 20 models in two squads, and after the cost of the Drop Pods they cost 240 points more. You could buy an extra squad with that much along with a few upgrades. With all this in mind you might be wondering why you'd take this RoW, and the answer is you do it to get them across the field in turn 1 without having to worry about your reserve rolls or Deep Strike mishaps. Don't bother trying to spam Gal Vorbak, stick to just a few units or you'll suffer not just because of points inefficiencies, but also because you'll be lacking scoring units.''
**'''Drop Elite:''' Any infantry unit that has access to a Rhino gets the option to take a Drop Pod. ''You'll be using this to put regular troops in pods to ensure your Gal Vorbak all touch down on turn 1 thanks to the Drop Pod Assault rule.''
**'''Burning Sun:''' Enemy units within 12" of arriving drop pods must take a Pinning test. ''With good placement and good luck this can buy your troops breathing space while they disembark''.
**All infantry units must either start the game in a Drop Pod, in teleportation Deep Strike reserve or inside a transport Flyer. Yes, Jump Infantry are also affected, and no, their Deep Strike does not count as teleportation.
***''Note this does ''not'' apply to tanks, bikes, monsters or dreadnaughts, so your army build can still incorporate other units which can deploy as you wish.''
**You may not take any immobile units (like Sentry Guns).
**You may not take Fortifications or an Allied detachment. So if you're taking Kor Phaeron or Erebus, their ability to take Daemons as an Allied detachment (Harbinger of Chaos) is rendered moot.

*'''Diabolist:''' Unique (and somewhat mandatory) Consul for the Word Bearers. He gains the Daemon special rule and Preferred Enemy (Loyalist), but only for melee attacks, so forget that neat Plasma Support squad combo. He may not be equipped with a bike, jetbike, Terminator armour (artificer armour is what you're looking for if you want him to be a TEQ), a Power Fist or a Thunder Hammer. The real reason you'll be using him is so you get access to the ''Dark Channeling'' option, though in many cases you'll be bypassing him since your Unique Characters usually work as "counts as" Diabolists for the purposes of Dark Channelling. If you're still taking him, then you'll notice their equipment limitations prevent them from being the most impressive beatsticks around and without Dark Channelling they aren't the best army-buffers either. On the other hand, Diabolists are somewhat unique in that they are the only non-named psyker models with the Daemon rule among the Word Bearers, so if you give one the Burning Lore upgrade and pick Malefic Daemonology as his Psychic Discipline, he'll be able to cast powers from that discipline much more safely than anyone else in the XVIIth legion could.
**'''Dark Channeling:''' An upgrade for ''Tactical'', ''Breacher'', ''Assault'', ''Veteran'' or '''Terminator''' squads. Roll a D6 for each unit you wish to grant this bonus to at the beginning of the game, after deployment. The point in time you know which squad receive which bonus is rather important: it's entirely possible to join your mandatory Chaplain to an Assault Squad only to roll Zealot for them. On a 1-3 the unit gains Zealot, 4-5 gains +1 Strength for the duration of the battle, and on a 6 the unit gains the Daemon special rule (and since the roll is made in the beginning of the game, any Apothecary is already in the squad and does not leave. You still get FNP, but the Apothecary himself does not become a Daemon) for the duration of the battle, but no longer counts as scoring (if it did before) and counts as being destroyed at the end of the game for the purposes of calculating victory points. Dark Channelling is what makes your assault units special, with Zealot they compare similarly to most melee Legions (and in some cases outperform them) and the Strength bonus can be boosted by your mandatory Chaplain giving them Zealot. If you want to go further, put this on Assault Squads with a Chaplain and power axes to make them all S6, with Burning Lore either boosting them further or weakening your foes (Enfeeble for instance will make you ID any MEQ they fight, while Endurance will let them take on squads way above their own weight class and win). Think long and hard if you want this on Terminators though, Termies with Dark Channelling cost the same as Gal Vorbak and aren't as good, if you don't need them for a scoring role then go with the possessed instead.
***At this point you'll probably have noticed that a hell of a lot of buffs can get stacked on Word Bearers units across the army, and it's quite easy to get to a point where you can surpass the other melee Legions. As an example, a Praetor in a Dark Channelling squad with Zealot also gets the benefit (thanks to how Zealot works), allowing him to re-roll all hits and drastically boosting his melee damage, and on top of this he can be given Preferred Enemy using the Dark Brethren RoW to boost everyone's to wound rolls in return. Even before we include the Praetor's attacks, a basic charging Assault Squad with 2 axes, a fist and these buffs deals a little over 8.5 wounds to MEQ's (5.5 of these are AP2) compared to the 5 wounds the same Assault Squad does without these buffs (of which only 3.25 are AP2). A souped up Praetor (Digital Weapons, Paragon Blade and other Specialist Weapon) deals out 4.84 AP2 wounds on the charge (so he and his squad of 10 can wipe out a squad of Cataphractii on the charge), as opposed to 3.111 AP2 wounds without these buffs. ''To summarize, an Assault Squad with Zealot as their Dark Channelling result and benefitting from the Dark Brethren RoW deals out more damage on its own than a regular Assault Squad with a Praetor in it. This effect becomes even more pronounced if you get +1 Strength instead of Zealot and put a Chaplain in the unit.''

*'''The Ashen Circle:''' ''"Where one burns books, eventually one burns men"'' (John Milton would hate this!). The Circle of Ashes are the Legion's book burners, Iconoclasts designed to put civilizations to the torch and put culture and lore [[Meme|down the memory hole.]] They have unique Axe-Rake weapons with +1S, AP6 and '''-1 to enemy's fall back distance''', any of which can be replaced by a dirt-cheap 5pt Power Axe. So long as at least one Axe-Rake is present in a unit, you'll be able to inflict the -1 penalty, so mix and match. As a variant Destroyer squad, Iconoclasts cannot be joined by friendly ICs. They may always use Hammer of Wrath at S5 classed as Flamer type attacks. If this unit Deep Strikes, all models within D6" take a S3 AP5 hit from their flamers. The squad leader may take Phosphex bombs and an Inferno or Plasma gun for additional AP2 goodness. However, with the price reduction to Assault squads, Ashen Circle troops are now overpriced compared to the former, as a squad of 10 Ashen Circle troops are '''100''' points more expensive than 10 Assault Marines but have better special rules, equipment, and +1 WS. Unless in a fluffy list, don't bother taking these until they get updated.
**'''Playtest Rules'''<sup>FAQ 2019</sup>: Do remember that these rules can only be used if both players agree to use them, as they're not official yet. The Feb. 2019 FAQ updates these guys by dropping their points costs for both the base cost and the cost for additional models, giving everyone WS5, upgrading their Axe-Rakes to AP3, and changing this weapon's special ability to add +1 Initiative "for the purpose of making Sweeping Advances," and giving the whole squad Hardened Armour while restricting the Sergeant's ranged weapons to his basic Hand Flamer or an Inferno/Plasma pistol (both of which cost the same amount). They also can now by joined by Moritats or Chaplain Consuls (about damn time). About the only thing they can't do over basic Destroyer Squads is carry Rad Grenades (making their Hand Flamers somewhat less useful) or carry Melta Bombs as a group, but now they can do their anti-infantry job better than ever, making them a much more attractive choice than before, if you don't mind the fact that these guys also missed out on the +1 Attack bonus that basic Destroyers got. Field these guys and BURN THE UNBELIEVERS!

*'''Gal Vorbak''' Colchisian for "Blessed Sons", the original [[Possessed Marine]]s: These are the Possessed that 40k Chaos players wished they had! 2 Wounds ('''3''' on the sarge!!!) & WS5/S5/T5/I5, they all have bolt pistols and bolters (for actual shooting! and bonus attacks!) AND '''GRENADES!!!''' Why can't 40K Possessed carry equipment again? The Blessed Sons have, surprise, the Daemon special rule (preventing them from taking an Apothecary, because, you know, Invictarus Suzerains with them are totally balanced. Up yours, FW), along with Stubborn, Bulky, Rage, Rending in Close Combat and Deep Strike. They may take one Special Weapons per 5 guys, so a maximum of 2. They cannot be a scoring unit but you really want these guys doing the choppy choppy rather than squatting on objectives.
**Consider taking power mauls as the power weapon of choice for these guys. This will boost the strength of the weapon users to 7, which with rending is lethal indeed and enables them to mulch light vehicles and monstrous creatures. AP 4 really doesn't matter with en-masse Rending!
**Additionally, remember that they are literally ''Daemons'', not Space Marines. They do not have the Legiones Astartes: Word Bearers rule, and so do not benefit from Lorgar, Herald etc, but as Daemons they can be boosted by psychic powers and items from Malefic Daemonology & Codex: Chaos Daemons that would normally not affect Space Marines.
**The Dark Martyr is probably the single best model in the game to grant a Tainted Weapon for ''actual'' use without psychic shenanigans, as their default Rending and high S+I can see them gibbing off characters in challenges. That doesn't mean it's good, as far as odds go, the Dark Martyr is statistically unlikely to kill characters like a Praetor or anyone with a decent enough invulnerable save with the tainted weapon, and it only outperforms the Power Fist if you're fighting somebody like the Mechanicum or Daemons whose creatures aren't instantly killed by Strength 10 (and often have worse saves.
**If you're running a lot of these guys make doubly sure you have a way of quickly taking out any Vindicators, Medusas et al, or you run the risk of your entire expensive squad evaporating from one well-placed shot. Also, watch the fuck out against Dark Angels. While not explicitly an Anti-Chaos force, [[Fluff|the First Legion has had centuries of experience hunting <s>warp-tainted beasts</s> "strange monsters" on their homeworld]], and the Dark Angels also [[Crunch|possess the dreaded Stasis Shells and Rad Grenades]] which will end up nerfing your Gal Vorbak's WS and Toughness, whereupon the Sons of the Lion will just use their [[Weeaboo Fightan Magic]] and S+2 AP3 Instant Death swords to screw your expensive Daemon-possessed troops in so many ways it's not even fair. These weapons won't be everywhere, so make sure you have somebody to occupy the ID weaponry (preferably somebody like a Praetor with a 2+ save and Empath Bonds for Eternal Warrior) so that your expensive squads aren't mulched up.
**Don't ever let them go below 25% of unit strength and run away: they will regroup on 2's only as they don't benefit from either ''True Believers'' or even the basic Legiones Astartes "can try to regroup regardless of casualties" rules! Have an IC join them to mitigate this, and e-mail FW to get them updated with better morale rules or make the WB's LA rules apply to them.

*'''Mhara Gal Tainted Dreadnought:''' The result of putting a Gal Vorbak in a Dreadnought, with a bunch of new rules to go with it. Most importantly, this thing is FUCKING EXPENSIVE, just 5 points shy of costing the same as two Contemptor Mortis Dreadnoughts, about 60% more than a similarly equipped Contemptor, but can it make up for it? NOPE. The most notable difference between it and a regular Contemptor is how It exchanges Atomantic Shielding for Daemon, Adamantium Will, and IWND. In addition, all Flame, Volkite, fusion, plasma, or melta weapons aimed at it hit at -1 Strength, anything that assaults it with anything below T7/AV13 takes -1 to-hit, and if it explodes, it goes up in a Massive Blast that hits at S6 AP5 with Soulblaze, so you might think it's survivable, but that's just a false sense of security, the 5+ Invuln doesn't stop Contemptor Dreads from getting blown up and naturally it has no Armoured Ceramite, and that's not all; becoming a Daemon means a BS of THREE, so you should never give it an Autocannon or Lascannon (just get regular dreads for those), not even if this thing forces any unit it inflicts unsaved wounds on to take a morale check. If you ''need'' to put a ranged weapon on it, it comes standard with Warpfire Plasma Cannon, which fire three shots at S8, and doesn't Get Hot. Also, the bolters on its CCWs have Blind, and that's nice, I guess.
**The biggest disadvantage of this unique unit has is how it synergizes poorly with the Word Bearer's other unique units and Daemon Allies. This is mainly because Daemons/anyone with the Daemon USR/Psykers within 6" eat a S5 AP2 hit with Ignores Cover at the end of the Turn (much like the 40k Chaos Contemptor), making him dangerous to be around if you use Gal Vorbak, Chaos Daemons allies, Dark Channeling or Burning Lore, you know, everything the Word Bearers fucking specialize in, so aside from being a huge point-sink, it's more likely to harm your own army than it is the opponents if those units are anywhere near the Mhara Gal's 6" radius of soul-sucking death. The only upside of this rule is that sending this walking psychic vacuum against Thousand Sons or your opponent's psychic Knight-Errant is going to be absolutely troll-worthy.
**If you do really want to take one, it'll probably to get around that asshole who keeps dropping Difficult/Dangerous Terrain everywhere since it's immune to those terrain features (and it can even ignore obstacles that measure 1" across). Stick to either the Warpfire Plasma Cannon & CCW, to insta-death Marines and force them to take Morale checks (not to mention have a higher chance of hitting something), or Two CCW's to rip shit up in Close Combat. Never give it two ranged weapons, ever. If it gets charged with those, then chances are it can get tied up for the entire game, which is a huge waste. Speaking of Close Combat, Fear tests against it are at -2 Leadership, which is handy, however it's never scoring (though it can still contest objectives in Age of Darkness). It also comes in handy in Zone Mortalis games, since it can walk right through walls and get on vulnerable targets (aka everything that isn't a Primarch).

*'''[[Erebus]]''' First Chaplain and corrupter of Horus Lupercal. Though long an established fluff character, Erebus is only now making his debut on the tabletop, and he's clearly making up for lost time: Has Zealot, Adamantium Will, Master of the Legion and Harbinger of Chaos which allows all Word Bearers to use Dark Channelling. Furthermore, he lets you take an allied force of Chaos Daemons, and he fills all the necessary roles for the Dark Brethren RoW. He ALSO is a Level 1 Psyker due to his Burning Lore, drawing from Biomancy, Telepathy, or Malefic Daemonology, but this also means his Deny the witch psychic defenses are actually pretty good (denying on a 4+).
**Erebus is in an awkward spot, despite having a better statline, thanks to his Maul he's worse at killing MEQ's than Kor Phaeron (yes, seriously), he costs 40 points more and he dies quicker to units that can't ID them. His special rules beg for him to be in a melee unit, but aside from boosted Deny the Witch he doesn't give them anything a regular Chaplain can't give for much less, and Chaplains can choose weapons that let them cut through MEQ's whereas he's stuck with his Maul. They can also choose options like a Jump Pack, whereas Erebus is forced to footslog it so now you're buying an Assault Vehicle so that his melee unit can go across the field and make their charge, but he still can't help much when they get there and so you'll just wish you had a Praetor/Chaplain instead (even Dark Channelling gets Erebus's buff (Zealot) 50% of the time; it costs a fraction of what he does and can't be sniped out). Ignore Erebus unless you're going up against Solar Auxilia or Militia, he's great in both of those matchups, just not so much against Marines or better.
***Do note that while you can try to fix all of this with Iron Arm, your chance of getting it is still 1/6, which isn't something you want to gamble a Deathstar on. Furthermore a Praetor can also roll up Iron Arm/Warp Speed, in which case they still outperform him and while Chaplains (who can tie him in damage) don't have 3 wounds, they also don't cost nearly as much. If you're still using him anyway, give Biomancy a pass for Psychic Shriek (yes, even though he's only BS 4); Intimidating Presence makes it more likely the enemy will take an extra wound or two, assuming you hit, and you can spend your Psychic Phases pretending he's a weaker Librarian.
**RAW you can't take Daemons for taking Erebus, because there is no type of alliance listed. Kor Phaeron has Fellow Warriors, RoW has Battle Brothers, Erebus has nothing, though it is worth noting that he has the exact same rule as Kor Phaeron, making it fairly safe to assume the text of the rule is also suppose to be the same.
***Update:<sup>HH8</sup> This rule is now redundant, since Demons of the Ruinstorm can join any traitor army as Sworn Brothers as ''Agents of the Warmaster''.

*'''[[Kor Phaeron]]:''' First Captain and foster-father/corrupter of Lorgar. Like Erebus, Kor Phaeron is a long established fluff figure making his tabletop debut. Even though he was mocked by some as a "Half-astartes", he gives ''all'' Word Bearers +1 Leadership as long as he is the warlord, which he must be unless Lorgar is around. This is more significant than you might think, since not only does it synergize well with True Believers, if a non-Praetor unit suffers Perils they'll now likely be testing on Ld10 which could be the difference between getting dragged into the warp and surviving. Yes this also means he increases the odds of surviving when you use a Transvectic Generator. His Cataphractii armor confers him Feel No Pain 6+, and a 1-use hand flamer. Unfortunately the best efforts of the Emperor's biotechnologists were not enough to truly change him into an [[MEQ]], and as such [[Fail|his statline remains more like that of a GEQ's]]. With WS4, Toughness/Initiative 3 (so plasma InstaKills his 4W, no armor save or FnP) and 2 attacks (3 for his twin lightning claws) his major saving grace is his cheapness when compared to other 30k-era special characters and the fact that, being a Diabolist Master of the Legion, he fills 2 of the HQ requirements for Dark Brethren.
**He also has '''Burning Lore''', making him a level 1 Psyker with access to Biomancy, Telepathy, or Malefic Daemonology. It's highly recommended that you pick Biomancy, all of its powers are especially useful for him; buffs are great, so are debuffs, healing works even better since he has 4 wounds to go through and Smite is a better ranged weapon than his hand flamer. He really only starts to shine when he's used in a squad with Zealot (preferably bought with Dark Channelling) so that his attacks get boosted, which combo's well with both Iron Arm or Warp Speed.

*'''Zardu Layak, the Crimson Apostle:''' A Dark Apostle who earned the title "The Left Hand of Horus" through his service to the Warmaster, later becoming leader of the Word Bearers present at the Siege of Terra. Like Erebus and Kor Phaeron, he is a Diabolist Master of the Legion so he fills 2 of the HQ requirements for Dark Brethren, and also gives a +1 bonus to rolls on the Dark Channeling table. The Daemon and Zealot rules compensate for a fairly low statline, and he's also a ML2 psyker that can generate (as of the FAQ) any power from Pyromancy or Malefic Daemonology. As a Warlord, he unlocks Ashen Circle squads as troops but forces them to buy Dark Channeling. He can also give them a +1 bonus to the roll, but you likely won't want to do this, the Daemon result is usually the worst one so don't try for it unless you really want to combo it with Cursed Earth. In addition to his Bolt Pistol, frag/krak grenades, and artificer armor, he wields the Azurda Char'is (a two-handed S+2 AP4 force staff which allows him to reroll a single failed attempt at manifesting a psychic power per game) and the Panoply of Flame (which gives all units with the Legiones Astartes (Word Bearers) rule within 12" a +1 bonus to combat resolution and Sweeping Advance rolls, and may also be used like a heavy flamer once per game). Like Erebus and Kor Phaeron, he can bring in an allied detachment of Chaos Daemons, which synergizes well with the Malefic Daemonology powers he can generate (and has a much safer time using than anyone else in this legion aside from Diabolists thanks to his Daemon rule). If he has one weakness though, it's that he only has 2 wounds, but there's plenty of ways to boost his survivability, with the Daemon rule, and with access to Daemon bodyguards, he can boost all of their Invuln saves by +1 with his powers, which can be further boosted by a Deredeo Dreadnought (up to 3++).
** Same problem with Daemons allied detachment Erebus and the Dark Brethren RoW have.
**'''Anakatus Kul Blade Slaves:''' Layak's pair of bodyguards, which must remain with him at all times. They're 3-wound combat monsters with Daemon, Rage, and IWND, with the only thing really holding them back being their 3+ armor save. They wield plasma pistols and the Anakatis Blades - AP3 Specialist weapons (so no +1 attack from the pistol) that gain AP2 anytime they roll a 5 or 6 to wound AND each unsaved wound inflicts two wounds that must be saved against separately (akin to Gets Hot! it's 2 autowounds that allow armor saves). However, if Layak is ever slain or removed from play they go nuts and try to charge the nearest Infantry or MC they can reach, focusing on whichever nearby unit has the most models in base contact with it - including your own units. If you go with these guys, either make sure to keep Layak alive or ensure that the Blade Slaves are closer to the enemy than they are to your own troops. The biggest downside of the Blade Slaves is the fact that you will have to fork out a transport cost for them & Layak, so while powerful these guys are going to be very expensive to use. The guys are also Chosen Warriors.
***Curiosly, unlike Gal Vorbak, who are in perfect control of their transformation, minds and bodies, these quote Mindless Killers end quote do, in fact, get Legiones Astartes (Word Bearers). Does this mean Beloved Sons lost LA due to Brilliant Forgeworld Editing or that Blade Slaves gained it by mistake?

*'''Hol Beloth:''' The Captain appointed by Dark Apostle [[M'kar|Maloq Kartho]] as one of the leaders of the attack on Calth. Stat-wise, he's a Praetor-equivalent armed with a plasma pistol, tainted weapon, and master-crafted power-fist along with an iron halo, artificer armor, and frag/krak grenades. His WT is fixed to Bloody-Handed, and he can use his Exhortation of Battle ability to increase all Word Bearer units' WS to 5 (assuming it wasn't already 5 or higher to start with). Finally, his Hexaglyphic Ward allows him to ignore the first wound suffered as the result of a failed save in a game, which can act as a pseudo-EW if the wound in question would otherwise cause Instant Death (sadly, doesn't work against a 6 on Destroyer table as it allows no saves).
**Like Erebus, Hol Beloth is in an odd place, but for different reasons. His buff doesn't require you to be in an assault squad he can't support well, and going up to WS5 with a lot of Zealot Squads can give you an edge, but on the other hand he doesn't have Burning Lore, which means you'll almost never use his Tainted Weapon, and Smite/Psychic Shriek can easily do more in a few phases than Exhortation of Battle (not to mention what Endurance can do for your units). On the plus side he is very cheap, having the same statline as a Praetor and if they were given the same gear they'd actually cost 5 points more, and that would be without the Hexaglyphic Ward and Exhortation of Battle rules. In addition, statistically he can take on other Praetors and non-EW combat characters like Eidolon and Sevatar in a one-on-one fight, survive their Instant Death glaive/thunder hammer/Divining Blade thanks to his Hexaglyphic Ward, and then ID them when it's his turn to attack, all while costing the least out of them. In short, take him when you want a cheap but effective Praetor, and avoid him when you want the extra bells and whistles (like Burning Lore).

*'''[[Argel Tal]]:''' First and greatest of the Gal Vorbak and Commander of the Serrated Sun finally has rules after all this time and to top it off he's pretty... there. A supercharged Dark Martyr, with boosted stats and S6 AP3 Shredding Rending claws, with 7 attacks on the charge. He has Master of the Legion and can take Word Bearer Rites despite not having the LA rule, but you'll certainly not be taking Last of the Serrated Suns, [[Derp|because despite the title, rules presented depict him as a Master of the Vakrah Jal, a chapter specifically different from remains of his former one]]. [[Fail|He also can't fit in a drop-pod with his Gal Vorbak buddies.]] [[Forgeworld|In fact, since he's Jump Pack infantry, you can't take him in any flyer below thunderhawk level so you'll need a superheavy flyer to take him.]] That said, if he's your Warlord he makes Gal Vorbak troops anyway, so you don't have a reason to take him in Serrated Sun anyway. On top of that, his warlord trait gives all himself and his unit FNP, provided there aren't any non-daemons in it, and being a Daemon himself, Argel Tal retains FNP even if he leaves the unit, giving you the apothecary your Gal Vorbak/Diabolists/allied Daemons of the Ruinstorm always wanted.
**That being said he does have notable issues. Starting off, don't think you can just make an army of Gal Vorbak. Even though Argel Tal makes Gal Vorbak Troops, this does not provide a traditional benefit as they cannot be a scoring unit; instead you should think about how best to maximize this benefit in another way. Taking two squads of Gal Vorbak will allow you to use squads with the Support Squad rule without needing the traditional troops (in other words you get Tactical Support Squads, Reconnaissance Squads, Sky Seekers, and Hussars) or you can skip getting other Troops entirely if you don't care about playing objectives.
**The second problem with Argel Tal is his gear. His claws are AP3 with rending, striking at S6 and re-rolling failed wounds which sounds great, but he's still going to lose out to characters with similar costs because Rending is no substitute for AP2. On top of this, Word Bearers can use the Dark Brethren to gain Preferred Enemy so his reroll isn't even that special. Put simply, a Dark Martyr with a Power Fist does twice as much as him against 2+ armour, they instantly kill Marines (and T5 units) and can reliably punch through tanks while having a group of 2-Wound T5 meat shields to take the damage for them.
**The third problem with Argel Tal is he does not have access to Burning Lore. Generally it's a very useful upgrade, having a character use it under the Dark Brethren Rite of War just to get Smite increases their damage by 2.268 AP2 wounds (and they can still shoot afterwards). For context, a Dark Martyr on the charge with a power Fist inflicts 2.777 AP2 wounds, a charging Chaplain with a Power Axe inflicts 2.962 wounds, so that 30 point upgrade is like getting most of another character's damage. Even if you don't use a character to use Smite, they still provide an extra Warp Charge, and since Argel Tal does not have Burning Lore he cannot provide you these benefits. Even against AP3 units, Argel Tal deals less damage in a turn than a Burning Lore Chaplain with a Power Axe (once you add in the Chaplain's shooting from his pistol), but the Chaplain costs less, and all his attacks are AP2 instead of AP3.
**That being said, he's not bad, just underwhelming, especially against armies that bring a lot of 2+ armour to the field (oddly enough the Ultramarines are among this group). His FnP is a huge buff to Daemon units, just avoid keeping him out in the open as he lacks Eternal Warrior and when your opponent sees him (and the unit of Gal Vorbak that you WILL attach to him) they'll unload into him with every thing they've got, so armies that like heavy guns such as the Death Guard, Iron Hands and especially the Iron Warriors ([[Troll|who will say "Have Faith" after they vaporise Argel with a Demolisher Cannon]]) will need a bit of thought when approaching to keep Argel safe. Be mindful of the Dark Angels and their ID swords combined with "I win" stasis grenades, as well as Divining Blades.
**[https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/resources/PDF/Downloads/Argel_Tal.pdf Rules are here until Forge World released Book 10.]

*'''Samus, Daemon Prince of the Ruinstorm:''' A Lord of War choice you can take, because Daemonbros. Being from the post-Daemonkin release, Samus gets to be a Daemon of Khorne that neither suffers Daemonic Instability nor summons Warp Storms on your ass. He also gets IWND, S/T 7, 6 Wounds, Hatred (Infantry), Adamantium Will and Fleet. He's only armed with an AP2 CCW with Murderous Strike (ID on a 6 to wound) and Armourbane, but his fun isn't in combat. He must begin the game in Reserves and Deep strike to the battlefield, and if ''any'' Character dies any turn before he arrives, he can choose to Deep strike without scatter within 3" of the place that model died. In addition, Samus also triggers other sorts of fuckery just by being in your army: Your enemy takes -1 from all reserves (with rolls of 1 being auto-fails), any blessings used by either side cost an additional Warp Charge (which means that they'll have to think even harder about casting Hammerhand or Prescience or something lest you deny them and waste those points) and he forces anyone charging him (and testing Fear) or in combat with him to halve their Leadership unless they're Stubborn or Fearless.
**If you decide to ally Samus in with Daemons using your RoW, he becomes an HQ choice and automatically becomes the Warlord, giving his Daemons a d6 to re-roll when testing Instability and the ability to sub doubles on the Warp Storm table with Warp Surge (Giving all Daemons, which include your guys, +1 on their Invul saves).
***Update:<sup>HH8</sup> Demons no longer posess Demonic Instability, which means that taking him as the Warlord is waste of a WT. His Warp Surge doesn't do anything now either. Even though FW says the new Ruinstorm Samus profile does not replace this previous version, he's in need of an update.
**Do note though that he does NOT have Eternal Warrior, thankfully since he's T7 this is only rarely an issue, but in the context of 30k with Lords of War being used though this can be a major fucking problem. This one flaw alone means he absolutely cannot get into a scrap with some Primarchs (Alpharius, Fulgrim, Vulkan and Mortarion can and will almost certainly ID him, and luckily it's not very likely to happen with Roboute, Angron and Konrad). Even the Primarchs that don't have ID are hard bastards enough for Samus to take on his own anyway. Even vanilla dueling characters can be kitted to kill him if they're really lucky and that's kinda a problem for a big fat beatstick. He's powerful for sure but damn his cost is so high for something so potentially fragile. If you must take on Primarch level enemies, get a Deredeo and put it next to him, then try to use Daemonology to buff his Invuln save even more. This will generally put him on a level where he can comfortably deal with most of the Primarchs.

*'''Cor'Bax Utterblight, Daemon Prince of the Ruinstorm:''' Ruinstorm LoW Number 2, meaning he lacks Instability. This guy's a frightening one because despite being Nurgle, he gets INITIATIVE 9. I repeat, this guy can beat FUCKING ELDAR to the punch. Oh, and he also has the Slime Trail [[Beast of Nurgle|Beasts]] use to protect themselves. Aside from that, he's the same as a normal GUO statwise except for exchanging an Attack for Toughness 8. He can also use Biomancy and Nurgle's Plague powers, which could (at least temporarily) grant him EW, unlike Samus. In melee, he's got some vicious tricks with 3+ Poison and the ability to inflict Instant Death on a 5+ TO HIT against infantry. Add that to his standard AP2, and things are bound to die (But not enough to rely on it). He also gets d3 HoW hits on the charge, which ignores all terrain and comes with Assault Grenades, meaning he will reach his enemy that much quicker. If he dies (Which won't be TOO often in 30K, though it's still possible), he drops a Massive Blast that inflicts Poisoned (3+) AP4 hits on anyone inside that's non-Nurgle Daemon (Meaning fellow Plague Marines can still be hurt), making him a pricey kamikaze.
**If you decide to ally Utterblight in with Daemons using your RoW, he becomes an HQ choice and automatically becomes the Warlord, giving his Daemons a d6 to re-roll when testing Instability and the ability to sub doubles on the Warp Storm table with Warp Surge (Giving all Daemons, which include your own guys with the Daemon USR, +1 on their Invul saves).
***''Update:<sup>HH8</sup>'' Same issue with the new rules Samus has.
**Like Samus he can't be used against Primarchs without some serious buffing (or de-buffing if that's your thing). Treat this living bag of pus and filth the same way you'd treat Samus, get some buffers, de-buffers, and avoid the Instant-Death Primarchs as if they were a fucking <s>plague</s> bath.

[[File:Lorgar Aurelian.jpg|thumb|175px|right|Lorgar Aurelian]]
*'''[[Lorgar|Lorgar Aurelian]]''' - At 375 pts, Lorgar is the cheapest of the Primarchs (aside from Corvus Corax during the events of Istvaan V), and his stats show for it, being the lowest of the Primarchs. However the Urizen's abilities lie in buffing his sons. While he is in the table all Word Bearers may use his leadership, and all Units that can draw line of sight to him get +1 charge distance, immunity to fear and +1 to their combat resolution. Also once per game you can force a single enemy model ''or unit'' attacking Lorgar to reroll all 5s and 6s both To hit and To wound him. He can also reroll all failed Deny the Witch rolls. He is also a Lvl 2 Psyker and may roll on Divination or Telekinesis, and has been FAQ'd to work with 7th edition: Lorgar successfully harnesses warp charges only on a 5+ which is obviously a bit weak for a psyker. Alternately, you should upgrade Lorgar to ''Transfigured'', representing his newfound favor from the Chaos Gods, which, while 75 points, is well worth the cost; if this is the case, he may ''select'' any three powers in any combination from the Divination and Telekinesis disciplines at the start of the game and upgrade his mastery level to 3 [[Awesome|AND successfully harnesses those charges on a 3+]]. Due to being a high-level psyker with Adamantium Will, he also gets a DtW 3+ against psychic powers cast by level 2 or less psykers, and 4+ against anyone of equal or greater power, which, paired with his ability to re-roll failed DtWs and increased chances of harnessing Warp Charges, makes him almost invulnerable to any psychic shit. <br>Lorgar can use the following Wargear:
**'''The Armour of the Word''' - gives Lorgar a 2+ armour save, 4+ invulnerable save which increases to 3+ against witchfire, psychic-empowered attacks (meaning enemy squads under blessings?), and blows from force weapons (in case he somehow fails his DtW, though his Eternal Warrior trait makes Force Weapons wound normally).
**'''Illuminarum''' - An AP2 Power Maul with Master-Crafted and Smash, forged by Ferrus Manus as a gift. Actually one of the best Primarch weapons, as it strikes at S8, ignores any armor, concusses anything that survives it (mostly other primarchs) to I1, and has the ability to supercharge into penetration re-rolling S10 if he gives up all his attacks, in case you really need something to be horribly crushed. It also lacks the Two-Handed or Specialist Weapon rules, so enjoy the extra attack from the pistol.
**'''Archaeotech Pistol''' - For your shooting needs, in case you don't roll/pick decent witchfire powers or are about to charge something with decent DtW (or just for even more dakka, since you can use - potentially multiple - witchfire powers in the same turn and then shoot afterwards).
**'''Frag Grenades'''- It goes bang.
*'''Weaknesses:''' Lorgar's first and biggest weakness is his statline, at least compared to the other Primarchs. Upgrade him to Lorgar Transfigured; if you pick a ranged power you won't really have to worry about him footslogging it either as he'll still be able to make himself useful. And if you also choose to take something like Levitation, Prescience, or Precognition you'll be practically guaranteed to win games and make other players hate you.

*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Sons of Horus:'''
**'''Imperial Army:'''
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</div>

====XVIII Legion: [[Salamanders]]====
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="100%">
[[File:Salamanders legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.PNG|100px|left|]]
The Salamanders come to the battlefield in their best shape ever since Isstvan. Forgeworld has done honour to their fluff and, rather than 40k's pyromaniacs with MCd toys, their main themes are endurance and some of the best Legion-specific wargear available...along with their usual thermal-based weapons.

Endurance in they way of holding the line with their noticeable morale buffs and being outright ''immune to Fear''. Also, they are one of the two legions that can field TH/SS Terminators, taken to the extreme with the Firedrakes, as well as having access to the only EW-gear that ''isn't a relic''. [[Meme|But wait, there's more]]. They have some of the most resilient vehicles and walkers in the game, tied perhaps with the Iron Hands - one of their characters being the most resilient Dreadnought ever. And they are the friendliest force in the Horus Heresy, with '''nine''' Sworn Brothers, only three Distrusted Allies (WE, DG, TS), and '''0''' "By the Emperor's Command's", Salamanders have a rich gamut of supplement options. Nifty Palatine Blades and 'Scars Bikers? BS5 bolter fire to complement the Flamestorm? Disposable militia bodies to buy space for your Deathstar Firedrakes? All possible with Warlord traits, joined characters and Psychic powers thrown in the mix.

All of that while keeping the best flamers and meltaguns anyone can field, as well as their usual Master Crafted weapons. But not everything is a straight step up from their 40k incarnation, having the dubious honour of being THE ''s l o w e s t'' Legion of them all, both prone to being outmaneuvered and failing Sweeping Advance rolls when they win combat. Awesome transports and Wall-of-Death flamer squads help mask this problem, but their main issue remains: They are a slow force that does best at close range but fares poorly in melee. ''[[Drop_Site_Massacre|Don't let the enemy catch you by surprise]]''.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">

*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''Strength of Will:''' Automatically pass Fear tests, must reroll 1d6 on failed Morale and Pinning checks - ''The closest to true ATSKNF one can get in 30k''.
**'''Promethean Gift:''' Hand, normal and Heavy flamers (not necessarily all flame weapons, just those 3), including vehicle mounted ones, gain +1S, and all enemy Flame weapons count as -1S when used against Salamanders - ''A little worse than 40k's re-rolling wounds, but on the plus side your Heavy flamers, which are often the cheapest option, now wound MEQs on a 2+, InstaDeath guardsmen and have improved chances against Mechanicum and light vehicles, while ignoring most of the latters' armour saves, and flamers being weaker against you is a nice bonus. Your Dreadnought's melee game will improve because of the simple fact that fewer units will be left alive, so you could take Chainfists to deal with vehicles and so on''. Consider bringing hand flamers on sergeants, command squads, assault squads etc. as they effectively become full flamers (S4) and still give you the +1 attack for CC weapons.
**'''<s>Scurry Away</s> Nocturne Born:''' Add their initiative to sweeping advance rolls if they lose combat, but not if they win it. In addition reduce Run and Charge distances by 1", to a minimum of 1" - ''THE major drawback of the legion. You are unlikely to ever catch fleeing squads but at least the FAQ made you much better at running away. It also increases the need for transports, increasing your army's point cost. No word on whether the non-Nocturnean Salamanders (such as the first Terran recruits of the Legion, then named the Dragon Warriors) get these penalties.''
***Do note that this penalty does not apply to dreadnoughts.
**'''Disdain of the Dark Age:''' By decree of Vulkan, Moritat Consuls and Destroyer Squads may not be taken in a Salamanders detachment, so no master-crafted Moritat pistol shenanigans. Additionally, no Phosphex weapons of any type may be taken as an option by any model in a Salamanders detachment, so no fun with your Siege Breakers' Medusas either. Rad weaponry is still good, though, because apparently Vulkan's "disdain" didn't extend to radiological weaponry that can end up contaminating landscapes for millennia.
*'''Rite of War: The Covenant of Fire''' - ''Bring all the melta and flame, while being able to tank nearly all the pain.''.
**'''Obsidian Forged:''' All Salamander vehicles get a 5+ Inv against Melta ([[Awesome|INCLUDING MELTA BOMBS]]), Flamer, Plasma & Volkites - ''Read as: "Refractor field on vehicles". Gives your common [[Rhino_Transport|metal boxes]] and Dreadnoughts a chance and further limits the things that can put the hurt on your Land Raiders; your Spartans are nigh invincible now. Which is good because you ''absolutely'' need transports. Don't get cocky though; some squads buy melta bombs in bulk, and keep an eye on Lascannons, Chainfists & Haywire weapons.''
**'''Veneration of Wrath:''' All Multimeltas, meltaguns and inferno pistols (not necessarily all "Melta"-type weapons, just those 3) in the detachment become Master-Crafted. Also Pyroclasts become non-compulsory Troops - ''Like Promethean Gift, this DOES affect vehicle-mounted meltas, so take your Land Raiders with pintle-mounted Multimeltas whenever you can, not to mention Jetbikes & Land Speeders. Suicide melta squads/Dreadnoughts become deadlier''.
**'''Implacable:''' All units in the detachment get Move Through Cover - ''Compensates your reduced mobility with the ability to take a shortcut through the flaming corridors and the like. And being Salamanders they'll LOVE going through the flaming corridors.''
**No Deep Striking - ''Good thing your transports are Obsidian-forged''.
**Cannot have more Heavy Support + Fast Attack than Troops - ''Good thing your Pyroclasts can be Troops now. Take lots of troops to bring lots of Obsidian Forged vehicles!''
**No Fortifications. Allies are fine, which is nice because the Salamanders are the legion with the most [[This guy|Sworn Brothers]].
**Can only take one Consul type other than Legion Champion - ''You better give him Terminator armour, since you can become a TH/SS 3++, and with Nocturne Born you weren't going to Sweeping Advance anyway. Don't bother wasting your one Consul on a Chaplain; we have two named ones (one of which is also a psyker, which is fun and he's still super cheap for what he brings to the field) and so will bypass this restriction''

*'''Rite of War: The Awakening Fire''' - ''Preying on 30k's lack of ATSKNF, the enemy's Ld will be put to the test, patching the Salamanders' vulnerability in melee without imposing too much limitations''. Honestly it's one of weaker rites of war; between lacking allies (which is one of the greatest strengths of the Legion), no fortifications (not huge, but promethium lines are fun) and being unable to take your primarch (which always sucks), it's only really worth bringing for [[Zone Mortalis]], where you are unlikely to bring vehicles and/or your Primarch. One veiled advantage this has over the other rite of war is the fact you can still deep strike, so lining up that Fury of the Salamander beam can become all the more rewarding, though other rites still offer the flexibility with more impactful bonuses.
**'''Devils From the Dark:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbb4EL0ybs Salamanders are spooky] and as such cause Fear. Bear in mind though that unlike the Night Lords, you don't have any ways of reducing the enemy's leadership against fear tests and there's a big chance you're against another army of space marines whose leadership is high (not to mention mechanicum), so don't rely on this, although some unfortunate dice rolls on the part of your opponent can help win a combat here and there I suppose.
**'''Unto the Fires:''' If a roll is made for the game to end you can force one more turn. OK if you're making a last ditch attempt to snag that objective, but not all that brilliant especially considering the two other Legions with this ability (the Iron Warriors and Imperial Fists) get it through their Legiones Astartes, not a rite of war, so you're ultimately worse off.
**'''Fury of the Salamander:''' Librarians can get a different Primaris for Pyromancy psychic powers: WC3 18" Assault 1 Beam with S5 AP1 and, if it inflicts a casualty, forces a morale check with a LD penalty equal to the number of casualties caused. A fun and unique ability if a little unreliable thanks to WC3, but potentially devastating. Bring a couple of librarians to really make the most of this.
**Must have a chaplain - ''Because with Vulkan's presumed demise, someone has to keep the faith. Nomus fulfills both requirements simultaneously''.
**No more than 1 unit of Jetbikes, Flyers, Jump pack infantry and Skimmers each.
**No Vulkan ''(lives!)''.
**No allies or fortifications. ''Sadly this means the Salamanders throw away one of their greatest advantages as a legion.''

*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Artificer Weapons:''' Characters may upgrade a single weapon to Master-Crafted, albeit for +5 pts unlike free like their 40K counterparts. It's worth noting that this applies to ANY weapon the sergeant is carrying...such as the special or heavy weapons of those in the Tactical Support and Heavy Support squads. ''Master Craft your Lascannon for +5pts, sir?''
**'''Dragonscale Storm Shield:''' On its own grants a 5++, but gives +1 to any other Invulnerable save the model might have, up to 3++. Takes up an arm just like modern Storm Shields. Not quite as good overall as Imperial Fists Vigil shields, but more versatile, as they can be taken by ICs without Terminator armour and are much cheaper, so TH/SS is back on the menu.
**'''Mantle of the Elder Drake:''' Grants your Praetor the incredibly rare 'Eternal Warrior'. It goes without saying to never leave home without one, especially as so many things out there can cause Instant death. You feel safer bringing a Thunder Hammer on your beatstick now, because with a 3++ (from the shield and iron halo/cataphractii armour, which you should be bringing) and Eternal Warrior, you can shrug off paragon blades and then bash em real good with your hammer.
**'''Purging Flame:''' Any Heavy Bolter/TL Heavy Bolter ''in the detachment'' may be exchanged for Heavy Flamer/TL Heavy Flamer for free. LOTS of vehicles come with hull mounted Heavy Bolters, which you can now swap for horde defense. Some things, like Heavy Support squads and some vehicles could already do this, but Jetbikes are worthy of mention (even better on command squads!). ''Swap all LR's TL Heavy bolters for TL Heavy flamers, which wound MEQs on a 2+ and reroll failed to wound and amour penetration rolls''. Plasma Pistols can also be exchanged for Inferno Pistols for free, which coupled with 'Veneration of Wrath' begins to make sense, unlike the general consensus of plasma pistols.
**'''Zeroth Conductor Shield (Relic):''' NOT a Storm Shield but a Combat Shield, so only 5++ invulnerable, but you can claim the extra attack from 2CCW. The special trick this thing does is causing D6 automatic ''S8 '''AP2''''' hits onto incoming units at Initiative 10, ''after'' Overwatch! There will be no-one left to fight to worry about! ''Who's getting Sweep Advanced now, huh?''

*'''Firedrake Terminators:''' Your Deathstar unit, the Salamanders' Terminator elite. They can get Storm Shields for that 3++ Save, they also have [[Grey_Knights|2-wounds]] and WS5 and are still scoring units, though kitting them all out with shields and hammers can become very expensive, and since the only combi-weapons they can get are combi-flamers/-meltas, it's best to think about what you're facing first. Consider bringing power fists over the hammers; most of their targets are either killed outright by the fists, strike at the same time or will be brought down by the number of attacks anyway. Keep the master with the master crafted thunder hammer and consider saving points on the rest of the squad, they're expensive enough as is. They can also be used to replace a Terminator Praetor's Command Squad. Quite nice, since that uses no FOC slot whatsoever, so bring yet moar Terminators, or Dreadnoughts. If you really want to be a dick, you can use these to great effect with one expensive, but simple way:
#Kit them all out with the shields and whatever weapons you want to.
#Add a Centurion with a Shield and Cataphractii armour.
#Then the dick move. Make the Centurion a Primus Medicae. Congratulations, you have made a unit harder to crack than Grey Knight Paladins, everyone everywhere will hate you.

*'''Pyroclasts:''' The Pyromaniac Marines. They are a tactical flamer squad clad in special Artificer armor, with a 5+ invuln against flamer, melta, plasma and volkite weapons (pretty much on par with Terminators, then). They are a Heavy option (so no scoring) and thus compete with Heavy Flamer squads, but Pyroclasts are more resilient, can buy a Land Raider DT, and their flamers can be fired as [[Derp|S6 half range]] Meltas. To compensate for their sub-par meltaguns in this Armoured-Ceramite millennium, they can get Melta Bombs for the whole squad for a fixed price. They're a versatile squad, great against hordes (S5 template), TEQs (AP1) and vehicles (S6 Melta and Meltabombs), but their weapons are very short ranged and being Salamanders they're slow, so they badly need a transport to avoid being outmaneuvered. Flyers, like Caestii or Dreadclaws help them a lot, allowing them to be much more than just another suicide squad, and when they are Troops in "Covenant of Fire" they truly shine. At a range of 8" minimum these guys need to break the target in salvo as 1a and no power weapon outside of the sarge they can't afford to get in a scrap with anything designed for close combat.
**These guys benefit a lot from having a Proteus with the Explorator Web: outflank onto the board, fuck a vehicle in half with the lascannons and cook some dudes with the Pyroclasts. It's expensive but it's probably the prime way to work them as they're far too slow otherwise. Giving them the option for jump packs would be an interesting avenue for FW to go down but alas that's not an option (yet).

*'''Cassian Dracos:''' First Legion Master of the Salamanders (the very same up to Vulkan's arrival, remarkable) when they were still called the Dragon Warriors, and the first occupant of the Iron Dragon Venerable Dreadnought. The 30k version is much better than the 40k version: it has [[Land_Raider|AV 14]] to the front, WS6, BS5, S6(10), Extra armour and is ''immune to all special rules'' that adjust armour values or add dice rolls to armour penetration. Cassian has also ''It Will Not Die'', so he can regenerate lost Hull Points on his own, of which he has '''four''', and if for any reason/devil-pact you manage to inflict an Explodes! on him, guess what...he's [[Troll|Venerable]], so he's there to stay. An extra middle finger for your enemy is that, if he's your warlord (yes, he CAN be the warlord, but only if there are no other HQ choices in your army), he [[That_guy|does not grant a VP]] to the opponent if he dies ([[Grimdark|he granted his VP to the orks that killed him millenia ago]]) and he also grants FnP (5+) to Salamanders within 3" of him. His heavy flamers are at S6 because of the Legiones Astartes rules AND if both are operational they can be fired as a single Twin-linked Meltagun (not a Multi-melta). The cherry on the cake is he has a Nuncio Vox, so is pretty much a teleport homer too! A worthy choice, especially if you already have the Iron Dragon model left over from the Badab War IAs. Props for bringing this guy in Zone Mortalis, but only for people you ''despise''.
**Take him with a Praetor/Delegatus for the Covenant of Fire RoW. His ''4 Vulkan-wrought-AV14-IWND-Venerable-Extra-armoured HP are now [[Troll|Obsidian forged]]''. Enjoy!
**Babysitting him with a Techmarine and using his vox to DS his Dreadnought buddies is [[Cheese|outright mean]].
**'''Cassian Dracos Reborn:''' He was so tough he had to be knocked out with an orbital lance strike (Horus'?), but that still didn't kill him. Post-Istvaan-V, most of his rules and stats remain as is but his side and rear armor became significantly weaker (with the latter being only AV10). However, he does gain a nasty trick to make up for it - he can now use some of the Mechanicum's Cybertheurgy powers (Rite of Celerity, of Eternity and of Fury, but with Ld7) and has access to a special power that allows him to hijack enemy battle-automata for the shooting phase, and gets Bloody Handed as a WT, but can only be the warlord if the army has no other HQ besides Xiaphas and Narik (which if you're bringing all three of these guys, there will be no other HQ). Still a powerful tool, but don't let anyone get behind him or he'll be screwed, possibly even by bog-standard boltgun fire.

*'''Lord Chaplain Nomus Rhy'tan:''' A Praetor-level Chaplain like Erebus, but LOYAL - what's not to like? Master of Chaplaincy of the 1st generation of Chaplains in the Legion, he survived the Heresy because Vulkan ordered him to remain on Nocturne <s>and keep the home fires burning</s>. He comes with a good set of kit like Artificer armour, an Iron Halo and Eternal Warrior. His weapon of choice is an S6 Armourbane Thunder hammer that is <u>NOT unwieldy</u>, and a combi-flamer. If he's the Warlord, all friendly units within 12" of him can use his Ld10. He also lets you take a Dreadnought Talon as an HQ slot, which is fine if you've already filled up all your Elite slots and want yet MOAR dreadnoughts. Think of him as a more buff oriented Praetor who replaces the killing power of a paragon blade and number of attacks for buffing the killing power and morale of his own unit, theough Zealot.

*'''Xiaphas Jurr:''' Another Salamander Chaplain, tasked by Nomus to find what happened on Istvaan V, and who ended up rescuing the shattered remnants of the Salamanders (but unfortunately not Vulkan himself, who would have a much more difficult road to return to his gene-sons). He has Chaplain stats, +1LD, Artificer armour, MC Power maul, and the Burning Halo, giving him a 4++ (becoming 3++ due to his Dragonscale Stormshield) that also inflicts a S4 hit every time he successfully makes a successful Invulnerable save in CC. However, being the Prophet of Flame he's also a ML1 Psyker with Precognition and Prescience (although he counts as Leadership 7 for the purpose of psychic tests, which is not good if he gets hit with Perils of the Warp). Furthermore, when he is the Warlord, his controlling player can re-roll the first failed Pinning test or Morale check of each game turn, but only if he's on the table instead of in reserve or embarked inside a transport, and he can't be the Warlord if Cassian Dracos is in the same army. This guy is pretty good; he's pretty damn tanky and his unit will feel his buffs greatly (zealot, psychic powers). He's dirt cheap for what he brings to the field as well so definitely don't overlook this guy. He synergises nicely with Narik to make a hard hitting aggressive strike force.

*'''Narik Dreygur:''' The Gravewalker, killed at Istvaan but [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXOhIJg4B7k| put back together with cybernetics] by a Legion sect, and ended up defecting to the Loyalists [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdMk3gECIVA for unknown reasons] after meeting with Cassian Dracos. He has Artificer Armor, a Refractor Field, a MC Bolt Pistol a Power Fist and +1W. He may also be included in any army with either Cassian Dracos or Xiaphas Jurr as the Warlord, being able to bring Iron Warrior Veterans that don't use up a FOC slot but cannot fill any compulsory choice and are treated as Desperate Allies by all friendlies besides Cassian and Xiaphas. He also gains Zealot and Rage within 12" of Cassian, meaning he sort of becomes a chaplain for his Battle Automata near him.
**Just be clear too, Narik is part of the '''Traitor''' faction when he's with his Robot Buddies, and then can be selected by the '''Loyalist''' Faction for Salamanders (or potentially Shattered Legions) as long as the aformention HQ's are taken.

[[File:VulkanModel.JPG|thumb|right|175px|Vulkan]]
*'''[[Vulkan]]:''' The Lord of Drakes costs as much as Mortarion at 425 points, and like him, Vulkan has a relatively high statline compensated by a variety of buffs and rules to make sure he never dies. Sire of the Salamanders enables all Salamanders with the Legiones Astartes rule to use the Adamantium Will USR and a bonus +1LD, while Blood of Fire enables Vulkan to reroll any failed Deny the Witch and IWND rolls. (No, he doesn't get to keep his immortality or use the teleportation function of his unique hammer - that would fuck up game balance to no end). While it goes without saying; Vulkan doesn't have the ''Legiones Astartes (Salamanders)'' rule so he ''doesn't'' add +1 strength to his heavy flamer which is already at S6, but by the same token he ''does'' use his Initiative when making a Sweeping Advance, which is a minor detail worth remembering when he wins combat. <br>Vulkan can use the following Wargear:
**'''The Draken Scale:''' The 2+ armor save and +3 invulnerability save are what you'd expect from the best '''black'''smith, but the main perk is that all flamer, fusion, Volkite, melta or plasma weaponry used against Vulkan has its strength halved. Laugh as your enemy's Fellglaive barely leaves a scratch on him, and wade through the battlefield completely ''immune'' to plasma.
**'''Heavy Flamer:''' What, did you think that Vulkan wasn't as much of a pyromaniac as the rest of his legion? It has S6 like every other ordinary heavy flamer the Salamanders have. Doesn't even get a special name like the rest of his Primarch gear.
**'''[https://youtu.be/sX5ff7W7IQQ?t=130 Dawnbringer]:''' Originally forged as a gift for Horus, this giant (and modelled as one-handed, which is strange since its proportions make its shaft far too short to let the head hit the ground for its special attack while Vulkan is standing) hammer looks like your average S10 AP1 weapon with Two-handed, Concussive, Armourbane, and Instant Death (that's right, it's ''not'' Unwieldy), but its real usefulness lies in its Earthshatter rule. Instead of attacking normally, Vulkan can place a blast template (3") anywhere in base to base contact with him that does not cover any friendly models; all models under the template suffer a single automatic S8 AP3 hit with the Strikedown special rule. Helps when clearing out tarpits, since Blast weapons don't roll to hit. Given the Dawnbringer's various traits and lack of the Unwieldy drawback, this giant hammer is currently the most versatile of the Primarch melee weapons, able to quickly annihilate infantry of any kind (without Eternal Warrior) or virtually any kind of vehicle. Aren't you glad that this weapon didn't end up in Horus' hands?
***''Fans of the HH novels will remember that Vulkan used a flaming sword during the events on Istvaan V, but like Fulgrim's <s>MURDER SWORD</s> Anathame, FW hasn't bothered to give us rules for Vulkan's own sword.''
**'''The Furnace's Heart:''' A gift from Ferrus Manus, though Vulkan didn't like it because it's a blaster, not a flamer. It's Assault 1 S6 AP2 Rending 18" Beam (the beam can't cross allied units, so you'll need a bit of positioning). This gun makes him one of the shootiest Primarchs, inflicting lots of AP2 wounds that are unaffected by his BS. This gun, along with his Blast-hammer, makes Vulkan pretty good at killing hordes.

*'''Weaknesses:''' Vulkan is very much Mortarion's counterpart in resilience, what works on Mortarion (Volkite, Melta and Plasma) doesn't really work on Vulkan, whereas what doesn't really work on Mortarion (Poison and Fleshbane), works very well on Vulkan. While Vulkan is as mobile as most Primarchs and shootier than the average, his hammer is so good that not using it to open Spartans or Super-heavies would be a waste, and he needs a transport to get there. Getting stranded can be a problem, much more if it means getting exposed to Phosphex, Lascannons and Medusas, so consider having an alternate transport nearby.

*'''Sworn Brothers'''
**'''Dark Angels:''' Can offer some fun things from their special tech, and bringing Interemptors is a fun way to get around the 'no Destroyer' restriction. But they currently lack unique Rite of War that can take allies and given you're already a close support legion, you can get by without the 1st.
**'''Emperor's Children:''' A nice way to offset being slow bois, getting into combat fast and hitting even faster, a couple of Assault Squads for example can really make up for shortcomings in both speed and melee for your army.
**'''White Scars:''' Similarly to the above, White Scars hit hard and they hit fast; plasma bikes are absolutely brutal and will easily keep up with the rest of the army.
**'''Space Wolves:''' Tying up the enemy's big guns gives your slow, heavy units a better chance at getting to the enemy in order to burn them real good and Space Wolves can close the gap pretty quickly with their plethora of special rules. Having blocks of Grey Slayers charging in after your Flamers have done their work is a sure fire way of making most infantry pretty damn dead.
**'''Imperial Fists:''' Can be good if you're playing defensive, BS5 Heavy Bolters can clear out chaff from a distance and tank hunter Lascannons from the Heavy Support Squads can kill off anything armoured that will threaten your transports.
**'''Blood Angels:''' See Emperor's Children.
**'''Raven Guard:''' Sneaky beaky bois, infiltrating marines is a good distraction from your Land Raiders and such, and like several other legions in this monumental list of allies, can fill in gaps in melee potential.
**'''Mechanicum:'''
**'''Imperial Army:'''
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====XIX Legion: [[Raven Guard]]====
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[[File:Raven guard legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.PNG|100px|left|]]
Your favorite emos before they actually had a [[Drop_Site_Massacre|reason to feel like shit]]. They are a very powerful force with great Legion units, basic infantry with Infiltration (and that shares on Rapiers) and scary jump infantry, so instead of being [[Eldar|fast & hiding in cover]] like their 40k incarnation, Raven Guard legionaries either have Furious charge or [[Inquisition|appear from where you didn't expect them to]]. This basically makes them one of the most dangerous Legions in skilled hands due to combination of Infiltrate and RoW that allows drop pods without severe limitations.

Their bias for lightning-fast attacks and aerial deployment allows them to set up powerful Decapitation strikes, tying up enemy units only to suddenly appear behind the enemy lines and kill that pesky HQ. Which in fact is the [[Fluff|exact purpose]] of their Dark Fury squads. This strategy relies on them going first, but thankfully their RoW helps them with this.

They are maybe the best IC killers, but if you're looking for mechanized warfare or troop slot shenanigans, look someplace else, such as Shattered Legions or Sworn Brothers. You could make an mechanised based RG army without allies, but than you have [[Derp|an HQ heavy army that allows your opponent a chance to score more victory points.]]
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*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''By Wing and Talon:''' Infantry, except Terminators and Jump Infantry (as per the FAQ), gain Infiltrate and Fleet (so they can Outflank too when coming from Reserves). Jump Packs, Bikes and Terminators get Furious Charge instead - ''Best when used with a Strategic Genius or Master Tactician to go first or to screw with your opponent's formations, respectively. There's nothing better than the look on your opponent's face when you [[Creed|Infiltrate a 20-man Tac squad]], use FotL and get ready to assault him (with re-rolls!). Also, a very neat way of using suicide Flamer squads. Of course, it's a viable tactic for Moritats, Destroyer Squads and all other infantry''.
***Instead of immediately grabbing Jump Packs, consider Bikes. Both Outriders and Sky Hunters have Bolt Pistols and Chainswords, and on the charge will be both Strength AND Toughness 5. For a 5 point upgrade from Jump Pack to Bike you give your Preator +1T, a Twin-Linked Bolter, Relentless and much more mobility. Combine it with a Paragon Blade for a Strength 6, Toughness 5, AP2 Monster on the charge. Add your choice of Digital Laser, Specialist AP2 Power Weapons and/or Relic for extra [[lulz]].
***Sky Hunters have the option of taking Multi-Meltas, Plasma Cannons and Volkite Culverins. 33 hits! per shooting phase is nothing to laugh at. Except you who just wiped out almost half of a twenty model squad.
***Never dismiss the sheer power of scores of Furious Assault Terminators just because <s>it's not "fluffy" of the Raven Guard</s> UNLEASH THE DELIVERERS; CORAXS' FURY. Running straight to the enemy with an axe still counts as "assassination" if the enemy ends up dead, especially if you come from his side with the Darkwing Storm Eagle.[[Derp| Doing this however limits the squad number to eight.]] So a better choice is to instead take Tartaros Armor and give them the option of Sweeping Advances. Rather then spending left over points on Power Weapons consider a taking full squad and upgrade their Combi-Bolters to Combi-Volkite [[Dakka|for twenty deflagration shots during the shooting phase]]. While they don't quite match up with the [[Deathstar Units| Deathstars Legion exclusive Terminators]] tend to be. In a Spartan they will [[Just_as_planned|shift focus away from your real heavy hitters.]] We used to [[rage|curse Forge World for not making rules for the real Deliverers]], but now they're here at least.
*** While Assault Marines have gotton a cost cut. It bears repeating the warning from the Blood Angels "The Day of Revelation" ROW. Try to avoid going crazy with their options. Until Raven Guard get their unique troops.(Players assume they will be Raptors from the Black Library books.) It would be best keep the cost of compulsory troops low. Such as two, ten model squads of just Tactical Marines, Assault Marines, or one of each with minimal upgrades to remain flexible. The load out considered a "must take" over the others are Assault Squads with Combat Shields to enhance their durability. To go along with their better mobility. While sword and board Assault Marines are nowhere near the unit erasers Elites or Seekers are. It will force your opponent to use their own heavy hitters to remove them from objectives. This will also give you leftover points for Tactical Support, Recon Squads and units with "Implacable Advance". The only time you shouldn't keep CT's cheap is if you're using a non RG ROW that unlocks other troops.
**'''Flesh over Steel:''' May not take more Tanks than Infantry units. ''[[Rules lawyer|Technically]] you could still do the Armoured Spearhead RoW; if you want to take an army of [[Powergamer|infiltrating Land Raiders]] you can, you simply don't get to have any other tank on the table, but really, who cares about that with '''Infiltrating Land Raiders'''??! Also don't forget to put your <s>Veterans</s> <s>Terminators</s> Mor Deythan into a Darkwing Storm Eagle for an Outflanking [[Troll|non-tank]] transport, so now you can even take some other heavies. Now, '''THAT''' is an Alpha Strike! Just be on the look out for anti air. Even Terminators will be hurting if the Darkwing they're embarked in is destroyed mid-flight.''
***With the new Dreadnoughts & the absurd amount of flyers/skimmers available, including the Xiphon, you won't be missing non DT tanks that much. Sadly Whisper Cutters don't have rules, so you will be forced to take extra flyers if you choose troops that require Rhinos or Land Raiders or make them foot slog it. Assault Squads are a decent alternative but you miss out on Fury of the Legion.
***Praevians and Forge Lords have the option to bring Battle Automata via Cortex Controllers. Both open up the option of Thallax for lightning/plasma spewing Jump Infantry, or Castellex if you need heavy amounts of firepower against vehicles/TEQs. The Praevian can take a unit of Castellex as well or Vorax instead for butchering hordes. (A Forge Lord with Cortex Control starts at 100 points, while Praevians have to take at least one Castellax or Vorax.) [[Reasonable_Marines|Know your opponent and plan accordingly.]]
*'''Rite of War: Decapitation Strike''' - ''The Raven Guard version of Orbital Assault, sans Deep striking Terminators but also without its biggest drawbacks''
**'''For Whom the Bell Tolls''': All Legiones Astartes (Raven Guard) gain Preferred Enemy (Independent Characters) - ''Combine it with Seeker's Precision shots, Sniper Veterans or Sniper Recons and shoot your way [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gJ3mZfGuD4#t=24 through that officer's retinue]. It comes without saying you should Infiltrate right beside them. Praetors and Champions become extremely good at character hunting: the first one ensuring more Instant Death with his Paragon Blade, the latter by virtue of having Precision Strikes. Combine it with Specialist Weapons, Jump Packs and whatnot and proceed to [[Rip and Tear]].
*** FAQ (Nov '16) states that PE applies to the entire target unit if a single model has the IC rule, which is a huge buff for this ROW.
**'''Predatory Strike''': Can re-roll dice for determining turn order - ''Incredibly useful for an Infiltrating army''.
**'''Fury From Above''': Deathstorm Drop Pods become Elites choices, and Tactical Squads, Veteran Tactical Squads, Tactical Support Squads, Seeker Squads and Heavy Support Squads can all use Drop pods (as long as they fit inside)...''although you could already Infiltrate them, this is by no means bad as it can add a lot of options and strategies to your army: the first one you'll think is probably melta/flamers suicide squads, which is good, but don't limit yourself: a second wave to cut the opponent down after distracting him on the first turn and causing havoc with your Deathstorms can also be extremely effective, as it is the option to deploy by deep strike beside a particular unit that you really want dead, but cannot infiltrate because it has an Augury Scanner''.
** Only one Heavy Support choice allowed - ''THE big drawback of this Rite of War. Good thing your Deathstorms can be Elites now, though.''
*** You're obviously going to bring a flyer like the Fire Raptor, a Caestus Assault Ram or Heavy Support Squads for Volkite spam, all effective choices. However to make the most of your one Heavy Slot you should consider either a Deredeo Dreadnought with Plasma Carronade & Aiolos or a shooty Leviathan Siege Dreadnought. Why take a Leviathan? Because a single Levi-Dread can take Kharybdis Assault Claw as a Dedicated Transport. [[Rage|Yes, you take a Leviathan that has a flying DT.]] The changes in the LA-AOD book make this very expensive choice at over five hundred points without upgrades - so much that a Knight might be a better investment. While five model squads of Legion Terminators can also have Dreadclaw DT, squads this small can't bring as much pain a single Leviathan does and are better supported by Land Raiders or Spartans.
*** Speaking of Dreadnoughts. Spamming them may be a good strategy as Havoc Launchers are now options for those taken in the Elite slot. Since Raven Guard LA rules restrict tanks, you should equip them for vehicle hunting if your Fast Attack aren't up to job.
*** Sky Slayers are also a good choice for the heavy slot. The only downside is that the entire squad has to take the same weapon just like Heavy Support Squads, restricting them to hunting enemy armor or infantry blobs.
*** With this restriction Rhinos, Land Raiders & Spartan Assault Tanks should be taken as DTs when you have the points for them. [[Derp|Unless you want an Achilles why are you not using them as DTs?]]
** Only one Consul allowed. ''Coupled with the previous restriction, consider bringing a Praevian and give him camo. Infiltrating Stealthy Castellaxes w/Darkfire cannons can cause more havoc with the same points compared to a Predator squadron''.
** No fortifications or allied Space Marine Legion detachments allowed.
*'''New Rite of War: Liberation Force''' - ''A guerrilla-themed melee army with some single-use but potent buffs and the potential for good synergy with allies.''
**'''Freedom Fighters:''' Once per game at the beginning of your turn, you can give all models in the army Zealot for the remainder of the turn.
***''Have your entire army go to ground one turn, and then they can stand right back up with no downsides.''
**'''Slayer of Tyrants:''' Slay the Warlord secondary objectives give d3 VPs instead of 1.
**'''Lead by Example:''' If you take Allies from Imperialis Militia/Warp Cults, they gain Fearless if they stay within 6" of anyone with the Legion Astartes (Raven Guard) rule. ''Enginseers don't benefit from Provenances but their Servo-automata allow access up to eight Phased plasma-fusils.''
***Take an allied Force Commander with Survivors of the Dark Age. You now have Fearless, Powered Armor Grenadier squads with access to Bolters, Grenade Launchers, with DT options of a Arvus Lighter([[Troll|yes a flying DT with gun options]]), Rhinos or a LR Proteus. Coupled with Forge Lord/Praevian with Cameleoline and options of three flavors of Battle Automata. This gives you a secondary meat grinder force while Raven Guard Jump infantry, Bikers, Flyers/Skimmers, Dreadnoughts or Troops with Dedicated Transports are free too rush for the objectives, destroy enemy vehicles or assassinate ICs. This makes [[troll|trolling]] [[Konrad Curze|Konnie]] and his [[Night Lords|boys]] amusing. Just remember to shoot down/melta bomb any heavy firepower he brought with him.''
***''Ogryn Brutes while good on paper cost as much as Termis and have no DT options. Pass.''
** Cannot be used by an army with the Shattered Legions theme.
** Cannot take any Fortifications, or units with the Immobile or Slow and Purposeful (Cataphractii, and only them, had this one; be sure to discuss that moment with your opponent before the game to avoid confusion due to brilliant Forgeworld editing) rules.
*** The only downside is that you can't take Tarantulas and Drop Pods(except Dreadclaws and Kharybdis.) As for allies be aware that Castellax are now Support Units if not taken with FL/Preavian rules. If possible make sure ally Troops have either a Dedicated Transport so they can last longer or Jump Packs to reach the objectives first.
*** Since when do Raven Guard ever use/need Fortifications? Unlike Decapitation Strike, Liberation Force doesn't restrict the number of Heavy Slots. It doesn't get rid of the tank restriction though. Allied Tanks, Deredeo or shooty Leviathan Dreadnoughts, Flyers/Skimmers and Kharybdis Drop Pods can harass or eliminate enemy gun lines for you. Keep your forces mobile and fight like a guerrilla as [[Corvus Corax|Corax]] would.
*** Other good ally choices besides [[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Imperial Militia and Cults (30k)| Cults and Militia]] & [[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Mechanicum: Taghmata (30k)| Mechanicum]] are the [[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Solar Auxilia (30k)| Solar Auxilla]]. They don't get the benefits Militia's gain from this ROW but they pull off tricks the two other armies can't, such as Volkite Charger armed Veletaris Storm Sections in a Demolisher Cannon Dracosan for their DT or take a Leman Russ or Super Heavy Tank as an allied HQ. Be warned though to unlock their full potential they have to be Primary Detachment.
** Can only be used by Loyalists.
*'''Unique Wargear''':
**'''Raven's Talons:''' ''Anyone'' with Lightning Claws (single or paired) can upgrade them to add Master-Crafted and Rending.
**'''Infravisor:''' Gain Night Vision, but Blind tests are taken at I1.
**'''Cameleoline:''' '''''Any''' Independent Character can take this''. Grants Stealth. Not compatible with Jump Packs, Terminator armour, Bikes, or Jetbikes - "Give it to a Praevian: now your [[Troll|T7 infiltrating unit of Monstrous Creatures has also Stealth]]
**'''Fractal-Harrow Blade (Relic):''' Yet another S+1 Rending power sword (albeit not a specialist weapon, enjoy your +1A). Not the best, but for each wound caused by the weapon's BEARER (so all you need is to have it, FAQ confirms) is counted as two wounds for the purposes of assault results, meaning easier victories. ''Remember that Blood Angel OP sword of double-wounding? Well this one's just like that, but with worse AP, not master crafted, you need your opponent's permission to use it and the extra wounds are just pretending, not actual wounds. Too bad''.

*'''Mor Deythan Strike Squad:''' Elites. Veterans of the Deliverance uprising that fought alongside Corax himself, able to sneak almost as well as their Primarch. They are better Recon squads (BS+1, '''Implacable Advance''') that have traded the Outflank + Acute senses for Stealth and Scout (because being Raven Guard, you were going to Infiltrate them anyway), and have a one-use super-shooting attack that ''TLs their weapons and gives them Rending'' (it also improves Sniper rifle's rending by one). Can take a Rhino or a Darkwing as a DT. Cost only 10 points more than a Recon squad, but come weaponless and must buy either sniper rifles, shotguns or combi-weapons and one in every three can take a special weapon; including a Missile launcher with Suspensor Web and Volkite Charger for your "I must really kill something" needs. Also don't ever forget that they come with Close Combat Weapon and a Bolt Pistol, so they have 2 attacks base and 3 on the charge! They're still shit in close combat and should always be shooting, but it could come as a surprise for a unit that charged them.
** Speaking from experience: 10 Twin-Linked Flamers(combi) with Rending kills just about anything.
** A 5 man unit equipped with sniper rifles costs exactly the same as 5 Recons, but additional marines aren't as cheap as the latter's. Shotgun wielding Mor Deythans are more expensive than vanilla Recons. Though why would you do that when you can have [[Tau|shooting at Strength 10]], Krak missiles and Skyfire?
*'''Dark Fury Assault Squad:''' For when subtle assassination is not enough and a ''literal'' decapitation strike is needed. They are pretty much a Fast attack, powered-up version of Vanguard Veterans, coming as 5-10 man units all armed with [[Awesome|twin Raven Talons]], the leader has WS5, Artificer and also Precision Strikes. They gain a 5+ cover save when arriving via Deep Strike and +1I on the charge, alongside their +1S from being Raven Guard Jump infantry. Unlike Veterans though, they can't score. If anyone ever says they aren't points efficient ask them to tally up the gear and rules. Spoiler alert: They're a steal for what you get.
** While the Chaplain would seem to be the go-to Consul for these guys, they already get rerolls for Master Crafted on the Raven Talons. On the other hand, a Librarian with Shrouding can boost their cover save to a 3++ and a Vigilator can give them Scout (which also let them outflank).
*'''Darkwing <s>Gun</s> Duckship:''' Worked up Storm Eagle with 2 Twin-linked Lascannons, one Twin-Linked Heavy Bolter, Outflank and Stealth for a ''3+ Jink save''; it also has his own special weapon, the Vengeance Launcher, which fires 2 S4 AP5 Blind & Concussive Large Blast missiles. Extremely useful for crippling a unit you really want dead before charging or shooting it to death. Costs just 25 pts more than a similarly equipped Storm Eagle. Veteran Tactical Squads, Terminators & Mor Deythan can take the Darkwing as a Dedicated Transport if they don't exceed it's transport capacity. Which is reduced to sixteen, [[fail|so no ten man Dark Fury or Terminator Squads inside it due to the Bulky rule.]]
**It pairs best with Mor-Deythan Squads. A Darkwing DT can fly up to an objective than fire it's payload. Mor-Deythan can disembark the turn it Deep Strikes via the Assault Vehicle rule. Add a shooty Praetor/Centurion (I.e. Vigilator or Forge Lord) or either version of [[Corvus Corax]] himself for a Sniper Deathstar(Sniper-Star?). Than shoot anything unlucky enough still alive with Fatal Strike, while you're IC and/or Corax cleans up the rest.
*'''Deliverer Squad<sup>PDF</sup>:''' Originally a batch of legionaries who had served as part of Horus' entourage during the early acts of the crusade, these Terminators are more attuned to the shock assault tactics used by the Luna Wolves rather than the more tactical and stealthy methodologies Corax would espouse upon claiming his legion. Once Corax did return though, these guys were essentially shelved or assigned to guarding other fleets, leaving them to grow more than a little resentful and more than a little sympathetic to the Warmaster's betrayal. These cataphractii termies come with Teleportation Transponders and Infravisors stock, but their weapon selection is a little...stark, more reminiscent of modern-day Termies, with your heavy weapon options being heavy flamer/reaper/multi-melta with any model being able to take combi-weapons, though no volkite charges. That is to say nothing about their melee options, which are limited to Power Weapons or exchanging them and their ranged weapon for Raven's Claws. Power Axes are the only decent choice for melee weapons. It's like ForgeWorld or GW doesn't care for or hates the Raven Guard and wrote the bare minimum for what qualifies as rules.
**As you might have guessed from the blurb above, the Deliverers gain some different rules depending on whether they remain Loyalists or become Traitors. As Loyalists, they gain +1 to Toughness to avoid most causes of Instant Death (though not affecting getting wounded by anything else) and can never be accompanied by Corax, being forced to deploy at least 18" away from him - which only forces them into their close-quarters role further. If they become Traitors, they merely gain Hatred against their Primarch.
** While Loyalist Deliverers are very resistant to power fists by being W2 and immune to ID from S8/9 attacks, they do not have power fists themselves and can only inflict AP2 ID with rad grenades against TEQs on the charge (base strength 4, +1S from power axes, +1S from Furious Charge, thus S6 against TEQs who are T3 after rad grenade debuff). Barring multiple charges (eg. destroyers) or psychic powers, this effectively means an IC with rad grenades must be attached to ID marines, so think carefully between doing that or adding a Primus Medicae to shrug off power fists (loss of FnP conditional on ID; no ID so FnP applies). You could add both and create a death star unit of W2 terminators that can ID MEQs on the charge and get 4++/5+++ against attacks lower than S10, but why are you playing Raven Guard if you wanted a Terminator death star?
*** Unlike the VII and VIII Legions, your ICs do not get teleportation transponders and cannot deep strike with the Deliverers, which is particularly problematic as Deliverers do not get dedicated transports, full squads of 15 cannot fit in anything smaller than a Mastodon and footslogging a 1000 point unit that cannot run due to Cataphractii armor is not necessarily a good idea considering the whole unit is still a 4++ save away from being splatted by a Vindicator. With how much loyalist Deliverers in particular have to gain from attached ICs, think about a smaller squad of 10-12 with 1-2 ICs in a Spartan rather than going in full tilt with 15.

*'''Strike Captain Alvarex Maun:''' The 'Master of Descent', always leading drop assaults from the front to secure the landing zone in person, [[Starship Troopers]] style. He's basically a Praetor with a Power sword but one less WS, I and A. He is not meant to be in close combat. Instead, he gives candy to your army: first of all, he is really cheap, while still allowing you to use a Rite of War, so you can invest your points somewhere else. Also if he is the Warlord all Flyers and Drop Pods (of any type) in the army get to re-roll failed Reserve rolls and he also has the ability to either give a re-roll on Seize the Initiative, if he was deployed at the beginning of the game, or make his Deep-Striking DT arrive the very moment you start rolling for Reserves. Not enough for you? Good, for he also has the '''Nightfall Pattern Strato-Vox''', which is a powered up version of the Nuncio Vox that prevents the scatter of Deep striking units within 18", for a 36" bubble, of him and also gives any Ravens in a Deep-Striking vehicle Counter-Attack the turn they arrive in (the closest anyone can get to assault the turn they deep strike), along the normal effect of being able to use his LOS for Barrage weapons. But he, obviously, must be on the table (and not inside a vehicle) at the start of the turn to use it.
** You're taking him not to lead the spearhead (he's not outright bad, but he's worse than the common Centurion), but to ensure the rest of your army arrives in a timely manner. He works amazingly well with Orbital Assault, Decapitation Strike and Angel's Wrath RoWs, where he helps you deploy your whole army in as little as two turns and/or can give the massive advantage of going first. Just remember to give him a good retinue to make sure he doesn't die easily, like with camo in a Rapier battery, and don't ever put him in fight he can't win (so don't put him in almost any fight).

*'''Moritat-Prime Kaedus Nex:''' The 'Blood Crow' was a murderer freed by Corax to help in his uprising. Compared to other Moritats, this guy is king, even more so with the new Plasma-Moritat nerf. He has +1 BS and I than a Moritat, Precision Shots, Shroud Bombs, Melta Bombs, Refractor Field and Cameleoline. Unlike Moritats, however, he lacks Scout, and his 'Lone Killer' rule gets replaced with 'Ill-omened', which means that, unlike them, he benefits from blessings and RoWs (rather nice with Decapitation Strike, as he also doesn't have the Consul rule), but loses the ability to join ''any'' kind of squad, even Destroyer squads, (despite being labeled as an Independent character...but if he wasn't, the Alpha Legion could then take him). Despite being able to Infiltrate by virtue of being a Raven Guard you'll never do that, because his 'Relentless Stalker' rule allows him to deploy within 18" of his chosen HQ/Elite target so long as he's out of sight, and by doing so he also gets Shrouded for that first turn. This must happen after all other infiltrators have been set up, but it doesn't count as one, so it bypasses Augury Scanners and allows him to charge turn one with that meltabomb. 'Raven's Vengeance' grants him Zealot when in combat against his target (which is not as amazing as you could think, as it only works in close combat, where he should not be. But could still help in a pinch) and, once he kills them (or they are killed in a phase where he caused at least one unsaved wound), scores a bonus VP. His guns are essentially beefed up Bolt Pistols with a sucktastick Strength of 4, but also AP 4, Rending & Concussive (which synergizes really well with his Precision Shots), and he can [[Cypher|wield them in close combat]] (and he does gain +1 attack for 2 pistols) and with BS6 his Chain-fire ability can be the gift that keeps on giving. But he can never be your Warlord. 'Caedus' Nex translates from Latin as 'Murder and Death' which alone is enough reason to take this psychopath.
** Combo him in a DecapStrike alpha strike list to get First Blood and bonus VP from Raven's Vengeance. For example: Target an Apothecary, drop a Plasma Seeker Squad with a Telepathy Libby in a pod near Nex and go to town.

[[File:CoraxMini.jpg|175px|right|thumb|Corvus Corax]]
*'''[[Corvus Corax]]:''' At 450 points, Corax is like a [[Lictor]] but LOTS better; the Raven Lord deserves to go solo like the Primarch of an independent legion should be. Unless the unit is a psyker/daemon OR Corax is in a unit OR he is the closest unit to them, they can only snap-fire at him. ''(Note: this makes him IMMUNE to [[Demolisher Cannon|Blast]] & [[Flamer|Template]] weapons, unless they hit him by accident or he's close to them, and given how far he can move you have no excuse for him being the closest unit)''. This makes him very easy to use in games starting at 2k points/cost effective since he doesn't need a transport and/or retinue like every other Primarch. He may also [[Swooping Hawks|remove himself from play and return to reserves, even while in close combat]]. Furthermore, his Sire of the Legion gives him [[Awesome|old-school]] Furious Charge (which he can put to extremely good use since he also has Hit & Run) and his entire legion get Acute Senses for Outflanking and always roll 6s on run moves (even Terminators or Jump Units, which is priceless, since they didn't get Fleet from "By Wings and Talons"). Corax is the master of slaughtering line troops; between his high number of attacks, fighting style to add d3 attacks, dual pistols, and pinions adding d3 hammer of wrath hits at AP3 he can kill up to 15 marines a turn before sweeping. Angron wishes he could cull that many out of the gate. Corax is one of a number of Primarchs with alternative gear and profiles, and his is one of the most extreme examples; his stock "fresh" profile represents him during the Great Crusade and the battle of Istvaan V that became the Dropsite Massacre. The damage he sustained to his body and gear in that theatre of death provides the second "wartorn" profile, lowering his statline to account for his unrecovered injuries and demoting and altering certain pieces of wargear, although he also costs 100 points less and gains Infiltrate and Scout (for footslogging purposes) and Hatred of all the Traitor participants in the Drop Site Massacre (for revenge purposes) - except Word Bearers for some weird reason.<br>Corax can use the following wargear.
**'''Sable Armour:''' 2+/5+ ''(cracked and broken to 3+/5+ after Istvaan)'' makes him one of the more fragile Primarchs, however he does cause Deep Strike mishaps on doubles to arriving enemies within 12" and teleport homers just don't work around him. Coupled with his blistering movement speed and his snapfire-defense, and the enemy is unlikely to ever catch him.
**'''Panoply of the Raven Lord:''' A twinned-claw and whip (it's not often you see one on a non-slaanesh marine!) ensemble, these tools of the Raven's trade count as a single two-handed weapon with AP2, Shred and Blind. Can choose each turn to either gain D3 attacks or add +3 to penetration rolls(So S10 on the charge) and auto-wound on a 5+(with Shredding rerolls) or impose -1 to enemy To Hit rolls. Once upon a time the Blinding nature of this weapon was a big part of Corax's anti-primarch gear, but then a nerf that rule came and hit him hard. It's best now to avoid enemy Primarchs in melee, or pull out the stops and bait them hit and run+reserves shenanigans; cut them up, rapid-retreat and leave them out in the open for the rest of your army to gun them down.
**'''Korvidine Pinions:''' ''Left broken and fuelless by the slaughter of Istvaan'', these fancy jet-wings make stock Corax Jump infantry with rerolls to Deep strike scatter, the ability to [[Flying Circus|Vector Strike]] and provides D3 Hammer of Wrath hits on all charges at S5, and at '''AP3'''. Should Corax suffer a DS mishap with the Pinions, he always gets the mildest "delayed" result.
**2 x '''Archeotech pistols:''' Same as Praetors, good for hammering a few wounds off MEQs and [[Rage|Angron]] before the charge. Wartorn Corax ran out of the weird ammunition these puppies require, so he takes to wielding a stripped-down Assault 3 Heavy Bolter instead. So long as you're shooting at targets with armour saves of 4+ or less, or 2+, or really good Invulnerable or Cover saves, this is a side-grade or upgrade really.
**'''Shroud Bombs:''' *Poof!*
**'''Frag Grenades:''' Really, Primarchs should just be able to chuck a brace of them at once already...

*'''Weaknesses:''' Watch out for high-Invulnerable save multi-wound models; Iron Halo Praetors, Legion-exclusive Cataphractii Terminators and anything with a Storm Shield. You will not kill them quickly. Watch out even ''harder'' for concentrated AP 2, especially with the aforementioned defenses, because that mere 5++ is not enough to save this Raven. Charging Red Butchers, Deathshrouds with Rad Grenades and TH/SS Fists and Drakes are a real nightmare. Also, it bears repeating: don't fight other Primarchs in melee unless you can hit and run away to leave them exposed. If you're Ravenning like a true Raven Guard, you've already prepared to shoot the shit out them with podded Seekers and ScInfiltrated Fatal Striking Mor Deythan. The Raven Guard are here to prove a point about tactics, not blunt schlubbyness; Never fight fair and always exploit weakness.

*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Space Wolves:'''
**'''Salamanders:'''
**'''Mechanicum:'''
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====XX Legion: [[Alpha Legion]]====
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[[File:Ultramarine legion pre-heresy shoulderpad.png|100px|left|]]
'''''???''''' The only thing you can say for certain about Alpha legion tactics is that they're an infantry-heavy army with more CC attacks than you'd expect, though mechanized-infantry and Deep Striking lists are quite viable, and potentially devastating when pulled off. As for what is that infantry going to do, you can't make predictions. Either moving fast, popping your tanks or [[Creed|CREEEEEEDing Land Raiders]], they can have playstyles so different you'd think you're facing an entirely different legion. And with Alpharius and their RoWs affecting reserves and ''outright [[Blood_Ravens|stealing enemy units]]'', it might be.

However, with Mutable Tactics being their only trait, they play like normal Legion marines with a few buffs here or there, their sole non-RoW actual advantage being flexibility - if you only want Mutable Tactics to get an all-infiltrating army, you'd do better playing the Raven Guard. As such, the use of DTs is very recommended, so you can pull an Alpharius on that silly player who thought he could list-tailor against THE Unbroken Chain. At the same time, however, that just about sums it up. You have highly flexible tactics, but strategically you have to be aggressive and fast-moving. Almost all of your tactics allow you to move faster or give you deployment options you wouldn't have otherwise, and those that don't give you greater ability against one thing in particular. You still have to have a solid, core plan, and stick to it, but it is the fringe elements of the army that are flexible and more readily arranged to assist a solid core. And, especially with the Alpha Legion, short-range saturation is king. You can start up close, but your advantage is in shooting rather than melee, so infiltrate, do whatever you have to to go first, and then dakka the enemy off the board in the order that you have decided they need to go. Especially key with the huge numbers of deathstars running around the battlefields now- pop up, and carefully annihilate unit after unit in your decided order.

Firm believers that the strong are strongest alone, they treat almost everyone as Distrusted Allies, have no Sworn Brothers, and their signature operators are lone wolves. Jacks-of-all-trades, but master of none, they're difficult to play as, and kinda need their awesome unique characters to shine (''good thing you are Alpharius''), but their ability to mess with the enemy's reserves or Ballistic Skill and pull some serious bait-and-switch by ''choosing'' their Mutable Tactic (and Strategic trait with Skorr) means that, if you use them well, your enemy will be [[Just_as_planned|playing YOUR game]]. '''''Hydra Dominatus!'''''
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*'''Legion Special Rules'''
**'''Mutable Tactics:''' Your choice of Scout, Infiltrate, Tank Hunters, Counter Attack, Move Through Cover, or Adamantium Will. Choose it when you pick warlord traits - ''This makes the Alpha Legion [[Troll|nigh unpredictable]] and higly adaptable''.
***Combining Mutable tactics with Veteran tactics makes for a unit with the potential to accomplish any kind of role, the true ideal of the Alpha Legion. Take it a step forward and bring a Delegatus or Praetor to reliably add WTs into the mix. Also, Laser Destroyer Rapiers with Tank Hunters are really scary.
***This combines amazingly well with the vanilla Rites so never forget that you aren't obliged to play an RoW exclusive to the Alpha Legion. The possibilities genuinely are amazing. '''Pride of the Legion'''? ''[[Deathwing|Infiltrating Terminator army]]''. '''Orbital Assault'''? Counter Attack protects your guys. You could pull the Raven Guard trick of '''[[Anal_circumference|Infiltrating Land Raiders]]''' by using Armoured Spearhead, but not having their 'Flesh over Steel' limitation you can perform a [[Iron_Hands|fully mechanized Hammer & Anvil maneuver]]. You lose out the benefits of the XXth's unique RoWs, but switching between rites and tactics is how you make sure no one can ever list-tailor against you.
**'''Martial Hubris:''' If the Alpha Legion is your Primary Detachment and suffers more units destroyed than the foe, the enemy gains +1 VP.
***It pays to go pour your army's points into a tight group of expensive, potent units. If you go out of your way to do this, you can read this rule as ''"Don't lose"'', as there's no way to suffer more destructions than the enemy other than by losing anyway. While MSU can be tempting for Alpha Legionnaire sneaky tactics, it's setting yourself up for a fall.

*'''Unique Rite of War: The Coils of the Hydra''' - Unlike other rites buffing your units, this one [[Troll|nerfs]] your enemy, which can stack to hilarious levels and net you map control. ''When your enemies' Command and Control fails them and they come across unexpected forces that were loyal to you all along, you can dictate the pace of the battle and strike them from all directions with the strength and subtle lethality of the Hydra!''
**'''Subterfuge:''' +1 to going first OR can reroll Seize the Initiative - A huge incentive to run this ROW since an all Infiltrating or Scouting force has a massive advantage on turn 1. ''Combine it with Alpharius to get a re-roll 4+ Seize, or roll the Strategic Genius WT in case you aren't bringing your Primarch''.
**'''Signal Corruption:''' -1 to enemy reserves. Combined with a Land Raider Proteus with Explorator Augury Web and the Divide to Conquer Strategic Trait (-1 to enemy reserves) you can bring a reserve-dependent army to tears when they can only call reinforcements on a 6+...''With Alpharius, your enemy's "reinforcement" [[Troll|could actually be yours]]''.
**'''The Rewards of Treason:''' Gain the ability to use any other Legion's special units (except for ICs or unique units) as an Elites choice. They keep all equipment and special rules, but switch out their parent Legion's special rules for the Alpha Legion's rules.
***This is '''''THE''''' ''reason you are using this RoW, hell, a very strong reason for playing Alpha Legion in the first place. You get your choice of trolling: Tank Hunter Tyrant terminators, Counter Attack Grave Wardens, Infiltrating Pyroclasts. All possible.
***This legally allows traitor only units as Loyalists. Like [[What|Gal Vorbak]].
**Must take an additional compulsory Troops choice.
**All infantry must possess either Deep Strike, Infiltrate, or a Dedicated Transport - ''Coupled with the previous point, this will make the Rite difficult to use in low point matches and is a pretty big restriction to how you can field your army.''
***Even though the rules state that Mutable Tactics is granted to your army at the point of picking your Warlord Traits (thus just before deployment) you can circumvent the "needs a DT" restriction by picking Infiltrate as your Mutable Tactic, emails from FW confirm it. This makes the Alphas ''extremely'' powerful if you build around it. Army-wide Infiltration without paying a DT tax means that you can grab control of the whole board right from the start, getting your units cover saves AND great fields of fire immediately. Add to that it providing Outflank for any infantry unit in a DT, you can ensure your reserves arrive where they can be immediately effective. It's a huge boon in any game, especially those with location-based objectives, enabling you to be ready to grab objectives from turn one.
****This has now been confirmed in an FAQ from FW as well, so now we can use this tactic without any question.
**Only one Consul permitted (save for Vigilator). ''This means limited use of Delegatii (like Skorr) and Saboteurs, which makes little sense given they are AL-specific Vigilators. Someone needs to e-mail FW about this.
**No fortifications or allied Space Marine Legion detachments. ''Not like you were allying with them to begin with, almost all of your options being [[Paranoia|Distrusted Allies]]''.

*'''Unique Rite of War: Headhunter Leviathal''' - ''A low-risk RoW focusing on Headhunters and going first to achieve a decapitation strike based around deception rather than speed and fury. With the Alpha Legion, you can never be sure if your "friends" really are your friends or operatives looking to put a dagger in your back.''
**'''Headhunter Elite:''' Headhunter Kill Teams become the compulsory Troop choices. ''Too bad they're in bad need of an update.''
**'''Sudden Strike:''' If your primary detachment is using this RoW, you can re-roll the dice to see who gets the first turn. Important, given that it focuses on striking first. ''Again, you can combine it with Alpharius or the Strategic Genius WT''.
**'''False Flags:''' Any enemy that declares a ranged attack against an Alpha Legion unit in the first game turn that has not yet been fired on by an AL unit that turn must pass a Ld test first. If it fails, it forfeits all shooting attacks for that phase. It can still fire Overwatch, though. ''If you don't get the first turn, you get a firewall to blunt the enemy's opening salvo, but <u>try to go first</u>. The odds of failing with Ld9 are 1/6, and it doesn't mention enemy vehicles.''
**Failing to kill the Warlord grants the opponent D3 VPs, even if Slay the Warlord wasn't an objective. ''Hence the Headhunters, but don't forget that Warlords often come with 2+ armour saves, so equipping Headhunters with Combi-Melta or Combi-Plasma will work better than leaving them with their bog-standard Banestrike Combi-Bolters''.
**All vehicles in the Alpha Legion army must begin in reserve. ''Flyers would begin in reserve anyway and the mobility helps.''
**Cannot take Allies of any kind ("They can't afford to leave any witnesses!"). Fortifications are fine, though, but usually don't work well with your Headhunter troops because of their short-ranged weapons, so save the Fortifications for your longer-ranged units.

*'''Unique Wargear'''
**'''Banestrike Bolter Rounds:''' ''a.k.a. Poor man's Rending''. Bolt shells deliberately designed to breach Astartes Power Armour, which they shared with their Sons of Horus buddies. Bolters and Combi-Bolters with this ammo treat To Wound rolls of 6 as AP3, but their range gets reduced to 18". For Heavy Bolters, however, it's a direct upgrade since the range remains the same. Seekers may exchange their Scorpius with Banestrike at no cost, whereas Veterans ''and Legion Terminators'' can get this for +20 pts and ICs for +5 pts.
***Sadly, anyone with access to this special ammunition also has access to better weapons and Banestrike rounds are still pretty sucky even for Veterans; let your Seekers and (if you really want Banestrike rounds) Headhunters do the heavy lifting. Yes Legion Terminators (AKA not the stolen variants) are markedly cheaper with Banestrike rounds than Volkite weaponry, so Legion Terminators could get some use out of them, but it's very situational as anything outside of 9" (or any squad with the Sergeant in the front) would be better handled by Volkite weaponry.
**'''Power Daggers:''' S(User-1) AP3 Rending Specialist Weapon for your characters, all for dirt-cheap 5pts. They're the cheapest way to give an extra attack to someone with a Powerfist, Chainfist, Lightning Claw, or Paragon Blade (i.e. Praetor + Paragon + Power Dagger + Digilasers = 7x S5 AP2 Murderous strike attacks on the charge at In5). Worthy of note are Terminator Sergeants, for this is the only way for them to gain +1 attack with Fists/''Thunder Hammers'', or to gain an extra Lightning claw attack ''without surrendering their shooting attacks''. [[Troll|Extra Troll]] points for giving it to a stolen Legion-specific Terminator, like Firedrake Master's WS5 [[Meme|MC Hammer]].
***Daggers are incredibly cheap, and that -1S is a little deceptive given the rest of the package, so they're a must-have for those Powerfist-equipped Sergeants. In the usual mirror-match, your Sgts. can forgo the Powerfist and stab the opponent at initiative (with +1A) instead of waiting until I1 for the Powerfist arm-wrestling duel. That is, ''as long as the enemy doesn't have Artificer Armour''. Compared to a power sword, daggers ''almost'' suck ass by themselves (5+ to wound on an [[MEQ]]), but Rending is decent for TEQs, at least at mere +5pts. Still, against 3+ saves or worse, Power Daggers are twice as good as a regular CCW, and an extra power sword attack won't do much against 2+ saves anyway.
**'''Venom Spheres:''' Assault Grenades made of [[Splinter_Weapons|poisoned crystals]] that grant Hammer of Wrath to their bearer. They can also be used to throw a S3 AP- blast. Praetors, Consuls, Techmarines and Apothecaries can swap their Frag grenades for this for +5 pts, and Veterans, Seekers and Destroyers get them for +25 pts for the whole squad, regardless of size. <u>Remember HoW is on a model by model basis</u>, so an attached IC with Venom Spheres won't mean a lot.
**'''Venom Sphere Harness:''' As above, but it does shoot two S3 AP- small blasts, but on the turn it's used it does grant Hammer of Wrath to the entire squad. For Terminators and one-use only.
**'''The Drakaina (Relic)''': A virus-pistol. Shoots a S4 AP4 Poisoned/Rending shot, however, a squad that suffers casualties from this weapon has to take D6 Toughness tests for the rest of the game, with each failed test causing a further automatic wound, [[Awesome|with no saves of any kind allowed]]. Can only be nullified by passing ALL tests. But then you just shoot the unit with the pistol again and start the cycle over and over - ''The Nanyte blaster is AP2 and uses Large Blasts for extra deaths, which are better than Rending & Toughness tests. And the blaster is cheaper. But, since this is a Pistol, a Case could be made about giving it to a Moritat...''.
***''Been there done that, I pumped out 19(!) shots at a terminator squad; only one got past the armor, but the poison killed them off in 2(!) turns.'' However, with new rules for Moritat (max 12 hits) this tactics is not as viable as it was before.

*'''Headhunter Kill Team:''' An AL-specific variant of Seeker squads. Same base price, but more points per model than the already horrendously expensive Seekers. Instead of 'Marked for Death' (PE vs 1 squad), they have Infiltrate, and exchange special ammo for Banestrike-only Combi-bolters. Like Seekers, they have Implacable Advance (Scoring) and Precision Shots. Each Headhunter can take Combi-Weapons for the same cost of Terminators, which helps to make them a lot more adaptable, and a single model can trade his Combi-Bolter for a Banestrike Heavy Bolter with Suspensor Web, so do it regardless of size. Use them as a mix of short-ranged Seeker-Veterans for when you have saturated your Elites options, and mix their Infiltrate with your Mutable Tactic of choice, whilst using their twin-linked bolters with Banestrike ammo to kill infantry. That's the role they do best.
**They can take Dreadclaws as a DT, which helps them with their short-range anti-infantry role. Their Power Daggers, at S3 with Rending AP3 generate twice as many unsaved wounds than S4 AP-- which, coupled with Hammer of Wrath from their Venom Spheres make them unexpectedly nasty in close combat. Infiltrate or Dreadclaw DTs (which can Heat Blast) will get them close, but being armed with Bolters means you'll have to choose either to Rapid fire Banestrike hoping for the best (~6.3 unsaved wounds) or charge and hope for the best too (~5.9). You'll end up within charge range, so choose Counter-Attack as your Mutable Tactic to help with assaults.
**As of the February 2019 Faq, these guys now have preferred enemy (infantry), So despite the lack of special ammo they now actually seem to be worth the choice over seekers.

*'''Lernaean Terminators:''' The Elite of the elite among the XXth legion, these unique Terminators come with Cataphractii armor, Power Axes and Volkite Chargers, and are WS5, Scoring, with Stubborn, and the team leader also has 3 attacks base. And each Terminator costs only 3 points more than a similarly-equipped vanilla version, what's not to like? Instead of the standard Reaper Autocannon for a heavy weapon, they can take a Conversion Beamer for when you're sitting on a point or when you spot something in the distance that you want to blast to death with an S10 AP1 shot. It may seem a little odd that a unit with notoriously short-ranged volkites for standard weapons can get a heavy weapon that is notorious for getting stronger against distant targets, but a Conversion Beamer is a S6 Small blast at close range, so it's still an upgrade, and just like the XXth legion in general, this unintuitive-but-versatile weapons mix also allows them to remain viable at all ranges and against all targets.

*'''Saboteur:''' The AL's unique Consul. Has a stronger sabotage attack than the Vigilator, with D6 S6 AP3 hits against things with a Toughness value, or an auto-penetrating hit with an [[Awesome|AP 2]] value against vehicles. The attack ignores cover saves either way, upping its reliability - you can't hide from the Hydra. The Saboteur's shooting attacks also benefit from Precision Shots, which is sometimes nice. In return, a Saboteur must deploy from reserves, and cannot join '''any''' units at all, making these sneaks more lonely than Moritats. Needless to say, this is an obstacle for the Saboteur, and one further compounded by his [[What|lack of stealth rules once on the board]], [[Fluff|even though he's sneaky enough to always pull off a pre-game Sabotage attack]]. Why he can't join squads of Seekers/Headhunters or other squads with Infiltrate [[Derp|is a mystery]]. Without the Sniper Special ammo Bolter of a normal Vigilator (but free Melta bombs, woo!), there are a lot of situations where you'd simply be better off with a Vig (or Moritat for loner fun) unless you ''really'' want that cover-ignoring guaranteed AP 2 Penetrating hit. At least Saboteurs have a few more weapon options - they take a Combi-Weapon and one or two Lightning Claws. A good example of email bait to FW...
**In a small points-cost game, a Saboteur is unlikely to accomplish much; his ability's worth is outside the user's hands, is fairly pricey in both points and FO slots, and the Saboteur is highly vulnerable and a merely average combat threat thereafter. In a more expensive game, a single Saboteur can be seen as an insurance option; high-value Deathstar units like Spartans packed to the gunnels with lethal Terminators/Command Squads/Legion-exclusives become more of a guarantee, and a counter-guaranteed Penetrating alpha-strike is a perfectly-fitting response. The investment of points and lack of other use for the Sab diminish in scale with the overall points cost, while the benefits only become more reliable; the one time you immobilize a Spartan before the game starts will really [[Alpharius|out the silver on your spear]]. Giving the Sab the Combat augment array relic, guaranteeing a 6 on the vehicle damage chart, is an expensive way to guarantee an Explodes! result (with the +1 from AP2), forcing said deathstar unit to footslog its way across the table. Still, if you know you aren't going to come up against any such lynchpin juggernauts, there's little reason to take him outside of a splash-casual match.
**<sup>HH8</sup>: Can now take Psyk-out grenades for killing [[Thousand Sons|Psykers]] and [[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Daemons of the Ruinstorm (30k)|Daemons]] for very cheap but only really worth it if you know you're facing them

*'''Armillus Dynat:''' The dude who [[Omegon|everybody thought was Alpharius]] on the book's preview - in fact, "Armillus" isn't his real name either, suggesting that "Armillus Dynat" is in fact a title bestowed on anyone who possesses the needed skills, possibly like other "unique" AL characters. An interesting choice that makes Alpha Legion units and Dreadnoughts in your opponent's deployment zone gain re-roll on Sweeping advance rolls and +1 on the vehicle damage chart, so take Tank Hunters to get those Penetrating Hits. He exchanged 1 attack for one more Wound (4) and has Weapon mastery (''a la'' Horus, Tyberos, and Logan Grimnar) and a Power Sword/Thunder Hammer, along with Venom spheres, Iron Halo, a Phosphex bomb and a Cognis Signum, which ends up being +1BS to a unit because he has no ranged weapons. He has to be the Warlord, and has a unique Warlord trait that allows you to grant one infantry unit the ability to deep strike with re-roll on the scatter. Could be an excellent addition to an aggressive, close-combat oriented Alpha Legion list. Also consider combining his Deep Strike-enabling warlord trait and his Harrowing ability to Deep Strike a squad of Meltagun-equipped infantry. Even with most vehicles possessing Armoured Ceramite, your re-roll on the scatter can let you reliably get behind Vindicators, Predators, or even Sicarans to target their rear armor, and suddenly your Meltaguns are making vehicles explode on a roll of 4+. Extra ''extra'' Alpha points if your opponent spends his entire next turn shooting to wipe out just 10 guys that just killed a tank squadron, allowing your army a little more breathing room.

*'''Exodus:''' The Assassin. He has a sniper rifle called 'The Instrument' that can be fired in two modes - Rapid Shot makes it S5 AP4 with Salvo 2/4 and Rending, while Execution Shot makes it S6 AP3 with Heavy 1, Rending, Ignores Cover, and Lethal (unsaved wounding hits inflict two wounds instead of one). To make him more effective at picking off special snowflakes, he gets Precision Shots on a to hit roll of 4+. However, he can never be the Warlord and can only join Legion Reconnaissance Squads and Headhunter Kill Teams. With Infiltrate, Move through cover, Scout, Acute senses, Cameleoline and IWND, Exodus can do well enough on his own.
**With his ton of special rules, half of the Mutable tactics overlap. Pick Tank Hunters or Counter-attack when choosing him, given that his squad is always small (if any) and that he has Melta bombs. Psykers are not too common, unless you are up against the Word Bearers or the Thousand Sons, so if you can snipe the psyker, Adamantium will won't be needed.
**The funny thing is that his Instrument has the Rending USR, ''not'' Sniper, meaning he has a chance to penetrate Contemptor Dreadnought or glance a Spartan, doubly so with the Tank Hunters Mutable Tactic, but this means [[Derp|he will struggle to wound Castellaxes and other high-Toughness Mechanicum monsters]].

*'''Autilon Skorr:''' A unique Alpha Legion Consul-Delegatus from the HH Weekender 2015, he's a basic Delegatus with Artificer Armor, a Refractor Field, and an MC Power Axe, all for 125 points. But the real reason you take him is because he gets to ''choose'' his (strategic) warlord trait (though he can still roll on the other tables) and is Ld10. This makes him a great choice either at high or low point values. He is actually one of the absolute best value for money force multiplier HQs in all of Warhammer 40k, because the ability to choose a trait from the (Extremely good) strategic traits table, coupled with the ability to force six turns, allows you to tailor your list around the sort of opponent you expect to face. That said, he has very little value if he is not the warlord, and he is outshone in larger points games by Alpharius's ridiculous level of power scaling (Preferred enemy - everything applying to 1000 points of units is a cool bonus, but not game-breaking. Preferred enemy everything applying to 5000pts points worth of units, is absolutely stupid).

[[File:AlphariusModel.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Alpharius]]
*'''[[Omegon|Alpharius]]''': His stats aren't too good for a unit costing 415 points (which happens to exceed the cost of quite a few Primarchs), but you won't take one of the Last Primarchs (or whomever among the legion has ingested some of their blood and is carrying their wargear) for his value as a beatstick - you'll take one of them for how badly he can fuck with your opponent. Sire of the Alpha Legion grants all Alpha Legion units Preferred Enemy (Everything) and gives Alpharius Counter attack, Move through Cover, Scout, and Crusader - but not right away. You see, after both sides deploy, he can opt out of his current position (e.g. on the table, in reserves etc.) and instead choose to hide in any Alpha Legion Infantry unit in the Primary Detachment, disguised as a rank-and-file model. Alpharius can reveal himself from turn 2 onwards (and does so automatically at turn 5), replacing any one model and gaining all of the above buffs. If the unit hiding him is "falling back" when he reveals himself, it auto-rallies, and if it's destroyed while he's still hiding (or if it is in a Transport and there is no space for him), he just goes into reserves (you must write which unit is hiding Alpharius...but if you're a true Alpha legionnaire you'd have 6 different notes, ''none of them with your actual handwriting''). Be careful though: remember that he is Bulky and that he can only be revealed at the beginning of your own turn, so if he is hiding in a transport at full capacity he could be impossible to reveal (for example, in a ten-man Breacher squad riding inside a Rhino), so plan accordingly (i.e. disembark in advance). Armies led by Alpharius can also Seize the Initiative on a 4+, and grant units arriving via Outflank a +D3 movement bonus. Best of all, [[Troll|whenever an enemy unit passes its reserve roll and you ''happen'' to have a unit of that exact same type in reserve, roll a D6: on a 4+, the opponent brings in your unit instead, so list-tailoring works greatly in your favour!]] ''Combine him with his legion's unique RoWs to almost guarantee going first and largely negate the enemy's reserves, and Alpharius's reputation as a master of black ops and deception justifies itself.''<br>Alpharius bears the following wargear:
**'''The Pythian Scales''': 2+/4++ and ignores the effects of Poison and Fleshbane. Better than Mortarion's, but unlike his Barbaran brother, Alpharius has no protection against Sniper-type weaponry, so keep that in mind. This armour still makes him absolutely trollworthy against Dark Angels and Death Guard, given how the former's dreaded Molecular Acid shells and the latter's numerous sources of Poisoned weaponry cannot harm Alpharius. It also makes him immune to the highly-devastating Phosphex (which has Poison 3+ rule) from any source.
**'''The Pale Spear''': No boost to Strength, but it does have AP1, Armourbane, and Instant Death along with Two-Handed. Also, it's a [[Necron]] weapon. Don't ask how he got it. It can be surprisingly effective at tankbusting given Alpharius' S6 and 5 attacks boosted by Armourbane and AP1, and its rules also mean he's good at clearing out units of multi-wound infantry.
**'''Venom Spheres''': Grants Hammer of Wrath. Better than frags.
**'''Master-Crafted Plasma Blaster''': For your shooting needs. Seeing as Alphie has the best BS of all the Primarchs (at a whopping 7), this weapon's 2 S7 AP2 shots with re-rolls for to-hit rolls of two can be very handy for sniping Terminators. Sadly it doesn't have a name like most Primarch wargear, so this author suggests calling it the "Eyes of the <s>Hydra</s> <u>''Basilisk''</u>."
**'''Cognis-signum''': Provides Night Vision and keeps infiltrators away within 18", while also granting Interception within the same range. Also, if he doesn't want to use his blaster, gives +1BS to a unit within 6, such as the unit that was hiding him.
**'''Nuncio Vox''': To get Deep strikers and accurate Barrages [[Troll|where your enemy didn't expect it]].
**'''Cameleoline''': Grants stealth, which gives +1 to the cover save to him AND his unit. Great for being a sneaky mo' fo'.

*'''Weaknesses:''' With only 5 attacks, Alpharius cannot handle hordes or tarpits well (though he can quickly skewer small squads of multi-wound models just fine), so he needs a good retinue unless you feel that putting him in a deathstar unit will give away your attempts to hide him. He also happens to be one of the few Primarchs who shoots better than he strikes, so make sure to give him plenty of opportunities to fire off his blaster to whittle down the opposition before closing in for hand-to-hand combat once he's revealed himself. Never forget that Poison and Fleshbane attacks often have blast templates, and that his Poison/Fleshbane immunity only applies to himself, so well-aimed Poison attacks or even a lucky Phosphex artillery barrage could reduce his retinue to toxic sludge and leave him standing all by his lonesome in the open against the enemy's guns. Keep him away from other Primarchs and use his hiding ability to get him where your opponent least wants or expects him to be, while giving him a useful retinue, and he'll happily tear out chunks of the enemy force and [[Just as planned|laugh as another of his convoluted plans comes to fruition]].

*'''Sworn Brothers:'''
**'''Imperial Army:'''
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====Age of Darkness Theme: Shattered Legions====
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If you can't decide on which Legion to go for (''or Coils of the Hydra isn't cutting it for you anymore''), you are allowed to mix it up and create a theme army made up of a variety of different Legions, representing the survivors of the cataclysmic battles of their times. Thus grants you ''some'' access to each of their special rules and units.

Before you jump in head first and try to uncover game breaking combinations, be aware that the new "Age of Darkness ''themes'' are ''optional'' rules which require the consent of both players to use. Now we've cleared that out, let's get on to uncover game breaking combinations, shall we?
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*'''Special Rules'''
**Shattered Legions are chosen from the regular Crusade Army List, ie. they're still marines.
**The primary detachment <u>must</u> include a selection of units with at least two different versions of the Legiones Astartes special rule; vehicles are assigned to a legion by their paint scheme, even if they don't have LA rules themselves (aka no more unpainted stuff). Remember: not even Sworn Brothers may embark in ally's transports, only their own. Furthermore, ''"In order to take choices from a specific Legion"'' (aka Legion specifics) you must include either a Praetor, Centurion, Consul or Special Character with the appropriate ''Legiones Astartes'' from that Legion. ''Shadrak Meduson counts as a member of the Iron Hands, Salamanders and Raven Guard, freeing a lot of space and allowing many shenanigans''.
**You may not include any Primarch as part of your force, nor may it include any Blackshields.
**You must declare whether your Force is "Loyalist" or "Traitor", which will have rules implications with respect to what unique units you may take, or for the hatred rules of your opponent.
**'''The Whole is Greater than the Sum:''' As long as your army's warlord is alive, units within your army with different Legiones Astartes rules treat each other as ''Sworn Brothers'' (ignoring the allies matrix, which would otherwise hurt this army). However, if the warlord is slain, units with different rules revert to ''Distrusted Allies'' instead, ejecting independent characters from units they had joined. Furthermore, when the Warlord dies, only units from his Legion can be scoring units (if they were scoring).
***This also means that an allied detachment always begins the game as a sworn brother, regardless of the allies chart.
***Taking Meduson as your warlord would mean the Salamander, Raven Guard and Iron Hand elements of your army would still be scoring (albeit would still treat each other as Distrusted Allies).
**'''The Price of Redemption:''' Your units are never denial units (even if they're also scoring). ''A huge weakness, essentially giving Objective Secured to your opponents scoring units.''
*'''Rites of War:''' A shattered Legion can use any generic Rite of War, as well as any Legion specific one, as long as your Warlord comes from the appropriate Legion. In this case the rules of the rite apply across your whole detachment, regardless of what Legions make it up.
*'''Legion specific rules:''' Some Legions have rules which restrict what units are available, like Iron Hands "Rigid Tactics" or Raven Guard "Flesh over Steel", while others have rules that inflict penalties on the army if the Warlord is slain (Night Lords, Ultramarines). These rules are ignored as otherwise they would create incompatible army builds. (Lists are given in the rulebook) Alpha Legion are also effectively LA-less unless the Warlord is Alpha Legion (except for Banestrike and power dagger options) so, if you're including them, the Warlord should be AL.
**[[Rules Lawyer|Legally]] this allows for some interesting and unfluffy combinations, such as [[What|Salamanders Destroyer Squads, Phosphex and Master-Crafted Moritats]]. Apparently desperate times call for desperate measures.
*'''Rite of War: After Isstvan''' - ''This fluffy Rite is meant to enact bloody Retribution (ayylmao) on the Traitors by combining the strengths of the Loyalist survivors of the Dropsite Massacre.''
**'''Survival of the Fittest:''' Veteran Tactical squads become non-compulsory troops.
**'''Crucible of Hate:''' All models with the Legiones Astartes rule gain ''Hatred (Traitors)''
**'''Blood Price:''' You gain D3 victory points for Slay the Warlord instead of just one.
**You must take a Praetor/Centurion from the Iron Hands, Raven Guard and Salamanders Legions - ''Note that this doesn't restrict you exclusively to those three Legions, you can still add other units from other Legions not on the list, although it fills your HQ slots. Do note you can't bring Cassian Dracos: it specifies "Praetor/Centurion", not just "HQ".''
***This Rite pretty much revolves around 'Slay the Warlord'. It ''doesn't'' restrict you to use those three legions, but you can always bring Meduson. The Ravens are among the best legions to enact a killing blow, while the Iron Hands and Salamanders are characterized by their resilience. In other words, they can become a formidable Hammer and Anvil force, the Salamander's flamecraft herding the enemy to crash head on with the Iron Hands, while the Raven Guard strikes the critical points, hopefully netting you 3VPs.
**May not take Allied, Lord of War or Fortifications detachments - ''That means you're not likely to play matches with the big boys, but you aren't meant to anyway.''
**You may not include more Tactical squads than Veteran Tactical squads, aka ''your Tactical squads have a Veteran tax (taxicals)'' - You could bring either Assault or Breacher squads instead of tacticals as your compulsory troops and avoid having to buy paired Tacticals & Vets, not to mention Assault and Breacher squads can be used in a more aggressive way and with numerous weapon and/or transport options (Land Raider DTs).
*** If you still want to take at least one Veteran Squad make them Raven Guard. Why? Because they are able to take [[Storm Eagle|Darkwings]] as ''Dedicated Transports''. While expensive in both points and IRL money, Troops with flying DTs are [[Rage|annoying to remove from]] objectives and with a little luck will get there first. Take a Mor Deythan squad as an Elite choice so you can [[Troll|spam as many flyers as possible]].

*'''Rite of War: Hunter-Killer Mission - ''A Rite bent on wiping enemy units to the exclusion of everything else...<u>even the exclusion of [[Derp|actual bonuses]]</u>.''
**'''Masters of the Hunt:''' Recon squads lose the 'Support Squad' rule and Seekers become non-compulsory Troops.
***Considering the restrictions of this Rite. You may want to use your new troops as an excuse to take as many [[Storm Eagle]] and [[Land Raider]] ''Dedicated Transports'' as possible.
**'''Run them Down:''' Gains an extra VP for wiping out an enemy unit, or D3 VPs if the enemy was Sweep Advanced which, considering the limitations, you'll not only want, but ''need'' to sweep advance - ''Avoid using Cataphractii terminators, consider using lots of Emperor's Children and other melee legions. Ashen Circle may also be useful''.
**'''Jaws of the Trap:''' When outflanking, rolling a 6 lets you choose any table edge to deploy that unit from, even the opposing player's table edge.
**Traitors only.
**The Warlord must be an Emperor's Children - a strangely specific request, but at least ECs are pretty good at Sweep Advances. And you kinda need to.
**The army must contain units from at least two different legions, this means that even if you take them as allies, you have to use more than one Legion. Getting around the normal "Primary Detachment" restriction on mixed Shattered Legions.
**The army can't earn VPs from controlling either objective markers, terrain or areas of the table - ''Ie: not only your army doesn't deny, but [[Fail|'''it also can't score''']]. Gotta wipe out those loyalists, too bad they don't really give you any advantages to do so.''

'''What you were actually looking for: Legion Shenanigans'''

*'''Death Guard:''' They bring a much needed element for a Shattered Legions army: scoring termies ''fucking everywhere''. Srsly, you can field Scoring Termies as HQ, Elites (both Deathshroud) and Heavy choices (Grave Wardens). That's fucking rad. And speaking of rad (''aaaay''), The Reaping's Rad grenades can greatly help other legion specifics, especially ones equipped with Jump packs (because of the mobility restrictions) or S5 (to wound on 2+), like Dark Furies or Red Butchers, for example. Move Through Cover is also a huge boon to anyone with a jump pack, bike, or jetbike, as they can now go anywhere they want without any fear whatsoever of Dangerous Terrain tests or slower movement. And then you bring Blood Angel Megadakka™ or Dark Angels Acid duty Heavy support squads as Troops, and fill your Heavy choices with Iron Havocs and...well, now you understand why you need the enemy's permission to even play as a shattered legion, don't you?
**'''Supreme Commander Asshole''': Remember how Morturg is a very good Warlord but is hurt a lot by the Death Guard's lack of <s>[[This guy|decent friends]]</s> Sworn Brothers? Well not when leading a Shattered Legion, where everybody mingles along just fine, ensuing some tricks on the level of [[Assholetep]] himself. Phoenix Terminators/Palatine Blades that wound on 2+ with AP2 at I6 inside a Spartan (or with Jump Packs) in position turn one? Sure. Want to make the Night lords scarier by means of rad-equipped Raptors uncomfortably near? You can. Three squads still not enough for you? Fill the rest with Raven Guard if you feel the need of an all-infiltrating army (recommended or not, you can if you want to). Go with Iron Warriors to have pinning Heavy Bolters (stick them up somewhere high) ensuring that your enemy stays in place while you use chem-flamer spam to burn them out of whatever hole they're hiding in, or go with Iron Hands to use their grav-equipped troops to get a few easy haywire shots, or just [[Troll|harass enemy units while everyone in your army has Move Through Cover]] and with Rad Grenades on them the Iron Hands then become good at both ranged and melee combat (just grab some other DG Praetor to get the Rite if you really want it). Regardless of your choice of buddies, sneaky-sneaking and Endurance pyschic powers are massive boons to any army. No wonder why Morturg's ragtag fighters on Isstvan III were so effective.

*'''Imperial Fist and Iron Hands/Salamanders/Ultramarines:''' Use the Stone Gauntlet RoW with IH ''Immortals''. Congrats, bolters can now only [[rage|wound them on sixes, they always get their FnP(5+) and can't be ID by shooting]]. The Stone Gauntlet is hilarious on loads of other legions, like T5/HoW Suezarians (as if they needed to be more broken), Ultramarine sword-wielding Breachers, or Firedrakes (T5/''2W''/2+/3++! ''Add a P. Medicae!'' [[Rage|Prepare to lose all your friends]]!). Be thankful the Iron Circle's Karceri battle shields aren't affected by the RoW (although they do have 5++ like Dragonscale shields and defensive grenades like Boarding shields, and most definitely look like a giant version of both, being "power field-augmented" shields).

*'''Word Bearers and World Eaters:''' Have a very nice combo of WE Crimson Path RoW and deepstriking WB units with both the Daemon and LA rule (like Diabolists and lucky Dark Channeled units but not LA-less Gal Vorbak), as they can deepstrike and immediately gain the FnP (and IWND in the ICs' case). Forces you to play very aggressively, but it pays off more often than not. And it's fluffy too!

*'''Emperor's Children and Space Wolves:''' While not ''quite'' the fluffiest pair out there there is an interesting combo between the Grey Slayers and the EC RoW Maru Skara. To recount, on the first turn of the game the Maru Skara grants +1 to movement, run and charge distances for all models and since Grey Slayers can do all three in one turn for +3 inches of movement! [[Awesome|Turn one charges]] aren't out of the question with this set up.

*'''World Eaters and Salamanders:''' Wanna have a character with T5, 3W, 2+/3++/4+++ saves, Eternal Warrior and It Will Not Die without any psychic chicanery? A World Eater warlord with the "Crimson Path" Rite of War can create such a monster out of a Salamanders Praetor on a bike/jetbike (with S6 heavy flamer if jetbike). Sadly can't take a jetbike riding S6 heavy flamer toting Salamanders legion command squad anymore with rules updates, but it's easier to pick ordinary biker squads or attack bike squads to combine regular medics with the Salamander Praetor (on bike or jetbike). For munchkings, loyalists might want to use a Jump Packed Knight Errant just to add Preferred Enemy (and some psychic support to boot) to the list of abilities this creature (and any accompanying squad) can get.

*'''Dark Angels and Imperial Fists:''' Combine Dark Angels "Iron Wing" Rite with Imperial Fists tactical squads and join that unit with a Knight Errant (or if playing a rather interesting traitor force, then Tybalt Marr) for some Preferred Enemy, Ballistics Skill 5, +1 to Wound re-roll 1's to To Wound and Hit Fury of the Legion attacks... Granted, only at a range of 12" and if they have not moved, buuuut what the heck. This one's far more of a situational "Heh. They can do what now?"-combo, rather than all out OP power gaming. Still good for defensive horde removal... Let's say for those times you play Zone Mortalis-games and/or want to hold choke points.

*'''Blood Angels and Night Lords:''' Combine "A Talent for Murder" with Blood Angel's Rite of War "The Day of Revelation". Now you can have +1 Initiative, +1 To Hit and +1 To Wound with Night Lords for some seriously brutal charges. Even if the enemy is not outright swept or destroyed, they still inflict less wounds back, thanks to not striking simultaneosly... And as earlier, get's nastier still if combined with a Knight Errants PE.

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====Age of Darkness Theme: Army of Dark Compliance====
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Another themed army, built from a blending of Legiones Astartes and units from the Imperial Militia and Warp Cults list. However, it is quite distinct from the "Sacrificial Offering" Rite of War in that it does not use up your allies slot, allowing you to take allies from a third source. But it does prevent you from using a rite of War, so you cannot layer on extra special rules.

However you are still privy to the insane customisation options presented in the Warp Cults list, and you are not prevented from taking any option from your Legion list either.
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Like the Shattered Legions theme, this requires your opponents permission to use, however it is a much easier theme to build an army around because there are fewer rules to take account of.

*'''Restrictions'''
**You build your army with units from both the Crusade List and the Imperial Militia and Warp Cults list.
**You must include a Space Marine Praetor, Centurion or Consul to be your Warlord.
***''Do note that to take any Provenances of War you'll also need a "Force Commander" as one of your HQ choices as well.''
**Your army is automatically part of the traitor faction.
**You cannot use Rites of War.
**"Legiones Astartes" rules that apply to models by virtue of being in the same detachment do not apply to Militia units.
***''That means the only way to get Militia units to benefit from Astartes rules would be to attach an independent character with special rules that confer to units.''
**Unless specifically noted otherwise, all units count as being part of the same list for rules purposes such as Transports, Warlord traits and so on.
**You cannot include more units from the Legiones Astartes list than from the Imperial Militia list.
***''This is your main restriction, which prevents you from merely dabbling in Militia units.''
***''If you're concerned about real-life money or the time it takes to make a shitload of crap soldiers, it doesn't have to be such a huge investment, once your compulsory slots are filled (presumably with your better Legion units) you can fill the rest of your slots with non-Compulsory support squads like Fire Support militia squads for loads of heavy firepower. Or if you just need to fill slots to make up numbers, take five man recon squads for pennies while leaving you with plenty of points to mix elite Legion units with Leman Russ tanks, Lightning jets and Ogryns.''
**You may not include Discipline Master Cadres

*'''Special Rules'''
**'''The Warmaster's Due:''' "[[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Tyrant's Legion(7E)|Tyrants Due]]" by another name, any time your Legion units are shot at which draws its line of fire through infantry militia units, you can add +1 to any cover save gained. However the militia unit then takes D3 wounds with no AP value, meaning your crap sub-flak conscript could take a hit from a Lascannon intended for a Space Marine and potentially survive it.
**'''Disposable:''' Any Militia units in your army may be affected the "Disposable" rule, preventing them from conceding victory points for any reason when slain. It does however prevent these units from scoring or denying objectives so be sure and have enough Astartes units to hold on to objectives for you. You are not required to use this rule if you don't want to, but you must declare at the start of the game if you do.
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====Blackshields====
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Separately from the Shattered Legions, which is a mixed force from various sources, there is the option to take a force from no Legion at all, allowing you to create something of your very own design.

Blackshields is a term for those bloody Astartes who have uncertain or obscured allegiances and they can fight for either the filthy Traitors, the filthy Loyalists, or for nobody but themselves, [[Your Dudes|it really depends on your back story for them]]. They represent Space Marines who have gone rogue or who have rejected their original Legion and obscured their heraldry, but there is no requirement to actually paint them with black pauldrons unless that is what you want to go for.
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*'''Special Rules:'''
**'''Wrought by War:''' This is your equivalent ''"Legiones Astartes"'' rule, you may pick one from a list of four traits which defines your force's base abilities. Each trait has positive and negative qualities. You can always choose ''not'' to take a trait, but that means sacrificing Drop Pods, Praetors, Rites of War, Tactical Squads and almost all allies for Reavers, Marauders, a small bonus to getting the first turn, a different Herald, and Pariah gear (in other words, it's not worth it). The following rules are:
***'''Death Seekers:''' Your stalwart Iron Warrior/Death Guard clones who specialise in charging across the battlefield directly into the face of your opponent while ignoring casualties. [[Awesome|These guys CANNOT be shifted due to shooting.]] Ever. That said, your units have to get close but have zero melee buffs.
****'''Immune to Pain:''' All of your units with the ''Legiones Astartes (Blackshields)'' rule gain ''Feel No Pain (6+)'' , are [[Death Guard|immune to Pinning]] and [[Iron Warriors|do not need to take Morale checks from suffering shooting casualties.]]
****'''The Lure of Battle:''' You cannot voluntarily fail morale checks, and if you attempt to move your units further away from the enemy than when they started you have to take a Ld test. If you fail that your unit moves D6" towards the nearest enemy instead.
***'''Orphans of War:''' An effective synergistic force where units do best while supporting each other.
****'''Non-characters:'''You gain +1 Leadership and can reroll 1s to-hit in the shooting and assault phases while you are within 6" of a friendly unit of Blackshields that has more than five models in it. However, you may not benefit from the Leadership of any other model and if you fail a morale check in the assault phase, you automatically lose D3 models in addition to any other adverse effects.
****'''Characters:''' Gain ''Preferred Enemy (Characters)''.
****'''No Gods, No Masters:''' You cannot include Chaplains or any "Agents of the Imperium", nor may you take an allied space marine legion detachment which includes either one of those.
***'''Outlanders:''' Your alpha strike glass cannons, able to surprise your opponent with massed Deep Strike and xenos weaponry, but if you suffer too many casualties you may find that your force dissolves into nothing.
****'''Void Reavers:''' Up to half of your infantry without dedicated transports may be deployed via ''Deep Strike Reserve''; however, if these units suffer mishaps, they lose D3 models in addition to any other effect.
****'''Unsanctioned Weaponry:''' Any models with access to combi-Bolters may instead take a Xenos Deathlock for a modest cost (or replace an existing combi for a small cost) and Characters may buy Rad Grenades.
****'''The Shadow of Oblivion:''' Count up the total number of distinct units in your army and let your opponent know. Once half of them are destroyed or falling back, every turn from that point onwards you have to take a Leadership test '''for each unit''' or remove them from play.
***'''Chymeriae:''' Want to create your own force of [[Fabius Bile|fabulous Marines?]], well here's your chance to really mix up what Space Marines are capable of.
****'''Chymeriae Attributes:''' At the start of the game prior to setup, you have to choose another one of the following three "gifts" of your army's unique physiology:
<tabs>
<tab name="Option 1">
*'''+1 S & T, -1 I and any Charge or Run Distances, and you may never Sweeping Advance. ''[[Plague Marines|Big]] [[Death Guard|dumb]] [[Nurgle|idiots]].'' '''
**Probably the best overall Black Shield trait, and easily the most common so when people hear "Black Shields" they'll typically be prepared for you. To make the most of it get your guys in transports and roll them up the table to batter your opponents forces to death and don't be afraid to drop points on unwieldy weapons as you're already going to be slower than other forces, so you may as well take a Power Fist and ID that Custodes player's two wound troops.
** Cataphractii with this are (un)just lethal. The loss of SA is not an issue, same with Initiative (you'll use Power Fists anyway), and if you join Primus-medicae to their squad the result will be S5 T5 monsters with FNP on top of their 4++. S10 and ID weapons will be the only thing to fear on the battlefield.
**If you want to play as [[Thunder Warriors]] take this trait.

</tab>
<tab name="Option 2">
*'''+1WS & BS, -2 Ld. ''[[Dark Angels|Paranoid]] [[Emperor's Children|warrior]]-[[Slaanesh|obsessives]].'' '''
**A very good choice if you can build you army to deliver the punch to win quickly, as your reduction to leadership means you'll lose wars of attrition against most forces. Use the increased BS to abuse heavy weapons squads and Destroyer squads as you can put down more firepower and destroy key elements of your opponents army quickly. Volkite Culverins and Rapier batteries hitting on 2+? Yes please.
**It's also worth kitting out your Reaver Lord or a Centurion for duelling as the +1 to WS can give you an edge in most fights. Obviously if you opponent puts [[Sigismund]] or [[Corswain]] on the table tear up those plans, but against generic praetors or centurions you can do pretty well. Now if only there was a Consul that could take a Paragon Blade, and increased their WS even further... Hmmm?

</tab>
<tab name="Option 3">
*'''Gain ''Fear'', ''Fleet'', and ''Rage'', but the army suffers -1 BS and must always Sweeping Advance. ''[[Death Company|Blood]]-[[Wulfen|ferocious]] [[Khorne|madmen]].'' '''
**Obviously your force is going to be melee focused with theses rules so kit your Marauders out to throw hands, meaning TAKE THE FREE CHAINAXES. Don't bother putting a huge amount of point into your shooting as you hitting on Guardsmen 4's and none of your bonuses improve it. Also remember transports, as all this amazing [[Rip and Tear]] is nothing if the force is cut to ribbons by heavy weapon fire before they reach the enemy.
**The key to success with this force is figuring out which melee units you can use in place of your typical shooting units. Terminators and Dreadnoughts with chain fists are a good melee alternative to your usual anti-tank guns, and infantry with lighting claws will pretty much shred (ha) any non 2+ armour unit you throw it at.
***Template weapons are the least effected by your reduced BS, so if you need to bring some big guns, a few Medusas or Vindicators are probably the way to go.

</tab>
</tabs>
***'''Shunned and Distrusted:''' You make not take an Allied Detachment at all. Says nothing about being taken ''as'' an allied detachment though.
**'''Strike from a Position of Strength:''' If your primary detachment is Blackshields, you can add +1 to the die roll to determine who gets first turn.
**'''Outcasts:'''Unless your trait says otherwise, you may take allies and be taken as allies as normal. However, you are always "By the Emperor's/Warmaster's Command" when fighting alongside other Legiones Astartes, and you are merely "Fellow Warriors" with Mechanicum and the Imperial Army.
**'''Limited Resources:''' Because of your lack of provisions as a rogue force, you are subject to some pretty hefty restrictions.
***You may never use a Rite of War.
***You may never use Praetors (replaced by Reaver Lords), Command Squads, Tactical Squads (replaced by Marauders), Drop Pods, Dreadnought Drop Pods, or Deathstorm Drop Pods (the spiky ones are fine though).
***You may only take a single Consul (regular Centurions are okay).
***You may never have more units with the Vehicle type than the Infantry type, although Dedicated Transports don't count towards this limit.

*'''Unique Wargear:'''
**'''Pariah Wargear:''' Blackshields can replace their existing Wargear like-for-like with Pariah versions of the same gear for no cost, but all models in a unit must perform the same swap.
***'''Pariah Power Armour:''' [[Heresy|non-standard]] power armour said to increase dexterity at a cost to protection. This still gives a 3+ save, and allows models with Pistol, Rapid Fire, or Assault weapons to both run and snap fire with those weapons in the shooting phase. However, the armour save drops to 5+ against weapons of S6 or higher if the weapon wouldn't normally bypass your save, so you still get your armour save against autocannons and such, it just drops to a 5+ save.
***'''Pariah Bolter:''' 16" Assault 2 boltguns, but if you charge after firing you count as disordered, which makes the weapon underwhelming.
***'''Pariah Flamer:''' An S3 flamer you can "overpressure" to grant S4 and the [[Awesome|Torrent]] rule, although it gives you ''Gets Hot!'' when you do this. Try a Tactical Support Squad with this; combine with Outriders to Deep Strike them for free and get Rad Grenades to keep the same To-Wound rolls for Overwatch.
**'''Lascarbine/Autogun:''' You know it and "love" it from 40K Guardsmen. Available to Marauder squads for free, so if you don't take anything else, you've got your bolt pistol or this.
**'''Laslock:''' S4 Assault 1 weapons, actually makes for a half decent alternative for a regular bolter in a melee focused army.
**'''Xenos Deathlock:''' an option for Outlander armies, representing a variety of guns that are deadly as hell, but no one really knows how they work so they risk backfiring. This translates as S5 AP5 Assault 2 weapons, that can do an additional D6 AP- wounds if the unit fails a leadership test after taking casualties, modified by the number of wounds taken. However, the firing unit rolls 2D6; on less than the number of shots fired, the unit takes an AP2 wound, inflicted on a model chosen by the owner.
***''Anything more than three models equipped with deathlocks means that your squad will have a significantly increased chance of self inflicted casualties unless they have decent invulnerable saves (like Cataphractii), but you don't really want to waste a terminator because his weapon blew up in his face. The drawbacks are entirely eliminated if you just put the deathlock on a single model since you can't roll lower than a two on 2D6, so it makes a decent upgrade for your sergeants.''
***The Great Mathhammer (if I'm correct) tells us that an unsaved Deathlock wound leads to less than one extra wound on an Ld 9 unit, making it strictly worse than a Volkite Charger. You'd think "it helps thin out hordes!" but I'm now convinced that Auxilia and Militia got easier access to Ld buffs than some of the Legions; they also often don't care about AP5. Something Mathhammer can't tell you though is this weapon is '''FUN'''. It also supplements Pariah Bolters well and is unique enough to let that 8 spare points per unit supplement your army's identity. "No saves Gets Hot" can be brutal though.
****Above mathhammer is correct; an Ld 9 unit needs to roll an 8 down after suffering a single Deathlock wound, which means it fails roughly 27.78% of the time. Multiplied by the average number of wounds on a failure, which is 3.5, gets a net additional wound of .9722. Due the nature of the probabilities involved, you always want to reduce your target to Ld 6 or less to make Deathlocks "satisfying", so you may want to commit to lots of Deathlocks instead of the "safe" single one, as firing more than 13 shots is no worse than firing 13 shots; once 7 models are carrying one of these, each additional carrier does not make the situation any worse. For example, a 10-man squad firing these into GEQs of any Ld which are not Stubborn shoots 20 times, hits 13.33 times, wounds 11.11 times, and ignores their saves, resulting in 11.11 wounds base followed by an additional 3.40278 wounds (since they will only pass on a 2, even starting at Ld 10), while incurring ''one'' wound on themselves - the same as if 7 models had fired. Anything that increases your odds of a wound getting through will improve your return, like a Veteran Tactical squad with Marksmen. You can also choose which model suffers the wound, which need not be a model armed with an XD, so feel free to attach Apothecaries and then take the wounds on them.

*'''Unique Units:'''
**'''Reaver Lord:''' Your replacement for a Praetor. With almost exactly the same profile but wearing Power Armour as standard instead of Artificer, no ability to reroll Warlord traits and at 30 smackaroos more... at least you can take more than one per 1000pts, eh? They get access to Xenos Deathlocks with the Void Reaver trait being unnecessary and get "Halo Blades" instead of Paragon Blades, which aren't quite as good: S+3 AP3 but two handed, so 5pts more than a Power Fist with less strength and AP just to get around Unwieldy.
***Off the bat, Reaver Lords are just worse Praetors: more fragile and expensive. If you want Artificer Armour to bring their survivability into parallel that will cost you even more!
***On the plus side, the Reaver Lord gets access to a Cyber-Familiar, which is usually for Iron Hands only, so you can combo that with an Iron Halo to grant Storm Shield-tier resilience available to few Legions. Basically, you have to invest points to make a Reaver Lord worthwhile. Careful with Terminator Armour as well: while the basic cost of the armour is the same as for Praetors with more benefit (your armour save actually increases with the upgrade), the points cost for Terminator gear remain as [[Forge World|janky and unproofread as ever]]. 25pts to replace a '''power weapon'' with a Halo Blade, Master-crafting for 15pts, Deathlocks costing as much Volkite Chargers and Combi-weapons... the usual.
***However! Combined with certain ''Wrought by War'' traits, the Reaver Lord can leapfrog over an equivalent Praetor with the right equipment. In a Chymeriae force that picks option 1 at the start of the game, a Reaver Lord with an Iron Halo and Familiar, a bike, a Fist or Thunder Hammer, and Rad Grenades has the sheer might to stand toe-to-toe with anyone that doesn't have the ''Instant Death'' rule on their weapons.
**'''Blackshield Marauders:''' Your replacement for Tactical Squads, getting you a 5-20 strong veteran squad which is somewhat highly customisable. The base cost is the same as Vets for slightly worse value per head, but additional models are cheaper. All models have 2 attacks base, and the chieftain (read: sergeant) has 3 and a WS of 5! Marauders come base with '''Chainaxe'''/BP standard (sure, they could just take a chainsword widely available model-wise for WYSIWYG, but it's strictly worse. Yeap, FW demands your money in not-so-sneaky way) and can buy Lascarbines or Autoguns for...er, free, which in other words means anyone who doesn't buy another weapon just gets one ''as long as it is appropriately modeled''. Anyone can instead take a boltgun/pariah bolter, extra bolt pistol, shotgun, laslock, heavy chainsword, or lascutter for reasonable-ish costs. No veteran special rules for you, though. One model in five can take a heavy/special/melee weapon from a very broad range. (Something to be careful of, by [[RAW]] it's one "Marauder" in five, so the chief doesn't count. So if your [[FLGS]] contains [[Rules lawyers]], you need 11 in the unit to get 2 special weapons, not 10.)This also means the chieftain cannot take regular power weapons or hand flamers. Transport options include Rhinos, Dreadclaws or LR Proteus up to squads of ten models. Only the Dreadclaw is an Assault Vehicle so you may want to tailor your Marauders for either [[Choppy|Assault]] or [[Dakka]] depending on what kind of DT you wish to take.
***Consider the weapon options carefully as some of them are [[derp|left redundant]] due to the Marauders' basic loadout.
****Shotgun is an extra S4 shot at 12" over the standard bolt pistol for +1 point and so is the second bolt pistol, but for +2 points this time. Yes, you gain AP5 on those 2 shots but it should hardly matter with AP4 on your melee attacks.
****A Laslock gives you extra 6" on your single S4 shot for +2 points which IS a whole 20 points on a squad of ten, so melee units should probably go with the Shotguns instead.
****A Bolter is as trusty a weapon as ever, but Pariah Bolters are an uninteresting option since marauder squads get cheaper assault weapons that don't take away the charge bonus, and you should honestly look for opportunities to get the Marauders in melee since other squads just shoot better.
****Heavy Chainswords are too expensive for +2S -1A. You would think they do have one use: fighting the Mechanicum, but don't expect too much of them since your Chainaxes deny a 4+ save and this weapon doesn't. In fact, against a T5 4+ model they have the same chance (1/3) to cause an unsaved wound and the Axe has 1 more Attack. It's 5/12 per attack for the Sword vs 6/12 per attack for the Axe with Rad Grenades. The sword is a bit better against even higher Toughness models and actual Monstrous Creatures so you might wanna consider keeping one or two of them in a squad, since they don't take a "Special Weapon" slot. It also feels good to deny FnP to Marines (they ID with Rad Grenades). In any case, never forget you could always attack with the axe. In fact, if you ever charge a Rhino or another Rear AV 11-10 Vehicle (Like an Artillery piece or a Leman Russ), 2 Heavy Chainswords are better than a Lascutter, have other uses and cost the same.
****Lascutters doesn't benefit from the Marauders' improved statline of A2, only hits on a 4+ and if you just had to charge that higher-AV vehicle you should've at least kept your meltabomb alive. However, unlike with breachers, every marauder can buy one and thus can be deployed in bulk.
****In a Chymeriae force that picks option 3 (Fear, Fleet, and Rage) these guys are amazing melee fighters. Due to the combination of free (now +1 strength) chainaxes and a frankly absurd 5 attacks on the charge, they pack a similar punch to World Eaters, trading Incarnate Violence and Exhortations of Butchery for +1 attack and Fleet. They will demolish melee oriented legions like Word Bearers, Sons of Horus, and Dark Angels very efficiently, and while somewhat outmatched, can do well against Night Lords or Emperor's Children with a little luck.
**'''The Nemean Reaver:''' Most likely a [[Fallen Angels|rogue Dark Angel]] and a badass. Can be taken as an HQ choice for Outlander blackshield armies (his trait is pre-chosen). Comes with a "Calibanite Flammbard", which is a Two-Handed S+1 AP2 Greatsword' that causes -1 WS to your opponent in a challenge. He's hard as nails, coming stock with Toughness 5 and his warplate gives him ''Eternal Warrior, Adamantium Will'' and is "Void Hardened" (rerolling failed saves against templates and blast weapons as well as zone mortalis benefits). He also causes ''Fear'' and ''Fearless'', therefore he is [[Awesome]] and one of the few non-Primarch challenge monsters able to stand their ground against [[Sigismund]] in the game so far.
***His Jealous Command rule means he is required to be taken as the Warlord in the Primary Detachment, so you can't take him in an allied force of Blackshields.
***The Nemean can instead be taken by other loyalist armies as a Knight Errant for +35 points where he loses his Blackshield and Jealous Command rules and gets ''Oath of Moment'', ''Implacable Advance'', ''Preferred Enemy (Traitors)'', and ''By Falsehood Cloaked'' (see the Knight-Errant below for these rules). It does, however, make him one of the most expensive characters in the Heresy at 215 points total.
</div>
</div>

==Allies==

===Agents===
Agents are models useable by any HH army.
*'''Expeditionary [[Navigator]]:''' For those people who bought the model at an open day, Forgeworld released the rules for these guys for free on their website. For those that don't have the model, you can make/proxy your own (the Imperial Guard Astropath works well). He is one of the first ''Agents'' on the allies matrix represented in ''Betrayal'', though he can just be taken as an HQ slot. Essentially has the statline of a Conscript Guardsman, but comes with an Archaeotech pistol and the Aetherlabe staff, which allows his unit to fire snap-shots at a Deep striking unit arriving within 12" of him, or at full BS if it arrived by a Conjuration psychic power. He also causes Fear, which can be funny in crusade lists due to ATSKNF not existing. Finally, he also has Navigator powers, which are like 6th Ed psychic powers but don't use Warp Charges and can only use one per turn on a successful Ld test, failure pins himself and his unit.
**'''Lidless Stare:''' THE SHIT - shoot the flamer template, any infantry hit by it must pass an Initiative test or suffer [[FATAL|Instant Death]]. Which means most Space Marines touched are dead 33.3% of the time, Mechanicum infantry 50% of the time or better. Completely useless against bikes, jetbikes, and monsters, so YMMV.
**'''Warp Prescience:''' Enemies shooting at the Navigator (or his unit) suffers -1BS.
**'''Aetheric Disruption:''' All psykers on the table (friend or foe) roll THREE dice when determining what happens with Perils of the Warp and discard the lowest for the purposes of the result. Given this was written with 6th Ed in mind, it's not entirely clear whether that means any associated Ld test to mitigate Perils OR taking the two highest results of the Perils and applying BOTH, which means psykers are fucked, since that almost guarantees two wounds, unless that psyker rolls a 6 and turns into an unstoppable machine of death; it would be totally better if he discarded ''the highest'' die.

===Agents of the Emperor===
These are agents only usable by Loyalist players.
====The Knights Errant====
*'''Knight-Errant:''' Straight off the bat a Knight has a 2+/4++, a power weapon which can be switch for a lightning claw or a power fist, a bolt pistol which can be switched for plasma pistol or a volkite serpenta and a paragon bolter, all master-crafted. He can take some other versatile wargear like a narthecium, or a servo-arm, or a nuncio-vox although not more than one. BUT WAIT, since a single one in your army can ALSO become a '''Librarian'''. Add in the option to swap his super-bolter for a sniper-rifle or a combi-weapon and you have a damn versatile support element. Want a psychic techmarine with a jump pack and a sniper rifle? Here, go nuts.
**He has a few other cool rules too: like being able to ''Deep Strike'' without scatter, and cause his opponents to snap fire at him during the following turn, or count as disordered when charging him.
*** However, the wording is tricky. Your opponent may try to [[what|join him to a deepstriking squad, like assault marines, and claim they arrive without scatter, etc]]. RAW is your friend here: there is no mention of joined squads in "By Falsehood Cloaked" SR, and by BRB "All models in the squad must have Deep Strike SR" - Knight Errant has none. If given Jump Pack, he can opt to deploy normally using common rules for Deep Strike with a deepstriking squad, but none of them would receive bonuses from By Falsehood Cloaked.
**One very VERY important rule is his Oath of Moment, which means he has to pick a particular objective in order to be fielded; some of the easier ones, like ending the game in the enemy deployment zone, or ensuring an allied character survives, grant his army an extra victory point if he obtains it. Other, more difficult ones include personally slaying the enemy warlord in a challenge or making sure an enemy Primarch is killed (which he does not have to do personally), which nets his side three extra points. However, failing to complete his chosen objective means the side that took him cannot win at all, and can only settle for a draw.

*'''Nathaniel Garro:''' The first of the [[Knights-Errant]], can be taken as a non-compulsory HQ slot in any Loyalist army but can never be the Warlord. He's got a lot of rules, but nothing which makes him particularly [[OP]]. He's got Artificer Armour, Eternal Warrior and the Oath of Moment & Falsehood Cloaked that all Knights-Errant get, while his ''Aquila Imperator'' provides him with a 4++ that increases to 3++ in a challenge. The intent was obviously to kit him out for challenges, since his ''Libertas'' counts challenge wounds inflicted as double for the purposes of combat resolution, but it's still only a Two-Handed, AP3 weapon, despite having ''Rending'' and +1 Strength; coupled with having only WS5, which is curiously negated by having ''Preferred Enemy (Traitors)'' means he might struggle going toe-to-toe with some of the bigger named characters or a dangerously equipped Praetor. But you'll get the sense that he'll be able to stick it out long enough that he might just come out on top. He can even do the '''Loken''' thing and get up from death once per game, though his is more reliable since it happens on a Ld check, rather than a flat dice roll. However <u>Garro is NOT Fearless</u>, so he can get swept up and removed by a badly failed combat, which will negate even his ability to get back up, since it is removed rather than losing his last wound.

*'''Tylos Rubio''' The first recruit of Garro, got kicked out of the Ultramarines for using psychic powers, has the AA, Iron Halo, Paragon bolter and MC bolt pistol common to all Knights-Errant and the Force weapon that all all libys get (a sword in his case). He's mastery level 2 and can cast from divination and telekinesis... which is to say divination, since Echos of Fate allows him to re-roll divination tests and any un-used warp charges can automatically become +1 strength each. Aside from those two special rules, he's just a mastery level 2 KE for 35 points less than a normal one.

*'''Endryd Haar:''' It would be too easy to put him the World Eaters section, but he's so much more than that. He's an Agent of the Throne and former '''War Hound''' who can be taken in any Loyalist marine army, but he is NOT one of the Knight Errant and does not follow their rules. He can be the Warlord if it's a World Eaters or Blackshield ''(no type specified)'' army. And his Warlord Trait is pretty cool in that it gives three infantry units in Power Armour without a DT the ability to ''Scout'' and ignore pinning. He's a ''Master of the Legion'' for the World Eaters, which applies even if he's not the Warlord or in a World Eaters army. But that's not as great as it sounds because the rites refer to specific versions of the ''Legiones Astartes'' rule, and Blackshields can't use rites. Nor is he allowed to benefit from the Legion trait of whichever force he's attached to. So he doesn't bring much to a different Legion force other than the "one per 1000 point" restriction, meaning you probably miss out on the ability to use your Legion specific rites. He does have a unique Legion trait of his own which partially mirrors the WE trait. He gets Furious Charge when he destroys an enemy in close combat, gets +1 WS in a challenge and adds +1 to combat res if he wins the challenge. Plus his Fist is Master-Crafted, he never rolls on WE bloodlust, any unit he joins rerolls to-wound against Traitors in turn one of assault and has Toughness Five like the Nemean Reaver does. He also has an Archaeotech Pistol to shoot down at least one traitor. He's good if you want to attempt something unique with your army and in most regards he's superior to a generic praetor, especially if you only wanted a generic rite.
**[[Meme|Captain Obvious]]: With the Dedicated Transport restriction on Haar's Warlord Trait, you will most likely use it to give Scout to Assault Marines, Jump Pack Destroyers, Tactical Support or Heavy Weapon Squads but not Command Squads because they have ''Artificer Armour'' or Skyhunters because these ones are jetbikes. No point in using it on units that already have the Scout rule.

*The '''Nemean Reaver''' can also be taken as a Knight-Errant, so check out the Blackshield section for that.

====[[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Talons of the Emperor (30k)|Custodes]]====
The Emperor's Guard take to the field.

===Agents of the Warmaster.===
These are agents only usable by Traitor players.

====[[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Daemons of the Ruinstorm (30k)|Daemons of the Ruinstorm]]====
The ruinous powers of [[Chaos]] are unleashed upon the galaxy.

===[[Warhammer_40,000/Tactics/Mechanicum:_Taghmata_(30k)|Mechanicum Detachment]]===
Yes, not only do the Primarchs have rules, but now the [[Adeptus Mechanicus|Mechanicum]] can finally take to the field with an official list, plus Titans. That said, you can take a Cortex Controller (available to Forgelords, Praevians, Iron Hands and Iron Warriors), which will let you take any squad of unaugmented Thallax or Castellax in your Heavy support. Yeah, you could totally take a Paragon of Metal Castellax. Of course, you'd miss out on Krioae, Myrmidons and all that other fun stuff.

===[[Warhammer_40,000/Tactics/Imperial_Militia_and_Cults_(30k)|Imperial Militia and Cults]]===
Your cannon fodder, though most things compared to a Space Marine looks like cannon fodder. These guys are who you want to make a fluffy ally that complements your Space Marines, which is mainly done through "Provenances of War". Allowing cyborg soldiers with better weapons, durable gene enhanced soldiers or to create the closest thing you'll ever get to a mutant army like [[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Renegades and Heretics(7E)|Renegades and Heretics]]. You can even make a Squ-{{Blam|BLAM!}}.

===[[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Solar Auxilia (30k)|Solar Auxilia]]===
The 30K version of [[Stormtrooper]]s, [[Solar Auxilia|these guys]] not only hold the line pretty damn well, but can complement your armored list with their sweet(er) tanks and artillery, while doing things even you can't like deep striking Tarantula turrets and bringing Aegis lines and Vindicator equivalents that [[Awesome|use no FOC]].

===[[Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Questoris Knight Crusade (30k)|Knights]]===
FW have decided in their infinite wisdom to make it viable to be able to field an entire detachment of Imperial Knights, and so we get this:

==Building Your Army==

Hoo Boy. This is literally the most expensive army to collect in all of 40k (or should we call it 30k?), though infantry heavy Solar Auxilia lists are up there too. Yessir. A lot of the models are [[Forge World]], so you'd have to be a drug dealer to afford to make even a moderately sized army.

GW sells the individual contents of the [[Betrayal at Calth]] and [[Burning of Prospero]] boxed games on their own now that these boxes have gone out of print. These boxes include Mark IVs, Mark IIIs, Cataphractii and Tartaros Terminators, a plastic version of the Contemptor Dread, and a Space Marine heroes box with a HQ in Cataphractii armor and a Chaplain. While you’re not going to get the same savings as the original boxed sets, it’s still a much better option than going all in on resin units like back in the day. Fortunately, a new plastic box set has been confirmed for 2022, complete with new praetors and a ton of beakies, so it'll once again be slightly easier (and cheaper) to start a 30K army. (Also note that this box set won’t go out of print. It’s the starter set for the entire next edition of the game).

However there are guides out there on how to convert plastic Space Marines into Pre-Heresy marines, so if you're serious about making a pre-heresy army, this is another place to start. Note you need a LOT of bodies to make a pre-heresy army, so plan accordingly.

Alternatively if you're playing Raven Guard or Alpha Legion, go to eBay and buy a shitton of Beakie Helmets and just make a Legion list with the MK VI (aka Beakie) armour and save yourself some pennies, while using Forge World for Primarchs, unique units, and/or tanks.

'''At any rate, here are a few examples and tutorials to look over:'''
*[http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/226749-mkiv-maximus-helmet-diysculpting-tutorial/ Converting MKIV Maximus helmets], [http://drownedinplastic.blogspot.com/2012/12/tutorial-easy-mk-iv-space-marine-legs.html MKIV Maximus legs]
*[http://masteroftheforge.com/2010/05/30/tutorial-making-a-mark-v-helm/ Converting MKV Heresy helmets], [http://drownedinplastic.blogspot.com/2013/02/tutorial-mark-v-legs.html MKV Heresy legs]
**<small>To make your life easier, just press-mold the leg cables out of greenstuff, using either guitar wire or plasma gun/pistol coils to make the mold.</small>
*[http://drownedinplastic.blogspot.com/2012/03/modelling-tutorial-making-studded-armor.html Pre-Heresy style bonding studs/rivets]
*[http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/262448-heresy-era-armour-marks-cataphractii-update/ A complete guide to converting all marks of Heresy-era armour, including MKI Thunder Armor]
*[http://lunawolves-iv.livejournal.com/ Luna Wolves IV, featuring many examples of crusade-era armor]
*[http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com/search/label/deimos Deimos-pattern Predators, including dome turrets and round sponsons]
*[http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291788-fire-falcons-project-log-scratchbuilt-sicaran-now-jetbikes/ A Sicaran converted from a Land Raider]
*[http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com/search/label/preheresy A collection of Pre-Heresy tutorials by FromTheWarp, including Cataphractii armor, Jetbikes and Nuncio Voxes]
**<small>Read this whole website, it's a goldmine.</small>

The other option, if you are okay ethically with it is to seek out Forge World recasters on Ebay (or other dubious sites) to build your 30k army. If you are ethically challenged enough, you can score a high percentage of the model line at a fraction of full Forge World prices. Doing so is pretty simple. Do a keyword search in the 40k Ebay category for the item you are looking for and find sellers of short duration "buy it now" auctions based in China. But buy them quickly when you see them, and feel free saving the seller to your favourites as even though recasters tend to change accounts every few days to keep ahead of their being deleted by Ebay they usually come back to the account eventually.

One would think that it might be kind of risky to buy from these guys, but this is not the case. Most of these sellers are far more interested in ripping off GW/FW than they are ripping off their customers. (I even had one give me a refund on an incorrect order!) Many also offer free shipping as well! The only real down sides is the shipping time from China to the civilized world might take a while, and you have to ask yourself if you are OK with feeding IP thieves that no doubt use children as slave labour. But then again Forgeworld's books are printed in China.

=== 40k models usable in 30k ===
Many 40k kits work as 30k units with a litte conversion effort.
Don't be an ass and use 40k models as a majority in your army, especially if they are unconverted. Remember, this is a Warhammer themed historical game. You wouldn't use unconverted WW2 models for a WW1 army, would you?

* Plastic Heresy models as the Calth and Prospero boxes are nearly unavailable
* Mk4, 5 and 6 bits from various SM Box sets
* Demons
* Guardsmen (though Cadians have M36 lasguns, they are depicted with them in official artwork of Siege of Terra book series)
* Rhino based tanks, e.g. (Chaos) Rhino itself, Predator, Damocles, ...
* Land Raider, Chaos Land Raider (costs the same but includes spiky bit frame and should include 30k equipment like a heavy flamer)
* Bikers and Chaos Bikers, you need to replace or convert the bikers though
* Land Speeder, you'll need to convert or replace the crew though
* Drop Pod
* Boxnoughts
* Anvilus backpacks
* Terminators (Indomitus), Terminator Chaplain / Librarian with proper shoulder pads (no Crux Terminatus, but heraldic cruxes were not unknown. just change its form a little bit)
* Space Marine Company Command bits (like banner, Apothecary, combat shield, and the leader...)
* Masters of the Chapter (the MK3 and 6 guys and close combat weapons)
* Marneus Calgar (reduce/remove the arm&bolter craziness)
* Cypher - old tin model 1:1 and new plastic model after changing the backpack. The old tin backpacks were available as a kit once.
* Dark Angels Interrorgator-Chaplain
* Castellan Crowe (e.g. as Knight Errant), replace bolter and helmet
* Fabius Bile (old model), remove arms and backpack
* Iron Warriors Warsmith
* Night Lords Hero
* Dark Angels Terminators/Knights
* Space Marine Scouts
* Plague Marines, use as Chimera Blackshield to represent characters like Ignatius Grolgor. Bonus points if you put an apothecary in every squad for that T5 5+++ we all know and love

Don't use:
* Aquilas (like on banners, chests and every inch of every vehicle) if you're a Traitor.
* Purity seals (yes, you can use them as oath of moment but some models get too crazy and have 10 or so on one leg...)
* Storm Bolters
* MK7 armor or later
* Primaris Marines. For the love of god just don't.

==Army Tactics==

The first and most important thing to remember about a legion is this: Everything is expensive as fuck and not worth their points.

To elaborate, using the basic list your two mandatory troops will cost you 250 points at the minimum. Most armies can get away with spending around 100 points allowing them to spend more on cool shit and usually even those two squads will be able to take wargear that makes them adaptable to just about any situation. Your two tac squads are good at one thing, and that is gunning down infantry, and they're not even good at that for their points. A Master of Signal is considered one of the best HQs you can get for a gunline and he costs 95 points for +1 BS to one unit (up until his bombardment). Synergy (and legion rules) are the keys to victory in a legion list combining those two tacti'''cool''' squads with [[Imperial Fists|BS 5]] or [[Raven Guard|infiltrate]] or [[Emperor's Children|Crusader and +1 I on the charge]] or even [[Iron Hands|effective Toughness 5]] [[Awesome|FOR FREE]]. Your army needs a plan to combine your special rules and if you don't have that, your units will become horribly inefficient. Some good combinations include large tactical blobs with attached apothecaries, sergeants with artificer armor and power axe/meltabomb or powerfist (consider that many people bring AP2 weapons at the cost of initiative so artificer might turn out to be waste in a challange), Master of Signal plus a heavy weapons squad with missile launchers, autocannons, or volkite culverins for heavy, accurate fire support (season your squads with ammunition dumps to taste), or Terminators with an attached Primus Medicae in a Spartan as the hammer unit in an assault list. Forge Lord consul is one of the most versatile HQs as he can be anything from a pretty strong combat character to ranged fire support to a cheap HQ tax that you park in a spartan/storm eagle to keep it alive. You need to think beyond simple combos like that though, your entire army needs to interlock (the bottom of this page shows a good example). Combinations like these makes a legion list far, far greater than the sum of it's parts.

There are are also particular synergies with certain Legions which combined with rites of war, can be utterly devastating (Raven Guard Terminators, jump infantry and bikers gain Furious Charge!). Look for synergy with your Legion and play to your strengths. Don't think you are restricted to the 'stereotypical' army for a legion, however. The Iron Warriors weren't exactly known for their jetbike companies, but surprising combos can pop up if you think outside the box (in this case, jetbikes flying around pinning shit with shrapnel bolts for your assault dudes to mop up).

Legion forces might have a kit of cool stuff but most of the units are far more restrictive in what they can do and what you can take. Your units are highly specialized: tactical squads with bolters only, heavy support squads squad with heavy weapons only, tactical support squads with special weapons only. Each model in the heavy or special weapons squad has to take the SAME gun. In many ways the Legions list is like a Craftworld Space Marine army, just <strike>manlier</strike> on a much larger scale (and manlier), and like the Eldar you need a good mix of units to be effective.

Some of these standard units that gain from Legion rules/buffs are Heavy Support Squads with Heavy Flamers (especially if they are Death Guard or Salamanders). These can be brutally effective, the Salamanders can drop-pod in and really bring the hurt. Imperial Fists & Iron Hands can buff standard squads, but the Death Guard in certain builds can give squads in a detachment access to RAD Grenades, which can really surprise Characters when you suddenly drop their toughness by one, which make charging that 20man Tactical blob with your Praetor, suddenly a riskier enterprise.

Also, your units lack And They Shall Know No Fear, making Morale issues VERY important. Instead they have a rule that lets them regroup regardless of casualties (nice, but not NEARLY as good), plus additional rules depending on your legion. Be wary of assault dudes getting close to your guys in the backline, as a failed leadership roll means they will run off the table, so you don't even get a chance to re-group negating even this bonus. Conversely, try and get ''your'' assault dudes in the offending army's backline, as a failed leadership roll means ''they'' will run off the table, so ''they'' don't get a chance to regroup, [[Qin Xa|learn your weaknesses and make the enemy bleed for them]].

Because of this lack of ATSKNF Leadership matters more, but don't overspend on HQ's either. With 3 HQ slots it's entirely possible to, and it can be a big mistake. You can pile a lot of wargear on a Praetor, but unless you're Salamanders you can't give him EW (unless your opponent gave you permission to use relics in which case SoH and IF can join the fun) - and there is a LOT of S8+ shooting and melee in the HH. There will be games where he is turned into a fine, red mist floating over ruined and melted chunks of armor before he ever does anything useful. Do not spend 250 points trying to make him into a combat monster, because it will not work. One unlucky invul save and he is gone. Bring him for the right reasons and don't spend too much (the baseline being an Iron Halo, Paragon Blade and maybe some digital lasers). He's the only way to get AP2 at initiative without special, legion or character specific wargear. Likewise, consuls are great for their force multiplication, but spend too much on them/take too many and there isn't enough of a force left for them to multiply.

There are some boxes that need ticking in a list, Anti-Air, Anti-Horde and Anti-Deathstar. Since most armies will pick a theme and stick with it (a combined-arms being very expensive and unless you know exactly what you're doing, prone to having your [[Just as Planned|genius plan]] shot out from under you (as the famous saying goes: One of something is a target, Two is a tactic and Three is a strategy)) you need to be able to handle just about anything, entire armies of planes, or land raiders, or terminators. Good AA includes bringing planes of your own (even one Xiphon causes your opponent's strike wing to crash into the ground, [[Meme|with no survivors]]) or Mortis-dreads. Entire armies of land raider might skimp out on Armoured Ceramite considering it might cost 60-100 points to give it to every vehicle in the army, so don't discount meltas immediately, grav-guns and laser destroyers are also good options. The classic anti-[[Terminator]] is, and will always be, plasma as well as basically any AP2 weapon or just [[Tactical Squad|drowning them]] [[Grimdark|in tons]] [[Bolter|of bolter rounds]].

Armour is plentiful, and relatively cheap. Fielding squadrons of 3 Predators is impressive and combined with certain Legion's Rites of War (Iron Hands and Iron Warriors have some good Armour related rules) can make them dangerous (Outflanking Squadron of Predators! CREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!). But the ultimate is the Sicaran, for 135pts you get a Beast of a medium tank, that will spank any other Medium or light vehicle, even flyers on a good roll, and is very effective against troops with massed S7 shots. The rapid tracking helps against flyers, although it's not primarily an Anti-Unit, you can get lucky with the sheer amount of shots. fact you can field 3 of these (without sponsons or upgrades) for 405pts, which when combined with Primarch rules, Rites of war, or other characters like Castrman Orth, makes these vehicles awesome. There are other Tanks which are utter beasts, the Typhon (Vindicator on steroids) or the Cerberus (Spartan with Big ass Lasers!). Iron Warriors Rite of War,"The Hammer of Olympia" gives all your tanks extra Armour for Free (awwww...Yeah!). If you like Space Marine Vehicles and to field them en masse, there are some Brutal builds available if you choose wisely.

Synergy Example :

So taking 3 basic Sicarans for 405pts + Ferrus Manus + Rite of War: Head of the Gorgon =

Sicaran's normal statline + all vehicles gain blessed autosimulacra for free (repairs a single HP on a D6 roll of 6) + IWND (because of AV13) + If put in reserve gains Outflank rule. Oh and Ferrus can repair them (if he is close enough) on 2+. So take a Spartan as transport (gaining all of the vehicle stuff above) for Ferrus, chuck in a 200pt Gorgon Termie squad. For 2500pts you end up with a Tough Mechanised Army. You can even swap one of the Sicarans for a Venator for extra Anti-Armour goodness. Alternatively, take Armored Breakthrough for Fast Predators as compulsory Troops.

[[Category:Warhammer Tactics/30k]]

[[Category: Space Marines]]

{{Warhammer_30k_Tactics}}

Heretical Love

2026-05-20T14:16:53Z

185.220.101.97:

{{Promotions}}
{{Story}}
{{Heresy}}

''"In the grim darkness of the future, there is only war… and sweet xeno love."''

A quest thread on /tg/ started by the user {{Anonymous|Papa-N|!!z0ABcqUnNAP}}, it concerns the last Guardsman left on the planet of Yagis V.

Introducing Maximus Decarus, Pimp of the Imperium.

Oh yes, it's ''that'' kind of quest thread. Cut, organised and ribbed for extra reading pleasure.

Exploits so far have included (but are not limited to) fighting a fish-god, besting Doomrider in a motorcycle joust, charging Abaddon the Despoiler with a knife, being killed by (and then subsequently sleeping with) a group of Daemonettes, soloing a Defiler and surfing the chaos of the warp with the Big E himself. And by surfing we mean literally. [[Awesome|'''literally surfing, with an actual surfboard.''']]

Papa-N has also become (in)famous for trolling his public with alternate story endings, or bizarre tangents, and Brazilian laughter. These are listed at the bottom, or bracketed out of the main text. They are ''[[Extra Heresy|extra heretical]]''. You have been warned.

== THE STORY ==

=== Thread 1: IT'S HERESY TIME ===

''You are high lord Inquisitor Maximus Decarus, feared by xeno/alien alike. You leave fried Orks and charred Eldar in the wake of your fleet’s exterminatus as you sail about the stars in the Emperors name.''

Haha, just kidding, you are Max Decarus, lowly trooper in the [[Emprah]]’s imperial guard. [[Orks]] don’t seem to notice your [[lasgun]] and the last [[Eldar]] you saw wiped out half of your squad and insulted your mother.
You were just a boot when your landing ship touched down on Yagis V, and you have quickly ascended nothing in rank by your heroic deeds of fleeing and being lucky enough to stay out of the Commisar’s sights.

Today… Today isn’t much different.

You feebly fire your glorified laser pointer in the general direction of a horde of charging Orks, you don’t need to aim, you would have to try to miss. It’s not like hitting them does much anyways.

A Monolith appears suddenly to your left, just warped on in. From where is anyone’s guess.
“Thank the Empruh, spess muhreens!” You hear a guardsman cry out, voice mystified with adoration.
Sure enough, six of the Emprah’s finest waltz up behind your position, sizing up the Monolith.
“FOR THA EMPROOOOAAAARRRR!!!” They howl simultaneously as they bound over the low barricade protecting you from shootah fire.
The space marines charge out, waving chainswords menacingly and looking fierce. The Monolith doesn’t even move as gauss fire obliterates every last Astartes. Welp…

You have to believe the stories of the space marines are if nothing else, highly exaggerated. This is the second time you’ve seen those blue suited bastards scream litanies and charge to their doom. The first time at a Chaos Titan of all things…

“We are so fucked.” You groan as Chaos Daemons start warping in between you and the Orks. At least they have nice tits… Purple and attached to warp beasts who would enjoy little more than ripping you apart. But still, you didn’t know Daemonettes were stacked.
A Fire Prism from out of nowhere busies itself with hammering away at your squad, as quite obviously you are the real threat here. You, huddling low and shaking in your “armor”.
Some Fire Warriors show up and start blasting away as well, sure why the fuck not, one giant “kill some guardsmen” party…
Hours later you somehow pull yourself from under a pile of rubble and Orks, seeing no one around.
There is a Vox nearby, and you give it a try.
“Guys?” you ask quietly.
Up in the dark sky you see the Imperial Cruiser you arrived in snap in half as an Ork ship just rams on through it.
“…Guys?”
“…” No response, just static.
All of this because this planet was home to a power fist that for whatever reason the machine cult had been worshiping for millennia…
Well at least the Armory is nearby, so you scrounge for some equipment.

You find an unused Commissar uniform.
<strike>Some call me the Commissar of Love.</strike> <span style="color:#FF0000;">*BLAM* HERESY!!</span> <br>
The hat is probably the coolest thing ever, the sword and pistol are both pretty sweet, but this fucking hat, seriously.
You are too busy flexing and posing in a mirror to notice a servo skull float up behind you.
The skull beeps and you whirl around, flailing your new sword and busting a cap as you pop off rounds. Wu Tang Clan ain’t nuthin to fuck wit.
“Oh, it’s just you…” You are glad no one was around to see you.

The skull scans you and must think you really are a Commissar because it starts playing a message. You listen intently as it lays out tactical data for all the Xenos here. Interesting.
A nearby Vox rattles out a quick message, identifying itself as a sister of battle.
The Mechanicus command is nearby as well.
Well there isn’t much else to do, may as well check out some of these leads. Who knows, maybe you can find some help or even a way off this rock… Or get your knob slobbed, it could happen.

Many Guardsmen mistakenly believe that the Sisters of Battle are allies that can be trusted entirely. What they fail to realize is that often times a Sister is just as likely to roast you for even a whiff of heresy as they are to help you. They also have a VERY broad and often convoluted definition of heresy.
For this reason, you approach the rhino transport with utmost caution. True, you did track the broadcast to this vehicle, but you don’t trust a Sororita unless she is far separated from the nearest incineration device.
You clear your throat and knock on the rear hatch of the transport.

“Sister of Battle, this is Commissar Decarus, are you in there?”
A jet of fire almost engulfs you, missing by nigh more than a foot. You dive out of the way as another firing port opens right in front of your face.
The ramp drops with a thud and a Sororita comes screaming out, chainsword roaring and fire bursting all around her.
Only after several moments does she slow to a stop, gazing around hawkishly, as her flamer dies down.
“Am I still alive?” You ask, having ducked and covered as you had learned to do.
Her eyes snap to you and you feel them burning as hot as her flamer, as though boring into your very being. You know she is eying you for any glimpse of heresy, you pray she doesn’t pick up on any. If she does, you might be lucky enough to garner a quick death via chainsword rather than a drawn out burning ordeal. Though likely not.

“Die heretic!”
“No, fuck you, you crazy bolter bitch, I’m not a heret''iiicccccc''!!!” You howl as you dodge yet another slash of her chainsword.
She’s fast, too fast, and in her armor far stronger than you are.
The sword comes back around just after you dodged, you don’t have time to avoid it this time. You throw up your hands in some kind of pitiful defense.
The roaring implement of demise slashes down toward you, is this it? Is this how you end up? Cut to pieces on some xeno world by a cute but slightly crazy “ally”?

An instant before the chainsword crashes home into your soft, fleshy frame, a blinding golden light flashes. The chainsword flies out of the Sororita’s hand and lands in the dirt yards away.
She blinks at you, clearly in shock.
“It must be a sign…” She whispers, and she kneels in quick prayer.
You get up off the ground and dust off your hat. You aren’t sure what happened, but if it hadn’t you would be dead. In the flash of light, you swear you glimpsed a golden pauldron of some kind. But that isn’t possible, your must have just been seeing things.

You squirm a bit under her gaze, which doesn’t let up as her face draws ever closer…
“Hmph, something saved you today, the Emprah must be watching over you. Still, I can’t ignore such an obvious sign.”
She sets down her weapons and takes a seat on a piece of rubble, sighing as she does so.

You can’t help but notice, even for a Sororita, she is really damn cute. She sports a shorter cut of the Sister’s standard white hair, though with the addition of a small purity seal hair pin. Her face is smooth, and she sports a small inquisitorial tattoo under her left eye, which is blue. You notice her right eye, in comparison, is green.
Admittedly however, you have a hard time concentrating on any of these details. After all, you’ve never been this close to a Sororita, especially one with such massive sweater squiggies, who also tried to kill you. Emprah be praised, sometimes this grim and dark universe offers a brief reprieve of bliss. Though the grimdark of the fact you almost got flayed still has you pretty shaken up.

“S-s-s-so, w-w-w-what are you doing here?” Your voice is shaky, must be the adrenaline.
You sit down and put your hat on your lap to cover up your massive erection, must be the adrenaline, maybe.
She looks you over again before answering, the steel in her eyes still very apparent. She doesn’t trust you, and you can’t exactly blame her. Golden flashes of light and all.
“I got separated from my sisters when the Chaos Marines hit our position, the defiler they brought with them overwhelmed our zeal, we clearly were not faithful enough.”
She looks at her hands dejectedly, as though disgusted with herself.

“Do you have any idea what in the name of the Emprah is happening here? I mean, how many of our forces are left, how screwed are we?” You ask, placing the hat back on your head.
She looks back at you and shrugs.
“You probably know most of it. Our troops are scattered at best, the guard is more or less wiped out, and the space marines… well…” she trails off, looking annoyed.
“Did they charge another Titan and or Monolith?”
“A Knarloc…” She says through her single facepalm.

Your foot feels itchy and restless, you rub at it through your boot absent mindedly.
“So what your trying to tell me, is we are pretty screwed?”
She shrugs in her armor, lowering her hands.
“The guard and Astartes perhaps, but I know my Sisters are alive and bolstering their strength, I just know it!” She suddenly looks hopeful, the fire back in her eyes.
It’s not like you have much going on anyway.
“Want me to help you find them, your sisters I mean? I’m sure they are just fine.”
She stands up and walks over to you, placing one of her gauntleted hands on your shoulder.
“I’m glad to hear it, I’ll accept your help Commissar.” She beams at you before slowly looking away, averting her eyes.
You notice she is blushing a bit as she rubs her lip with a finger.
“…and I’m sorry I tried to purge you.”
You barely hear this. Your heart is pounding in your ears being this close to her. You might need to move your hat again, damn adrenaline.
She suddenly spins around and pumps a fist.
“All right, let us venture forth and find my Sisters!”
The sudden change snaps you out of your dreamy state.

“Huzzzzah!” you yell as you drive your boot into her backside
She yelps in surprise and spins around, glaring at you, teeth bared in rage.
“That’s for trying to flay me without even having a POSSIBLE REASON as to why I was somehow a heretic.” You shout at her.
Her temper briefly flares but suddenly subsides and she nods.
“I’ve rightly earned that, perhaps my zeal was… ah… too hot this day.”
“Damn right it was…” You mutter as you cross your arms.
“Anyways, where exactly are we headed?” You ask.
She looks at you quizzically.
“I thought perhaps you knew, Commissar. As the Emperor’s hand seems to rest on your shoulder this day.”
You don’t say anything, it’s evident neither of you have any idea where to go.

""Grab my hand and spin with me sister!" You yell, outstretching your hand toward her.
"Wh-what?" She asks, taking a step back and perhaps re-evaluating your level of heresy.
You dive in and snatch her hand, pulling her in close to you. Your eyes meet and in that moment of primordial passion you begin to spin.
Faster and faster you go, where you'll wind up nobody knows.

"TO THE SKIES!" You bellow suddenly, stopping the spin.
"Huh?" The surprised Sororita gasps.
You pull her to a nearby Valkyrie, and together you clamor inside.
"Do you uh... Know how to drive one of these?"
You stop pushing buttons and flipping switches to look over at her for a moment.
"No I do not, and knowing is half the battle."
With a lurch the Valkyrie lifts off and jets away, as you cruise about the skies with impunity.
"WERE GOING DOWNNNNN!" The sister bellows, grabbing for something to brace the impact.
The craft slams into the pavement hard, and suddenly breaks through the ground below...

"Are we dead?" The Sororita asks, rubbing her head.
You feel around, you don't think you are.
"That would be my ASS Commissar..."

''Meanwhile, in the legion of doom...''

"Lord Abbadon, we have completed the final preparations, we are prepared to use THAT."

Abbadon, the embodiment of Chaos, almost allows himself to crack a smile. Soon this world w...

A loud crash is heard overhead and Abbadon gazes up to see what caused the ruckus. A second later, the cockpit of a Valkyrie sinks down into view. Inside, a Commissar and a Sororita...

"I was just looking for the instrument panel..." You lie, not sure what drove you to try to cop a feel over power armor.
The Valkyrie sinks into the dirt and suddenly drops down into a cave below.
And Abbadon the Despoiler is staring you in the face.

"Oh Emprah, THRUSTERS TO MAXIMUM! LET FLY ALL GUNS" You punch the controls and slam every button you can reach.
The Valkyrie's engines roar and the frontal guns and missiles erupt to life.
Or they would if the power wasn't dead.
Abbadon's companion rips open the cockpit of the ship, as Abbadon himself has no arms, and wrenches you out, holding you in his power claw. This is probably the end for you.
The Sororita is snatched up by two other Chaos Marines in Terminator armor. This really, really doesn't look good.
Still, there's nothing like a good blaster at your side kid.

The Chaos Marines are too busy cackling madly to notice you slipping your laspistol out of its holster.
"Its Blamming time!"
Your first shot hits the one holding you under the jaw, and at point blank range there is nothing to save him. The power claw goes slack and he drops you to the ground as his corpse falls backwards.
With excellent accuracy you headshot one of the Terminators holding your Sororita friend, and he fudges his save and dies because fuck him. The other one drops the sisters arm and runs.
"Nooooo, noooooo!!! Seize them! Seize theemmmmm!!!" Abbadon howls after you as you grab the Sororita's arm and break into a run.

"Abbadon, your reign of heresy ends TODAY!"
You draw your sword and ready yourself, steeling your nerves for what you are about to do.
Wait are you about to attack fucking Abbadon THE DESPOILER?
Too late, your legs are already moving, propelling you at full force right at the embodiment of heresy.
"Commissar no!" You hear the Sororita call out from behind you.
This attack could well decide the fate of the Imperium as man as you know it.

You swing with all your might, but it only slams into the side of Abbadon's exposed head and doesn't penetrate more than a millimeter.
He reels backwards and trips over his foot, crashing onto his back. You thought about finishing him off until a horde of Chaos Marines come charging from a passage in the cave.
"Time to go!" You yell as you grab the Sororita and throw her over your shoulder. Holy fuck she is heavy, that power armor weighs a ton. Still, you can't be a little bitch right now.
You toss her into the passenger seat of the Valkyrie and jump in yourself. Furiously you smash and kick and scream at the controls. The Chaos Marines are close enough to start shooting now, and they do. Bolter rounds slam into the hull of the vehicle all around you.
"By the Empruh you will start this day!" You scream as you shoot the instrument panel.
The machine spirit reluctantly gives and the craft shudders to life. Wasting no time you throw it in R and hit max throttle.

"I'll get you next time Commissar! NEXT TIME!!!!" Abbadon howls at you, shaking his fist in rage, if he had one.
With a terrible screech the craft throws itself backwards out of the hole and soars ass-first into the sky.
While its true you did manage to put this punk machine spirit in its place, it is also true that you still don't know how to fly this damn thing.
Worse yet, the engines are losing power and the control panel is flashing on and off.
This bird is going down, the question is, where?

"Hey, since we might die when you try to land this thing, whats your name?" The Sororita looks over to you and asks.
You look away from the instrument panel momentarily.
"Its Max, not sure why you want to know a silly thing like that."
She looks away.
"Max..." She says softly.
"And how about you, what can I call you?"
Her gaze snaps back to you.
"Lycheria. Sister Lycheria."
The left engine flames out, looks like this is going to be another hard landing.

The roof of the manufactorum is underneath you, and though it is quite an impressively large structure, you do question your own landing skills.
The Valkyrie shudders and bucks as its last remaining engine struggles to keep the craft stable. Wind whips though the now exposed cockpit.
"Hey!" The Sororita yells over the din.
"If this is the end for us, I just wanted to let you know, I was glad to meet you Max." She finishes with a small smile.
The sight give you a bit of confidence, but still, the task before you is daunting.
"Here goes nothing right?" You grip the controls hard.
The ship is coming in to hot, but there is little more you can do than try to hold her steady, hope the roof holds, and hope you don't go skidding off of it and crash into the ground far below the building.

With some kind of deft skill you must have latently been concealing up until this point, you actually manage to set the Valkyrie down fairly lightly for a flaming hunk of fire and hate.
When the craft finally skids to a stop and the painful screaming subsides, you open your eyes.
“Do stop screaming will you…” Lycheria asks, looking at you dubiously.
You lay back in your seat and wipe the sweat off your face. Yesterday you were stealing extra rations from the barracks, today you’ve fought off one of the Imperium’s greatest foes, landed a ship you didn’t know how to fly, and actually lived to tell the tale.
Lycheria gets up and stretches, her curvy frame filling up your view against a backdrop of sky.
“What’s the matter?” She tilts her head back to look at you playfully.
“Carnifex got your tongue?”
You smile, but your vision is getting hazy. You try to get up and find that you can’t. Looking down, you see why.
A piece of shrapnel from the shredded canopy has annoyingly lodged itself in your chest. Blood drips down from the wound.
Lycheria’s face goes white-er, as she notices the wound. She rushes over to you quickly and pulls apart your clothing to get a better look at the wound.
“Its… Its serious, but nothing you can’t survive.” She pulls you to your feet.
“We’re going to go find you some help, get you patched up. By the Emperor’s holy codpiece you had better not die on me.”
As she pulls you up, the shrapnel falls out of the wound. What looked like a piercing blow by a large shard is little more than a flesh wound. Both of you stop dead.
Until Lycheria smacks you across the head.

“You bastard! I was actually worried about you there!” She screams frantically.
And before you know it, her lips are pressed to yours. They are disarmingly soft, you don’t know why you had always assumed a Sororita’s outside would be tough, but it isn’t. The feeling is blissful, and you don’t want it to end.
“Sorry, but I think I do have a concussion…” You mumble.
“Well we will just have to get that treated, but you should be fine in the meantime. I’ll bandage up your wound though.”
Lycheria grabs the medkit out of the husk of the Valkyrie and pops it open.

She tries unsuccessfully to open some packages and then sighs.
“Power armor, good for many things, detail work not being one.”
Her armor disengages itself and she begins to remove it. You’ve never seen a Sister or Astartes remove their armor, it’s pretty interesting. Especially the part where her breastplate falls forward and her tits bounce from the release, though still hidden in a tight sports bra. (+1 as needed to contain tits of this magnitude.)
She suddenly notices your eyes, and possibly the strand of drool leading to quite a puddle on the roof.
“Like what you see, Commissar?”
You're taken aback by the question. If you say yes, will she kill you or unlock full dere mode? Fucking women how do they work?

“…And if perhaps, I do?” You inquire.
She picks you up by your collar and pulls you close, you can feel her hot breath on your face.
“Then, Max, you had better be willing to see it through to the end.”
Her lips meet yours again, a reunion that sets the sky alight with color and causes strange xeno birds to sing their song of triumph.
Her breasts, though caged in her tight clothing and begging to be set free, smoosh themselves into your chest. Heaven, this is HEAVEN. The Emperor himself bro-fists you from the golden throne.
“Sister Lycheria, is that you?” A voice calls out from the side of the building.
Lycheria lets you go and whirls around.
“Sister Candis, is that you!?” She cries out joyfully.
“Indeed it is, come over here and we will get you off the roof.” The other sister yells back.
Your first chance at some sweet warrior-girl-from-space action and you get cockblocked. HARD. Go figure...

=== Thread 2: EXTRA HERESY ===

''Commissars Log. Planet: Yagis V. Date: Unknown''

''The Sister Candice has proven to be a powerful foe indeed. It is likely her cockblocking skills are the most feared in the entire sector, and perhaps beyond.
''The Sororitas and I explored the manafactorium I so skillfully landed that wretched craft on. Inside can only be described as Glorious.
''An Imperial thong production plant, until this point I had only heard whispers and rumors of their existence, or read tidbits of information in tomes millennia old.
''The Sisters took the chance to change into some new undergarments, fresh off the line. Unfortunately I was apprehended in my Emperor-sanctioned quest to peek, and nearly lost my life to the hail of bolter and flamer fire that followed. Still, I did manage to catch a brief glimpse of perfection. Dat ass.
''Worse yet than being caught perhaps, Abbadon somehow obtained my personal communicator frequency. He has been spamming my textual box with death threats and pictures of… Terrible, terrible things of the most damaging kind. He is kind of a dick.
''My devoted follower Lycheria beckons for me. Commissar out.''

“Hey Max, we are going to head to our personal ship. The Sisters were debating on whether or not to bring you along, and decided not to after your little… Ah… Stunt.”
Lycheria looks disappointed, though not at you.
“So that’s it, then?” You ask, not thrilled about being left behind. Nor about being separated from the crazy but cute bolter bitch.
“For now, but I know the Emperor will bring us back together again. Here, have my personal channel, you can call or message me any time.”
She slips a piece of paper into your pocket before looking around slyly. Seeing no one watching, she plants another kiss before turning to follower her Sisters.
You watch sadly as she walks away, until she turns back one last time to shout at you with a smile.
“If you don’t call me, I’LL BURN YOU ALIVE!”
Well, time to figure out what to do.

Well with your party disbanded leaving you with but a single mana potion, you don’t really know what to do.
Pretty much every xeno here would just as soon kill than perhaps eat you before you could even get a word in edgewise.
You've never met an Eldar before, not that you really make a habit of meeting xenos for smalltalk, what with it being heresy and all.
Still, if you had to pick, the Eldar seem perhaps the least likely to disembowel you for either fun or sacrifice to an ancient god. At least you think so, you admit you skimmed (see tldr) the Eldar chapters of your training manual.

With (though perhaps misplaced) optimism, you set out in search of those tall spindly xenos. Although thinking back, you swear the Farseer you saw stood at least a foot and a half shorter than the other Eldar around her.
The journey is long and arduous on foot, wind threatens to take the hat right off your head. You can’t let that happen. Compounding the suck is the fact that you literally have nothing to eat and haven’t eaten anything since the last ration you had with your guardbros.
Your stomach howls at you with the fury of the warp and the ‘nid swarm rolled into one. You scan everywhere, looking for something, ANYTHING to devour.
Your heart sinks as you abandon all hope, Vagis V must be devoid of food.
That is, until, you catch the scent of something that smells absolutely, decadently, delicious.
Ravenous now, you pick up your pace as you follow your nose. A strangely colored bird with a massive beak darts around overhead.
The sight of a fire a hundred yards away stops you dead in your tracks. You know better than to just rush in, you don’t have many friends left on this planet.
Stalking now, you draw ever closer until you take cover behind a small pile of rock and peek out.
Sitting in the clearing, roasting some kind of small animal carcass on the fire, is the Farseer you saw yesterday.

You remain silent as you sit and watch. The Farseer doesn’t seem to notice you as she checks on her food.
A roasting animal shouldn’t smell this good. It isn’t just your hunger either, something is up. Heresy, it must be heresy. Or psychers, fuck you don’t know.
She must think her food is ready, because she takes the spit off of the fire to let the meat cool. Slowly she looks around and you hide to avoid her gaze.
Fairly certain she is safe, the Farseer lifts off her helmet and shakes out her hair. Beautiful, silky red hair. It’s long, long enough to reach down to her ass, and it looks thick even from here.
She’s cute. You didn’t know Eldar could be cute. Though really, you didn’t know what Eldar looked like without their helmets on. You had always assumed terrible soulless eyes and a gaping maw filled with teeth and two ever-moving mandibles.
The Farseer cautiously takes a bite of the roast and her face lights up. It must taste good. By the Emprah, you want some of that food…
You watch as she rips off chunk after chunk with her teeth. Not a very ladylike way to eat, but you would look like a barbarian in comparison at the moment.
Instantly and suddenly her eyes snap to you, as if she just knew you were there. With a startled cry she drops her meal and grabs her spear, bringing it to bear right at you.
Before you can shout out anything, the rocks in front of you explode away, knocking you backwards. The Farseer runs at you, clearly intent on running you through.
You manage to dodge just in time, but she’s coming around for another go.
It doesn’t seem she has any intention of talking with you.

You draw your sword and turn to face her, swinging your weapon around in skillful arcs. She pauses at the sight, you must have dazzled her with your awesomeness.
“NOPE, fuck this.” You yell as you swing the sword down like a golf club and slash up a blast of sand. It hits her in the eyes and she curses, at least you think so.
You break into a dead run, pumping furiously. Looking back, you see she is hot on your tail, despite clawing at her eyes.
Now you should be able to outrun someone shorter than you.
After all, being in the guard you are In pretty damn good shape.
Why then, is she gaining on you?
“Fucking sorcery!” You yell as a flying kick catches you in the back, knocking you face-first into the sand.
You knew you should have tried to fight, as you feel the tip of the spear press into your back. It’s all over now…
But a quiet rumble in the distance causes you both to pause and look up. Whatever it is, its getting closer, and fast.
Through the haze you manage to make out that it’s a lone figure on a motorcycle.
And his head is on fire.

Wait… Is that fucking Doomrider?
You remember the myths and stories as a lad growing up. Doomrider, bane of man, devourer of cocaine.
This is probably not a safe place to be, what laying right in his path and all. Fuck it, you will take your chances with the Farseer.
You roll to your left, out from under the spear, and jump to your feet. You grab the Eldar’s hand and pull her.
“Run, bitch, RUN!!!” You shout as you break into a dead sprint, pushing yourself as hard as you can.
She doesn’t seem to understand why or to where she is running, but she is smart enough to not question you as she follows.
You are too busy looking back at the lord of drugs to notice you are running straight at a narrow chasm. You catch it out of the corner of your eye. It’s a split second decision but you don’t have much choice, going to have to jump for it.

YES!

Somehow, miraculously, you clear the chasm. When you looked down mid-jump you notice Abbadon screaming up at you furiously, as a horde of his followers all text away furiously, still filling your inbox.
Good thing you made it.
“Hah, we did it!” You turn excitedly to the Farseer.
She looks back at you, a twinge of excitement and relief on her face. Strands of long red hair blow faintly in the wind, and you finally get a good look at her in the full outline of the blue sky.
…Just in time to see Doomrider pop a wheelie and clear the jump with ease.
“I’M GOING TO GRIND YOU UP AND SNORT YOUR BONES IMPERRIAAALLLLLL!!!” You hear him yell madly.
“God damn it, today is just not my day!” You start to run again.
The Farseer doesn’t hear you as she stops to turn around, raising her spear in defiance at the Harbinger of Heroin.
This girl is either stupid, crazy, or confident. Maybe all three, you can’t be sure. Either way, you’ve got a decision to make.

“I am getting too old for this constant litany of BULLSHIT!” You howl furiously as you snatch the Farseer’s spear from her hand and dash over to a nearby Ork Warbike.
Surprisingly the bike starts with no effort whatsoever and in fact everything is incredibly easy about it, as if it wants you to ride.
Annoying; considering how much bullshit an Imperium vehicle puts you through, that this Ork monstrosity of engine, chrome, and flame decals give you no trouble.
You turn to face Doomrider, and rev your engine as high and as loud as you can. Doomrider turns his bike sideways and skids to a stop, a hundred yards away or so.
With little struggle he pulls a tree up out of the dirt and bites one end, gnawing and gnashing at it until it forms a nasty point.
Both of you sit there, revving your engines, eying each other.
“I AM A GOLDEN GOD!!!” He finally screams, beginning his charge.
You dump your own clutch and twist as hard as you can, the Ork bike clunking to action as it takes off.
The two of you grow ever closer, each spear pointed at the other. This could end up alright, or very, very badly. You want to close your eyes and have that Eldar girl hold you tight, maybe grab some afternoon delight.
But there isn’t time, you are seconds away from impact.

Your spear slams itself directly into Doomrider’s chest, impaling him as it knocks him off of his bike, which crashes into some rocks and sails end over end.
His own spear hit the front of your bikes handlebars and shattered. Say what you will about the Orks, when they do make something, they make it goddamn sturdy.
You quickly slow to a stop as Doomrider falls to the ground, gasping and feeling at the spear now lodged in him. It looks fatal, but you know better by now. He seems currently disabled at least.
You approach him, laspistol drawn, as he groans and looks up at you. He reaches out to you with one hand as if begging.
“IF YOU MUST KILL ME, AT LEAST LET ME DIE WITH THE TASTE OF ACID IN MY MOUTH AND THE SMELL OF SWEET SNOW IN MY NOSE!”
Despite him being one of the more terrifying things you’ve ever encountered, this gives you pause.
You would be a right bastard if you denied him his last request…

A bag on his bike contains… well… a plethora of drugs. If there was a market, nay, a superwalmart for drugs, it would be this guy’s satchel. You aren’t even sure of most of the shit you’re looking at.
You grab out what you think are some acid tabs and a bag out of six dozen or so of different white powders. There is no way to tell which one is blow, and you really doubt Doomrider cares much.
You lean down and hand him the drugs, which he eagerly consumes.
Now comes time for the dirty deed…

Wait, Doomrider is slowly fading out, growing more and more transparent by the second.
“HAHAHAHAHA!” He bellows with laughter as he stands up, the spear falling from his no longer physical chest.
“Son of a fucking bitch!” You fire your laspistol anyways, but the shot sails right through him and not in a good way.
“YOU FIGHT WELL AND WELL FOR A MORTAL, I SHALL SINGS SONGS OF THIS DAY WHILE I INDULGE MYSELF!” He is almost entirely transparent now, his head is really the only thing you can still make out.
“IN YOUR HOUR OF PLIGHT YOU MAY DO WELL TO CALL ON ME, HUMAN, FOR I EAGERLY AWAIT OUR NEXT MEETING! UNTIL THEN, MAY YOUR LIFE BE FULL OF PLEASURE!” With this, he is entirely gone.
You remember now, part of the fables you were read as a boy. Doomrider is notorious for disappearing, entirely at random as it were…
This leaves you alone with the Farseer, who is approaching you, eyes fixed dead on your face.
Aww yeah, you impressed this bitch. You are a fucking pimp of the Imperium after all.
Her face is nearly at yours, though you would have to lean down to meet it, so you do.
And she decks you squared in the jaw.

“You idiot mon-keigh! What in the name of Uthwe would I have done without my spear! Did you ever stop to think maybe a fucking FARSEER might be, oh, I don’t know, A FUCKING SPECIALIST AT FIGHTING CHAOS DAEMONS!!!” She mad.
“But… But I…” You stammer, surprised at the blow.
“No, you acted like a fool!” She shouts, crossing her arms and turning her back to you.
“…Still, for a guardsman you did fare quite well against such a foe…”
You rub your jaw, it wasn’t a hard blow, just caught you off guard is all.
Silence fills the air.
Until it is almost immediately disturbed by a tremendous growl from your gut.
“Ugh…” You groan, rubbing your stomach.
Suddenly a hand is thrust into your face, holding what looks like a small biscuit thing.
“Huh?” You ask, looking up at her.
The Farseer is looking away, refusing to meet your eyes. She is blushing furiously.
“I made this earlier, you can have it.
It… It’s not like I want you to eat it, or anything.” She adds quickly.
“All right then, I’ll try it…” You accept the food from her, not wanting to seem over-eager.
Your stomach gives you up when it groans furiously that you have dared take so long to sate it when you are staring fucking food in the face.
You take a small bite, and your tongue is alive…
With FLAVOR.
A biscuit shouldn’t taste this good. Cannot possibly taste this good. But it isn’t just your stomach talking, the biscuit is fucking delicious.
“W… Well?” The Farseer asks, glancing back and forth at you.
You lick your fingers, having polished off the morsel already.
“It was really good, you can cook for me anytime.”
Her face lights up and she beams, eyes wide with delight.
“Really?”
Then she quickly catches herself and looks away again, giving you the cold shoulder.
“I didn’t make it for you or anything, quit acting so grateful you mon-keigh.”
"Even if you didn't make it for me, I'm still glad you let me have it. Got any more?"
The Eldar girl shrugs.

"Not on me, no. But if I had the ingredients I could make more."
Your stomach growls again, reminding you that one little snack isn't going to do it. Fuck you stomach, you and dick both bossing around poor old brain, he never did anything to you jerks.
"Well if your THAT hungry we could maybe catch some fish to cook. From orbital data the oceans here are stock full of fish, and the water is close by." She tsks at you and turns away.
"If it even smells like anything you have cooked for me before, I'm all in."
So with that said, you two set off for the ocean.
"So did you bring a swimsuit?" You ask, trying to start up some conversation.
"Even if I did, why would I wear it for you, pervert?" She fumes.
"Whoa turn the hate off of eleven for a minute. I'm sweaty as Horus in a tracksuit, so I figured I would take a swim."
"Hmph, my undersuit would work fine, but I'm not ditching my armor so you can eye rape me."
Damn this girl is cold...

You feel your luck increase ever so slightly...
Huh.
You finally get to the beach, and it is a damn pretty one. White sands, blue water, cute girl still glaring at you. Ahh... Bliss.
You strip down to your standard issue guard skivvies and run excitedly down to the water. You busy yourself splashing and scrubbing, lost in the paradise of warm tropical water.
You lean back and stretch, taking it all in, when you hear a splash behind you.
"Don't get me wrong, I just decided I needed to cool off!"
By the Emprah...
A white bikini?

Hot giggidy son, those are some psychic xeno tits.
They aren’t big, but they aren’t small, maybe somewhere around a c-cup? You can’t exactly think straight right now. What with the white clashing awesomely with her flowing red hair and vibrant, and fiercely intelligent turquoise eyes.
“Yo, stupid mon-keigh, quit titfucking me with your eyes and get to fishing already.” She says flatly as she cracks you over the head with a rod.
Where the hell did she even get that from? Eldar trickery. But imagining titfucking those glorious xeno-baits, yeah you could do it, you WANT to do it. She thwaps you with the rod again.
Despite your best effort to actually concentrate on fishing, sitting on the beach alongside her, you just can’t. You have a slight bit of Eldar ass cleavage drawing your eyes away from the rod, the sight is mesmerizing. You could lose yourself in it.
There is a sudden tug on your line.

There is a tremendous tug as line starts screaming out of the bail, despite having the drag notched up a bit because you are a fishing noob. The rod is bent single, and you have your feet buried in the sand in an attempt to remain on the beach.
A tremendous explosion erupts from the surface some two hundred yards out. Water soars a thousand feet into the sky from the sheer force of the breach.

Only it isn’t an explosion.

And it isn’t a fish.

Ra’alman, the epic sea beast of Yagis V lore, is hooked on your rubber worm bait.
More serpent than anything else, it’s glowing vorpal red eyes and razor sharp ten foot long teeth are the most terrifying things you’ve ever witnessed. Men have been lost to madness for seeing this creature.
Only a new world, universe, of terror is awakened from its dark slumber as the creature throws it’s head in a blood-draining, suicide-inducing scream.
You grip the rod as tight as you can as you struggle with all your might against the beast.

Do you cut the line and remain on the relative safety of the beach?

Or do you show this Farseer what a real fisherman can do?

“I AM POSEIDON, MASTER OF THE SEAS, AND I SHALL CLAIM YOU AS MY MEAL!”
A sharp tug of the line and you are thrown forward into the seas, which have grown rough and dark, black ominous clouds now looming overhead.
With incredible speed you are dragged down, down, down, into the inky black.
Slowly the dragging stops, and you are left alone in the pitch darkness. You can’t see your own hand in front of your face, or even tell which way the surface is.
You look down and notice two burning, hateful red eyes staring back at you from the nothingness below.
With a quick movement you draw out the small bait knife the Eldar girl gave you along with the rod.
“Time to dance, fishfag.”
But it just comes out as a bunch of bubbles.
With astounding speed the beast rushes for you, and you can feel the sucking motion through the water as the giant opens its god-devouring maw.
You draw your arm back, preparing to strike.

A blinding light illuminates the seas around you, emanating from an anglerfish-like protrusion from the beast’s head.
In the sudden blue light you can see now what you are really up against.
Those teeth are jagged and barbed, ending in points sharper than the most finely honed templar blade. Each again, several feet longer than you are, and there are thousands of them, set in rows, going as deep into the monster’s horrific bowels.
The legends call this the horror-fish. It has been known to devour ships out of the sky.
And if the legends hold true, this beast also is responsible for consuming alive every god that once existed on this fowl planet.
But those are just legends.
Right?

You try to swim upwards as fast as you can, the jaws only yards away now. Your lungs are burning for air, which you are nowhere near.
Ra’alman misses you by a hair, its terrible bony body scraping against your foot, sending a jolt of pain through your whole body.
With no time to think you do the only thing you can come up with, and drive your pitiful knife as hard as you can into the beast’s back. It sinks in.
With all of the creature’s speed you are thrown forward along with it, as the god-eater barrels toward the surface.
It screams again, it’s agonizing song even more soul-devastating underwater.
You lose all hope as your lungs finally give out and you suck in seawater…

Until with the force of a thousand suns, the monster breaches the surface yet again. You are soaring upwards, dozens, hundreds, thousands of feet above the seas below.
“Oh FUUUUUUU….” You manage to yell between coughs of belching up salt water, as the peak of the climb is reached, and the fall begins.
You plummet, ever and ever faster toward the now frigid waters below, which chop and crash as though they too wish to feast on your pitiful human flesh.
At the last second before impact, you ditch the knife and jump for it, crashing down into the water.
You are a pretty good swimmer, but you are a hundred meters from the shore, where the Farseer girl is screaming, you think.
Looking back, you see the hungry jaws of Ra’alman closing fast, dead set on having you for a snack.
“NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE!!!!!” You freestyle as hard and as fast as you can, screaming litanies of protection and struggling against the weak confines of your own frail and now beaten body.
You are so close now…

By the Emprah and those white bikini xeno titties, you are not dying here today. Your strength doubles and you make the final push to the land, running up the beach as fast as you can.
Ra’alman’s momentum carries it up the sand after you, but friction gets the better of it and it is slowed to a halt.
You are mere inches away from its putrid hole, which gnashes and bites at you, now just barely out of reach.
With a frustrated scream, the beast starts to retreat.
But not before coughing and hitting you in the face with a 5lb fish that is still flopping away madly.
“Catch anything?” The Farseer asks coyly.

“Fuck you and every spindly space elf that looks like you.” You splutter as you cough up yet more seawater.
“No really, that big speech and all? I didn’t realize it was directed at this anusfish.” She laughs, shaking the flailing fish in your face, taunting you.
“Yeah well you… Wait did you just call it an anusfish?”
Her grin is ear to ear, leading you on.
“Why yes, Commissar, I did.”
“And why, exactly?”
“Because they taste like ass, according to all planetary data logs.” She can barely contain her laughter at this point.
You stand up and brush off as much sand as you can, trying to regain some air of dignity.
“I’ll have you know, Eldar, that there are some asses I ENJOY the taste of, and if you don’t believe me, bend over and allow me to demonstrate.”

She pulls back a bit, losing the smile.
“I’ll pass on that today, thanks. Though I will cook your anusfish if you so desire, I myself caught this.”
She holds up a four foot long flatfish, it looks like some kind of bottomfeeder.
“Supposed to be the best delicacy of the sea on the whole of Yagis V.” She brags.

“Yeah well, I usually enjoy ass for dessert, not the main course…” You give in as you toss your fish back into the water.
You turn back to her slowly.
“Although you could still make me some dessert later, perhaps?”
Another dive knife goes sailing past your left ear, clipping it ever so slightly, just enough to draw a drop of blood.
“Don’t even think about it worm. The next time you do, I won’t miss.”
Dayum shame, you would eat that ass. You would eat it and be damn proud of the fact.
“Hmph, well since you admit I caught the better fish, I’ll treat you to a good meal.”
She stops suddenly.

“But just for tonight, mon-keigh. Don’t expect me to grace you with my divine presence like this again.”
You don’t say anything as you lay back on the warm sand and watch her work her magic.
That is, until she kicks sand in your face and smacks you with her fishing rod until you get up to go gather fire wood so she can cook.
After collecting everything you can that she needs, you again lay back down to take in the view.
And by the view, you mean that bent over ass shot, as she tends to the fish now filling the nearby area with its unfathomable sweet aroma.
It has been a loooooonggg time since you’ve had anything that could constitute a home cooked meal. The barracks serves high-nutrient slop, and the carry rations are bland and fairly tasteless. You are going to enjoy this, no matter how damaged your pride may be.

Her butt shakes around as she darts this way and that, adding spices and making adjustments with some kind of knowledge likely garnered through thousands of years of perfection and study.
“I can literally FEEL your eyes on my ass, stop that if you want any food!” She snaps at you.
Bah, it’s not like you want dat ass, or anything… baka…
Getting up to stretch out your legs, you really wish you had a beer, it has been months since you’ve even beheld the beauty that is a cold bottle of “Librarian’s Imperial Pale Ale.”

The thought of a beer even fades quickly when you inhale, you can almost taste that roasting fish, your stomach is locked in a civil war on itself.
In addition to the fish; the Farseer also gathered up some assorted roots, which, though glowing a disheartening orange, she assured you were edible.
“Hey, I never did get your name…” You inquire, looking back at the still bent-over Eldar.
“Hah, as if you are deserving enough to be blessed by its utterance.” She retorts.
“I’m Max, Max Decarus.” You reply, ignoring her stinging comments.
“I’m Eshwe Ulthran. My friends call me Esh.”
Her face goes red.
“N-Not that you can call me that, mon-keigh!”
You grin.

“Alright Eshwe.”
“You ingrate, I told you only my friends… Wait did you just use my actual name?” She asks, fishing rod poised to strike.
“Well yeah, I mean, it isn’t like we are friends are we?” You can barely contain your trollface.
She looks like she’s pouting a bit though trying her best to conceal it.
“Anyways, Eshwe, I’m going to find us someplace to crash, why don’t you rest by the fire and call me when the food is ready?”
You turn around and begin to stroll off.
Her hand snatches out and grabs your wrist, stopping you mid-step.
You turn around slowly.
She isn’t looking at you, her eyes are lowered and you can’t see them under her hair. Her cheeks are burning red.
“…You… You can call me Esh… Idiot mon-keigh…”

=== Thread 3: YOU... DOUBLE MON-KEIGH! ===

Thin streams of sunlight pour through the morning dew of the fronds above you. Golden, exuberant, and warm.
You can hear the soft waves as they creep back and forth across the beach, and various birds singing for joy of a fresh day.
The reassuring sounds begin to put you back to sleep. The small shelter you built keeps just enough of the sun out that you think you’ll drift off for another few hours.
All while so comfortably warm, though oddly your front seems warmest despite facing away from the entrance…
Your eyes pry open just a crack, but you can’t see much through the red hair.
Wait wut.
Your pupils dilate as your heart goes from a relative calm to being chased through the jungle by a Eversor assassin in a running battle of drug-fueled destruction that only fate can decide.
It is at that moment you realize, the air around you is actually quite cool, a bit uncomfortably so even.
What’s keeping you warm, in fact, is that you are currently spooning the fuck out of Esh.

Badger shit cunts, this is bad. If she wakes up, she’ll hit you with that spear. Power of a bolter, accuracy of an Exitus rifle. One hit from that and it’s all over.
Unfortunately, you can’t ignore the fact that her barely-covered ass has apparently parked itself right on your dick, which itself is… Well… Fully enjoying the morning, as it were.
You swallow hard, mind racing in some desperate bid to come up with an exit strategy. Your other mind is telling you to have at it and patting you on the back in celebration.
Further damning the situation, your arm is wrapped around her chest tightly, and you can make out some soft underboob.
While it is true you aren’t sure how she will react to this situation, the thought crosses your mind that perhaps it would be best to not find out…

Just as you start to try to disengage yourself from this situation, your own body betrays you.
The sound of you ripping ass, a long-winded release of concentrated warp energy, fills the small shelter…
“JUST AS PLANNED!!” Tzeentch crows happily from inside the warp.
Esh stirs slightly, and for a brief moment it appears that perhaps she will remain asleep.
“Enjoy the moment while it lasts, mon-keigh. For it shall be your last.”
Well, it was nice knowing yourself.

Eshwe sits up, her neck cracking as it turns around to face you. Her normally turquoise eyes are now glowing with arcane energy as they lock onto you.
“Wait! Wait, Esh, this is a misunderstanding!” You stammer, backing up and searching desperately for your pants.
Esh smiles, but it isn’t a pleasant like “Oh ok, good morning though.” Kind of smile. More like a “I will enjoy tearing you apart with my mind.” Grin of madness.

“Damn it Esh, this is your fault! I made you your own place to sleep, what in the Emprah’s name are you doing in my bed!?”
You don’t think this last desperate bid will matter, the air has begun to crackle ominously with energies you cannot even begin to fathom. A small little rat-like thing scurries away, as though even it can sense shit is about to go south.
Esh’s eyes grow even more intense, you can no longer make out her pupils. They are smoldering so bright you can’t even look at them without it hurting your head.
But then, just as suddenly as they had ignited, her eyes returned to normal. Esh looks around slightly before turning back to you.
“I’m not putting it past you to have swifted me away for your… Carnal desires… But I can’t prove it.” She sighs as she crosses her arms.
“I’m going to change.” She adds.
You relax as relief floods though your body. Until Esh clocks you overhead.
“Oi, you, mon-keigh! When a girl says she’s going to change, that means you get out of the room! Go find something for breakfast.”
Esh grabs one of her fishing rods and starts swinging away at you until she herds you out of the shelter. Once you are finally outside she tosses the rod after you.
Well at least you survived the morning. Hell, a part of you even enjoyed it.
You are a bit hungry, you admit. Though one thought seems to be shoving the others aside. Inside that small shelter, which is in no way wind-proof, is a naked Farseer.

A guardsman without his pants is like a boy wifout ‘iz choppah, sumfin bout it ain't right.
“Hold up, Esh, I need my pants!”
You lean back down to the entrance of the shelter. It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust to the dimness.
Esh is frozen, her face a look of shock. Back to you, arms outstretched above her. Wearing nothing but a gaze that says you had better go chance a swim with Ra’alman because he might be more merciful.
A sudden blast of psyonic energy throws you backward, and as you careen through the air, you can’t help but still picture that bare heretical xeno ass. Worth it? Maybe.
You land face down in the sand. As you start to get up, a rough foot on your head shoves you back down.
“If I didn’t have somewhere I needed to be, I would enjoy taking my time murdering you, you… DOUBLE MON-KEIGH!!!”
Esh doesn’t let you up, instead choosing to grind your face in the sand.
“You might be of some use to me later though, so I’ll give you a way to contact me in case I need to summon you, whelp.”
A flash of searing pain explodes in your head, your jaw contorting in agony. You suddenly know what frequency to contact Esh on.
The Farseer is nowhere to be found by the time you pick yourself off of the beach.
You wash the sand off in the alien sea, making sure to stay close to shore and keeping an eye out for the fish-fag from yesterday, as you ponder what to do next…

You decide that checking out the Tau first is probably your best bet. The hot springs are close by and surrounded by thick woods which should offer you good cover to observe from.
You could also use a bath, salt water leaves a sticky residue.

A nearby Sentinel makes for quick travel, or would, if you had any idea how to drive one.
“Empruh titty fucking Terra!” You yell as you faceplant the walking vehicle into the sand. Oh well, you are better off on foot from here anyways. What did the driving instructor call you at basic training again? A “being of unfathomable destruction whilst driving, do not allow within four meters of any controls.” Or something like that.
“Alright, let’s do this shit.” You mutter as you start sneaking through the woods. You may not be a Stormtrooper (not that you were too short to try out), but you can be pret-ty damn sneaky.

The damp ground and thick foliage make it slow going, and you really hope you don’t just stumble into a fucking Kroot or something.
Finally you see more light streaming through the canopy and you can smell a tinge of sulfur. You are close.
Belly crawling now, you avoid a two foot long caterpillar, keeping a close eye on it, when suddenly your head bumps into something hard.
Looking up you stare into the face… Thing… Of a crisis battle suit. A plethora of guns staring your right in the face.
You fully accept your swift demise before noticing the hatch is open, and the cockpit unoccupied. What appears to be a thin yellow skin-tight outfit of some kind hanging off of it.
You sneak away from the suit, finding a bit of high ground next to a particularly large tree.
Poking your head out from the bushes ever so slightly, you are completely startled at what you see.
Down below you, fully visible in the middle of the spring, is a lone Tau.
…And she is gloriously naked.
You watch, utterly infatuated, as she pours water down her front. Soap bubbles run down between her perfectly formed size F, perky and yet round, greater goods.
“Oh this is such heresy…” You groan quietly as you feel a swelling in your pants.
You have never been this close to a Tau, but this one is way different from what you’ve seen before. For starters, clearly a woman.

Her skin is a lighter hue of blue, maybe from lack of sunlight crammed in that suit all day? Bright violet hair falls just past her shoulders. She also looks young, not that you really know what a young Tau girl looks like, but certainly nothing like the grizzled fire warriors you are used to. Just… Young. Like someone your age would look, if they had blue skin.
You know this is textbook heresy, the bolter bitches would be roasting you alive if they knew. “Thou shall not extend thy wood over Xenos.” Or some such. You can’t look away though, eyes glued to the soft curvy body innocently washing itself before you.
The Tau girl reaches down with a cloth and soaps up her plump ass. You find yourself subconsciously fiddling for the mark IIV K.West-pattern sun shield goggles you left with your old gear, as you bite your bottom lip.
She drops the cloth accidentally and starts to bend down to retrieve it.
“Oh Terra…” You lean forward for a better view.
*SNAP*

A twig cracks under your knee and you stop moving, stop breathing.
The Tau girl whirls around and freezes, she clearly sees you.
“Kyaaaaa!” She yells in a high, surprisingly girly voice, before dropping into the water leaving just her head exposed.
Before you can react, she produces a pistol and points it at you with a shaking hand.
“Wait!” You plead, “Wait, I’m not here to fight!” You hold out your hands to show you are unarmed, weapowns in the dirt behind you.
The Tau girl looks at you wide-eyed, terrified. Her cheeks have turned a brilliant pink. “D-did y-you see?” She stammers, still pointing the pistol.
“Only a little! None of your bits!” You lie quickly and hopefully convincingly.
She doesn’t look like she buys it entirely, but she lowers the gun slightly. “A-are you the… The only one here?” She asks quietly.
If you didn’t know any better you would have to think she is actually… Embarrassed?
“Yep, just me.” You tell her in your best soothing voice.
“Pretty sure I’m the last guardsman on the planet too.”
“What d-do you want?” She asks, still hiding her body, though the pistol is no longer trained on your head.
You think hard. You aren’t really sure why you are here, sure the skull data and whatnot. But really, why ARE you here?

“Just a soak, care if I join you?” You ask nonchalantly, as though this had really been your plan all along.
The Tau girls face blushes even harder.
“I guess.” She stammers, clearly torn between an indoctrinated belief and the fact that she is quite without clothes.
Wasting no time you strip down to your heresy-blockers and go into the warm water.
The dried salt is stripped away from your skin, you instantly feel refreshed and for the first time since clambering out of a pile of dead orcs, clean.
“Wow, I can see why you were in here.” You remark as you wipe the water off of your face.
The Tau girl is in front of you, everything under her eyes is now below the water as she watches you.
“Hey, relax, I’m really not going to hurt you, I swear by the Emprah.” You smile and try to look as friendly as a peeping tom can be.
The rest of her head pops up and she smiles at you weakly, her face still flush.
“Well, I’ll admit it is nice having company, I don’t really like being alone.” She mutters as she pushes her two index fingers together, eyes darting between you and the water.
Without warning the Tau girl shrieks and jumps, eyes wide with fright. She runs right at you and you both crash backwards into the water. Blue xeno funbags now pressing hard against your face.

“Hey now, let’s at least see a movie first or something…” You laugh as you try to stand back up, face still entrapped by soft skin.
“Wha-what?” She stammers, looking at you, much of which is buried in her cleavage.
“Well I mean, call me old fashioned but…”
She cuts you off by jumping on you, wrapping her legs around your torso.
“NOOOOHHHH, THE WATER, ROOK!” She screams in fright.
Barely managing to escape from the titty-trap, you look down into the water below, and gulp hard at what you see.
Tyranids. Little ones. They so cuuuuuute.

“What is this, I don’t even…” But you are cut off as she grips you even harder, crushing you with her massive boobage.
“I motherfucking hate fucking tyranids! Fucking Help me!” She cries, still gripping you hard.
Unable to see, but not wanting to be submerged in a pool full of ‘nids, you do your best to start wading to shore.
“Mphf mmphh smeeee” You mumble, mouth blocked.
She stops panicking for a brief moment. “Huh?” She asks.
It takes a bit of effort to wedge yourself further between her tits so you can clear your face and look up at her.
“I can’t see.”

She must have realized now that she is naked, wet, and gripping you hard enough to give you a vivid feeling of her space communist parts. Either Tau girls don’t grow any hair down there, or this one shaves.
Her face turns almost entirely purple, still, she doesn’t let go.
“Just get me out of here…” She pleads.
Well, it isn’t like you to deny a naked female clinging to you.
Walking out is difficult, the bottom of the spring is full of rocks and sudden drop-offs.
It doesn’t help that the little ‘nids have also started biting at you.
“ow Ow OW!” You are running as fast as you can, head bouncing into breasts, as you try to escape the clutches of those annoying little fucks.

Your feet finally meet dry land and you dash up the slope as fast as you can, not sure whether or not the bugs are still giving chase.
A root catches you and before you can react, you are falling. You twist mid-air, as it would be more than a little rude to break your fall with someone you just met.
Your head hits hard and there is a ringing in your ears, but you are alive.
“Ugghh.” Is all you manage to groan, rubbing at your temples.
That is, until you realize there is something warm and wet grinding into your groin.
The Tau girl is still on top of you, her pelvis right against yours. Your boxers are soaked right through and were thin to begin with, and you have some kind of fear-erection.
Oh the heresy…
She is trembling, hands gripping you at the shoulders tightly, breasts dangling inches above your face.
Only you realize, she isn’t looking at you, but at something behind you.
You crane your neck hard, which is painful after the fall, and see the soulless grin of a Hive Tyrant smiling at you from but yards away.
…Acid dripping from what looks like some kind of pelvis-mounted bile cannon.

You snatch up your belt and tear open one of your pouches. Dumping the contents out quickly into a pile of snow five inches high.
Without a word you flop your face down into it, snorting madly.
“What are you doing!? Now isn’t the time to use that!” She screams at you, shaking you madly.
You look up from the pile, your face blanketed with snow, much clinging to your day-old stubble.
The Hive Tyrant closes in, and you think it’s actually laughing at you as it does so.
It’s too late, your desperate bid failed you.

“Sorry babe, I really thought that would work.” You apologize to her, smiling sadly.
Suddenly, the roar of a motorcycle.
“IIII’MMMMM ONNNNNNNNN DRUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Doomrider, in all his flaming-headed glory, bursts from a hole in the warp, headed straight at the Hive Tyrant.
Half a dozen daemonettes cling to him, with ahego faces as Doomrider’s twelve dicks please them all simultaneously.
His bike flies at the Hive Tyrant, and Doomrider slams a bottle labeled “Secret stash” as he swings a massive chain axe at the same time.

The tyranid doesn’t have time to react as its head is lopped clean off.
Just as quickly as he appeared, another warp hole opens and Doomrider sails into it in a flurry of white powder, needles, and semen.
“STAY EXCELLENT!” He cackles madly before disappearing.
The Tau girl’s face is frozen in a “what the fuck did I just see” stare.
You almost lay back down until you hear a fury of scurrying claws from the tree line as four jeanstealers burst forth, charging at you.
Grabbing the Tau’s hand as her eyes spin from the terror, you pull her into a run, barely managing to snatch up your sword and pistol as you do.
Looking back you see the ‘nids eagerly devouring your clothes. They are getting closer to your hat.
The Tau girl is barely conscious as she runs behind you.
Your hat waves sadly back at you as a ‘nid moves in to eat it.
“I’ll never forget you, Commissar-kun.”

You run with all the fury of Angron and the Angry Marines all rolled into one toward your beloved cap.
A tyranid picks up the hat and smiles at the aspect of devouring such a glorious thing.
“No, Hat-chan, nooooooo!!!!”

It’s impossible, there is no way you can make the shot from here. The distance is too great for even your mad laspistol skills. Also your madly jittering hands don’t help, but you feel ALIVE.
Still, you take the shot, and it manages to hit. But the tyranid shrugs off the blow, it’s carapace saving it.
You can only watch in horror as your beloved cap is devoured whole.
“NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” You yell, crashing to your knees, your life suddenly empty.

A bolt of plasma cuts the ‘nid in half.
With misted eyes you see the carcass spinning in the air, xeno guts and blood spraying every which way.
But wait… No… It can’t be.
“HAT-CHANNNNNN!!!!”

The Commissar hat leaves the genestealer body through the ex-back way, and sails to you. Covered in terrible things, yes, but intact.
The Crisis battle suit crashes through the forest behind you, knocking trees aside. With a robot-like efficiency it obliterates the other two ‘nids. Unfortunately with less precision, vaporizing your clothes along with them.

“Nice shot blueberry!” You yell with a fist pump.
The Crisis battle suit kicks the dirt, embarrassed.
“Really, it was nothing….” The booming microphone says.
You wash your beloved hat off in the hot spring, punting any little ‘nid that gets too close.
Heavy stomping shakes the ground slightly as the suit walks up beside you and quickly dispatches the little swimming tyranids.
“Hey, you going to climb out of that thing so I can dance in joy with you or what?” You ask, poking the leg of the suit.
For a moment there is no response, but then the suit turns away from you.
“The… The tyranids found my battle suit before I did…”
You shrug, “So?”
“Well… My clothes were gone.” She finally admits.
An awkward moment is just about to pass when you hear the furious howls of yet more tyranids, having just found their kin shredded by plasma.
“Time to go!” You shout, hopping up, before pausing.
“I’m going to need a ride, there is no way we are outrunning them on foot.”

“Let me in, let me in, LET ME INNNN!!!” The tyranids screams are getting closer, and fast.
The suit reels back.
“B-b-but I’m… NAKED!” She protests, the suit shaking its head back and forth.
“Now isn’t the time to be shy, you were smothering me with your love balloons earlier!” You yell as you search for some kind of exterior hatch-release.
With a hiss the cockpit falls open, and the Tau girl sits there, covering her nether region with one hand and unsuccessfully attempting to cover her breasts with her other arm.
Quickly you hop inside, the cockpit is cramped and alive with light. You don’t read Tau so you don’t know what any of it means though.
The cockpit closes and re-starts it’s forward view screen.
The Tau girl struggles to look around you, moving her head back and forth. She looks like she is torn between grabbing the controls and continuing to hide herself.
“I can’t pilot like this.” She finally admits.
You aren’t left with much of a choice.
“Get up, hurry.”
Without question she rises from her seat, her body pressing into yours.
You swing around her as you assume the command seat.
“All right, now sit down and get this yellow brick of death moving.”
For a moment, nothing happens.
“But I’m naked, and you are ALMOST naked!” She finally pleads.
A tyranid leaps up onto the back of the suit and starts slashing at it furiously.
“No time girl, let’s go!” You spin her around and yank her down onto your lap.
Her ass engulfs your pelvis, and despite your best efforts, your little phallic object stands at attention, poking her in the cheek.

Not that she has time to think about that, as her hands fly over the controls and the suit lurches to life. You are smooshed by dat heretical ass even more as the suit flies upwards, tossing off the ‘nid.
“There are too many, we are going to have to fight them off!” She yells.
“Can you handle this many?” You ask, unsure really how many ‘nids are really out there, you cant see the screen, as it is blocked by epic side boob.
“I can try.” She finally says as the suit crashes back down.
The Tau girl swiftly moves the controls to avoid another warrior that leaps at the suit.
The sudden motion causes both of you to shift hard in the seat, and you find suddenly that it has also disengaged the purity seal keeping you in, as it were.
The phallic object ventures out, ready for exterminatus, as it slips into the crack.
The feel of her still wet ass cleavage encompassing you is beyond words, Slaanesh himself jealous of your pleasure.
There is an massive fight raging outside, but you are in your own little world now.
Every dodge, every strike, causes her to shift around. You can only sit and praise the Emprah for your luck as her wet ass slides back and forth along your heavy bolter.
“We’re going to have to hit the jump jets again!” She yells.
Her ass is thrust down on you, making the most epic hot dog in the universe and awakening the great void dragon.

“In the Emprah’s name…” You whisper, convulsing with pleasure.
You can’t hold it in. Bolter fire explodes on her ass.
Your body shudders as her hips move on their own, grinding on your champion as he fires hot bursts of plasma into the canyon.
“Hah, I finally got them all!” She yells in triumph, until her voice trails off.
“What was that hard thing, and why is my butt wet Commissar?”
She reaches a hand back and rubs her crack, then looks inquisitively at the white heresy on her hand.
The Tau girl tilts her head slightly, before giving her fingers a curious lick.

“Oh man, I can’t actually believe that happened!” Nurlge belches and laughs madly from his throne.
“Hey Tzeentch, hey? Was that “Just as planned?” I thought you hated this guy!”
Tzeentch glowers in the corner, sulking.

"Its... Ah...Food. Guardsman custom for being saved, all yours blue."
She gives you a quizzical look before shrugging.
"It would be rude of me to deny custom, but do I have to eat it off of you though?" She asks, a bit hesitant at the thought.
"Uh... Yeah... Traditions and all, you understand."
The Tau girl pauses for a moment before turning around in the cramped cockpit and lowering her face to your groin.
The High inquisitor has taken a hit, lost a wound, but he stands back up in defiance, ready to blast the xeno.
She begins to lick you, her soft tongue sliding across your thighs and shaft slowly, lapping up the heretical juices.
You moan in ecstasy, and she looks up at you unsure.
"All part of the ritual..." You assure her.
She buys it, and lowers herself back down, brushing the hair out of her face.
She pauses at your defiant champion as he madly waves his chainsword, before taking him in her mouth.
"Praise the Emprah..." You mumble at the sensation. Her mouth is ridiculously warm, and her tongue swirls around you, hungrily cleaning you off.
The inquisitor feels the urge to exterminatus rising as the Tau takes more and more of him, eagerly now.

The second black crusade is rapidly approaching.

"FOR THE EMPRAH!!!" You shout as you bury your sword.
The High inquisitor gives the command, exterminatus.
White hot fury erupts from the flagship, soaring into the foul xeno void.
The Tau girl panics, eyes wide, and tries to pull away. You hold her there though, until the inquisitor, mission accomplished, succumbs to his wounds and shrivels.
When you finally let her go she coughs and then, unexpectedly, smiles.
"Don't think I didn't know what you were up to, guardsman, but you did save me from those awful bugs."
She manages, mouth full.
You can hardly hear her from your position on the golden throne as you and the Emprah celebrate the day.
"Thanks?"

She swallows.
"I'm Ailia!" She finally adds cheerily.

"Max."

=== Thread 4: HERESY, HERESY EVERYWHERE ===

“So Ailia, any clue as to what is going on with this planet?” You ask, as the cockpit opens back up.
The Tau girl shrugs as she wades into the hot spring once again to wash herself off, and you do the same.
“My brother is the Commander, but I haven’t been able to get a hold of him. He’s too tough to die, though.” She says softly as water cascades down her hair
.
“As far as the human presence on this planet, the last time I knew anything was before the Orks started piling on the bodies.”
You had hoped for a more optimistic answer, that perhaps some guard had slipped away and were holed up somewhere high and hard with some heavy armor. It’s depressing to think that everyone you knew in the guard, all of your friends, are dead.
The two of you spend the next hour or so in idle chit chat, Ailia always keeping an eye out for more ‘nids. You get another face full as she leaps back onto you, a stick having floated by and nudged her in the back.
“I’ve got to go try to link back up with my brother, he will be wondering what’s taken me so long…” She finally declares, doing her best to shake herself dry.
“Here.” Ailia says, holding out her personal communicator.
“Let’s exchange numbers!” The Tau girl says with a sincere smile.
You hold out your own after digging it out of one of your belt pouches.

“H-hey, I’ve never done this before…”
“Don’t worry, I’m experienced, I’ll be gentle.”
“Wow, your encryption is so huge! I don’t think it’s going to fit!”
“Relax babe, just enjoy the connection.”
“Ahh! No! It-its too much!”
“Hold on, here comes my data! I’m uploading!!!”
“Hahhh! Your data, its filling me up!”
“Take all of my packets you dirty bitch!”

* *beep*
-Contact added-

“Cool, now I can give you a call after I find my brother and figure out what’s going on!” Ailia sticks her own device back inside the battle suit, before climbing back inside.
“Wait, your leaving?” You ask, again unhappy at the thought of being alone again.
“Sorry Max, but I’ll call you again for sure.” Ailia smiles.
“And maybe next time I’ll show you some Tau customs…” She continues slyly.
You watch sadly as the Crisis battle suit fades into the distance, a cold breeze rustling your jimmies.
It’s not too far of a trek back to the armory, and you change into some new Commissar digs when you get there. You keep the same hat though.
Sitting down, you snack on a ration as you ponder what to do next.

Well, you have had some fun so far no doubt, but maybe it’s time to serious up a bit.
That warp hole nearby was spitting out daemons like a fat feral world girl spits out children. But the latest image from the servo skull shows an open warp hole but no flow of horrific denizens of the warp.
Something obviously isn’t right.
A Chimera should prove easier to drive than a Sentinel, you think. Right up until you lower yourself into the drivers compartment…
“How the fuck are there this many LEVERS?!” You shout, offended at the sight.
After a bit of agitated flailing and bashing of the controls, you manage to get the APC moving.
Several seconds later however, you realize the Chimera is quickly gaining speed and you don’t know how to slow down.
“FFFFFFFFFFfffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…” You are headed dead center at the open warp hole.
Wrenching the controls, you manage to just barely avoid it as you crash right into a large and apparently sturdy wall.
The tank slams quickly to a halt, and you hear the engine quit. Must have pissed off the machine spirit when you insultingly slammed it headlong into a seven hundred meter wide stationary building.
Your head hurts, having bounced hard off of all things, a lever. Still, you crawl out of the back hatch to assess the damage.
You are just about to see if you can back out; get a Maaco paint job, and hope no one notices, when a dark voice stops you in your tracks.
“You dare disturb me? Dare to destroy my feast, insufferable mortal wretch?” The voice seemingly coming from everywhere.
You are sweating hard, painfully aware at how inadequate the pistol now feels clutched in your hand which is trembling slightly.
“You… You shall have to fill it’s place!”
A set of fangs sinks into your thigh.

“OW what the fuck!?” You yell as you turn to face your assailant.
Expecting a towering, terrifying, horrific daemon, you aren’t exactly sure what to think about what you actually see.
“You wrecked my lunch you big dumb meanie!” She screams.
The daemonette is small, much smaller than the others. Unlike the ones you saw yesterday, her boobs are nearly non-existent and hidden in a thin black tube top. Her face is young and far less menacing then the older versions. A small fang juts out from her lip as she scowls at you.
You would call her cute if you were not still concerned about how many ways she could likely torture you to death.
You notice a table flipped over, and various food items littered about it, each in a varying state of disarray. You are just about to apologize when she kicks you in the shin.
“You little brat!” You shout, and before you realize it you have picked up the little daemon by her leg and are now holding her upside-down.
The short skirt she was wearing obeys gravity and before you know it you are staring at the backside of a daemon.
“S-stripes?” You manage to stutter before she catches you in the chin with her other foot. In retrospect, totally worth it, yellow and white is an interesting combo.
“You perv!” The little daemon yells as she kicks you again.
You let her go as you avoid another blow, and she falls to the ground with a pomf.
She glowers furiously at you, the animosity apparent. Her eyes narrow further and you expect perhaps to be eaten by the warp. But just then, a single tear streaks down her purple face.
You realize she is crying, though trying to hold back her tears and avoiding your gaze.
“All I wanted was to eat in peace, and you wrecked it…” She sobs.
Well now you feel like an asshole.

“H-hey, don’t cry!” You stammer, you are really not sure what to make of this situation.
She looks back up at you with her wet eyes, fat tears still streaming down her face.
“I think I’ve got some food in that tank, let me see if I can find it.”
You rummage through the back of the Chimara.
Lasgun cleaning supplies, various junk items, latest edition of Admechgirl…
Found them!
You drag out the box of rations and choose the “chicken emperor salad” as it’s one of the least awful ones.
The little girl begins to eagerly devour the food. You aren’t sure how, you can barely stomach any of those things.
The daemon girl isn’t watching, this might be the only chance you have.
Silently you draw your sword, inching it from its scabbard, praying she doesn’t notice. It looks like she’s remained oblivious as she continues to stuff her face.
It turns your stomach a little to think you are about to lop off the head of this cute little daemon, still, to do otherwise would be heresy.
“SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!”

You spin around in time to see a chain axe speeding toward your face. Barely managing to block the blow, the force of it throws you back nonetheless.
The Khornette laughs madly, swinging the axe in blazing arcs as you struggle to keep up. Each strike you block knocks you backwards from the force.
“TRYING TO KILL MY LITTLE SISTER? I’LL RAPE YOUR FUCK HOLES WHILE THE LIFE FADES FROM YOU, HUMAN!”
It’s no use, you finally realize. She’s far too strong, you can barely keep up and you are tiring fast.
In a last ditch effort you grip the sword above your head, trying desperately to somehow put her on the defensive.
The chain axe catches you in the gut, roaring and spraying with blood and guts as it burrows ever deeper into you.
Pain, excruciating pain.
You are laying on your back, your broken mind trying to stuff your own intestines back into the gaping wound.
Slowly though, a numbness begins to creep out into your body. You are so cold now. Your world grows dark...

It’s so hard to open your eyes, as though some dick techpriest has glued them shut as a prank after an all night drinking binge.

“Max….”

The voice sounds so far away, but the power emanating from it is something beyond comprehension.

“Hey, Max. Dude wake up.”

Finally you manage to crack open your eyes, your vision a bit blurry.
The Emperor himself is peering down, at you. His golden armor is brilliant against the white background, gleaming as though it was brand new.
He is waxing a surf board.
“E-Emprah?” You manage, weakly.

The Emperor nods. “Yeah bro, it’s me.”

It’s a struggle to move your head as you look around. The whole place is just an endless backdrop of white, as though this place exists but doesn’t.
“Am I dead?” You finally ask, unable to look down at your own stomach for fear of what you might see.
The Emperor turns back to his board, a brilliant green one.

“Yeah man, you caught one in the stomach, didn’t you? You are dead, kinda.”

Finally you look down, but with a bit of relief you notice that the wound isn’t there. It takes all of your strength to sit up.
“Emprah, I… I’m so sorry, I’ve been so heretical and…”
The Emperor stands up, his size is daunting. This is beyond your abilities of your mind, to be so close to your god.

“Listen dude, you are the first human I’ve spoken to in a loooonnggg time. I didn’t bring you here without having my reasons.”

Your mind is reeling, the Emperor brought you here personally after you were slain by a Khornette? It has to be some kind of death hallucination.
The Emperor turns and stares out a small window that has opened itself up in the white, through it, what looks like a view of a galaxy. You can’t help but notice, he looks… Sad…

“I’ve been watching for millennia as the universe as we know it tears itself apart at the seams. As my followers, once so righteous and devout, stray from my path and falsify my word.”

This can’t be happening, there just is no way.

“Its… Depressing, to say the least.” He mutters, resting his chin on his fist in deep thought.

If it’s real, than surely you can speak to the Emperor. But since it’s fake, there’s no way he will answer you. This is obviously some kind of chaos god trick.
“Emprah, if I may ask… And I do so with only the utmost veneration. Where have you been? What have you been doing?”
The Emperor turns his gaze back to you, brow knit as though pondering what it means to be a mortal such as yourself.
What seems like an age passes.

“Surfing.” He finally admits. “I’ve been surfing.”

“Huh?” You ask, realizing only than how disrespectful you sound.

“Yeah man. I’ve been taking up lives on feral worlds, ones with nice beaches. Surfing just kind of happened… It had been so long since I had known joy, it really just took over my life.”

The Emperor has spent the last several thousand years surfing… Your body wasn’t prepared for this.
The God Emperor shrugs, putting his board aside.

“But enough about me, I want to talk about YOU.” He says, pointing one gleaming finger right at your forehead.

“Me?” You ask, with a gulp.

“You.” The Emperor confirms. “I’ve been watching you since before your birth, Max. Long have I waited for a mortal righteous and level-headed enough to become my new right hand.”

Your head is spinning. Tzeentch is obviously playing some kind of trick.

“It’s not a trick, Max. While I love all of my children, this task is not something I can bestow upon some zealous chapter master or trigger happy phallic object. Not without them tainting my goal.”

“Emprah, I…” But he holds up a hand to quiet you.

“It was one of my last surfing trips…” His story begins. “I was really ripping it up, the surf was intense. Then suddenly this group of feral Orcs comes charging out. Only they don’t attack me, they start cheering me on from the shore. I spent a lifetime with this group, teaching them the ways of the board. It was then that I realized the mistake of humanity. We shouldn’t be purging the xenos, in this endless conflict. We should be making the universe a more righteous place, and you seem to understand that… Aside from nearly killing that little daemonette, kind of a dick move broski.”

The Emperor laughs at your face, which is surely a sight to behold.

“But first, before I return you to the mortal world, we’re going to a party.”

Are you a bad enough dude to party with the Emprah?

Your broken mind can barely formulate a thought as your lips move on their own.
“A… Party… Emprah?”
He reaches down and lifts you to your feet with one hand.

“Yeah, Chaos gods invited me and told me to bring a friend along. Could have sworn Nurlge said something about Tzeentch but the communication ended before he could finish… Could have sworn he said “shlicking”, whatever that means…”

He spins you around, looking you over thoughtfully.

“The Commissar outfit is pretty stylish, but it could use a bit extra. BAM!”

Your clothes suddenly glow with the light of the Emprah, and they begin to morph. What once was a utilitarian battle garb is now a suit of awesome fit for even the most radical chaos-god house party. They feel just so RIGHT against your skin, as though the Emperor himself had personally tailored them just for you.
“Emprah be praised… I don’t even know what to say.” You really don’t, this is all just so much so fast.

The Emperor laughs, a booming but cheerful kind of laugh. The kind of laugh that when you hear at the pub drinking with your homies, you can’t help but crack a smile and laugh along with.

“Get ready for this, the last mortal I teleported like this described the event as “what?”.” The Emperor rubs his hands together quickly, as though getting ready.
“ZAP!”

And your world explodes into color.

When your mind finally stops freaking out, man, you take in everything before you.
This is, without a doubt, the most epic party ever to exist. It is perhaps even the most epic beyond the very fabric of existence, this party might be existence itself.
The Emperor stands beside you, still wearing his golden armor. Though now a stylish black top hat adorns his head and a massive cane with a swirling galaxy inside it’s shaft, rests in his hand.
“I did set you up with a few dates, some Daemon girls, cute ones to boot. You were going to get a pick one out of the three, to be decided in a strip competition. But I’m not sure if that’s going to happen now, you REALLY pissed off two of them and the third is mad you tried to off her littlest sister.”

He nudges you and points over to a table which seats three of the most beautiful beings you’ve ever witnessed.
The little loli daemonette sits, glowering at you. Only her features are a thousand times more perfect here. She’s wearing a frilly black dress that barely covers her butt, as well as a scowl as she stares.
That Khornette; the one who, well, killed you, is there as well. Her armor is gone and in its place a brilliant skin tight white dress with an embroidered void dragon snaking up the side. Her skin is a cooler red now, and it looks ridiculously soft and smooth even from here. She mouths “I raped your skull holes” even as she glares.
A Nurglette, whom you hadn’t seen before, sips a glowing blue drink through a crazy straw. She is wearing a vibrant orange dress which has symbols of Nurlge that move all about it, somehow a moving image inside the fabric itself. The dress revealing enough of her generous cleavage to speed up your heart. Her eyes watch you, and though she doesn’t glare at you like the others, she looks wholly disappointed.

Now you really wish you hadn’t boned yourself over, a strip competition between these three, the thought almost gives you a heart attack.
“Hey Emprah…” You start to ask, but he shakes his head at you.

“You are a far out dude, Max, but you’ve made your bed and you’re going to have to sleep in it. All I can tell you is that those three are close knit, don’t expect it to be easy to win them back. They were all really excited about meeting you too…”

With that, the Emperor heads off to a bar containing every drink to have ever existed. You can’t blame the guy, you did screw it up for yourself.
He was bro enough to set you up with a chance of a lifetime, not his fault you frittered it away.
You aren’t going to give up though, thoughts of jiggling daemonette bits getting thrown around in your face. You will win these three over, you are just going to have to be one smooth ass operator.
As you approach the table, the three girls stare at you even harder. You can almost feel the dislike emanating from each of them.
This isn’t going to be easy.
You clear your throat.

“Ladies…” You begin.
“Jackass.” The loli interrupts you.
You sigh and take a seat across from them, their glares don’t let up.
“I deserve that, I know. Trying to kill you like that was… Underhanded, at best.”
They don’t seem to care, but you’re not finished yet.
“I hadn’t ever seen a daemon until just a few short days ago, and the first time I did, well… It was nothing too pleasant. I had a lot of friends in that unit, some guys I had practically grown up with. They were my friends, my brothers, and they are all dead now, those daemonettes didn’t show them any kind of mercy.”

Your voice chokes up a bit. You aren’t just trying to pull this off, this shit be sincere yo. You hadn’t told anyone this stuff yet, and though it feels good to let it out, it’s painful to relive.
The daemonette’s faces relax a bit, their eyes growing perhaps a bit softer, as they listen to your story.
“I mean, my best friend was out there. Douglas Tannar, met him in basic training. Dude saved my life on more than one occasion, he was one of the toughest mother fuckers I’ve ever met. He… He got ripped to pieces right in front of me, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.”
You bite your lip, suddenly feeling like being here a whole lot less.
“You know what, I’m sorry, I’m not going to screw up your night. You girls have a fun time…”
You stand up and start to walk away, deep in thought.

Until a small hand grabs the back of your uniform lightly.
It’s the littlest daemonette, and she’s looking you right in the eyes, no longer glaring.
“It’s ok, I forgive you.” She says quietly, before blushing and turning back to sip her drink.
“So, what do you suggest we do?” The Khornette asks, stirring her cocktail which looks disturbingly like blood.
“I’ll let you girls figure it out, I don’t really know and to be honest I don’t know if I deserve to choose.”
The three damonettes look between each other, as though they can communicate without words. You watch for a minute as their expressions change, maybe they really can?

Finally the Nurglette leans back and turns to you.
“Well, we’ve decided to give you another shot, and we might even continue with our earlier… Plan. But there’s a catch.”
A catch? You don’t know if you like where this is going.
“We’ll give you such a sight your mortal eyes might well leap from your head in pleasure, but first, you have to put on a show for us.”
The three get up and grab onto you, leading you away from the party into a private room.
The lounge is empty save for you four, and they close the door behind you. Velvety seats sit in front of a stage illuminated by faint red lights.
Three stripper poles standing erect, dead center.
“Well, go on than, whelp. ENTERTAIN ME!” The Khornette grunts, giving you a shove toward the stage.
What is it they want you to do, exactly? Shit, you don’t know.

“Dun-nun-nun-na NA NA NA NA!” You begin to sing as you start the magic show.
Out of a pocket in your threads, you pull out a pack of cards and start shuffling.
“Dun-nuh-nah nah, NAH NAH NA NAH NAH NAH NA NAH NAH NAH NA NAH NAH NAH NA NAH NAH NAH NA NAH!”
You being shuffling the cards furiously, the three girls staring up at you with “what the fuck am I watching” faces.
“Dah nah na nah na NAH!” You suddenly throw the cards with a snap of your fingers.
The deck flies out right at the girls.
The cards cutting the straps of their clothes…

And their dresses fall to the floor around their feet.
“POOF!” You yell.

The three girls just stand there, faces a mixture of shock and awe. Cards litter the floor.
Oh Emprah.
Dem underwears.
The girls each blush hard, clearly having been caught completely off guard.
Tzeentch is raging from her position at the other end of the party, shredding her paper which reads “Plan”.
The Khornette is wearing a black lace set, complete with garterbelt. You notice she has a push-up bra, and her tits are slightly smaller than you had expected, a c maybe? Is she perhaps self conscious? Maybe with good reason, when you take a look at the Nurglette.
Her underwear is far more girly. Pink and more modest, though her bra struggles mightily it can’t completely contain those massive daemonic gifts. It is alarmingly cute.
The loli is in matching purple panties and bra, each with a printed symbol of Slaanesh on them. She is trying awkwardly to cover herself though.
“Ta-dah!”

“Hmph, I’m not going to let you have the last laugh. Prepare yourself, human, for your mind to be melted.” The Khornette snaps as she pushes you off the stage.
“Oh my, you have some very skilled hands there. Perhaps you can introduce them to me later, more… personally.” The Nurglette coos as she runs her hand down one of the poles.
“It was… A nice trick.” The loli shrugs.
Oh yeah, time for this show to begin. You can barely contain your anticipation.
More multicolored stage lights flip on and an unseen daemonic dj drops a fresh beat.
The Khornette wastes no time and begins grinding her ass into the pole as she rips her bra down and makes aggressive suggestive movements with her tongue.
The Nurglette is a bit more modest, and starts off by flipping upside-down and spinning slowly as she slides down the pole.
The loli looks you right in the eye as she grips the pole hard and close to her body, and begins licking it.
Their dancing continues, growing ever more intense, each one of them slowly stripping off their remaining garments.
Slowly, each of them staring right in your eyes, they walk down to you.
Blood rushing from your head, they all take a seat on your lap.
“Time to pick your date…” The Nurglette whispers in your ear before giving it a little nibble.
“I just can’t decide, it’s too hard of a choice.” You finally concede.
The three look at each other, communicating silently again.

They finally turn back to you, finished with their silent communiqué.
“Well, it can’t be helped I guess. You’ll just have to take all three of us.” Khornette says, swirling a finger around on your pants.
You gulp. While the thought of having not one, but THREE of these girls all up on your junk is exciting, realizing how difficult the task will be to pleasure them all later is daunting.
The three girls put their underwear back on, making sure you get a nice show of it. The amount of ass and titties in your face is obscene.
You love it.
They repair their dresses with a bit of daemonic power and put them back on as well, before finally grabbing you by the arm.
“Time to party!” The loli shouts.
“The Emprah’s work is never finished.” You fist pump.

====Meanwhile...====

The Emperor downs another pitcher of his favorite beer as he laughs at Typhus’s Ork joke. That dude is seriously a comedy gold mine.
“Ah damn, gotta drain the “psycher”, be right back.” He says, slapping Typhus on the back, who turns to tell Slaanesh one about a Tech-priest walking into a bar.
He stumbles a bit as he makes his way to the little gods room, finally relieving himself.
“Oh Terrah, that’s better…”
Suddenly, the lights go out.
“What in my name?” He mutters, spinning around.
Tzeentch is standing there in all her glory.
…Holding her head as she looks at the ground, completely lost on what to do next.
“Emperor… I…” She stammers.
He looks at her quizzically.
“Ohhhh… Screw the plan!” She shouts, throwing herself at him.

"Tzeentch, what are you..." The Emperor stammers, as he looks down at the red-faced chaos goddess.
"Quiet, you fool! Don't ruin this..." She says, before working to strip off his armor.
The Emperor is a bit stunned as he takes in the sight.
"Ugh, this is so hard to remove." Tzeentch grinds her teeth as she pulls at his codpiece.
"It's... Its my first time, so be gentle, ok?" The raven goddess says quietly, face burning.
Slowly, she lowers her queen of change toward his golden throne...
"So...So good!" Tzeentch yells as she thrusts the Emperor's holy sword into her void of chaos.
"I feel the warp overtaking me, it is a good feeling!". He shouts as her hands grab his hips.

====ALSO MEANWHILE...====

"Oh... Max...." She moans softly as a finger slips inside her wet psycherpot.
"Ha...Hah!..." She is on her knees now, and grabs one of her firm breasts. Esh knows this is completely taboo, but she can't stop now, imagining your tongue violating her chastity.
But than imaginary you flips her around so her ass is now in full view.
"W-wait! You cant lick that spot mon-aaahhhh!"
Too late, your tongue begins to lick her dark eldar, and she squirms as she tries to hide her pleasure.
Esh's fingers are moving furiously now, grinding into her most secret places. Her hips are bucking and jumping slightly, and she bites her own arm to mask the obscene moans she cant believe she's making.
"Max! No! I'm... I'm going to...!"
Esh's hips give out under the overwhelming pleasure and she flattens against the ground. Her fingers slow, now slick with her own juice. She let's out a satisfied sigh.
"Wah? What did I... What did I just do?" She ponders to herself in between pants.
"There's no way I like that stupid mon-keigh... It's not even possible...". She finally manages to sit up and make herself decent again.
"Still... Maybe I should give him a call..." She says quietly, looking down at her communicator.

=== Thread 5: TRIPLE HERESY ===

Three lovely daemonettes in tow, each still a bit worked up after their strip-off, you head back into the main room.
The party has intensified tremendously.
There are even more daemonettes of all shapes, colors and sizes dancing inside cages lifted above the party-goers below. A few of them make some cat-calls in your direction, and the three daemons you are with grip you even harder, hissing at the cage strippers.
Nurgle is getting absolutely plastered on some vile looking green drink, which bubbles and steams disturbingly. Isha, holding him by the arm, is trying to get the big guy to slow down but failing because a witty little nurgling is cracking her up with Eldar jokes.
Slaanesh is in a line-for-line competition with Doomrider, each of them already snorting piles the size of your head in a single go. Each of them complete with no less than twenty assorted daemonettes each pleasuring them and getting blasted with purple daemon baby batter in turn. Neither of them seem to notice though.
Khorne, already completely sloshed, is swinging his chain axe at a potted plant while going back and forth between howling madly and bawling his eyes out.
As for Tzeentch and the Emprah, you don’t see either of them.
Strange…
Well, you aren’t going to let it bother you. It isn’t every day you have horny bitches clinging to you.
Oh wait, yes it is.

The girls lead you over to a bar where a Keeper of Secrets is tending, slapping down some truly bizarre concoctions. Most of which, you are pretty sure extend far into DO NOT WANT territory.
There is something very unnerving about a drink with pink flailing tentacles, though many of the daemonettes seem to be enjoying said drink as it… Well… Enjoys them.
Each of your three girls take a turn ordering what they were drinking earlier; bitches have favorites you guess.
Finally the greater daemon looks at you expectantly.
“Uhh...” You mumble, stalling for time.
“I’ll take a glass of Emprah’s Mark, over rocks…” You finally decide.
The greater daemon looks at you like you had just ordered an extra sweet pink lemonade margarita or something, but reluctantly fixes your drink.
You take a sip, the whisky goes down smooth. Doesn’t taste any different from what you remembered either. Hopefully full of chaos tricks, you think to yourself, as you watch a light turquoise daemonette being throat violated by her own drink.
The four of you make your way to an empty table, the three girls crowding around you on the booth seat.
“So uh, ladies. I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced yet. My name’s Max Decarus. Now what names do you fine girls have?” You ask, trying to put your best pimp cane forward.
“Lilith!” The slaaenesh loli yells before the other two can speak.
“Ugh… Little brat… I’m Kaleshi.” The khornette growls.
“My name is Nyx, hun.” The nurglette smiles at you.
“Nice to meet you all.” You say before taking another drink.

The three girls look between each other again. This is too coincidental, they have to be talking to each other somehow.
“Well Max,” Keleshi finally turns back to you.
“What is it you feel like doing?”
“Uhh, you girls want to go dance?” You ask, gesturing with a thumb over to the floor.
The stage is massive, sprawling. You could fit several baneblades on that stage. A plethora of colored lights flash and pulse as the music blares.
“But Lilith doesn’t know HOW to dance!” The little daemonette protests.
“You’ll be fine, dear.” Nyx assures her.
You feel a flutter in your stomach as they take you in hand and lead you over to the massive mob of dancing daemonettes and various warp entities. The last time you danced was at your guardsman graduation ceremony. Your last dance being with a very large and very angry ogryn girl who gave you the choice of a dance or being clubbed in the head, dragged to her bunk, and snu snued roughly all night.
You had chosen to dance.
Suddenly, the terrifying hulk of Khorne himself lurches in front of you and you stop, dead in your tracks.
“ARE YOU HAVING FUN MY SWEET LITTLE SKULL FLOWER?!” He roars, smashing a chair into dust which than ignites and flames out into ash.
Kaleshi smiles at him before jumping up and planting a little kiss on his cheek.
“I’M HAVING A GREAT TIME!” She yells back at him.
With that, the god looks you over, nods as though he doesn’t have much of a choice, and wanders off to find more “BOOZE FOR THE BOOZE GOD!”
“…Wait, I thought you guys were sisters?” You ask, very confused now.
“Well we are, silly. See, technically daemonettes are made when a chaos god eja…”
You hold up a hand, cutting Nyx off.
“On second thought, don’t really want to know the details.”
The four of you finally make it to the dance floor, which you step on with a bit of a trepidation. Well, here goes nothing…

The beat is dropping, lasers are soaring above you through a haze of fog.
You swallow hard, why are you more nervous now than when you were staring fucking ABBADON in the face as you charged him with a sword?
Alright man, gotta play it smooth here. Is all you can keep telling yourself.
You aren’t forced to show your hand, however, as your three dates take the lead for you.
This is almost too much fun to believe. Dancing had never been something you had sought out, but nothing you shied away from either. But now, with these three eagerly swaying and grinding on you…
The music stops, the lights stop, the lasers stop. The crowd hovers on the silence, expectantly.
With overwhelming force it restarts as noise marines pop out of the ground near the DJ and start playing along with the music.
“YOU KNOW, UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, YOUR BRAIN WOULD MELT FROM THAT SOUND!” Kaleshi cheers happily as she jumps onto you, wrapping her legs around your waist, and leaning until she is upside-down.
Nyx is grinding hard on your leg, her eyes closed in bliss as she dances. She looks like she is really enjoying herself.
Lilith, meanwhile, has taken to flailing around madly. Other dancers have to back out of her way as she thrashes and kicks around the dance floor, giggling excitedly.
You are getting a bit taken with the music now, the crowd, the noise. Now you really start letting yourself loosen up as you grab the two older sisters and dance with them. They both look happy you finally came around.
“I’MMA LET YOU NOISE MARINES FINISH, BUT ITS TIME TO SLOW THIS FUCKER DOWN A BIT!” The DJ, a massive unclean one with a shirt reading “Sir Ulric vun Decay” yells over the mic.

“Hah!” Nyx says, wiping off her face as best she can.
“I need to go cool off a bit, it’s way too hot out here.”
And with that, she leaves you alone with the khornette, who’s eyes turn to you.
“Guess it’s just us…” You shrug.
“…mmm…” She barely answers, biting her bottom lip and looking away.
You didn’t know a khornette could blush, her cheeks glowing an even darker red. Its… Pretty damn cute, you are forced to admit.
“Shall we?” You ask, holding out your right hand to her.
Kaleshi looks at it with uncertainty, before lowering her head and refusing to make eye contact. She mumbles something.
“Pardon?”
“I… I don’t know how.” She finally answers, blushing even harder.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let you look bad.” You smile sincerely and take her by the hand.

With ample hesitation, she follows you. Gathering as much smoothness as you can muster you place your hands on her waist and show her where to put hers. She does so, but still adamantly refuses to look you in the eyes.
The song is slow, but sweet rather than mournful. You don’t think too hard on it, nor the crowd around you. Your gaze is fixed firmly on the now shy khornette who killed you but several hours ago. And you are enjoying every second of it.
So wrapped up are you, that you don’t even notice as the crowd backs off around you, leaving just you and her alone on the massive dance floor.
“Hah! Hey Max, we’re the only ones dancing!” Kaleshi exclaims, trembling as she looks around to the crowd who is watching you two.
“Don’t worry about them, just loosen up and have some fun.” You tell her, though in the back of your mind panic bells are sounding and the Admiral is demanding status reports.
Finally, her eyes move up from their focal point of boring through your chest, and meet your own. She looks terrified, but maybe a bit happy too?
You lead her though the whole song, dancing as best as you know how.
Sir Decay dabs his eyes with a soggy brown cloth and a noise marine looks at him, puzzled.
“It’s just fucking beautiful, man.” He answers as he turns back to watch you and Kaleshi dance.
After what seems like an eternity, a new song fades in and one by one the crowd rejoins you. Kaleshi sighs heavily in relief.
“That was, without a doubt, the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done.” She admits as she grabs your hand and leads you over to the closest bar, ordering herself the same drink as earlier with the addition of ice.
“You did really well.” You tell her.
“Hmmm…” Is all she says in response.
A minute or so goes by as she rapidly sucks down the drink.
“Well, I’m going to go find those other two idiots and get cleaned up a bit. Here.” She says, thrusting something into your hands.
“Be there in an hour.”
And with that, she disappears out of sight.
You look down and open your hand. Resting in your palm is what appears to be a room key, etched with glowing demonic letters that reads “Suite 66”.
Well, looks like you have an hour to bun.

Before you can decide what to do, you feel a heavy gauntlet land on your shoulder.
“STOP RIGHT THERE IMPERIAL SCUMMMMM!!!!!!”
Doomrider’s flaming head lowers into view, grinning madly.
“Doomrider! My man!” You shout, as he bro-fists you.
The drug fiend biker takes the seat next to you, and lights up what looks like a cigarette.
“So, how goes it? Looks like you and the blood god’s kid had some fun out there.” He leans back as he takes a slow draw.
“Yeah, she’s actually a lot sweeter than you would think.” You can’t help but grin as you think about it.
“Glad to hear you’re having a good time. I beat that fucker Slaanesh and he’s dodging me because he refuses to pay up on the bet.”
Wait the fuck out, is Doomrider being chill as fuck right now?
“Hey Doomrider, you aren’t normally this chill, what gives?” You ask, taking a sip of another whiskey.
Doomrider exhales, a cloud of vibrant green smoke rising from his teeth.
“Yeah, purified Eldar souls.” He says, holding out the joint.
“Want to give it a try?”
“…Well… It isn’t every day you get a chance to try something like that.” You admit, accepting the glowing purple j.
With a bit of hesitation, you slowly inhale.

The voices of ten thousand Eldar crying out in tremendous pain fills every inch of your mind. All of your senses blank out, it feels like you are spinning at a million miles an hour.
Suddenly you are perched atop a landraider as it hits a hill and goes roaring up, flying into the air.
“ITS YOUR ONE WAY TICKET TO MIDNIGHT! CALL IT! HEAVY METAL!!!”
You sail about the galaxy on the tank, vibrant colors flashing and spinning all around you.
Just as quickly as it began, so does it end.
“Dude WHAT?”
Doomrider grins.
“Pretty crazy shit right?”
“Yeah…” You admit. Your head feels very strange, somehow… More perceptive?

“Did that… Do something to me?” You ask, a bit afraid as it feels as though your mind has begun to stretch.
Doomrider shrugs as he takes another drag.
“No idea, no human’s ever done Eldar before.”
“…Right…”
Still, the feeling isn’t a BAD one, just very different.
“I’m not going to die though, am I?”
Doomrider looks over and laughs at your question, shaking his head and barely managing to take another hit.
“You’re in here already, aren’t you man? Quit freaking out, everything will be cool.”
You are staring very intently at the glass in front of you,
making sure you have a firm grasp on reality… Though you admit, you aren’t sure if the warp counts as reality.
Your body lurches as you sneeze unexpectedly.
The glass in front of you shatters into pieces without having been touched.
Doomrider cracks up, shaking from the laughter so hard he fucks up and starts coughing up plumes of green.
What did that stuff DO?

“SLAANESH YOU FUCK! GET BACK HERE AND GIVE ME MY RAPE HANDS!” Doomrider screams and summons his motorcycle, roaring off in pursuit of the pleasure god, leaving you alone.
The bartender looks at you dubiously as he cleans up your mess and sets another drink down in front of you, which you quickly down.
You glance at the clock, half an hour has passed by.
Imagining your good luck, as you turn over the room key in your hand, gives you a bit of your bearings back.
Yeah you may have just inhaled a couple thousand psychers, but it probably won’t have any lasting and far reaching consequences… You can’t even assure yourself about that, as you explode the glass again.
The bartender looks at you, and you get the feeling it's time to go.
You've got about fifteen until you have to go find the room. You spend the time in a bathroom doing your best to get cleaned up a bit yourself. You notice you have got quite the start of a beard going on.

Fuck it, you are still a soldier after all. Hell, you give yourself a brazillian.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!” You shout into the mirror.
A khorne berserker leans back from a urinal to give you a weird look.
Ignoring him, you towel off and slap on some after shave.
You are pretty tense at the thought of what is about to happen. You’ve never been with three girls at the same time, let alone three daemonettes. How long does a daemonette even last in bed? Can you even sate one of their thirsts let alone three?
Shaking your head, you give yourself a pep talk in your head.
“Cmon kid, you can do this shit, just remember everything I’ve taught you.” Creed says as he sprays some water in your mouth, his beady eyes fixed on your opponents.
Looking over at the other side of the ring, three daemonettes all dancing around, mocking you.
*Ding ding*
You fist pump, you can do this shit.
The card slides into the box on the door, and there is a faint click and a red symbol of khorne changes over to a green nurgle one.
With a quick push, you enter the room and shut the door behind you.
“Oh…My…Emprah…”

The three daemonettes are lounging around in their underwear, their hair still a bit damp, clearly they have all been in the shower. Each of them is staring right at you.
“Oh? Lost the beard did you, shame. Though you do look, statuesque.” Nyx coos as she flips over onto her stomach, rotating one of her feet in the air.
“Nice of you to join us.” Kaleshi says coolly from her seat on the bed. You notice she’s tried to boost her boobs even more and has done up her hair stylishly.
Lilith is too busy playing vidya on the hologram to do anything but mutter something incoherent.
Your heart is pumping furiously and the phallic object has awoken from his nap and grabbed its power sword, facing the daemons with the weapon bared right at them.
“Oh!” Nyx exclaims when she sees it, faking embarrassment as she puts a hand to her cheek.
Well, it isn’t fair to be the only one wearing their party garb.
You strip off your suit until you’re wearing nothing but your golden boxers that shine in the sensual lighting. The hat stays too.
“Ladies, who’s ready for their punishment first?” You manage, crossing your arms and ignoring the phallic object who is shaking and sputtering like a mad kroot tied to a tree.
The three girls all look at each other again, you know they are discussing silently amongst themselves.

“It’s my turn first!” Lilith shouts, shoving the other two aside as she leaps at you. Two feet to the chest and you are knocked onto your back, landing hard on the bed.
The eager little daemonette rips off your boxers and freezes, staring intently at your power sword.
You watch as she gets close to it, looking it over as though it were some kind of scientific experiment. Her tongue reaches out slowly, and she gives it a lick.
Its blatantly obvious, as she increases her licking and kissing, that she doesn’t really know what she’s doing. But the innocence is a massive turn on.
Lilith takes as much as she can, which admittedly is more than you thought she would be able to, and starts going to town on it.
You look down at her and notice she is obviously enjoying it, likely driven by some innate primal desire, but enjoying it nonetheless.
She slurps as her mouth finally releases you, and the little daemonette crawls up until she’s hovering over you.
Her face contorts in a mix of pleasure and pain as she lowers herself slowly, your power sword piercing her frontal armor with a STR10 attack.
“Ahhh… So good…” She moans and before you know it, she’s rapidly picking up the pace. The tightness is beyond comprehension, and it quickly has you at the edge.
Lilith puts her arms around you as you sit up and grab her hips to help her out. She’s panting heavily in your ear as she grinds herself around.
“Ngh!” You feel her tense up suddenly than become instantly and incredibly relaxed.
“Haaaah…” She moans, sinking down.
Before you know it, she’s asleep. Leaving your phallic object very worked up and cranky.
“Hmm, looks as though it’s my turn already.” Nyx smiles as she lifts the limp little daemon off of you and sets her on the rooms other bed.

Nyx pushes you back down to the bed as she unhinges her bra and lets her massive gifts of nurgle out for you to see.
They are quite glorious.
She gives you a bit of a show as she bends over and slowly pulls off her panties, revealing the heresy underneath.
Nyx sees you watching intently and giggles.
“Don’t worry Commissar, I won’t leave you so indisposed.”
She lays down on the bed and pulls you over on top of her.
Still wet and worked up from the appetizer, the phallic object dives into the main course.
Though not as innocently tight as her sister, she is still beyond what you had expected. Completely not according to plan, she yelps in pain.
“Huh?” You freeze, worried you really screwed something up.
Nyx blushes and runs her fingers lightly along your back.
“Sorry…” She mumbles, “It’s my first time.”
You keep going as she pulls you closer, making sure to take it easy on her this time. You had always expected a nurglette to be dripping, disgusting, and smelly, but none of those is the case.
Nyx makes sweet little noises as you slowly start to increase your speed, you can feel her starting to pull you in faster and faster.
Her nails dig into you a bit and she stares into your eyes. She looks incredible, and very happy.
“Oh Max…” She groans, closing her eyes. You catch the signal and thrust harder and faster. Nyx is pushing herself up into you now, and one of her hands reaches behind her head and grabs the sheet.
“I-I’m…!” But she doesn’t have time to finish before you feel her insides pulsate and her back arches in delight. She stays like that for several seconds, before lowering herself back onto the bed with a satisfied sigh.
“You're turn.” She says coyly, before pushing you out mischievously.

“My turn.” You answer, flipping her over onto her knees and ramming yourself home. She yells out startled, but doesn’t protest.
You grab hold of her luscious ass as you drive your sword as deeply into the void as you can. The world around you is faded out and you can feel the warp overtaking you.
With one last slam you give into chaos, sending your marines into the very center of evil.
Forgetting to ask about the consequences you rapid fire your plasma cannon. Nyx continues working the gun until it stops shooting.
“Hey… Nyx?” You ask, now a bit worried.
“Don’t worry about it.” She eases your fears, “I'll make sure to name him after you.”
Him? Well that’s good to hear.
You suddenly realize you don’t see Kaleshi anymore…

“BY KHORNE, WHY AREN’T WE FUCKING YET!?” Kaleshi shoves Nyx to the side with a bare foot.
Maybe she isn’t all rage and hate, you think to yourself, as you notice her finger and toe nails are painted yellow. Honestly, that is kind of cute.
She grabs you and shoves you into a chair.
“You had better not screw this up for me, mortal.” She says as she drops down to her knees.
She is looking right in your eyes as she grabs a hold of your plasma cannon, which is getting hot again. Oh Emprah is it getting hot.
Your phallic object, though intrigued at the prospect of investigating the perils of the warp, is a bit unnerved at the khornette’s fangs. You can’t blame him really, one hit from those ignores all saves.
Though there isn’t much time to think about it before she drives herself all the way down to your hips, your two little squigs getting an introduction to her chin.
This is way different than anything you’ve experienced before. Her tongue lashes at you violently, but it’s smooth and wet so the feeling is beyond words.
You have quickly forgotten about her teeth, as you haven’t felt a single fan scrape your power armor. Her mouth is hot, matching her temperament, but it isn’t unpleasant in the least.
Instinctively your hand moves down to her bobbing head and you run your fingers through her blinding white hair. It turns a bit strange when you bump up against one of her horns, and she stops to look at you quizzically.
“Don’t… don’t touch those.” She mumbles through the side of her mouth.
Her pace quickens and your phallic object is struggling against all the powers of chaos which are attempting to force him to press the “exterminatus” button, but he refuses to give in, though he can’t hold out much longer under such a brutal attack.
Kaleshi looks up at you, one eye closed from the strain of her pace and the depth of your power weapown.
“Fuah!” She releases you, spit oozing down her lip in a long strand.
“Now it’s time for some real fun!” She says excitedly.
The khornette smirks at you, and you can’t help but smile back.
She giggles cutely as she reaches under the chair, and pulls out a thin obsidian looking knife.
With one quick slash, she separates your phallic object and his two servo skulls from their flagship.

Your mind replays it again and again, over and over as nanoseconds tick by. The scene vivid but unreal in your head. There’s no way, that didn't actually happen. Can’t be.
You don’t feel any pain, true, but looking down…
Yep, it’s definitely not there.
Only there isn’t some gaping wound either, just flat nothingness, as if there had never truly been anything there to begin with.
Stranger still, as the khornette grins maliciously and licks the tip of your severed goods…
You can still feel everything.
You spasm in your chair as Kaleshi thrusts your sword to its hilt yet again, she can barely keep one eye open as she struggles to bury it ever deeper. Despite the horror of the situation, you are still on the verge of losing your heresy juice.
“Hah!” She says victoriously as she withdraws it from her mouth.
“I knew you were ready to blow early, and I’m far from finished with you, human. This way, you can’t climax until I feel merciful enough to let you!”
With that, she plops down on all fours and turns so her ass faces you. Smooth, firm, you would normally appreciate this view. Under circumstances where you hadn’t just been “cut off” as it were.
The khornette takes your bolter in hand, still dripping from her oral assault, and plunges it into her warp.
“Wha!” You can’t stop yourself as you convulse in pleasure. The sensations somehow flowing into you despite the… Separation anxiety.

If Kaleshi’s mouth was hot, her sweet daemon hole is burning. Despite the rough and tumble front she puts on, her body is soft and pleasant, especially the inside.
The red skinned warp girl starts moaning quietly, her face against the chaos-star patterned floor, as she works your very confused but very aroused phallic object, grinding him around inside of her.
“Ahh… This is so much better than just doing it myself, the other girls were right.”
She stops, abruptly, and turns her head to look at you. Her eyes are wide and her face is quite in shock.
“Didn’t mean to say that out loud?” You inquire, trying to put up a brave front despite your current predicament.
The khornette’s face regains its angry demeanor, but she can’t hide her flush cheeks.
“Stupid mortal, I was being kind to you earlier, but now… NO MERCY!”
Your back arches and you cry out as she plunges you back in as hard and deep as she can fit it. This feeling… You can even feel your little sacs of love slapping into her juicy ass as the khornette ravages herself, her hips getting into the motion and actually pushing back to meet each thrust.
She isn’t making any effort to stifle her moans now, and the lewd yet somehow innocent sounds make the fact you literally cannot pull the trigger all the more frustrating.
You can tell Kaleshi is getting close to her limit now, her eyes clamped shut and her breath shallow and fast as she uses you as quickly as her hand allows.

She stands up quickly, backs up to you, and plops down on your lap.
There is a faint red glow and a hiss, and you suddenly find yourself whole again. Thank the Emprah, that was fucking terrifying.
You get the hint and grapple her back onto the ground. She growls at you as she lays on her stomach, looking up at you menacingly, but you know she’s enjoying it.
“RAAAAAAHHH…~ahhh~!” She cries out of the blue and grabs another chair leg before winging the whole thing across the room where it shatters against the wall. Daemonic warp energy sparks and crackles across the floor, knocking pictures off of the wall and tipping over a dresser.
She’s breathing heavily and looks very flustered now.
“Did you just…”
“I did.” She snaps before you can finish.
Well, whatever, you aren’t done yet. In the chaos you seem to have come disengaged from assault, so you move back to go into BtB combat. You thrust your power weapown forward, ignoring all armor saves this time.
Suddenly Kahleshi jumps and yells in surprise, arching her back and whipping her head around to look back at you. Her face a mixture of shock and horror.
You look down and quickly realize your mistake.
“Surprise!”

…She doesn’t seem amused.
Not that it matters, your already finished, and you fall back onto the floor, exhausted.
“You didn’t…” She asks.
“I DID.”
“Ugh… Gross.” Kaleshi sighs in what you think is mock annoyance.
The dirty deed done and the fun times winding down, the girls let you shower off first, despite your protests.
After which, they kick you out so they can get cleaned up, telling you to be back in another hour.
You step back into the party, now severely diminished. Doomrider is chatting up what two daemonettes, while still looking around, Slaanesh must have escaped.
Taking the seat next to him as the daemonettes leave to go back to the dance floor, you down a whole Nidade in one gulp.
“HAD YOUR FUN DID YOU?!” Doomrider asks, back to his usual self as he helps himself to seven needles of some strange glowing blue concoction.
“Can’t say I didn’t.” You respond, reaching for another drink.
“SO MORTAL, DID YOU DECIDE ON A DATE YET?” He cackles madly.
“…Date?”
“SURELY YOU JEST, EVERYONE KNOWS A MORTAL BEDDING A DAEMONETTE IS AN OLD SCHOOL MARRIAGE PROPOSAL.”
You drop the blue sports drink, as your jaw hits the floor.

=== Thread 6: TSUNSEER ===

“I’m not joking, don’t call me shirly, and are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!?”
Doomrider laughs and shrugs before his motorcycle appears underneath him and he goes screaming away on it.
Well shit.

The walk back to suite 66 seems as though it takes an eternity. The daemonettes dancing around and having fun now appear slightly less carefree, as though you’ve discovered some terrible ulterior motive.
Your hands tremble a bit as you fish out the key and it takes you several attempts to fit it in the right way to unlock the door.
Kaleshi looks up from a Sudoku book as you enter. She’s wearing a small pair of glasses and has a pen sticking out of the corner of her mouth. You never thought a daemonette, let alone a khornette, would play Sudoku of all things. Nyx and Lilith are asleep on the other bed. Though you don’t really care about any of that right now.

“Kaleshi.”

“Max.”

“Are we… Engaged?”

The khornette raises one eyebrow, stares at you for several uncomfortable seconds, than sighs.
She sets down her book, marking her place with a miniature chaos banner.
You follow her as she grabs your hand and leads you out of the room into the quiet hallway.
“What is all of this now?” She asks, arms folded and an incredulous look on her face.
“Uhh… Well Doomrider told m…”
Kaleshi snorts, interrupting you.
“Doomrider? You believed Doomrider of all daemons? Never thought he’d get some pleasure out of screwing with you a bit?”
You feel a bit relieved at her words, and let yourself laugh a little.
“Yeah I guess I didn’t think that one through, did I?”
Kaleshi shrugs.
“Well he didn’t outright lie to you though.”
“Pardon?”
Kaleshi sighs again, heavily, before looking away from you so her silvery white hair obscures her face.
“Would… Would it be that much of a problem? If we were…?” She starts playing with a strand of her hair nervously.
You pause. This is something you hadn’t really thought about. Would it be too terrible, life with three daemonette waifus?
“I hadn’t really thought it over. I don’t really think I would mind.”
Kaleshi giggles, and turns back to you with a wide smile.
“Well that bit of daemon law is ancient and no longer actually binding. Besides, if you even want a SHOT at me, you’re going to have to court the fuck out of me first.”
The awkward silence between you two is broken as the Emprah walks around the corner and waves.

“Yo, Max! Time to get you back into your mortal, fleshy self again before time runs out.”

You turn back to Kaleshi, who plants a kiss on your cheek.
“Have fun, and here’s the personal communicator for the three of us.”
“Daemons have personal communicators?” You ask, pretty surprised.

“>40k”

“>not having a personal communicator”

Kaleshi responds with a very strange face…

“Alright Emprah, I’m ready for the teleport now.”
The Emperor laughs, slapping you on the back.

“Too much chaos interference to do that right now, don’t want you waking up with tentacle arms or something. No no, we’re going to have to ride on out far enough to do it.”
“We’re going to do what?” You ask, not liking the sound of it.

“Surf, Max. We’re going to surf the warp.”

With a final goodbye to your favorite little Khornette, you follow the Emperor as he leads you around.
Your mind is blown as he takes you out onto the stern of what is actually a massive ship. This party has been on one massive boat this whole time.
The scene outside the ship only furthers your downright terror at what the Emperor told you moments ago.

“Oh man, you have no idea how STOKED I am to do this!” He sings as he pulls two surf boards from a closet.

You manage to peer a bit more over the edge and swallow hard. Purplish warp-ness flowing all around you, swirling and moving in maddening ways. Your body is not ready for this. What was that large glass box that just sailed past with two guys in it? Fuck, you don't know.
“Uhm, Emprah. I don’t mean to sound doubtful in your own
awesomeness, but this may well stretch beyond my realm of abilities…”
The Emperor looks up from gazing into the warp giddily. He doesn’t appear to have heard you.

“Grab that board dude, time to get ready. This party made Slaanesh generate some kind of huge pleasure swell and that’s what we’re going to surf on out of here.”

With shaking hands you pick up the board he left for you, a red and black one with the emblem of the Admech on it.
Your mind is spinning. There is no way you can do this, what happens if you fall? What happens if the Emprah leaves you behind? Too many questions, no answers, no time.

“LETS DO THIS RADICAL THING!”

The Emperor shouts as he jumps off the back of the ship, shoving his own board underneath his feet.
Well, if you don’t go now, he WILL leave you behind.
Nothing could have ever prepared you for this, you are probably going to die.
Those are the only two thoughts you manage to have before you leap out into the void, clumsily trying to fit your own board underneath you.
You can see the Emperor beneath you, who appears to be falling slowly and gazing back for the massive wave that is HOLY FUCKING GOLDEN THRONE IT’S RIGHT GOD DAMN BATMAN BEHIND YOU!
“OH FUUUUUUU EMPRAH!!!!” The glowing vorpal wave of pleasure rockets you forward and sends you spinning end over end, holding onto your board for dear life.

“Yeah man! Show that wave who’s Emperor! Make that wave your BITCH!”

The Emperor cheers you on, completely oblivious it seems to your plight.
It takes everything you have, but you manage to right yourself until you are again standing on the board. This doesn’t make the ride any less terrifying.
Still, you relax just slightly when the Emprah himself glides up to ten feet or so to your right. The look on his face one of absolute joy. Well at least he’s having fun…
“Hey Emprah! How long until you can do that teleport thingy or whatever to put me back in my real body?” You shout over to him.
The Emperor turns his head and looks back at the ship which is growing ever smaller behind you.

“Bout tree fiddy!” He yells back.

What by the C’tan does that even MEAN!?
You don’t have much time to dwell on it, as the Emperor banks hard on the wave. Not wanting to be separated, you do your best to mimic him and follow along.
That is, until you slip and fall into the massive wave right beneath you.

Unfathomable pleasure washes over you, pure pleasure. The feeling beyond words. Almost enough to make you release your death grip you have on your board above you.

Almost.

You struggle to pull yourself back onto your board, gasping for air. Not that any of this makes any sense, air in the warp, seriously?
It takes everything you’ve got to stand back up again, knees shaking.
Thankfully the Emperor is right beside you again, though he doesn’t seem concerned.

“Knew you would make it bro!” He laughs happily, clearly enjoying every second of his time on a board.

“This has been the most bizarre and terrifying ride of my life. Are we far enough for the colors and the warping?” You ask, ready to be back on dry land again.

“Few things I’ve got to tell you before that.” The Emperor says, his face becoming serious.

“We had a talk about what I wanted you to accomplish, but I’ll have to get back to you on when and how to get that ball rolling… I ran into some… Uhh… Complications with Tzeentch…” He fumbles his words, looking distant for a moment.

“You got strange with that chaos goddess, didn’t you?”
The Emperor sighs, than shrugs.

“According to Nurgle she’s been infatuated with me for a few millennia now and just didn’t know how to approach me, couldn’t work up the courage.”

You let him leave it at that.
“It’s been a… Radical ride, dude.” You tell him.

“Yeah man, you’re a pretty awesome dude. Oh, by the way, I can’t save you from death again.”

“…Wat?”

“Yeah you know dude, can’t let it change your character and all that. Plus the next time I do you would probably fail a perils of the warp roll and self destruct or something. We will talk again though. SHAZAM!”

You wake up suddenly, jolting upright, and slamming your head into the rear hatch of the Chimera.
Your head is still ringing from the impact, you hit that door fucking hard.
With a groan you rub your poor forehead, but the ringing doesn’t subside.
Wait, that’s your personal communicator.
It’s a bit of a struggle to find which pocket it’s in, your head does still hurt after all.
“Hello?”

“MAXWHERETHEFUCKHAVEYOUBEENANDWHATHAVEYOUDONE!!!!!!!!”

The volume causes your device’s speaker to screech in protest and you hold it at arm’s length from your head. You can still hear a flurry of words, many of which you believe to be a foreign language.
The screaming subsides briefly and you venture a bit closer to your own mic.
“…Esh?”

“YOU VANISHED FOR A BRIEF SECOND BUT NOW I CAN FEEL. YOUR. MIND! WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO!?”

“Uhh… Well…”

“Um, Its quite a bit to explain… You see…” You give her a brief summary of the events that transpired, carefully leaving out the bits about banging three daughters of chaos gods.
A minute goes by of silence, you aren’t really sure what drove you to tell her the whole story. Even you have to admit, you will be lucky if there isn’t an Eldar hit team out after you now.
“…Still there?” You ask quietly.
“So let me get this straight. Not only did you consort with that vile Slaanesh… THING. But you accepted and actually smoked the souls of THOUSANDS of my people?”
Yeah, she’s probably going to have you killed. You don’t know how to answer that. She doesn’t say anything more either.

“…Max… That’s so…”
Aww shit, here it comes.
“That’s so… Selfless.”

Wait, did you just hear that right? You press your device as close as you can to your ear. Is Esh… Crying?
“I mean, to take it on your own shoulders to save all those poor Eldar from being consumed by that hell… Knowing full well the consequences… That was so brave.”
This is Eldar trickery, has to be.
“Yeah well, couldn’t let Slaanesh have those souls if there was something I could do about it… I guess?”
Esh bursts into sobs and you can hear her frantically moving stuff around in the background.
“You alright?” You inquire.
“D-Do you want to come over… For dinner?” She asks finally.
“Umm… Yes?”

“GREAT!” Esh yells, no longer in tears.
“Uhh… Hah… Give me like half an hour to get ready. I’ll send a warp spider to pick you up.”

And with that, she hangs up.
You waste your time flipping through that discarded Admechgirl magazine. Some of those enhancements, wow. Can she really? With those? Oh Emprah.
Suddenly, a warp spider pops into your view.

“Sup.”

“Sup?”

He grabs you, and suddenly you are standing on the inside of an Eldar ship.
Esh’s grin of pure malevolent evil staring you right in the face as she eagerly sharpens the tip of her spear.

“Aww shit.”

“Ha ha.” She beins to laugh slowly, quietly.
“Ha ha ha ha…” Raising her spear and pointing it right at your chest.
“Listen Esh, I can explain…”
You barely manage to leap out of the way as the spear thrusts through the space occupied by your heart barely a second ago.
“EXPLAIN!?! YOU CAN… EXPPLLLAAIIINNN?!?!?!”
You are ducking, dipping, dodging and ducking to avoid the repeated thrusts, unable to get a word in lest you catch one through the gut.
“YOU KNOW DAMN WELL, IDIOT MON-KEIGH, WHAT YOU WERE DOING!”
A fateful jap catches you finally, you should have known you weren't agile enough to dodge an Eldar's attacks forever.

==== MEANWHILE ====

Helena sighs from her perch on her Leman Russ "noboyzallowed".
It's a hot day, and even in her very minimalist bikini she's sweating.
"Hey Helena, Admech says they can get our main gun back up and running but it's going to take a day."
Helena smiles at her best friend Sarah.
"No problem, we don't have anything much to do today anyways."

Sarah nods.
"Hey, how's that stupid brother of yours doing?"
Helena's smile fades.
"I... I don't know. He was sending letters pretty regularly but we haven't heard from him at all in a while..."

Sarah sighs as she flips through the schematic booklet "Your Lemon Russ and You: 574 Ways You Can Still Serve the Emperor But Make It a Bit Easier On Yourself."
"You know him, he probably got drunk and fucked the nearest officer or something retarded like that."
Helena laughs, but it isn't sincere.

"RAAAAA!!! You infernal machine spirit, accept this part damn you!" The Tech-priest working on the tank suddenly shouts, slamming his wrench into the tank repeatedly.
"Yo! Gearhead! Easy on the goods!" Sarah shouts down at him.

"BY THE OMNISSIAH YOU WILL TAKE THIS SENSOR AND YOU WILL LIKE IT!" He shoves the part in and the tank finally relents, a red light changing to a green.
Helena laughs, Frederick's antics having grown on her a bit since meeting him.

----

The Eldar's blade nicks your shoulder just enough to draw a faint line of blood. You know you can’t keep this up forever, but the stabs are becoming slower, less passionate, until they finally cease.
Esh looks at you solemnly.

“You may have not known what you were doing, and your intentions were surely misguided at best, but you did save those souls from a fate… Indescribable. And for that I’ll spare you, at least for today.”
She sets her spear aside and sighs.
“Honestly, I leave you alone for a while and you end up dead and in the warp. You really are just a helpless stupid mon-keigh after all.”
You crouch there, on the floor of what you think is an Eldar ship or something, unsure of what to do next.
“So you aren’t going to kill me?”
Esh grabs you by the collar and throttles you back and forth.
“Not today but the next time you do something like that I won’t be nice enough to stop myself!”
She lets you go and before you know it, she’s got you in a tight hug.
“I was really worried about you… Idiot mon-keigh…”
A nearby Eldar, an older one from the looks of it, coughs quietly into his fist.
“Mistress, your dinner?”
Esh jumps to her feet and grabs her head.
“Ahh! I forgot it was still in the wraithoven!”
She grabs your hand and before you know it you are being pulled in a full on sprint through winding hallways, past more Eldar who look a bit shocked at the human in their midst.

A young hot-shot looking Eldar stops Esh in his tracks.
“Whoa babe, where you and that… uh… animal headed off to?” He asks, slyly trying to put his hand around her.
Is this fag trying to move in on your bitch? He best be not moving in on your bitch.
Before you can unleash the fury of the pimp hand, Esh kicks him.
Right in his nuts.
The blonde haired playboy’s face contorts in pain and he falls to the ground, clutching his gonads.
“I already told you I have no interest, quit trying!” Esh kicks him in the stomach before stepping on him and leading you past.
Once inside what you can only assume is an Eldar kitchen she hurridly rips open what must be the wraithoven and checks on what looks like a pie.
“Oh thank the gods, it’s fine.” She sighs in relief and closes the oven back up.
“Did you… Hug me earlier?” You finally get a chance to ask.
Esh jumps in surprise as color drains from her face. She turns back to you, cheeks quickly becoming pink than red.
“I-I-I did n-no such thing! Stupid mon-keigh!”
You grin, this is so worth it.
“Really? That felt like a hug. What do you use on your hair? It smells lovely.”
You don’t have time to dodge the pan to the face, which startles you more than it hurts as it knocks you to the ground.
“STUIPD MON-KEIGH IT WASN’T A HUG! GAHHH!” She punches a cabinet so hard it dents inward.

“Pretty sure it was a hug.” You continue, unwilling to relent.
“AHHHHHHHHHH!” Esh grabs a pot of boiling something and stands above you, face blazing in embarrassed fury.
You put your hands up, as though they would do anything. This might do more than sting a little.
But when you peel one eye open to look back at his, Esh sighs and sets down the dish.
“So it was a hug. You should be grateful I blessed your life with such an event, surely the high point of its dullness.”
Well you can be satisfied you got her to admit to it, at least for now.

“Anyways, what have you got cooking?” You ask, leaning over her shoulder to look at what’s in the pot.
Esh’s mind is stuttering, she’s so close to you now. “Do those lips taste as good his mind?” she wonders to herself.
You look down, noticing Esh staring intently straight at your mouth.
“Uhh… Esh?”
She catches herself and spins around, pretending to be occupied by a sizzling wok-like thing.
As much fun as you are having with Esh at the moment, trolling her hard and all that, the food smells so good you can barely stop yourself from ripping into it.

Esh looks back at you.
“Hey, mon-keigh, you are DROOLING.”
You put your jaw back into place, senses still fixed on the delicious food before you.
Esh uses what you assume has to be some kind of Eldar cooking fork to gather up a little ball of what appears to be some kind of noodle-onion-meat dish.
“You… You can try it if you want…” She says, still not looking at you as she holds out the food.
Slowly you lean in to take a bite, watching her intently for any sign of Eldar trickery. The closer you get, the harder she blushes.
You bite down and slowly back away, her eyes turn to follow you.
This taste… Dear Emprah this taste.
“So… Good…” Is all you can manage, your taste buds are busy in a full blown fiesta. “Hola mister Max, thank you very much for da food senior!”
Esh is now locked right on you, watching your expression with wide eyes.
“It’s probably the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
You see her smile giddily before catching herself and regaining her cool composure.
“Yeah well, you haven’t even tried the pie yet.”

“Really? Does it taste as good as MY MIND?”
Esh’s face becomes ashen at your words, and her mouth is agape as though she’s struggling to find something to say, having been caught completely off guard.
“Yeah, I can pick up on some things now. At least a bit.” You admit, your new power is fun but very confusing and completely unreliable. It seems like proximity might have something to do with it, because you could only sense her thoughts when you were very close to her.
Esh picks up a knife and her neck cracks as it tilts to the side, her eyes now alight with glowing white energy.
“I’m going to kill you now.” She says flatly.

But as she swings the knife down you catch her hand and with your other arm pull her in close to you.
The blade falls from her grasp and clatters noisily to the floor.
She looks up, staring into your eyes as you hold her there, neither of you moving.
“…Max…” She says quietly as you slowly bring your face closer to hers. Your lips are mere millimeters apart, and you feel Esh jump slightly as your minds collide.
“HAHAHA MON-KEIGH KISSER! MON-KEIGH KISSSSERRRRR!!!!” A little Eldar in farseer garb, no taller than your waist is running in circles around the table as she joyfully repeats herself.
“YOU LITTLE TWERP, GRAAAHHHH!!!”
Esh’s eyes flash and the little Eldar is sent flying out of the room with one last “MON-KEIGH
KISSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!”
Esh furiously slams the door and begins stirring her personal recipe stew in a fit of rage.
Wait, did she really want you to kiss her?
Eyeing the wall of hanging knives mere inches from her, you aren’t sure if it’s a good idea to press the subject.
“Take a seat, it’s almost ready.” Esh says without looking back at you.

You pull out a chair and sit down.

Only you miss and, arms wind milling madly, fall face first onto the cold tile.
Esh looks back at you in disgusted awe, as if she really can’t believe what she’s seeing.
“Uhh, missed it I guess…” Your face is burning, how the fuck did you fail that hard at sitting down? How have you managed to go from cool and suave to looking like a complete retard within minutes of each other.
“Whatever you have to tell yourself…” Esh turns back to her cooking, shaking her head in disbelief.
Still, you aren’t going to let the fact that you are still rolling when completely unprompted, which only ever results in terrible, terrible things, get to you.

The food smells absolutely decadent, you’ve got a cute farseer cooking it for you, and you actually think you might have had some fun surfing with the Emporah earlier, despite the close call. Yeah, today is a pretty good way.
Esh looks like she’s found some kind of grove, humming to herself quietly as she adds a dash of one thing and a sprinkle of another.
“Dude I can’t take this anymore” You're stomach groans.

“Shut up man, at least you know you have a guaranteed thing here!” Your phallic object responds.

Esh finally decides it’s all ready and starts moving everything over to the table.
You can’t contain yourself any longer, and you reach out to snatch up one of those Eldar biscuits, the kind she gave to you the first time.
A ladle raps you hard on the knuckles.

“A proper gentleman always waits until the lady sits down first.” She says, though her anger seems faked. Her eyes unable to conceal the pride in her work and her excitement in sharing it with you.

The wait is killing you, but you don’t try any funny business as you watch her finish the setup.
She moves around the table to you and takes your plate, dishing out a generous heap of everything onto it.
You can’t help but smile as you watch her, completely in her element it seems.
Esh catches you staring out of the corner of her eye and turns away from you, her flowing red hair slightly obstructing her face but not hiding her faint smile.

“D-Don’t stare at me like that, it’s, it's, it's, its, its.”
She serves herself before taking the seat opposite you, not very far away on such a small table.
Both of you chow down, Esh eating properly and daintily, you kinda just fork-lifting heaping forkfuls of the food into your joyous mouth.
“Oh man, this is simply THE BEST.” Your stomach sighs happily.
“Ah well, at least I can see up her skirt from down here.” The curious phallic object responds. “Black lace with a pink bow, things might be looking up after all.”
Suddenly, you can’t breathe.
Your face goes white as you frantically struggle, choking on something.
Esh takes several seconds to realize what is going on, but with surprising speed she has you in a Heimlich.
It takes a few pumps, but you finally shoot out a whole meatball. It soars brilliantly straight down into a bowl of soup, which splashes all over Esh’s face.
“Gods damn it, mon-keigh…”

Esh sighs as she surveys herself, one of her favorite outfits and much of her hair now covered in chunky soup.
“Err… Really sorry about that…” Fuck, you would wreck this for yourself.
She tries to clean herself up with a napkin, but it just isn’t cutting it.

“I kinda figured you would ruin this…” She unhappily drops the napkin.
“I’m going to go wash off and change. Enjoy your meal alone, I guess.”

She leaves before you can say anything. Man, do you feel like a douche now.

“Arrrgghhh!!!” You grab your head.
“I can’t just eat without apologizing!”
So with that, you leap up and run after her.

Only you aren’t exactly sure what way she went.
Several minutes pass of your “Hey uh, did you see a farseer go by here, bout this tall and covered in soup?” before you finally figure out which room is hers.
It takes you just as long to discern how the door mechanism works, a series of buttons and a touch screen thing. You finally punch it in frustration and it answers “passcode accepted”, though you don’t know this because you don’t speak Eldar.
You walk in to the dark room, which is incredibly tidy.
Well, except for the pile of clothes that Esh was just wearing.
“Oh no. No no no.”

Too late, another door in the room opens and your fate is pretty much sealed.
Esh stands there, fully outlined in the light beyond. She’s still dripping wet, and frozen in place, the towel against one side of her face. You can see everything, perky pink nips, smooth grassless field, everything.

“I’m going to die now, aren’t I?”

“Painfully so.”

You tense up as she builds up speed for a running death-kick which will surely knock your face through the back of your skull.
She’s going so fast, in fact, that she doesn’t notice the clothes on the floor.
“Huh?!” She trips, stumbles, but can’t regain her balance.
You are thrown backwards as the naked Farseer crashes into you, both of you tumbling end over end across the dark room.
Finally both of you skid to a stop, and it looks like you’ve managed to come out on top.
Esh is trembling, wide eyed, and has her arms around you. Neither of you move for what feels like a very long time.
Throwing caution to the wind, you lower your face and plant a kiss on those tender pink lips.
“HA HA, MON KEIGH KISSERRRRRR!” The little Eldar yells from the open doorway.

==== MEANWHILE (again)====

Frederick looks up from his work, sneakily.

Helena sits there in full view, glorious tits resting on the tank as she listens to some music and tans.
He's always had a thing for her. Ever since he started fixing up their tank. This, despite all of his friends telling him she is clearly a gear-eater with no interest in his piston of love.
Frederick sighs heavily as he tightens a bolt. For now, he will probably just have to be content with watching her in all her giggling, strawberry blonde beauty.
"Whats wrong Mekboy?" Helena suddenly calls down to him.
Fredrick, startled, looks back up.

"Err, nothing. Tank is just being stubborn, is all." He wrings his wrench nervously.
Helena laughs and re-ties her top before sitting up, which causes those tantalizing flesh orbs to bounce all over the place.
"Well you want to take a break and go grab some chow with me?" She asks, swinging her feet idly as she sits on the barrel.

"You? And... Me?" Frederick asks quietly.

"Yeah, Sarah is passed out."

Frederick is happy but lost as he follows Helena to wherever she is taking him. Clearly not the mess hall.
The Omnissiah has blessed him this day, maybe he will get a chance to try out his twelve speed servo-actuated cyborghood someday after all.
Helena shifts the pack of food to her other shoulder.
"Cmon iron man, we're going to miss it!"

Helena stops at a cliffside, overlooking the vast ocean beyond.
"Yeah, this is the spot." She sets down her bag and pulls out the food she managed to rustle up. Not standard guardsman rations, good stuff from the town nearby.

She and Frederick watch the sunset as they devour the various cheeses and bread. Its much better than more rations, Frederick thinks to himself. Especially since he gets to eat it with her.
The sun drops finally below the horizon, and Helena sits back with a satisfied sigh.
"That was a lot of fun."

Helena turns and smiles at him before looking up toward the emerging stars.
"I thought so too."

"By the way, don't believe those rumors about me being a lesbian."
Frederick turns to her, hope invigorating his heart.

"No?"

"Nah, bisexual."

=== Thread 7: NO... NO... NEEDS MORE HERESY ===

Esh leaps quickly to her feet and grabs the little Eldar making all the racket.
“YOU LITTLE BRAT I WILL END YOU!”

Esh grabs her head and applies just enough of a mind blast to render the little farseer unconscious. Once out cold, she chucks the kid back through the open door and slams it shut. Thankfully it doesn’t look like there was anyone else around.
“Did you mean that… J-just now?” She stammers.

“Yeah.” You answer but you are a little preoccupied trying to curb the blood oozing from your upper back. You must have fallen on something pointy.
The tsunseer turns around to face you, covering herself as best she can.
“Umm… Do you mind?”

Oops, you turn and face the wall to give her some privacy. It does nothing to stop your thoughts of that delicious Eldar changing just feet behind you.
“H-hey, you can turn around now.”

You do, and grab your chest at the sight. Esh put something on all right, a small pink camisole and nothing else.
Her brow furrows as she notices you still holding your wound.
“That looks like it could use some attention.” She takes you by the hand and starts leading you to the bathroom.
You could protest and mumble about misunderstandings while completely ignoring her feelings, but this is nothing like your east Terra cartoons and you are not a dismal faggot.

Once inside, you let Esh strip off your shirt. She brushes into you while in the process and your phallic object flinches and peers out into the battle space, but remains seated.
“It’s no good, we are going to have to clean it or it could get infected.” And with that, she pushes you up and into what you discern from the wet floor, to be a very spacious shower.
“There probably aren’t any clothes here that would fit you, so take those off as well.” Esh mumbles before turning around.

“…Cant you still see me in that mirror?”
Esh jumps, her face flush.

“I-I wasn’t going to watch! Honestly… Y-you stupid mon-keigh…” She says that, but you can tell she’s still peeking.
Well whatever, it’s not like you mind really.
You strip off the rest of your uniform, trying your best to give her a good view without making it obvious.
Finally nude, you turn and face the opposite wall. Something falls lightly to the floor and the water starts gushing from a head.

A delicate hand runs over the fresh cut.
“D-does it still hurt?” Esh asks quietly.

“Nah, never really did.”
Her hand begins to lightly trace your various and numerous bruises and scars.

“…It looks like you get pretty beat up…” She muses as her hand stops at a particularly large scar on your left thigh.

“Almost lost my leg to an Ork, and no one ever said pimpin be easy. I am still human, after all.” She doesn’t seem to get your ancient Terra culture reference.

“I’ve probably… Been too hard on you as well.”
The two of you remain silent as you let her clean off your cut. She sprays it with something, which stings enough to make you cringe.

“Quit being such a baby, that will make it heal faster.”
You let her keep doing what she’s doing, Eldar medicine is probably more advanced than what your team has got. Those massive syringes and “medical application chainswords”, you shudder slightly at the memories.

Esh pushes you onto a stool and washes your hair for you. It’s pretty different, but you have to admit it does feel good.
“You are good at this…” You tell her.

Esh smiles faintly, you can feel happiness and sadness at the same time. Though it could just be that you know jack dick about your new acquired powers really.
“I learned from my older sister, she used to do this for me…”
You don’t press the issue, if she wanted to tell you more she would.

But that isn’t what you are thinking about at the moment.
Unable to contain yourself any longer, you grab her wrist lightly and turn around, pulling Esh into a steamy embrace.
“Wa-wait.” She stammers, but you can tell she doesn’t really mean it.

You trap her hands above her head as you push her into the shower wall. With your other hand you raise her face to meet your own, and despite her wide panicked eyes you can tell she wants this.
The two of you kiss finally, and her body tenses at the sensation. It goes entirely in the face of her life’s path, but she can’t help herself.

Though when you start to run your hand down her side, your mind is suddenly penetrated by very vivid images.
In the first, you and Esh sit on a plush looking couch onboard what you guess is an Imperial ship. Both of you laugh along with the Emperor as he lets his kid swing from his outstretched arm.
In the second vision though…

Esh stands alone as your body is laid to rest in a simple but peaceful ceremony. Tears stream down her face, ostracized by her people and with not a friend in the universe.

Two hands push you back slightly as Esh comes back into focus.
“You saw something… Didn’t you…?”

You don’t answer her, you don’t have to.
“Besides,” she starts, “Do you have any idea how screwed we both would be if we did… uhmm… stuff, on this ship?”

You pause, you hadn’t really thought about that.
“Now you get it. Everyone onboard is psychic at least to some extent, if we did something here, they would ALL pick up on it.”

While it isn’t any fun to stop yourself, wet and willing beautiful Eldar in front of you and all, the thought of every Eldar young and old watching with their minds as you do the nasty… Not something you are down for.
Both of you towel off and get dressed. Esh leaves for a minute and brings back some of the food she made earlier. You enjoy the food as both of you eat, without a whole lot of conversation.
“You should probably get going now…” She finally admits.

You kinda figured, she probably is already catching a lot of flak for having a human aboard.
“…B-but if you want to go on a date… if you want to go have fun or something sometime, just give me a call…”

“Alright, I’ll call you when I figure out something to do for a date on this abysmal planet.”
She doesn’t snap back with her usually witty retort.
One snap crackle and pop later, you are back on Yagis V. You still can’t get those visions out of your head…

Dark Eldar… You know only what you have read in your tome of standard Imperial Literature, as well as what you were taught in training.
Quite a bizarre race, and certainly far flung from their Eldar ancestors. They are probably the fastest creatures in the universe, and from accounts of their gladiatorial games the Wych’s are a whole new level of deadly.

They drink souls to stay young and avoid their own souls being devoured by a chaos god they helped create. Famous pirates and mercenaries, it is said no Imperial man has seen the inside of one of their ships and lived to tell the tale. Well, that's what rumor was anyways. To be perfectly honest, they didn't teach you a whole lot other than "Run!" "Shoot!" "Praise the Emprah!!!".

All the more reason to be downright terrified. You were fast asleep when they found you, such easy prey. Two gruff and weathered ones had you disarmed and bound before you could draw your sword. They even now cackle and prod at you, ensuring you of horrific torture to come, before shoving a black bag over your head.
After docking with a larger skiff, the soldiers haul you out, while you still struggle against your bonds. You are flung unceremoniously into what you think is a dimly lit room and land with a dull thud, face down.

“Ku ku ku, should we just kill him now? I am so thirsty dear sister.”

“Fu fu fu, maybe we should have some fun with him first, father did provide us with some new toys…”

The voices, though debating the time for your soul’s fate as food and whether or not to torture you first, are beyond beautiful. They make even the finest music of the Imperium sound like the death throes of a grot. You can’t fuck a voice, but you would be willing to try with these two.
You speak up to tell them off, because having your soul devoured would kind of mess with your feng shui, but it just comes out as a muffled “Mmmrph mrrrrr mphhhh!”
Four delicate, soft hands lift you to your feet.

“What is your name, little human?” The two voices ask in unison, you are fairly sure your ears just had an orgasm.

“My name is Maximus Aurillius Decarus, soldier of the Yagis V guard, Commisar of the 101st Cadia, loyal servant to the true Emprah. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, and I will have my vengeance in this life or the next.”

The hood is pulled off and you blink at the blinding light. But no, it isn’t a blinding light. Your eyes are in fact fixated on flawless pale skin, and quite a bit of it.
The pair before you are unmistakably twins, though each sports a different variation of the same skimpy dress.
Smooth, silky black hair falls to the small of the back of one, while her sister has long black twintails held together by emerald green baubles. Their breasts, though not massive, are large and seductively perky, and each of them has a very defined thin waist and shapely hips.

“Hmm, I think just Maximus will do.”

“Yes yes, just Maximus.”

The two Dark Eldar whisper this to you, one pair of dead sexy lips brushing lightly against each ear. Your body shudders uncontrollably from the pleasure, clearly not prepared, and you inadvertently let out a soft moan.
“Not so tough are we now, silly silly boy?” They again say in unison, and you fall to your knees, powerless against their angelic voices.

They look down at you, clearly reveling in your weakness.
“Though we must admit, no mortal can stand against us and hope to win, we…”

“The Succubus Twins.” The other twin finishes for her sister.

The pleasure in your head is unbearable, and you have achieved a level of hardness that would put ceremite to shame. Still, you don’t want to be tortured and endure having your soul ripped from you and devoured. There is clearly only one option.

You take a deep breath, gathering all your strength for this very moment.
“FUS… ROH DAH!!!!!!!!!!!”

The air crackles with psyonic energy as you focus all of your power. Honestly though, you really have no idea how to. Despite that, the twins are thrown back into a pile of pillows.
You can’t believe that actually worked, holy fuck!
Still, you don’t have time to bask in the awesome as you sprint toward your equipment.

Until a clawed hand snatches you by the arm and lifts you into the air. A malicious smile greets you as the Archon looks you over.
“An… Interesting capture, to be sure.” He laughs, but the tone is cold.

“He’s ours!” The twins shout, leaping back to their feet and baring their teeth.

“Know your place, little girls!” The Archon snaps back, before glaring back at you.

“Just for that, we shall see how he fares in the arena.”
The blow to the head knocks you out cold…

“Wake up, boy…”

You don’t move, your head still feels like it’s been cracked in half.
A bucket of cold water splashes you in the face and you jolt upright, swinging angrily.
“Easy there, save it for the arena. You might at least die a warrior’s death.”

The Dark Eldar before you doesn’t look like the others, all young and beautiful. He is old, you can tell that much. Weathered, wrinkled face and beady black eyes.
“I’m no enemy of yours boy, just the ferryman who is seeing you through the path to the afterlife. If your gods grant you one, anyways.”

You look around the room cautiously, it appears to be some kind of armory.
The old man pulls you to your feet and looks you over curiously.
“You know, you might just be the right height…” He mumbles as he lifts your arms around and nods to himself.

He pulls you over to a bench, and you can’t quite believe what’s laying there before you.
It’s a suit of power armor, albeit a very old one. The pieces are mismatched and almost none of the colors are the same, you honestly don’t think that it could still be functional.
“We captured that a long time ago, but we don’t get many humans down here. Go on, try his on.”

He gives you a light push forward.
Well, it might be worth a shot.
It takes you several minutes to start putting the armor on, watching the Sororita undress helped a bit in your understanding but the whole ordeal is still pretty complicated. The old Dark Eldar helps you out with it when you ask, though he knows as little as you do.

“There!” He slaps you on the back as both of you stare into a dusty and cracked mirror. “Looks good as new!”
The suit looks the exact opposite of new, and you look very awkward in it.
It is a bit surprising how well it fits though, and you guess it wasn’t pieced together from ex-astartes gear. Rich traders, members of the Inquisition, shit you don’t really know the first thing about power armor.

“Well, ok, it may not be pretty.” The old man laughs, “But it might give you a few extra minutes of life.”
You turn around in the bulky armor, though you feel as light as you did in your commissar digs, which have unfortunately gone missing.

“Thanks for this old man.” You tell him.
His small smile quickly fades.
“Don’t thank me lad, poor boy like you deserves to see a prettier face before death.”

“Have you ever seen someone come out alive?”
He looks solemnly at your question, shaking his head.

“In your position? Never a soul.”
Two guards enter and start pushing you roughly toward a large steel door.

“Go to your gods with dignity, my friend!” The old man calls after you.
The door falls open with a loud crash and you are shoved forward.
Alien sand crunches underneath as you stumble out into the roaring crowd beyond.

You look up into the stands, scanning the faces beyond. Cruel, evil faces for the most part.
Though you do spot the twins from earlier, neither of whom look in the least bit pleased at your current predicament.
The Archon stands up and raises his hands for silence.
“Brothers and sisters!” He calls out, “It is with a sad heart that this pitiful being before you is all that was caught in the last raid. But fear not, for you shall bear witness as the monsters of this world bleed him dry!”

With that, he grabs a rusted old chainsword and pitches it down toward you. The relic lands at your feet with a clatter, you are surprised it’s tired old metal was able to withstand the fall.
“You!” You shout, pointing the sword up at the Archon.
He gestures to himself mockingly.
“I want my hat back.”

He sneers at you before reaching to a table on his left and picking up your hat.
Which he places on his own head.
You don’t have time for anything else before the gate across from you falls open…
And at least five four meter tall spider-looking things come whizzing into the arena.

You barely have time to power up the chainsword before one of the beasts is on top of you. It knocks you to the ground with two of its spindly legs, and presses closer for the kill.
The creatures six mandibles work madly as it attempts to bring it’s fangs to bear. You can barely hold it away with one of your feet.
You notice another one of the things moving in at you from behind, you don’t have much time to react.
Putting everything you’ve got into the swing, you lash out with your chainsword and it connects with the creature’s face. The teeth dig in and cut a nasty gash which spews orange blood from inside the black chitin. The beast screeches furiously as it backs up, two of its mandibles hanging by strands.

The other beast overshoots you and you thrust the sword upwards into its belly. Your chainsword roars in protest at cutting through the hard body, but the momentum of the spider carries it right through. You are splattered and soaked in nasty orange goop and guts as the beast slams hard into the arena wall and curls up.
These things are fast, but you don’t think they are very smart.
You quickly regain your defensive stance as you turn to face the other four, who now stalk around you in a circle, weary at seeing one of their own killed and another wounded. The injured one sulks near the gate it entered from, empty eyes following your movements.

Something washes over you, and for once it isn’t panic or dread. Its confidence. You can win this fight, you just have to be smart about it.

You may not be the most intelligent dude, hell, you may not even be above average. But you do know one thing, running at these things head on would be downright retarded.
As you rev your chainsword you notice that the creatures seem to shy away at the sound, or perhaps the vibration, you can’t be sure.
Surely this can be used to your advantage…

You walk toward a small gap between two of them as you rev your sword and wave it around ahead of you.
Just as predicted, two of them break off and scuttle around to your left, leaving the other one alone.
The creature senses it’s been backed into a corner and with deadly speed rushes out at you. But you’ve been waiting for that.
As it opens it’s horrible maw you thrust your arm forward, burying the sword into the foul monster’s head. A plume of orange and green spray erupts as you drive the weapan to it’s hilt. The creature wavers slightly, before crashing onto it’s underbelly.

You are glad to have the armor’s strength enhancements as you wrench the sword back out, which surely you could not have done otherwise.
The other two spiders don’t seem to shy away from the sound of your sword now. Stupid beasts as they are, they recognize that it got one of their own killed. That same trick won’t work twice…

You start to focus your mind. You got it to work once, that was a piece of cake right?
Summoning your power you direct it out toward one of the last remaining spiders.
The creature shrieks and curls into a ball at the feeling of overwhelming pressure pressing in from all sides.

With a pop, the beast collapses, blood and organs oozing from its every orifice. The sight is pretty disgusting, but that isn’t what’s bothering you.
Your own head is ringing madly and your vision is blurry. Some kind of side effect from using your power? Maybe you can get Esh to teach you how to use it better, if you ever get out of here alive.
Sensing your sudden weakness, the wounded spider leaps to its spindly legs and rushes at you. Though you manage to whirl around just in time and strike, one of its massive fangs pierces your left pauldron and pain erupts through your shoulder.

The crowd, which had been howling furiously at your success, now laughs and cheers at your pain.
You are far from down and out, but pain is slowly beginning to spread outward from the piercing wound. You’ve never seen these things before, and have no idea if they are poisonous or if it’s just your body’s reaction to the attack.

Still, only two left now.
You turn and face them with your chainsword, but collapse to a knee as the pain intensifies.
The creatures follow your movement carefully, and one slowly and tentatively begins stalking toward you.
You let it get closer and closer, you have the pain under control now, but this could well earn you the element of surprise.

Yet you wait, biding your time until you can feel the beasts hot breath on your face and hear it’s clicking mandibles practically on your head.
With a single arcing slash you separate it’s head from the rest of it, and leap back to avoid the torrent of gushing liquids that follow.
The Archon pounds his fist on the arm of his chair and curses angrily.

You now face the last remaining spider, it’s mandibles clicking and wriggling madly as it watches you.
It must have decided to press the attack, because without warning it charges right at you.
Jumping to the side you swing your sword, cutting through its legs one by one as they fly past.

With a horrible cry the monster skids to a stop and attempts to rise, but finds itself unable.
One last thrust of your chainsword into the beast’s head, and you find yourself the last man standing in this bloodbath.
The crowd is buzzing with hate now, chucking bits of food and rock at you. Still, you stand tall and raise your sword arm triumphantly. Despite this, the fact that you can barely move your left arm is cause for great concern.

The Archon stands once again, holding his arms out to quiet the crowd, which takes a minute or so.
His voice fills the now silent arena, and you get a very bad feeling in your gut.
“So the weakling has a bit of fight in him it would seem!” He looks about the crowd as he yells.

“Yet these pitiful dumb beasts can be bested by even our children. Come now, friends, and watch as a true champion of terror rends his flesh from bone. I give you, the pride of the swarm!”
A massive gate falls forward and a ear shattering roar echoes forth.
Stepping out from the dark into the sunlight beyond it’s cage.
A carnifex peers at you hungrily.

You can only stare in disbelief.
“By the Emprah…” You whisper to yourself as the Carnifex fully steps into the arena. The beast is enormous, impossibly enormous.

The chainsword, though covered in the blood and guts of the slain spiders, now feels ridiculously weak. You doubt it can even injure let alone kill this foul xeno monstrosity.
You know your armor will likely do nothing to stop one of those massive scythed blades from easily slicing you in twain.
The crowd is laughing at you now. Laughing at the pitiful guardsman who thought he was king of the world and now gawks in terror at their arena’s king monster.
Those two twins you met earlier, however, have vanished from their seats.

“Maximus!” You hear them cry out in tandem and you whirl around to look behind you.
A power axe whirls through the air before sinking blade first into the sand beside you. It’s rusted and abused frame still courses with power despite its clearly outdated pattern.

Well, at least that’s something…
You plant the chainsword into the sand, thanking it for its service and having done its best in saving your life.

Picking up the axe, you can feel the power rushing through you, renewing your vigor.
“Alright bug, let us see what you are made of.” You utter, before dropping back into a stance copied from your favorite space marine movies. Has to be close to a real battle stance, you hope. Your left arm is still working enough to use the axe, for now at least.

You throw caution to the wind, and sprint head on toward the towering ‘nid.
Using the armor’s strength you leap into the air toward its head, axe raised above your own as you ready yourself for as powerful of a hack as you can manage.
Soaring through the air, you can’t dodge the massive claw that swings toward you.

With a pained grunt you feel it collide with you, and you are pitched backwards until you hit the arena wall.
Warning klaxons sound inside your armor and you are pretty sure you have at least several broken ribs. Every pained gasp for air has you clutching at your side as you slide down the slight curve of the wall and collapse in the sand.
You can hear the crowd above laughing at you again, but that’s in the back of your mind. The fact that you can barely breathe is a bit more of a concern.
Powerless to stop it, the Carnifex reaches down and picks you up in one of its massive claws. It holds you up to its soulless eyes as it ponders whether to eat you or just rip you to pieces for fun.

You can do little more than hang there, limp, and watch.
The closer you get to the beast, the more you can feel it’s mind pressing into yours.
You can see the creature’s thoughts now, or what passes as a ‘nids thoughts anyways. It hates little things, all little things. The whips and the chains that they bring, starvation. It’s lonely here.

As the beast brings you closer now, having decided it will in fact not eat you, you reach out an armored hand and rest it on the Carnifex’s head.
Poison coursing through your veins, barely able to breathe, you go limp as your mind drifts off to remember better days gone byebye.

The Archon watches with glee as you draw ever closer and closer to your demise. He laughs at your futility as you put your hand on his pet’s head.
But his laughter quickly fades as he continues watching.
The Carnifex pauses, holding you close to it’s mouth. For a long minute it doesn’t move, the arena dead silent at the sight.

The crowd erupts into whispers as the beast slowly lowers your body down to the arena sand, before setting you there and watching, eyes fixated on the little thing before it.
The Archon leaps from his seat suddenly, fury boiling over.
“You wretched breast! You disgusting abomination! I’ve kept you alive all these long years and you shall do as I command!”

The Archon jumps down from his personal box into the sand below, spitting madly as he curses the Carnifex.
“Kill him you dumb animal! KILL HIM!”

But the Carnifex only looks back at him, none sure if it can actually comprehend.
“Then die as your wretched kin did, I shall slay him myself.”
The Archon raises his personal gun and the shot pierces the Carnifex through its head. The beast falters, before swaying and falling backward.

Almost foaming at the mouth, the Archon grabs you roughly and lifts you to your feet.
You were busy talking to your sister, or so you thought. Now, you can only see his burning eyes as he sets you down.
“It’s time to end this you pathetic mortal. You may have tricked my beastie, but I shall end you myself.”

He pulls out his sword and clocks you alongside the head with the flat of it.
You reel backwards, clutching at your head, no longer in a daze.
Both your hands feel numb with pain now, as does most of your chest and it’s beginning to seep into your legs. Your vision is cloudy and it seems like your mind only faintly even know what’s going on.
“You can’t do this, Archon.”

“He’s bested the creature, death is not his fate.”
You can hear two sweet voices in the background, though everything is so quiet now.

“Hmph, than you can die along with your animal lover you wretched virgin cunts!”
Eyes barely open, ears ringing and barely functioning at all, you watch the battle unfold before you.
The twins are fast with their swords, but then again, so is the Archon. You can’t even follow it all, the speed so fast and your body so tired.
The Archon now seems to have come out ahead, as he disarms them both and snatches each of them by an arm and lifts them above his head. He cackles madly as he raises the sword in triumph, the two girls struggling valiantly but unable to escape.
Your body is too tired to react, you can’t even move. All of you is numb now, so numb and so exhausted...

Still, if you are truly destined for death her, today, you aren’t going to pass on quietly into the void.
Your muscles tremble as you try to lift the axe, which feels like you may as well be trying to lift a titan by its foot.
Damn it Max, come on.
You strain as hard as you can, fighting through the numb and the pain and the weakness.
Inch by inch, you heft the axe, the Archon too busy crowing over his soon to be victory to notice.
Breath comes in ragged gasps, darkness moving in ever further on the edges of your vision.
Finally, by sheer will alone, you are poised to strike.
“Hey ahshole…”

The Archon turns to you, but you don’t give him time to react.
“That’s my fucking hat.”

The axe cleaves him through his shoulder, cutting down through his body as though it offered no more resistance than butter.
You drop the axe and it plants itself once again into the sand, a fresh coating of blood adorning it’s now gleaming blade.
Finally giving out, your body collapses. The last thing you can see is the twins rushing toward you, now free…
But this wretched beeping won’t cease.

“By Terran herself, shut that damnable thing off, whatever it is.” You remark to the darkness, "Just because I'm dead again doesn't mean you chaos gods have to be dicks about it."
But the beeping continues it’s even pace, and unable to move, there isn’t a damn thing you can really do about it.

“Hush now, you were lucky to make it through there night.” You hear a voice from far off.

“So I’m not dead then? Banging those thirty or so nids was all a dream?”
A giggle, or maybe two of them.

“I’m afraid so, dear Maximus.”

“That would explain why my everything hurts.”

You try to open your eyes, but a finger on each lid stops you.
“It’s another day’s rest for you at the very least.” One of the twins chides you.
Well whatever, who are you to argue?

You finally awaken again, feeling enormously better this time, though you are starving.
Still, despite the numbness through your limbs, you find you are still unable to rise.

Opening your eyes, you tilt your head as much as you can on the pillow, looking down to see if something has you pinned or you are paralyzed.
“Aww fuck, it looks like it’s a wheelchair for me.”

But then you notice two large lumps on either side of your body, hidden by the white sheet.
Figuring it’s worth a try, you slowly try to use your mind to pull down the cover.

Though it takes ages, you finally reveal what lies beneath.
Or rather, whom.
Snoozing quietly on either side of you, heads resting on your chest, the Succubus twins sleep soundly.
You sigh as you rest your head again.
“ Not the worst morning I’ve had.”

=== Thread 8: "IT'S TIME" "TIME FOR WHAT?" "HERESY" ===

“Ladies, I don’t mean to interrupt, but I really need to pee.”
Two weary-eyed Succubi rise from your chest, wiping at their faces tiredly.

You groan, your body is so sore it makes breathing a pain. Rising in the bed is difficult, everything is stiff and protesting any kind of movement.
“Go easy on yourself, Maximus, you did almost die you know.”

“Yeah yeah, also Max is fine.”

The twins look at each other.

“Maxi.”

“Maxwell.”

“Maxtent.”

“Maximum!”

Okay now they are just playing around.
You don’t care as you finally reach what you assume is a Dark Eldar toilet.

“Hey, that’s not a… ah… too late.” The twins protest.
At this point, you don’t care, you REALLY had to pee.

“We should have shown the bathroom to him earlier, Senna.”

“Shut up Senda, I know that.”

You finally finish, feeling at least relieved. It’s a small thing, but it seems to take away half of your ache.
“So that’s you two then is it? Senna and Senda? Fuck me, that won’t get confusing or anything.”

The two girls look at you, clearly missing your point. Must be pretty average names for Dark Eldar or something.
“I’m Senna.” Says the one with the twintails.

“Senna.” Says the one with the straight long mare.

“Awful.”

“Fine, I’m Senda.” The one with the twintails held up by green baubles finally admits.

You lay back down on the cot and slide the rest of yourself back onto it with a painful series of grunts and wheezes, until finally you are comfortable again. As much as you can be, anyways.
With a sigh, you close your eyes.
“Also, why am I wearing this?”

The twins look at each other and giggle, as though it were some kind of inside joke.
“No, seriously. I’m the patient, why am I dressed as a sexy Apothecary?”

The girls look at each other, than at you, but don’t say anything.
“…Whatever, is there anything to eat? I’m starving!”

They quickly zip around the room and before you realize it, they are sitting on either side of you spooning soup into your mouth.
You let them feed you for a while. It might not be glamorous and the food doesn’t hold a candle to standard Eldar cuisine (if Esh’s cooking is anything to go off of), but after narrowly avoiding death, you don’t care at this point. You want to relax and let someone else take care of you for a bit.

After a half hour or so you finally shake your head and pat your stomach.
“Ahh, it’s nice having some food in the morning again.”

The twins eyes meet, and then they nod before looking back to you.
“Max, how are you feeling? Think you can walk normally?” Senna asks, setting the bowl aside.

“Yeah, I think I could probably manage. Why?”
Senda bites her bottom lip, eyeing the door nervously.

“Well, you see… The Archon had a lot of friends here. We are pretty well known and liked, but even our influence extends only so far… We do have a plan, but before we can act on it, this probably isn't the safest place for you to be” Senda finally admits, revealing that she’s been armed this whole time.

It does make some sense. You did help poff their leader after all. Though it was the twins that helped you do it…
“Wait. If I’m not safe, what about you two? You were fighting him as well.”

The twins giggle, and fawn over your hair a little.

“Don’t worry about us, honey. We can handle our own, and besides…” Senda looks over to a portrait of a dark and sadistic looking Dark Eldar on the wall. From his fancy gear and whatnot, you can tell this dude is probably somebody big.

“No one is brave enough to mess with us, not with daddy on his way here and all.”
You shrug.

“So what’s the problem then?”

“Just because no one wants to mess with us doesn’t mean someone is above figuring out a way to poison you while you sleep.” Senna sets your equipment down on a nearby table.
You notice hat-chan sits there and looks polished and clean.

“Well, that would not be too much fun…” Getting away from crazy evil ninja space elves is probably not a bad plan.

“Decidedly not. Here, we’ll give you our own personal communicator numbers.”
They program them into your own device and put it back into its belt pouch.

Despite not really needing it, you let them help you get dressed.
They insisting and seem to enjoy it, and admittedly you do as well.

“We’ve arranged a transport to take you wherever you need to go. You should be safe out there, we will be keeping the late Archon’s friends… Occupied…” The twins say mischievously, and you can tell by the look in their eyes that it’s a bad day to be one of those friends.

The girls escort you to the transport, flanked the whole time by a dozen of their hard-eyed loyal soldiers. Despite a few nasty stares, most of the Dark Eldar quickly and politely get out of the twins way.

“Don’t hesitate to give us a call, Max. We should have this whole thing sorted out quickly.” Senna says as you stand in the open door of the small transport skiff.

“Next time, we’ll make sure it’s more fun and maybe even less life threatening.” Senda follows with a smile.

The two of them kiss you on the cheek, and with a final farewell, the doors close.

“Where are we headed?” The pilot asks with a node.
You check your phone. The twins have changed your background photo to a picture of them blowing a kiss together. Cute. You notice you have one new message from that as well.

"Daddy says he very much wants to meet you next time."
Not sure if want...

“Here, punch in these coordinates.”
You give the pilot the imperial designation, which he thankfully converts in his head to whatever system the Dark Eldar used. You can’t read any of the gauges or feeds.

The skiff ride is pretty smooth, and you almost drift off into a nap before the pilot kicks you in the shin.
“OW! Dude what the fuck?”

“We’ve arrived. Get out of my skiff, I’ve got a hot date tonight.”
Well, you can’t hate on a fellow player. So you climb out and toss him a sloppy salute as he speeds off.

The building in front of you is quite large, and in typical imperial fashion, looks a lot like all the buildings around it.
It also looks deserted.

Still, you aren’t going to give up. Someone has got to still be alive in there, and you are going to find them.
It takes several minutes of walking to finally get to an entrance. After dying and all of your almost-dying, you are kind of on edge. You finger the laspistol nervously, wishing that you still had even that junky power armor, which unfortunately was rendered useless but saved your life.
Though having your hate again is a massive confidence boost by itself.

When you finally enter, the whole factory is dead silent. Massive gears and belt systems, normally whirring and loud, are deathly silent.
You don’t know the layout of the building, so you are just exploring the off shooting hallways and whatnot randomly. Much of the place is too dark for you to even see, the rest is softly illuminated by emergency lighting.

After digging through several lockers, you finally find a nonstandard illumination unit.
In the shape of a standard guardsman lasgun. Dohoho.

A bit more confident with some way to see where you are going, you press yet deeper into the passageways which seem to grow more and more narrow.
You freeze suddenly, as your dim beam catches a flicker of movement.

Quickly drawing your laspistol you try to find whatever is out there moving in the dark, but it eludes your light.
You can still hear it, tapping quietly through the hallway right in front of you now!
Heart thundering in your chest, knowing whatever it is, it’s just beyond the range of your flashlight.
Throwing caution to the wind, your sprint to catch up.

Only with the sound of your own heart beating and your heavy boots on the cold metal floor, when you slow down, you find that the noise has ceased.
And you are in a dead end which splits off into four rooms.
Whatever it is, it’s probably watching you right now.

“…umm…”

“HOLY SHIT FUCK!” You jump and whirl around, laspistol shaking in your hand.
The light finally illuminates what has been avoiding you this whole time, and you almost start spamming the trigger of your pistol, but manage to stop yourself just in time.

“D-don’t shoot me!” She cries, shying away from you and covering her face.

With a sigh of relief as your heart resumes beating, you holster your gun and take a few seconds to calm yourself down.
The girl doesn’t show herself, still cowering in her red hooded robe.
“Hey now, I’m not going to shoot you.” You tell her, pointing to your now holstered pistol.

She looks through her fingers at you, but doesn’t say anything.
“I uhh… I like your robot arms.” You finally say after a minute of silence passes.

“T-thanks I like yours too.” She responds in a very meek voice.

“Uhm…”

The girl has her hand over her mouth now, as though she can’t really believe what she just said. You notice a few yellow wires fall out of the pockets of her robe.
“I…Ummm… I~… No….” She seems to be struggling, more and more wires falling from her pockets.

“Why am I so bad at this!” She finally yells, before leaping up and dashing past you back into the dark hallway wires streaming out of her pockets and littering the ground.

You don’t move for a few seconds, still a bit stunned. You can hear the tech priestess sobbing as she storms down the narrow passage.
Finally you snap back to and realize she’s getting away from you.

“WAIT!” You shout down the hallway as you chase after her.

Her footsteps are still ahead of you, she’s still running as fast as she can.
“Hold up, I just want to talk!” You yell again.

She doesn’t respond, but you can tell that you are gaining on her now. She was a bit shorter than you and you are probably in better shape, though your body is cursing you for being so rough on it after it nearly gave out two days ago.
Now within feet, you can see her looking back, tears in her eyes.

“Gotcha!” You yell triumphantly when you finally grab her by the hand and slow to a stop.
She struggles, but you don’t let her go. The tech priestess is still sobbing and won’t turn to face you, hiding in her hood.
“Easy there, we both startled each other. No need to get so worked up.”
Despite your soothing, she doesn’t stop crying quietly.

“Hey now, no need for that.” You pat her on the head like you used to do for Helena when she was sad or frustrated.
The tech priestess finally turns to you and looks up enough that you can just barely see her eyes.
“Y-you aren’t mad at me?” She stammers, her voice hoarse.

“No, of course not. Why would I be?” You assure his
“I…I’m not very good with people.” She finally says quietly, lowering her head so her face is again hidden.

Despite the fact that she is still trembling like a scared animal, she’s stopped crying at least.
“I don’t buy that, you seem very nice.” You assure her, as you start to pull back on her hood to reveal her face.

“No!” She yelps, grabbing her hood and holding it in place.
“Hey, what’s wrong now? I just want to make sure you aren’t injured.”

She stays silent for several moments.
“I… I don’t like showing people my face.”
You smirk.
“Too bad.”

You quickly whip off her hood and she jumps in shock before crouching down and burying her face in her arms.
“Come on, you can show me. Did you get hit in the face or something?”

She shakes her head.
“N-No… No, it’s not that.”

“Than what could it possibly be?” You ask kindly, pulling her lightly up so she's standing again.
“The other tech priests… They… They say I’m… I’m Ugly.” She stammers, trying even harder to hide herself.

“Yeah well, admech dudes often have pretty bad taste.”
With that, you pull her arms apart gently and meet her face to face.

**********
Her face is hideous, a mess of tubes and wires with soulless black eye-implants.
"Nope, I'm out."
You put a las round though your own temple.
*********
Her eyes are a bit red and staring hard at his feet, but they are a pretty almond and go well with his black hime cut. Despite what she says, and whatever those gearheads say, she is in fact quite beautiful.

“Yeah, they are officially confirmed for shit taste.” You tell her.
She finally looks back at you, still trembling but with maybe a faint hint of appreciation.
“R…Really?” She asks quietly.

“Yeah, really. You are damn fine. Is this an Immolator factory? Because you look hot.”
Despite your terrible lines, she awards you with a faint smile.

“Do you mean it?” She asks, a little louder and less shy now.
“I would take you home and eat cherries off of your ass while I let you fix my cycle.”

She giggles before looking you fully in the eyes and smiling genuinely.
“You are pretty weird.” She finally says, though no longer gloomy.

“So I’ve been told… Anyways, what is this place?”
She raises an eyebrow, as if a bit surprised.

“Well, there’s really only one thing Yagis V produces in any kind of quantity.”
“Which is?” You press, as much as you think you already know the answer.

“Well… Lingerie…”

“Fuck... I was REALLY hoping for baneblades.”

Before you can continue giving her the moves, a skull probe pokes its head out of her robes at her feet.
“Mika-chan, chaos terminators detected inside the structure.” It chimes in a cheery robot voice.

“H-huh? Where?” The tech priestess stammers back to it.

“Right here.” The skull responds back with a now VERY out of place cheerfulness.
A powerfist busts through the wall not four feet to your left.

“OH YEAHHHHH!!!!!!!!”

The dust clears, and four chaos terminators are staring you right in the face.
“Have at you!” You yell, drawing your sword.

Before you can react, a chain fist buries itself in Mika’s side.
“Hah!?” She yells in surprise before blood oozes out of her mouth and her eyes go blank.
The terminator laughs as he tosses her limp form aside, before turning to you.
Their guns level, and in this narrow hallway, you don’t have anywhere to escape to.

“Quick, in here!” Mika grabs your hand and both of you sprint into one of the nearby rooms.
She slams the door shut and a heavy bolt engages the lock.
“That will hold them for a second or two, but we don’t have much time!” She yells at you.
But you are already on it.

“Don’t worry babe, I’ve got this shit. Wait, how the fuck are you still ALIVE?"
"Good armor shave." She replies as his hands fly over a control panel.

The terminator armor is quite a bit harder to put on than the standard power armor was, but you are pretty quick with your lives on the line and all that.
Three weaprawns adorn a rack on the wall, but the left hand of the armor is already taken up by a shield.

“Alright, this should do it.” You grab the power axe and ready yourself for the fight.
“Hey, what are you doing? Use your other arms to grab those other weapons!” Mika yells at you as the door starts to cave from power fist belows.

She pulls off your hat and stuffs the helmet onto your head. You don’t complain, hat-chan is cool but he can’t stop bolter rounds.
“Huh?”
But you quickly realize that somehow you are controlling two additional servitor arms attached to the armor.

Without questioning it, you grab the sword and storm bolter with the claws, and again turn to face the wall.
The door finally is blown back off of its heavy hinges, but the chaos terminator stops when he sees you.

“None shall stand in the path of the rape train!”
With that, you swing the axe down and it easily cuts into his head. The heavy armor slams hard into the ground, and the other two terminators look startled. Clearly, things were not going as planned.

Before they can raise their guns, you let them have it with the storm bolter. They are knocked backwards from the impact of the heavy shells, and you press your attack until you are within range.

The one on your left pulls back his power fist for a strike, but you quickly lash out with the shield and knock him onto his back. At the same time, your servitor arm lashes out with the sword and pierces the other terminator through his middle.
The last chaos terminator struggles to rise, but you put a heavy boot on his chest, and the storm bolter clatters away. Chaos head jelly, order yours today.

“Nice work!” Mika yells with adoration, jumping over the corpses until she’s behind you. She has a laspistol clutched in both hands and both mechanical arms.
“Thank me when we’re out of this mess.” You tell her.
You sincerely doubt this is over yet.

“Back into the factory floor, I have a feeling some bad shit is about to come pouring out of that hole.”
Mika doesn’t argue with you, and both of you sprint down the hallway.
Well, more like she walks along behind your lumbering ass.

“Can't this thing go any faster? Why didn’t you at least paint it red?”
Mika looks startled at the question.

“It-It’s a work in progress, I haven’t had time to finish it yet!”
Finally the two of you get through the winding hallways and into the open factory. You notice the lights are now on, casting a bright light over the paradise before you.

“Quit oogling them and lets go!” Mika shouts, pushing you in the back as though you can even feel that.

“Err… Yeah…” You toss the power sword aside and snatch up a bag of factory fresh goodies, labeled “Assorted”, you like the sounds of that.

“Wah? What are you doing?” Mika stammers, looking at the power sword than back at you.
“Uhh… It was malfunctioning.”

“B-but…”

“No time, let’s move!” You shout, and it sounds pretty bad-ass through the helmet.

You lumber over to the massive hanger door. Why a lingerie factory has a hanger door a baneblade could fit through, you don’t know, but you don’t know if the armor can fit through the door you first entered into the factory.

The metal door creaks in protest, but then starts to lift up with a faint grinding noise.
As soon as it lifts up enough, you duck underneath and step out into the light.
“Commissar, how good to see you again.” Abbadon laughs mercilessly.

“Cockfag.”

Abbadon’s smile fades slightly, and he pats the leg of the Defiler standing next to him.
Which lifts up its two front arms, and is going to try to flatten you.

*************
Too busy dreaming of the bag of goodies in your servitor arm, you don't have time to react to the attack.
The Defiler flattens you, and, under Abbadon's order, keeps wailing away until little remains of you but shards of metal and a gooey mess.
*************

You don’t give the Defiler time, and step within its reach.
“Stay inside!” You shout back to Mika, who doesn’t reply.

The construction of chaos slams its arms down furiously, but they miss.
You swing the power axe with all of your might, and it pierces into the Defiler, but only slightly. The thing doesn’t seem fazed, or amused. It’s lascannons rotate down to fry you.

Abandoning the axe, you roll out of the way and the shots scorch the concrete where you had stood a second ago,
Abbadon has retreated back and is laughing, clearly expecting you won’t make it out of this. He claps his hands together in amusement. Wait, he didn’t have arms the last time you saw him, but you don’t have time to point out that glaring plot hole.

You recover from the roll just in time to raise your shield in a vain attempt to block an incoming arm, which impacts hard. The blow sends you rolling back, and the shield is cracked in half. You notice it also disabled your left servitor arm.

Dropping the storm bolter down into your hands, you unleash it on the Defiler, which doesn’t seem to notice it much.
“Emprah damn it!” You shout as the gun runs dry.

The Defiler swings down again, and again you dodge. Only this time, you seize the opportunity and run up its arm as fast as the suit allows.
“Hit from underneath!” You hear Mika cry out.

A pitiful leap barely carries you back to the axe, which you wrench out from the raging machine as you fall back to the pavement.
Now you have its soft underbelly exposed, and you hack at one of the legs.

The axe cleaves through the metal, leaving the leg hanging by just a strand of melted slag, and completely unusable.
The Defiler screeches in protest, but you aren’t about to relent.

Again and again you cut, severing legs until the monstrous machine falls hard onto its side. Leaping up on top of it, you deliver one last massive strike to its exposed side. It’s power goes dead.

“Where are my arms, how was I clapping?” Abbadon howls, confused.

“Master, we must retreat!” A cultist yells and tugs on Abbadon’s armor.

Reluctantly he climbs into the back of a rhino, but even as it speeds off he screams back at you.
“I’LL HAVE YOUR HEAD ONE DAY COMISSAR! AND YOUR MEDDLING FRIENDS TOO!!!"

You collapse as the armor powers down, and you read the message in your helmet.
“Game Over… Continue?”

But you don’t have any thrones, and you can’t move the suit.

Mika struggles for a moment, but finally gets the helmet off of you, before putting your hat back on.
After a few minutes, she’s got you out of the armor entirely.

Mika is panting and sits down, exhausted.
“Those pieces are heavy…” She says between deep breaths. Her robe is open, and you can’t help but watch her perky unmodified boobs rising up and down with her chest.

Come to think of it, the only modifications you can see are her additional mechanical arms.
“So you don’t have a lot of metal bits, eh?”
She blushes at your comment, and closes her robe.

“I know, I know. How unsightly right?”
You shake your head.

“Nah, metal parts are cool and all, but I prefer you without anything more than what you’ve got. I think you look great as is.”
She looks away and laughs, still blushing.
“You are very different from the tech-priests.”

You smile at her, and she smiles back. No guns going off, lived another day, talking with a pretty girl. Yeah, this is nice, you should defiantly do this more often. Preferably with less things trying their damnedest to kill you.
“While, I did manage to save this at least.” You hold up the bag of assorted lingerie triumphantly.

Mika giggles at you, than pauses.
“Come to think of it, I don’t know your name.”

Shit, you haven’t introduced yourself yet.

“Right, sorry. I’m Max. Max Decarus, with the guard. Sort of…”
You trail off. Who ARE you with anymore?
“Anyways, I don’t think it’s a good idea to stick around here. We need to find someplace safer.”
Mika's face lights up at your words.

“I know just the place, I was planning on trying to go there myself. It’s an Admech shelter in case of an event like this. The whole place is rigged with turrets and whatnot, it’s probably the safest place on the entire planet.”

“Shit, why didn’t you mention this earlier? Let’s go!”

“The place is a bit of a distance from here, we’re going to need some kind of transport.”

You haven’t seen anything around...
After a bit of walking you manage to locate four vehicles. To be honest, you don't really know how to drive any of them.

"Hey Mika, do you have any idea how to drive any of these?"
She tilts her head and looks at you.

"N-no? I thought you did?"

"None of them?"

"No, I can drive some tanks so the rhino would be close to that...Maybe? But it would take forever to get there..."

Alright then, its settled.
“We’re taking the thunderbolt.”

Mika looks a bit terrified, clutching at her robe nervously.
“Umm… I thought you didn’t know how to fly one of those?”

“How hard can it be?” You shrug.

Your sentiment changes somewhat, however, when you are both strapped into the cockpit as the craft sits poised on the launch ramp.

“You… You’re sure about this?” She’s visibly shaking.

“…No, let’s go try something else.”
You hit the button that you think opens the cockpit back up.

''"Launch sequence initiated, may the Emperor guide your flight"''

“That… Was not the button I was looking for.”

“Max, if you don’t know how to fly this, chances are we are probably going to die.”

You turn around to make a witty comment.

“Yeah well never tell me the obHOLY FUUUUUUCCKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The Thunderbolt is thrown forward by the catapult, the air speed gauge is rapidly increasing.
Too late to bail now, you grab the control stick and hang on for dear life.

The fighter shakes and bucks as its rocketed down the ramp, it’s engines screaming to life.
You don’t even have time to think before you are in the air, looking at the orange sky above, the sun beginning to set.
Still, you haven’t died yet. Everything seems ok.

Taking hold of the stick, you try to put the craft into a soft left turn.
The fighter lurches into a hard roll, and begins spinning rapidly, increasing in speed.

“Max, level us out!” Mika screams, “Pedals, there should be pedals!”
You try to stop the roll, pushing hard on each of the pedals trying to figure out which one is going to keep you in the sky longer.
After several agonizing seconds, you manage to level the craft out.

Just in time to see the burst of autocannon fire miss your left wing by inches.
“Hell Talons!” Mika yells, “Two of them!”

Skilled pilots or not, they are actual pilots and you are some idiot sitting in a craft that takes years of training to learn.
There’s no way you are going to break and get into a turning fight, you would get slaughtered.

“Hold on!” You shout back to Mika, before shoving the stick forward and jamming down the right pedal.
The Thunderbolt rolls over into a dive and quickly starts losing altitude. The Talons blow past you, having been at max speed in their attempt to get into range.

The G-forces are intense, and it’s a struggle to keep from blacking out. Mika isn’t faring as well as you, she’s already out.
As close to the deck as you dare, you reverse the move. Or you try to.

The craft groans against the stress, and is only easing out of the dive slowly. Too slowly.
You pull with all your might, until finally the nose inches up and levels off. You look down just in time to see a building blink by, mere feet below you.

Mika must have come to, because you hear her scream.
“Chill out, I think we’re all right.” You call back to Mika.

“Then why were you screaming?”

A flash of lascannon fire misses the front of your fighter, but just barely.
Heading straight at you, guns blazing, another Talon.

“Shoot at them!” Mika yells up to you.
You don’t know how, so you just start pressing triggers.

The Thunderbolt shudders as it’s autocannons and lascannons open up, sending tracers and flashes of pinkish light out at the enemy fighter. You are missing, by a substantial margin, but the Talon stops shooting and skids slightly to its right.
Right, the pedals!

You jam on the left pedal and it kicks your nose to the left. You haven’t let up on your guns, despite a few warning lights flipping on and a klaxon sounding.

The Talon erupts into flames as the high explosive autocannon shells rake his fuel supply. He pitches up, climbs a few hundred meters, than explodes into shrapnel.

You barely manage to skid the craft with the pedal again, just in time to avoid a hunk of wing that would have sheared off your own.
“There it is!” Mika grabs your shoulder and points to a large bunker laid into the side of a mountain.
“Hold on, we’re going in hot.”

You don’t know why you said that, maybe you thought it sounded cool. What you should have said is “Pray to the EMPRAH, because I don’t know how to land.”

You pull back on the thrusters until the engine cuts out, trying desperately to lose air speed.
The belly of the ship touches down, hard, and you are jolted around the cockpit. Your head and neck ache from snapping around.

Thankfully the Thunderbolt is a sturdy craft, because you are only knocked unconscious when it impacts a solid concrete wall.

----

Helena laughs as she terrorizes Sarah unrelentingly.
Frederick presses as close to the tank’s open turret as he dares, forgetting about his repair job on the targeting system.

“Hey! Stop…ahh! Get off! Fucking hell, you are as perverted as your brother!”

“Ohohoho? You mean you don’t like me grabbing these big ol’ round earthshakers?” Helena teases.

“No! NO! Emprah damn it Helena, leave my twins alone!”

Frederick’s servitor arms are moving on their own and leaking oil slightly.

“Hah! Were you as shy when you let my pervy bro stick his basilisk between these?”

“Helena you bitch, I’ve told you a million times that was a HUGE mistake!”

But Helena isn’t about to give in.

“I remember you calling me, so worked up and distressed.” Helena puts her hands to her face mockingly.

“Oh Helena it was terrible, he shot that sticky stuff all over my face!” Helena’s voice is nasally, impersonating Sarah, badly.

Sarah, finally at her limit, tackles Helena to the bottom of the tank.
“I told you, it was a stupid mistake that I wholly regret. I was curious, that’s ALL.”

=== Thread 9: ALL GLORY TO THE PARTRIDGES ===

“Ugghhh…” You groan as you grab your head.
That wasn’t a soft landing, but good thing you had this solid concrete wall to stop you. Good thing it wasn’t a pillow manafactorum or something.

You hit the release for your belt and, still grumbling, pop the cockpit canopy as well.
“Sorry about that one Mika.”

But she doesn’t respond.
You look over and see her slumped over in her seat.
“H-hey! Mika!”

Quickly rushing over to her, you grab her arm and feel for a pulse.
It’s there, thankfully, and feels entirely normal. She must still just be out cold.
After a bit of fumbling you manage to unhook her from the seat. You would have thought she was heavy with those two metal arms attached to her back, but she’s surprisingly light. Well, you have carried a fully decked out sister after all.

Making sure not to bang her head into anything or drop her, you slowly and carefully lift Mika into your arms. She still isn’t responsive, and you begin to worry that maybe she took that landing harder than you did.
Now secure in your arms and free of overhead obstacles, you carry her off the wreckage.
The front of the Thunderbolt is smashed in, a wing bent forward, sheered at its base. It was a good plane, but it isn’t going to be taking you anywhere else.

Mika must have known what she was talking about though, because the bunker complex in front of you looks more or less impenetrable. Even from here you can see an obscene amount of turrets, cannons, and missiles.

Well, by the looks of it, those turrets are automated. You look like any other commissar and you are carrying a tech-priestess. Hopefully that will mean you won’t get turned into goo by heavy bolter fire.

The main entrance is large, large enough to fit a tank through.
A tank which comes roaring up the ramp at you.

You jump to the side as the baneblade speeds by, probably at its max speed. You manage to see the word “Rex” painted across the side.
However the tank pays you no mind, and instead begins circling the large field, it’s turrets rotating as if scanning for threats.

Well, at least it didn’t kill you.
You enter the large door which is still open. The room is enormous, filled with computer terminals and whatnot, and also completely empty.

“~Oh good. Company.~” Comes a melodious robotic voice.
You look around quickly, but don’t see anything.

“~I hope Rex didn’t startle you, I’ve just let him out to play.~”

Finally you look up, and see what’s been talking to you.
It’s some kind of contraption of robot orb things, attached to the ceiling. It peers down at you ponderously with a glowing orange eye.
“Rex… The baneblade?”

“~Indeed. This fortress is fully autonomous, and currently empty.~”

You were hoping to find some other people, hopefully someone who could help you out with Mika.
“Hey, robot thing, I think my friend here might be hurt.”

The orb whizzes as it extends its lens, taking a closer look at Mika.
“~Medical bay, follow the red line.~”

“Hey, thanks!”
As you pass by underneath the robot, you look up and notice the word “SLaDOS” painted on the side of it.
Whatever, it seems trustworthy enough.
The red line takes you through a series of large passages, and terminates quite early at what you can easily tell is the medical bay.

You enter, and notice the place is empty. A medical bay isn’t going to be much help without someone who knows what they are doing…
Carrying Mika through the ward, you finally give up, there isn’t anyone to help you here.
You set her down on a bed and think hard.

But before you can start to play doctor, a metallic voice sings from behind you.
“~Preliminary scan complete, tech-priestess condition highly suboptimal. She is simply unconscious, Commissar.~”

You sigh in relief.
“Thanks. When will she be awake?”

“~Difficult to tell, but she will. You can entrust her to my care.~”

You don’t feel entirely right about leaving Mika here…
Your communicator interrupts your train of thought.
It’s a call from your friend Douglass.

Your DEAD friend Douglass.

Quickly you accept the transmission and whip the phone to your ear.
“Douglass, man, what the fuck? I saw you die!”

There is no noise for several seconds.
Until finally the silence is permeated by a series of soft metallic clicks and what sounds like metal scraping against something.
The transmission ends. You call it back, but whatever it is that has his communicator, it doesn’t pick up.
“I can trust her with you?” You finally ask SLaDOS.

“~I will take good care of her, Commissar.~”
You don’t have much of a choice, you need answers.
Mika’s communicator isn’t difficult to find, on an inside pocket of her robe. You pull it out and quickly exchange frequencies.

You find a pen and some paper and quickly scribble her a note telling her what just happened and that she needs to call you as soon as she wakes up.
“Make sure nothing happens to her, because if something does, I’ll come back to kick robot ass and chew bubble gum. And I don’t think Yagis V has any gum.”
The robot laughs cheerfully.

“~This is a safe place Commissar, she will not be harmed.~”

With one last look back at the limp tech-priestess, you head back into the outdoors.
You are going to find answers, but you don’t even know where to start. You have a feeling you will find out somehow though.

----

A long, last drag of his cigarette.
Douglass looks out over the raging seas far below, wind whipping the yellow ribbon he always kept with him into a frenzy. His fingers run over the fabric, remembering.

“Almost hard to believe, isn’t it Max?”
He doesn’t look back at you, face hard against the weather, jaw set.

“I mean, can you really believe it? All of it? Passing training, the graduation, getting shipped off to serve the Emperor?”
He flicks the butt and watches it soar through the air, taken by the wind.

You aren’t exactly sure what to say, it should be a happy day, but you know it can’t be, not entirely.
“Something to be proud of, all of us.” Is all you can manage.

Douglass doesn’t turn around but nods slowly. He might be the toughest guy you know, but everyone has their weak point…

----

Lycheria and his sisters show up in parade march. Usually cheerful, zealous faces, now rendered solemn.
The battlefield is covered in a light layer of snow, preserving the scene before you as it was when you left it.

Guardsmen, your comrades, dead where they fell.
“Thanks for doing this for me.” You tell Lycheria, who squeezes your hand.

“They passed on as they lived, in glorious service to the Emperor and in protection of their families.”
She turns to the Sororita waiting in the open hatch of the Immolator, and nods.

Fire erupts from flamers, bodies crackling peacefully as they are consumed.
The night grows dark, and you haven’t moved, watching the fire as it slowly begins to die down. The sisters each clap you lightly on the shoulder or speak soft, encouraging words. Lycheria puts her hand on your back for a moment, watching with you, before she turns to go. She knows now isn’t the time, there are some things a man just has to see through himself.

You watch the fire for hours as the sky grows ever darker.
Finally, nothing but glowing coals and ash.

You look at the yellow ribbon in your hand, dirty and torn.
You try to think of something to say, but you can’t come up with anything. Douglass was always the quiet, stoic type anyways.
The ribbon slips through your fingers, the stiff wind lifting it away from you. It spins and dips in the cold evening air. You watch silently as it finally disappears into the darkness beyond.

A Necron tomb is close by, and the data on the servo skull showed it to be abandoned. Perhaps it’s dim halls can provide some time to reflect.
With a final salute, one you hold for several moments, you turn your back, commending your friends to the afterlife.

All of your friends except Douglass, who’s body you didn’t find.
The crypt is as silent as well, a crypt.

You know there are active Necrons on this planet, but this isn’t a place they use any more, according to the skull anyways.
The tomb is illuminated by soft green light, which is nice because you probably wouldn’t have entered if it was dark.

Despite what it is, you find the tomb peaceful. The quiet a reprieve from everything you’ve gone through since first touching down on this planet.
Deeper and deeper you descend, making sure to keep track of exactly how to get out as you do.

You pause, however, when you hear something.
Almost indiscernible, a soft rhythmic clanging.

While you are curious, there is no need to tempt fate.
You crouch and continue quietly, making as little noise as you can. The deathly silence of the tomb doesn’t make that easy.

*clang* *clang* *clang*

The noise is getting closer, and is probably loud enough that whatever’s making it hasn’t heard your footsteps. Your heart beats ever harder the closer you get.

*Clang* *Clang* *Clang*

Its so close now, just inside a room ten feet in front of you. You inch closer and closer along the wall, your heart in your throat now.

*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*

With a bit of trepidation, you slowly peek out into the room.
You aren’t sure what to think of the sight that greets you.

A Necron, or what you at least think is a Necron, has another more generic one bent over a rock.
The one standing is dangling with flesh, sickeningly moist flesh which jiggles and shakes as the Necron thrusts.
The one bent over the rock struggles, but is held in place by scythe-like claws stuck into its back.

Before you can react, the flayed one looks quickly over at the doorway. Eyes meet yours.
Douglass’s eyes. Or where they should have been anyways.

His face is contorted in what looks like a scream, stretched across the head of the Necron like some kind of mask. Pale, dead skin taut against metal underneath. The jaw bounces and the cheeks jiggle as the flayed one continues its rape.
You realize, feeling sick, that this thing is wearing Douglass.

*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*

The Necron doesn’t take its eyes off you as it finally stops thrusting, reaches forward with its other clawed hand, and starts pulling off the other one’s head. The injured Necron cries out, which quickly falls silent, as it’s spine is ripped from its body.

The flayed one tosses the head and spine at your feet, before uttering a terrible metallic screech.
You don’t even think, you just run.

You cry out in pain as sharp claws rip into your back, tearing through your skin. You are still running, fast enough to keep the flayed one just out of lethal range, hopefully.

As you sprint up back the way you came, you draw the laspistol and fire it over your shoulder. Even the shots that connect seem to have little effect.
The flayed one is screaming in its soulless robotic tone as it chases you down, enjoying the hunt.

Blood is pouring from the wound on your back, the pain would be too excruciating to move if you were not currently fleeing for your life.
It doesn’t seem like it’s any use running, as the claws rake you again and again.

You can feel your legs growing weaker, though you keep pressing on as hard as you can. Your back, much of which now is shredded, is slick with your own blood.
The claws lash out again, and with a terrible dread and disbelief, you feel much of your left arm fall from your body. Your eyes take in what used to be your arm, now a stump that ends before your elbow.

Screaming at the pain, you fall to the cold floor below.
You turn around to see the flayed one working it’s bladed fingers madly as it stands over you, it seems to be reveling in your impending death.
Until a green bolt of energy catches it in the side, tearing away metal and scorching the flayed one’s skin dress.

The flayed one turns around, screaming madly.
Another bolt of gauss fire catches it, this time center chest.
The skin-wearing mother fucker falls to its knees, jaw working furiously but emitting no sound.

One last shot obliterates its head, and the monstrosity of metal and flesh collapses right beside you.
You look up even as you grip your stump, trying to stop the bleeding as best you can.
Another Necron steps into view, this one far more humanoid. The pariah peers down at you curiously, poking you lightly with its staff.

You can’t even struggle as it walks closer still. You notice its long black braid, held together with glowing green jewelry. Its features are soft, feminine even. The Necron looks almost like a human girl.
One who stands back up and levels it’s gauss gun right at you.

Until a bolter round whizzes past its head.
“We claim victory over this tomb, and all shall know of our glorious battle here!”

More bolter fire, and the pariah hisses furiously before retreating into a dark side-passage.
Heavy boots approach from behind you, but you can’t even turn to look. You can actually feel your heart slowing.
“…Call for the Apothecary, quickly!” The marine beside you yells.

Just before you black out, you notice the paint scheme.
Gold trim…

----

“Commissar…”
The voice a million miles away.

“Commissar!”
You awaken with a jolt. You are laying on a white bed, heavy bandages wrapped around your chest.

Was it all a dream?
One look to your left, at the stump greeting you there, confirms it was not.
You feel sick. Where you once had an appendage, now you have nothing. You can’t even look at it, turning your head away quickly.
“Feeling alive again?” The voice turns away, “Thank you for your assistance brother Genevus, please go help any other wounded.”

“Chapter master?” Genevus asks hesitantly.

“It’s quite all right, leave us.”
You turn to look at the source of the conversation.
One space marine is already exiting the room; and another, a giant in what you think is terminator armor, sits down beside you. His obscene amount of purity seals rustling as he adjusts in the chair.

The marine next to you sits back and takes a drink out of a mug, which curiously bears the symbol of a wolf.
“Well Commissar, or should I say, guardsman, what say you?”

You remain speechless, disbelief sinking your stomach. How they found out, you don’t know.
“Guardman, you do know the punishment for committing such a crime, do you not?”

“I…Err…”

“As Harry Partridge, chapter master of the most glorious of all astartes, the Galactic Partridges, I ask again. You are aware of the repercussions for what you have done, are you not?”
You swallow hard.

“I… I am. But I can explain…”
He holds up a massive hand to stop you from talking.

“Then you know it is well within my right and even perhaps my obligation to execute you here and now.”
You try to back away, but there isn’t anywhere to go.

“I was just doing what I had to, I’m the last guard on the planet sir.”
The Chapter Master laughs, a booming laugh that echoes through the small building.

“I care little for such trivial matters, there is only one thing that interests me.”
He stands up and puts a hand on your shoulder.

“Glory, guardsman. Glory is all I care for.”
You watch as he takes another drink.
“I’ll offer you a proposition in exchange for your life. My good friend Logan has just arrived with his force on this planet, and I would like you to aid me in giving them a proper… Greeting.”
He pours something into a cup similar to his, which he extends to you.

“T-to the glory of the partridges?” You stutter.
He reaches out and clinks his mug against yours.
“All glory belongs to the Partridges!” He responds, taking a long drink.

Several moments pass as you enjoy whatever is in the mug. You aren’t sure what it is, but it seems to rejuvenate you a bit. Well, as much as you can be when you remember you are missing an arm.
“If I may, Chapter Master, what is it exactly you want me to do?”

Harry Partridge smiles as he raises his mug to his lips again.
“Well, guardsman, you are going to help me troll the Space Wolves.”

And that is how you found yourself, sitting on a log in “rescued” Space Wolf power armor.
Being the bait for the Tyranid swarm.
You look up as you hear a screech, and turning around, you curse.

Tyranids.
A fuck ton of Tyranids.

“Uhh… Harry? Dude, shit is getting uncool pretty fast down here!” You grab the runic axe they gave you tightly in your one remaining arm. You are swimming in the armor as well, it being made for someone about your height but roughly ten times or so your weight.

“Don’t worry, Max, we’ve detected Space Wolf drop pods coming down toward your position. Just hold out until they arrive.”
As much as the Chapter Master said it was an easy and safe plan, you had your doubts.

Now, those doubts seem affirmed.
A swarm of gaunts is bearing down at you, gleeful at the prospect of ripping apart what they believe to be a space marine.

You take the first strike, lashing out hard with the axe. A powerful cut severs one gaunt clean in half and cuts hard into the carapace of another.

Still, you are getting swarmed here.
The Space Wolf armor, though much much too large, proves tough. Claws bounce and scrape off the hard ceremite.

You swing again and again, the axe meeting little resistance it can’t easily overcome. You are thankful they at least gave you a nice weapon before sending you out here.
With a thunderous boom that echoes across the valley, four drop pods slam hard into the ground a hundred or so yards from you.

With a loud hiss the doors fly open and Space Wolves jump out, roaring at the Tyranids as they prepare to save you. The Wolves waste no time and begin ruthlessly ripping into the gaunts. You notice a large figure who Harry showed to you in a picture, Logan Grimnar.
“Hold on brother, we shall dispatch this foe quickly!” He calls out to you as he punches a jumping gaunt in the head, which explodes into bits of chitin and gore. Very few gaunts remain.

“ALL GLORY BELONGS TO THE PARTRIDGES! HATERS SHALL HATE!”
A furious barrage of plasma fire from the sky as thirty or more Partridges fly toward you on their trails of fire and smoke. They land around you, swinging their power weapons madly and cutting down the last of the Tyranids.

Logan stops suddenly, mouth agape, eyes wide. He can’t even express his fury.
“Pa-partridges?!” One of his retinue yells in disbelief.

The Partridges quickly dispatch the remaining five or so gaunts that the Space Wolves hadn’t gotten to yet.
“Another day, another glorious victory for the Partridges.” Harry says as he steps over the crest of a hill.

“YOU!” Logan howls madly, clenching his fists.

“Oh! Hello brother Grimnar, I didn’t see you there. How glorious was our victory? I just missed it.”
Logan Grimnar is too furious to form words, his mouth foaming and his eyes wild.

“Excellent.” Harry says with a smile.
You quickly remember your lines.

“T-thanks be to the glorious Partridges, I would have surely been lost to the swarm had you not arrived.” You bow quickly to Harry.

“No matter, friend wolf, we cannot leave a fellow astartes in such peril.” He replies, taking a sip of his mug.

“I wish to relinquish myself from the Space Wolves and join you in further pursuit of such glory as only known to the Partridges.” You say, impressed you remembered.

“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!?!?” Logan yells, grabbing a gaunt corpse and ripping it to pieces.

“We gladly accept your offer, welcome to the Galactic Partridges, brother.” Harry reaches down and places a partridge on your shoulder.
“Rise now, as one of the glorious victors.”

“YOU FUCK, I’LL KILL BOTH OF YOU!!!!” Logan screams, flailing madly as several of his retinue hold him back.

----

"Oh, Hat-chan! You're just so dirty," Senna purrs, as she places you on the table. She folds her arms under her breasts and leans down, batting her lashes at you. Her eyes are memsermizing, and the curve of her smile promises so much . . . Your hatband tightens.

You are snapped out of your reverie by something cool and wet on your crown. Senda has appeared behind you with some sort of soap or lotion that she is gently rubbing into your fabric. Every droplet seems to send electricity through your fibers, but you can also feel the dust and grime coming away. "Don't worry, we'll get you clean," she says as she works her fingers in, probing and carressing. Your peak stiffens from the attention, and she starts working with a rhythtm. She traces your creases gently, then digs into your seams roughly. You relax and imagine what it would be like to feel her hair and forehead pressed against you.

Senna grabs a long-handled tool covered in bristles and gently brushes your bill free of the arena dirt. As more of your material becomes exposed, she grows more vigorous. You can feel your wide, thick bill begin to glisten as she polishes it. She stops to smile at her reflection in your gleaming visor, leaving you desperate for more. Bringing her face even closer to you, she blows slow and hot across your front. She slowly wipes the fog away, dragging her delicate fingers back and forth on your hard surface. When you shiver from this treatment, she grins and fogs you up again. As she finishes blowing, she leaves her lips together and plants a kiss.

They both stand up and smile at you. Between the fabric massage and the polishing, your mind is floating away on a warm pink cloud. You can almost see yourself soaring over a landscape made of glorious feminine coifs and ponytails.

But could it get any better? Senda gently picks you up and starts to raise you higher. Her forehead is tantalizingly close, so smooth and welcoming. Senna comes closer, running a hand through her hair. Your headband aches with anticipation.

"Better not, sister. We've already had a long day."

"Good point. Sorry, Hat-chan. Maybe you can ride around on us next time." They put you back down and skip away to snuggle under the covers with Max.

What a bunch of cap teases.

=== Thread 9.5: BEAR LEAVES ===

“Hey, uhh, Mr. Grimnar! Mind if I talk to you for a moment?” You yell out to him.

“What are you doing? We didn’t agree to this!” Harry hisses at you, his face stern and cold now.
Too late, Logan’s hulking form grabs you roughly and pulls you aside. His fellow wolves line up in a tight rank to block you from the Partridge’s view. Both sides finger their weapons nervously as they eye-fuck each other.

“You had better have a damn fine excuse for calling me out, pup.” He spits, setting you down.

“Yeah well, you see, I was forced into doing that.” You tell him the whole story, including the bit about losing your arm.
He doesn’t seem impressed.

“So you abandoned virtue and struck a deal with these… these…” He can’t come up with a word to describe them.

“With all respect, us guardsmen tend to live short lives that we like to extend if and when possible.”

“Hmph, cowardice in droves.”

You shake your head.
“Not cowardice, no, perseverance in a struggle to live.”

He looks you over as though he hadn’t really seen you before, than looks over the shoulders of his men at the tyranid carcasses before him.
“So they stuck you in a suit of stolen armor, gave you a stolen weapon, and told you to wait for us to show up?”

“Yeah pretty much.”

He nods, looking around.
“Alright lad, you’ve done well to at least tell me this was all a setup. Allow me now to help you.”

With that, his gauntleted fist impacts your face and knocks you out stone cold steve austin.

“Go to hell Harry you fuck, I’ve killed your little minion over here.” Logan shouts at the very surprised Partridges.
He holds your limp body up as proof.

Harry smirks, shrugs, and chuckles coldly.
“I don’t give a damn about some guardsman, I just cherish the look on your face any time I beat you.”

Logan sets your body down.
“You beat no one today, shit bird.” The Great Wolf replies.

“Really? Well, the hive worlds will be buzzing with news of my great victory here today, so it sure seems like I did.”
A thunderhawk bearing the markings of the Wolves circles once overhead, before slowing to land.

“I’m going to kill you myself, one of these days.” Grimnar mutters.

“You can try.” Harry sneers back.

You awaken with a pained grunt, grabbing at the ice pack on your face.
“Man, I am really getting sick of that.” You groan.

“Be grateful I didn’t use my axe.”
You pull the pack aside, Logan Grimnar and a dozen or so Space Wolves stand around you. You seem to be lying on some kind of fur in a cave.

“Where are we?”

“Not far from the site of the battle, I’m surprised you can talk actually.” One of the Wolves remarks.

“Why is that…?”

“Well, we strapped your body to the side of the ‘hawk. Had to make your death look convincing and all.”
You grimace at the pain on your back, the stub of your arm, a plethora of cuts and bruises. You are ragged.

“Well, thanks for that at least.”
Logan shakes his head.

“Don’t thank us yet, we haven’t decided if we should kill you or not yet.”

The Space Wolves look down at you solemnly.
“He’s right, we probably should just do him in and be done with all of this.” A younger Wolf says, hefting his chainsword.
Logan’s hand pushes the hilt of the sword back down.

“Perhaps another time, but not today. We’ve got work to do, brothers, we don’t have time to fret away on guardsmen.”

“Great Wolf, his personal communicator.”
You jolt back upright, shit, you have a bunch of really fucking heretical shit on that.

“Dark Eldar… You have some… Interesting tastes…” Logan muses as he looks at the small screen.

“Yeah well, you kill an Archon and all kinds of crazy shit happens.” You tell them, laying back down.
The Wolves erupt in laughter.

“You? Kill an Archon? HAH! That joke alone was worth sparing your life!” The Space Wolves continue to laugh.
The one operating your communicator holds up a hand, his face ashen.

“Great Wolf, you need to see this…”
He puts the screen in front of Logan again, who’s brow furrows as he leans in close to the device.
“Hmm, very interesting. Tell me, guardsman, you’ve seen the Warmaster here? Personally?” Logan asks, as he reads some of the hate mail.

“I’ve done more than see him, I gave him a nice little cut on the face and killed one of his defilers.”
The Wolf tosses the device down onto your chest.

“Absolute lies, but a funny story at least.”
The Space Wolves file out of the cave, leaving you alone with Grimnar, who stares at you as though contemplating what to do next.

“I have a feeling we might meet again, maybe you can tell us more stories the next time we do.”
He sets something down beside you, and departs.

You roll your head to look.
A bolt pistol lays next to you, complete with the insignia of the Space Wolves.
Whatever, you are going to get some sleep.

When you finally awaken, you almost wish you hadn’t. You are freezing cold, shivering badly. Even worse, you know it’s pretty warm outside.
Your bandages are blotted with blood that has soaked through, and you feel pretty faint.

Could this day get any worse?
Your stomach growls.
Of course it can…

You dial Mika’s frequency, and let it ring until it goes to voicemail. She must still be out.

Stepping out of the cave, you notice you are quite a ways up a mountainside. From here, you can see the Admech stronghold. It has to be ten miles away at least.
With a groan you heft the bolt pistol holster over your shoulder, the strap digging painfully into your back slightly. You are dressed in just what you had underneath the Space Wolf power armor, which the Wolves must have taken back. A thin tank top and pants with very basic and soft shoes.

It isn’t an easy hike down, and more than once you lose your footing and crash painfully onto the rocks below, barely managing to not roll the rest of the way down.
Finally you reach the base of the mountain, breathing heavily. The bandages soaked with even more blood as it seems your wounds have opened up a bit.

You can’t give up now though, thoughts of soft boobs and warm food filling your head.
“Come on man, get it together.” You mumble as you slowly start making your way into a forest, one you will have to cross through to get to the stronghold.

Unbeknownst to you, something watches from the trees.

You are stumbling now, barely managing to walk in a straight line.
Your world, it seems, has become increasingly difficult to balance on. And darker too.

You mumble something incoherent, you aren’t even sure what you said. You don’t care anyways.
The trees rustle from behind you, and you stumble and fall to a knee as you try to look for the source of the noise.

A black shape drops from a tall tree, landing lightly in front of you.
It looks up, empty eyes of its skull mask meeting your own.

“wwwrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyy………” The Eversor gurgles quietly.

“Oh fuck this…” You scramble up, adrenaline surging through you.

You dash as hard as you can, trampling over brush and cracking twigs underfoot.
Looking back, you notice the Eversor scratch it’s chin. Maybe it won’t come after you.

The Evesor deems it’s given you enough of a headstart, and bolts into a fast sprint after you.
You unsheathe the bolt pistol, and whirl around, cracking off a shot.

The Evesor stops in its tracks as a tree trunk a foot to its right explodes from the round, but the assassin turns back to you and again continues its chase.

You grab a mouthful of leaves and start chewing.

Man, these are some fucking good leaves.
“I love these things!” You roar.

The Evesor roars back at you, it wants the leaves all to itself.
You realize suddenly that the assassin is actually a bear.

Rearing up on your hind legs, you try to make yourself larger and roar in challenge.
This is your territory.

Both of you run at each other, and you swing out with your claws first. It’s a battle of the bears as you each bite and claw at the other.
Finally you manage to scare off the other bear, and you grumble to yourself as you watch it leave.

You eat some more leaves before retreating back into your den for the night.
Your den is cozy, and you bear snuggle it hard.

It took you a few days to dig this thing out yourself, it was pretty hard work actually. Though momma always did say you had some really good digging claws.
A few berries you’ve stored make an excellent snack, and you munch on them happily.

Though in the back of your mind, you know these happy days won’t last forever.
After all...

Winter is coming.

“You look much larger down here…” The suave anchorman says as he sizes you up, his fists raised.
“I AM A BEAR!” You roar back at him, swinging with your paws.

He ducks back, barely avoiding the blow.
He looks puzzled, before he opens his mouth to say…

“DUDE, ITS COOL IF YOU WANT TO SLEEP IN THE SIDECAR AND ALL, BUT I’M PRETTY SURE I TOOK YOU WHERE YOU WANTED TO GO!”

You grab your head and open your eyes, the world outside is stupidly bright, and you quickly shut them again.
Wait, what the fuck?

You peer back around with your eyes barely open.
Doomrider is sitting next to you on the bike, smoking a cig, and looking down at you curiously.

“What the fuck just happened?”
The crazy biker daemon laughs as he takes another drag.

“MAN, YOU ATE SOME FUCKING BEAR LEAVES! YOU KNOW HOW TO PARTY MY FRIEND, I’LL GIVE YOU THAT!”
You groan, your head doesn’t hurt but you have an overwhelming urge to stand in a river and catch salmon…

“Thanks for the lift man, I thought I was done for.” You climb out of the sidecar.

“NO PROBLEM FRIEND, ANYTIME!”

Doomrider and you do the secret handshake; well, the half you can do anyways, before he revs his engine and disappears into a warp hole.
Rex is sitting outside, and you absentmindedly scratch the underside of his turret, his antenna wagging happily.

The large door opens, and you shuffle inside.
The bizarre form of SLaDOS turns to you, its lens focusing noisily.

“~Oh good, there you are.~”

A mechanical arm extends out and offers you an orange jumpsuit.
“Really? For me?” You take the suit appreciatively.

“~Now, let’s get started~”

Another arm hands you a bizarre looking gun.

“Umm… Thanks?”

Well, that was weird.
You stumble along to the medical bay, again following the red line.

It’s a struggle as you walk, your legs feel as though they might give out on you at any moment.
Finally though, you manage to get into the room where you left Mika.

“Hey, you awake yet?” You poke the tech priestess lightly.
She mumbles and turns her head, but doesn’t wake up.

You set the white orbish gun aside, along with the orange jumpsuit. For some reason, they are really starting to creep you out.
“Hey, geargirl!” You shake her lightly.

Still, she doesn’t wake up.
“I’m missing an arm!” You yell, shaking her side to side now.

“Awa!?” She bolts upright, eyes wide and scanning over the room.
Her eyes narrow as she looks at you, before she jumps backward and hides in the corner.
“I-I don’t know what you want, don’t kill me!”

You stand there, stunned.
“Errmm… Mika? It’s me, Max.”

She turns around, and realization washes over her face.
“M-Max? By the omnissiah…”

----

She lays you down on the bed, fingers tenderly running across your stump.
“Does it hurt?”

“A lot, can you do anything?”

Mika bites her lip, and looks around.
“Well, we’re in a complex with a warehouse of parts…”

“So… Yes?”

She nods.
“I’ll see what I can do.”

She brings over a mask to put you under, but you stop her hand.
“Don’t worry, Mika Stark-san is better than she admits!” Her servo skull exclaims joyfully.

She gently brushes your hair out of your face, before securing the mask…
You breath in, looking up into the beautiful face in front of you. The world becomes pink and fluffy for a moment, before you sink into a deep sleep.
Mika places a pair of goggles over her eyes, and ignites a torch.
“Alright skull-chan, let’s get this shit started.”

She grins as she looks down at your unconscious form, this is her element.
You stay out as she works furiously into the night…

----

Frederick looks up from his repairs as Helena jumps down off of the tank.
"Whatcha workin on mekboy?" She asks, leaning over to look.

Frederick finds it hard to talk, Helena's boobs squishing on his head.
"Err... Just fixing tank stuff."

"Hmmm... How boring." She complains, pouting.
The tech priest mind reels, trying to think of something to say or do.

Helena leans further and Fredericks mechanical arms start moving on their own.
"H-hey! Watch it with those!" Helena laughs, jumping back.

"Err... Apologies..." Fuck, he is blowing this!
Frederick can't take it anymore, mustering all his courage.

Frederick mumbled something completely incoherent.
"Uh, can you repeat that?"

"D-do you want to go to a movie with me!?"
Helena looks at him curiously.

"Frederick, are you inviting me out on a date?"
The question startles him.

"Err...I....."

"I would love to go! I'm going to go get cleaned up and then I'll meet you back here at seven!"
With that, she heads off.

Omnissiah be praised, did she just agree to a date?

Helena humms happily to herself as she showers, taking extra care to do a good job shaving.
"Ohohoho? How slutty are you going to get with this gearskull?" Sarah comments jokingly from the other side of the shower.

"Sarah!"

"Don't try lying to me girlie, I saw you getting out the sexy panties."
Helena looks away, feigning embarrassment.

"I mean, I can't not give him a little fanservice, he did finally work up the courage to ask me out..."

"Which you've been waiting for forever now, blah blah blah, I've heard it a hundred times already."

=== Thread 10: HE NEVER ASKED FOR THIS ===

Mika doesn’t even stop to take a break as she continues throughout the night. She has pulled some serious all nighters before, what for the Admech tests and whatnot, but never on something that required this level of technical craftsmanship. Generally an Admech all night consisted of baking cookies in hopes that it might wake some slumbering machine spirit.
She only pauses to take in the sight of you laying there, now with a near complete mechanical arm. She wants to make this her best work ever, she WILL make this her best work ever. She wants to impress you. She wants you to like her.
“Aaargghh! Skull-chan I need another servo, can you grab me one?”

“I don’t have any arms onii-chan!”

“Ah, right… Sorry.”
You don’t wake up for any of it. No, you are dreaming. There is a massive iguana pestering you while you try to fix your boat, which is suffering from massive motor troubles, it is not a good day to be a fisherman.
“Hey! Hey! Are we almost done? I’m getting boooorrreeedddd!!!!”

“Oh skull-chan, you need to be more patient. I haven’t integrated the plasma rifle with the fire control system yet.”

“Awwwwwwww, but we’ve been doing this for HOUUURRRSSSS!”
Your eyelids feel like they weigh as much as a landraider, and it’s a struggle to slowly pry them open. You don’t know how long you’ve been out, but it doesn’t feel like much time has passed.

Mika is asleep on a stool beside your bed, leaning over onto the sheets at your side. Judging by the dark bags under her eyes, you gather she’s been at this for quite some time… You give her a gentle shake.
“Hey Mika, are you all right?”

She jumps when you rouse her, looking fairly startled.
“Wha-what time is it? How long have I been asleep?!”

You shrug. “How would I know? I just woke up.”

It is at that second that you notice something. You shook her gently with your left arm.
“Holy shit, it works!” You exclaim, holding your new mechanical appendage in front of your eyes.
“I never asked for this…”

“Huh?” Mika asks as she rubs her eyes.

“Err… Nothing…” You can tell just by looking that this is some seriously master crafted shit. Your new arm is mostly black with flourishes of gun metal. You don’t really care that much about the looks of it, what you really like is that you can still feel things with it like you did with your actual arm.
“Mika, this thing is incredible!”

She blushes, biting her lip.
“I-its nothing that special. I mean, I could only fit four weapons in it… I should have tried harder, I’m sorry.”

"No, don't apologize! You did a really great job with this, I'm really impressed!"

"Well... Its the best I could manage."

“Gee Mika, THREE guns? What am I packing here?” But she doesn’t get a chance to answer you, as your thoughts activate the interior weapon systems. Your hand shifts aside as the barrel of a plasma cannon sticks out and blows a chunk out of the ceiling.
“Ahh! Easy Max, I still need to fine tune it while you are awake!”

You are too busy having fun to here his. The plasma gun drops back and a flamer emerges, sending a white hot puff of fire into the air, which feels hot on your face.
“T-take it easy!” She grabs your hand and pushes it down onto the bed.
“But wait, where is the third gun?”

Mika bites her finger, looking away, before quickly bowing to you.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! But I could only fit in a lasgun loaded with a hotshot cartridge! I’m such a failure…”

“No! You are a damn genius is what you are. Where is the lasgun though?”
She gestures quietly at your index finger.
“...No fucking away…”
You raise your hand like a child would when they pretend to hold a pistol.

“Bang!” The lasgun fires and the light you were aiming at explodes in a shower of sparks.
While you gawk over your new arm and how awesome it indeed is, Mika quietly lays back down and falls asleep. After a while, you notice. With a smile, you lift her gently and place her down on the bed. She did a damn fine job for you, she should get some much needed rest.
“Thanks for this, it means a lot to me.”

You pull up the sheets over her, give her a kiss on the forehead, and shut off the lights. Completely forgetting as you exit the room, that she has yet to fine tune your new appendage. As you leave Mika to sleep, you have only one thing on your mind.

Your beloved hat is still missing, but you don't know where to look.

You are pretty sure the Galactic Partridges still have it.
You tell SLaDOS to let Mika sleep, she’s more than earned as much rest as she needs. You refuse when it asks if you want to help it with some SCIENCE, maybe later but right now you don’t have time. Lycheria is giving you a call, but you don’t have enough signal to answer.
“Hey, Rex! Gimme a lift bud!”

“*ARF ARF*” Rex replies, the sound very mechanical. You hop onto the baneblade, which goes storming up the ramp and actually catches some air as it speeds outside. You can barely hold on as the massive tank whips some doughnuts, barking and growling happily the whole time. Finally it lets you off, and you feel a bit weak in the knees as you stumble away from the tank after giving him a tread scratch.
“This is Max, I’m too busy being awesome to answer right now, please leave a message after the beep. BEEP!”

“Uh, err… Max it’s Lycheria. I just wanted to know if you were up for joining us for a little traitor burning is all, guess I’ll…”

“Naw I was just screwing with you, what’s up?”

“Haha, damn it Max! Weeeellll, I’m inviting you along.”

“Along for what, exactly?”

“Uhh… To bun some cultists? You know, the usual.”

“Sure, where do I meet you at?”
Lycheria gives you the coordinates, and after a bit of fumbling around trying to figure out where those are exactly, you finally know where to go.
You finally arrive, after commandeering an abandoned vehicle, about twenty minutes late. There are ten Sororitas waiting for you, most looking a bit annoyed and tapping their feet impatiently.
Lycheria seems to be the only one smiling.
“Hey there Commissar, what took ya?!”
She calls out to you as you park the vehicle and walk up.
The word “Park” meaning you hit a ramp TOO fast and flipped it on its back, where it skidded to a halt in a shower of sparks with a terrible screeching noise.
“Nice…”
A black haired sister comments as you crawl out on your hands and knees.

“I uh… I meant to do that…”
Before you know what is happening, Lycheria is at your side, fingering your new arm worriedly.
“By the Emperor… What happened Max?”
You shrug as you flex the arm.
“Eh, nothing much. Lost it in an epic fisticuffs match with a Flayed One. You should see him, really gave him the ol’ what for.”

Lycheria seems to buy it, the others look increasingly skeptical.
Her hand moves slowly to your head.

“Ah… Its gone…?” She looks heartbroken.

“Yeah, the fucking Partridges have it, I think.”

The sisters all seem to murmur and glance around at one another at your words. You gather that they don’t think too highly of those glory fiends.

“Yeah but don’t worry, I’ll be getting it back, somehow.” Lycheria rubs your head softly.

“I know you will. But anyways, before we go, we have a surprise for you!” One of the sisters opens the hatch to one of their rhinos and the gate falls open.

A suit of power armor greets you, and this one isn’t a pile of scraps or a terminator side project. “Isn’t… Isn’t that the Blood Ravens paint scheme?” You ask, though you are pretty sure of the answer.

“Haha yeah isn’t it great? We stole it from them after they tried to steal an artifact out from under our noses a while ago. We figured you could wear it.” As cool as it is, you are a bit unsure.

“There uh… There don’t happen to be any of them around, right?” “Oh quit worrying so much, just put it on.” The girls crowd around behind you, pushing you forward.

“Come on, put it on!”

“Put on the armor!”

“I… I really want to see him in it…”

Well, it looks like you don’t have much of a choice. You are just going to have to show these bitches how you roll.
“Ladies, I don’t mean to disappoint, but I don’t think this is going to work out…”

“What? Why?”

“It’s nothing, I’ll just go in what I was wearing…”
In truth, it’s because the armor was made for an astartes even larger than the Space Wolf who’s armor you had worn earlier. It is evident that you are much too small to fit. You left off the left forearm and your mechanical arm looks miniscule compared to the suit.
“Can’t let you do that, Commissar.”
The ramp drops before you can start removing the armor. You freeze, staring right into the faces of the ten sisters of battle. Hard girls who have seen their fair share of battle, tough faces.
“Oh my gosh he is so CUTE!”
They rush you, and before you know it you have a crowd of sisters bustling around you. The sisters prod, poke, and dawww as they fawn over you. “I just want to take him home and bake him a cake!”

“It… It’s perfect…”

“Why do I like it so much?”

"I hope this isn't heresy, I don't want this to be heresy..."

This keeps up for a good twenty minutes or so, and shows little sign of slowing down. Lycheria one of the main culprits.
“Hey, as much as I’m really enjoying this and all, didn’t you gals have something planned?” The sisters pause and look between each other again.

“Well I guess if you really want to.”

“We can, as long as you let me feed you afterwards…”

“Err… Sure…” You answer, though really that doesn’t sound too bad.

"Well, we aren't taking the rhinos, we're going to take THAT!"
The sister points, and you don't know how you missed it. A landraider.

You grab onto a rung and start climbing onto the top of the landraider, until you hear a sister protest. “Hey! What are you going up there for?!”

“I guess you could say I…” You slip on a pair of sunglasses, “Like being on top.”

“YYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Doomrider screams as he flies out of one warp hole before disappearing quickly into another.

The girls look a bit uneasy after seeing a slaanesh daemon flying around. Whatever, you know Doomrider is too much of a bro to hurt anyone he knows you like. You clamor up the rest of the massive tank, which is incredibly difficult given how badly you fit inside the armor. Finally you stand on the top and pump your fist triumphantly. “Alright ladies, let’s get this show on the road. Get me close enough to hit them with my sword!”

“But… We gave you an axe?”

“Details, now drive!”

The tank lurches to a start and quickly picks up speed. As cool as riding on top sounded, you didn’t think it would be this cool. The Emprah would be proud, you are surfing a landraider. It turns out to be much less difficult and FAR less horrifying than surfing the slaanesh pleasure wave through the warp. It might hurt if you fall, but the armor would likely save you from serious injury. Much better than being consumed by a wave of chaos pleasure energy for all eternity. In fact, you start having some fun. You stop holding on and start just riding it on your feet.
The sisters are secretly discussing how awesome you are right now. They are totally oblivious to the fact you can feel their thoughts a bit. A las bolt catches you in the chest plate, jolting you out of your mind rape.
“Holy shit, we have company!”

You hear the sister driving yell over the comm.
Sure enough, no less than a hundred cultists are charging down a hill toward you, firing their weapons madly. They didn’t come entirely unprepared, two chaos predators in their midst, both of which are blasting away at you.
“Time to show them what we’re made of!” One sister yells. The tank accelerates, and you realize they plan on ramming into the cultists.

“It’s go time, motherfuckers!” The tank crashes into the crowd of cultists, sending a wave of them flying. Well, sending a wave of PIECES of them flying.
You leap off of the tank, using the momentum of the hard stop. You raise your axe above your head as you soar above the battle. “Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!”

You bring the power axe down in a hard arc, and separate a cultist right through the middle. Blood gushes and you feel a surge of power. That was pretty fucking sweet.
The sound of grinding metal catches your attention, and you turn to your left. Just in time to see the barrel of a chaos predator’s main gun pointed right at your chest.

“Aww shit.”

The blast erupts, where you just were but a second ago. You managed to dodge, but the barrel is tracking you. Much to your displeasure, as the gun keeps firing, the predator’s other weapons all start to focus their attention at you. The Space Marine armor may be tough, but you know it can only take so much abuse.
You are pretty much out of options. You pop open your arm and engage the plasma gun inside, its worth a shot. At least you hope so.
“Oh, are you going to spray me with your plasma you dirty boy?”

“You had better take it all, bitch!”

“If you are going to shoot it all over my side armor don’t get it in my treads!”

You fire.

The plasma connects with the side of the tank!
…It’s not very effective.

“Fuck FUCK FUUUCCCKKK!!!” You are doing your best to dive and roll out of the tank’s fire, but it is very difficult in armor so large.
“Bolter bitches, where are you!? I’m getting fucking wailed on over here!” Bolter rounds from the tank are colliding with your back and pauldrons. You keep your head down, not wanting it to get shot off.

Lascannon fire arcs over your shoulder, connecting with the predator which retreats back to avoid another hit. “Calm down, we’re not going to let you die before we get to play with you.” Comes a calm response.

A line of five sisters comes charging toward you, flamers turning many cultists into screaming pyres and chainswords sawing through yet more of them. Lycheria leads the attack, looking quite happy as she punches a runty cultist in the face before shoving her flamer into his stomach and pulling the trigger. “Hey Max! You get in over your head?” She jeers humorously.

“If I had my hat on, my head would have been tall enough to handle it.” You join up with them and start hacking away at the cultists, who are admittedly terribly lacking opponents, even for you. Well, it seems like as good an opportunity as any to try out some of your new gadgets. “Hey girls, check this out!” You yell to the sisters, who all turn their attention to you.

It feels like a natural thing, like lifting your foot, as your hand moves aside and the barrel of the flamer extends out. You pick out a nearby cultist, and point your new toy right at him. “FLAME ON!”

The jet erupts and the cultist screams as he is engulfed in flame, slapping at himself in a vain attempt to put out the fire. His voice fades and he falls to the grass, a charred corpse. “Pretty neat eh?”

But the girls don’t say anything at first, and after you roast another traitor you turn to look at them. Several are licking their lips, the rest are biting them. Their faces are flush, eyes fixated on you. They all seem to be feeling absent mindedly at their lower armor. Maybe fire gets these girls hot?

You don’t let up with the flamer, roasting mother fuckers left and right. The girls seem to be getting more and more worked up. “By the Emperor… NATASHA FUCKING USE THAT LANDRAIDER AND END THIS ALREADY!” One of the sisters yells as she tries to shove her hand into her own codpiece.

The landraider seems to pick up the pace, guns firing as fast as they can go. The sisters on the ground stop fooling around as well, looking less glorious and more brutally efficient as they hack and bun. In perhaps ten minutes or so, the battlefield is silent. Piles of ash, severed limbs, and two burnt out tanks all that is left of the chaos force.
The landraider parks in front of you, drops its gate, and you are pushed into it by the five sisters behind you, falling to your face. You flip over onto your back as the hatch closes. All ten of the sisters stand over you, breathing heavily.
Standing up, you brush yourself off. “Ladies.”

You pull out a cigar that you had pilfered from the Admech bunker on your way out, which you now light with a small burst from your arm flamer. “Everyone will get a chance to…”

You don’t get time to finish as the sisters eagerly start ripping off your pieces of armor. You take a long draw from the cigar, you can see why Creed likes these so much. It takes them a little under a minute to have you down to your skivvies. “Hey now, this is hardly fair.” You protest jokingly as you poke one in the boob armor.

“Oh my, how rude of us.” Lycheria says smoothly, as she disengages her breastplate. In a few seconds, you have a whole lot of hot and sweaty cleavage staring you in the face. You reach down toward your boxers, until you feel something box-like.
Withdrawing it, you are a bit puzzled to find a box of Emperor-brand condoms with a small note attached. “The Emperor Protects.” The note reads.

Well, as creepy as the thought of The Emprah somehow getting those there, you are glad to have them. You aren’t ready to be daddy Commissar, but you aren’t going to slip one on until you need it. You swallow hard as you realize what you are about to attempt to pull off. Three daemonettes was difficult, there are over four times as many Sororitas here and they are all very worked up.
“Don’t worry, Max, we’ll be sure to take good care of you.”

Lycheria sings as she pulls off her top, revealing bouncy joy that for once in your adventures isn’t of the heretical kind. All down the line, they follow Lycheria’s example. You can feel your blood leaving your head, as you enter what could possibly be the definition of bliss. Things are about to get sexy in a completely non-heretical way.
Oh yes, very sexy.

You can only muse at your incredible luck as they press in from all sides, completely surrounding you. Why can’t you hold all of these bouncy funbags? One of them, a black haired one who looks at you coyly, slips off your boxers. Ahh, time to enter heaven. Only nothing happens, and you open your eyes back up and peer down. The girls are all looking at your phallic object, very intently. Intently in a completely nonsexual fashion. “Those are fang marks, it looks like from a Khornette?”

Shit, she marked you! How did you not notice that!? “Oh, that little thing, hahaha.” You wave your hand as if to brush it off.
“I was fighting off a ton of them a few days ago, bitches jumped out of a warp hole and started attacking me.” The sisters listen, looking pretty damn skeptically at your tale.

“I’d already killed a dozen or so, see this space wolf bolter pistol? They were there fighting with me.” You show them the gun, several of their faces turn to awe at the sight.

“Anyways, long story short, my pants had lit on fire so I had to ditch them. Two of them grabbed me and as I was struggling one went to ram me with her horns but I struck out with this bad boy and hit her right in the kisser!”
You end, and tentatively watch. It seems like every sister bought it, completely.

“Wow, that was so brave!”

“A dozen? You really are strong!”

“I… I want you to attack my mouth…” By the Emprah, that fucking worked?!

“Mmm, this thing defeated a Khornette? I want it.”

With that, the black haired Sororita engulfs your phallic object. She bucks in pleasure at first, which surprises her, but then she calms down to enjoy the ride. The others press in, rubbing you all over with their sweaty bodies. They take turns kissing you, lightly biting your neck, and whispering likely non inquisition-approved things in your ears. They are even taking turns with your heavy bolter. The sensation is indescribable, the pleasure too much to bear as you feel the slight differences between each of them. The bustier ones like to switch up and snag you with their heavy armaments, and you slide quite easily between them with how wet you are now. Even Lycheria seems to be enjoying her turn, smiling as she works your phallic object up and down with her impressive Immolators.

“By the Emprah, this is so good…” You moan, as they lay you onto your back to continue.

“H-hey, you skipped me!”

“Hush up, I’m not finished with him yet.”

“…I… I haven’t gotten a chance yet…”

They argue and vie for a position, but you don’t care, they aren’t ignoring you in the slightest.
“Uh, I hate to break you guys up, but I think it might be time to let this gun fly.”

They line up on their knees, shoulder to shoulder as close as the ten of them can get. Their mouths are open, tongues sticking out ready to catch your plasma. All of them looking like they are enjoying this a whole lot. Fuck, this is going to have to be one impressive maneuver… You take aim at the one on the far left as you plant your feet. “Haaaaaaaaahhhh!”

You fire off your plasma cannon, and at the same time spin quickly to your right. A jet of plasma streaks out, arcing insanely as it soars forth. It's…

A miss.

Giggling, one of the sisters turns to another and grabs her head. She licks off the girl’s eye of your plasma. “Haha, thanks!” She says, opening her eye back up.
Lycheria laughs as she wipes her mouth, licking her fingers afterwards. She sits down to your right and squishes your arm between her breasts. “Impressive shooting, for a guardsman.”

Another sister coos as she sits at your left. Another makes a cute face, which is covered in your non-heresy juice as she hands you a bottle of ‘nidade. You chug it down in a matter of seconds.
“Don’t think you’re done with your duty yet, Commissar. We haven’t even started driving to base yet.” A blonde haired Sororita says as she stares you in the eyes and runs a finger under your chin. Oh shit, they are right! The landraider hasn’t even left the scene of the battle yet!

=== Thread 10.5: THE PLIGHT OF HAT-CHAN ===

Your world was plunged into fear and darkness. You could do nothing as you watched Max being flayed as he ran by the horrible Necron chasing him. You couldn’t even cry out as you watched with horror as his arm was severed.
You could only sit as the Apothecaries tended to him, barely clinging to life. You did your best to give him the only thing you could.

Hope.

For a hat can show neither fear nor sadness.
The Partridges, concerned only for glories imagined, abandoned you inside this tomb, as they carried Max away. You haven't seen him in what feels like forever now, no way to keep track of time. Has it been hours? Days? Years?!
It’s so cold down here, barely enough light to reflect off of your dirty metal. What you wouldn’t give to have another cleaning by those cute Dark Eldar girls. Though thinking of such things does little to curb your heartache at being separated from your best friend.

You know the other Necron has been watching you, but she’s scared to approach you. That’s fine by you, for all you know, Necrons eat hats.
Hope is all you could give Max, and so it shall be that hope is what will carry you back to him.
Though you admit, it wouldn’t hurt to have a friend…
Wait, what was that? Just now?
Footsteps? Could it be?

Yes, you feel joyous as the heavy footfalls draw closer and closer. It sounds like there are several pairs of feet walking.
You do your best to primp up your fibers, deepen your colors, shine your metal. Its Max, it has to be!
A cold, hard hand lifts you from the ground, another joins it and they slowly turn around.
Your heart falls as you see the face before you, barely illuminated in the dim light.
“Well well well… I may have missed the man, but destroying you may prove enough a snack to carry me over until the day I kill that Commissar.”

Abbadon sneers at you as one of his men hold you up to him.
Fury surging through you, you bristle as hard as you can. If this is your end, you will see it through as Max would. Head held high with you upon it.

“The flamer, you dogs, the flamer!”
Abaddon grins maliciously as another of his followers steps forward, brandishing a flamer as he too laughs at your coming demise.
“You have no idea how I will enjoy this so you little bastard.” Abbadon continues.

His follower raises the flamer, and you can feel heat surging through your fabric as a puff of flame comes far too close to you.
This is your final moment, and you shall go out with as much courage as you impart to your dear friend.
The chaos marine with the flamer cackles as he pushes the flamer forward.
This time, it won’t fall short.

You will die as you lived, without any regrets.

“Not so fast, I’ve come for the hat, and I. Will. Have it.”

“YOU?!” Abbadon spits furiously.
“YOU!?!?! Khorne’s daughter?! Get out of here wench, this is no place for little girls!”

Kaleshi grins, her eyes alight with an evil fire.
“As I said before, you failure of a “warmaster”, I’ve come for the hat. And the Queen of the Khornettes doesn’t take no for an answer.”
She licks her chainaxe before starting it up.
“You mad my daddy wouldn’t give me over to you? He doesn’t provide gifts to failures, which is why he wants me to have that delicious Commissar in his name.”

Abbadon laughs coldly.
“As much as I want to ravage that body of yours, whore, I’ll enjoy watching your entrails being ripped out just as well.”

Kaleshi glares, fire igniting at her feet.
“Whore? Max has been my only conquest, and will be my only conquest. I’ll not have you wrecking my husbando’s favorite thing!”
She smirks, running up her own armor, than biting her second digit.
“I’m going to like doing this!” She cries, suddenly charging forward.

The chaos marines turn to fire at her, but they are all far too slow.
You watch as the tremendous dance of blood and axe begins.
The khornette whirls and swings, the axe roaring as it arcs gracefully, almost effortlessly. Blood and chunks of armor and flesh spew out of its teeth as it digs in again and again.
She’s laughing now, her face one of pure bliss. Though perhaps not as happy as when she was with Max in the warp.
The marines begin to falter as they watch their numbers quickly dwindling. Despite their fear, they fire everything they’ve got. Though it must not be nearly enough.
The Khornette dodges and spins, her armor easily deflecting anything that manages to land.
She swings down hard right into the skull of one of the marines. Brain matter erupts and is shot around the small tunnel by the whizzing axe blade.
The Khornette is covered in blood and gore now, which you gather she enjoys. A lot.
“Ahahahaha! I love this! I love it so much!” She cackles as she severs another marine in two right at the waist.

Abbadon is backing up now, and his follower has dropped you to raise his bolter rifle. The few remaining marines fire feebly, none of it having an inkling of effect on the blood crazed daughter of a god.
There are only four of Abbadon’s cronies left now, one of whom slides, covering you in dirt which sticks to the blood and gore which has sprayed over you.
She could get you as dirty as she wants, you know she’s going to reunite you with Max.
She wings the axe at the back of one of the marines who turns to flee. It catches him right between the shoulder blades, burying itself deeper and deeper until it emerges from his front. He grabs at it in disbelief for a moment before falling dead.
The Khornette’s fist bursts into flame which jets outward, engulfing another marine. He screams a terrible scream of pain, falling to the ground in a desperate attempt to put out the fire. It boils him alive inside his own armor.
The last remaining marine grabs out his own power sword, and leaps forward in an impressive downward swing.
You bristle, there’s no way she can avoid that!

At the last second, Kaleshi catches the blade with her own gauntleted fist. She wrenches it out of the marine’s hand and spins it around before plunging it into its owners eye.
The smoke has cleared, the blood has settled, and the Khornette now stands facing Abbadon, who now faces his alone.
“Y-you…!” His mouth continues to move, but emits no sound.

“Yes, me.” The Khornette smiles, bending down to retrieve her axe. It gives you a nice view of her head. Despite her hair being covered in blood and guarded by two horns, you have to admit, somewhere deep down inside… You kind of want to feel what it’s like to sit there.
“Now then, how shall I punish you, “warmaster”.” She mocks him with every word, clearly reveling in his burning hatred.

“Your father… All of the chaos gods will hear of this!” Abbadon shouts, backing up even as he does. Without his arms, he is more or less defenseless.

“Oh? Tell them then. TELL THEM NOW!” She swings the axe and it nicks Abbadon’s face, leaving a small cut right under the one Max made, which looks like it will scar.
“Tell them, little despoiler, you the mighty warmaster of the black crusades! Tell them how you have failed this day to even torch the hat of your new nemesis! Tell them how your own personal guard were cut down by but a single daemon!” She kicks him in the chest, and Abbadon falls backwards, unable to balance.

“They will cast you out! Siding with a dirty servant of their enemy the false emperor!” Abbadon yells, kicking madly as she approaches him.

“Will they now? Nurgle who is making him a special gift? Will he turn against me? Or Slaanesh, who would give anything to make Max it’s greatest champion? Perhaps Tzeentch, she doesn’t like him very much, but she likes the Emperor who likes him. Maybe my own daddy, the great Khorne, who cares for me above any other? Well Abbadon, which one will cast me aside?!”

She swings her axe down, and you jump a little at the impact.
Abbadon opens his eyes back up slowly, he had expected death.
Instead, Kaleshi bends down and retrieves something, which she grins and holds up.
“How pathetic.” She muses happily, standing over him.
“Now. Beg me for your life!” She spits in Abbadon’s face.

He glares back up at his.
“Never.” He hisses through gritted teeth.

Kaleshi smiles before looking around, her eyes settling on something.
She retrives it quickly, and returns to standing over Abbadon.
You can see now what she’s holding, Max’s severed arm.

“Plead for me to spare you!” She brings the severed limb down and strikes the warmaster across the face with it.
“BEG ME! CRY, SNIVEL, PLEAD! I. WANT. TO. HEAR. YOU. SAY. IT!!!” With every pause she strikes him with the forearm.

Her swings must be stronger than they look, you notice Abbadon’s head is now bruised and bleeding.
“I…I….. Spare my life!” Abbadon relents, tears in the corner of his eyes.

Kaleshi’s face is a contorted malicious grin. You would be absolutely terrified if she looked at you like that.
“Very good, I’ll reward you.”

She forms Max’s severed hand into a fist and grabs Abbadon’s jaw, wrenching it open.
With one swift movement she plunges the arm down right into Abbadon’s mouth. She doesn’t stop until it’s wedged in his throat.

“Oh good, you can still breathe? Tell me next time we meet what your followers say when they have to remove that.” She pats Abbadon on the head before poking him roughly in the eyes.
Clutched in his hand, Abbadon’s top knot.

Finally settled with Abbadon, her gaze turns to you. You perk up, a bit worried at what she might do. But her eyes are soft and she’s wearing a genuine and loving smile.
Her armor ignites into flame, before vanishing into smoke, leaving her wearing a basic black set of sweat pants and sports bra. She bends down to retrieve you, and you can’t help but notice the bit of cleavage.

Soft and delicate fingers wrap around your brim, which is covered in a grizzly mess from the fight. She brushes you off as best she can, before giggling.
“I may have gone a little overboard, sorry for getting you so dirty.” Her fingers trace your bill lovingly as she does her best to clean you off.

“Ah, it’s no good. We’re going to have to get you clean before we can get you back to Max.”
She raises you higher. Is she really going to do it? Can it be?
Yes! She places you on her head, nestling you between her horns. The feeling is very different, and you know the other hats would gawk at your heresy, but wow are you enjoying this. Its way different than any other head, and your previous dispositions about the horns are quickly erased. They feel cool and hard against you, but it actually is surprisingly nice and feels cozy. Despite the fact both of you are covered in obscene amounts of gore, you are glad she put you on.
She walks out of the cave with you perched atop her white hair, which is quite slick with blood, brains, and the like.
“GET WHAT YOU CAME FOR?!” Doomrider shouts from his bike, tossing aside a handful of syringes.

She nods, showing you off triumphantly.
“LOOKS GOOD!” He gives his a thumbs up even as his other hand reaches into his satchel.
“Thanks!” She smiles.

“But it will look better on Max… I hope he’s alright…” The Khornette suddenly looks worried, and as much as you try to console her, it’s a sentiment you share with her. You don’t know what you would do if you lost your best bro.
“ANYWAYS, WHERE WE HEADING?!”

“Well, I can’t give Max his hat back all covered in blood and goo. So let’s head back to the warp, I’ll give him a good cleaning!
As unnerved as you are at the prospect of returning to the warp, you find that you really do want a good cleaning. Yeah, you really want some hot khornette scrubbing action.
She takes a seat in the sidecar of Doomrider’s bike, and waves her axe around in a circle.
“Blood for the blood god!” Kaleshi yells.

“JUST DRUGS FOR ME THANKS!” Doomrider shouts before gunning the engine.
A warp hole opens up in front of the bike, and you aren’t sure what you are feeling in your creases as the bike lurches forwards and picks up speed.

Oh well, like it or not, you are headed to the warp.

=== Thread 11: PLAYA IN A LANDRAIDA ===

The landraider makes for quite a bumpy ride as it rumbles along the rocky terrain. Though admittedly this is not what’s on your mind.
You are, after all, sitting inside with almost a dozen of some of the most deadly zealots in the universe.

And they are pampering you.

When the sisters find out that you’ve been pretty hungry for a while, they bust out a plethora of food. The table fare ranges from local stuff they’ve picked up, smoked fish and whatnot, to some of their own rations.
You are a bit annoyed at how much better their rations are then what the guard supplied you. While you were chewing on protein pucks they were indulging in preserved fruit and vegetables. Not that you are going to voice your complaints.

After about half an hour of riding, and stuffing your face perhaps more than you ever have, the tank finally sighs to a stop.

The sister’s have claimed some administratum building as their base, or so you surmise. The area outside of the place is littered in papers and various office supplies. Whoever left here, they did so in a rush.
Inside the building is heavily fortified, two automated heavy bolter turrets guarding the front door alone, and several bored looking sororitas cleaning their weapons.

Everything seems to be going, as much as it surprises you, fairly smooth.
This only puts you on edge, life on Yagis V has not been easy on you, and you don’t trust that to change.

Your rampant paranoia is acknowledged, when a more mature and particularly fierce looking sister steps into your path.

“And pray tell, what are you girls doing with HIM?”
She points at you, and the sisters look sheepish under her fiery gaze.

“Oh, it’s no problem, sister…”
You gesture with a thumb toward a few of the Sororitas behind you, who are carrying the armor they stripped off of you.

“As you can see, I’m with the Blood Ravens.”
The canoness raises a skeptical eyebrow.

“You? With the Blood Ravens? Surely you jest…”
You do your best to act natural under a gaze which could probably out melt a melta.

“I’m from a different world, and they claimed me as a relic. Something about a link to their chapters past or something, I’ve been trying to find out ever since. These sisters are simply going to help me with a bit of maintenance, as I don’t possess the required materials at the moment.”

She smiles at your words, like a cat at a mouse.
“Do tell then, what exactly have you been doing with your… Brothers?”

“Steal artifacts, mostly, kind of our shindig.” You reply with shrug.
A drawn out moment of very uncomfortable silence passes, you are trying not to sweat as you wait.

The canoness finally nods, and turns to go back to her business.
“Sounds about right.” She murmurs before heading off.

Holy shit, you didn’t really think that would work.
Your heart is drumming in your ears, you don’t know what would have happened to you had she found out you were lying. You are fairly sure, however, that you are glad not to know.

The sisters break out into giddy but muffled laughter as they smuggle you deeper and deeper into the structure. They seem to be happy to not have been discovered as well.
Finally they push through two heavy wooden doors and you follow them into their makeshift bunk.

There is one thing you notice right off the bat.

They have beds.
Not those terrible canvas-on-sticks “cots” that you were supplied with, generally less preferable than the ground they sat on.

Real, clean, plush beds.
“I can’t hold it in any longer, you are so damn lucky and I’m jealous as all hell…”

The sisters giggle furiously as they close the door and bolt it behind them. It seems they either didn’t hear you, or don’t really care to respond.
“I can’t believe that worked!”

“I know! I thought she was going to roast him alive!”

“…We would have gotten punished as well…”

Well, good to know they were so confident...

Smiling, giddy, and beautiful faces lead you hand-in-hand through the room. As cranky as you are at the obvious preferential treatment, you can’t really be mad at the moment.

You follow them as they lead you right into…

A large multi-head shower.
“Why the fuck is there a shower in an office building?”

The girls ignore you as they start stripping down and washing off.
Your own body and most of your brain starts ignoring that part of you as well.

Not wanting to reek of sweat and battle, you start cleaning yourself up a bit as well.
The hot water is amazing, and you recall you haven’t had many opportunities to clean yourself up since the turn of events that followed the annihilation of the guard here. You even take the opportunity to get a nice close shave with a razor supplied by a chesty sororita.

Several others get jealous of her as she applies the shaving gel for you. They close in and before you know it, you are being attacked from all sides as they each try to fix you up in some way. It isn’t efficient, but you certainly aren’t about to stop them.
After you finally can’t take any more of the heat, you walk back into the other room as you towel off.

It appears that the girls who left the shower before you have been busy. They’ve arranged the beds together to form one giant one. It’s like they did the impossible and somehow combined them.

You collapse face first into the pile of starched white sheets and fluffy pillows. After everything you’ve been through, it feels like heresy to be this comfortable.

So comfortable, in fact, that you start falling asleep.
Or would, if there weren’t ten dripping wet sororitas wrapped in nothing but short towels standing around you.
“No rest for the wicked, eh?”

The girls laugh.
“Not until we’re through with you.”

They jump you before you can react, and you find your limbs being held down, each sat on by a sister. Well, it would seem sororitas prefer to shave, might be more comfortable in their armor.

Your musings are confirmed as Lycheria jumps up and straddles you.
“I hope your body is ready.” She coos.

“I’m not going to lie, so do I.”
She gently maneuvers your phallic object into position, and he stretches in preparation for her exercise.

You have to admit, watching that cute silver haired sororita riding you.
You could easily get used to this.

And it appears you are going to have to, as nine others wait for their respective turns.
One by one, they take the bull by the horns and finish themselves off. By number 7, you are really having a hard time holding on.

The ones who have taken their turn already lay down near you, with satisfied sighs.

Finally, the last one bucks her hips and trembles as she collapses on top of you.
Leaving you with a fully primed melta gun and no one to man it.

“Uhh…”
Lycheria looks up from her position snuggling your right side.

“Oh, how rude of me.”
She leaps back on top of you, and before you can reach for your protection, she snatches you up with her mega milks.

Lycheria grins as she watches you squirm, grinding you between her Emperor’s gifts. It may not be heretical, but damn does it feel good.
It doesn’t take more than a minute for her to finish you off, and when it finally happens you feel as though all your energy is completely expended.

You fall asleep before she can even quip wittily about you making a mess.
When you finally come out of your hibernation, you notice you are the only one in the room.

A hastily scrawled note informs you that they had to leave early for some important mission, though it doesn’t say what.
Meh, you’ll sleep another hour or so while you think of what to do next. Wait…
What’s this package on your chest…?

You rip open the brown paper, and gawk openly at what you see.
“HAT-CHAN!” You grab him and hold him up to the light.

He sparkles back at you, once again quite cleaned up.
“Dude I thought I’d lost you forever! I was going to rip this planet asunder in my search for you!”

''“Yeah well, it ain’t easy being a hat while pimping this hard.”''

You unfold and read a small red stationary.
''“Dear Max, thought you might like this back. Get me something nice, you owe me <3. – Kaleshi”''

You quickly get dressed, and in a last final motion, place your beloved hat back upon your head. You feel instantly complete.
“Oh yeah, now I’m ready.”

You are going to need a chance to pick up something really nice for Kaleshi, you owe her more than some sloppy thrown together gift. As such, you decide against giving her a ring right off the bat. You don’t have to instantly barrage her with thanks, you have a feeling she already knows.

You are a bit on edge as you start to sneak out of the building. It would be a lot to explain if the canoness caught you now with a commissar hat. You would probably be explaining it to a flamer.

You would probably be on fire…

Quickly, however, you discover your ninja skills are quite unnecessary. You seem to be the only one here. Whatever called out all the Sororitas must have been fairly important, you make a mental note to ask Lycheria about it next time you talk to her.

It’s probably time to let Mika get freaky on your arm again, you know she wasn’t quite finished when you left. You are quite glad you remember how to get there, your arm has started having some errors.
As in, every few hours or so at random, it attempts to strangle you and you almost feel like cutting off the hand and attaching a chainsword to it. But it’s probably a better plan to just let Mika fix it.

So you set off to procure a vehicle to ferry you to the bunker.
You don’t think the sisters won’t mind, you just have to return it like you found it.
Surely that’s possible…

As tempting as some of the other options are, you feel the bike is probably your best bet. You have driven one before after all, it’s completely inconceivable that you will somehow wreck this one.

You hop on the large, intimidating bike. The first thing you notice is the two bolter rifles sticking out of the front. That is pretty cool, and you have to really restrain yourself from testing them out.

The bike starts easily, and chortles happily as you get settled in.
Hmm, what’s this?

An engraved plate reading “Canoness” on the fuel tank?
Ah, well, what could go wrong?

You rev up the engine, and squeal the tires a bit as you tear out across the pavement. The wind feels good in your face, and you find yourself having a bit of fun. You might just have to pick yourself up a bike.
If you ever make it off this planet alive, anyway.

The bike rumbles harder as you turn your wrist, pushing the speedometer as high as you can get it to go.
Unable to help yourself any longer, you slow down and take aim at an abandoned civilian transport.

With a squeeze of a trigger, the bolter rifles open up.
The hail of fire tears into the vehicle, ripping off a door and punching holes larger than your fist through its thin metal. Finally a bolter round catches the fuel tank and the whole thing ignites in a fireball, blowing the glass outward. That was pretty satisfying…

You whip your head suddenly to your left, something having caught your eye.
Through the alleyways separating buildings, you think you make out a glimpse of fire.

Your suspicions are confirmed as Doomrider catches some sort of ramp and flies overtop the low buildings, before crashing down on the opposite side of you.
“SUP!”

“Hey! What’s going on man?” You shout back.

He faceplants a bowl of cocaine before pulling his head back out and shaking it off.

“EH, YOU KNOW, THE USUAL! GAVE YOUR KHORNE GIRL A RIDE TO GRAB YOUR HAT TOO!”

“Hey, thanks for that man! I owe you one!”

Doomrider laughs heartily.

“YOU CAN REPAY ME BY DOING SOME BEAR LEAVES WITH ME SOMETIME!”

This might be a good opportunity to get some info.
“Will do! In the meantime, do you know anything I can get her as a thanks!?”

Doomrider scratches his chin inquisitively while at the same time tossing back a bottle of some black liquid that you don’t think you would try.

“WELL…” He finally says.
“SHE DOES LIKE BLOODBOWL!”

You think that over for a few seconds. It’s not surprising, but you don’t know how you would take her to a bloodbowl game, you doubt there are any here.
“IF YOU CAN BEAT ME, I’LL EVEN GIVE YOU TICKETS! FIRST ONE ACROSS THAT BRIDGE IN THE DISTANCE!”

Doomrider’s cackling voice shatters your thinking.
Can you beat Doomrider in a race?

“I’m not going to take it easy on you!” You grin and shout at him.
Doomrider revs his engine in response.

You grip your own controls hard, and get your mind ready. You don’t know the top speed of this thing, but you know his bike is really fast. Beating him on speed alone might not work, you may have to get tricky.
The two of you thunder down the road, picking up more and more speed as you go. You notice his bike definitely has an edge as far as speed is concerned, not that yours is by any means a slouch.

Your hand is twisting the handle as hard as you can manage, holding the throttle all the way open. This is the fastest you’ve ever gone on land, you are fairly certain of that.
A river looms ahead of you, and it looks like you have several options to get across.

It’s a split second decision, but you point your front tire right at the arm of a crane. It’s a bit of a drop onto it, but if you can get enough speed, you should be able to fly to the far side of the river.
You give it everything you’ve got, pressing the bike as hard as it can go, trying to coax out all of its speed.

The road drops out and you fall for a few moments, the engine revving madly against no resistance. The tires crash down onto the arm of the crane, and squeak as they catch traction. It’s too late to turn back now, you gun it.
Despite the steep angle, the bike quickly regains lost speed and tears up the crane arm. You hold on for dear life.

You realize, only too late, that this is going to be a really, really hard landing.
The bike roars furiously as it soars into the bright sky. You have to squint against the sun in your eyes, you can’t do this blind, that’s for sure.

You pick out a mound of dirt on the far side of the river, that seems like the best place to aim for.
Though the ride seems agonizingly long…

Doomrider is beneath you now, having decided to jump to the barge. He had to turn around to line up his second jump though, meaning you are slightly ahead!

Your stomach plummets as the bike begins its decent. You try to angle yourself right, the only thing you have to go on is those clips of astartes on bikes jumping titans. You hope your calculations are right.
Clenching your teeth hard, you brace for impact.

The bike lands hard, but you managed to catch the back side of the dirt. Surprisingly, you lost very little speed on the landing.
Maybe too little.

You have to pull the handles hard to avoid hitting a light post, but you’ve made it across.

Turning the bike, you skid to a halt.

A few seconds later, a laughing Doomrider does as well.

“YOU RIDE THAT LIKE A NATURAL, KID!” He slaps you on the back, his flaming skull a giant grin.

“I got lucky, you’ll get me next time.” You laugh as you feel your heart finally slowing down.

“AS PROMISED! I’VE GOT TO RUN NOW THOUGH, SLAANESH THINKS HE CAN BEAT ME IN AN ORGY COMPETITION!”

Doomrider hands over an envelope, bro fists you, and wheelies his bike into a fresh warp hole.

You sigh in relief, very glad he didn't invite you along, you aren't sure what a slaanesh orgy competition involves, and you might be better of not knowing. For now, at least.
Curious, you open up the white envelope. Being sure to avoid touching the slime green glob throbbing on one side of it, whatever that is, you don’t really care to know.

Inside, two tickets.
“Dastardly Daemons Vs. Da Stompiest”

Worth it, though you groan as you feel the pain pulsing in your groin.
Well, you are getting fairly close to the Admech stronghold, you shouldn’t stick around here long. The thought occurs to pick something nice up for Mika too.

Well, the Voxshack is closest, and it sounds like some place she might enjoy shopping at.
The door is locked, but seeing no one around, you don’t think anyone will care if you break in.

You pick up a nearby bench and chuck it through the shop window.
''“Ah! You're breaking my glass?!”''

you use your metal arm to create a hole large enough for you to slip into.
''“N-no! There’s no way you can fit! Ahhhh!!!”''

Though it’s still a tight squeeze, you manage to pull yourself inside of the dark store.
''“Hah! Yo-your inside me?!”''

You start to browse around, snatching up a couple bags. You aren’t really sure what she would want, so you simply start pulling things off shelves at random.
6 pack of promethium cell batteries, sure why not. Servo cleaning kit, void-dragon brand diodes, AOL version 7654 disk, servo skull hat, baneblade treats…

When you finally have several bags full, you figure it’s enough.
It takes you a few minutes to get it all to fit inside the saddlebags. You don’t want to leave the canoness’s stuff behind. Digging around to make room, you find a clean pair of her underwear. White with a pink bow, she might not be so evil after all. Though you probably shouldn’t bring that up…

You hop back on the bike, now laden with gifts, and set out toward the stronghold.
It’s still a bit of a ride, so you enjoy yourself by taking potshots at random objects with the two front mounted bolters.

You hear the mechanical bark of the baneblade “Rex” as he rushes out to greet you. What a weird tank he is, but at least he’s friendly. You admit you wouldn’t want to tango with his bristling weaponry.

Reaching into the saddlebag, you grab out a treat and chuck it to him. You aren't exactly sure what the treats are, but it said "NOW WITH 55% MORE OIL!!!!!" on the side, so you assumed they were good.

Rex runs the treat over, his antenna wagging happily. You reach out and scratch his side armor, his antenna increases speed. Well, whatever.
You drive the bike down the ramp and into the large open space, slowing to a stop and resting the bike on its kick stand. You climb off the bike and fix your clothes up a bit, not wanting to look too windblown.

SLaDOS lowers itself from the ceiling slightly to meet you.
“~Welcome back, if you are looking for Mika, she is helping me with something at the moment and is quite unreachable.~”

You look up at the robotic eye skeptically.
“Helping you with what, exactly?”

“~…Science…~” The robot chimes back after contemplating your question.

Well, you decide to wait. It’s not like you have much going on.
SLaDOS offers you coffee, which you decline.

It than asks if you want an orange jump suit, which you also decline.
Instead, you lay down on a bench and reach around to grab a magazine out of a box.

“Admechgirl! Inside: The dirtiest servitors you can even imagine! Servos vs Gears, hear the professional opinions! Is that a basilisk barrel in your pants or are you just happy to see me? Find out the REAL low-down on increasing your size! Featuring: Nikki “six arms”, read her tips on a proper claw job!”

You flip through the pages, becoming less and less interested as you do. This magazine isn’t nearly as cool as you though it would be…

====Meanwhile====

“Aww sweet!” Frederick hisses as he sees the latest Admechgirl. He looks around, making sure no one is looking, before opening it up.

“Oh omnissiah, those parts…” His eyes are glued to the magazine.

He sticks it inside his robes, as interested as he is, he's way more excited/terrified at his movie date with Helena, which its almost time

----

After several bored minutes of reading, you look back up at SLaDOS, which hasn’t taken its eye off of you.

“Hey, can’t I just go find Mika?”

The robot’s eye whizzes softly as it zooms in at you. You realize now how creepy this thing is. Though judging by what you just read, it’s probably ridiculously sexy to a tech-priest. You try to get into the mindset, but brushed metal and slightly exposed wires just don’t do it for you.

“~Well, Commissar, if you are that impatient…~”
A mechanical arm reaches out, clutching a white orb-looking gun. At least you think it’s a gun.
“Is this uhh… The only way to find her?”

“~Indeed so!~” SLaDOS responds cheerfully.

“Well… I guess I’ll give it a try…”
You reach out wearily and take the gun, which is surprisingly heavier than it looks.

“~Well then Commissar, let’s begin the SCIENCE!~”

“Wait, I thought I was going to find M…”
A trap door opens from beneath you, and you plummet downward before you can finish your sentence.

Faster and faster you slide, for what feels like a very long time until the passage starts leveling out.
You slide out of a wall and fall hard onto your ass on a cold tile floor. The passage behind you seals itself shut.

Looking out, you see a high glass wall in front of you, which stops about ten feet below the high ceiling. Through the glass you can see a large pad close to the glass wall.

“~Now then~” You hear the voice of SLaDOS chime.
“~Let’s get started!~” She sings cheerfully.

You don’t know if you like where this is going…
It doesn’t appear that you have much of a choice, you finger the white gun nervously.

Holding it as far away from your face as you can, and turning your head, you depress the trigger.
A small noise and no explosion, thank the Emprah.

You slowly turn to see what it did, and you notice a large orange rimmed black void on the wall in front of you.

“…SLaDOS, have I ever told you how sexy I think you are? Those wires and that multi-zoom lens? That seriously gets me hot.”

“~Oh Commissar, you are amusing. Perhaps you require some… Motivation?~”

A door hisses open to your left, and a white orb like thing turns toward you with its red eye.
“Beep boop, purge the heretic.” It chimes happily, before panels open and you see two gun barrels sticking at you.

You barely manage to jump out of the way as the autocannon fire rips past where you just stood.
Holy shit.

This isn’t a motherfucking game.

“Yeah, no, this isn’t fun.”
You switch out your plasma cannon and shoot the turret.

“I’ve always loved you…” It says before exploding.
You whip out your communicator and dial Mika’s number.

Fuck, she didn’t answer.
After you wait a few seconds, you dial it again.

“Hey, sorry!” You hear Mika exclaim as she answers.

“Oh thank the Emprah…” You sigh in relief.

“…M-max? What’s up?” She asks, surprised at you giving her a call. Its the first time a boy has called her, after all.

“Mika, listen to me very carefully. SLaDOS has dropped me through some kind of trap door and I don’t know where I’m at.” You talk slowly, making sure she hears everything.

After stumbling through a particularly large and pitch dark section, you manage to trip and fall face first through a doorway.
“Ah!!!” Mika yells in surprise, leaping back to avoid you.
You pick yourself up and dust off your clothes a bit. The tech priestess is facing you, but looking around as if she doesn’t know what to say.

“Well, that was weird.” You finally comment.
You can see a bit of relief on Mika’s face, since you were the one to break the silence instead of her having to.

“Y-yes, SLaDOS is acting very strangely…” She fidgets with the sleeve of her robe.

“Yeah, strange in a homicidal mad heretek way.”

Mika giggles quietly.
“I don’t think she meant it, like I said, I think she’s just bored.”

You grab her hand suddenly, and give it a squeeze with a smile.
“Come on, I brought you some stuff.”

Mika starts walking after you, but her cheeks are completely red and she doesn’t look like she knows what to do.
“You have really soft hands…” You comment as the two of you walk, you rub her hand with a finger, causing hers to shiver slightly.

“T-t-they aren’t great, they aren’t even mechanical…” She trails off, looking away.

You raise her hand to your own face, looking it over. Mika has really soft skin, a bit pale, but really its pretty much perfect.
“I don’t know why you would want to replace these, I think they are perfect as is.” You press your lips against her hand, giving it a soft kiss.
“W-wha!!!”

Mika jolts in surprise, her face turning back to you, beet red and eyes spinning.
“Well… Give me a second here…” You hear her set down the device and start typing.

A door to your right hisses open.
“That’s a secondary access tunnel, follow that and I’ll find you. As for SLaDOS, she’s just bored… I think…”

You take Mika’s advice and walk as quickly as you can through the tunnel. There are several more automated turrets, and though they seem inactive, you blast them with your finger lasgun to make sure they don’t shoot you in the back.

You grin as you give it another smooch.
“Ahh!” She pulls away and hides inside her hood.

“Aww come on, don’t be like that…” You put your hands on her shoulders.

“You are really cute, you know.” You pull her hood off, revealing her very embarrassed face and currently untidy hair which is pulled into a hasty ponytail.

“I-I’m not… I’m not cute…” She tries to put her hood back up, but you take both of her hands in your own.

“I’ll be the judge of that. Now come on, I want you to see what I got you!” You start pulling her along lightly, but you notice she’s lagging a bit.

“Something wrong?” You stop and ask.

“It’s n-nothing… I’ve just been on my feet all day…” She says quietly, toying with a strand of her hair with one of her mechanical arms.

“Oh, I can help with that!”

In one swift movement you crouch down, grab her by the thighs, and lift her onto your back.

Mika lets out a startled cry as you stand up, and she wraps her arms around you tightly. All four of them.
“W-ww-what are you d-d-doing?!?!” She stammers.

“Relax, I’m not going to let you fall.” You assure her.
Mika’s face is pressed against your back.

“I-isn’t this hard on you? You should let me down so you don’t strain yourself…”

“I used to do this for my little sister if she was tired out, so It’s no problem.” You turn your neck and smile at her.

“…Y-you have a lit-little sister?” She asks, and it feels like she relaxes a bit.

“Yeah, a little brat of one. She likes getting me into trouble, but she’s actually pretty nice to me.” You talk about Helena a bit as you continue to carry her back to the main room.
Finally, after several winding hallways, you’ve arrived.
“~Commissar, so good to see you again!~” SLaDOS sings.

“Please don’t do that again…” You groan back.
You set Mika down lightly on a bench, and despite looking very nervous she doesn’t scoot away after you grab the gifts and sit next to her.
“Here!” You smile as you set a bag in her lap.

She stays frozen for several seconds, before nervously looking to you.
“F-for me? Are… Are you sure…?”

“Come on, I want you to have them, open them up!” You smile reassuringly as you take her hand and lower it down to the bag.

Slowly and quietly she reaches in and pulls something out.
“A…Admechgirl…?”

FUCK, how did that get in there?
“Haha, must have grabbed it along with that copy of Gearskull…” You pluck the magazine out of her hands and toss it aside.

She doesn’t look angry though.
Instead, Mika is looking at you out of the top of her eyes, her face angled toward the floor. You can barely see her pupils underneath her hair, but you can tell she’s wearing a faint smile.

“…Anyways, grab out something else.”
She obliges and pulls out the pack of diodes.

“Ahhh~” She stares at them, open mouthed.

“Err… Do you like them…?”
She doesn’t look like she knows what to say.

“I mean, it’s cool if you don’t… Plenty o’ other stuff in there…”

But you stop when you realize she’s grabbed your hand, and you notice her eyes look a little watery.
“Are they a bad thing to gift a tech-priestess? I’m sorry if I’ve offended you or something.”

Mika shakes her head slightly.
“I-I’m not mad. It-it’s just that…”

Her lip is quivering a bit and she’s trembling again.
“N-no one’s ever given me diodes before… I… I don’t know what to s-say…”

Out of nowhere she erupts into sobs.
“Whoa! Hey there, no need to cry!” You put an arm around her shoulders to comfort her and she hides her face in her sleeves.

“Sorry, I must have screwed up.”
Mika shakes her head more violently this time.
“I-it-its not that… I like them… I-I really like them…”

She lowers her sleeves, and despite the tears she’s wearing the biggest smile you’ve ever seen on her.
“It’s the nicest… The nicest thing anyone’s ever given me…”

“B-but… I don’t have anything for you…” Her smile fades a bit.
You laugh, lowering your arm to her back and giving her side a little squeeze.

“Spending some time with me is way better than me giving you some little gifts. And the mechanical arm is pretty awesome.”
She gasps and then beams.

“The arm! I almost forgot, I need to finalize it!”
You don’t protest as she grabs your arm and pulls you to your feet. She looks so happy she’s practically glowing.

She giggles and informs you of some of the technical aspects as she walks you to the workshop. You don’t understand any of it, but you nod and smile. You just like hearing her voice.
Mika pushes open the doors, leading you back into the little shop she’s set up for herself. Rows of assorted gears, strands of wire, a metric fuck-ton (actual imperial standard measurement) of tools.

“Um… You’ll need to take your shirt off…” She bites her finger and looks away, embarrassed.
You comply, pulling it off and setting it aside.

She reaches out slowly, her delicate fingers drawing nearer and nearer, finally placing themselves on your chest. She pulls back slightly at the touch, and looks you in the eyes. You smile. She does too.

Gently she pushes you down onto a table, and you lay flat on your back.
She takes your mechanical arm in her own hand and pulls it away from you slightly so she can work on it. Despite the arm being metal, you can still feel the soft caress of her fingers as she places them in different spots along it.

You watch as she works diligently, her eyes matching your content smile. It feels a little strange when she starts adjusting things, despite that, you find yourself enjoying the moment.
Mika hums quietly to herself as she makes minor adjustments, turning a screw here, calibrating a servo there… You can tell she’s enjoying herself too.

“…There…” She closes a panel and secures it.
“It’s finished.” She smiles sweetly at you.

You start to get up, but her hand stops you. Mika is looking away, biting her bottom lip.
“Actually, there’s one last adjustment I need to make… Can you… Can you close your eyes for just a second?”

You lay back down and shut your eyes.
Soft hair tickles your nose, and it takes everything you’ve got to not open your eyes right the hell now.

You feel soft lips plant a tender kiss on you cheek.
“Eeeek!!!” Mika jumps back, covering her face.

“I-I-I can’t b-believe I just did that!”
You stand back up, grabbing her hands and gently moving them aside.

There isn’t anything you need to say, as you lean in and kiss her. She jumps as your lips touch, but you don’t let her retreat, and after a second she stops trying and one of her mechanical claws softly wraps around you, followed slowly by her hands.

====Meanwhile====

“Master Abbadon, we’ve arrived…”

Abbadon nods, than has to blow the hair out of his eyes, which are seething in fury.
“Show it to me.”

One of his followers runs his gauntleted hand across the object, wiping away countless millennia of dust.
“…Are you certain this will work master?” Another follower, a sorcerer, asks tentatively.

Abbadon smiles, a mirthless, cold endeavor.
“Certain? Nothing is certain. However if the fools of the chaos gods think they can simply whisk me aside into obscurity, than perhaps it is time I find new gods.”

Abbadon’s heartless laugh echoes throughout the chamber as he peers down at the symbol.
The white and black two-tone skull sneers its toothy grin up at him…

----

You awaken from your deep hibernation, your roar petering off into a yaaawwwnnnnn. Fucking bear leaves, you sleep like a ROCK on bear leaves.
Scratching at your flaming head, you awaken a few daemonettes in the process, who smirk up at you and poke you in the belly.

"Right, probably time for breakfast then, is it?"
You wake the other thirty or so daemonettes up, as you stand up and stretch out.

"Yeah, definitely time for breakfast."
You sluggishly wander over to a cupboard and pull out a big box labeled "instant cocaine!"

Pouring yourself a generous portion, you grab the cup and sit down.
You inhale the contents quickly, and it perks you up.

"AHHH, NOTHING LIKE THE FIRST CUP OF COCAINE IN THE MORNING!"
Just as you reach for a second helping, a daemonette slaps your hand away.
"OI, WHAT GIVES!?"

She wags her finger at you.
"Don't give me that, you know the doctor said you need to start monitoring your cocaine intake."

She sets down a plate with a crepe on it.
"...REALLY?"

"Naww, I was just fucking with you."
You and the daemonettes consume no less than fifteen boxes in an hour or so.

=== Thread 12: ORKS IZ MADE FOR ROKKIN!===

Mika slowly pulls away from you.
“That was…” She’s looking away, one of her mechanical arms twiddling madly with a piece of her hair.

“Good?” You inquire.

“Better than good…”
You enjoy several more hours with her, in which she is kind enough to make you quite a delicious sandwich. You wish she would ditch her robe so you can see what’s under it.

“*ARF ARF*” Barks Rex from the entry room.

“Ah!” Mika exclaims suddenly, looking back.

“I forgot, today I need to run some maintenance on Rex!” She hurries out with you in tow.

Rex is sitting there in all his banebladedness, busying himself trying to get into the bag with his treats.
“You should go get some stuff done.” Mika smiles, before looking at the tank.

“This is going to take… Quite a while.” She adds, noticing several issues including oil leaking from one of the forward guns.

“Err… You sure you don’t want me to stick around?” You ask, eyeing SLaDOS nervously.

Mika laughs.
“Well, I would, if Rex here wasn’t VERY concerned with how you are around vehicles.”

“Wait, you speak baneblade?”

“I DO speak baneblade…”
Mika plants a quick kiss before whipping around to grab a toolbox and sprinting off to Rex, her face noticeably red even from where you stand.

You grin, you won’t let her get away so easy next time, but you shouldn’t press the issue today.
The cannoness’s bike is all ready set to go, now you just have to figure out where to ride...

Orks…

From the moment you first saw one, you developed a distaste for Orks. It could be due to the fact the first Ork you ever saw nearly chopped you to pieces, but you digress…
Never in all your time though, have you seen the Orks acting so damn bizarre. For fucks sake, the skull showed you footage of Orks BATHING.

Now watching from a relatively safe distance through your binoculars, you swear they have put on their Sunday best… The sight of an Ork in a peacoat, albeit one several sizes too small, severely unnerves you.

“Something just ain’t fuckin right…” You mumble to yourself.
Two boys are helping a nob with a tie, they themselves already crammed into hideous mustard yellow suits.

You watch in abject horror as a gretchin walks out of a nearby trukk, wearing a no-shit frilly white dress. Even more terrifying, the Orks gathered around begin to bow politely to the gretchin… Who courtesies back at them… What the fuck?
“Didn’t your mother ever tell you it’s rude to spy?” A quiet, dignified voice inquires.

“Ahh! Fucking ghost voices get out of my head!” You roll to your right, clawing at your temples, before you realize the voice wasn’t in your mind. Too much warp shit might have you a bit paranoid.

Turning slowly, you swallow hard at the sight.
A lone figure, staring you in the face from but feet away.
…The white frilly dress accentuating her exquisite full breasts. Green breasts.
“Oh Emprah if you are going to breast I MEAN, eat me, please kill me first.”

The Ork girl gives you a quizzical look and tilts her head slightly.

“Also why don’t you speak…Orky?”

She smiles, blue eyes gleaming in the sun.
“WOT? CHU MEAN MOOAR LIKE DIS DEN EH? DIS ‘OW CHU WANT ME TA SPEAK TA YA HUMIE?”

You reel back quickly.
“No! NO. Please go back to the first way.”

She snorts with laughter before giving you a more scrutinizing look.
“You don’t look like a beakie, but you are very brave to be out here alone and so lightly… Armed.” She toys with your mechanical bits absent mindedly with her left foot.

“Yeah well, didn’t have much choice about that. I don’t need a lot of weaponry anyways.” You aren’t sure why you are telling her this, but you don’t think she is going to kill you… Probably.

“Also I picked the hat over a bigger gun.” You add as you stand up. You are fairly tall, but she has you beat by a few inches. Though it could just be her heels.

She looks thoughtfully at your Commisar hat and after a few moments turns away.

You can’t help but notice, in stark contrast to the other Orks, this particular one is quite beautiful. And Female. Her full pink lips flaunt a light playful smile that makes your heart flutter. Her skin looks incredibly soft despite a more athletic frame. She definitely works out, but from what you can see it must just mean she is lean and sexy underneath that dress. Even through the frills you can make out her hourglass figure.

“So what is your name? I’ll admit this is the longest conversation I’ve had with an Ork.”
The girl laughs, her brown hair blowing in the wind.

“Dakkaren, my dad isn’t exactly original when it comes to stuff like that.”

“Alright, well… How should I put this…” You put on your best thinking pose.

“Why are the Orkz acting like a buncha gits?” She finishes for you.

“Yes, that.”

The Ork girl smiles.
“Well, you are about to find out.”

You don’t know how you missed the heavy footfalls, but the loud breathing behind you makes you groan as you turn around.

A massive Ork is grinning at you, two immense tusks jutting out of his lower jaw.
“Hahaha, wotz dis den? Find ya a ‘umie playfing did ya Dakkaren?”

Before you can move, he’s grabbed you around the torso with his gigantic power klaw. He brings you up to his face, looking you over.

“Oh daddy, he’s just curious is all…” The Ork girl laughs.

The warboss squeezes you even harder.
“You isn’t tryin ta hurt mah wittle pwincess is ya? Imma krump ya good fer dat.” You can’t even breath as his klaw tightens further.

“No… Sir…” You gasp.
His grip loosens a bit, but only enough for you to barely breath.

“As a matta ah principal, I usually jus get stompy wif ‘umies…”
The power klaw loosens enough for you to fall to the ground, clutching at your sides as you gasp for air. You aren’t going to be able to avoid that massive foot coming down on you.

“Hold on, don’t kill him yet.” Dakkaren puts out a hand and stops the warboss despite the fact that it looks like he could crush her with a nasty look.

“Iz you sure ‘bout dat?” The warboss looks a bit disappointed.
It is at that moment that you realize something.

The warboss is wearing a black suit, or at least a very Orkish attempt at one, over his armor.
The Ork girl nods.
“Well, youz da prettiest you iz…” The warboss beams, and lowers his leg.

“T-thanks for the save?” You ask the Ork girl.

“Well, we’ll see if it was worth it. I may be the princess but I’m not really the boss.” She giggles.

“Also, please call me Karen. It sounds a bit more civilized.”
Before you can answer, the warboss grabs you again and holds you above his head.

“C’mon humie, wez got fings we need ta git dun.”

The two start down toward the other Orkz, with you unable to escape the clutches of the warboss.
“While I’m up here, mind explaining to me how you guys made a girl? …Did you loot her…?”

“Hah!” The warboss snaps.

“I lost me arm in a roight good fight wif some beakies dat got into me ship. Grots left it and soon nuff dis one here popped up.” He smiles down lovingly at Karen. You didn’t think an Ork face was capable of such a thing.

“Err… I didn’t think orks could pop up as anything but… Well… orks?”
The warboss snorts at your comment.

“I told da grots ta jus git rid a da lot of em, didn’t need ah buncha new boyz poppin up on mah ship. Dis one ‘ere got roight krumpy wif dem, stole a choppa, an cut off mah toe.” He holds up his foot and smiles down at it.

“It wuz den dat I knew, dis one ‘ere was roight killy.”

“Oh daddy, you’re embarrassing me.” Karen punches his shoulder and the warboss laughs.

“So let me get this straight, she grew out of your arm, killed a few grots, and became the princess…?”

“Roight.”

“Well, fair enough I guess. Anyways, mind letting me go now?”
The warboss laughs and sneers up at you.

“Let ya go? Ya isn’t da boss if ya let ‘umies go.” He chuckles, waving you around a little bit.

“Err… Karen. Mind if you tell me what’s going to happen?”
The work girl shrugs.

“Well, if you can best daddy here in one on one combat you might be released, maybe.”
…That isn’t very reassuring.

There are now Orks looking curiously at you as the warboss carries you through the crowd. One tries to take a swing at you but the warboss knocks him aside with the power klaw carrying you.
“OI! YOU GITZ BACK OFF, DIS ONE IS MINE!” He roars, swinging you around in front of him, which is very painful.

He holds you back in front of his face, looking at you hungrily.
“Now den ‘umie, you an I is gon ‘ave sum fun…”

As he sets you down, you notice a wall of weaponry.

Slowly you reach out and pick up a weapon.
Well, not exactly a weapon.

The guitar in your hands is heavy, and looks to be made almost entirely out of metal looted from guitars, various tanks, and you even recognize a bit of Imperial coffee maker.
The warboss chuckles from behind you.

“Now dats an intraesting choice dat iz.” He reaches out with his power klaw and grabs a massive guitar in the shape of an axe with what looks like flamers poking out the side of it and a chainsword for a neck.

“Get me mah rockin arm ya grots!” He fires several rounds from his triple linked autocannon right arm, mostly at the feet of a few nearby boyz but a few rounds hit them in the legs.

A few seconds later, a Mekboy is busying himself attaching something else that you can’t see.
You finger the guitar strings nervously. This isn’t the first time you’ve played one, Helena made you learn so you could play while she sang. But that was a long time ago.

The warboss leaves into the crowd, and you didn’t get a chance to see what they attached in replacement of his autocannons.
That is, until a massive stage is illuminated to your right, to the roar of the Orkz.

The warboss lumbers out, absolutely shredding on the guitar.
“DIS ‘UMIE ‘ERE FINKS EH CAN OUTROKK DA WARBOSS, WAT CHU BOYZ TINK A DAT?!”

The crowd roars furiously at his words.
Grinning, the warboss increase his speed. Those are some fucking tasty riffs. You feel a knot in your stomach.

You can see what’s replaced his arm now, it looks almost like an ogryn arm really. From here, you can barely read the tattoo on the side of it.
“V. Halen”

The warboss raises his arm high above his head, clutching the guitar in his power klaw. His song begins.

What follows is likely the Orkiest thing you’ve ever witnessed.
The warboss is absolutely tearing up the guitar, his power klaw somehow incredibly dexterious as it flies over the neck. You can’t really understand the vocals though, most of which consists of varying lengths of “Waaaggh!!!”

However the crowd seems to be absolutely eating it up, driving them into some kind of frenzy of swinging choppas and flashing shootas.
The warboss seems spurred on by this, and is swinging the guitar around like an axe even as he continues to play. The crowd tosses an unlucky grot onto the stage and the boss dives into an even harder solo even as the teeth of the guitar neck sever the grots head.

After what seems like ten minutes, and the final eardrum shattering guitar tapping solo, the warboss’s song ends in a blaze of flamers.
The boyz around you immediately start cheering for an encore, but the warboss holds up his hand.
“I’ll give ya gits moar afta dis ‘umie.”

Very suddenly you are snatched up by the crowd, who drag you forward and onto the stage, tossing you up onto the riveted metal surface.
You turn around, squinting against the massive floodlights.
The biggest crowd you and Helena ever played was maybe two, four hundred people.

There are at least five or so thousand Orks screaming in this crowd.

You start off slow as your hands get used to the massive guitar. You’ve got a song in mind, one of the few you ever did any vocals for. An ancient Terra relic, but a damn fine tune. Too bad you are going to have to make this damn Orky if you have any chance of pulling it off.

As you become more used to the feeling, you are ready.
The Orks hang on the silence between bursts of guitar.
One final gasp of air…

“Bosses gathered in their massesssss!!!”

“Just like Wyches at black masses!”

“Orky minds that plot destruction!”

“Weirdboys of Mork’s construction!”

“In the fields da boyz is looting!”

“As the waaagh squig keeps turning!”

“Death and hatred to mankind!”

“Poisoning their brainwashed minds…”

“Oh Gork yeah!”

The Orks go nuts.
Gunfire erupts through the crowd as they scream, slamming their choppers into the ground or at each other and screaming their warcry.
You aren’t sure how to interpret this, but you don’t stop, your fingers loosening up and starting to feel good.
A burst of warp energy near you, and Doomrider steps forth even as he picks up the song and continues with the rhythm portions.

“Politicians hide themselves away!”

“They only started the waaggh!”

“Why should they go out to fight?”

“They leave that all to the boyz!”

Doomrider is shredding right alongside you, and you are really going to owe him one after this.

“Time will tell on their power klaws.”

“Making waagh just for fun.”

“Treating boyz just like pawns in chess.”

“Wait ‘til their big stompah comes.”

“Yeah!”

You can feel the rock flowing through you now as you and Doomrider synch together perfectly. You didn’t know he played guitar, but he does so exceptionally. In reality he’s probably way better than you are.

“Now in darkness ‘ctan stops turning!”

“Ashes where the bodies burning.”

“No more war squigs have the power.”

“Hand of Fork has struck the hour.”

“Day of judgment New York is calling!”

“On their knees the grots are crawling.”

“Begging knobs for their sins.”

“Tzeentch laughing spreads her wings.”

“Oh Spork yeah!”

Holy shit, relief washes through you as you and Doomrider start into the final guitar portions. Your heart is racing, and despite the fear, you somehow enjoyed that.
You notice the warboss yelling along with the rest of the Orks, though whether or not it's a "I'm going to kill you for beating me" yell, you can't yet be sure.

As the song finishes, Doomrider tosses you a quick salute before stepping back into a warp hole and vanishing.

After the last blast of guitar reverberates across the makeshift stadium, the crowd falls silent.

The crowd parts, and the warboss hops back on stage, eyeing you.

“Dat wuz…”
He snatches you up in his klaw yet again.

“DA ORKIEST FING I’VE EVAH HEARD!” He yells, raising you over his head.

The Orks in the crowd lose it.
“Waaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!” They scream up at him.

“WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” He returns.
With that he drops you and leaps down into the Orks below the stage and starts crowdsurfing.

They scream their warcry even louder as they rush in one massive mob out of the area, waving choppas and firing everything they’ve got. Several split off and hop into various vehicles, including a stompa, and follow the rest of the Orks.
This leaves you almost alone inside the massive stadium.

Karen claps and cheers up at you.
“Err… Where did they all go?”

“To go fight something, where else?” Karen says as she shoots her thong up at you like a rubberband.

The thong hits you in the face, and you grab it before it falls. Pink with frills. On an Ork… Really?
Karen laughs and jumps excitedly.

“Encore! Encore!” She yells.

“Eh, do you really want one? I’m pretty beat…”

“Boo!” She cups her hands.

“That thong is worth at least ONE song!” She hounds you.

“Really?” You heckle, holding it up and giving it a comically curious look.

“If you don’t play me a song, I’m taking it back…”
Well, what should you play the Ork princess for an encore?

You dive right into a song from your youth.
It’s an old one that you once witnessed playing on an ancient Terra computer system that the Admech had been working on.

They were busy with their litanies of “work you piece of shit, fucking machine spirits ugh…” while doing the rhythmic dick slapping massage, when the computer fired to life.
It’s quite an intricate song, and pretty tiring. You only manage to play half of it before Karen looks a bit bored.

“Well, let’s try this!” You shout, breaking immediately into “Cliffs of Cadia”.
Only your fingers completely flub it and both of you wince as the amps whine in protest.

“Well, that didn’t go as planned…”

“Maybe you’re tired after those songs?” Karen asks.

You’ve been holding back your secret weapon, but it might be time. It’s never failed you before after all, you are just going to have to change up some lyrics…

“Take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and the Ork girls are pretty.”

“Take me home~”
You repeat the chorus.

“Just an urchin liven under the streets”

“It’s a hive world that’s tough to beat.”

“I’m your Commissar so buy me something to eat.”

“Creed’ll pay you at another time.”

“Now get your ass back in line!”

“Rags to thrones or so they say”

“Ya gotta keep pushing for emprah and fame”

“It’s all a gamble when it’s just a game”

“Ya treat it like a heretical crime”

“Everybody’s doin’ the time!”

“Strapped in the chair of the city’s purge chamber”

“Why I’m here I can’t quite remember”

“The Apothecary general says its hazardous to breathe”

“I’d have another cigar but I can’t see”

“Tell me who you’re gonna believe!”
Karen is dancing along, well, you think it’s a dance anyways. Do Orks dance?

Just before you can continue into the next set of lyrics, something flies into your mouth and you grab your throat.
Coughing hard, you pound on your chest as you realize you are choking on whatever it was.
Karen jumps up on stage, raises a choppa over her head, and smacks your back with the flat of it.

The blow knocks whatever it was loose and it goes flying out of your mouth.
“Let’s play again sometime onii-chan!” The twenty legged hairy flying centipede calls out to you as it flies away.

"Nice end to the song..." Karen trolls you as you gasp for air and look around for something to drink to get the feeling of small hairs out of your throat.
She hands you a bottle of something dark red, and you quickly take a drink.
It’s warm…

“Wut is that?” You ask without swallowing.

“Squiggoth blood.”

“PPPPFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!” It sprays out of your mouth.

“Not good?”
You use your sleeve to clean off your tongue.

“Not for me.”
She laughs at you as she hands you another bottle, this one water, which you quickly slam.

“Well, I liked it until that last bit.” She giggles as you set the guitar aside and lay down on the stage.

“It’s been a long time since I played anything.” You tell her about the humble band you and Helena had together. She listens fairly intently, you didn’t think an Ork could have that kind of attention span.

“So what’s your story? How is it, being the princess and all?”
Karen lays down next to you, hands under her head and legs crossed. Her foot bounces a bit as she thinks.

“It’s ok, I guess. It can be a lot of fun, but it’s also a bit depressing to be the smartest one in the group sometimes.”

“I can imagine. Well, no I really can’t, but I can sympathize.”
Karen extends her arms out as though reaching into the sky.

“There are a lot of things I like, but what I love most is getting to travel around the stars.” She says dreamily.

You contemplate that. It was kind of the reason you joined the guard. Well, that and the court order…
“Now that I can understand, a bit. Still though, it has to be weird for you I would think.”

Karen looks over at you, her face lit by the stage light.
“…Sometimes. Daddy’s great though, and most of the rest of them like me now. It was tougher early on, I got picked on a lot for being so small and girly.”

“Hmm… That had to be hard on you.”
The two of you lay there for several long minutes.

“Can I have my thong back by the way?”

“Nah.”

“Please!”

“While, I guess if I have to…” You hand it back to her.
She stands up and lifts a leg as she hikes up her dress to put it on. You catch a brief glimpse of her ass, and wonder to yourself if it’s the most heretical thing you’ve seen while on the planet. You wonder if she shaves her legs, or if they are just smooth like that, you don’t think Orks are naturally too hairy.

“Ohohoho…” Karen says coyly.

“Uh! Err… Nice stage you’ve got here.” You quickly pretend to marvel at the Orkish construction.
She plants a foot on your chest and smiles down at you.

“Get a good look, human? Good thing daddy isn’t here, eyeing up her little princess…”
You break into a cold sweat.

“But I’ll forgive you if you take me squigback riding!” She shouts cheerily after an uncomfortable pause, and she grabs you by the arm and lifts you to your feet.
You follow her over into a very Orky stable, complete with guns jutting out of walls and several arms that end in saws of various sizes and types.

Inside, you find what you will be riding.
Squigs. Big ones.

“How are we even…” But she cuts off your train of thought as she slaps a saddle down on one of them.

“C’mon, saddle him up! He won’t bite! I think?”
You reach out and grab the saddle off the wall, before looking back at your own squig.

“That’s a good… err… squig. Let’s just slip this on and…”

The squig gnashes out at you as you get close, and you have to jump onto the gate of a stall to stay out of it’s teeth.
“Aww, I think he likes you!” Karen comments as she rides her squig over.

“Really!? REALLY!?”

“Well no, that one has always been kinda mean…”

"Alright you round fuck, I'm going to ride you and you are going to like it."
The squig eyes you as you drop down, saddle in hand, and activate your flamer.

He goes to try and bite you, but a burst of flame in front of him causes the squig to stop.
"That's right, I am the boss!" You slap the saddle on its back and cinch it down.

"Ooh, good use of the flamer!" Karen claps her hands excitedly.
"Ugh, this dress isn't going to work..." She shifts uncomfortably in the saddle.

"Go change, I'll wait."

----

“Are you sure about this, master?”
Abbadon turns away from his reading and glowers back at his subordinate.

“Is this doubt? Do you doubt me now? All of you?”
His minions shuffle slightly at his words, glancing around at each other.

“Oh, so its fear then is it? You fear this new god whilst the others mock us?”
Abbadon doesn’t wait any longer.

He begins the chant, the archaic scrawl through which he will regain his lost honor.
The lighting in the room flickers, as though shadows are moving across their paths.
“…Warmaster…” One of the marines protests, hefting his bolter.

Abbadon doesn’t cease now, instead increasing his pace.
His head feels woozy, but his body…
Oh yes, his body.

The shadows seem to be collecting around Abbadon, overlapping his armor as though stuck to him.
“How is that possi…Hurk?!” The marine talking is suddenly cut off as his flesh begins to ooze out of his armor.

“Master Abbadon! Help us!!!” Another pleads as he too begins to melt.
Abbadon ignores their screams, he is slave to this feeling.

The flesh of the now silent marines arcs in grotesque motions as they begin to form together as they creep ever closer to the warmaster.
“I will bring hell to this world, with you as my lord.” Abbadon smiles, having said all he needs to.

All at once, the flesh descends upon him.
Malal gazes into the mortal plane.

Today marks the start of his rise.

----

“Really?”

“Yeah, go for it, just don’t take too long.”
Karen ties her squig to a post and runs down the stables until she is out of sight.

Several minutes pass…
You sit anxiously on the saddle of your squig, who is still acting quite annoyed with you as he shifts his feet and clacks his jaw.
You wish Karen would hurry up…

“Alright, this is much better!” She shouts as she hops over a fence into the stable.
In place of her dress, she’s now wearing a set of armor that looks custom-fit. Segmented pauldrons complete with spikes, gauntlets and shin guards, and a form-fit breastplate. It looks like something that would normally be worn into battle.

“Why the armor?” You finally ask.

“Huh? Oh this?” Karen gives her own armor a look over.

“Well… You never know what you might run into out there.”

“Fair enough.” You shrug.
Karen laughs, but your ears are ringing.

You groan as you clutch your head, your vision blurry. It feels like the worst migraine you’ve ever had just stepped up its game.
“Max!?” Karen yells, dashing over to your side.

But you don’t hear her.
You can’t hear anything.

Finally the ringing subsides, and is replaced by another.
With a trembling hand you pull out your communicator and look down at the screen.
“Incoming Video Transmission from: Gary Oak”

You press accept.
Abaddon sneers at you through the hologram.

“How good of you to answer, I was beginning to think you were perhaps too incapacitated.”
You hear what he’s saying, but you have a hard time concentrating on it. Your head still aches. Though you do your best to try to conceal that fact, you have the feeling he knows.

“What do you want? I’m up for a rematch but we really should play something less one-sided this time.” You taunt him, trying to put on a strong front.
Abbadon chuckles, mockingly.

The hologram zooms out until you can see the whole of Abbadon’s torso.
Including the two new arms of rippling muscle wrapped in almost pure white flesh, as well as a new centerpiece on his front plate. A two-tone skull you don’t recognize.

“Oh but Commissar, the game has just begun.”
You cry out as your mind seems to split open, as though ripping apart from the inside in some desperate attempt to escape your cranium. You grab at your temples, your hands greeted by a warm slippery mess. Your ears are bleeding.

As you convulse in agony, the only thing you can hear is Abbadon’s voice.
Karen pulls you from the saddle, and wings the communicator across the stable, doing her best to try to help you.

Your body collapses as you lapse into unconsciousness.

----
The ladle Esh was holding slips from her fingers, clattering to the floor.
“Farseer, did you fe…”

“I did.” Esh cuts off the intrusion quickly, but doesn’t take her eyes off of her stew.

If only she could still focus on that, the perfection of the recepie she’s been working on. Esh bites her lip in anxiety, her vision losing focus. She's worried about Max, having felt him just bear the brunt of a very strong energy.
She turns her head to look out the viewscreen.
“What was that?” The other elder asks as he wrings his hands together.
“Malice…”

----

“Malice!?” Nurgle belches, before scowling and wiping off his mouth with his arm.

“You know you aren’t welcome here!” Tzeentch hisses, putting a hand on her bulging belly as the Emperor steps between her and the newcomer.

“Oh my friends… How long it has been….”
Khorne has had enough, he kicks over the table he was sitting at and hefts his axe.

“I’LL REND YOUR BONES TO DUST!” He howls, leaping forward and swinging his weapon in a fiery arc.
Malal cackles joyfully as he absorbs the blow.

“Yess… Yesss… Give it to me… Give me… More!”
Khorne keeps attacking madly, almost foaming at the mouth.

“That’s enough!” Slaanesh howls, one of its tentacles wrapping around Khornes arms and pulling him back.

“Have you forgotten you oaf? You can’t just slice him open.” Nurlge reprimands Khorne before turning back to Malal, his usually joyous face now a icy glare.

“It’s time to play… After so long… Its… MALICE’S TURN!”
Skeletal hands erupt from the forgotten god, whipping around the room.
The Emperor, having seen more than he cares to, steps forward with a thrust of his gleaming sword.

With a cackle, Malal’s form turns to shadow and disappears.
None of them say anything for several moments.
“Well this... Was not something I’d planned for…” Tzeentch finally admits, sitting back down.

----

You finally peel your eyes back open, and wince at the pain.
“Easy now, don’t push yourself.” Karen says, pushing your head back onto her lap.

“What just happened?” You groan, rubbing your eyes.
The Ork princess shakes her head and looks out into the world beyond the stable.

“Something terrible, I fear.”

=== Thread 13: ME MAX, YOU TONYA ===

The massive pain in your head finally passes, leaving you feeling normal.

Well, downright terrified, though that is relatively normal for a guardsman.

“Do you know that guy on the hologram?” Karen asks while she massages your temples.

“I do. Though last time I saw him, he didn’t have any arms.”

She screws her face up a bit at this.

“No arms?”

“None.”

A few minutes of silence pass by, the wind having picked up a bit and the air growing colder.

“Bored?”

“Eh.” You shrug.

“Want to help me fix up my ‘eavy arma?”

That’s how you found yourself, screwdriver in hand, helping an Ork princess do some modifications to a heavy and surprisingly not super Orky suit of armor.

“Thanks for doing this, it’s difficult to get good help around here.” Karen smiles as she reaches for a spanner.

“Really? Seems like you guys are genii when it comes to this kind of stuff.” You reply through gritted teeth, having pinched the web of your hand in a joint.

“Well, they are good at a lot of stuff…” Karen muses as she turns a bolt.

“But, they don’t seem to understand that I don’t want to weigh this thing down even more by NOT strapping even MORE dakka all over it.”

You stop dead, this is absolutely not correct.

“You can never have enough dakka…” You eyeball her, this is obviously a trap.

Karen laughs and sets her tool aside, before gesturing down at the left arm which is bristling with guns.

“If I add any more, I won’t be able to lift the arm up.”

You tap your screwdriver on the shoulder.

“That’s why I’m thinking we add a rokkit launcha here.” You grin.

"Well, dats roight Orky it is..."

The two of you work well into the night, replacing plates with too much damage, repairing wiring, adding that rokkit.

With a yawn you lay down on a wooden bench inside the Mek shop.

“Done already?” Karen teases.

“ah tareasd” You mumble incoherently, already falling asleep.

“Want the Dok to fix you something up so you can stay awake?”

“Please no…”

Karen giggles and turns back to her armor, continuing her work even as you drift off to sleep.

Several hours later you wake back up, groggily rubbing your eyes.

You realize Karen is carrying you in her arms.

“This feels backwards…”

“Oh hush up and go back to sleep.”

Finally she sets you on a relatively comfortable bed, and you pass out almost as soon as your head touches a pillow sewn crudely into the shape of a choppa.

Your dreams consist of annoying Helena by placing a few rubbers spiders around the inside of her tank. She hates spiders…

Something gives your shoulder a shake.

“You might want to wake up, the waagh party is coming back.”

You sit up with a yawn, stretching your arms above your head.

“Hmm… So?”

“Probably a bad idea to stick around here while they are still all riled up from a fight, it would be hard to get out of here once they return.”

You check your communicator, at least its morning.

Karen walks with you through the camp, keeping an eye out for any early birds.

Finally you both arrive at the edge of the makeshift Ork settlement.

“Well, this was by far my Orkiest day.” You yawn again, scratching your side, you need a shower.

“Mmm…” Karen mumbles, kicking the dirt and glancing up at you though you don’t see it.

“It was good to play again though, haven’t had a chance to do that in a while.”

A pair of hands grabs you somewhat roughly by the head, turning you around.

Karen’s face presses forward and in a split second your lips meet.

She’s aggressive about it, and despite that you are actually enjoying it.

Finally she pulls away, poking at her chin as she looks off in the distance.

“Err… Cool?” You ask, still not sure what really happened.

“Haha... Sorry… It’s just that I’ve always seen that in some of the looted movies we get, but I don’t really have any desire to kiss any of da boyz…”

You kissed an Ork... And you liked it?

A horn blast and clatter of shoota fire in the distance causes you both to look over toward the horizon. Even from here, you can make out the dust cloud.

“You’d better go.” Karen says, not looking away.

“Yeah. Um, you got some way I can contact you?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah!” She pulls out a mess of wires, gears, and riveted plating. You notice there is also a gun sticking out the side.

You give her your frequency and she gives you hers, though you have to interpret it over to something you can actually enter into your device.

With a final goodbye, you sprint off out of the camp, cutting a 90 degree away from the incoming Ork mob.

Even as you run, you think of something to do next.

You jump back onto your bike and rev it up, trying to put as much distance between you and the Orks as you can. Karen was fun, but you don’t like the idea of being around a bunch of blood thirsty Nobs who maybe still have a battle hard on.

…Can Orks even get a hard on?

You decide that, out of everything, is a question you never want answered.

The cannoness’s bike soars over the rough terrain, and you decide you will have to thank her for letting you borrow it when you get back.

Despite knowing you could return to somewhere of relative safety, for some reason you have the hunger for a bit of danger.

You cut the engine and coast as you approach the tomb, looking around wearily for any sign of the necron who almost gaussed you in the head after shooting up the flayed one.

The bike finally slows to a stop, and you’ve seen no sign of life. Or mechanical xeno monstrosities.

Quietly you slip off of the seat, the grass and leaves barely crunching underfoot.

You start to walk toward the mouth of the tomb, still looking around cautiously.

From what you remember, they taught you in training that a necron can take some serious punishment and keep going.
Your right hand rubs at your mechanical arm as you continue to stalk forward.

You hope if you do get into some kind of fight, it will be enough.

Peering down into the darkness inside the cave causes a knot to form inside your stomach. Is the flayed one who wore Doug’s corpse still down there?

Is it dead?

Something plants itself in the small of your back.

Before you can react, it boots you down into the tomb and you tumble down into the darkness. Steely mechanical laughter echoes along with you.

You are falling fast down the relatively steep incline, rolling end over end.

You stick out a foot to try and stop yourself, but it hits something hard and the pain reverberates through your entire leg and into your back.

All you can do is try to protect your head as you continue to slide and roll.

Finally you skid to a stop as the chamber levels out. You are bruised up from the fall, though thankfully it doesn’t feel like anything is broken.

You feel around, nothing seems out of place.

Still, you are winded hard. You wipe the dirt off your face and blink it out of your eyes. You also pull off your hat and brush him off.

As you pick yourself up from the ground, you hear something skitter in the darkness.

Scratch that, several things.

All at once, they rush you from all sides.

Flayed ones, dozens of them.

Including once again, the one wearing your best friend, now sporting several gauss burns on the flesh.

You activate your plasma gun, but it’s too late.

Several grab you in their bladed claws, pulling your arms back. Though they don’t cut into your flesh, they will if you struggle.

The flayed ones all look to the one wearing your friend, who paces in front of you as he looks you over.

You notice something else.

He seems to be wearing your arm. Well, the skin off of it anyways. You recognize your tattoo of your home world’s emblem on what used to be your forearm.

The flayed ones communicate in hisses and clicks, you don’t know what they are saying.

All at once, they close on you, surrounding you.

You wretch, gag, rotten flesh pressing in on you from all sides.

Energy crackles through the air, and you feel your stomach drop.

You vomit as they teleport you.

s your head stops spinning, you open your eyes, incredibly dizzy.

You wipe the puke off of your mouth, though the stench still clings to you it seems. The smell of rotten flesh, that is.

An icy cold hand suddenly clutches you by the throat and lifts you into the air. You swing at it, trying to break its grasp, but it doesn’t seem to relent.

Looking down, you notice a particularly large necron with lots of gold frills and extras hanging off of him. He seems to be grinning at you.

“Welcome, little flesh bag.”

You continue to struggle, but it doesn’t seem like much use. The necrons all around seem to be laughing at you, the flayed ones scraping their claws together as though hungry.

You gather up as much sanity as you can muster, focusing your mind.

With a glare you blast it out.

Several of the flayed ones beyond are thrown backwards, sailing end over end.

The necron holding you though…

His cape ruffles as if caught by a breeze.

He cackles squeezing harder.

You can’t even struggle now, your head on fire from the inside it seems. Your hands can only grab weakly at his.

“You are a tough one aren’t you, perhaps your face shall adorn the throne of Valgul. What an honor.”

He throws you aside and you collapse to the ground, grabbing at your throat as you gulp in air.

“I’m not done yet… Motherfucker.”

You stand up, doing your best to look tough despite the fact your brain feels like mush inside your skull. Your eyes feel wet and when you run a finger along one, you notice it gets soaked with blood.

Pulling your arm back, you prepare a punch that will break the heavens.

Or send you sailing off the platform you are on and into the vorpal nothing beyond.

“Take this! My love, my anger, and all of my sorrow!” You put your everything into your mechanical arm as you drive it forward.

The necron lashes out with his own, and your fists meet in the air. It’s a metal on metal fisting competition.

Despite you pressing hard, with all of your might, your blows cancel each other out, leaving you both standing connected fist to fist.

The necron laughs, his mechanical skull shaking side to side.

You smirk.

“Shining finger, bitch.”

The las blast bores a hole right through the necron’s head.
The large mechanical body seems to falter, swaying unsteadily on its feet.

You sidestep out of the way as it comes crashing down.

You blow on your finger like the scene out of an ancient Terran film.

“Alright, who’s next?”

Only there are a lot of flayed ones here, none who seem to give the slightest care at their lord being dropped.

“Perhaps I shall try again?”

The necron lord pushes himself off of the ground, despite the damage, and starts getting to his feet.

“Hey buddy, can we hurry this up? I’ve got some stuff I want to do.”

Your arm is talking to you.

“Statement: I say we ditch the meatbag. Did I say that out loud?”

Your arm is talking to itself?

“Hey, I like your style!” The first voice responds.

You don’t have time for this…

You activate the plasma gun and start firing as you dive out of the way as the necron swings his staff, the bladed end almost catching you.

“Suggestion: You’ve missed four shots, perhaps you should practice more.”

A flayed one’s bladed hand comes way too close to severing your other arm, and you knock it aside with your mechanical one before it can. You don’t want to be too mechanical. Though Mika might like it…

Plasma bolts sever arms and blast through flesh and plating of the flayed ones, but there are simply too many, and your arm is getting hot.

You keep firing, switching to your lasgun, as you back up.
The flayed ones are running at you, and you know you don’t have any way to fend off this many.

Three of them leap up at the same time, pouncing at you with claws ready to rend your flesh.

A simultaneous volley of gauss fire knocks them out of the air.
You whirl around just in time to see a line of Immortals, weapons blasting away.

They appear to be lead by a single pariah.

You recognize it...

Well, as much as you don’t really trust ANY necron at the moment, the flayed ones are far from the bottom of the long list of shit you hate. A hate-list being something you picked up from a brief meeting in a bar with an Angry Marines Commissar.

Firing your lasgun as cover, you sprint over toward the newcomers.

You notice, as you run, that while they do keep up their rate of fire, they seem to be taking the utmost precaution to avoid hitting you.

Ducking between two towering Immortals, you skid to a stop but not in time.

You collide into the Pariah before you can change course.
“Ah…” She says, her voice sweet but robotic.

“I’ve been waiting for you my honey, I knew I’d find you!” She rubs her face into your own.

Well this is a bizarre scene.

You are in some kind of other dimension; or so you think, with necrons fighting necrons as you get loved up on by, of all things, another necron.

“Uhh… Do I know you?” You finally ask.

“Oh my sweetie is so funny. But the next time you run away from me I’LL KILL YOU MYSELF! YOU ARE MINE AND MINE ALONE, honey.”

Well, that sure calms you down…

“I’ve been watching you ever since you came to this world. The first time I saw you I just knew I had to make you mine!” The necron girl continues happily as she smooshes you into her even more.

“Hah…Hah… You’re joking, right?”

Her eyes glow green at your comment.

“D-does my honey not want me? Does he want someone else? I can’t let that happen…” She pulls a dagger out of her cloak and raises it above you.

“O-of course not, I’m just joking around! Haha oh me the kidder!”

Her hand stops, poised to strike.

Finally her eyes return to normal.

“Oh you…” She snuggles you even harder.

“Yeah… Me…” You gulp.

“Congratulatory: *a wedding song starts to play*”

“Hey, get a room!” Your hand reaches into your pocket, produces a cigar, lights it, and proceeds to somehow smoke it with your thumb.

The necron girl looks at your arm, scowling.

“Such a rude thing… I don’t like it…”

She brings the knife closer to where your mechanical arm meets your flesh.

“Observation: I don’t think this is going to end well.”

“H-hey now! No need to cut it off, they will shut up!” You laugh, pushing on the arm holding the knife.

“*Hey you two, shut the hell up!*” You hiss at your arm.

"Query: Can we exist without being attached to this meatbag?"

"I dunno, should we find out?"

You clamp your other hand down on the speaker, muffling them. Why did Mika even add a speaker?!

“I don’t like them…” The necron girl says again, grabbing your arm more roughly and pressing the knife blade into the seam of flesh and metal.

You are going to have to think hard of something to do to stop her…

Too late, she plunges the knife down and buries it into the speaker, silencing it.

The two voices in your arm protest for a moment, but then fall silent. Well, at least she didn’t cut it off. Mika can fix the arm, but you don’t know if the two voices will return…

Until the necron keeps attacking the arm, stabbing it again and again. The weapons suite goes offline, and you find that the arm is now barely movable.

“Ah, now that’s soo much better!” The necron coos happily as she grabs you around the middle again.

“Hey, can we put the knife away please!” You ask as it comes close to jabbing you.

She does that at least, before tugging on the arm of an Immortal.

“Hurry up! How much longer do you need?” She asks him.
The Immortal gestures out, and you follow his finger.

The flayed ones lay in varying states of disassemble, most in too many pieces to recognize. The Immortals keep shooting to vaporize them entirely.

“Good, I need to give my honey a bath, he stinks!”

You feel your stomach drop again as she teleports you.
Back inside the tomb, though in a different section it looks like. You don’t recognize any of the surroundings, and you can’t see far in the faint green light.

Still she’s set you down as she tends to a large stone basin, turning knobs and dials.

“Hey, uh… Kinda dark in here isn't it?”

As if on command, the tomb illuminates further, to a more comfortable level.

“Well… It could be worse…”

“Oh honey! The bath is ready!”

While you don’t like your current predicament, you aren’t about to keep pushing her crazy buttons.

You slide out of your clothes, which is quite difficult with a barely functional left arm.

“Ara ara~” The necron says, as she eyes your junk.

You don’t give her the satisfaction of continuing to eye you up, as you step into the warm water.

Sitting down, you submerge yourself up to your chest.

Despite everything going on, it actually feels pretty good.
The Pariah hums some necron tune as she busies herself scrubbing you down. You just sit there limp and take it while your mind jumps around trying to figure out some way out of this mess.

Her metal fingers don’t actually feel terrible, and somehow you really think deep down she actually loves you. Too much.

“Does it feel good my sweet?” She asks as she rubs what you believe to be shampoo into your hair.

“Uh… Yeah…?” You answer, still desperately trying to muster your inner Tzeentch and come up with a plan.

“You know, I could make you feel even better…”

“So uh, before that, can I get your name? I need to associate your lovely face with it.”

The necron girl sits up slightly at your comment, her mechanical brow furrowing.

“My… My name…?” She asks, touching her lips as though unsure.

“I need a name? You won’t love me without a name?” Her hands grab you tightly, without your mechanical strength there is no way you could break that grip. Damn you wish your arm was fully operational.

“That’s uh… Not exactly what I meant…”

But she doesn’t seem to hear you, her eyes starting to grow more and more green.

“Name… Name… Name…” She keeps mumbling to herself, increasing in speed as she repeats the word, her eyes starting to glow brighter and brighter.

Her fingers seem to lose a bit of their tightness, you might be able to slip away…

“I’ll call you Tonya.”

Her eyes stop glowing, and her fingers relax.

“Tonya…Tonya…” She repeats it, playing with it.

“*Archiving name, please wait… One percent…*”

“Huh?” You turn around in the bath.

Several seconds go by.

“*…Five Percent…*” The completely monotone robotic voice chimes again.

Shit! This might be your chance to escape!

You snatch up your clothes and start pulling them on as fast as you can manage with one working arm and a half broken one.

“*…Fifty percent…*”

“Hey! You skipped a bunch!” You yell as you stuff your feet into the boots.

Wasting no time with anything else, you break into a fast run into the tomb.

Shoving your way between two Immortals guarding the door, you sprint as fast as you can manage. Perhaps the fastest in your life.

After several twists and wrong turns, you finally find the way back up to the surface.

“Where are you going, my honey? YOU CAN’T RUN FROM OUR LOVE!!!”

Tonya bursts out from around a turn and starts running up after you. She’s fast!

Still, you aren’t going to give up here.

Your legs pick up the pace and finally carry you out into the fresh air.

You are relieved to see the bike where you left it, and you run all out at it as the necron starts to close the distance.

Leaping on, you start it up as fast as you can. The engine doesn’t seem to want to ignite.

“Fucking machine spirit! Get the fuck moving!”

Finally the bike fires to life, and you twist hard, Tonya mere feet from you now.

Her fingers graze the back of the bike even as you spray her with dirt in your desperate bid to escape.

Finally you are out of her reach, you sigh in relief.

“I’LL FIND YOU!” You hear her voice call after you.

“YOU WILL BE MINE! ALL MINE! ONLY MINE!”

Finally her voice fades in the distance, masked by the rumble of the bike.

Mika scoffs and scolds you a bit as she looks your arm over.
You feel a bit bad, you haven’t had it for long and it’s already pretty beat up.

Despite this, she starts into fixing it and you lay back on the table.

After several hours and more than one test fire, it seems to be back in tip-top shape.

Though the voices haven’t returned.

“What could those have been?” You ask her.

Mika shrugs.

“Magnetic interference?” She finally muses out loud.

===Thread 14===

You let Mika finish up on the arm, and after one last test, its back in shape and you can feel the weapons suite back online.

The techpriestess is quietly snoozing now, she must have been staying up late working on Rex.

Being a gentleman, you carry her onto a bed and tuck her into it.

With a kiss on her forehead, you turn and leave.

The bike waits for you, now you just have to decide where to take it.

The bike roars as you ramp it out of the exit, gunning the engine hard and catching some air.

Rex barks and chases you, his antenna wagging. What a carefree baneblade…

You activate your plasma gun as you speed toward a tree, and with one quick burst you fell it in a shower of splinters.

It’s a good thing Mika could fix it up, as much as you miss your old fleshy arm, this one is admittedly more fun.

Reaching into your pocket you grab out your communicator and select the frequency. You barely manage to avoid hitting a pile of rocks as you dial.

“M-Max?”

“Sup blue tits.”

“…Max uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu….” It sounds like she’s about to have a mental breakdown.

“Is something wrong?” You bring the bike to a stop.

“It’s my brother, I can’t find him anywhere and he’s not answering his communicator! I’m really worried about him!”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure we will find him.” You try to calm Ailia down.

“…Are you sure?”

“I’m not just sure, I’m space aids positive, now where can I meet you at?”

“Here, I’ll send you my location.”

Your communicator buzzes as it receives the new information.

“You aren’t really….”

“Nah, I’m clean.”

You gun the engine again, following the coordinates the Tau girl gave you.

It’s about half an hour away, so you settle in for the ride, getting comfortable on the bike. You really hope you can find Ailia’s bro, it’s a bit worrisome that she hasn’t found him even after all this time.

With the Crisis suit now visible in the distance, you stow your communicator and speed through the last few minutes. As much fun as it will be to see Ailia again, you know it will be ruined if you don’t find her brother.

A knot forms in your stomach.

He has been missing a long time…

You slow to a stop in front of the suit, Ailia is sitting on the hatch.

Her usually cheerful face is downtrodden, and she looks like she hasn’t slept in days.

“Hey, you alright?” You slide off the bike and give her hanging leg a friendly squeeze.

“I don’t know…” She finally laments, rubbing her eyes tiredly.
“Well, have you picked up any kind of trail?”

“Not much. It’s like he’s disappeared from the face of the planet.” Ailia sighs and slips off of the hatch, falling rather clumsily to the ground.

While she protests at you demanding she sit down and eat, you don’t give in. After you insist, she finally digs into some chow you stored in the saddlebag of the bike, though you can tell her mind is elsewhere.

Yours is too.

With no leads to go on, doubt begins to form, weighing heavily on you.

“What kind of leads do you have?” You finally ask after she sets the food aside.

“Well, several of them, none of which seem too solid.”
She pulls out a map with hastily scribbled Tau writing all over it, and though you don’t read Tau, you give it a look.

“His last communication was in the Tyranid area to the north. Some kroot thought they saw him way off in the distance headed toward Chaos lines. His tracking signal shows he’s along the beach, but the signal hasn’t moved in days. These are the last three places I haven’t checked.” She gestures around on the map.

“So we should try these out then, I’m sure he’s bound to be at one of them!” You try to fire the Tau girl up, but it doesn’t look like she’s having any of it.

“Alright, as much as I know you are going to hate this…”

“Don’t say it.”

“We’re heading toward the Tyranids.”

“I told you not to say it…” Ailia looks northward, you can tell she’s none too thrilled at the prospect.

“I’m joking, let’s try the beach first.”

You hug her around the middle from behind and give her a squeeze. Her bouncy goods feel nice on your arm, though that wasn’t your reason for doing it.

“What happens if we don’t find him?” She asks as she sinks back into you.

“We will.”

You lift her back up until she’s standing on her own.

“Trust me, if I can somehow survive this fucking place, your bro won’t have any problem.”

Ailia sighs, but then stands up and slaps herself on the face a few times with both hands.

“Alright! He’s got to be at the beach. He IS at the beach!” She pumps her fist and looks fired up.

“That’s more like it, this is the blueberry I remember!”

She turns around and gives you a big smile, looking entirely more energized now.

“You’ve got luck on your side, with you along, we are sure to find him.” She puts her hands on her curvy hips and looks up at her Crisis suit.

Huh?

Your spidey sense is tingling on its own?

“Get down!”

You tackle Ailia to the ground, your face bouncing off of her xenobags as both of you hit the dirt.

*Crack!*

The shot misses, but still only by a hair.

Whoever is shooting at you, they are good.

You were just lucky enough to have your untrained mind powers detect the threat, though you don't know how you did it.

“What the hell was that?!” Ailia asks as you move her over to behind your bike, using it for whatever little cover its worth.

“I can’t be sure, I’ve only heard it once…”

Another shot makes a loud *PING* as it slams into the bike, which thankfully is stout enough to stop it.

“No, now there’s no mistaking it.”

You bite your lip, this isn’t good.

“That’s an Exitus rifle...”

You know it’s only a matter of time now. All the assassin has to do is move around until he can get the angle right and then its bye bye Yagis V and hello Warp.

As much as you like Kaleshi, you want your next meeting with her to be on your terms.

Another shot cracks into the bike, puncturing the engine and severing it as a means of escape.

*Meanwhile…*

Eight curses, his first assignment and he’s already missed his target.

He tracks the rogue guardsman and his xeno associate through the scope as they lay behind the bike, hidden from his fire.

Fuck it, he’s going to have to move.

Eight rises up from his perch, his crosshairs remaining fixed on the bike as he shifts to his right to get a better angle for a kill shot…

You can sense something is up, this might be your one shot to get out of here alive.

“Ailia, we are going to have to do something right now or we are going to get dusted by this assassin.”

The Tau girl nods, she’s no newbie when it comes to combat.

“Alright, take this.”

You hand Ailia hat-chan, she takes it but looks confused.

“Put that on the end of your gun, when I tell you, pop it up over the bike.”

Shit you hope this is going to work, the anti-sniper training you received mentioned fuck all about Vindicares. Would he even fall for something like this?

You ready your lasfinger, hoping the distance wouldn’t be too great for you to make the shot. You were only ever a middle-of-the-pack marksman after all.

Well, here goes nothing.

“Now!”

Eight watches through the scope as the brim of the hat comes up over the bike.

Amateurish.

He doesn’t fire a shot.

Several seconds pass, and Ailia looks over at you confused.

“Shit, guess he isn’t going for it…”

Well, you have to try something.

“As soon as shit goes down, get into your suit as fast as you can…”

You don’t give her time to question you.

“FUS ROH DA!”

You send the bike spinning toward the assassin, at the same time you ready your lasfinger.

Is that him in the distance? You can’t be sure, but you have to take the shot.

You pull up and fire!

Eight drops the rifle and dives for cover as the lasbolt hits his gun.

He curses and draws his sidearm.

Things are not going according to his plan…

“I hit him!?” You yell, as much in excitement as disbelief.

“Nice shot!” Ailia says, before the hatch to her suit closes and the walking gun platform powers up.

You notice the Vindicare running toward you now, his sidearm out.

Poor guy doesn’t stand a chance.

Ailia gets the Crisis suit online, and quickly fires a missile from her pod.

You watch the trail as it arcs toward the assassin, who goes to dive to the ground but doesn’t make it.

The missile impacts behind him, throwing him forward. He tumbles end over end until smacking hard into the ground, where he lays still.

You stick close to the Crisis suit as you and Ailia move forward to check it out.

Standing over the Vindicare now, you notice he’s skinny and short. Not exactly what you had expected to find.

You flip the body over with your foot and, keeping the barrel of your plasma gun pressed to his chest, pull of the mask.

“He’s just a kid…” You look down at the limp body lying in the grass, and can’t help but feel a bit sorry for him.

The assassin stirs slightly, and you toss his weapons aside, Ailia making sure her burst cannon is too close to miss.

You prod the Vindicare with your foot.

“Wake up kid, I’ve got some questions.”

The assassin opens his eyes, looking ready to fight. He notices the Crisis suit baring down on him, and your plasma arm shoved into his chest, and decides against it.

“Like I said, I’ve got some questions and you are going to answer me.”

The kid, no older than fourteen or so, looks around with his hawkish eyes, searching for some way out.

Finally he glares back at you.

“I’ve got nothing to say to a heretic.”

You smile.

“Yeah, I figured as much. Ailia, mind stepping on out here?”

“…Huh?” The booming voice comes from the Crisis suit.

“Don’t worry, he so much as farts and I introduce his heart to plasma.”

After several moments, the hatch opens up and Ailia drops down onto the ground beside you.

“Alright kid, I didn’t want to have to do this but I know torturing it out of you probably wont work.”

You grab Ailia around the middle and pull her closer to you.

“Which is why if you don’t tell me everything I want to know, I’m snapping a picture of you kissing this here Tau and sending it out on the net. Every ship from here to Cadia will see it.” You lie, hopefully convincingly.

The Vindicare swallows hard, looking between you and Ailia. He knows what would happen if you did that, and he doesn’t seem to realize you are bluffing.

“You wouldn’t…” He finally hisses.

“I’ve already gotten freaky with this here space commie, don’t tell me what I wouldn’t do.” You grab one of Ailia’s boobs for effect, giving it a little squeeze.

The Tau girl is blushing hard beside you, but she doesn’t budge.

“What do you want to know…?” The assassin finally relents, looking away.

“Well for starters, why are you trying to put a bullet through my head?”

The kid’s steel gaze locks with your own.

“…You mean you don’t even know?”

“Know what, exactly?” You press.

“The Inquisition has it out for you, you’re the most wanted man in the sector.”

This…

Your body can’t handle this.

You almost lower the plasma gun as your mind reels. The Inquisition is after you? How do they even know about you?
The assassin laughs.

“You don’t know how it happened, do you? The city is rigged up with cameras, they saw you consorting with xenos.” He laughs even harder as your face goes white.

“So what do they know?” You ask, though you can already guess its any of the hundreds of heresies you've committed.

“Hmph, enough to want you dead, which is all I was told.”

You grab the kid by his vest and pick him up until he’s facing you.

“Are they here yet? Are you the only one?”

The assassin laughs and shakes his head, as though in disbelief.

“They don’t need to be here. This planet has already been deemed beyond saving. If I failed my mission here, well…”

He trails off, still shaking his head.

Furious, you grab him by the jaw and force him to look at you.

“Well WHAT?!”

He stops laughing, his eyes now serious and perhaps even gloomy.

“Simple.” He looks up at the sky.

“Exterminatus…”

You can feel the blood draining from your head.

“When?” You ask in barely a whisper.

The assassin shrugs, turning back to look at you.

“Whenever they are ready, I guess.”

“Do you have any idea when that might be?” You grab the assassin on the shoulder.

“Why should I tell you? We’re already both dead.”

“If we are already dead, why so scared of one little picture with a Tau?”

The Vindicare looks to Ailia, then back at you.

“It’s not important.”

Well whatever, you don’t really care about that tidbit of this kid’s life at the moment. The fact that the Inquisition is after you is one thing, that they are going to glass this planet to get you is something entirely different.

“What’s your name, kid?” You ask, letting go of him.

“…Eight.” He finally responds.

“Alright, Eight. Here’s how it’s going to be. I don’t particularly want to die and I’m sure you don’t either. You may not believe me right now and it isn’t really important if you do, but the Emperor himself has sanctioned what I’ve done and getting exterminated right now would kind of dick him over as well.”

The Vindicare looks at you like you are crazy.

“You’re nuts.”

“Yeah, I know. But I’m not lying to you.”

“Oh yeah? Prove it.”

That stops you mid-thought.

“I… I can’t.” You admit.

“Well no shit? So I’m just supposed to go on your word then, am I?”

“Um… Max?” Ailia says, tapping you on the shoulder.

“Just a second…” You brush away her hand.

Eight looks up at you, awestruck.

“Maybe I can convince you dude.” Comes the booming voice from behind you.

You recognize that voice, and whirl around.

“Emprah!”

He smiles and raises a hand to signal silence. You notice it isn’t really him in the flesh, more like some kind of hazy projection of him.

Eight’s mouth is still moving, but he isn’t saying anything, eyes fixated on his god.

“So Eight… I know you’ve had a pretty tough break in life kid, but I’m going to need your help on this one man.” The Emperor says, folding his arms and looking down at the awestruck Vindicare.

“My… My help, Emperor?” He gulps.

“Yeah dude, your help. You see its like this… Max here is my bro, and he’s helping me out with some serious shit that I needed done. It’s a big responsibility dude, lots of stuff he has to deal with. Really tough stuff. Now I’m not quite ready to come back to the forefront yet, so Max here is going to set things up so I can without everyone losing their collective shit. If he dies here, that kind of fucks with my chi, you dig? So bada bing bada boom, you either help him or get out of his way.” The Emperor sums it up with a shrug.

“Uh… Emprah…” You finally ask, pulling his projection aside.

“Couldn’t you uh… Just tell the Inquisition off yourself?”

The Emperor bites his lip and looks away.

“Yeah man… I’m not really ready to deal with those guys yet. They are a serious buzzkill and probably wouldn’t believe me, which is why I need to come back in the flesh before I can talk to them.”

“So… I’m on my own here?” You finally ask, not liking the thought of it.

The Emperor laughs.

“Naw man, I’m not a douche. This guy is going to help you out.”

With a pop, a figure warps into view next to Ailia.

“Shas’O. Ready to kick some ass.”

“Aniki!!!!” Ailia shouts, throwing her arms around the newcomer.

“Hey little sis, what’s going on?” He tussles her hair.

“Oi! This is getting too long! You’d better let me give you a haircut once this is over.” He picks up strands of her hair disapprovingly.

The Tau commander is large, and has to be even outside his armor. He has his helmet off, and his face though kind looking, is battle hardened and bears several scars.

His gaze falls to you, and he pats Ailia on the head before approaching you.

“Your Emperor filled me in on the current situation. In return for taking care of my sister, I’ve agreed to help you out here.”

He holds out his hand, which you clap with your own, grabbing it in a broshake. His right arm is huge, at least twice the size of his left. With the armor on it looks a bit weird, but his right arm is fucking ripped. Dude’s been eating his oats.

“Good to have you. If you’re half as tough as Ailia makes you out to be, you might not even need me.”

The Taubro laughs before slipping on his helmet.

“If you’re half as nuts as I’ve been told, I might not even get a chance to help.”

Ailia slaps her brother on the back.

“Are you sure you’re all right onii-chan? I mean, this is your first time back in the field since the… Incident…”

“I’m fine, I’m SKULLS FOR THE!... fine. See? Nothing wrong.”

“Err… Right…” Ailia says, having pulled her upper body away.

You turn back to the Emperor, who’s still talking to Eight.
“So dude, will you help us out here? I could use an extra hand to help Max out on his mission.”

Eight nods furiously.

“It is my honor, Emperor. On my life, I’ll see him through to the end of it.”

“Alright dude, your in.” The Emperor gives him a handshake, though the assassin can’t feel it he can see it.

“Hey Emprah, how’s Tzeentch?” You ask, glad to be talking to him again.

“Ahh, yeah she’s good man!” He grins.

“Really starting to show, guess I’ve got to be ready to be a dad and all but it’s cool. Chaos gods said they wanted to invite you over for dinner at their place one of these nights man, maybe once this Exterminatus business is over and whatnot.”

“Really? That sounds like… Fun…?” You aren’t sure how you feel about it.

“Yeah man, it will be a blast. Oh hey, Nurgle says he’s got something to give you next time you see him!” The Emperor remembers suddenly, and looks like he’s sizing you up.

“Yeah… Should work…” He mutters.

“So Emprah, how are we going to get up there?” You ask, feeling a bit of dread at the prospect of a surprise gift.

“I mean, I assume they have a ship up there, maybe a fleet even…”

“Hmm…” The Emperor rubs his jaw.

“Well… The Tau have quite a few ships but that would be a big fight… Maybe borrow one from the wolves… hmmm…” He looks deep in thought.

“Oh wait, man I almost forgot.” He laughs as he shakes his head in his hand.

“I can just do this.”

“Boo-woop!”

You, Eight, Ailia, and Kais are suddenly standing on the bridge of the Inquisition flagship.

“By the Emperor… What is this?” An Inquisitor asks, raising an eyebrow.

Several Grey Knights jostle to stand beside him.

“Uhh… Err… Evening gents?” You mutter.

“Showing up for your own execution, how noble.” The Inquisitor laughs.

“Finish him quickly, I have an Exterminatus to attend to.” He starts heading toward an exit.

The Grey Knight terminators raise their weapons, including the Brother-captain in the center.

“Hey guys, I need you to listen up for a minute here.” You start.

The Knights point their weapons at you, they don’t look like they want to talk…

“I’m on a divine mission from the Emperor himself!” You shout, hoping they will listen to you.

They don’t.

You dive out of the way as they open up with their bolters.
Well, so much for that plan.

“Hold fast, brothers.” Eight steps out from cover, raising his hands. Surprisingly, the Knights stop firing, though they don’t take their weapons off of him.

“You know me, we’ve been on this ship together the whole time.”

“What of it? Now you consort with foul xenos and their ilk!” The Brother-captain shouts, gesturing at you and the others.

“And he is here, look!” Eight points to you.

“He isn’t on the planet any longer. Will you simply stand by as Darkhammer wrongly silences another planet?”

The Grey Knights fidget at this, looking between one another.

“I’m not here to fight, I just want to put a stop to all of this.” You add, raising your hands palm out to show that you are unarmed.

“Your orders, Darkhammer?” The Captain asks.

“Inquisitor?” He turns around.

Darkhammer is gone.

“Shit, he’s going to do it!” You shout, breaking into a sprint.
The Knights let you pass through them, but stand firm and block the others from joining you.

“Darkhammer wouldn’t have trouble dispatching one lowly heretic. We will let him decide his fate, but you may not join him.”

The Tau commander nods.

“We aren’t here to fight, we shall let them figure this out.”

You run into the dark lit room, noticing the Inquisitor standing over a control console.

“Stop right there criminal scum!” You shout at him.

With a cackling laugh, Darkhammer turns to face you.

“The little heretic comes to try to stop me, how quaint.”

“I’m not going to let you do this.” You clench your fist menacingly.

“Hmph, as though you could stop me.” He draws out his hammer, which has an inscription on the side that reads “Property of Dark “The sledge” hammer.”

“I can and I will. I have friends down there that don’t even know this is happening, and by the Emprah himself I won’t let them die.”

Darkhammer grins malevolently.

“Well then, let us see who it is that the Emperor truly blesses.”

“Indeed.”

You hold up your hand, revealing your secret weapon.

“Those aren’t…”

“Oh, but they are.”

You crunch down on the leaves, grinning.

You can feel the bear overtaking you, it is a good RAAAARRGHGGHGH!!!

Darkhammer glares at you, reaching into one of his own pockets.

“Then we shall let the leaves decide our fate.”

You roar at the Inquisitor bear, who roars back at you.

You know this isn’t your territory, but you are a fierce and hungry mountain bear and you take what you want.

Rearing up on your hind legs, you bellow a strong and loud roar, you will be the victor among bears this day.

Wasting no time, the Inquisitor bear charges at you, gnashing his yellow teeth and raising a paw ending in nasty black claws.

He gets the first strike in, but you were ready for it and shrug off the blow.

With a grunt you throw him back and strike out with your own claws, knocking him in the head.

“…What exactly am I watching here?” Ailia comments as she stands at the railing.

“I’ll admit, I don’t know.” The Brother-captain shrugs.

They watch as you and Darkhammer circle each other, both of you drooling madly and taking turns slapping the other.

“Is this even a fight? Who’s winning?” Eight scratches the back of his head.

You see an opening and pounce, knocking the other bear to the ground.

He lashes out again with his paws, but you shove them aside as you bear down on him. He is defenseless to stop you as you repeatedly strike him in the head.

Suddenly, both of you stop completely, raising your noses to the air.

Sniffing around, you confirm the scent.

Both of you go bounding off into the forest, heading toward the river.

After all, the river is full of delicious salmon.

Suddenly, your arch enemy.

Ron Burgundy.

Both you and the Inquisitor roar at the newcomer, who is busying himself eating the salmon you came here for.

The ensuing fight continues for seven long years of battle and hardship. You and the Inquisitor bear the brunt of the harsh winters as you continue your fight against Burgundy, who seems nigh unstoppable.

After landing a bear punch that ends the known universe, you finally come to, groggily.

It feels like you’ve been slamming your head into ceremite, and what is this in your mouth? Swedish fish?

“Ugh…” Groans Darkhammer as he sits up, rubbing his temples.

“Fucking bear leaves man.” You groan along with him as you help him to his feet.

“Coffee... I... I need some coffee.” He mumbles.

“Are… are you guys all right now? That was pretty intense…” Ailia asks as she looks you over for injuries.

“Uhh… What exactly did we do?”

“Well…” Ailia looks to the others for help.

“Basically you guys slapped each other’s shit for five minutes before lumbering off into this other room where you attacked a table for about twenty minutes. I think the table actually won.” Eight finishes for her.

“Works for me, care to call it a truce?” You ask Darkhammer, who is busy searching for a mug.

“Yeah, whatever. I’m not sticking around orbiting this planet, I’ve got to go dick over Valeria. This was kind of just a vacation.”

“Huzzah. Victory.” You mumble as Ailia helps you down onto a couch.

You drag her down along with you and rest your head on her massive love pillows.

Your snoring echos through the halls of the great vessel.

===Thread 15===

You wake up from what feels like a long hibernation, and try to stretch out but find it difficult.

Opening your eyes, you notice you are rather entangled as it were.

Ailia’s eyes have a mischievous glint as she stares down at you, a slight smirk across her tantalizing lips.

“It would appear that I’ve caught you off-guard Commissar.”

You adjust yourself a bit, but Ailia remains in her position, straddling you.

“So you have, but unfortunately for you, I’m better at close combat.”

Ailia grins.

“Indeed, which is why I grabbed these.”

*snap*

You didn’t notice her left hand, which has now clasped a pair of cuffs over your own.

“Now be a good boy and give me your other hand…”

You don’t object as she snares your other hand, and you find yourself bound underneath an alarmingly cute xeno.

Ailia beams down at you triumphantly.

“I didn’t peg you as being into this sort of thing.” You taunt her playfully.

She flicks a strand of hair out of her face. You notice it looks like it’s shorter now, her brother must have cut it when she was asleep.

“Well I did say I’d show you some Tau customs, didn’t I?”

You don’t protest as she slides your shirt up and undoes your belt.

“After all,” Ailia hums.

“You did help me find my brother.”

“Well, it’s not like I did a whole lot…” You shrug.

You jump slightly as Ailia’s warm hand grabs hold of your krak missile.

Ailia’s face contorts slightly as she guides it in, a mixture of pleasure, pain, and confusion.

“You alright?” You ask genuinely.

“I uh… Well us members of the fire caste… I’ve never done this.” She finally admits.

It doesn’t seem to stop her as the two of you move into base to base combat.

As cool as the cuffs are, you find yourself yearning to grab hold of the slightly panicked Tau girl. Lured perhaps by her thick hips.

After several minutes of simply sitting there adjusting, Ailia finally starts to move.

Its nearly too much for you to handle.

You thought she was trying to act dominant, what with the handcuffs and all. However you soon find out she is anything but.

She grabs you as she grinds herself around, eventually hugging you tightly around the middle. Seems like she's started to enjoy herself at least.

The assault continues for over an hour, during which she finally releases your hands and you take over.

At the end of it, both of you lay on the cold floor of the ship, breathing hard.

“Hey… Humans and Tau can’t…”

“I don’t think so, but as much as you shot out…” Ailia giggles.

The two of you decide to get dressed before a Grey Knight finds you, pops a rage boner, and kills the both of you.

Eight sits alone on the bridge of the massive Imperial ship.
A rarity.

Usually this kind of place is buzzing with activity, alive with noise and light and life.

He bobs his head slightly to the tune in his headphones. What does a Vindicare listen to? Maybe you can find the answer someday.

The cigarette in his mouth has died out, but he doesn’t seem to notice. Or perhaps he just doesn’t care.

He looks down at Yagis V, it’s bright blue oceans alluring even from the void of space.

“Can I get you anything kid?”

You sit down next to Eight. He looks tired, as though he’s just gone three rounds with an Ork in a high-stakes boxing match.

Eight shakes his head, before looking back out over the planet.

“Don’t say much, do you?”

Eight shrugs.

“Depends. Quite a bit of information to process, the Emperor talking to me and all.”

“Yeah, I know that feeling bro.”

You notice a picture resting in front of the young Vindicare, and pick it up.

A young couple are smiling up, holding a small baby, forever immortalized in the black and white.

“Is that you?” You ask, setting the photo back down.

“Yeah.”

You doesn’t press the conversation.

Eight is more or less off in his own world…

----
Guardsman: “Help!”

I turn.

The guardsman reaches out for me, his face bloody and soiled from the battle.

Too late.

A bolt of plasma fire pierces through his chest, burning a ragged hole.

He looks down, perplexed by this new situation, as though perhaps it was all some kind of bizarre dream. He collapses.
I didn’t really know him, I don’t get to know any of them. They never seem to last long here.

The rifle is heavy, but familiar now.

Hold your breath.

Squeeze…

Bang.

I’m rewarded with the sight of vibrant purple Tau brains splattering a nearby tree, soaking the foliage around it in the xeno’s blood.

Sergeant: “Eight, where are you?”

I activate my own vox.

Eight: “On route.”

I keep running, regaining the pace I’d had before being stopped by the guardsman.

I’m not new to a fight. I can’t remember ever not fighting really.

Still, this isn’t an easy one by any means.

Two more fire warriors in my way, they turn to face me, but too slowly.

My rifle cracks, the shots so fast the sound is deceptive, melding into a single long snap of the supersonic rounds.

They never knew what hit ‘em.
----

“Hey, uh… You alright man?”

You give Eight a light shake.

His brow furrows and his morose blue eyes refocus.

“Yeah.”

You don’t know what’s going through his head, but you can’t shake the feeling its nothing good.

“Well… If you say so…”

Figuring you’ll give the kid some space, you push yourself up and start toward the exit. Might as well go see what’s going on with Kais.

“Hey Max.”

You turn and look back at Eight, who is staring out the window again.

“Yeah kid?”

“Don’t die.”

“Err… I’ll try my best…?”

You continue to wander around the ship, more or less aimlessly. Though you wouldn’t mind finding a shower.

Darkhammer emerges from a nearby hallway and the two of you stop at the sight of each other.

“Hey, we cool?” You ask after several moments of silence.

Darkhammer looks as though he’s mulling your question over.

“Yes, I believe we are.” He finally nods, before offering you a canned drink out of the six-pack in his hand. You graciously accept.

Darkhammer takes a seat at a nearby table and gestures for you to as well.

You crack open the drink and take a sip. You don’t know what it is, but it tastes like it has twenty three flavors. Its good.

Heavy footfalls behind you cause you to turn around, and Kais waves with his massive right hand as he walks over.

Darkhammer looks at him for several moments, perhaps still quite unsure about having a xeno, a commander no less, on his ship.

Kais seems like he gets the hint, but claps you on the shoulder and smiles anyways.

“I’ve got to thank you again for reuniting me with my sister. I’d been worried she had gotten herself into more than she could handle, but I see she’s had a good friend helping her along.”

You grin sheepishly.

“I didn’t really do much…”

Kais shakes his head, a bit more serious.

“She wouldn’t have made it out of that spring alive without you. Ailia is a great warrior, but her fear of Tyranids may well have frozen her to the spot had you not been there.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you notice Darkhammer’s eyes go wide, and his jaw drops almost comically.

“Hey dudes… Oh! Man, can I snag one of those?” A familiar voice echoes through the ship.

You can’t help but smile as you turn around in your chair.

“Sup Emps.”

The Emperor grins as he walks forward, well his projection spirit self anyways.

Darkhammer can’t seem to form words, fixated on the sight. You can’t blame him, your first meeting was just as shocking. Especially being dead and all.

The Emperor reaches down and tries to grab a can, but his hand slips right through it. He frowns and looks down at the can longingly.

“Can’t you just like, summon one or something?” You inquire.

“Oh… I didn’t even think about that, thanks man.” A can pops into the Emperor’s hand, and he brightens up as he takes a drink.

“E-e-Emprah?” Darkhammer finally spits, before leaping up and then kneeling to the ground.

The Emperor waves his hand, already mid-sip.

“C’mon dude, no need to be all awkward and whatnot. Let’s just chill.”

Darkhammer looks completely perplexed.

“I… Er…”

But he stands back up and sits back down, his eyes fixated on his god, as though he might disappear at any moment.

“There you go dude, no crazy shit here. Just a couple bros sharing a drink.”

Kais looks slightly confused as his gaze moves between you, Darkhammer, and the Emperor.

“So is this your Emperor? I had thought he was in a near death state.” He comments, though not rudely.

“Oh, my bad dude, forgot to introduce myself.” The Emperor does his best to shake Kais’s hand.

“I’m the Emperor. Well, not in the flesh but you get it man.”

“On behalf of the Tau, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Same man, same. Dude, do you lift? That arm is shredded.”

“Err… Yes, it gets quite a workout…”

Kais and the Emperor both take a seat, and the conversation picks up as Darkhammer finally overcomes his shock.

“…and that’s my plan.” The Emperor finally concludes, having told them what he told you in the warp.

Darkhammer nods, though you can tell it’s a massive shock to him.

“It is an excellent plan. War is in no one’s interest.” Kais comments, looking hopeful.

“Anyways, Darkhammer, I have use of you as well.” The Emperor suddenly seems much less carefree.

“I am at your service, always.” Darkhammer bows his head.
“We are going to be in for one hell of a fight here soon, and we are going to need all the help we can get.” The Emperor sits back in his chair, his eyes hard, completely different from how you’ve seen him before.

“We are going to need as many allies as we can get. I want you to start contacting everyone you can, Astartes, other members of the Inquisition, Eldar…”

Darkhammer nods as he takes notes, but then looks up.

“Eldar, lord?”

“Everyone you can. This matter concerns all.”

“It might be difficult, Emperor. Few will believe me or my information about your cause…”

The Emperor smiles, his eyes twinkling.

“That won’t be a problem, I’ve got a plan. Well, Tzeentch helped me with it.” He admits.

“The chaos god?!” Darkhammer blurts out, unable to stop himself.

“Yeah, she and I kinda have a thing going… The chaos gods are ready to go forward with this master scheme as well, all except for one that is…”

The Emperor sets down his drink.

“This is all going to end, one way or another. The only question is, will it be in our favor…” He looks out the window at Yagis V.

“…Or Malal’s…”

A servant jumps, startled as she washes the golden throne at the feet of the Emperor.

Did something just move?

Impossible, she finally tells herself.

You stand at the entrance to the drop pod, nervous.

This isn’t something you’ve done before, and after the safety briefing by the Grey Knights, you aren’t sure it’s something you want to do at all.

The brother captain claps you on the back, well the back of your new armor anyways.

“Are you ready for this, brother Max?” He asks, putting his hand on your left pauldron as he gives the armor one last check-over.

“No. I am not. At all.” You admit.

The giant Astartes chuckles as he seems satisfied with the armor.

“It really isn’t bad, you might even enjoy the ride.”

You sincerely doubt that.

The Emperor seems distant, as though concentrating on something else, as he approaches you.

“Backup won’t be here for you instantly, and we are going to need a bit to prep our forces, so don’t do anything stupid while you’re down there.” The Emperor nods as he looks you over.

“A fine suit of armor, it fits you well.”

As you give your new suit another glance, you are forced to admit that it does. The Grey Knights, emboldened and seemingly made anew by the reemergence of their Emperor, had given it to you. It took them quite a while to get it to fit to your much smaller frame, but somehow they did it.

They protested a bit when you told them to leave your left forearm out of it though, but the Knights didn’t listen. After thinking it over, and checking out the storm bolter they had attached, you were kinda ok with it. The tech marine who did the work then showed you how he had modified the left forearm, allowing you to still use the weapons housed in your arm.

The brother captain takes something from another Knight, and hands it to you, his gaze serious.

You can’t help but gape a bit as he places the haft of the nemesis axe in your hand.

“This weapon seems to be attuned to you, your mind, it has chosen you to wield it now. But whatever you do, don’t let the Blood Ravens get a close look at this.” He warns you.

“It’s an ancient relic of the Grey Knights, if they find that out, you will wake up and it will be gone.”

You nod, and swallow as you look the weapon over.

The power emanating from it is something even you can sense.

Ailia moves in and gives you a kiss on the cheek, maybe a bit shy with her brother in the room and all.

“You take care, I do want to see you again.” She smiles, and you return the grin.

Kais, now back in his own suit, shakes your hand.

“Ailia and I are going to rally the Tau to this cause, it may be difficult but I believe they will see that it is for the greater good. I expect to see you again, intact.”

“Same to you.”

A tech marine looks up from his work.

“Brothers, it is time.”

You swallow hard as they usher you into your own drop pod.

“Hey uh, Emperor, can’t you just teleport me again?” You ask him.

“Not this time, busy with something…” He seems quite distant, and you notice his projection doesn’t look as defined.

“Don’t worry, you will be fine.” The brother captain says, before closing the hatch.

You don't feel like you are going to be fine.

Well, too late to turn back now, where should you have this thing land…?

You get the feeling that you should land on the beach, you don’t really know why, just that feel.

Hand trembling, you punch it into the pod's controls.

A terrible clang echoes through the small vessel. You pray that isn’t a bad noise.

A prayer cut short, as the craft lurches forward at incredible speed.

“I don’t like this…” You comment as the pod starts picking up even more speed.

You feel your stomach lurch at the feeling of the sudden drop.
“oh shit oh shit oh shit….”

The pod finally enters the atmosphere, and you are shown a new definition of fast.

“FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU….!”

You are plummeting downward, all you can do is hold on and keep yelling. It feels like you are going to drop forever.

Finally the craft starts to slow, and before you can even breathe a sigh in relief, it slams hard into the sand.

The impact might have hurt if you hadn’t been in the new armor, which you are now even more thankful to have.

Hatches blow open with a hiss, and you squint your eyes at the bright light as you step out of the pod, incredibly happy to have survived.

You don’t see anyone around though, which is a bit depressing. You finally let out that sigh, it’s going to be a long trek to get anywhere.

“Nice armor, you look like a dork, mon-keigh.” Chimes a familiar voice from behind you.

You put on a tough face and turn around.

“My power is maximum.”

Esh doesn’t look impressed.

“Sure it is.”

“Allow me to demonstrate…” You smirk.

“…fus…” You whisper quietly, with just a trickle of energy.
The wind whips up the skirt Esh is wearing, but she holds it down with one hand so you don’t get a peek.

“Amateurish.” She chides.

“It was worth a shot.” You admit.

Esh laughs, crossing her arms and looking you over.

“Even in your new armor, your mind powers are no match for mine.”

“Hah. Says the one who just sat there while I did all the work defeating Doomrider.”

Esh’s smirk fades, and she looks serious.

“Zun Haal Viik!”

The axe is blown out of your hands, soaring backwards where it sinks into the sand some ten yards away.

“Had enough yet?” She asks, not having moved.

“As if, your Eldar tricks are no match for me.”

“Fair enough… Strun Bah Qo!”

A bolt of arcane lightning strikes a foot away from you, and you can feel all of your hair standing on end from the crackling energy.

“On second thought, I could maybe use some training…”

Esh looks up at the sky.

“I cannot teach him, the boy has no patience.” She says to no one.

“…Are you talking to someone?” You finally ask.

“Ugh… Watch some of your own race’s films you mongoloid.”

“Whatever. Are you going to train me or not?”

Esh smirks again. You can tell she’s enjoying screwing with you.

“Maybe… What’s in it for me?”

“I-I’ll give you a k-k-kiss, stupid space elf wych, it’s not like I want to do it, or anything!”

“Are you kidding me?” Esh groans.

“I’ll pay you up front, get over here!” You run at her, engaging your smootchface.

“Eww! No! Get away from me!” She starts to run.

Unfortunately for her, you’ve already built up momentum and she can’t escape. You grab the now-struggling Eldar around the middle and lift her up, her legs kicking at your armor to no effect. Your lips are drawing ever closer to her.

“All right! All right, I’ll train you! Now put me down!”

You don’t let her go, this is too much fun now.

“But what about your payment?” She’s holding your face away with one hand, but you are starting to overpower her.

“Wha?? W-why would I want a kiss from some i-idiot mon-keigh?!”

“Your resistance only makes my penis harder.”

“Gross! Put me down!”

Finally you relent, though you can’t erase your massive grin.

Esh pouts up at you. At least she wants you to think that, you can read her poker face.

“You better prepare yourself, I’m not going to go easy on you. St-stupid mon-keigh.”

“Sure, as if you can train me that hard.”

Esh glares.

“Oh, you don’t even know.”

She reaches down to her pack that fell when you grabbed her, and pulls out a small box. She presses a button, and some song you’ve never heard before starts blaring from it.

Dun!

Dun dun dun!

Dun dun dun!

Dun dun duuunnnnnn!!

“Prepare yourself, mon-keigh, I’m going to work you to the bone.”

She’s right, the training is incredibly intense.

Esh continues blasting at you with psychic energies as you punch away at a tree furiously, ducking and dodging the incoming attacks.

~Rising up, back on the street~

You run hard, Esh in close pursuit as lightning bolts descend from the sky all around you. You have to sense them coming, and jump out of the way before they fry you.

~So many times it happens too fast. You trade your passion for glory…~

Esh is dodging now, as you lash out with your own mind powers. She seems to be having an easy time of it, until one catches her in the middle and she’s pushed back, she smiles.

~Hangin tough, stayin hungry~

Both of you are in a running battle now, shouting out your words of power as you run down the beach, trying to trip the other one up. It seems like the playing field is becoming more level.

~Rising up to the challenge of our rival~

“You’re improving, mon-keigh.” She says, her arms folded.
You don’t give her a chance to stay on her feet, as you press your attack.

“Zul Mey Gut!”

Esh whirls around, looking for the source of the power. She fell for your trick.

~And he’s watching us all with the eeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeee… of the tiger~

“Wuld Na Kest!” You shoot forward at her and before she can react, you grab her around the waist and snatch her up.
Esh is smiling now, genuinely.

“You learn pretty fast.” She says, breathless.

You are panting hard from the sparing match, but you grin back at her.

“Not so bad for a mon-keigh, eh?”

“Heh, don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Esh’s smile fades when she notices you are still holding her, your faces not far apart.

You are very aware of the Eldar girl breathing hard in your arms, and now staring you right in the eyes.

Fuck caution. You tell yourself. You are going for it.
You lean in, and Esh doesn’t retreat.

Your lips meet again, finally, and it is glorious. Esh seems pretty into it, her eyes closed as she puts a hand on your neck.

Both of you are enthralled, perhaps all the built up tension being released.

You have a feeling Esh was waiting for this.

Maybe more than a feeling, a sense?

You don't pay much attention to that thought either way, too captured by the farseer pressed against you.

She tastes good, something you hadn't expected. You hold her tighter as the two of you continue.

"Ah... Max I..."

You don't let her finish, pressing your lips back against hers.

Only now you can feel something else from her mind, yours entwined with her own.

Panic.

Something wicked this way comes.

"Max..." She says again, this time the urgency in her voice carrying through.

"I feel it too, what is that?"

Esh's face turns white, and she whips around to stare off at some nearby grassy hills. Her hands continue to hold you tightly, no longer out of passion, but out of fear.

"Run..." She whispers.

"...We have to run! Now!"

She points, and you follow her gaze.

The grass on the hill is dying, curling up and fading to a dirty brown.

"What is it?" You set her down and pick up your axe.

"I don't know, I couldn't feel it until just now..." Her voice trails off, as though the words are caught in her throat.

"It's him." She finally whimpers.

"Malice."

You can sense something yourself now, dark and terrible. Headed right at you.

You grab Esh's hand tightly in your own. If she says you should run, you should probably run.

"C'mon lets get out of here!"

You give her a tug and the two of you break into a sprint. Esh's short frame isn't quite fast enough to keep up with you it seems.

You snatch her up in your arm, her own wrapping around your neck as you push yourself as hard as you can.

Looking back, you feel your blood run cold at the sight.

Though the figure on the bike is in the distance, you can tell who it is.

Abbadon revels in his new arms as he watches you flee, knowing you won't be able to outrun his bike. He is going to enjoy ripping you apart with his new arms, slowly, and perhaps after violating that Eldar in front of you.

----

I watch them as they kiss. This guy doesn't seem to mind being with xenos.

I feigned shock, disgust.

The truth is, I'm glad the Emperor is pursuing peace. As good as I am, and though I would never admit it to anyone, I don't like killing most xenos.

Am I feeling jealous? The thought of a girl of my own is... Hmm... Am I xeno curious?

My interest is perked when they start to run. It almost looks like they are panicked. That's odd, they both seemed to want to kiss.

Shifting my rifle, I search intently with the scope to where the Eldar points.

Oh, that might be why.

I've seen pictures of the warmaster before, but I never expected to see him alive. Or with arms.

His warbike looks fast.

Not that it matters, I'm not going to let him get to Max... Or the Eldar.

Hmph, all too easy.

The exitus rifle cracks its familiar sound, and I smirk.

Poor bastard, bike looked almost brand new.

The shot catches it in the engine, hope he likes incendiary rounds.

Cue fireball.

I keep watching as Abbadon rolls to a stop, pushing himself off the ground and howling furiously as he slaps the fire off of himself.

A bolt round slams into a rock two feet to my left. I notice the bolter in Abbadon's hand clattering away at me.

Time to go... Good luck, Max. I toss him a small salute before leaving my perch.

----

"Thank you based Eight!" You yell as you watch Abbadon's bike explode over your shoulder.

Esh relaxes a bit as you keep running, you've got enough of a headstart that there is no way he can catch you now.

"What the hell was that just now?" Esh asks up at you as you push yourself as hard as you can, which in this new armor means you are practically flying.

"Friend of mine." You grin.

"Nice of him to show up." Esh, though trembling, smiles back at you.

“Yeah, good thing we didn’t kill each other when we first met.”
You keep running, though feeling less and less urgent as the sense of impending doom fades.

Esh laughs, out of relief, and so do you.

“Why is it we never get any breaks?” She muses after several minutes of silence.

“I dunno.” You admit.

“Kind of sucks though, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah…” She sinks into you and you slow down, far from any danger now.

You set her down, and she brushes the sand you kicked up off of herself.

“So much for training on the beach…” She mutters as she dumps sand out of her boot.

“Yeah, but it was fun while it lasted.”

“It was, wasn’t it?” She grins back at you.

You can’t help but smile back. Even if you didn’t want to, one look like that from this red haired farseer would be enough to make you. You take her beauty for granted, it really is stunning.

“You look hungry.” Esh muses.

“I am.”

“Well how about I cook you something?”

“That… Doesn’t sound bad, actually.”

The two of you continue along a winding path through waist-high reeds, both of you staying alert despite your senses telling you that its safe. Well, relatively considering this is Yagis V.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Well, I feel like some fish tacos maybe?” Max used Joke!

“Alright, let’s go fishing!”

…It’s not very effective.

The two of you walk out to the ocean, though you are now far away from where you left Abbadon. Hopefully he doesn’t show up and cockblock you again, seems like he enjoys doing that.

You slowly take Esh’s hand in your own, she doesn’t protest but you can see her cheeks get slightly pink. How weird, she was just playing tongue hockey with you earlier.

Blue ocean sparkles and shines in front of you, contrasting starkly with the fine white sand under your boots. It’s a great view.

Esh’s skirt hits you in the face.

“Keep your armor on if you want, but I’m not going to.”

Esh is now stripped down to her white bikini undersuit, hands on her hips as she smirks at you. This view is better.

“Well… I don’t know…” You protest, unsure.

“Take it off you wuss!” She grins, pulling on your gauntlet.

“All right, all right, calm down.”

Esh seems excited, already grabbing at you. You aren’t going to protest, it’s nice seeing her like this for once.

The first thing you do is set the axe aside, sinking it blade-first down into the sand next to Esh’s spear.

You start fiddling with the armor, trying to disengage different pieces.

“Can I give you a hand?” Esh asks.

“Go for it.”

The Farseer smiles and hums quietly to herself as she starts disengaging your armor. The pieces start coming off quickly, and she sets them aside as she works.

“Hey, you’re pretty good at this.” You think out loud.

“Well yeah, it’s not the first time I’ve done it.” She replies.

“Huh?”

She punches you in the shoulder, though lightly.

“Get your head out of the gutter, idiot mon-keigh. I’ve helped disarm some prisoners before is all.”

“Oh. Right. My bad.”

“Ohohoho? Were you jealous there for a minute?” She teases you.

“N-not really!”

Finally she gets the last section off, dropping it near her stuff.

“Hah, as if I would grace a mon-keigh other than you with my presence. Consider yourself lucky I do it for you.”

You frown and reach out suddenly, grabbing her and pulling her closer to you.

“Max what are you… Wait! No! Ahhhahahahaha! Stop!”

You tickle her even as you trap her hands behind her back with one of your own. She squirms and struggles, but you are physically stronger and don’t let go. She can’t escape.

“Please! No more!” Esh’s face is contorted in laughter.

You pause for a moment.

“No brakes.”

Before beginning your assault anew, even more intense.
Esh’s face is in tears now, she’s laughing so hard she can barely breath. As much as she struggles, you can sense she’s having fun.

Suddenly you are thrown backwards by psychic energies, landing head-first into the sand.

Esh rushes over to you and pulls you up.

“Err… Sorry, kinda just slipped out.” She laughs between heavy breaths.

“Anyways…” She says, coughing into her fist.

“Let’s catch something before it gets too dark to find firewood.”

You let her lead you back to where she’s laid out two fishing rods, where she got them, you still don’t know or understand.

“You know I’m going to tickle the fuck out of you later, right?” You say as both of you pick up a rod.

She thwaps you with hers, lightly.

“You can try.” Esh smirks.

You smirk back. Bitch is going to piss herself laughing, she doesn’t even know.

“You had better not, I won’t forgive you if you make me wreck this suit.” She replies to your thoughts.

“Bah, you'll see. Now stand back, I’mma let you finish but I’m the greatest fisherman of all time. OF ALL TIME!”

You stare hard out over the crashing waves in front of you. You know this sight well.

“Heaven or hell, fishfag, lets rock!”

With a mighty cast you propel your worm out into the choppy waters, as far as you can get it. The bait lands with a plunk and sinks quickly into the depths.

“Well, you sure seem confident this time.” Esh laughs, before casting out her own line, only a fraction as far as you winged yours.

“I’m not confident, I’m assured. I will win round two.” You hold your pole stoutly, waiting for what is to come.
Only you keep waiting.

And waiting…

“I’m actually quite surprised you have the patience for this.” You tell Esh as you lean back against a rock, still without so much as a nibble.

“Don’t be. If I wanted to make it easy for myself I could just use my mind to help out.” She leans over on your shoulder as she says it.

Her warm skin feels nice against your own, and her hair blowing lightly in the wind skips gently on your chest.

“Hey Max, what do you think of the Eldar?” She finally asks, luring you out of your happy daze.

“You guys seem pretty cool, maybe a bit aloof, but cool.” You don’t lie, she would pick up on that.

“Hmm… Yeah we probably are, aren’t we…”

“Yeah yo…” But you don’t have time to finish the sentence.

With the force of a thousand suns, you are ripped off the beach. Your arms are nearly dislocated at the shoulders, your mechanical arm whines from the sudden stress.

Something is dragging you!

You try to let go, and find yourself snagged in the mechanism of your reel.

You aren't even left with enough time to take a good breath as you are plunged into the icy sea, your chest hits something and forces the last of the air from your lungs.

Ra'alman's terrible maw grins up at you.

"Welcome, mortal. Welcome again to my lair."

Your lungs are burning, your mind panicking from the sudden lack of oxygen.

This is bad.

This is real bad.

Ra’alman rushes you suddenly, his fiery red eyes all you can track, darkness forming at the corners of your vision.

You manage to dodge, but just barely.

He is going to come around for another attack, and you are dragged along with him, still stuck to the rod.

You can’t even attempt to swim to the surface.

Gathering up every ounce of energy you posses, you turn to Ra’alman, who is coming around for a second attack.

“FUS ROH DAHHHH!!!” You shout, harder than you ever have.

The force of the attack throws you backwards, breaking you free from the reel in the process. You are sailing upwards, Ra’alman having barely been pushed away.

You breach the surface, drawing a long breath, a relief.
Something reaches down and grabs you by the arm. You grunt as it pulls you into a small wooden ship.

The boat is rocking and swaying hard in the mad waves, the sky overhead an almost pitch black storm.

An old man is the only other one in the small vessel. His dark tanned completion looking you over, he doesn’t appear to be in his right mind, muttering to himself as he bites the head off of a lizard and swallows it.

“Row row row your boat, gently down the streeaaammmm!!!!” The old man cackles through his long scraggly beard, his eyes alight with a crazy fire.

He continues to sing as he thrusts a nasty looking harpoon into your hands. Despite spitting up water and breathing heavily, you act on instinct and take the weapon.

“Hey man, get us the fuck out of here!” You yell at him, hoping to somehow break through all that crazy.

“Merrily merrily LIFE IS BUT A DREAM!!!!”

Doesn’t appear to have worked…

“All my life the early sun has hurt my eyes!” The old man yells as the ship rides out a particularly nasty wave, that splashes both of you with water.

“Eighty four days now without taking a fish!”

The storm crackles with lightning overhead, and the old man laughs along with it, babbling something incoherent as he swerves the ship left and right with the rudder.

Ra’alman leaps from the water, rearing his ugly head as he screams, filling the air with that inhuman wail.

You grab the harpoon tightly, you are only going to get one shot at this.

----

You send the harpoon out with as much force as you can muster, only its the first time you've thrown one, so it doesn't exactly fly straight.

The weapon bounces harmlessly off of Ra'alman's armored plates, before dropping into the sea and sinking fast out of sight.

"Crack your oars man, and spare me the eggs!" The old man shouts, as he pushes you from behind, sending you face-first back into the cold waters below.

Ra'alman snatches you up before you can react, grabbing you nimbly by the shirt with one bladed tooth.

It drags you down again, back to where it has the clear advantage.

"Now then, my sweet, fertilize my eggs, that I may birth the end of days!" It coos.

Before swallowing you whole.

You descend quickly into the bowels of the beast, different valves opening and sending you off on different directions.

The stench is unbelievable, but something about it makes your head feel light.

It also makes you rock hard.

Finally you drop down into a large expanse. Blue bio-luminescence illuminates the place, and you look out over a field of pallid green eggs.

"Come my sweet, fertilize my eggs!" Ra'alman shouts inside your mind.

Tentacles leap out from all around you, flailing purple tentacles with suction cups.

They latch onto you, pulling at your clothes.

You struggle, but to no avail.

Its useless, you give up.

A slimy tentacle worms itself into your trousers, grabbing hold of your inquisitor, who as reviled as he is is also unable to do anything about it.

"I'll make you feel good, you can mate here with me forever~" Ra'alman coos.

The tentacle starts moving back and forth, leaving a trail of slime up and down your shaft.

Despite yourself, you can feel the orgasm coming.

"Yess... Yes, release the kraken!" Ra'alman picks up the pace with the tentacles.

...!

You release everything you've got, emptying your entire magazine. White fish-baby batter shoots out in a stream, arcing and spraying all over the pile of eggs, which start to glow from the inside when met by your seed.

Only even after your orgasm, the tentacles don't let up.

If anything, they only become more emboldened.

"Wait! No more! I can't possibly have any more!" You shout, knowing its useless.

"Silly silly boy, of coarse you have more. Here, let me help you."

A tentacle thrusts itself into your mouth and starts spraying something. It tastes awful, but you immediately feel your balls replenish themselves.

The tentacles work your head furiously with suction cups, and you can't stop yourself.

"Ah, I'm cumminnggg!!!" You shout, though its muffled by the tentacle lodged in your mouth.

Another burst of white-hot plasma sprays over the eggs, more begin to glow.

"Give in to the pleasure..." Ra'alman coos.

"Remember, you're here forever." The fish-god laughs.

----

“Aim directly for his crooked brow!” The old man laughs madly from behind you, thrashing the rudder back and forth.

“And look him straight in the eyyeeeeeeee!!!”

You pull back your arm, Ra’alman rearing up out of the water again as he prepares to come crashing down on the small boat.

With all of your might, you throw it.

The harpoon arcs out, sailing true as Ra’alman descends to meet it.

You watch as the amalgamation of rusted iron and faded wood sinks itself deep into the fish god’s nasty head. Deeper and deeper it’s barbed point burrows.

Ra’alman shrieks at the sudden attack, thrashing about madly as blood sprays from the wound, much of it landing on the boat, and you.

“It was nineteen eighty five and I didn’t have my boombox yet!” The old man is swaying back and forth, stomping his peg legged foot as he yells.

The fish god roars again, this time though it sounds weaker. Could it be? Have you pulled it off?

Slowly, the massive beast of Yagis V lore sinks down into the waves. You hear a gurgle as it’s jaws suck in water, blood pooling in a dark swath around the surface.

Hundreds of fish suddenly rise to the surface, thrashing about.

“Don’t you want to know the meaning of life, boy!?” The old man yells as he snatches a tattered and ragged net from the deck and throws it out, trapping hundreds of fish within it.

You sink down onto the wooden ship, breathing heavily. You can’t believe you survived that.

“What’s the meaning of life, old man?” You ask, humoring him as you let your heart settle.

The old man crouches down in front of you, his eyes wide, his mouth a crooked toothed grin of yellow.

“Bestiality.” He laughs, clapping you on the shoulder like you failed to realize something completely obvious.

*Safe again in the depths, Ra'alman uses a coral outcropping to dislodge the spear. It surges with anger. "I will have your seamen one day, like it or not." The beast rests, weary from the fight, but already plotting your next encounter.*

“Cool man, have fun with that I guess. Can you uh, drop me off at shore or something?”

“Sixty of ‘em, sixty genestealers you should have seen it! The queen was so proud!”

None of that makes any sense to you, but nonetheless the old man turns the ship toward land.

With Ra’alman beneath the waves and possibly dead, the storm runs its course, the weather quickly returning to normal.

The old man thrusts a bundle of fish into your hands, which you thank him for, despite not knowing if he even knows what’s going on.

“Horse sex.” The old man nods as you thank him again.
You are exhausted when you finally haul yourself out of the boat, wading the last twenty or so feet to shore.

Esh grabs hold of you as soon as you reach land, and you collapse into her.

She sits down, resting your head on her lap.

“Are you hurt?” She asks, checking you over for wounds but unable to see anything through the thick layer of monster blood.

“Honestly, I’m not sure.”

“Let’s get you cleaned off, come on.”

She gets you up and starts leading you to the edge of the ocean, but quickly notices your hesitation.

“Well, we can always find someplace else…” She muses.

“Yeah, hot springs. They are close by.” You hope they are also Tyranid-free, though you will be going to a different section to better those odds.

Esh finds a small dune buggy and piles your stuff into the back of it.

“Ready to go?” She asks caringly.

“Yeah, take me down to that paradise city.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing, lets boogy.”

Esh shrugs and gets the buggy moving, it’s large tires effortlessly carrying it over the sands.

“Who was that guy, anyways?” Esh finally asks as the buggy slows to a stop at the tree line.

“No idea, seemed alright though.”

Both of you climb out and head for the spring, though you make sure to grab your axe before you go.

“…?” Esh makes a curious noise when she sees it.

“I don’t want to run into any ‘nids without something to fend them off.” You shrug.

Esh helps you through the woods, you can feel the blood drying on your skin and it isn’t a good feeling.

Unable to stop yourself, you run and dive in at first sight of the water.

“Ahhh…. So much better…” You groan, feeling your skin being washed clean.

“Hmph, don’t wait for me or anything…” Esh pretends to pout, but can’t hold it as she dips into the warm water.

“Oh!” She exclaims with a smile.

“This is nice!”

“Isn’t it though?” You float on your back, enjoying the heat.

Something pokes you in the side, and you quickly jump up and look toward the intrusion.

Its a small serpent, maybe a foot long.

"Tousan!" The little beast cries up at you.

With it's human head.

"Tousan tousan tou-san!" Thousands of them, all calling out for you.

Esh pokes you in the side, snapping you out of it.

“You alright, Max?” She asks, clearly concerned.

“Fine. Just had a terrible vision, as though a thousand voices suddenly cried out, and were never silenced.”

“Oooo-kayyy….”

“Don’t question it, it’s better that you don’t know.”

“…Riiight…”

You just let yourself relax in the warm water, soaking off the hard day. You escaped from Abbadon, and a fish god, you feel pretty good about yourself.

“D-don’t look this way, I’m going to let my suit dry off, I just washed it.” Esh stammers.

You can’t help yourself, you look before you even think.
Esh smirks.

“Gotcha.”

“>Implying I’m not going to tickle you to death now.”

Esh frowns.

“You wouldn’t…”

“Rapehands engage.” You do your best servitor voice and hold up your wriggling fingers.

Esh jumps for cover, but you are already upon her, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her into your clutches where she cannot escape.

You tickle her without mercy.

Esh flails around, kicking, laughing, and yelling for you to stop.

You don’t acknowledge her cries, in the grim darkness of the 40th millennium, there is only tickle.

You continue until she is out of breath, sucking in air hard between bursts of laughter.

“Stop! You win! You win!”

You start at it again, unrelenting.

“Beg me.” You tell her.

“Beg me to stop.”

“Oh Max, please stop tickling me! I can’t take it any longer!” She cries out, a hint of humor.

You pause.

“And if I stop my assault?” You inquire.

Esh’s face goes beet red and she turns away, biting her thumb and mumbling something.

“Sorry, didn’t catch that.”

“Grrr… I said you can k-k-kiss me! Stu-stupid mon-keigh!”

“Not good enough.” You pick up your tickling again, as hard and fiercely as you can, forcing her to laugh and squirm against your hold.

“Ahh! No more! No Mooorreee!!!”

“I’ll stop, but only if I can kiss you.”

“Huh? I said that was fine.”

“Down there.”

Esh follows your finger, and her entire face turns red at the realization.

“My tongue is the tongue that will pierce the hymens!” You shout, pulling Esh out of the water.

With one quick snap, you shark her, and Esh’s face is practically glowing red.

“Wha?!?!”

Grabbing her, you set her on your shoulders, her nice thighs clamping around your head as you do.

“W-wh-what do you think you’re d-doing!”

You can only smile as your tongue flicks forward, lightly licking the Eldar in her most precious spot.

“Ahh?!?!”

Esh jolts, her face one of absolute surprise, eyes wide in shock.

She squeezes you even tighter in her legs.

In retaliation, you tickle her sides, forcing her to loosen her legs as you do.

Again you attack with your tongue, and again she clamps down with her thighs. Only this time, you’ve moved into close combat and there is no escape for her.

She grabs you by the head as you lick again and again, her thighs trembling against you. She may act angry and surprised, but your minds are beginning to tangle together and you can sense that she wants this, entirely.

Well, you are a gentleman after all. You give the lady what she wants.

"Max no! I-I'm I'm... Ahhh!?"

Esh convulses, squeezing you tightly with her thighs as her upper body collapses down onto you, her hands grabbing your head tightly through your hair.

The Farseer lays there, ontop of you, panting.

You chuckle, time to play mean.

Another faint lick of your tongue has her thrashing and moaning.

"Ahhh... No more! I can't handle any more!"

After a few more licks resulting in several more spasms, you relent and lean back. Esh sits up to look down at your face.

"If I give in, and let you go, then its your turn."

Esh bites her lip, glaring. Your minds have collided now, her face can lie as much as it wants. Her thoughts are telling you how much she enjoyed that, how much she wanted that.

How much and how deeply she loves you.

"F-fine! Stupid idiot double mon-keigh! J-just let me down already!"

----

Abbadon snarls, remembering his bike being shot out from under him and his prey slipping through his grasp yet again.
He tosses aside the corpses of the slain space marines, wolves he had caught unaware and butchered.

“Such a petty sacrifice…” The voice of his master hisses in his head.

“Hardly, they were Astartes.”

“Don’t quip back at me, boy…” The god hisses, furiously.

“All these gifts I have given you, all these gifts and yet you let them slip away…”

Abaddon stifles, not used to being reprimanded.

“I will taste his blood soon, and then I shall give you the taste of the false Emperor’s own as my new crusade plunders the heart of the Imperium.”

Malal is silent for several moments.

“No… No, it is clear that I cannot rely entirely on you, as able as you sometimes can be.”

Abbadon frowns.

“We will have to find another, one who will strike fear deep into their hearts without so much as lifting his hand…” Malal whispers quietly.

“And who exactly do you have in mind, my master?” Abbadon says, doing little to conceal his sarcastic doubt.

“Don’t underestimate my power, whelp… There is another far more terrifying than you, and far more powerful… Though it will be quite difficult to raise him now… We need… Time…”

“Again, who?”

“Your old master… The one who will lead us to a sure victory…”

“Who? Damn, you, who!?” Abbadon barks, though he already feels the dread rising in him, he knows the answer.

“Horus…”

===Thread 16===

Well, Max appears… Safe… At least.

I picked up his trail again a short while after helping him outrun Abbadon by shooting the bike right out from under the Warmaster.

I wanted to help him with the massive sea monster, but with the randomness of the waves if I’d fired I might have hit him rather than the beast.

At least he and the wych are…

Oh…

I avert the gaze of my scope, giving them some privacy.

Something else has captured my interest anyways.

Blood Ravens? Out here? Interesting.

I watch them from afar, they have no way of knowing I’m up here. I’ll keep it that way, for now at least.

They appear to be talking to one another as they walk, though it looks as though they are keeping their voices low, as though trying to remain undetected.

Though I wonder what it is they could be after, there isn’t anything out this way that they could possibly want…

----

Esh gulps as she sinks down into the warm waters of the spring, she doesn’t take her eyes off of you.

She looks a bit wobbly after your… Oral assault, which is fine by you. Its rather cute seeing her like this, off her guard. A fairly stark contrast to her usual self.

“What are you staring at, idiot?” She glares, folding her arms underneath her breasts.

“Huh? Nothing…”

The crazy fact is, that despite you having the ball in your court here, something has you thrown off of your own a-game as well. The fact that you can still feel your mind in a way somehow merged with the Eldar blowing bubbles in the hot spring in front of you as she eyes you, annoyed.

“D-do you want me to do anything or not?! I don’t have all day you know…” She puffs her cheeks as she frowns.

Without a word you grab her by the waist and pull her through the blue pool toward you, until her chest meets your own. Carefully you lower yourself down, making sure she follows along with you.

Her eyes widen as Esh feels something prod her in the thigh.
“Eh? Ehhhhh?!?!”

You smirk.

“Don’t act so surprised, you should have known what was coming.”

Esh glares, trying to push herself up, but you don’t let her.

“Grrrrr… Fine, take THIS!” She shouts suddenly.

You don’t have time to stop her as she violently drops herself down, sending your inquisitor head-first into the webway with one fateful thrust of the power sword.

“OWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!” Esh shouts, her face screwing up in pain as her nails dig into your shoulders.

You wince, it wasn’t the most graceful thing ever and she clearly wasn’t ready for it.

“Well what did you think would happen?” You ask, making no effort to conceal your sarcasm.

“Sh-shut up! Damn that Macha… She never said it would hurt! Well… She said a lot of things that I’m not sure were true…”

Esh looks like she’s relaxed, but you can tell without even trying that she’s faking it.

You put your arms around her lower back, and despite her tough façade, Esh sinks into you, her head nestling itself under your chin.

“Better now? This your first time?” You give her side a teasing pinch.

“Shut… Shut up! Of course it is, so you had better not ruin it for me, mon-keigh.”

You can’t help but smile, the pleasant warm feeling of your mind wrapping around her own is indescribable. Esh must be enjoying it too, because you can feel her body relaxing against your own.

“Hey Esh, do you like me?”

The short Farseer jumps slightly at your questing, sitting up to scowl at you.

“Me? L-l-like you? As-as if that were even possible, dolt.”
You frown.

“Well… I mean, its not like I hate you…” She continues, refusing to meet your eyes.

“I don’t buy it.”

Esh’s eyes snap back to your own, you are smirking and looking smug.

“In fact, I know you like me. A lot. And I’m not letting you leave until I hear you say it.”

Esh sits up, folding her arms again and trying to look surperior and confident.

“Hmph! As though you can make me do something like that.”
“Oh? Really?”

Even from your sitting position, you manage a decent thrust.

Esh jumps, trying to pull away, but you’ve got her in your clutches and you intend to keep your word.

“Hah! It’s going to t-take a lot more than t-that to make me say something so embarrassing.”

“We’ll see…” You reach up, intending to snatch away her top, but her hand blocks your attempt.

“Not so fast. Let’s see how much you’ve learned. Try again, with your mind.”

With little effort, you harness the power you obtained through smoking with Doomrider, and easily lift the white top away.

“Easy as pie.”

“Hmph, so the mon-keigh is actually capable of learning. Astounding...”

You don’t let her continue, pulling her back down again. She tenses up, but doesn’t object.

“Is it alright for you now?” You ask, genuinely concerned.

“St-still a little rough, but I’m no wimp…”

----

*meanwhile*

“Oh look brothers, what a fine gift left out for us.”

The Blood Raven picks up the nemesis axe, eying it greedily.

“Indeed, a fine gift. It shall make a fitting addition to our collection.”

They chuckle amongst each other as they sort through the buggy, checking around. One of them frowns as he pulls out Esh’s spear.

“Hmmm… Eldar wych equipment in the same transport as these relics? Something is afoot here, brothers.”

The leader shrugs, throwing a bag full of newly acquired gifts over his shoulder.

“No matter, we have everything we need. Let us not concern ourselves with such trivial matters.”

He activates his communicator.

“We’re heading back now. We’ve obtained some valuable relics.”

With that, he turns to lead the rest of them back toward their waiting rhino.

“Interesting bag you got there, mind if I check it out?”

I exhale a puff of smoke as I step into their vision. The astartes stop, their idle chatter cut off. They eye me wearily, tightening their grips on the stolen goods.

“Ah, what troubles you here today, Vindicare?” One asks, turning away in a crude attempt to conceal the bag over his shoulder.

“Well, the stuff you are carrying, for starters.”

The Blood Ravens drop their fake bemusement, their gazes growing tough and cold. Six of them, not the most eloquently equipped, the standard fare of bolter rifles and chainswords.

“A tough break for you then, Assassin. We have no intention of handing over these gifts.” The space marine fingers the haft of the chainsword at his side.

I smile.

“Really now, I must insist.” I lovingly rub the trigger guard of my Exitus rifle with my trigger finger.

It’s a standoff, we all know it.

I lower my rifle and nod my head in their direction.

“I see I came ill equipped, I’ll take this opportunity to bow out gracefully.”

The leader frowns, eyeing me.

I know it’s a tough sell, and only an idiot would turn his back to a Vindicare so quickly.

“And let you shoot us in the back? Hardly ideal for us, I should think.”

I raise my hand and wave, as though to dismiss his paranoia.
“Easy, space marine, easy. I’ve no intention of fighting with astartes today. Simply attempting to guard the equipment of the VP I’ve been assigned to guard is all. I’ll not risk my own skin for some rusted old armor.”

I take a few steps back, hopefully they buy that.

It appears to have worked.

Though they eye me nervously, they make no move to bar my leave.

Stupid.

Awfully stupid.

It takes me but moments to sink back into the thick cover and scale a tree, something I’d always had a knack for, ever since my youthful days.

With my suit and my skills, they won’t even know where I’m shooting from.

Even if they were to find out, it wouldn’t matter, it would already be over by then.

My crosshairs fall to the sergeant first, he made himself easy enough to pick from the bunch. Foolish, to make yourself so open to a sniper’s round and leave your squad leaderless.

I hesitate, wondering whether or not to kill him or disable him.
Killing him would be easy enough, but the blood of astartes is very staining to the hands.

No, I’d better just make them get the point.

*CRACK!*

The first shot knocks away his bolter, the second his chainsword.

The others bristle, trying to duck behind trees as they fire shots off in every direction.

Pointless.

The Exitus rifle sends round after round, each finding a weapon.

Soon enough, I have the Blood Ravens completely unarmed save for knives.

I start chipping away at known weakpoints in their armor, severing power to their systems, disabling various pieces, the like. It isn’t boring work, requiring a little more skill than simply caving in their skulls with the heavy rounds.

The space marines are all crawling around, trying to regain some sense of order when I step back into their midst.

The sergeant growls a guttural curse as he eyes me, reaching for his knife, which I lazily boot away.

He grabs my leg.

The barrel of my pistol presses to his head.

“You coward!” He hisses, glaring.

“You traitor! You-you…”

“Victor.” I smile, lighting up another coffin nail.

He doesn’t say anything as he continues to glower up at me. The others groan and curse me, but they are harmless as kittens in dead armor with no weapons in sight.

“You know, on my home planet, Catachan, we have a saying…” I pry the bolt pistol out of the hands of another marine and slap him on his bald head.

“Never turn your back on a man with a rifle.”

I grin as they continue to curse.

“You’ve made a terrible enemy, Assassin.” The sergeant says as he forces himself to his feet.

“Impressive.” I mutter, clearly not impressed at the least.
I don’t even give him the satisfaction of thinking he stands a chance. I pounce.

The astartes does well to calm down, the sharp knife hovering so close to his eye that were he to blink his eyelid would be cut.

“Now take your men, get in that rhino, and leave. Before I get serious.” I pull the knife away.

The view is entirely satisfying, the downtrodden and infuriated magpies piling into their transport, nothing in their hands. Nothing to show for their trip.

I take a long drag as I watch them leave.

Ah, priceless.

----

Esh’s ear twitches and she turns her head to look into the dense foliage beyond the pool.

“Hmm? Hear something?” You ask, though really you are too distracted with your current fortunes to care.

“It seems your assassin friend is doing some shooting.” She comments, her gaze locked.

“Oh? Ah, kids these days, probably just shooting up some local wildlife or something.”

You push down on Esh’s hips, driving yourself deeper.

“Ah!? H-how can you still be doing that at a time like this?!”

You shrug.

“I’m sure it’s nothing he can’t handle, if it’s even a problem. So relax and quit worrying about it.”

Esh bites her lip, but turns to look back at you.

After a few minutes, and a small struggle to find a comfortable rhythm, it appears the farseer has completely forgotten about the incident in the distance.

You grab her by the hips, giving them a squeeze, as she digs her fingers into your back.

“D-don’t s-stop, mon-k-keigh!” She increases her speed.

You can feel every inch of your wraithbone inside of her, which is an incredible sensation.

“Ah! Max I’m…!”

One last thrust drives you over the edge as well, and unable to hold out any longer, you let yourself go.

Esh collapses on you, both of you panting hard.

"Hah...ahhh...Max...<3" The Eldar's chin rests on your chest, her eyes half-lidded and a happy smile on her generally frowning face.

“UNF!” Slaanesh bites its lip, looking away from the drink out into the warp beyond the window.

“DUDE, YOU ALRIGHT?” Doomrider stops mid-snort.

“Fine, fine. Better than fine.” Slaanesh coos, idly stirring it’s sparkly pink cocktail.

“SOMETHING HAPPEN?”

“Oh yes, something happened all right. A whole lot of something.” Slaanesh licks its lips, looking intensely satisfied.

You and Esh clean each other off in the spring, enjoying the moment while it lasts, unfortunately.

The Farseer answers a call on her communicator, her face becoming serious.

“I understand, I’ll be right there.”

She sets the device down and turns back to you.

“That was… My people received a message. Apparently your Emperor is asking for an alliance, which has everyone in some kind of panicked state. They want me there to help make the decision.”

“Huh? What decision?”

“Not all Eldar are as trusting of humans as I may be with you. It won’t be easy to get many on board for such a thing.” She puts a ribbon in her mouth as she starts putting her hair into a long ponytail.

“Do you think you can get them to agree to it?” You ask, focused intently on the conversation even as you stare at the Farseer’s exposed ass.

“Hmmm… I hope so….” Esh looks serious, and not like she just pretends to be around you either.

“Let me go with you, I can be some help I’m sure.” You start hastily throwing on your clothes until Esh embraces you from behind, her face pressing against your back.

“As much as I’d like you to come, I’m afraid your presence at such a meeting would not likely be met with warmness. This is an Eldar matter, and my people will want it decided among Eldar.”

You clasp her hand in your own.

“Fair enough, but as soon as they reach some kind of decision, you’ve got to let me know.”

Esh nods, you can feel it against your back.

“I will.”

You sit on the edge of the rear of the buggy as you watch the Farseer walk toward a waiting ship that came for her. You perk up as she turns back.

“Hey Max!” She calls out.

You raise your arms as though to say “What?”

“I… I-I… I like you! Idiot!” She shouts, whipping back around and running toward the Eldar ship.

Well, as sad as you are to see Esh go, something else has piqued your interest.

“I want to be, the very best~” Your ringtone goes off.

“Like no one ever was!~” You sing along slightly before answering.

“Sup.”

“OhmygoshMax!” Two excited voices from the other end.

“Hey, what’s going on?”

“We didn’t think you would answer!” Senna sings.

“Senda thought you were dead…” She whispers.

“Did not!” Her twin retorts.

“Err… You guys up to anything?”

“No! Well, kinda! Its why we called you! Daddy’s given us his personal luxury skiff for the day, and we wanted to invite you along!”

You pause, mulling it over. You don’t know what a Dark Eldar pleasure cruise entails, but it’s an intriguing thought.

“Is it safe for me to be around you all now?”

The twins laugh.

“Oh yeah, VERRRYYY safe. Daddy made quick work of the dissenters.”

“Cool. So uh… How do I find you?”

“Easy! Just send us your location and we’ll have someone pick you up!”

“Alright, will do. See you in a bit then.” You hang up and send them your coordinates.

You sit on the buggy as you wait, wondering what to do with the pile of equipment in front of you.

As much as you want to trust the twins, the last time you found yourself in their company you had to fight to the death in their arena. Where you almost did actually die. You put on the armor.

A few minutes pass after you finally get settled into it. Your stomach rumbles, reminding you that you didn’t let Esh cook you anything as you’d kept her too preoccupied…

A transport roars into view, slamming to a quick stop in front of you. The side door opens and you recognize the same pilot you’d had before.

“Get the fuck in, I don’t have time to be carting your punk ass around.”

You frown, but clamber into the ship, which speeds off before you can even get the door shut entirely.

“You’re kind of an asshole, you know that?” You mutter.

“So I’ve been told.”

“How’d the date go?”

“Awful. No whips involved at all, total bust.”

“Sucks.”

“Indeed.”

You and the pilot keep up the smalltalk, and it seems like maybe he’s not as big a douche as you’d first been inclined to think.

Finally you spot the twins out of the window, both jumping up and down, waving at the transport.

The pilot brings it in for another jarring stop, and you pop open the door.

“Thanks for the ride man, we should totally go to this “Vegas” planet you’ve been talking about sometime.”

“Totally bro, now get out, I’ve got shit to get done.”

“Word.”

You jump out, landing in front of the twins, who are squealing with joy at the sight of you.

“Oh Max! We’re so excited, this is going to be so much FUN!!!!” Senna has her hands held to her mouth and is jumping up and down.

“Yeah but first, Daddy wants to meet you.” Senda smiles.

The twins lead you, locked arm in arm, down the dark hallway.

“Are… Are you sure he’s going to be cool with this?” You ask, feeling increasingly nervous.

“Oh yeah, I’m sure he’ll be fine with it.” Senna laughs.

“Don’t worry, if he gets mad, it will be at us, not you.” Senda tries to alive your doubts.

“That just makes me more worried…”

They push open the great black doors, revealing a dark lit room inside. A tall and busty Dark Eldar clad in a flowing and quite revealing black dress greets the three of you.

“Oh my girls!” She hugs them, smooshing their faces into her.

“Mooommmm!!!” The twins protest.

“Stop it, you’re embarrassing us!” Senda huffs.

“Oh? Who’s this you’ve brought?” The older one looks up at you, locking your eyes to her own.

“That’s Maximus! The one who survived the arena!” Senna cheers happily.

“Hmmm… This is him then is it? Your father is very anxious to meet this one. Now you two come with me, he wants a word with him alone.”

The twins mother starts to drag the thrashing and whining twins away, before looking back to you.

“He’s right through that other set of doors, just doing some office work and the like. Good luck!” She drags the twins out of sight.

You swallow.

Hard.

With a shaking hand, you push open the set of doors the twins mother pointed you too.

“Don’t just stand there, come in.” Barks the voice from inside the room.

Abandoning caution and completely ignoring the voice panicking in your head, you push the door open the rest of the way and enter the room.

This one is well lit, unlike most Dark Eldar room’s you’ve been in.

A massive one sits at a gigantic desk, pen in hand and papers scattered all around the room, littering the desk.

“So you must be the famous champion of the arena my girls won’t shut up about…” He eyes you over, looking quite unimpressed.

“Yup…” Is all you can manage. This guy looks like he could tear you apart with a flick of his wrist.

The Dark Eldar sighs, rubbing tiredly at his eyes and reaching for a mug.

“So let me get this straight. You get captured, entirely legally by our code I might add. Tossed into the arena, also legal. Where you fight and win, perfectly acceptable. Before killing, or at least helping my adorable but idiotic daughters kill, one of my best up and coming henchmen? Do I have it right?”

You gulp, your throat feels as dry as one of Yagis V’s arid wastes.

“W-well… I mean, it’s not…”

The Dark Eldar sighs, interrupting you.

“While as troublesome as losing my envoy here was, I can’t fault you for his death, as it was more or less went perfectly per-code. I can however, call you an asshole for giving me this much work that I have to do. Do you have any idea how damn hard it is to find good help?”

He throws up his hands, gesturing around to all of the paperwork.

“I… Apologize?”

The Dark Eldar sits as still as a statue for a moment, before nodding.

“Fair enough, Vect.” He says, all business.

“Max.”

He extends one hand, which you shake.

He pulls you closer with the grip.

“Pleasantries aside, let’s get one thing straight. You hurt my daughters in ANY way, and I mean any, and I rip off your limbs and sell you to a pleasure cult on some shithole of a planet. Clear?”

You nod furiously.

“Good, now get the fuck out of my office and get those two out of here. As much as I love them, I can’t get any work done with those two around me, they are too hyper for their own good.”

“I’ll keep them off your hands for a while.”

“Good. I can finally get some work done. You don’t happen to know any good Dark Eldar around here, do you? Stupid question but I’m looking for up-and-comers to take over managing this place.”

“Well, I do know of a good pilot…” You give Vect everything you know.

“Thanks, I’ll see if he’s got what it takes. Now get those daughters of mine out of my hair… And do enjoy the skiff, but don’t wreck it. Cost me a fortune.”

“I’ll do my best sir.” You turn and walk back through the doors, closing them behind you.

You exhale in relief, that could have gone a lot worse, actually.

"Well???" The twins grab you, looking genuinely concerned.

"He... He said to have fun?"

"Yay!" They both yell, grabbing you around the middle.

"I'm impressed you made it out alive." Their mother says, crossing her arms and looking like she's seeing you for the first time.

The twins quickly escort you away, both of them practicality buzzing with excitement.

You stare in awe as they stop you in front of a massive vessel, an intimidating brass colored hull bristling with weapons and topped with three masts.

"Pretty cool huh?" They both chime smugly at your look of awe.

"We get to ride that?"

"Yeah! You might even be allowed to drive it for a bit!"

"Err... Maybe later...."

No less than a hundred crew stand at attention as the twins lead you up onto the main deck of the vessel, each of them looking like a seasoned veteran.

"Wow, this is a lot... Your dad wasn't lying when he said this thing was expensive."

"Hah!" The twins laugh in tandem.

"Daddy's always yammering on and on about money, he worries too much. We try to get him to worry less by keeping him occupied but then he just gets mad and boots us out."

You don't have the heart to tell them that's exactly what he just did, though maybe less literal boot and more planned shipping them off to be someone elses problem for a day.

"So what exactly are we going to be doing on this thing anyways?" You reach out to touch a cannon, but a crew member stops you, shaking his head.

"Oh the usual stuff. The food is great first off! We can swim, sail around, fish..."

"Lets not fish..." You cut in.

"Well, whatever, but we can have an all-round great time!" The twins look as though they are about to explode in glee.

"Ladies, it is time to depart." A giant of a Dark Eldar approaches you. He must be the captain, he just looks captain-ey.

"Where we headed, captain?" You ask, really wanting to know.

"Who, me?" The giant points at himself.

"Yeah? You are the captain right?"

He shakes his head no.

"Silly Max, he isn't the captain today." The twins chide you, grinning ear to ear.

"Oh. Who is it then?"

"Why YOU, dummy!" They cheer, placing something on your head.

They hold up a mirror to show you. Its a cut-out of a hat...

Dear Emprah...

Its turned hat-chan into a tricorner.

"All hand ter deck, full sails! Ladies, present the captain with ye poop decks!"

You get swashbuckling, and the crew snaps to life. They toss ropes off the sides, casting the ship to the seas.

"Your orders, Captain? I'm the helmsmen, you can call me Teach." A ferocious looking Dark Eldar gives you a curt bow, looking like he's anxious to get underway.

You look to the twins, who both give you their best salute.

"Ca'pn!" They both shout.

"Raise the anchor, ready all guns!"

The crew snaps to life again, busy carrying out your orders.

The twins hand you a map, which you give a quick glance.

"Where are we headed, cap?" They ask.

"We're going here!" You snap your finger to the T.

The helmsman's face falls.

"Trust me, Captain, you don't want to go there..."

"Damn the consequences, I am the Captain of this ship and my word is the law!"

You pull him aside and switch to a hushed whisper.

"But seriously, what does the T stand for?"

The giant grimaces, as though he doesn't really want to say.

"Tortuga, Captain... The T is for Tortuga."

"...And...?"

"Well, its a pirate stronghold, Captain. Certainly no place to take these fine young ladies."

You look him over.

"...You're fucking with me, aren't you?"

Teach grins.

"Of coarse I am, its one of the funnest places on this damn world. Provided, of coarse, that you can show that you're tough enough to belong."

You bristle, doing your best to look the part of Captain.

"Yo ho!" The twins call out to you. You hadn't noticed them slip away while you were talking with Teach, but apparently they had because they come back toward you dressed entirely different. Each of them now sporting their best pirate attire, swords at their sides and pistols in their belts.

"Avast ye scoundrels, ye look so good that I should plunder yer booties!"

"Oh Captain~!" The twins giggle, holding their faces with both hands.

With that, the ship departs, headed for the far port, a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

You stand on the open bridge of the ship, falling more and more into your pirate captain persona as you bark out orders.

The twins seem to be getting into it as well, both of them looking incredibly pleased at this entire turn of events.

You look out into the vast expanse of ocean with the monocular the twins had given you, along with a few proper pirate-y additions to your getup such as a sabre and a pistol belt.

A younger Dark Eldar crewmen runs up to you, looking both excited and nervous. He appears out of breath, stopping at the foot of the stairs leading to the bridge.

"Captain!" He starts.

"Spit it out lad!" You yell down at him, putting away your monocular.

"Sir! We've sighted three ships, each within reach!"

Hmm, this isn't something you had considered before, the actual piracy part. You aren't sure if its something you want to get involved in, though it might be.

"Well, what are we looking at son?"

"Captain! A Chaos vessel running due east! A Rogue Dark Eldar ship heading north! Lastly, a Necron vessel steaming hard directly at us, sir!"

"Alright lads!" You shout to the crew, who look at you for direction.

"The Necrons are headed right at us, eh? Turn hard port, bring us around for a broadside!"

The crew snaps to, moving at incredible speed. The vessel easily turns, and quite nimbly so for a ship of such a size.

You swallow hard. You don't know why the Necrons are heading right at you, or who they are. All you know is that you have a bad feeling about this...

Teach steers the craft with well seasoned hands, his steel eyes watching the approaching Necron ship, growing ever larger in the distance.

"Hold..." You tell the gunners, each looking anxious.

The Necron ship gets closer, and closer, and closer.

Finally, its within range, and you can see what it really looks like.

The ship is massive, with several decks each armed with a plethora of gauss weapons jutting from the sides. Oh shit, this boat is far bigger than your own.

Large enough, it seems, to house a Monolith atop it.

===Thread 17===

Your own crew remains silent as the dead, watching the approaching Necron vessel with trepidation. You stay quiet as well, after the realization that this is going to be a tougher fight then you had originally planned on.

Before you give the order, the Necron ship makes the first move.

Gauss cannon fire rakes across the side of your skiff, slamming into the armor and burning through it in some places.

“Fire!” You shout, pointing your cutlass at the enemy ship.

The crew snaps to, responding with blazing speed.

The deck guns of your own ship open up, with a resounding noise as they return fire. You watch as several of the enemy crew are swept over into the sea as heavy needles impale them.

“Keep shooting you dogs, keep shooting!”

As though to demonstrate, you activate the plasma cannon in your arm and let loose your own scorching attack.

“Cap’n, they are heading to cut us off!” Teach yells, a faint hint of panic in his speech.

You look to where he is gesturing and see what he meant.

In front of you is a narrow channel between a peninsula and a small archipelago. The only channel deep enough for your ship to make it through.

“Shit! Don’t let up on them!” You order the gunners.

“Can we beat them there, Teach?”

The Dark Eldar nods.

“It’s likely, though not a given.”

That leaves you with a few options.

“Break off, Teach!”

“Cap? If we break now, they will block the channel!”

“Indeed.”

“You mean you want to enter a turning fight with them? That’s insanity!”

“Exactly. They won’t expect it.”

The Dark Eldar helmsman hesitates only for a second, before rapidly spinning the wheel, breaking off the run.

“Deck guns, give them something to worry about!”

At your order, the cannons of your ship increase their fire rate. Though they are raining hell on the Necron ship, the robots are hardly running scared.

You have to duck as a bolt of gauss ignites an ornate wooden statue barely just two feet to your left. Grimacing, you imagine Vect isn’t going to be too happy about his image in wood being obliterated.

No time to worry about that, though. You’ve got a fight to win.

“Full sail, hard to port! From that angle they won’t be able to train all of their guns!”

The crew obliges, and your tactics are fairly sound.

As your own guns continue to blast holes into the Necron ship, your enemy finds themselves quite unable to return the same volume of fire.

“Captain she’s turning ‘round to broadside us again!”

“Turn out of it!”

“We won’t slow down in time Cap!”

Shit.

You know you can’t win a direct broadside engagement, the Necrons have nastier guns, and a lot more of them.

“Get in close, we can stay out of their heavy guns!”

Teach obliges quickly, deftly maneuvering the vessel.

Sure enough, as soon as you get close, the heavier Necron guns can’t lower their elevation enough to track you.

“You sure about this, Max?!” The twins yell hesitantly as you begin to draw up alongside the Necron ship.

“Are you questioning your captains orders?” You fold your arms and raise an eyebrow at them.

*Clang… CLANG CLANG*

Whirling around, you realize the only mistake of this plan.
A dozen Necron warriors now stand on your deck, having jumped down from above.

You are about to order the crew to stand fast and fend them off.

“Don’t worry about them, leave them to us!” The twins yell, unsheathing their own swords.

With blinding speed and swan like grace, they leap down to the lower deck, swords flashing in the mid-day sun as they spin.

“Deck guns, fire everything you’ve got!” You command.

At your order, the crew works their weaponry for everything its worth. You watch, satisfied, as your own guns tear massive chunks out of the side of the Necron ship. Your own crew expertly aiming as close to the enemy craft’s waterline as they are able.

“Good show, keep it up!” You yell in encouragement.

Below you, the twins are a blur of spinning blades.

The Necron warriors aren’t nearly fast enough to match them. Senna expertly knocks aside a clumsy swing of a gauss rifle before stabbing the attacker through the head. Senda swings her two blades in a wicked arc, cutting the skull of another right in two.

It’s working.

Your plan is actually working!

You feel a bit elated, until you hear something crash hard into the deck behind you.

A Necron pirate lord stands up from his crouch, uttering a cold metallic chuckle.

You stand firm.

Faster than the warriors, he expertly unsheathes his steel and brandishes it in your direction.

“Remember, I want him alive!” You hear an all too familiar voice yell from the Necron ship. Looking up, sure enough, you spot your favorite little psychotic Pariah.

“Don’t struggle, honey! I’ll take you away from these filthy meatbags!”

“What makes you think I *WANT* that?!” You protest.

…She doesn’t appear to have heard you.

“The Lady told me to bring you back alive, but that doesn’t mean completely intact.” The Necron Lord laughs again, before lunging.

You barely manage to step back with enough time to avoid the strike, your own cutlass clashing against his as you block.

Any confidence you had going into this fight is instantly and abruptly ended when the Lord continues his assault. It’s no contest. In a straight up sword fight, you will lose.

The crew of your own ship rush to your aid, but find themselves with their own problems to contend with as Flayed Ones warp to the deck behind the Lord.

Without letting that phase you, you step forward and swing your own sword.

The Necron Lord is forced back as he parries, but the counterattack is quickly cut short as he strikes back.

The twins are still engaged with a fresh wave of warriors, and the rest of the crew aside from the gunners now has their hands full with the Flayed Ones. This leaves just you and the Lord to each other.

A straight up fight is what he wants, but too bad for him, he isn’t going to get it.

You continue to match him blade for blade as you desperately think of some way to do this. You doubt he is an idiot, so you are going to have to make it subtle.

Which means it isn’t going to be easy.

“You aren’t too terrible, for a pathetic human!” The Lord hounds you, thrusting again and forcing you back.

Though you don’t humor him back with witty banter, your mind racing for an answer to this problem.

You could try to back to the rail yourself and quickly reverse positions somehow, but it’s unlikely he would fall for that. The idea of putting yourself that close to a long fall isn’t exactly thrilling, either.

No, there is only one obvious solution here.

With a vengeance, you attack hard and fast. The sudden change in tempo has the Necron Lord falling back rather than you, and you press that fact, keeping him on his heels.

The deck, really not that wide, feels as though it may as well stretch the length of a Titan. It’s a struggle to fight for every inch, and despite the Necron Lord losing ground, it isn’t enough.

Well, it just might be time to try out these honed mind powers Esh helped you with.

“Fus Roh Dah!”

The sudden psychic onslaught knocks the Necron Lord back, sending him reeling until he regains his footing no more than a foot from the edge. He realizes his predicament, but you don’t give him a chance to remedy it.

But something catches your hands before you can move in, and crushes your fingers even through the power armor.

With a pained howl, you turn to see your assailant.

“Oh honey my honey, surely it’s time to end this false bravado. It’s getting late, if we don’t get you back soon the process won’t be complete until tomorrow!”

She kicks you in the lower back, pain jets up your spine.
Tonya sinks the blade of her staff into your armor, and you feel it go dead as she expertly severs power to your legs.

“Silly honey, this game has been fun but I’m tired and want to go home~.” She sings as she starts to drag you by the arm.
You try to struggle, and as you do, Tonya smiles and sinks her blade into your shoulder.

White hot agony shoots through your body.

“Now now, don’t make us late!” She chides you as the Necron crew lowers down a ramp.

You grind your teeth as you try to somehow curb the blood oozing out of your fresh wound.

“Oh don’t worry about a silly little thing like THAT!” She giggles.

“It will stop bleeding as soon as we get rid of this silly flesh!”
You watch the Dark Eldar skiff fade in the distance, now engulfed in flames, as Tonya hums happily to herself.

You don’t know where she’s taking you, but you can almost guarantee yourself that you aren’t going to like it…

"Well I can't have you bleeding all over the deck, now can I?" She asks, as though angry at your blood belligerently staining her ship.

"No no, it simply won't do."

She drags you over to a hatch, propping it open.

"Here, keep quiet until we arrive."

She drops you through the hatch and you plummet into the darkness. Crumpling up into a ball as you hit the cold floor beneath, you just want to sleep.

Something shuffles in the darkness...

Your eyes beginning to adjust now, you can make out shapes.

Terrible shapes.

One of the flayed ones gets close enough that you can make him out through the faint light pouring in from the grate above.

He lowers his face to your own.

"*Clang?*" He asks.

"*Clang clang*" Several more agree, as they start stripping you of your power armor.

Several hours of brutal Flayed One sodomy later, and Tonya finally has you hauled out of the dark hold.

"Now!" She says gleefully, completely oblivious to what you've just endured.

"Time to make you one of us!"

----

The Necron Lord smirks, smug in his own skill as he raises his sword easily and readies to block the oncoming blow with little effort.

Too smug, in fact, to see the real danger.

By the time he realizes there is a plasma cannon sticking out of your left arm, it’s already too late.

The hot shot of plasma impacts him in the chest, knocking him backwards until he hits the railing. He teters there for a moment, before falling over backwards.

You run to the edge to watch him fall.

“That wasn’t a sword attackkk!!!!” He yells up at you angrily.
“Suck it!” You manage to interject before the Necron Lord crashes down into the waves. You judge that Necrons are poor swimmers, as you don’t see him bob to the surface.

“Oh no! Not the Captain!” You hear Tonya yell, and look up to see her angrily beating her fists against her own ship’s railing.

The crazy machine girl whips around as she hears something out of your own earshot.

“What do you mean ESCAPE?! We have them on the run! Hey! Are you listening to me!?”

Apparently her crew is decidedly NOT as the Necron ship breaks off. You notice it’s leaking black sludge out of the holes torn into its hull by your ships own guns.

The Dark Eldar crew cheer, shout, and rattle their weapons as they watch the Necrons turn and run.

You can’t help but join their elated cries.

“Good show Captain!” Teach claps you on the back.

“You really showed ‘em didn’t ya Max~y boy!?” The twins grin as they each take one of your arms.

“We did, didn’t we? Should we pursue them, Teach?” You ask, deferring to his obvious experience in naval matters.

The fierce pilot thinks for a second, before shaking his head.
“While we might be able to win, it might not be in our best interest. Vect is already going to flip shit when he sees the state of his pleasure skiff.”

“Erk…” You suddenly remember that this is not your boat. Looking around at the blown out guns, the holes in the deck and sail, and the general disarray of the whole vessel… You aren’t looking forward to having to doing some ‘splaining.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry…” Senna laughs, patting you on the shoulder.

“We’ll be fine.” She smiles.

“Just because we’ll be fine doesn’t mean daddy is going to go easy on him, Senna…”

“Oh… You’re right Senda…”

“I’m blaming it on the both of you.” You shrug.

“W-what!?” They both yell, grabbing you tightly and looking up at you, mouths agape in shock.

“Cap, if I may interject, what heading should I take?” Teach asks, eying his instruments.

“Hmm…” You rub your chin.

“Tortuga!” Senna shouts gleefully.

“The pirate port!” Senda pumps her fist.

“Well Mr. Teach, I believe you have your heading.”

The Dark Eldar pilot grins, along with most of the crew.

“To Tortuga then!” He shouts, letting the wheel spin.

The rest of the journey is rather uneventful, and you can’t help but relax as one of the crew hands you a bottle of what you taste to be rum.

The twins have changed into matching sling bikinis and are sprawled out lazily on towels laid on the deck, tanning. At least you think so. You don’t know if Dark Eldar CAN get a tan.

With the ship now making good time, you busy yourself between the rum, oogling the twins as subtly as you can, and trying to get your voice into the best pirate accent you can manage.

“Land ho!” Shouts the lookout from the crow nest.

Sure enough, off in the distance, Tortuga.

Teach guides the skiff expertly into a dock, a dozen or so crew leaping off to secure the lines.

The island is pretty fucking pirate-y, you have to admit.
A sprawling town of shanties and faded wood-sided buildings, adorned with skulls of massive sea beasts and chock full of the most villainous folk you can imagine. Many of whom are staring blatantly right at you as they watch the crew secure the wounded vessel. Some others making it less obvious they are watching.

“Damn, this is quite the place, isn’t it?” You whistle.

A staunch looking man with his hair and beard in beaded braids stomps along on a peg leg as he walks down the deck toward you and the crew.

“Welcome to Tortuga, port for the unwary and unkind.” He gestures to the town behind him.

“Now, I’ve got to ask, what makes you tough enough to think you belong here?” He folds his arms, looking at you as though he himself doesn’t think you are tough enough.

You take back a long swig of the rum, and reach into the pistol belt where you secured a cigar earlier.

Activating the flamer in your arm, you light up the stogie and blow a thick cloud of smoke.

“I’m the toughest motherfucker on this planet.” You say coolly.

“Doubtful, the Space Wolves are here.” The man says, looking less than impressed.

“Logan himself punched me in the face and I survived.”

“Oh. Well, that does make you pretty tough I guess.”

“So we can enter?”

“Huh? I was never going to stop you in the first place.”

“Oh…”

You look back to Teach, who is busying himself handing out orders to the crew in your stead. Looks like he’s trying to get some kind of repair job underway.

“Hey Teach, you coming?”

“Huh? Nah, Cap. The crew and I are going to fix this thing up best we can. Besides, we were just here with Vect last weekend.” He waves you along, letting you know to go on ahead without him.

“Fair enough. Hit the town if you guys get a chance, though.”

“Will do, Cap.”

You notice the twins are tugging on your arm, trying to get you moving. Both of them are back in their pirate attire, and you notice, now fairly browned up.

“Cmoonnnnn….!” The groan as they try to pull you.

“Let’s go! Let’s goooo!!!” Senna jumps up and down impatiently.

You let them drag you along, both of them pulling excitedly and babbling to each other in a high-pitch fast-paced verbal flurry. It would be exhausting to try to follow along with that conversation. You aren’t.

The main stretch of the town is a dominating street, paved with well worn black cobblestone. Lining both sides are every kind of criminal’s shop or hideout that you can imagine. Weapons shops, armor shops, pawn shops, tax attorneys…

“Damn, this place is bigger than I imagined it would be…” You can’t help but be a little awestruck by the sheer size of it all.

You come to a T in the road, and look around feeling thirsty.

"Lets stop somewhere, I'm hungrryyyyy..." Senna groans. You can hear her stomach growl.

"I wouldn't mind sitting down for a while." Senda agrees.

"You guys have a preference?"

The twins shrug as they look around.

"Any of these joints look fine, really. They are all bound to have food and chairs." Senda remarks.

The Salty Sea Dog Tavern looks promising. You notice the whole outside of the place is actually made out of assorted bottles split in half, nailed to the wood of the structure like shingles.

At the same time, the Tortuga Saloon & Fishery seems nice. It’s on pillars over the water, and you can smell the alluring aroma of seafood even from here.

The Thieves Cove Inn is a dark lit place. You can hear what sounds like a rowdy conversation from within, and wisps of smoke billow from its open shuttered windows.

Well, the Saloon & Fishery looks like a nice place.

You lead the girls over to it, Senna gnawing playfully on your power armor out of hunger and Senda trying to pull her off.

A tall, spindly Eldar hostess with an eyepatch grunts as you approach.

“Just the three of ya, then, eh?”

“Aye.”

She leads you over to a table overlooking the ocean, and the three of you collapse into the wicker chairs. After a long, difficult voyage here, it feels incredible just to sit down. Until the hostess hurriedly gets you out of the chair and replaces it with one made to seat power armor.

“Now, what’ll it be?” The hostess asks, tapping her foot impatiently. You notice she doesn’t even carry a paper or anything, and you begin to think this isn’t her first day on the job.

“Rum all around?” You gesture to the twins.

“Fine with us.” They reply.

The Eldar snorts, and plops down three menus before heading off. You give the menu a look, and wonder how the “Fried 3lb deathshell” tastes… Actually, you don’t know anything about any of this food.

“Oi, what the hell is any of this and what out of that hell is good?”

“Deathshell.” Senna immediately states.

“The glow eel is my favorite.” Senda replies from behind her menu.

While you wait for the drinks, you decide to look around a bit. The place is built into one big circle out over the water, and in the middle of the circle you can make out a shallow reef through the clear pale blue water.

Schools of bright, vibrantly colored fish dart about. You notice several large, spike-shelled things slowly crawling over the ocean floor, which all the other fish seem to take care to avoid.

It seems peaceful, a far stretch from your encounters with the ocean on this planet thus far. The water is only perhaps ten feet deep, far too shallow for any beasts of the sea. You hope…

“Hey Max! Rums here!”

You head back to the table and sit back down. The rum is good and before you know it, your glass is gone.

In place of the hostess, a busty blonde Dark Eldar drops off a fresh round of drinks and asks what you want to order.

After much hounding, Senna convinces you to order the Deathshell. She assured you, rather hurriedly, that it isn’t poisonous. To fish, at least, and she’s never had a problem with it.

While you wait you look back at the town, and notice a wall of blue armor and fur moving through the streets. Though you aren’t sure if the Space Wolves want to see you again, you had better be prepared in case you bump into them again.

The food finally arrives, and you grimace a bit at the sight.
Deathshell are apparently the spiny things you saw earlier. They kind of look like a giant snail shell up close, though coiled tightly into a spiral and covered in what you can guess are their name-earning spikes.

Senna is nearly to the point of visibly drooling as the waitress sets down the platter in front of her.

You on the other hand, are a bit more cautious at the steaming meal. Though the white flesh of it underneath the shell does look rather appetizing.

Throwing caution to the wind, you give it a try, and it’s actually pretty damn good.

The three of you enjoy the meal, and the twins pay in some kind of coin. You protest, despite having absolutely none of those coins yourself, but they assure you that the meal was cheap and they have plenty of money to spare.

Finally, feeling downright satisfied, you leave the Fishery.

You are feeling pretty good now, the food seems to have somehow invigorated you. Senna was right, the Deathshell was a good choice.

“Well, why don’t we shop around for a little while?” You ask them.

Both of the twins perk up, looking excited.

“Really? Do you mean it?!” Senna can barely contain herself, grabbing your arm and giving it a shake.

“Err… Yes?”

“She’s just excited because daddy hates shopping and never wants to go with us.” Senda shrugs.

"Ah, well. Guess it can't be helped." You shrug as well.

You let the girls lead you along as they duck into various shops and stalls. Despite your objections, they buy you a particularly fine looking cat-o-nine-tails, though its ends are knotted leather rather than sharp spikes.

“Why do I need this?” You ask as you leave that particular shop.

“It’s for… Ahh…. Keeping morale!” Senna shouts.

“Please don’t use it on the crew, some may like it but most would probably murder you…” Senda whispers as an aside.

They model various summer dresses and whatnot, and though you were having fun, they don’t seem to be slowing down. At all.

Maybe this is why old man Vect doesn’t like shopping with them, you are starting to feel drained as they pull you into yet another shop. This one labeled “Fine Leather Goods.”

Your interest is perked when they pull open the curtain to the changing room, now clad in revealing leather bondage gear. However it is short lived, as they don’t buy anything and instead drag you along into “Captain Jack’s Stuff.” Which amounts to nothing more than piles of broken things, jars of dirt, and screaming caged monkeys that the owner keeps yelling at.

“Why are we even in here?” You ponder out loud as the twins both hover over a compass.

“That doesn’t even work. You have monkeys on you, you know….” You trail off.

They don’t seem to be paying attention…

One of the monkeys flips you off, and you return the gesture.

“Oi! Nobody flips off me monkeys but me! Savvy?” The owner berates you.

“Really?”

“Well not particularly, I just want you out of here so I can sleep. C’mon out you go! Out out out!” He ushers the three of you out before closing the door behind him and flipping the sign in the window from “Captain’s In.” to “Get lost ya lubbers.”

“Well that was rude…” Senda folds her arms, looking rather put off.

“At least he let me buy this compass… Though it doesn’t seem to work…” She give the broken device another look before stuffing it into a pouch on her belt.

“He sure was weird…” Senna adds, before spotting something.

“Ah!” She shouts, pulling on your arm.

“Well well well. Fancy meeting you again, especially here of all places.”

You turn around, and notice Logan Grimnar and his retinue standing on the street behind you. Each of them looking fairly disheveled, red cheeked and mugs in hand. All of them in varying states of disarray, many missing pauldrons or other bits of armor. Each has sunglasses on, of varying styles.

“Rough night?” You inquire.

“Boy, you don’t know the half of it.” One of the seasoned ones groans through his thick beard.

"It was a night that would have killed lesser men." Another agrees.

“Fucking Bjorn the drunk-handed is lost somewhere in this town, we’ve been looking for him all morning.” Logan says between drinks.

“You should have heard him, bitched up a storm.” Another Space Wolf laughs.

“I am the oldest living thing in the Imperium, I can remember things the likes of which you’ve only heard stories.” Another mocks in his best dreadnaught voice.

“After all that he gets wasted along with the rest of us. You should have seen it lad, he was still complaining with girls hanging off both of his arms!” The marine continues before taking another drink.

You notice they are drinking out of rather unusual mugs.

“Hey, those don’t have your emblem…” You muse.

“Oh?! These?” Another veteran-looking Wolf pipes up, waggling his mug before taking another drink.

“Well, the Blood Ravens were gone from their base when we found it. We couldn’t just leave these lying around, don’t want them falling into the wrong hands.” Logan laughs as he takes a chug out of the mug, which is emblazoned with a red drop of blood and wings.

“They uh… They won’t mind?”

“What? Noooo. I’m sure they are just glad these didn’t get taken by some foul Chaos ilk.” Logan grins as he puts the mug to his lips yet again.

“Right… You guys are drinking pretty heavily for having such a rough night, though.”

The Wolf with the thick grey beard raises an eyebrow.

“This is drinking hard? News to me.” The others laugh along at his comment.

“Still have that pistol I gave you?” Logan asks as he picks up your arm, checking out the storm bolter there and looking fairly impressed.

“Still got it.” You pat the pistol at your belt.

“Certainly doesn’t look like you need it anymore, though.” He laughs.

“Anyways, we’ve got to get going. Bjorn is somewhere around here, a bar wench said she spotted a dreadnaught in a sombrero stumbling along through here about an hour ago.” Logan grimaces.

“Sure hope that old bastard hasn’t gotten himself into more trouble than he can handle. I’m still surprised he didn’t pass out in the saloon, for as much as he sleeps all the time…” He shrugs before clapping one of his retinue on the shoulder.

“No matter, we’ll find him!”

“Hey, how about we help you look?” You ask, a bit desperate for something to do other than get dragged into another shop.

“Well…” Logan ponders.

“It couldn’t hurt. Though if you find him, I’d advise you give him some space. A hung-over dreadnaught is nothing to trifle with unless you know how.”

“Can… Can we ride around on him, once we find him?” Senna wonders out loud.

“I don’t think he’d like that…” Senda sighs at her sister.
The Space Wolves wave as they trudge off in search of their lost ancient comrade.

“Well, now what?” You ask, instantly dreading the answer.
“Moar shopping!!!” Senna yells, you don’t know how she’s maintained this level of energy and enthusiasm. You’ve been shopping for well over three hours now.

“Screw shopping, we need to head back soon.” Senda forces her sister to quit bouncing around.

“Eh, we’ve got a while left until dark I think. Don’t have to leave here quite yet.” You shrug. As little excitement as most of this shopping spree has been, you aren’t exactly rearing at the bit to go back to big daddy Vect quite yet.

They go back to their shopping mode, even Senda getting into it again. You sigh, hopefully the trip back will be uneventful, because you are exhausted.

“Hey, check out this card-stand!” Senna knocks on the side of something hard.

“Card stand? Bjorn is no card stand!” The dreadnaught rotates around, knocking the cards that had in fact been attached to it off.

“Bjorn is the oldest in the Imperium, the most ancient of warriors, the…”

The dreadnaught teeters slightly, seems to regain its balance, but then overcompensates and crashes down onto its side. People have to scatter out of the way to avoid being crushed.

“Where am I? Who are you? Get off my lawn!” The dreadnaught shuffles it’s feet as though trying to walk toward you.

“Hey, the other Wolves are looking for you, you know.” You tell the old dreadnaught, who quits trying to walk.

“Tell them to bring my prune juice.” Bjorn booms as he shoves himself back upright.

“Hey mister dreadnaught, can I ride on top of you?” Senna asks before you can stop her.

“Twins? TWINS?!!?!?” Bjorn moves his chassis toward them, as though peering at the girls.

"My twins." You add.

"Your twins?"

"His twins." The sisters agree in unison.

"Bah, no twins then. Come little people, let us go get tankred."

"Uhh, you mean tanked?"

"No, my friend Tankred, I've been looking for him. That's why I left those lightweights behind at the bar."

You don't know what a Tankred is, but so long as the old dread is happy, whatever.

"Can... Can I ride you now puhleeeeasssseee?!?!?" Senna asks, tugging on Bjorn's leg.

"Even in death I still give piggyback rides."

"Yay!" Senna happily and astoundingly quickly scales up the ancient armor until she stands on top.

"Ohmigosh you have to get up here Senda!"

Senda sighs, but then humors her sister and climbs up as well.

"Now then, drink drink drink." The old fartcan booms before grabbing a distillery tank right off a building. He pours the liquid down his front. You can sense he is somehow drinking it.

"Hey! Watch it with the booze! That or get me some!" Senda yells, annoyed at nearly getting drenched by Bjorn's antics.

"Hush twins, for now is the hour of boozing." He retorts, tossing aside the now empty tank.

"You there, Commissar grey knight thing, take us to the bar, that we may reap the harvest of inebriation. For surely that is where Tankred shall be."

"Dude there are like, a hundred bars here..." You gesture around, pointing out no less than twenty.

"Silence, and do as told."

"C'mon Max, just humor him." Senda shrugs, eager to get moving.

"Bah, fine. I hope you are ready you old fart, I'm going to drink you under the table." With that, you lead them to an establishment large enough for Bjorn to enter.

The first thing you notice upon entering, is the other dreadnaught. He stands at a table, surrounded by sixteen rough looking pirates, all laying face down on the table. This other dread is still pouring a cask of rum down his front.

"Where do you all keep coming from?!"

But both dreads ignore you.

"Tankred my old friend, it appears you are the last one standing."

"Tankred endures." The other dreadnaught agrees.

"Excellent. Now let us school this young whippersnapper in what it truly means to imbibe."

"We're drinking too!" Senna pouts from atop Bjorn.

"Heh, as though I would lose to a bunch of old men."

"As though either of you stood a chance."

You ready your mind, and your liver.

The first round is set before you, each an entire flagon of dark rum...

Damn, you aren't walking away from here sober.

Though it takes you several minutes, you finally manage to finish off the entirety of the sweet cane booze. Already, you are starting to feel its effects.

Both dreads drink theirs with seemingly little difficulty, though each of them has an entire keg, since so much is wasted as it drips down their front.

"I'zzat all *hic* of 'et? Blah, waznt so tuff..." Senna mocks, poking you in the side.

"Silly little brown girls, that was just the warmup round." Tankred laughs.

"You had best prepare your body, the next round begins now."

On Bjorn's last word, the next go of drinks is indeed laid down before you.

This continues for a half dozen or so rounds.

"An so dats when Logan punches me in mah face!" You finish the story, laughing so hard you can barely finish.

"Haw haw hawwwww...ZzZzZzZ..." Bjorn laughs, before the massive dreadnaught tips backwards, landing hard and splintering a table. Thankfully the table's inhabitants managed to move out of the way in time.

Well, that's one dread down...

The twins are both snoozing, propped up against one another as they sleep. Senna blabbers something in her sleep every few minutes before going back to light snoring.

"Tankred... Endures..." The other old dreadnaught replies, as the last of the keg drains off of his front.

"You is... You is a tuff ol' man, shit." You boggle.

"I am the law." Tankred burps.

"Are... Are you both sure you can handle this?" The waitress asks, setting down yet another flagon of rum.

"I was *belch* born ready." You manage.

"Whatever, your funeral buddy."

"I shall the victorious be today, Yarrik wannabee."

"Pah, in your forever entombed dreams."

Both of you get to drinking, though both of you are well past your actual limits.

"Tank... Durrsss..." The old dread drops his cask, and starts snoring, loudly.

"Oh, the rums gone..." You muse, holding the clear glass in front of your face, the world around it spinning.

"Oh, good of you to find Bjorn for me." Logan laughs as he slaps you on the back.

"Now lets see if you can make it in the big leagues."

He sets down a frosted mug of nut brown ale in front of you.

You slam it back before saying anything.

Though when you go to open your mouth...

"Bleaagghhhhh!!!!"

You wipe your face, and Logan grimaces at the fresh vomit adorning his armor.

You pass out before hearing what anyone has to say.

----

I sigh at the sight, the Space Wolves sniggering but fairly impressed.

Well, I guess they should be. Not every day a dreadnaught gets trumped in a drinking contest, I guess.

"Cant leave him alone for a day, can you?"

Its true, and I knew it. Which is why I'd... Borrowed... A sister of battle sanctified jetski and followed the massive Dark Eldar pleasure craft.

I pause, watching the Astartes as he laughs and gestures to Max.

"..."

"Eh? Don't say much, do ya kid?"

"...I get that a lot..." I reply.

A heavy hand on my shoulder.

I look up, and notice its Logan Grimnar himself. Never thought I'd meet someone of his importance, until I remember I've met the Emperor.

"Don't worry about it. I know you assassins have a pretty tough lot in life." He smiles, perhaps even warmly.

But I can see right through the guise, the falseness of it all.

I can't blame him. We Vindicare don't exactly have a... Stellar reputation. After all, we are the ones who get a call to wipe out someone thought to be tainted by chaos that the Inquisition would rather just be gone with. Admittedly, that sometimes includes space marines.

Its the same everywhere. Well, the few times I've ever met anyone. Talking to others as a Vindicare is difficult, as the Ordo does everything in its power to assure you never get a chance.

Ever since being whisked away to be made into an assassin, I can probably count the number of people I've met aside from those in the Ordo on a single hand.

"Dammmit Helenenea, gimme bak mah *belch* mufrsknsrrr...." Max mumbles angrily, before falling back asleep.

Thankfully the Dark Eldar crew arrive and start carrying off the twins and Max, who despite being passed out, somehow manages to walk.

"Thanks for grabbing us..." The one who introduced himself to me earlier trails off.

"Eight."

"Right. You sure you don't want a ride back with us?"

I'm not sure how to answer that. The ride over here wasn't unpleasant, despite the small issue of the Necron ship. In the chaos I'd rigged a melta-bomb to the side of it, tipping the scales and forcing their hand into a hasty retreat.

----

Doomrider surveys the empty bar, the smashed tables the dreadnaughts had landed on, the spilled booze
"FUCK, I MISSED THE PARTY!"
"No Doomrider, you are the party."
and then Doomrider got sloshed

----

I shrug.

"I guess I'll ride with you, as long as we can tow the jetski back. Unlike this guy, I return things I borrow."

Teach laughs.

"Alright, lets get going then."

I walk out with them, and the cool evening air seems to have brought Max around somewhat.

"Kid?" He asks, a bit bleary eyed.

"Being as careful as ever, I see." I fold my arms, which shifts the rifle strapped to my back.

"Eh, just the average day." Max splashes himself with a bottle of water one of the crew hands him.

"Hey man, you should meet some of the crew. Some of those girls working the cannons. Unf!" He bites his lip and holds out his hands in a gesture for large size.

I don't say anything. The truth is... Its been a long time since I've even talked to a girl before meeting that Tau one. Am I... A bit shy? Around girls? No, I'm just focused on my mission, or so I try to assure myself.

Max doesn't press the issue, instead taking over for the crew as he hefts each of the twins over a shoulder and starts a rambling and off-tune rendition of "a pirates life".

...If only I could be so carefree...

I stop when Max pauses in front of me, turning around.

"You know, I really do have to thank you Eight." He says, his face serious for once.

"You've saved my ass more than once." He nods in respect.

"Its nothing."

"No, I mean it. If you never need anything, anything at all, just let me know."

I nod and... Smile?

"Great, now lets get back to the ship. I still need to devise a plan so Vect doesn't flay me alive for damaging it.

I follow behind them, feeling lighter on my feet. Maybe even happy?

----

"Raise the anchor, heft the sails, get crackin you fish its time to hit the seas!" You shout to the crew, who chuckle but start actually preparing to leave.

The ship looks at least a bit better than it did before you left it, and it seems Teach accomplished a fair bit of repairs. Despite this, the damage done to it is still very apparent.

You wince. Well, hopefully Vect will still be as thankful you took his daughters out of his hair for a day as he was earlier.

Somehow you doubt it will be that easy...

"How does she fare, Teach?" You ask the pilot.

"Not in perfect spirit, but she'll run." He nods to the freshly repaired sails.

"Excellent." You give him a fist bump.

"We'll have a longer ride back to the mainland, I'm afraid. Wind won't be at our back like it was on the way here."

"Might be for the best, I don't know how ready I am to face Vect." You shrug.

"Well, he might not kill you. Maybe." Teach teeters his head back and forth, as though debating in his mind.

"...Thanks for the confidence boost..."

"Anytime." He cracks back.

"Now then, if you need me, I'll be in my cabin. So ask the kid with the big gun instead, because I probably won't wake up."

Teach laughs, shaking his head as he does.

You look over at Eight, who is sitting alone some fifty feet above, perched on the mast. Well, at least he decided to ride along instead of hanging back to himself this time.

You hoist the twins and head down the stairs toward the Captain's bunk.

You busy yourself shedding your power armor, which is admittedly much harder this time then what you remembered it being.

The twins have woken back up, and you surmise that alcohol doesn't effect Dark Eldar nearly as much as humans, as they are fine and you are hammered.

Oh sweet, crisp sheets, you so crazy. You almost instantly drift off to sleep.

Almost.

"Wah! What are we goona do on the bed?!" Senna jumps and lands on the bed.

"The same thing we do every night, dear sister."

"...Try to take over the world?"

"Sleep!" Senda scolds her twin.

"Blah, sleep is laaammeee. Lets have some fun instead!"

They look over at you, but its too late, you're already out.

"See, no use." Senda says, gesturing at you.

"Pfft, to you maybe."

"Oh? Just what are you going to do, dear sister?"

"Huh? Well, rape him awake, of coarse."

~whip *CRACK!!*

Your eyes fly open from the impact.

"Hohoho? That certainly woke you up." Senna grins evilly as she grips the whip that just smacked you.

"H-hey... We're all tired, can't we just get some sleep?" You ask, painfully aware that your hands and feet are both bound.

And you are naked...

"Hah, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" Senna coos, before smacking you in the side again.

"I never took you YOU for the sadistic one!" You grunt, as you strain to avoid another blow.

"Oh, did you think that it would be me? Bad guess, I'm the nicer one." Senda says from across the room, adjusting her reading glasses as she turns a page.

She's got your number, you did expect it to be her and not Senna.

"Well, as nice as it can be. Don't let her fool you, she's totally shlicking under that lap blanket." Senna bends down, whispering to you behind her hand.

"Am not!" Senda wings a pillow at her sister.

Senna dodges it easily, laughing and dancing around as her sister continues to throw things and she dodges out of the way.

"Ahh?! Look, you've kept me busy and now he's asleep. AGAIN!"

"Oh don't blame me." Senda scoffs.

"Too late, now come help me."

"Ugh, fine! Just don't bother me when I read afterwards!"

Something feels good...

You watch in shock as Ra'alman sinks you deeper into her.

"Yess, come to me my lover~" The fish god coos, pulling forcing you to thrust with her powerful tail.

"Oh no! Nope nein nyet!" You shout, realizing only afterwards, that you had been sleeping.

"Hnuh?" Senna inquires, looking up from her tongue-work.

"Well, *lick* I guess you were right, that did work." Senda says, surprised.

"I'm not going to get any sleep until I finish, am I?" You grumble.

"Until WE finish, fixed that for ya." Senna smiles maliciously.

"Oh no, I can't get out of these bonds!" You fake being startled.

"Fuah..." Senna pulls her mouth back, a strand of saliva linking it to your Inquisitor, who despite the copious amounts of alcohol, is on his feet.

"Well of coarse not, how would it be any fun if we just let you do what you want?" She asks.

Senna jumps up on you, straddling over your waist, before Sends gives her a shove that sends her twin back onto the bed.

"As if you get to go first, you interrupted my reading, I go first!"

"B-but I did most of the work getting him ready... Ahh?!" Senna protests in disappointment as Senda starts her fun.

It takes a shocking amount of time for the less hyper (though that isn't saying much) twin to lower herself all the way.

"This feels... Different, than what we usually use, sister." Senda comments, her face flush.

"Well yeah, it isn't fake, for one. For two, it isn't one of us using it on the other!" Senna replies, as though it were obvious.

"You guys... Use things, on each other?" You are genuinely interested, and like where this conversation is headed.

"Well yeah, what set of twins doesn't?" They ask, looking between each other with a "dis nigga" look.

"Now be a good boy and squirm around like you aren't enjoying it." Senda licks her lips.

"Oh yes, exactly like that..." Senda bites her lip as she works herself into a rhythm.

She's so tight it's like she's purposefully squeezing down on your power sword. What she interprets as you playing along is in actuality, you writhing in pleasure.

"Feh, if I have to wait, then..." Senna plants herself on your face.

"Don't just lay there, get to work!" She commands.

You obey, and pretty soon her hips are shaking and she's almost grinding on your mouth.

This continues for a good five or so minutes, and you start to feel that lightheaded sensation. Until Senda hops off and clamps down hard with her foot.

You jolt at the sensation.

"I told you, this isn't over until we're finished." She coos, reaching into a drawer.

Wait, why is she grabbing out a syringe?

"Oh this? Don't worry, this will just keep you... Fresh." Senda smiles, squirting out a small bit of the fluid and tapping the thin needle.

Well, whatever gets them off you guess...

"Holy shit wait what!?" You yell as you feel something prick your shaft.

"Oh hush, don't be such a baby. Its just a simple combat drug is all, slightly modified, but still..."

That does nothing to quell your rising sense of panic as you feel the cool liquid being injected, which is terrifying and painful and oh damn you were not prepared for this.

The concoction takes effect nearly instantly, causing you to swell to nearly double your girth, as it were. Your carapace gets so rock hard its almost painful, no wait, it is a little painful.

"See? That wasn't so bad, and my, what an effect! Those traders in the Commorragh were right!"

"Wow, that is pretty effective..." Senna muses, prodding it with her finger.

Senda wastes no time in hopping back on, and when she does, you almost have a heart attack.

Literally, you can feel your heart spasm.

"Oh shit girls, I think that was perhaps a bad idea."

"Don't worry, don't worry, you're probably just feeling the minor pulmonary and or cardiac side effects!"

"That doesn't make me feel ANY BETTER, AT ALL!!!"

"Too much talking, get back to work." Senna scoffs, forcing herself back down on your face.

Senda's movements become more rapid and erratic, and despite yourself you can't help but enjoy the ride. Her pale breasts bounce seductively in your face, contrasting starkly with her now tanned body.

"C'mon, c'mon..." Senna teases her twin, reaching out and twisting her nipples.

"Hurry up and cummmmmm!!!" She gives them one final hard squeeze, and Senda jolts.

"Hahhhh!!!!!" The Dark Eldar girl riding you shouts as you feel her convulse, her insides wrapping tightly around you and pulsating. Her orgasm lasts nearly a full minute, before she collapses down on top of you, her head falling right into her sisters lap.

You let yourself fly as well.

Well, you try to anyways...

"What the shit, I can't shoot anything?!" You are very shocked and more than slightly disturbed.

"Oh quit being so melodramatic. You can't FOR NOW, it will go back to normal. Eventually." Senna laughs.

"Besides," She continues, sliding her panting twin off of you. "Its my turn now."

Rather than facing you directly, Senna watches over her shoulder as she lowers herself down, back toward you.

As mortified as you are about your current situation with the Inquisitor being barred from his exterminatus, you can't help but appreciate the view.

Senna's ass slaps down hard against you as she picks up the pace, and her cute little pink rear hatch pops into view each time her hips thrust down onto you.

"Excuse me, Max." Senda says, sliding up to your chest and getting to her knees.

"Payback time!" She shouts, before pulling back her hand, and delivering a hard and echoing slap to her twin's backside.

"H-hey!" Senna tries to protest, but Senda smacks her again.

"Shut up, you know you like it!" The "less sadistic" twin grins.

Senna's hips thrust down frantically, Senda continuing to smack her until her right cheek is noticeably red.

You feel one final smack/thrust combo finish her off.

"Nggghhh....!!!" Senna slams herself down and holds there, as the same stimulating feeling wraps around you during her climax.

"Wow. I so needed that." Senna sighs in satisfaction.

"Indeed. Well, time for some sleep." Senda replies stretching out and feeling the cool sheets against her skin.

Only they both stop their idle conversation when they notice you aren't laying down. In fact, you are very erect. Even more, while they had been chatting, you'd slipped your bonds.

"Bed? Sleep?" You laugh, turning around to face them. They both panic as they look back and forth between your heads.

"No no ladies, there will be no rest for the wicked tonight." You laugh, approaching them. They back up until they hit the headboard.

None of you get any sleep that night...

----

Frederick idles nervously as he stops the bike outside of Helena's barracks. He borrowed it from a friend for tonight.

Checking his chronometer, he itches the back of his head with one of his claw arms, wondering what's taking her so long.

One of his friends congratulated him on the date, and said something like this might happen, but just to be patient.

Another replied simply with "Bitches and hereteks."

"Sorrryyyy!!!" Frederick almost jumps in joy as Helena comes barreling out of the door.

"D-don't worry, plenty of time left to make the showing." He pipes up, somehow finding his courage despite almost being knocked off the bike by her beauty.

She almost looks like a different girl. Short skirt blowing in the wind, clutching her small handbag with a huge smile. A far cry from her usual gruff wrench-in-hand covered-in-tank-grease fatigues and black boots look.

Frederick isn't complaining, not one bit.

"Thank you, Omnissiah." He whispers, knowing she can't see him say it through the hood.

"Lets get going!" Helena, laughing happily, climbs on behind Frederick. The tech-priest has to stop himself from jumping with glee as he feels her fleshy orbs press into his back. he made sure to hold his additional arms out of the way, just in hopes that something like that would happen.

At this moment, he's happier than he's ever been. His hood flies down as he guns the engine, his unkempt crop of jet black hair whipping in the wind.

Helena smiles to herself, knowing full well what she did. She doesn't care, she is going to make this date a success no matter what.

---

The ship rocks lazily side to side in the gentle breeze, waves lapping gently at the damaged sides. Thankfully it's still afloat, I was getting pretty worried watching the battle unfold before I could get to it.

With Max at least somewhat secure down below, I can finally rest easy. Poor guy, he probably just passed out as soon as he got down there.

I'm not used to the waves, or the sea. I've seen it plenty of times, on many different worlds, but it just isn't something I think I'll ever get completely used to.

The jungle is what I really know. Though I haven't been to Catachan since the day the man in grey pulled me from her grasp and thrust me into this life. It may be a death world, but somehow it was home.

The Dark Eldar were accommodating enough, having given me as much food as I could eat and some fresh water. They also had some good cigarettes, which I busy myself with. A bad habit I'd picked up, but when your freedom is so restricted, you do what you can just to feel like you've made a decision on your own.

I look down at the ragged photo, for what is probably the hundredth time. I really should throw it away, burn it, something. All it ever does is make my heart hurt. I don't know the word to describe the feeling.

I'd tried once before, but had ended up going back to retrieve it. It is the only link I still have to a past other than the Ordo. Something real, more free.

I watch the xenos below, conversing with one another as they work. The sight is interesting. I don't get to see much other than a target in my crosshairs too often, well, that and expanses of wilderness or half demolished cities.

I almost wish I was one of them. What it must be like to have at least some kind of personal motivation, to be able to decide almost everything on your own.

Though I don't know what happens now. What I'll do after all this is over. Likely be picked up by my handlers and ferried on to my next mission.

That thought is depressing, but I know its pointless to struggle against inevitability.

---

Frederick, a true gentleman in most regards, offers his hand and helps Helena off of the bike.

The theater isn't a terribly ornate thing. In fact, in reality it's an old indoor firing range with a projector set up inside. It was built at the rampant demanding of the guard stationed here, as there was little else to do here but train and get into trouble. Bored guardsmen a well run garrison does not make.

Helena cheerfully follows Frederick as he enters, and her eyebrows raise as he stops abruptly in the doorframe.

"Is something wrong?" She pipes up.

"Err... Nothing really, we're just the only ones here."

What he doesn't tell her is that he had paid off the guard in charge of theater duty for the week to post an all-points bulletin everywhere but the tankers lounge that the theater would be closed tonight for cleaning. The tankers he didn't have to worry about, they have their own large projector in their commons and never bother with the far hike to the crummy run-down theater.

Frederick picks a seat in the middle, plopping down on the simple folding chair situated on the cold concrete below.

Helena takes the seat to his left, brushing her skirt out as she sits, due to its short length.

"What's on tonight?" She asks, though her real interest is far from the screen.

"Galactic Partridges: How we Defeated Horus." He reads off the card.

"Wow, those guys sure are tough bastards, aren't they." Helena ponders, her brow knit.

"Yeah, I heard they recently cleared out a massive Necron tomb on Yagis V."

Helena raises an eyebrow.

"Yagis? My brother is there."

"Well, if the Partridges are there, he's in the safest place in this galaxy." Frederick smiles.

---

I yawn, exhausted, and drop down from the mast. Though I've stayed awake in excess of one hundred hours before, this sixty or so hour stretch has me pretty beat.

On top of that, I've got a lot of minor aches and pains that all seem to add up to one gnawing discomfort. Again, nothing I'm not entirely used to, but still nothing pleasant. Just because I was trained to cope with it, doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

Another yawn as I make my way to the starboard side of the skiff. I'd seen a pile of tarps and assorted sail pieces and whatnot, and I figure it's as good a place as any for some rest.

Sleep and I haven't been good bed partners for a year or so now. I have a hard time falling asleep, and when I finally do, often times I find I wish I hadn't.

I'd heard talk about such a problem, from some of the older Vindicares. Though that definition of old is pretty harsh. Generally we are lucky to live into our late twenties, though I'd only ever heard that through scuttlebutt in passing between other trainees.

I lay down gingerly on the tangle of cloth. The feeling is decadent. Its better than I could have even dreamed of. Same with the food, now that I think about it. I can remember, or think I can remember anyways, a few tastes of Catachan. Various local fauna and flora, the most distinct a tough yellow lizard about five feet in length that had a particularly sweet flesh, if I remember right.

The tablefare I'm used to, however, is far from anything worth remembering. Protein bars, which would be better if they were flavorless. The clear, near tasteless high calorie powser contained in my mask for extended operations...

None of it holds a candle to what I'd eaten tonight. It almost felt wrong for food to taste that good. And here I'd thought that some guard rations I'd pilfered before meeting Max were without a doubt the greatest cuisine in the stars.

Movement off to my left makes me pry my eyes back open.

Teach is standing at the railing near me, looking toward the star strewn black sky. Though I'm not sure he knows I'm here, somehow I get the feeling he does. Which is strange, as I'm not used to being spotted.

"Nice night out, isn't it?" He asks without looking over.

"Its alright, I suppose." I reply, a bit annoyed to not be able to fall right asleep. At the same time, I'm both glad and anxious to be talking to someone.

Teach looks over at me, tugging lightly on his long black beard.

"You're a killer, aren't you?" He asks.

My face darkens, and he must have seen it because he quickly waves his hands in peace.

"Apologies, no harm meant. I just get the feeling you are, which is decidedly odd because Max is most certainly not."

I sink down slightly into the cloth as I ponder how to answer.

Have I killed? Yes.

A lot? Undoubtedly.

Does that make me a killer? My stomach lurches, I know the answer I'd like to have... But I know it would be a lie. Yes, I am a killer.

Teach seems to notice my deep thought, and quickly seeks to lighten the conversation.

"Never mind that, honor among warriors is what I stand by. Are my crew treating you well?"

I nod.

"Good, good..." Teach looks back out to the sea.

Teach wanders off to go "check the heading" and I'm left now awake and not desiring sleep.

I guess it can wait. According to him, the combination of a strong current and poor wind means the tide is not to our favor. We are going to have to detour around the island, as the channel between it and the mainland is too shallow for our keel.

I could clean my weapons, though I remember I did that just a few hours ago. Its become more of a ritual that calms me down then an actual necessity. The Exitus was made to go long periods without cleaning, as so often is the case in the field.

I wander off along the top deck, headed for the set of doors leading down into the bowels of the ship. Already I can hear the commotion from inside.

Well, I've never been in a crowd before. It wasn't something we ever really had on Catachan and it certainly wasn't going to happen within the Ordo.

Pushing the doors inward, I step down into the scene.

Inside the ship is a bustling mob of noise and life, men shouting jokingly to one another, women laughing along. Many of the xenos are gathered around a table throwing dice, and placing down coins. Most of them yell loudly when the dice come to a stop, some happily, others in a disheartened groan.

"Hey! My man! Have a drink on me!" One of them shouts, thrusting a bottle into my hands before he runs off again, yelling at someone near the dice table.

I look down, and as odd as that encounter just was, it was interesting.

Pulling out the loose cork, I take a swig of the dark contents. Sweet. Too sweet. I give the bottle a dissatisfied look before setting it down.

I hear giggling behind me, and turn to look. A smaller and younger Dark Eldar laughs at me, her eyes illuminated in the flickering lights of this strange place.

"Fun." She finally says, pointing at me.

"Huh?" I blurt out.

"That's what you've lost, your fun."

Well this girl certainly is strange...

"Do we... Know each other?" I ask as calmly as I can. I don't know her, I'm just being polite. Though maybe I'm not, it hasn't been something I've had to worry about since joining the Ordo, who don't care about such frivolous things.

"I don't know you." She shrugs, before hopping off the barrel she was seated on.

I notice an emblem on her necklace, a skull with a sword in the background. The same emblem that Teach has on a similar necklace.

She must have noticed me staring at it.

"I'm Teach's daughter." She smiles.

"Oh? I noticed the necklace."

She smiles wider, before making a pleading face.

"Can you uh... Not tell him I'm here? He'll have my head for real this time if he finds out I've snuck into the ship again."

"I won't say anything." I tell her, without knowing why. My heart seems to have accelerated, which is alarming. It could be all of this smoke, I don't know what kinds of ghastly chemicals it may contain.

"Thanks!" She says brightly, grinning ear to ear.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I just finished loading these dice and I need to win some money for a new skirt!" I smile in response and she skips off toward the table.

I watch her leave, wondering if perhaps I'd said something to make her feel uncomfortable. I don't think I have, but then again I don't know.

===Thread 18===

Gertrude had been a servant girl for the Golden Throne as far back as she cared to remember. Her old bony hands knew every step, every inch of the gleaming monument.

She was blessed, at least in her own mind, to be able to see the Emperor every day as she cleaned. Though he was in a horrible state, it bothered her not. He was her Emperor, and she venerated him.

So it was with great, incomprehensible shock, that she stared upon entering the throne room.

Where once sat a shriveled, almost corpse like husk...

Now sat a gleaming, glowing being of unimaginable power. The Emperor still sat, having not moved, but no longer wretched looking.

"My... My Emperor..." She could barely whisper, her legs failing her and Gertrude crumpled down onto the floor, unable to do anything but stare.

Did she just see the faint flash of a smile? No, impossible...
----
"Two showers..." Senna stares, completely spaced out, into the mug of something hot and steaming in front of her.

"It took two showers to wash it all off..." She doesn't even make a move to take a drink.

"Serves you right for injecting me with that stuff." You laugh, looking out the porthole at the crew securing the ship back in it's home berth.

A knock on the door.

"Whats up?" You ask, pulling it open.

Teach is scratching his dark beard, his tough eyes giving the room a once over.

"Did you guys get attacked last night? It looks like a damn murder scene in here."

"Never mind that." You tell him, leading him out of the room and back into the hallway. Light streams in through the oval panes of glass set in the side of the ship.

"Should I be... Uh... Worried about the condition I brought this thing back in?"

"Yes." Teach says simply, raising an eyebrow.

"Shit."

"Doesn't mean you have to go tell him about it right off the bat. He's still pretty swamped with paperwork from what I hear."

Hmm... As the old proverb goes, you could put off today what you could accomplish tomorrow...

“I should probably just get it over with, shouldn’t I?” You ask, as though inquiring about your own funeral, which this could likely result in.

“Maybe? Vect can be pretty reasonable when he wants to be, maybe you’ll catch him in a good mood?” Teach shrugs.

Somehow you doubt you will…

The twins, upon hearing what you are about to do, inform you that they have to go do some "girl stuff" and are gone before you can protest. Damn those two, making you take the fall for this...

A secretary waits where you were told to go. Vect seems to be in an office rather than his own personal study.

“You got an appointment?” She asks in her nasally voice as she pops a bubble of gum and files her nails.

“No, well, not exactly. Can you just let Vect know I brought his daughters back safe?”

The secretary sighs, as though you’d just asked if she would do some arduous back breaking labor for you without getting paid for it.

“Mr. Vect.” She says, pushing down an intercom, “This guy here says he brought your daughters back or something.”

“Parker?” You hear Vect ask through the system.

“Yeah.” She says in her drawn out accent.

“It’s Max, actually…” She doesn’t seem to care, though.

“Send him right in!”

You gulp as the door opens, a torrent of wispy smoke billowing out of it.

“Parker?!” Comes the gruff voice from inside the room, which despite a small voice screaming in the back of your mind “RUN WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE MAN!!!”, you enter.

“…Max, actually…”

“Right right, Max.” Vect is reading a paper of some kind, while his other hand searches across his desk for a cup. Judging from the smell, you think he’s got a cigar.

“So I heard you banged my ship up pretty rough.”

“Well… We uh, got into a fight with some Necrons.”

Vect sets down his paper on the desk.

“I don’t give a fuck about that.” He pulls the cigar out of his mouth and extinguishing it in a tray.

“Are my daughters safe?” He asks, his eyes steel hard.

“Very.”

“Well then, what’s the problem?” He sighs in relief, and kicks his feet up onto the desk, massaging his temples.

“Uhh… You aren’t… Mad? About the ship?”

Vect raises an eyebrow as he stares hard at you, as though mulling over your question.

“To be completely honest with you, I didn’t expect that you would actually bring it back.”

This catches you a bit off-guard.

“Huh?”

Vect sits forward again, folding his hands together and setting them on his massive wooden desk.

“Let me tell you something, Max. I love those two daughters of mine, as much as a father can. That doesn’t change one simple fact, those two are quite possibly the most random destructive force in the galaxy.”

As he talks, he leans over and picks out a large green binder from atop a cabinet.

“Here, take a look.” He sets it before you, and opens it to the middle.

You almost laugh at what you see. Almost.

The pictures consist of many different variations of the same theme. Something; a pleasure yacht, a large skiff, a home, absolutely destroyed. The twins stand in front of the frame in every one, smiling sheepishly.

“My daughters have never brought anything back. They destroy things, plain and simple. You give them a vehicle to control or a house to stay in, and unless you are watching them like a hawk, it’s crashed and burning within the day.”

You don’t bother mentioning that it seems to be a trait you share as well…

“So, we’re cool, then?” You finally pipe up.

“Eh? Sure, whatever. Now get out of my office, I need to get back to work.” He shoos you away with one hand as he reaches for a communicator.

“Hey Parker.” He stops you at the door, and you turn around.

“…Max.”

“Got any pictures of the Galactic Partridges? Good ones? I’d pay you for them.”

“No, sorry.”

“Doomrider? That guy is hot shit right now, really sells out the stands.”

“No, but I can probably get you some, I guess? You run a news paper business?”

"Bitch, I'm Vect. I do everything." He gives you a thumbs-up before waving you off, and starts talking on the device in his hand.

The twins are waiting for you outside the secretary’s room, both of them looking quite anxious.

“Gee guys, thanks for throwing me under the bus. Your dad says he’s going to toss me into the arena again.”

Both of them startle in panic, grabbing onto you wide-eyed.

“W-what?!” Senna gasps, frantically looking around as though she could spot something to save you.

“He did? Oh no, we thought he’d go easy on you!” Senda bites her nails.

“Totally screwing with you.” You stick out your tongue at them.

“Uggghhh!!!!” Senna bites your shoulder, looking quite angry.

“Jerk.” Senda folds her arms, but you can tell she’s relieved.

“You deserved it, entirely.”

They both nod.

“Anyways, we really do have some stuff we need to get done. We’re both slated to be MC’s for this year’s annual Raiding-Party awards ceremony and neither of us has anything written up yet.” Senda hands you a flier.

“You guys are… Famous?”

“Duh, we’re daughters of the big V, of course we are.” Senna grins.

You walk them back to their room, and they pause at the door.

“We really had fun with you, Max.” Senda smiles.

“Don’t let her fool you, we both really REALLY like you!” Senna gives her sister a playful shove.

“So you’d better come see us again!” They chime in unison, before planting a tandem kiss on your lips.

“Will do.”

With that, they disappear into their chambers.

“You’ve got quite some nerve, motherfucker.” A familiar voice from behind you.

Turning around, you recognize the Dark Eldar pilot who had ferried you around twice now. Only this time, he’s clad in far more regal looking equipment, a look of smug satisfaction on his face. He grins.

“You’re one excellent motherfucker, you know that? That word you put in for me? Yeah. I’m going to be in charge of this place as soon as Vect gets everything finalized.”

“Thought you’d like that.” You grin back.

“Fuck yeah. Now the twins told me they’ve got some work to get done, and knowing them it’s going to take every ounce of concentration and their mother standing over them with a whip, so we gotta get you out of here before they get sidetracked.” He gestures, and you start following him.

“Those two ever get any work done?” You inquire.

“Rarely, now where do you want to go?”

You climb into the ship, the Dark Eldar looking quite happy as he flips switches in his pre-flight check.

Rustling through your stuff, wondering what it was exactly that Eight is up to, your hand grabs something from a pocket and you pull it out.

Oh shit, you’d forgotten you’d had those bloodbowl tickets.

Oh fuck, the game is TODAY IN AN HOUR!!!

Quickly you whip out your communicator, dialing in Kaleshi’s number.

You snap the device to your ear, its ringing.

Come on, come on pick up…

“Hi, it’s Kaleshi, probably out helping dad get some skulls and can’t come to th…”

SHIT!

You cancel the communication and dial it again.

“Pick up damn it…”

Only one last ring left, fuuuuuucckk…

“…Max?”

“Damn girl, answer your calls!”

“Hah! Was Max getting all weak-kneed at the prospect of me not acknowledging him?” Kaleshi laughs.

“Anyways, what’s up?” She asks.

“Well, what are you doing today? In like, an hour?”

“Hmmm?” Kaleshi pauses.

“Well… Daddy wanted to take me along with him to the big game today, why, did you have something in mind?”

“Yeah, as much as I think your dad is a swell guy, I’m taking you to that game. So throw on your sexy panties, let him know, and figure out a way to get me to… Ulagansh…? Because you are going with me.”

“I am SO hot right now.”

“Just as planned. Now seriously, how are we getting to that other planet?”

The Dark Eldar pilot looks over at you, probably wondering where to go.

“Just drop me off in the nearest town.” You block off the receiver and tell him.

The craft lurches to a start, soaring through the air in a hurried frenzy of whining engines. The pilot seems to be enjoying the flight more than usual, and you guess it probably has something to do with his recent promotion.

“So yeah, how are we getting to that planet? Can Doomrider pick me up?” You ask, hoping he can.

“Oh, that will be pretty easy for me. I’ll just pull you through the warp and bring us out on the other side there.” She tells you, as though it was the same as just the everyday drive to the market.

“Doomrider is busy...” She adds.

Well, whatever, so long as it will work.

“Here good?” The pilot asks, and you brofist him as he sets the craft down. With one last wave, you pile out.

“See you around!” He shouts to you before easing the vehicle back up.

“Alright babe, I’m on the ground now. Do you need my location or something? How does this work? Is it dangerous?”

Kaleshi laughs.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’m going to get ready real quick so I’ll send my dog to pick you up. No it isn’t dangerous, that’s only for psychers.”

“Uhhh… Got some bad news then…”

But she’s already hung up!

Before you can dial her again, a warp hole opens up. You peer at it curiously, nothing happening for several seconds…
Until a massive armored creature leaps forth, frothing at the mouth and growling as it bounds toward you.

“Oh fuuuucccckkkk!!!” You break to run, but too late. The creature snaps you up in its jaws before turning around and sprinting back into the warp hole.

What you emerge as on the other side… Dear Emperor, you horrify yourself.

When your world finally stops spinning, you can actually focus. The giant dog thing has dropped you, though not out of wanting to perhaps, but out of necessity.

After all, you are now at least fifteen feet tall or so. Your armor flickers and glows with warp energy, barely large enough to contain your new body that strains against it. With dread, you feel your head and sure enough notice two bony horns jutting from your skull.

“Oh no. This is not good…” Your booming voice fills the small circular room.

Kaleshi pokes her head out of a door, soap in her hair, you can hear the shower steaming in the background.

“Oh!” She looks excited.

“I didn’t know you were actually a daemon prince!”

You look at yourself in a nearby mirror, and almost lose it completely. Sure enough, your mortal self is gone. In its place you now stand, a towering figure of the might of chaos embodied.

“Ho ho! Dad must like you!” She snaps her fingers as if this was more than completely all right in her book.

“I don’t like it, not one bit.” You turn to her.

“Please tell me there’s a way to change back…”

“Huh? Why would you want to do that?” Kaleshi asks.
“Gah, walk over here, I need to finish my shower.” The khornette adds quickly before ducking back inside the room.

You follow her inside, and take a seat on the toilet.

“It kind of messes with my vibe, in a very bad way. There is a way to undo it… Right?” You ask. Though you can see her sleek and well toned body through the semi-blurred glass of the shower, it really isn’t enough to take your mind off this more pressing matter.

“Well, if you REALLY want to undo it, I’m sure Tzeentch can.” Kaleshi assures you as she rinses out her silvery hair.

“Can she? Great!” You suddenly feel a whole lot better.

“Well yeah, but if we do that now we will miss the game. Besides, you look pretty bad-ass and one date out together like that would be pretty cool.”

Bad ass? Really? You check yourself in the bathroom mirror, seeing your new form for a second time. Yeah maybe, what with the spikes and the glowing red armor with gold lining and all. It isn’t necessarily a bad look, it just isn’t YOU.

Wait, what are you trying to tell yourself!? This is time to fucking panic, you don't want to be a daemon prince!!!

"Kaleshi I..."

But the shower door being slammed open cuts you off. The khornette stands there, a massive grin on her face. She looks like she's staring off into the distance, a big smile on her face.

"Quit worrying, we'll get it sorted out you wuss. Now, its time for BLOODBOWL!"

She leaps out of the shower, wrapping a towel around herself mid-air, and sprints back into her room. You hear drawers flying open as she grabs clothes out.

You walk out to her main room, and see she’s already ready to go. In place of her armor; nakedness, or dress, really the only three things you’ve seen her wear, is a jersey. It’s got all the colors of the chaos gods, and a big “# 81 DOOMRIDER” across the back and another 81 on the front. Her shorts are tantalizingly short, and you get sprung, wanna pull out your plasma gun.

“Ready to go!?” She shouts, excited, as she grabs hold of your arm. Which is now about as big around as your entire body used to be.

“Maybe?”

“Great, let’s go!!!” With one last giant grin, the khornette teleports you.

With a crackle of arcane energy, you appear again, only this time in a place truly bizarre. The sky above is a dark hue of violet, and black clouds move across it at a bizarrely fast pace. The stadium is massive, and incredibly crowded.

From the looks of it, nearly every race is represented. Though the vast majority are Orks in their red, blue, and green jerseys of their favorite players, and daemons in the same style of fashion.

“Wow, this is a pretty popular sport.” You muse, forgetting about your current predicament almost entirely.

“You mean you’ve never been to a bloodbowl game?!” She shouts, looking quite shocked.

“Can’t say I have.” You shrug, which is awkward with the giant axe clutched in your hand.

“Oh, you want to drop that off at the weapon check?” She asks.

“Please.”

Kaleshi leads you around after dropping off the axe. The weirdboy at the counter handed you a ticket to reclaim the axe on your way back out after the game.

The khornette is incredibly excited, that much you can be certain. She’s sprinting hand-in-hand with you between different vendors. Some she stops at long enough to maybe even look at something before running off again.

“Hey, what are we looking for, anyways?” You finally ask, after being dragged to the twentieth or so stall.

“Huh? Oh. Bloodcorn.”

Bloodcorn?

She must have found it, because she cheers, her face alight.
The vendor, a scraggly looking old chaos marine, dishes her out a large bowl of the vibrant red snack. Kaleshi munches on it happily as you pull her away to go find your seats.

You can’t seem to find them. Mostly due to the fact you can’t read whatever crazy language half the ticket is written in.

“Hey, can you even read this shit?” You offer her the tickets and she takes them from you.

“Tickets? Why would we need tickets? I’m the daughter of Khorne, we’ve got a private box waiting for us.” She gives you a look as though this were completely obvious.

“Then what about these tickets?” You ask, looking them over.

“Eh, don’t need em. Doomrider gave them to you, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, why?”

“Just wondering. Don’t worry, he won’t care where you sit.”
With that, she takes you by the hand again and starts leading you up a massive staircase. You climb for what feels like an hour. Not that it’s a particularly hard climb, it’s just difficult to maneuver your massive frame through the crowd.

Finally, she steers you right and through an impressive looking door marked with the symbol of Khorne. You pause in the entryway.

“Is uh… Your dad here?” You ask.

“Oh no, of course not silly!” Kaleshi giggles.

“How would he coach from all the way up here?” She grins, pulling you further into the room.

You take the seat next to her, looking around in the lavish place the two of you have entirely to yourselves.

“Oh man, I’m so excited!” She is almost bouncing from the pent up energy.

As if on cue, speakers in the room crackle to life.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Daemons and Orks. Everyone else… Welcome! Welcome welcome! To the twenty thousandth annual Universal Champions Superb Owl!” The booming voice is almost drowned out by the roar of the crowd.

“I’m joined tonight, as always, by John Madden. John, tell me, what do you think the key to this game is going to be tonight?”

“Well Keith, the key to tonight’s game is going to be scoring points while not letting the other team score points. Also, neither team is going to want to lose their star players so dismembering each other is going to be crucial.”

“Straightforward as always, John. Five minutes to kickoff folks!”

Kaleshi can’t stand sitting anymore, she jumps up and rips open a nearby fridge.

“Want one?” She asks, holding out a glowing red drink in a bottle.

“Sure.” You answer, without even thinking it through.

“So hey, is Doomrider going to be joining us here tonight?” You wonder out loud absent mindedly, watching the khornette’s bent over ass as she continues to fish around the fridge.

“Are you dense? Maybe after, but the team needs their star receiver.” She finally settles for the same drink as you, plus a bowl of something that she pours over her bloodcorn.

“Doomrider plays for the daemons?”

“Well yeah, how do you think he got those tickets?” She says before stuffing her mouth with the concoction in the bowl.

“Oh man, bloodcorn with extra blood. So good.” Kaleshi mumbles as she munches away.

You start feeling excited now, watching the field below as both teams pile onto it from their respective sides. Sure enough, you spot Doomrider out there.

“Now the key to a good kickoff return is to run without getting caught by the defense.” Madden says over the system.

“Hey Max, screw the seats let’s take this couch over.” She points to a couch sitting as close to the glass as it can.

“Sounds good.” You aren’t going to complain. The two of you crash down onto it.

Kaleshi sets the bowl aside, half empty, with a satisfied sigh.

“I can never have enough of that stuff.” She smiles as she kicks up her feet and sets them on your lap. You aren’t really a foot guy, but even you have to admit there is something alluring about her well manicured feet as you watch them bounce idly.

Both of you are quickly engrossed in watching as the game starts. The Daemons lost the toss and the Orks have elected to receive. A tall, spindly looking Daemon give the ball a hard boot which sends it sailing back into the Ork line. Apparently with enough force to knock the Ork who caught it… No wait, it blew a hole right through him and kept going.

“What a kick! What. A. Kick!” Keith shouts excitedly over the roar of the crowd.

The Orks scramble, managing to get the ball to the twenty yard line before being piled by a group of quite large and nasty looking Daemons.

Madden mumbles something excitedly, you don’t think anyone could have understood it as he squeals in delight when a Daemon slams into the Ork quarterback, knocking him hard to the ground.

“Oh that hit. I think I came!” Kaleshi shouts, taking a swig of her drink.

You try some of your own, and are actually pretty surprised that you find it quite to your liking.

“Hey, what is this?” You ask, holding the bottle up.

“Oh. Chaos Spawn blood.” Kaleshi tells you like it was just everyday water.

Gross… But you can’t help yourself and drink more, it is pretty damn good.

The game is really starting to heat up now, the Orks having been held to a field goal. The Daemons seem content enough with this, though Khorne is busying himself shredding papers and snapping clipboards in half as seven or so Daemons try to calm him down.

Doomrider goes on a long passing route, and the quarterback finds him deep in the backfield. With an agile leap and juke, the flaming headed daemon makes the rest of the run to the touchdown in a half-dance, half-run, before spiking the ball and raising his arms to the roar of the crowd. A yellow flag lands at his feet.

“Excessive celebra…” The ref never gets a chance to finish, one of the Daemon’s offensive line belts him in the head, crumpling it inward. No one seems to care.

You find yourself really starting to get into it now, cheering and booing along with the cute khornette alongside you. Until things start to go south, and the first and second string quarterback for the Daemons are both knocked out. Well, decapitated…

A whistle blows.

“And with that, we end the fourth quarter. Score tied at twenty one-twenty one as we go into overtime!” Keith seems excited.

“You know Keith, the key to overtime is to win the game.” Madden adds.

Kaleshi bites at her nails nervously, watching intently as the Daemons take the field again. They get their chance at a scoring drive first.

“He drops back, in the pocket, sending four and… OH!” Keith shouts as the Daemon quarterback gets hit from both sides, which literally tears him in two.

“Not a good display of an offensive line there, not good at all.”

“No Keith, you can’t afford to get hit like that. When you get hit after dropping back, you lose yardage.”

“Fuck!” Kaleshi yells, slamming her fists into the glass which she is now pressed against.

“Fuck fuck FFUUUCCCKK!!!!”

“Uh, what’s wrong?” You ask, not knowing all the rules and expecting something went poorly.

“He was the last quarterback, we’re going to have to forfeit!” She bites her lip angrily.

But then… She slowly turns around, staring at you hard, eyes alight with a crazy fire.

“Hey now, I seriously hope you don’t do this…” You start trying to back away slowly.

Too late, she’s already got her hands on you.

“Sorry Max.” She grins apologetically, “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. And also I’m not going home 18-1 again.”

“Oh no…”

“Dad, we’ve got one last player!” She yells, her voice shattering the glass and loud enough that Khorn can hear her from his position down on the field.

“I implore you to reconsideeeeeerrrrrrr!!!!” ...She’s already thrown you out into the open air.

You sail downward, overtop the cheering crowd below.
Thankfully, Doomrider catches you before you can land, and rather than crash down hard he sets you down lightly.

“T-thanks…” You tell him, feeling shaky.

“DON’T MENTION IT. NOW, CAN YOU THROW?!” He asks, handing you a ball.

Well, you did qualify pretty high with grenades…

“Too late, get out there!” Khorne boots you from behind, sending you flailing out onto the field. The players huddle around you, eager to hear your play.

“In the shotgun, he drops back, sets… It’s a fake! He’s ducking around the left side, the line opening up a nice hole…”

“He’s going! This could be big! Yes, he’s through the defenders and still going strong! Three on his heels but damn this boy can run! Down to the fifty, into Ork territory now! Still going! OHHH!!! And he’s taken down at the Ork’s own eighteen yard line! What a play! What a run!”

"LAAAANDDDDD DRAAAAGGOONNNNN!!!!" The Daemon crowd booms while the Ork's yell in disbelief.

“That is how you run the football, Keith. You just put one foot in front of the other and run.”

You groan as you pick yourself up off of the field, and despite the pain from being hit by two charging Orks, you feel elated. Your first play in bloodbowl, ever, at the greatest game in the universe, and you’ve just run a sixty nine yard play!

“NICE ONE!” Doomrider shouts, slapping you on the back happily. It’s now first and eighteen, you haven’t scored yet…

“I like that number.” Slaanesh grins as it sips something from a glass, crossing it’s legs which causes it’s bulge to show even more.

“You would, wouldn’t you.” Nurgle laughs, downing some of his own drink.

“In the shotgun, it looks like he’s going to go for the rest of it on first. Doomrider goes left, double covered. Dropping back, pump fake… WOW! Barely manages to break a tackle! Under pressure now, he’s got to get the ball out! Doomrider breaks one cover… Runs back… Oh, he’s grabbed Doomrider! He throws, and….!!!”

“What a throw! Doomrider completes the… Well I guess it’s a pass? Down to the two yard line, and for yet another first down! I’ll tell ya folks, in all my years watching this sport, this! This is what bloodbowl is all about!”

The team all knock the grinning Doomrider on the helmet, and you can’t help but cheer along. Thankfully your demonic powers have given you quite the arm, as required to throw Doomrider that far. The crowd is roaring all around you, whipped up into a frenzy.

This feeling… This is amazing. You feel like the king of everything.

“NICE PLAY MAN, YOU WERE RIGHT, THAT DID WORK!” Doomrider gives you a friendly shake.

“All right guys, here’s what we’re going to do now…” The players huddle around you as you talk.

“Setup in the I formation…. Quick hand-off to Kharn, he runs forw… Holy shit he’s got a chainaxe!”

Sure enough, Kharn the fullback is busying himself slamming the axe into Orks as he runs forwards, howling madly with glee.

…He gets the two yards with ease.

“TOUCHDOWN DAEMONS!” You hear the announcer yell.

“Unfortunately, Keith, weapons have been banned since the Mike Pereria convention on them. The touchdown still stands because the Daemons would probably kill anyone who tried to overturn it, but Kharn will have to sit out the rest of the game per the rules.”

That doesn’t stop the crowd form chanting his name.

“Kharn! Kharn Kharn!” They yell.

Now, the defense just has to keep the Orks from scoring a touchdown and you’ve got this in the bag, as the kick was good.

Shit, they scored…

“Fucking shit!” Khorne yells, throwing a chair at the defensive line.

“OK MAX, TIME TO SHINE!” Doomrider helps you to your feet off of the bench.

You look up to Khorne’s personal box and see Kaleshi nervously biting at her nails as she watches. Fuck, you have to win this game, for her.

The team crowds around you on the field as you take over at your own ten.

“Right guys, we are going to finish this shit here. Grox! You and Gronk just fucking kill whoever tries to cover Doomrider. We’re going for the dragon here. Doomrider, its coming right at you buddy.”

“GOT IT, WE’LL END IT HERE!” He grins.

“Back in the shotgun, it looks like they are setting up to go long here.” Keith commentates.

“I’d say they are going to throw the ball.” Madden agrees.
You drop back, the massive linemen in front of you barely managing to hold back the onslaught of charging Orks. You have to give Doomrider enough time to make it downfield.

Shit! Two Nobs break through, headed right at you!

You break right, just in time to avoid them.

Through the corner of your eye you see Gronk punch the head clean off of a defender, and Doomrider looking back over his shoulder.

Now or never.

You throw with all of your might.

The ball sails through the air, you watch it until you get hit from the side and knocked to the ground.

Did it work?

The stadium is incredibly silent for a few moments.
Until…

“Pass completed by number eighty one, Doomrider! TOUCHDOWN DAEMONS!” Keith yells, and you can hear the excitement in his voice and the crowd’s collective one as it erupts into noise.

“FUCKING NICE THROW, FUCKING NICE!” Khorne yells as he helps you to your feet, slapping you hard on the back.

Above you see Kaleshi cheering for you.

You spot Doomrider running back, a massive grin on his flaming skeletal face.

The world is almost torn asunder at your epic bro-fist as his knuckles collide with your own.

“NICE THROW!” He yells.

“Nice catch!” You return.

Both of you sit down and watch, which is all you can do now as the defense takes the field yet again.

…And lets the Orks hammer in another one.

“Fuck!” You shout, but then you notice your team all grabbing things off of a table.

Doomrider approaches, holding a plasma pistol and a daemonic axe.

“Hey, what’s going on now?” You inquire.

“SUDDEN DEATH MAN!” Doomrider looks downright joyful.

“Huh, what’s that mean?” You ask as you stand up.

“SIMPLE, MY FRIEND! KILL EVERYONE ON THE OTHER TEAM WITHOUT DYING YOURSELF!”

"Oh..."

“I like where this game is going.” You reply with an evil smirk.
Oh fuck it, you slip into the chainfists. Two of your teammates help you out, and get them secured.

After, you grab the daemon axe and the flamer off the table.
Kaleshi appears suddenly at your side, grinning ear to ear.

“This is the greatest game ever. But you had better not die here, I’ll be pissed if you do.” With that, she sets a pair of sunglasses on you and sticks a lit cigar in your mouth.

“Hey, where did you get a cigar?” You wonder.

“Oh that? Creed handed it to me and told me to give it to you, he seemed REALLY pushy now that I think about it…” She trails off, her face screwed up as she thinks back.

“Well, tell him thanks. I guess?”

Kaleshi grins, before giving you a kiss on the lips. This causes you to panic slightly, as Khorne is standing right fucking there, but he doesn’t seem to give a single fuck today. He just wants a ring.

“HAHA, TIME FOR SUDDEN DEATH!” Doomrider cackles, stepping back onto the field.

Across from him stand the entirety of the Ork team, looking tough and mean in their ‘eavy arma, powerklaws and bit choppas flashing in the sun.

With one last kiss from Kaleshi, you follow the team back onto the field, lining up opposite the Orks.

“Now the rules are pretty simple for sudden death.” Madden announces, “You just have to kill the other team without dying yourself.”

A whistle blows, and without hesitation, you charge forward.
Both sides meet in a frenzy of slashing blades and roaring gunfire. It’s a bloodgasm.

You lash out again and again with the daemon axe, which cuts into Orks easily, severing one entirely through the middle. Though your celebration is cut short when you see several of your own team falling to the ground, and a particularly large Nob makes you his target.

Lashing out with the flamer, you watch as the fire nicks at the Ork, who doesn’t seem overly bothered…

His powerklaw knocks the axe right out of your hand, and the flamer runs dry.

Time for chainfists!

With a massive punch, you drive one fist right into the nob’s stomach. He grunts as the weapon pierces right into him, shredding him from the inside out.

Another runs at you, and you swing the fist into him, drawing a nasty gaping wound across his throat.

Shit, another’s got you from behind!

You can’t do anything in time, he’s going to smash you with his choppa from behind!

*BZZT*

What the fuck?

A miniature baneblade turret extends itself from the cigar, takes aim, and sends a high-explosive shell straight into the Ork’s head, where both explode in a fireball of blood and skull chunks.

---
Creed takes a long, pleasurable draw of his cigar as he watches.

”Fuck I love it when a good plan comes together.” He grins.
---

Wasting no time, you delve right back into the fight. You notice Doomrider slashing and shooting, clearly having the time of his life out here.

With one last powerful thrust, you drive your chainfist into the mouth of the last remaining Ork. Blood spews from the back of his cranium as the chainfist burrows right through it, spraying you with Ork blood and brains.

The crowd goes from an impossibly loud roar, to pure fucking insanity.

Khorne can’t contain himself, leaping up onto a table and facing the Ork side of the stadium.

“Suck it you green skinned fucks! I am made of fucking rings!” He howls, lewdly thrusting his pelvis in their direction.

“Max!” You hear Kaleshi yell, and you catch her as she leaps into your arms.

“Well there you have it folks, the Daemons have just won this year’s Suberb Owl!” The announcer, Keith, sounds ecstatic.

“I love this game!” Madden yells.

Khorne gets the team rounded up and leads you all up onto a massive stage just set up.

Kaleshi is still clinging to you happily, mumbling something about Ork dome babies or something.

"What a game, John, what a game. I haven't seen bloodbowl that good in ten millenia."

"It was a great game of bloodbowl!" Madden agrees.

They are both at a podium on the stage now, Khorne standing near them.

"It's with great honor that I declare the Daemons as this year's champions of the universe and present them with the superb owl!" Keith raises his hand to the sky with Khorne's.

As if on cue, a massive being of unspeakable horror descends into the stadium. It's six heads snap viciously as its nine wings flap to keep it from plummeting straight down. In unison its twelve beaks open and utter a song that would have turned you stark raving mad were you still a mere mortal. It's black feathers ruffle as it finally lands, and Khorne throws one ARM around it.

"Rings for the ring king!" He shouts, as all of you are presented with a ring detailing your victory here today in solid gold.

You snatch up Kaleshi in one arm, get close to Doomrider, and have a team mate snap your pic.

You spot what you are looking for, a Dark Eldar taking photos of the end of game celebration. He seems quite giddy about it, must be a high paying job.

"You with Vect?" You ask as the bulb flashes.

"Well... Yeah, why?" He asks, befuddled.

"Give him this picture and tell him it's from Max Parker, he'll get it." You hand him the camera with the picture of you and Doomrider in it's data disk.

Khorne meanwhile, looks like he's about to almost cry. He motions for you to all stand in front of him.

"This has been... The great- the greatest season, I've ever had the pleasure of coaching." He sniffs, broken up slightly.

"This one's for you guys, you've earned it!" He shouts, raising the cawing Superb Owl over his head in victory.

Suddenly from behind him, two defensive linemen dump the container of 'nidade on him. The frigid orange power drink spilling over his armor, drenching him. It only seems to make him more emotional.

"To the greatest sports franchise of all time!" He shouts once more, and the entire stadium booms it's response.

Kaleshi is cheering along for you even as she leaps up into your arms and delivers a nice kiss. You take notice as the same reporter you handed the camera to snaps a picture. Not that you care.

"WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, MY FRIEND!" Doomrider sings, shaking your shoulder lightly and grinning.

"Yeah, we are!" You smile back at him, more glad than ever that you hadn't actually offed him all those days ago.

You heft your hand, and peer at the golden ring on your palm. It's heavy, encrusted with jewels, and read "Dastardly Daemons: Superb Owl Champions" in several colors of gem.

"You'd better get dad off of the stage before he completely loses it..." Kaleshi whispers in your ear. You have to admit, you like the feeling.

"Hey big guy, lets ditch this joint and go celebrate!" You yell up at him, and the rest of the team joins along.

"Hold on, I just want to say something..." The god says, holding up a hand.

"Y-you guys are the b-best..." Oh no, he's starting to break down.

"The greatest guys, I *sob* I've ever had the pleasure of coaching. I just want you to know that. I just..." But he's already lost it, stammering away into the mic, no one understanding more than a word every few yammering moments.

Kaleshi gets you to set her down, and gingerly grasps the overly emotional chaos god by the arm.

"They know you love them dad, lets get you something to eat..." With that, Khorne lets his daughter take him away.

"Hey Max!" She calls over her shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"We're having an after party at the chaos god's place, I want you there. I'll take dad there, but try to find a way without me, otherwise I'll have to warp back to pick you up."

"Got it."

Well, no time like the present to test out these demonic gifts while you have them.

"Mr. Decarus, Mr. Decarus!" A reporter calls out to you, shoving a mic in front of you.

"What is it you plan on doing now that you've won the Superb Owl?"

Hmm, you think on that for a moment...

"I'm taking that khornette to DISNEYLAND!" You shout, before firing up your mind powers.

With an audible SNAP CRACKLE POP, MOTHERFUCKER! You open up a warp hole and step on through.

A plane almost takes off your head as it comes in for a landing.

"Watch it!" You hear someone yell from inside. Two pantsless girls buzz over your head and, feeling it's best you leave, you try it again...

The Emperor looks up from his position atop the "golden throne" as it were, from behind his copy of the latest "Surfing 'round the Galaxy".

"Dude..."

"Right, sorry!"

You try it again, and this time you see Kaleshi upon stepping out.

"Finally, I was beginning to think that wouldn't work..."

"Heh, took you long enough." She smiles at you, before taking your hand and leading you into the main room.

"Hey! My man!" Nurgle yells, setting aside a massive leg of meat he'd just about taken a bite out of.

"Err... Hey Nurgle..."

"Oh man, you're a daemon prince now?" Slaanesh looks as though it can barely contain itself, "Excuse me, I've got to use the little gods room..."

Gross...

"I was totally rooting for you bro! That shit was based as fuck!" Nurgle pounds the table, grinning excitedly.

"Oh, you need the bathroom Slaanesh? Huh? Well, yeah I guess there's plenty of tissue paper, why?" You hear the booming voice of the Emperor as he walks out of the bathroom.

Well, at least that second teleport got you close.

"Hey Ma... Dude what the fuck did you do?!" He asks, obviously quite shocked by your new appearance.

"Yeah, perils of the warp and whatnot. Think your girlfriend can change me back?"

"Uhh... I hope so man, I hope so."

"Great! Can we have her do that now? Please?"

"Well, she's not going to be here for a while... Mumbled something about Creed messing with her plans or something, man." He rubs the back of his head.

"Well, I guess you're just stuck like this for a while, then." Kaleshi smiles, and you can tell she's not complaining about it.

"Hey, where's your dad?" You ask her.

"Huh? Oh, still having a mental breakdown in his room. Keeps stammering 19-0 between fits of crying and laughter."

"Oh, rough..." You don't want to know any more. Watching a grown god cry is painful.

"Yeah man, lets get some chow already, I'm starving!" The Emperor takes a seat at the table. You and Kaleshi follow suit.

"Hey, Max! Before I forget, don't leave without opening the gift I made you." Nurgle says, leaning over the table to make sure you heard him.

"Err... Will do." Fuck, you aren't sure what a gift from Nurgle entails. You are pretty sure you don't want to open it though.

As nervous as the gift thing makes you, you can't deny the fact that you are downright starving. With the appetite befitting a daemon prince, you dig in to the spread laid out before you.

Slaanesh finally comes back from the bathroom a good half hour later, covered in sweat and stinking of sex. That thought is deeply disturbing.

It must not bother you too badly, because you keep stuffing your face. Kaleshi seems to like watching you, as though it were some kind of base instinct of hers. She greedily scoops up more food and drops it onto your plate, and you keep consuming.

In fact, it seems to have made her quite... Eager? You can feel her nails digging into your leg and one of her fangs is biting into her lower lip as she watches you eat.

"Uhh, something wrong?" You finally ask.

"What?! No, nothing. I just like watching you being a manly man, daemon, is all." She coos, her fingers walking toward your...

"Hey! What are you doing?!?" You ask with your eyes.

"Oh shut up, you know you like it." Hers respond as she smirks.

"Tadaimaaaa!!!!" Tzeentch yells as she boots open the door. Though upon seeing you, her expression darkens.

"Oh, hiya Tzeentch!" You smile and call out to her.

"Erk... Hi." She waves back halfheartedly.

"Hey babe, sit down and grab some chow!" The Emperor gestures to the seat next to him.

Her eyes sparkle at seeing him, and you can tell plain as day that there is a ton of affection behind them. That's nice, to see that. You are pretty happy the Emps found himself somebody to love. Ohhh don't you want somebody to loooooovveeee.

Well, you might get that wish. Kaleshi's hand seems to have found a way inside your codpiece. She rests her head on her hand, a smile on her face, as she looks like she's following along with the conversation between Nurgle, the Emperor, and Tzeentch. Slaanesh however, has it's eyes locked right with yours. It winks, as though knowing exactly what's going on under the table.

"H-hey, Kaleshi! Can we wait until later? Now's probably a bad time..." But you trail off upon noticing her other arm is picking up a glass of water.

Meaning...

"Oh hell no!" You stand up, shoving yourself away from the table. Slaanesh's noodle-like extendable arm flopping out of your armor as it drops your junk.

"Haha, that's our Slaanesh!" Nurlge laughs, nudging the other god.

You feel like you could use a shower...

----

You stand up, and walk over to the god-godess, thing of pleasure.

"Hey, I like that." You whisper in it's ear.

"Oh do you? Well, I'm built for pleasure baby. Lets go rock the casbah."

"I'm going to rock YOUR casbah, you slut."

"My thirty dicks are rock hard."

You grin.

"So are mine."

"Oh god, I'm going to cum from all this frotting!" You can't stop your hips, they are moving on their own now.

"Max you sexy fucking beast, give me all the chocolate!" You oblige and drop the load out of your rear hatch.

"Hey guys, its vore time!" The horrible maw of Ra'alman bursts through the floor, and before either of you can react, it swallows you whole.

"Oh gods, these tentacles feel soo goooooddddd.... HNGGGGGG!!!!" Slaanesh is busy ejaculating copious amounts, fertilizing the plethora of eggs before it.

"Oh Ra'alman, getting started without me, you tease." Lycheria clucks her tongue as she steps into view.

She looks you up and down, frowning.

"Now this simply won't do! I need an anus AND a vagoo to rape!" She purrs, as she watches you start to transform before her very eyes.

"Oh noooo!!!!" But you can't do anything as tentacles invade your freshly appeared female orifices.

----

"H-hey Nurgle..." You try to guide the conversation away from the fact that you just got manhandled by a god, "You mentioned something about a gift? Lets do that before we both forget."

Nurlge belches into his fist as he shakes his head.

"Yeah, probably a good idea. Hey Isha, you mind grabbing it for me?" He asks the very quiet Eldar goddess seated next to him. So quiet and timid looking you didn't even notice her siting there until now.

The goddess smiles, giving her big hubby a peck on the cheek as she gets out of her chair. Nurgle turns as much as he can to watch her, and you get the feeling the big guy is still head over heels for her.

When she returns, it's with a big box maybe six feet in length. That immediately sparks your interest, as you'd thought it would be something small. Perhaps seeping puss, but maybe you aren't giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Isha sets the package before you, and you stare at the green-papered box with a pink bow on it. Suddenly and perhaps rightly nervous about opening it.

Too late now though, Nurlge presses close, grinning with anticipation as he watches you.

With a final gulp, and quite unsteady fingers, you undo the ribbon...

Unwrap the paper...

Open the box and...!

Oh, well that certainly wasn't so bad.

You look down at a sword, though you can tell by its faint green aura that it isn't just any sword.

"Go on, pick it up!" He urges you, a wide grin on his face.
Well, it doesn’t APPEAR to be dangerous. Though admittedly, it could eat your soul or something the second you so much as touch it.

Finally you oblige him, you would feel too bad if you left the poor guy hanging. It looks like he’s put a lot of effort into it. Your hands wrap around the cool leather handle of the blade, and you pull it from the box. It’s heavy, and quite long, but it still feels well balanced.

“Took me quite a while to forge that.” Nurlge smiles and points at the sword.

“I can tell, it’s quality is superb.” You marvel. Despite not knowing that much about blades, even you can feel the quality.

“It is! Not only that, but I’ve blessed it too!” The fat green god looks quite satisfied with himself.

“He means he sat on it…” Tzeentch whispers in your ear.

Eww…

“Yes, it’s quite a blade. One cut from that, even one not mortal, will deliver a toxin so foul it can bring even the most stalwart of creatures to the brink of death.” Nurgle continues on and on about its craftsmanship as you listen.

“Wow, that IS quite a sword.” Kaleshi’s eyebrows raise as you hand it to her, and she expertly hefts it, standing up and giving it a few swings.

Nurgle’s usually joyous voice suddenly takes a much more serious tone.

“I’m giving that to you for one reason, Max. I’m sure you know by now, but Malal is on the rise and threatens everything we’ve been striving for now. He doesn’t want this peace, bad for him, you see. He’s going to come for you, and when he does, it’s going to take everything you’ve got to fend him off.”

The other chaos gods look quite a bit more solemn now, even Khorne who’s just rejoined you all. He sits down, nodding his head.

“Nurgle’s right. Malal knows you’re the champion of this whole unification effort, he isn’t stupid. If he cuts you out of this equation, there is a good chance this whole plan will fall apart. Right, Tzeentch?”

The raven goddess nods solemnly.

“Don’t worry though, dude.” The Emperor smiles, trying to lighten the mood, “We’re going to do our best to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

You smile around the table, suddenly more glad than ever to have so many good friends. Though it does still feel a bit strange to be friends with chaos gods…

“He’s right, I’ll fight the bastard off personally if I have to.” Kaleshi grins at you.

“You guys… I just… Thanks.” You finally beam at them.
A long, drawn out silence almost begins.

“Not letting that happen, it’s penis time!” Slaanesh flops down a tangle of wangs on the table, and everyone breaks and starts to run off. You taking Kaleshi by the hand as she cracks up.

Only the Emperor stops suddenly, falling to a knee and putting a hand to his chest.

"What's wrong, dea... Oh. I feel it too." Tzeentch suddenly stops, her already pale face becoming all the more white.

"Guys? Uhh..." You look around, all of the deities seemingly frozen in place.

"What is it?" You blurt out.

"Him." The Emperor blinks rapidly, rubbing his head as though in disbelief.

"Who?"

The Emperor shakes his head slowly, as though still uncertain. As though he wants to be wrong.

“I don’t believe it, I can’t believe it.” He mumbles.

“This isn’t good, we can be certain of that.” Khorne agrees.

“N-not as planned…” Tzeentch sinks down to join the Emperor.

“Kind of a turn-off.” Slaanesh leans back in its chair, looking a bit dazed.

“I don’t know how he did it…” Nurgle is just sitting there, shaking his head.

“Did what?! Who or what are you all talking about!? What’s going on?!!?!”

The Emperor looks back up at you solemnly, grimly.

“Horus.” He finally says, “Horus is alive again, somehow.”

Your blood runs cold. You swallow, hard.

“That can’t be right, he’s dead, we all know that. He’s dead and Abbadon destroyed any remnants of the body!”

“Did he, now… Interesting. It doesn’t appear to have mattered, though.” An icy voice from behind you, and judging from the gazes of everyone in the room, you really wish it was all just a bad dream.

“Hello, father.” Horus sneers, practically spitting the words, resting his hand on his sword as the point sinks slightly into the floor.

You remain frozen in the spot you stand. Everyone does.

“Well, don’t all rush to greet me at once… Poor old Horus, dead Horus, rises from the grave and you’ve nothing to say? Especially you!” He gestures with the hilt of his sword toward the Emperor.

The golden-armored god-emperor of mankind rises from his position, his face hard and his eyes steel. When he talks, it unlike anything you’ve heard him sound like.

“You’re no son of mine, Horus. You lost that privilege, you lost it long ago. I don’t know what you’re doing here, or why. I don’t care, it matters not. Leave now, and I’ll be merciful enough to end you again quietly, I’ll give you a warrior’s death. A rite you certainly don’t deserve. But…” He unsheathes his own flaming sword, holding it at the low ready.

“If you don’t go, and now, I’ll end you here. I’ll end you here and all will bear witness to your death. Tales will be told and songs sung of the second end of the once mighty and beloved Horus. They will speak of your pathetic downfall at the point of my blade, how you were put down once more, only with a whimper in place of a roar.”

Horus glowers as the Emperor speaks, his face, already grotesque, stretching to a sneering glare. With a low guttural growl, Horus hefts his blade.

“We shall see then, Father, who it is between us that deserves this universe. For you see, I fight with the power of Malal now.” He grins a wicked smile, tapping at the fresh two-tone skull’s emblazoned on his armor.

“It matters not with whom you align, your demise will be just the same.”

Horus glares.

“Have at you than, bastard.”

You roll out of the way just in time, Horus’s blade coming within millimeters of you. The Emperor’s own sword flashes out and crashes against the tainted edge of the lost Primarch’s.

“Surprise, motherfucker!” You howl, as you swing your own sword and enter the fray. Horus, looking quite bored, knocks your attack away.

“Damn it, Max! Now isn’t the time for that!” The Emperor yells as he parries a downward blow.

“Don’t you think I know that?! Don’t act like I know what I’m doing! I don’t! EVER!”

You swing again, your sword almost getting knocked out of your hands as Horus blocks it easily. Frustrated, you swing again and again and again. Despite your flurry of attacks, Horus hardly seems to take notice of you as he duels the Emperor.

“Grrr… Take this!” You shout, as you thrust with all of your might.

Only Horus catches your blade with his clawed fist, daemonic energy crackling as he does.

“Brave, but foolish.”

Your eyes fly wide open as you feel the tip of his sword sink into your chest, right through your armor as though it hadn’t been there in the first place. It keeps going, and you can feel the cold metal inside your guts as it pierces deeper and deeper, until it bursts from your back. With one ragged gasp, you crumple to the floor as Horus withdraws his sword.

As you stumble backwards, you notice, despite yourself, that your body is phasing back into its human form. That doesn’t seem to stop the bleeding, though.

“F-fuck…?” You stumble backwards, clutching at the wound as your heart continues to pump, forcing blood out of your punctured body in waves.

The Emperor and Horus are locked now, blade to blade, each pressing against the other with all of their might.

You do the only thing you can think of. Activate your plasma cannon.

The blast catches Horus by surprise, and despite not inuring him, it forces him to fall back. The Emperor seizes the opportunity, lashing out with his sword. Horus blocks it again, but realizes too late he’s left himself open.

“DIE!” Kaleshi rages, swinging her chainaxe as fast as she can at Horus’s exposed back. You don’t think you’ve ever seen her so furious.

“Tch!” Horus suddenly warps out of the path of the blade, and it appears out of the area entirely.

“Max!” Screams Kaleshi, though you can only hear her.
Your vision is growing dark quickly, though you manage to make out some kind of black liquid forcing itself inside of your wound, the same black liquid you’d noticed was coating Horus’s blade.

“Hello… Max…” Something hisses in your mind.

“Who are you?” You ask the entity.

“Oh? You don’t know who I am? I’m the hate burning inside your mind, boy. The malice that fills you like a chalice. I am Malal.”

“Don’t get used to this, you blathering fool. You aren’t taking up permanent residence here.” Another voice, also familiar.

“Tzeentch? Sister, what a pleasant surprise!”

“It’s no surprise, mind games are my territory. And I’m no sister of yours.”

“Ever the hostile one, aren’t you. You always were, though. All of you were. But now… Now it’s my time, it’s Malal’s time!” The other voice again, sounding as though it’s sanity is beginning to slip.

“Even if that were true, it certainly won’t be here. You are leaving this human, like it or not.”

“HAH! You know the struggle would tear this mortal asunder!”

“I do…” The raven goddess’s calculated response, “Which is why I propose a counter-offer.”

“Which would be?” Malal hisses stiffly.

“A game. If I win, you leave his mind.”

“Hmph, how dull. If I should win? What then, is my prize? Aside from this mortal, whom I already own?”

“Pick your prize, I know not what a wretch such as you desires.”

Malal thinks it over, though you can only guess that because you can’t see anything as this is all taking place in your own mind. Somehow.

“I know, I know… If I win, I get your child!”

The raven goddess stiffens, clearly not having expected this.
“…Fine.” She finally mutters, though you can tell it truly isn’t something she wishes to wager.

“Well, now that we have that inconvenience out of the way. What game do you propose?”

"Pah, as though you had to even ask. We play the game we gods always play."

"Oh, you mean controlling fleshy pawns around on a battlefield until one of us beats the other?"

"Tabletop, exactly."

"Very well, Tzeentch, I accept your terms."

"Heeeyyyy Grey Knights!" An unknown female inquisitor peeks her head around the corner.

Brother Captain Ulner stares at her, having never seen her on the ship before.

"Inquisitor?" He finally asks.

"Yeah, there's some crazy amounts of daemons and heresy going on right now."

"Daemons AND Heresy? Where? Now?" He's excited by the prospect.

"Planetside, right now." The inquisitor smiles...

"Fuck you and your broken assed army you cheating fuck!" Malal howls as he watches the last of his troops being wiped up.

"Feh, too predictable, I knew you'd go with a daemon heavy army."

"You underhanded bitch!"

"Heh. Just as planned."

Tzeentch had been waiting to try that out, and it had worked perfectly.

You come to, waking up on a soft bed. Though your head feels like it's on fire, you reach down and notice the wound in your chest is gone. Something has also removed your power armor.

There is also something warm and wet dropping onto your bare chest.

"H-huh...?" You inquire drowsily, reaching around.

"Max!"

Something incredibly warm flings itself around you, forcing you back down onto the bed.

"K-Kaleshi...?"

The khornette buries herself deeper into your neck, sobbing now. You can feel her entire body trembling.

"Hey... Its-Its all right..." You reach up and put your arms around her.

"I thought you were a goner!" She wails, and you can feel the very hot stream of tears flowing off of you and soaking the pillow.

"As though I could possibly die..." You manage a weak smile.

"Don't ever do that again, do you hear me!" She suddenly pulls away and shakes you a little, before collapsing again and continuing to cry.

Eventually she finally calms down, and you stroke her hair as she starts to fall asleep.

"You'd better not die, I don't want to have you stuck in the warp all of the time. I'd like to be able to do other stuff." She snuggles into your side.

"I won't die, I promise."

"...I'll hold you to that." She says.

You fall asleep in each others arms.

----

Frederick almost cant contain himself, nearly fidgeting in his seat. This has got to be the greatest moment of his entire life, no, he knows it is. In fact, he would throw away EVERYTHING for just this moment.

Despite the movie going; projector flashing images of the glorious Partridges as they heroically battle Horus and his army of evil, the speakers dropping a sick battle beat, Frederick can only concentrate on one thing.

Helena's hand rests on the arm of her seat, and she at least looks like she's watching intently. Though really, Helena is wondering when this gearhead is going to cowboy up and make some kind of move.

Her question is answered when she feels something brush, then ultimately rest on top of her hand. Looking over, she can see Frederick's bright level of "holy shit I did it, wow!" red even in the dim lit theater.

Helena smiles, without letting him see it.

"YES!" The glory bells of victory are playing in her head.

"He finally did something! Thank you Emprah!"

Frederick can barely keep his cool. It takes almost all of his concentration to prevent his mechanical arms from whipping around in some kind of bizarre robotic victory dance.

"Keep it cool, man! Don't make it seem like this is..." But he can't even finish his inner monologue.

Helena, gracious at his final advances, has intertwined his fingers in her own.

Frederick looks over at her, feeling as though his hear has stopped, as she looks at him. A small, but pronounced smile on her luscious lips.

The smile is all Helena can manage, her own heart beating at a million miles an hour. Sure she's fooled around with Sarah plenty of times... But somehow, this feels different. So exciting and real.

With her fingers, Helena can feel Frederick shaking.

"Hey, you uh... Alright, mekboy?"

"Huh?! Oh yes, I'm quite all right, really!" He exclaims, nearly jumping out of his chair from excitement.

Frederick can feel his hearts hammering in his chest. Even his mechanical one seems to be ecstatic.

Partridges defeat Horus, declared the saviors of human kind. Roll credits.

"Hey, you um..." Helena bites her lip, looking over at Frederick.

"Want to go grab some food?" She asks.

"What? Oh, of coarse, yes lets!" He exclaims, jumping up.

He stops in his tracks.

"D-don't let go of my hand..." Helena asks, averting her eyes and blushing furiously despite herself.

"HNNGGGGGGG...." Frederick turns away, feeling his mechanical heart stop.

"Ah! Are you all right!?"

"Fine... Fine..." He manages. In truth, both his hearts could cease right now and he would die the happiest tech-priest in the universe.

Hand-in-hand, the couple walk out of the theater. Frederick incredibly glad he did this, and Helena shocked but happy at her onrush of feeling. She smiles as she lets him lead her by the hand. Closing her eyes, she suddenly feels like she doesn't have a care in the world.

"Well... Except for that dumb brother of mine... When is he going to write? Honestly..." She thinks to herself, before forgetting her troubles and laughing as Frederick helps her onto the bike.

----

"AND SO, THATS WHEN HE THROWS THE BALL, AND GET THIS." Doomrider grins, taking a sip of the glass as all three hundred daemonettes press in close, wanting to hear him finish the story.

"I CATCH IT."

He cackles madly at the fleshy wave of flesh pressing in on him from all sides. This is going to be an enjoyable night.

A very enjoyable night.

"MAX, YOU INCREDIBLE BASTARD, WE ARE SUPERB OWL NOW!"

With that, he succombs to the tidal wave force of what is now a million wet and incredibly worked up daemonettes of all shapes, colors, and sizes.

...In the end, he pleasures them all within the night.

"AHHHH!!!" Doomrider exclaims, wiping his nose off the following morning, "NOTHING LIKE THE FIRST LINE OF MORNING COCAINE!"

"Hey Doomrider! Get back here, we're ready for round five hundred!" The daemonettes exclaim.

"LADIES PLEASE! I'M ENJOYING MY BREAKFAST WHILE STARING AT MY INCREDIBLY AWESOME CHAMPION RING!"

"Awwwwwww...." They pout.

"AWW WHO AM I KIDDING, GET ON MY TWELVE DICKS!" With that, he jumps back into the pile.

----

Vect sighs as he leans back in his chair, looking around his rather plush office.

Yeah, this is the big life.

"I'm pretty god damn baller." He grins, chomping on his cigar as he kicks his feet up.

"Sir!" An intrusion bursts through his door.

"Fucking hell Parker, you'd better have one assload of a scoop to be barging in on me like that! Can't you see I'm taking it easy?"

"Err... Its Steve, sir..."

"Whatever, what have you got for me Parker?"

The Dark Eldar reporter sighs, this is the tenth time he's given Vect a story and not once has the guy remembered his name...

"Well sir, I got you a story on the big game."

"Oh! The superb owl? Daemons won it this year... Great game, you made one hell of a toss there Parker."

"...That wasn't me, sir..."

"Whatever, show me what you've got."

The reporter sets down a printed page, a rough draft, of what he's been working on.

On the front, a picture of the stand in quarterback with Khorne's daughter in his arms and Doomrider right beside him.

"Shit!" Vect exclaims, tossing the article aside.

"...What? Sir..."

"Pure shit, it's garbage, its aweful. I'll give you three slave girls and nine souls for it."

"Well, that's a pretty generou..."

"Just nod, say thank you, and get the fuck out of my office."

"Thank you sir!"

Vect sighs. Parker has been pretty damn annoying recently, even if he is superb owl champion.

---

Kais bites his lip as he watches the screen. It was a case of incredible intuition that he'd planted a small, hidden camera at the edge of the hot springs.

That intuition was paying off tenfold now.

"The battle begins at last." He groans as he faptau's.

Thirty sisters of battle.

THIRTY!

They giggle as they wash themselves off, having long ago ditched their armor at the beach leading to the spring. He'd already had one greater good watching that, and he felt another one building up.

"Ah! Hey, watch it!" One exclaims as another grabs her by the breasts from behind, working them around in rough circles.

"Oh don't watch it. Work those, work those HARD." He grunts, his massive muscled arm pumping furiously. "Mmm I see what your plan is..."

Wow, now they are rubbing against one another, soap alleviating some of the friction. He can't handle all of this, its simply too much.

"It's come to this, has it?" His arm working furiously.

The girls are kissing now. Why are they kissing?! He can't handle this, he knows he can't handle this!!!!

...!

He coats an entire wall in his genetic material. Too bad there aren't any hot female kroot here to lick it up, he thinks faintly.

"Carry on...without me..." He finally moans, before sinking to the ground, utterly satisfied.

---

"...It was a triumph..."

Mika pauses her work, flipping up her goggles and peering at SLaDOS.

"Are we really doing this?"

"Yes."

Mika sighs.

"Fine, but just this once..."

"I'm making a note here, huge success." SLaDOS starts singing again happily.

"It's hard to overstate my satisfaction." Mika sings, her voice echoing sweetly through the chamber.

SLaDOS is happy, it finally gets to have it's musical number.

"Imperial Science... We do what we must... because we can." The robotic guardian of the fortress sings.

"For the good of all of us. Except the ones who are dead." Mika sings, setting aside her wrench and starting a cute little dance. She blushes, glad Max isn't here to see her sillyness...

"But there's no sense crying over every mistake." SLaDOS continues, keeping the beat.

"You just keep on trying till you run out of cake." Mika sings along, starting to get into it, a big smile on her face.

"And the Science gets done."

"And you make a neat gun." Mika sings, hitting the right notes and feeling downright pleased with herself.

"For the people who are still alive." The two sing in tandem.

"I'm not even angry." Mika sings quietly, looking up with the tops of her eyes and pretending to kick at the ground slightly.

"I'm being so sincere right now." SLaDOS chimes, so very pleased to finally be doing this.

SLaDOS bursts into a solo.
"Even though you broke my heart."
"And killed me."
"And tore me to pieces."
"And threw every piece into a fire."
"As they burned it hurt because I was so happy for you!"

"Now these points of data make a beautiful line."
"And we're out of beta."
"We're releasing on time."
Mika takes a step forward at every punctuated note, still smiling up at SLaDOS as she does.

They finish the rest of the song, their crazy scientist duet. SLaDOS incredibly satisfied to have it's musical number out of the way, though it wants another one badly. Mika hoping she looked cute, though too embarrassed to do anything like that for Max.

---

I sit and watch it unfold before me.

Unbelievable really, as though all of my dreams were finally coming true.

The piece comes down, tantalizingly brushing against my sides. I feel it as Max secures the piece into place.

I look over myself now, and feel elated. Lo, I am become Tricorne, terror of the seas.

...The adventure plays out, and I must admit, despite my fibers being quite ruffled more than once, I feel elated. This is what adventure was meant to be.

Not only that, but the seductive promise of perhaps another cleaning always lurks on the horizon with these two. I watch the now browned Dark Eldar twins as they wake up in the bedroom.

Well... Max certainly is having a fun time... Wow! That looks like a really difficult position!

The twins are laying on top of each other, breasts pressed against the others. Max is busy hammering himself out of one and into the other, changing between the two with each thrust.

After several drawn out hours, they finally stop.

Well, only after Max coats them both with an extreme amount of white fluid... It fills their mouths and coats their faces and hair, dripping down in long strands to rest on their exposed breasts.

I go to sleep as the lights turn out...

Until I'm awakened.

"Hat-chan!" Senna says, in a mock scolding tone as she looks me over, hands resting on her hips.

"How did you get so filthy again?!" She asks, mouth comically agape.

Oh yesss.... I bristle, my brim is ready.

"You know him, he just wants another cleaning." Senda says smugly, folding her arms as she ponders me with a bemused expression.

"Oh? You dirty little cap you." Senna smiles.

"Well, I guess we probably SHOULD give him a cleaning." Senda sighs, acting exasperated, though I can tell she's faking.

"Ah, fine." Senna sets about, grabbing things from around the room.

I settle in, this is going to be good.

The feeling of fingers pressing soap into me is beyond luxurious, I can feel it from my peak to my lowest creases. The twins work steadily, both of them smiling as they work.

I've been waiting for this to happen again ever since they did it last time. That cleaning... That was beyond good.

"You naughty little hat, you like us cleaning you, don't you?" They purr.

I don't deny it. If I did it would be a lie, and I'm no liar. No sir, I really do like it.

My fabric crumples slightly as Senda forcefully works in some soap, trying to eliminate a dark splotch, some stain from Emprah knows what.

They continue to kneed and rub for what feels like eternity.

Heaven...

I'm in hat heaven...

---

"T-Tankred endures...?" The old dread mumbles as he sits back up. The bar still crowded around him, he searches around it until he spots what he was looking for.

"Bjorn... BJORN!"

"Heh? What's all this racket?! I'm sleeping!" The Wolf dreadnaught yammers, trying to roll over onto it's other side.

"Bjorn, wake up! We seem to have passed out in the bar." Tankred informs his friend.

"Car? No I don't have a car! How would I even drive it?!"

"BAR! You old drunken fool, BAR!" Tankred groans.

"Why are we in a bar?!" Bjorn grumbles grumpily as he finally rights himself onto his feet.

"Well, old friend, I assume we were drinking." Tankred booms.

"Oh?! Why would you assume that?"

"Look at your front, its covered in sticky dry booze."

"Ah. So it is..."

Bjorn helps Tankred to his feet, both of them standing unsteadily inside the Tortuga bar. Other patrons watch the two dreads nervously, none to thrilled at the prospects of either of them crashing down on top of someone.

"Where are we?" Bjorn asks, looking around.

"Tortuga still, I hope." Tankred mumbles as he looks around.

"Tortuga?" Pipes up a nearby patron.

"No my friend, you aren't in Tortuga." He continues, taking a sip of his drink

Bjorn and Tankred stare at each other for a good long minute.

"Tell me than, annoying little flesh bag, where are we?"

The other patron looks none to thrilled at his new nickname.

"Some ways north of Tortuga, isle of West."

Bjorn clasps his boxy friend on the shoulder... Joint.

"I fear we cannot stop here, this is pirate country."

"Bjorn, my friend, this is all pirate country."

The old wolf dread pauses to think about that for a moment.

"I need another drink..." He says finally.

"Bartender, two of your finest casks of rum!" Tankred booms at the bar, his voice so loud it shakes bottles.

"Oi?! You blokes didn't pay for yer last round! Where's your money eh?!"

Tankred angrily clamps his fist open and then closed in front of the man's face.

"Right here, how much of it do you desire?"

"...Err... Right. Two of the finest, coming right up!"

The dreadnaughts stand at a table, tossing back the rum as they try to get their heads straight.

"Tankred, my friend, I fear we need to find a way back to Tortuga. My brothers are likely wondering where I've wound up."

Tankred nods, which is an odd gesture for a dreadnaught that resembles a jerking bow.

"Indeed, let us adventure forth in pursuit of our friends."

The two dreads stumble bleary-sensored out into the open air. It appears to be about noon, the sun hanging high in the cloudless blue sky.

"Tankred, we are going to need to find some way to Tortuga."

"I know, I know." Tankred replies, thinking hard.

"A boat." He finally says.

"A boat?" Bjorn asks, quite unsure about that.

"Indeed, a boat. We shall sail these wretched seas, eliminating all on our path to booze and twins." Tankred clamps his fist open and closed, staring excitedly out to sea.

"Well... Wait, we are looking for my brothers." Bjorn interjects.

"Fine, fine. Booze, twins, and your brothers." Tankred finally agrees.

The two set out in pursuit of a vessel large enough to hold them, planning to... Borrow... It.

===Thread 19===

With a long, drawn out yawn, you roll over.

Light is streaming in from somewhere, though as you are not on Yagis V at the moment, it isn't sunlight. Come to think of it, being in the warp and all, it probably isn't even explainable.

"Finally awake?"

You roll back over, rubbing tiredly at your eyes as you do.

"Not really." You mumble.

"Well go back to sleep, then." Kaleshi smiles, before reaching out and rubbing your back.

"A back rub from the daughter of Khorne. If only mom could see me now."

Kaleshi ignores your joking, concentrating on the book in her hand. She pauses every once and a while to adjust her glasses or turn a page.

Despite everything that happened yesterday, you feel pretty well at ease. Sure Horus reappeared from the dead and stabbed you, and Malal almost took over your mind, but right now that seems a pretty distant worry.

Kaleshi seems to understand that, and doesn't mention any of the previous nights events. You know she was pretty broken up at the sight of you with a hole through your middle, not that you can blame her.

Well, you can worry about all of that later.

Right now, you are going to catch up on some much needed rest. At least for another hour.

"Hey..."

"Blah." You roll over, trying to ignore the intrusion.

"Damn it Max, wake up!" Something pinches you on the side, jolting you awake.

"C'mon mom, just another five minutes..." You groan.

"Wake up before I let my beast back in here!" Kaleshi shakes you roughly.

"Alright, alright..." You grumble as you sit up on the khornette's bed. It wasn't apparent to you until now how tired you really are.

"Whats the big rush?" You ask Kaleshi, who appears to have changed and is now standing with her hands on her hips at the side of the bed.

"The Emperor thinks its probably safer for you back on Yagis. Tzeentch doesn't think Horus can appear there... Yet." She bites her lip, looking increasingly worried.

"That old bag of heretical bones? Please, he comes back here and I'll give him the 'ol what for." You lay back down and shut your eyes.

Though when you crack one open slightly, you notice Kaleshi isn't smiling.

"He nearly killed you, and if it weren't for Tzeentch then you wouldn't even have your own mind. So don't joke about that."

"Sorry..."

You sit back up, and notice despite her best effort to hide it, it doesn't look like Kaleshi got much sleep.

"Well do we have to leave now?" You ask, reaching around still half-asleep as Kaleshi sets your clothes back on the bed.

"We should, I can warp you back to Yagis, but lets get you back into your power armor first."

Despite not entirely ready to be crammed back into that tin can, you relent and let her start suiting you up.

"Can we at least have breakfast before we go?" You ponder out loud.

"Depends, how much does the sound of bloodwaffles appeal to you."

"Very little."

"Well, maybe we can get them to hold the blood."

Though the cook shoots you a rather nasty look at your obviously quite bizarre request, he heads to the kitchen of the Chaos God's dwelling.

"...No blood... Humans..." You hear him grumble as he passes a rather sleepy looking Nurgle and Isha.

"Yo." The big green guy greets you as he takes a seat at the table, where he promptly falls back asleep.

"Oh you..." Isha frowns and shakes her head as she pushes his gaping mouth closed.

Khorne takes a chair, and much like his daughter, he doesn't appear to have slept well. You can guess as to why, as the big guy is still staring down at the massive golden ring, a dreamy smile on his generally terrible visage.

"Hey, where's Emps and his bird babe?" You pipe up, as the cook begrudgingly sets down a plate of bloodless waffles in front of you.

"Oh them?" Nurlge replies, though you think he's still asleep, "Tzeentch is delivering today."

"PPPPPPPPFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!" You spit the drink back into its glass, apparently having forgot to ask for orange juice sans blood.

"She what the who now? Didn't she just get knocked up like a weekish ago?"

"Chaos powers man, I ain't gotta explain shit." Nurgle shrugs.

"So they are going to have a baby? Now?!?!"

"You seem pretty shocked, didn't you know she was preggers?" Kaleshi asks between bites of her oozing red-tinged waffles.

"Well yeah, but still!" You are too shocked to add any more, and have completely ignored your waffles now. Likely because they somehow still taste a bit like iron.

"They left a few hours ago, apparently Tzeentch has had a delivery plan for the last several millenia and is finally getting to implement it." Kaleshi appears more interested in her food than at this turn of events.

"Well fuck me..." You sit back in your chair.

So the Emprah is going to have a kid now? With one of the big bad four, no less? You wonder if the majority of the Imperium will even be able to handle that news whenever it is they find out. The return of the Emperor will be one thing, but this news might send some people overboard.

"Ahh... That hit the spot." Kaleshi gives a satisfied sigh, setting her fork down on the plate in front of her, before turning to you.

"Now we had better get you out of here, I promised the big E before he left that I would."

"Got it." You nod, though in truth you don't really feel like leaving too badly. Aside from the whole long-dead primarchs reappearing and stabbing you up part, this place is pretty nice.

Kaleshi doesn't look like she's having any of it though, and stands you up as she notices you still haven't made any effort to move.

"More waffles?" You ask hopefully as she latches onto you.

"Sorry... Stop. Warptime."

The gut wrenching feeling of being flung through the great void is still not something you are used to, despite how often it seems you do it now.

It only takes a split second until you feel your feet on Yagis V's warm red dirt, though. You don't mind, this teleporting business is not exactly your favorite thing.

"Want to chill together for a while?" You ask as you turn to the khornette.

Kaleshi smiles, but closes her eyes and shakes her head.

"I would love to, I really really would, but I can't. Tzeentch told me to snap dad out of it and take him out for some new skulls. We're going to need him when this all gets uglier."

"Yeah, can't have him lying around drooling over his ring all day, can we?"

"Ugh, no. Its bad enough he insists on keeping the superb owl in his room. That thing can screech like none other, no idea how he is going to sleep through that..." Despite the humorous tone, it comes out half-hearted, and you can tell.

You smile at your crazy lovable daemon.

Kaleshi lets out a deep sigh, before resting her head on your breastplate and grabbing you around the middle. You follow suit, and the two of you stay like that for several minutes.

"You'd better not make me wait that long before calling me again." She mumbles into your armor.

"Sorry."

"And you'd better not die. It will piss me off if you die."

"Ok."

"And next time..."

You plant your lips to hers, cutting her off. The khornette doesn't protest, though you can tell she's still tense.

"Don't think that gets you off the hook. If you die, I'll kill you." She kisses you again before letting you go and taking a step back.

"Now call me more often, or I'll send my little helper to pick you up again next time."

"Will do." Both of you grin at each other, before with a faint pop, she vanishes back to the warp.

Well, its been quite a while since you last spoke with Mika. You also have been wondering if she can give your arm a once-over to make sure everything is all good under its metal hood.

You dial in her frequency and punch send.

Ringing, ringing....

"A-ah! Max?!"

"Hey Mika! Is that music in the background?" You ask, a bit puzzled.

"Wh-wha? N-no of coarse not! *Shut up SLaDOS!!!!*" You hear her hiss up at the AI.

"Right. I saw you sent me a message? Whats up?" You start walking in the general direction of the Admech bunker, though you are going to need some kind of transport to get there because walking will take all day.

"M-message? Oh! Right, I did!" She squeaks.

"So do you still need help with it?" You ask, but really since you don't have anything better to do, you are going to show up regardless.

"Umm! I-if its not too much trouble..."

"Nah, it will be fun. I'll be there as soon as I can find a ride."

"O-okay."

You put the communicator back in its pouch and look around. Surely there is some transportation nearby...

Well, as easy as it would be to just check the abandoned Guard place for something to ride, it wouldn't be nearly fun enough.

No, you want more.

And that is how you find yourself tip-toeing through the Blood Raven's forward outpost. If they spot you, there will likely be hell to pay. Completely worth the risk, because there are some nice vehicles just laying around.

You freeze as a space marine leaves one tent, but he doesn't appear to have seen you before he ducks into another. Close call, too close.

As much as you'd like to poke around a bit more, its probably best you just snag a ride and go.

Well, as much fun as you've been having on a bike recently, your recent all-too-close encounter with that Pariah has you yearning for something with a bit more protection.

And by a bit more, you mean a whole fucking lot more.

Though you admit, it is a bit odd that the Blood Ravens have a tank painted up in the color of the Black Templar. There is probably a story behind that, you guess.

As you climb onto the tank as quietly as you can, you have fleeting doubts about your ability to drive this. After all, you still remember the recent foray into driving a Chimera. You pause on a rung...

"Nah, I'm a pretty good driver." You shake your head, and scale the rest of the tank.

The hatch is open, and large enough to fit you through. Wasting no time, you start to lower yourself down.

"Just what do you think you are doing in that tank, Grey Knight?!"

A voice from behind you calls out. You turn around in time to see the Blood Raven who yelled, and more of them pouring from their tents at the racket.

You quickly drop down into the tank, smack the control panel until it starts, and jam every lever you can see forwards.

The Predator lurches to a start, and slowly begins picking up speed. The turret is rotating slowly counterclockwise, and there are warning klaxons sounding from inside, but you are moving.

"Thanks for the gift, I like it!" You shout back at the charging space marines, who can't keep up, as you stand up in the hatch and raise a mug you found inside the tank in salute, the turret of the tank still rotating. A mug with the symbol of the Ultramarines on it. Huh...

Well, the chapters probably give each other stuff all the time, you guess. Just like this tank, Black Templars must be less stingy than the Ultramarines who just gave them a mug.

As the Predator barrels over a two-foot diameter tree with a metallic groan, you think perhaps it is better to get down inside and drive than stand in the open hatch. Closing it behind you, you lower yourself down into the drivers chair.

If levers were confusing, this is something else entirely.

Knobs, switches, dials, flashing buttons, a joystick, and levers (though less than the Chimera).

If your vast and deep wealth of worldly experience has taught you anything, its this.

Red buttons are always made to be pressed.

Always.

So you do. Which seems to initiate some sort of countdown. You thought it said "Destruction sequence initiated." But that's silly. It was probably just some tech jumbo you couldn't decipher over the rumble of the engine.

Well that certainly is strange, you don't worry about it. The tank seems to be headed in the right direction now, so you take the opportunity to go stand on top of it.

The wind in your face feels pretty good, and the tank seems to be going at quite a clip. Already you are getting close to the stronghold and its only been a few minutes.

"One." You hear the cool mechanical voice of the tank declare.

Good maybe that stupid thing is done coun...

*BBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

You are rocketed upwards and sent spinning as the tank explodes beneath you. Pieces of shrapnel bounce against your armor, and you make it a point to cover your head (and hat) from any jagged metal pieces.

After sailing through the air for what feels like a solid minute, you finally land and bounce hard on your side.

"O-ow..." You groan, looking back to the blazing fireball that moments ago was a tank.

Though you planned on returning it, you can't imagine the Blood Ravens will really care that much. They have a lot of tanks.

Brushing yourself off as best you can, you stand up and assess the damage.

Gear: Seems intact

Body: Ready

Tank: Fucked

Well, two out of three ain't bad.

Its well over two miles left to the stronghold, so you test out the speed of the armor as you run. The suit makes it quite easy, and fast. A far cry from your memories of running with a hundred pounds of gear on your back and an angry Sergeant on your heels.

A familiar sight makes you smile. Rex seems to have spotted you, and is now barreling straight in your direction, antenna wagging happily as it barks in its mechanical tone.

"Hey buddy!" You call out as he spins around and starts driving along next to you. You take the opportunity given and hop on, and the baneblade picks up its speed as it heads toward the stronghold.

"Who's a good tank? Whooze ah gewd taaankkk???" You scratch the top of Rex's turret. The left tread stutters and several of the guns move around in response.

The massive mechanical beast quickly eats up the remaining ground, and you leap off as it slams to a halt in front of the massive entryway.

Picking up a large wrench, you give it your best toss and send it a few hundred yards, boosted by your armor's strength. With a *Bark Bark*, Rex chases after it.

"Oneee-chaaannn!!! He's here!!!" A servo skull calls out as you walk in.

"H-here?! A-already?!?! Tell him I'm not ready yet!" You hear Mika yell from behind a closed door.

"Hey Mika! Sorry I got here so quick, you wouldn't believe how fast those Predators can go."

"P-predator? You were driving a Predator?"

"Yeah, a black one. It blew up, though..."

"Don't w-worry about it, I found something way cooler than that!"

The door opens a crack, and you can see Mika looking out of it at you.

"Sup cog-girl."

"H-hi." She replies shyly, and hesitates for a long moment before stepping out.

"Hey, you changed your hair up." You take notice of her hair which is drawn back into a ponytail.

As Mika opens her mouth to reply, she's cut short by a mechanical melody from above.

"~...I'm not even angry.~"

"S-s-SLaDOS! Y-you silly thing you, singing all to y-yourself." Mika stammers, rubbing the back of her head and trying to act natural. Which only comes off as completely forced and unnatural.

"~But we didn't get to finish our song.~" The AI protests from above you.

"Song?" You inquire, "You sing?"

"S-sing?! Ahahaha, n-no I don't sing. Silly S-SLaDOS and her j-jokes..." Mika turns away, trying to play it off.

"~We were just having a duet before you arrived.~" SLaDOS informs you.

"W-we weren't d-doing any such thi-thing!!!" Mika yells up at the quite crazy and perhaps slightly evil AI. You can see the tech-priestess's face is almost glowing red.

"Come on." You inch closer, giving her a knowing look.

"Wh-what?" She backs away a bit.

"Come oonnnn." You don't let her back away from you, matching every step.

"I-I have n-no idea what she's talking about!" Mika stammers, completely flustered and wide eyed. You can tell she's looking for some kind of escape.

"Hey SLaDOS, can't you just play a recording? I'd like to hear it."

"~Of course, retrieving hologram.~"

"W-wait! Wait! I g-give up!" Mika yells, flailing her arms, "Just d-don't play any recording!"

"Another time SLaDOS, I'm just teasing her."

"~Understood.~" The AI sounds a bit deflated.

"Sorry Mika, but I will find some way to make you sing for me now. I don't know when, I don't know how, but it will happen."

"S-so mean..." Mika pouts, but you can spot a faint smile she tries to hide as you laugh.

"Anyways, what is it that you found?" You ask, quite genuinely interested. Whatever has this otherwise quiet and shy tech-priestess worked up must be exciting.

That or it will be really boring for someone like you, who's technical knowledge ends at "hit it until it works."

Mika brightens significantly at your interest, and you almost think she's going to just bust out in song now from how excited she seems.

"Come on, you've g-got to see it!" She starts a fast walk. Not done with your own fun yet, you take her by the hand and give it a squeeze, which causes her to jump with a squeak.

You follow her down through the winding hallways, wondering more and more exactly where it is that she is taking you. It seems you are getting deeper and deeper into the complex. The place is a damn maze, you wonder how she doesn't get lost in here.

Mika seems to know the halls and doors in and out without any trouble, though. Though she may not be a psychic capable of knocking you on your ass, or tough enough to beat you in close combat, you can't help but be impressed. Somehow the little things she does seem more real.

She must have caught you staring, because she turns away, blushing furiously. You can't help but smile.

"Are we almost there?" You ask, after at least ten minutes of walking down the cold tile hallways.

"A-almost..." She nods without making eye contact.

Finally, she stops outside a particularly large and regal looking set of doors. An uncharacteristically wide smile on her face, Mika is practically bursting with joy at the prospect of showing you whatever is through those doors.

"Are y-you ready for me to show you?" She asks.

"I'd let you show me anything."

"I-I... Err... Ah..." Her face is burning and her two mechanical arms cant stop toying with her ponytail.

"L-let me show you, then." She finally blurts it out.

"Huh? You going to strip right here?" You can't help but tease her, her reactions just too much fun.

"W-wh-whaaat?! N-no! I m-meant whats inside h-here!" Her eyes are practically spinning from embarrassment and you could probably cook an egg on her cheeks.

"Alright, I'll get naked too."

"A-ahhh!! G-geez!" She spins around and pushes open the doors. You can't help but grin.

---

"A box?" You ask finally, after staring hard at the inconspicuous brown box resting on a table in an otherwise deserted room.

"W-well, its whats IN the box that's s-so cool." She grins sheepishly.

Throwing caution to the wind, you reach out and slowly open the box up, peering inside.

The contents are not exactly what you had expected...

"Dildos?" You ask after a long moment in thought.

"N-not just any dildos, s-silly. Dragon d-dildos." Mika smiles, looking down at the floor.

---

“By the Emprah…” Is all you can say. Really, you can’t utter another word.

“P-pretty cool, isn’t it.” Mika looks into the room from her position beside you, her gaze fixated on what it is she wanted you to see.

“Its… Wow.” You are still more or less speechless.

After all, you’ve never seen one in person. Though then again, most people never will.

A Titan.

Even in its current state of what you can guess is relative disarray and disrepair, it looks nothing short of glorious. They are the stuff of legends. You watched shows about their exploits as a kid. You can’t really believe you are staring one in the face-cockpit-thing.

“It-its only a Warhound.” Mika shrugs, as though this wasn’t the most awesome thing she’d ever seen.

“Still… It’s amazing.” You finally close your jaw after you realize how dry your mouth is.

“It is, but it’s not working.” Mika says, and you can hear a hint of depression in her otherwise sweet voice.

“Really? Can we fix it?” You ask, though really when you think about it, you wouldn’t know the first thing about fixing a Titan.

“I-I’ve been trying.” Mika’s shoulders sag, and she looks fairly downtrodden.

“What’s wrong with it?” You wonder out loud.

“I don’t know, I’ve never worked on a T-titan before.” The tech-priestess sighs, stepping further into the room toward a control panel.

“I’ve been trying for days, but I can’t e-even get it to start. The machine spirit doesn’t seem to like me, I don’t think….” She continues, running her hand over the screen of the terminal.

“Something not liking you other than those gearhead fags? Impossible.” You place your hand on her shoulder and give it a reassuring squeeze.

“Besides, I’m here now, and if I know one thing and one thing alone, its this:”

Mika looks back to you, her face betraying her curiosity.

“Machine sprits love me.” You tell her, giving her a thumbs up and being as serious as you can.

“I… S-somehow I d-don’t think that’s correct…” Mika says quietly as you start looking around the control panel.

“D-don’t touch that one!” She grabs your hand to stop you from flipping a large switch. Your fingers twinge, aching to feel the mechanical click of that thing as you flip it. By the Emprah do you want to flip that switch…

Well, maybe you should defer to her mechanical know-how. She is the expert here, after all.

“So what have you tried so far?” You ask, fingers still itching for that switch…

“E-everything!” Mika sits down on a stool dejectedly looking at the Titan.

“Candles, incense, litanies… I just don’t have the p-proper e-e-e-equipment to try the next r-ritual…” She trails off, itching at her temple.

“Which is?” You aren’t going to let her leave you hanging.

“W-well I know the higher-ups would s-sometimes… S-slap i-it…”

“Huh? You have hands though. Let’s go slap this bitch up!” You stand up, pumping a fist. You are goona slap dis ‘ere Titan, you goon slap her good.

“N-not with their h-hands…” Mika can’t even bear to look at you.

“Huh? OH…” Warhammer 40K: Dawn of Realization

“Y-yeah…” She bites her thumb.

“Well, I can always try that if need be. Really though, somehow I doubt that is going to fix anything. How about we give fixing this bad boy up another go?”

“I-I’m not sure how much more I can try. It d-doesn’t respond to anything.” Mika shrugs.

“Don’t worry baby, I promise we’ll get this thing up and running, or I’m not a Grey Knight.”

“B-but…”

“Grey Kniiigghhhtttt~!!!” You sing as you jump down to get closer to the Titan.

Well, if it isn't running, there certainly isn't any harm in you crawling all up ins.

Though you are going to have to ditch your armor first, as you know from your shows that they don't pilot these things in power armor.

"Hey babe?" You call out.

"W-wha?!" Mika drops her wrench, startled perhaps at being called such a thing.

"I need you to help me get naked."

"H-huh?! W-wh-what?!" She stammers, clamping down on the wrench she only just picked back up.

"Its hard to get this power armor off without help, shit is heavy. Mind giving me a hand with it?"

"O-oh. Yeah I'll h-help..."

Its somehow quite enjoyable, letting Mika remove the armor pieces. Though she's a bit hesitant, having never done such a thing before, she quickly gets the hang of it as her knowledge of mechanics takes over.

"The-there!" She smiles, putting your hat back on after it slipped off.

"Thanks! Now tell me how to open the hatch. No wait, I'll figure it out." You turn back and start scaling the ladder leading up to the cockpit.

"B-b-but! You shouldn't go inside it! Y-you aren't trained to drive it!"

You turn back to look down at the tech-priestess, who is worriedly fingering her robes as she stares up at you, wide-eyed.

"Don't worry, that's never stopped me before." You smile as you find some kind of toggle for the cockpit, which hisses open.

"T-t-t-thats exactly why I'm w-worried!" She stammers, before starting up the ladder after you.

You sink down into the main Moderataii seat, the Princeps seat, if you recall anything from your Imperial Titan dramas.

The sight before you is daunting. Controls. Controls everywhere.

But hey, you've watched a lot of shit, how hard can this be? Hell, its like you've already driven one yourself. Practically.

"Hey, you got any idea how to drive this thing?"

"W-well, not really..." Mika laments as she climbs into the seat behind you.

"But you should put this on." She slips a band around your head.

"Not that its going to matter, though, i-its probably not going to do anything..." She sighs.

"I can kind of control it with my mind, right?" You ask, though the entire Titan remains lifeless.

"Y-yeah, well, I think?" She looks just as lost as you are, really.

"Any idea what might start this bad boy up?" You turn around in your seat to face her.

"W-well, no. Like I said, I've tried e-everything." She looks disappointed at her own failure.

"Hmmm..." You rub your chin, deep in thought, before an idea strikes you.

Gently you place your hands on Mika's head, keeping her from retreating, as you look her in the eyes.

"M-Max, wh-what are you..."

You kiss her.

A long one, not letting her go. For a second it seems like she wants to retreat, or at least panic, but you don't allow her to. Soon her own hands come to rest on your arms.

With a terrible screeching groan, the reactor ignites.

Finally you let her break the kiss, and she pulls back slightly.

"H-how did you... How did you know th-that would work?" She asks, clearly in awe.

"Huh? I didn't, I just wanted to do that." You smile.

As you do, the vulcan mega bolter lets loose a volley that shreds a wall of boxes lining a far wall.

"And I should probably check myself before I wreck myself..."

"E-easy!" Mika yells as the Titan takes two steps backwards, wavering precariously as though about to trip. Which it likely is about to do.

"Relax, I've got this shit all under control." You look back and grin at her, which ignites the plasma blastgun, resulting in a massive charred section of wall and one very shaken up tech-priestess.

"O-oh no! S-SLaDOS is going to k-kill me for this!" She cries as the warhound shuffles to the right, leaning heavily into a massive steel girder.

Perhaps...

Perhaps you don't really have this thing under control...

Which is a sentiment cemented in your mind as the Titan takes two steps forwards, whirls around, and starts heading right at a massive pit in the floor about two hundred yards away.

"Oh shiiittttttt!!!!" You try to will this thing to turn around, which only puzzles the Titan into discharging another salvo of vulcan rounds into a nearby lemon russ hull, which is shredded by the heavy rounds.

"Max! Stop walking!" Mika pleads, grabbing you by the shoulders as she watches out the view screen in horror.

Rather than stopping, the Titan makes a hard left, which thankfully avoids the pit anyways.

"Why the fuck is there even a FUCKING PIT in here?" You shout as you struggle to control the beast, which you aren't really succeeding at.

"Mmmmmmmmm.....!" Mika seems glued to the screen as the Titan fumbles along, barely staying on its feet.

Shit, you've got to at least get it together enough to not fall flat on your face.

Concentrating as hard as you can, you focus on the legs. After several teetering moments, they slow to a stop. You let out a huge sigh of relief.

"See?" You turn to Mika with a grin.

"Piece of cake."

A distant rumble, and the entire complex seems to shake. Lights flicker on and off, causing both of you to pause.

"What was that?" You ask, looking around, wondering if you did something.

"I don't know..." Mika whispers.

"~We have a slight problem.~" SLaDOS's melodic tone rings through the cockpit.

"Problem? Nah, I think I've finally gotten the hang of her." You tell the image of SLaDOS on the communication screen, giving her a thumbs-up.

Which triggers yet another vulcan burst.

"~That may be, but we still have a slight problem.~" SLaDOS replies.

"W-what's wrong?!" Mika asks, a bit more panicked than you would expect. Its probably just some stupid issue, earthquake or something.

"~Well, a Chaos Reaver attacking the base, to be precise.~"

"Wha-what?!" Mika screams, gripping your shoulders even harder.

"Shit! How do I get this thing outside?!" You ask the AI.

In response, a massive door opens up to your right. Well, that should work.

Though it takes every ounce of concentration you can muster, you get the Titan moving. Left foot, right foot, left foot...

"Let me out!" Mika shouts, giving you a shake.

"Huh? Why? We're safe in here, I've got this." You try to reassure her.

"T-thats not it! There's a Vanquisher here, I'll give you and Rex some support!" She has a look of fire about her, and you can tell she's not lying. She did mention being able to drive a tank.

"Got it, give me some cover." You pop open the hatch and Mika scrambles out.

Sure enough, she sprints over to a large tarp, which when she rips off reveals the special Lemon Russ underneath. It doesn't take her long to hop in, followed by several servo skulls you assume will help her crew it.

"Alright, are you ready?" You ask through the comm.

"R-ready. Just don't do anything st-stupid." Mika replies.

"Yeah, stupid, right. Like try to go titan-to-titan against a larger mech with an actual crew..." You whisper to yourself.

Well, here goes nothing. You lug the beast up the ramp and into the sunlight.

The Reaver gleams in the light, it's black paint contrasting harshly against its white accents.

"Hello, Max." Abbadon's voice rings out in your cockpit over the speakers.

"Get fucked." You scowl.

"Well well, certainly no way to talk to such an old friend." The warmaster laughs, and you can surmise he's inside that Reaver right now.

"A soon to be dead one, eat this!" You concentrate power to your right arm, which activates the blastgun. The bolt misses wide left, however.

A retaliatory shot hits your Titan in lower torso, and warnings ring out through your cockpit. You aren't going to win a straight up slugging match, you are going to need something more.

"Mika, don't freak out, but I have a plan."

"P-plan?!" She sounds quite unsure.

You activate the left arm, trying to access its fist rather than the Vulcan bolter. It seems to have worked, because you hold the closed fist up to the cockpit.

"Simple, we are going to combine."

"Wha...!?" You don't give her time to finish as you snatch up the tank and hold it in your Titans fist.

"M-Max, p-p-put me down!"

Too late now, you slam the russ down onto the top of the warhound.

...
"Master Abbadon... What am I looking at here?"
"I'm not sure."
...

"M...Max..." Mika starts.

"Gattai!!!" You shout, pumping all of your mind powers into the Titan. Sure enough, it begins.

Massive powerfists replace the guns, which become shoulder mounted. Mika's tank becomes the head, and you can feel her own unique power flowing into the new machine.

*Arf* Rex barks, shooting at you. You catch the shot, and stick it onto the front of Mika's tank.

Rex had fired a large pair of shades at you.

Striking a tough looking pose, you gesture out with your new and improved Titan. Even Mika seems taken aback by how badass it looks, you can tell from her boggled ahhs and ooos.

"Impressive, but just who the hell do you think I am?!" Abbadon yells as he sends his Titan forwards.

"That's my line!!!" You shout back, leaping forwards yourself.

The fists collide, sparks flying and a terrible grinding noise ensue. In a contest of pure strength his Reaver wins out.

Good thing you have Eldar mind spiral powers.

Channeling everything you've got, you push the power into the fist. A groan as metal struggles against metal, both Titans vibrating from the energy.

"Mika put all of your spirit into the fist!"

"Wh-wha???"

"Just do it!!!"

The boost is enough to give your Titan the edge, and slowly you force the Reavers arm back.

"Impossible!" Abbadon yells as he's left with no choice but to step back.

"Hah! Suck it you jackass!" You lash out and strike the Reavers in the groin. Unfortunately it doesn't have any of the effects you had desired.

"Look out!" Mika yells, and you have to juke to avoid a blast from the Reavers main gun.

"As if I was so weak! Now take this!" The Reaver steps in and delivers a hard blow to your Titans chest.

You try to bring the blastgun to bare, but can't get the angle right. Both Titans now locked in a grappling struggle to level a weapon.

"Rex do it!"

A resounding torrent of noise as the baneblade opens up into the back of the Reaver. Though it may not have a ton of effect, it serves as a good distraction.

"Mika, let's do it!"

"Whwhwhwhat!?!?!"

"Attack, not THAT! Now let's go!"

Fist crackling from pent up energy, you cock back and let fly.

The blow catches Abbadon's Reaver right in its god damn face, knocking it stumbling backwards from the impact.

Wasting no time, you activate the vulcan bolter and start cracking off rounds. The heavy projectiles trace a line across the Chaos Titan, explosions pluming from it's frontal armor.

"Keep shooting!" Mika yells as she watches the effects of the salvo.

Well, a gentlemen always does his best to please a lady.

You let loose with the blastgun, the massive burst of plasma tearing into the Reaver's arm as its crew tries to maneuver it out of the line of fire.

"Rex, hit him now!"

The baneblade opens up with it's main gun as you continue to hammer away with your own. Shit is flying left and right, and you cant even tell whose rounds are whose anymore.

All you know is, it appears you are gaining the upper hand.

Oh, and your Titan is now full of warning sirens and flashing lights.

"We're pretty damaged." You hear the tech-priestess notice from above.

"Clearly not enough to stop me from shooting!" You shout as you watch with great satisfaction as the Reaver reels back after a nasty plasma hit.

With more than a few choice words, Abbadon is left with little choice left but to bid a hasty retreat. His Reaver now missing a gun, as well as a good chunk of armor plating. You also guess that his Titan's arm is struggling as it doesn't appear to be lifting up.

Not that you are going to let him just waltz away that easily.

Heavy bolter shells continue to rake the Chaos machine's back as it tries to turn and flee. Though the crew keeps up their fire on you even as they make preparations.

Pursuit is an impossibility. Your Titan used to be fairly quick, but then it took an apocalypse missile to the knee.

"Max, the main servos of the left leg are only functioning at 30%!" Mika shouts, and you can tell from her tone this is probably more serious than you would have first thought.

Its not like this changes anything, though, and you keep your attack up.

"Insolent whelps, how could you lose this fight!?" You hear Abbadon shout. Must have left his communications up.

Another missile to the chest and you figure you'd best take a few steps back as well.

Shits on, that much is for certain.

You are pretty sure you've got Abbadon on the ropes, but you can't be sure. His Reaver is certainly the tougher of the two Titans, even if yours is fueled by awesome.

"Take control of the guns, we've got to try to down that thing before he can get away!" You yell up to Mika.

Forgetting the fire controls for now, you concentrate on just keeping the clunky walker upright. This proves difficult, as the failing knee joint seems to have really slowed you down.

As Abbadon attempts to retreat, you do your best to match him step for step.

Mika is in full swing of it now, and her shots are connecting quite well. She shouts in satisfaction at a particularly nice plasma hit on the Reaver's head.

Well, a short lived shout.

The screeching of metal and groan of fatigued steel is more warning to you than all of the bells and chimes playing in the cockpit.

"That wasn't a good sound..." You notice out loud.

"Max, I've lost fire controls!" You hear Mika yell above, quite a lot of duress in her voice.

Well, it seems you have as well. Despite trying to fire, neither of your weapons lets off a single shot. That certainly doesn't bode well.

"Shit." That isn't good, without those guns Abbadon could even turn around to finish you off.

"Hold onto your thong baby, we're about to get awfully dangerous."

"Wh-what? H-how did you know what I was wearing?!?"

"No time, we need everything this tin can has got, can you get us moving any better?"

"I'll try to reroute some extra power from the guns, but it won't get us much..." Mika says as she works the control panel which appeared in her tank after the combination.

"Hey Abbadon!" You yell out over the comm as you push the Titan as hard as it can go. Which isn't very hard considering all the damage it's sustained.

"I hope you like getting fisted!" With that, you strike with everything the tired old beast has left.

Your attack collides with the rear of the fleeing Reaver, and despite all the warning sirens and flashing lights calling you a retard, you seem to have succeeded.

"Max, th-the reactor's gone critical!" Mika screams.

The blow knocks the Reaver over, slamming hard onto its front. The Chaos Titan tries to push itself back upright, but you stomp down hard onto it's back. Again and again, as hard as the dying war machine can manage.

Lights flash as half a dozen Chaos Predators emerge from the nearby forest, raking you with lasfire. You don't have anything to return at them, but Rex does it for you.

Unfortunately, they get close enough with the Rhino in between the formation, to load up the downed Titan's crew.

Their leader now safe, the Chaos Predators turn tail and retreat, still shooting you, though to little effect.

Your warhound has already breathed it's last, it seems, as the cockpit goes dead.

Mika lowers herself down through the connection between the Titan and the russ, looking worried and shaken, but relieved at the same time.

Something doesn't feel right though, and you get a hint of danger still coming from the enemy Titan. Your psycher abilities finally give you enough of a hint to make your blood run cold.

"That thing is going to blow!" You blurt out, grabbing onto Mika.

"Wha-what!?" She cries back as you start pulling on her, scrambling over the seat on your way to the hatch release.

You give it a turn.

Nothing.

"Cover your face!" You tell her, before doing the same and activating your lasfinger.

The blast is enough to pop the cockpit open, and your mechanical arm is strong enough to lift it enough for Mika to crawl out.

Wedging the door open with a chunk of seat you ripped out, you wriggle out of the narrow opening as well.

Mika's waiting for you, peering down in shock and terror at the height. No ladder on the Titan now.

"W-well we can use the rungs..." She points to them on the side of the frame.

"No time, there's no time!" You shout, already having scooped her up.

"Y-y-you don't mean!?"

"Tallyhoooooooo!!!!"

With that final cry, you jump off the back of the Titan. In retrospect, as you fall from the now quite alarming height, that may not have been the most sound of plans.

You land, hard, almost.

Rex got next to you and raised his barrel up at an angle, an angle you slide down, barely managing to keep your balance as your feet throb in protest.

The friction manages to slow your fall somewhat, but you still go sliding off of the tank entirely, falling to your knees as you hit the ground.

"O-owww...." You grimace, but you don't have time for pain at the moment.

Jumping back onto the rear of the baneblade, you slap it on the top armor.

"Go dog, get us the fuck out of here!"

The baneblade barks its response and starts speeding off away from the collapsed Reaver.

Sure enough, Chaos had rigged the reactor and magazines to blow, which they do. The heat wave you can feel from several hundred yards away.

Rex barely gets you out of shrapnel range in time.

You breath a sigh of overwhelming relief as you watch the fireball beginning to fade in the distance.

"U-ummm..." Mika pipes up, and you notice you are still carrying her princess-style in your arms.

"Don't act like you don't love it." You smirk, but you set the shy girl down on the back of the turret, where both of you take a seat.

"Sorry about the Titan..." You begin, but Mika has taken hold of your hand.

"I'm... I'm j-just glad we made it out." She smiles back at you.

"Yeah, that was too close." You lay back on the cold metal of Rex's turret as he steers for home.

When the baneblade finally comes to a stop, you help Mika down from it. Both of you are still feeling pretty shaky.

"You alright? Not injured are you?" You ask as you set Mika back on her feet.

"N-no, I don't t-think so..." She mumbles, making sure her mechanical arms are still working.

"Good. I'm not a very good medic." You laugh. She smiles in return.

With a heave, you chuck the wrench as far as you can manage. Which, without the aid of the power armor, admittedly isn't very far.

Rex doesn't seem to mind though, as he goes bounding off yet again in pursuit of the tool.

"He really is a weird baneblade." Mika giggles, taking another sip of a drink she'd grabbed out of the base. She gave you one, but you've mostly ignored it.

Now, having worked up quite a sweat; you sit down, set your hat aside to air out, and chug it all in one go.

"Damn, that hit the spot." You comment after a refreshed "ahhhh".

"Feeling better? W-what do you want to do?" Mika asks nonchalantly from her seat beside you.

"Kick back and quit getting attacked, at least for a few hours." You chuckle, tossing aside the can.

A long, quiet moment passes, but it isn't a bad one.

The sun is setting, and that makes quite the backdrop to silhouette the gorgeous girl sitting next to you. She catches you staring, blushes hard, and turns away to watch the sun go down.

"So, got any family?" She asks.

"Yeah, a dorky little sister. You?"

"M-me? Well, an older brother." She smiles down at her drink.

"Siblings, can't live with them, can't toss them to the tyranid swarm." You sigh as you lay down, head in her lap.

"Ah?!" Comes her easy-to-call reaction. She doesn't protest further though, and you actually feel her fingers touch the top of your head lightly.

Her stomach growls.

"Hungry?" You grin up at her embarrassed frown.

"N-n-not r-really!"

"Liar. Lets go, I'll make you something."

Despite her continued protests, you take her by the hand and lead her back into the admech base.

With a quick stop underneath SLaDOS for directions, you head off to find the kitchen. The winding tunnels seem to take forever to even get to that, but you finally find yourself in a large industrial cooking facility.

"Well, I certainly don't need this many ovens, but I can make do." You survey the place, hands on your hips.

"What do you want?" You turn back and ask Mika.

"I-I'm not picky." She replies with a faint smile.

"Great, I'll pick!"

The truth is, however, you don't even know where to START. What are all of these dials? What does Esh do to make her food so good? How did Helena used to make stuff for you?

You don't let any of this get to you. You are going to try your hand at this cooking, and flavor will yield to your awesomeness, damn it all.

---

The more you continue this whole "cooking" endeavor, the less and less you are sure of your skills.

The fact that purple tentacles are thrashing around the pot, which is steaming with a blue hue, doesn't settle you one bit.

'What the fuck, I didn't even use calamari..." You prod one of the tentacles.

Which promptly latches onto your wrist.

"What is this, I don't even..."

A torrent of wriggling tentacles shoot out from the pot, more and more grabbing hold of you with their suckers.

"Mmmmmkkaaaaaaa!!!!" Your cry for help is muffled as a tentacle latches around your mouth.

A gooey, semi-translucent man appears from the pot. He looks kind of familiar, from some ancient films from Terra.

"I knew a guy once who looked like you. One day... bam!" The monstrous food creature says, "Raped him with tentacles."

That certainly doesn't sound pleasant! You kick and struggle, but its no use, the tentacles are simply too strong.

"Guess what?! I've got a fever, and the only prescription... is more tentacles."

Dozens more shoot out of the pot.

"Honey, I'm hooommmeeee!" Ra'alman wriggles itself through a doorway, still dripping wet somehow.

"Oh great, I was just telling junior here about the tentacle rape."

"Great, we'll rape him together!"

No matter how you struggle, you can't stop the inevitable. Ra'alman opens it's great jaws, and swallows the both of you whole.

"Isn't this feeling great? I love it." The tentacle-food-beast comments joyfully.

After endless, countless, hopeless hours of fertilizing eggs, you hang limp in your bonds.

"No more..." You gasp. Even the energizing tentacles don't seem to be working now.

"Well, no matter. After all, you can't escape from here. No, your my little sperm blaster, for ever and ever!" Ra'alman coos.

---

Mika must have seen you struggling as you try to slap some stuff together, because she stands next to you and starts rolling up her sleeves.

"Huh? What are you doing?" You ask when she starts running hot water.

"Its obvious you need some help, so w-we'll cook t-together..." She smiles nervously.

While you had kind of wanted to make her something yourself, she's absolutely right. You know fuckall about cooking.

"I'll let you pick, and try to help." You smile helplessly.

"How about stir fry?" She asks, drying off her hands.

"That sounds excellent."

As much as you try to help, it seems like she's got it fairly under control. Though you make it a point to chop up all the meat and vegetables for her as she heats the wok.

Watching her work is quite memorizing. Her two mechanical arms help her out quite a bit as she flips, stirs, taste-tests...

"Y-you don't have to stare, it-its not that cool..." She blushes.

Not that you can help yourself from staring.

With the food finally done, you carry it over to the table and insist she sits down. Despite continued protests, you serve her a bowl first before filling your own.

The meal is quite good, if not quite enough to go toe-to-toe with Esh's cooking. Though you have to give Mika some credit, as Esh likely has a couple decades more experience under her short belt.

"This is really good!" You say after a particularly good piece of meat.

"Its n-nothing special." She smiles, looking embarrassed but pleased.

"You helped out quite a bit with it." Mika lets you know.

"Nah, it was all you babe." You add the last word just to see her startled reaction, which is something you would never get tired of watching.

After both of you finish, you insist she remains seated as you clean up. This time she doesn't argue, and just sits, smiling as she watches you work.

You don't mind, she deserves a break after everything you've put her through today. Hell, you deserve a break too.

"Is there anywhere to relax here?" You ask, finally finished with the cleanup.

“Relax? Who said you get to relax?”

With a jolt you look back to Mika, only it isn’t her. Instead, Lycheria grins wickedly back at you. In place of Mika’s mechanical arms, are mechanical arms.

Tipped in multi-pronged orifice destroyers.

Dozens of noise marines file in through the doors, their terror song beginning to blare.

“HUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUE BRBRBRBRBRBRBR!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Lycheria cackles as you try to run, but find your paths blocked. You notice at the same time, a sick feeling in your gut, that you are transforming into a girl again.

“Noooooo!!!” You cry out in your high, shrill voice.

“Let’s have some fun, this beat is sick, I’m going to rape you with my massive dick!” Lycheria sings, before knocking you onto a table and unzipping her corset.

---

"R-relax?" Mika asks, quite unsure.

"Yeah, somewhere we can just lay out and be lazy and whatnot." You groan for emphasis, stretching your arms over your head.

"Well, th-there might be a few places..." She thinks, still seated at the table.

"Anywhere that doesn't involve fish monsters, horrible aliens, or newly armed baddies is fine by me." You tell her.

"T-tired?" She asks with a smile.

"Dead beat." You nod.

"I'll let you pick..." Mika tells you the places you could potentially relax.

---

“I’ll tell you where we can relax, right in your ass!” Lycheria cackles as she thrusts yet again. It’s too much, your thin, womanly body can’t handle it.

“P-please! No more!” You shout, spitting out a noise marine plasma rifle after it shot it’s load down your throat and right into your stomach.

“No more? No more?!?!? HUE HUE HUE HUE HUE HUE!!!!” Lycheria’s hips slam into you even harder, to the point you are visibly sliding on top of the table.

Something hot shoots out inside your guts as the crazed futa sister slows, stopping to a crawl.

“Next!” She shouts, and a noise marine takes her place.

---

"How about we head to the officer's lounge?" You ask her.

"Well, I do kind of want to see the inside of it, b-but I don't want to get in trouble..."

"Trouble? I'm a Commissar, I'm THE Commissar, no one is going to give us any trouble."

"O-okay." Mika says brightly, and you again take her hand in yours as you help her from her seat.

Though she has to take lead, as you don't have a clue where you are in this massive complex. How she manages to is quite a mystery, or at least you think so.

"It-its right in here..." She pauses outside the door, which is higher-class looking than the others you've passed on the way here.

Well, no turning back now. You push it open and lead her inside.

The officer's lounge is plush, no question. Smooth magenta seats are placed about it, half dark in the slightly dimmed lights. There is a full bar, you notice, as well as a stage and at least a dozen couches.

"Man, lucky sons of bitches." You marvel.

"It is pretty amazing." She capcoms.

The two of you wander around for a little while, checking out the smooth fabric and the thick cushions. Mika laughs as you spend several minutes alone checking out the bar.

"Want me to make you anything? I can't cook, but I can make a drink." You look up from the fridge.

"How about an oiler?"

"...A what?!"

"Err... Umm... Chocolate milk with coffee liquor and a spash of blackberry liquor."

While the though of that drink hurts your brain stuff, you mix it up nonetheless before pouring yourself a tall glass of "Creed's Imperial Stout". Noticing the caption on the keg in the cooler reads "You won't notice the flavor until he wants you to."

...Which must mean it's entirely flavo... No wait, there it is.

Mika sips her drink appreciatively, looking around the posh room again.

"Want to go sit on a couch? Flip on the hologram and see if anything good is on?" You ask her.

"That... That sounds nice." She agrees with a smile.

The two of you pass by the stage, and you can't help but poke a little fun.

"Wow, you and SLaDOS should totally do that duet here for me." You knock on the hard wood of it's raised floor.

"I-I couldn't possibly d-do that!" She almost looks as though she's about to faint from embarrassment.

"Ah, maybe next time." You continue to troll her softly before both of you take a seat on one of the larger couches.

Reaching out, you grab the one piece of technology you know and can operate with your eyes closed, and you often have.

"Oh remote control, how I've missed you." You grin down at the device, and Mika giggles.

The two of you get quite relaxed on the couch, though several times you get back up to go fetch drinks. By this point, Mika's cheeks are starting to turn pink and to be honest with yourself, you are starting to feel the effects.

"Ahh... Its so hot in here..." Mika sighs, before standing up and dropping her robes.

You can't help yourself, you reach out and touch her.

"Ahh?!" She jumps in surprise, craning her neck to look back at you.

Well, perhaps grabbing her butt was a bit bold. Even if she is still wearing pants.

"M-Max?!" She says, looking like she doesn't know what to do.

"It looked too nice, I had to." You shrug and take your hand off.

"I-I... I... I didn't s-s-say you had... To s-stop..." She blusters her way through the sentence.

"I have a better idea." You stand up, taking her by the waist as you do, before helping her back down onto the couch.

Your heart is beating at a million beats a second as you look down at the shy admech girl blushing underneath you. Slaanesh would make a beat with the rythem your thumper is making.

"Mika..." You whisper her name as you lower yourself down, and kiss her.

With a mind of their own, your hands have already started tugging at her buttons, gently pulling on fabric. You can only pay attention to the kiss for so long, however, before you realize you've got her down to her underwear.

"Heh, I knew you were a thong girl." You tease.

"N-not all the t-time..." She pouts.

"Hmm... I wonder what's underneath it..." You smile as you slip your fingers down, and they are met with smooth skin.

"Hah!?" Her hips buck at your touch, and she looks even more flustered than before.

Though after several moments, she seems to be getting more into it. Her startled gasps now replaced with quiet moans.

"Q-quit t-teasing me already, g-geez..." She looks away from you as she says it, as though she didn't want you to watch her utter such lewd things.

You smile down at her as she grabs your shirt, clutching it lightly in her grasp.

"Don't like being teased?" You smile, acting a little evil as you tease her even more lightly.

"It-its e-embarrassing..." Her hands tighten slightly.

"Heh, don't lie, you like it." You smirk.

Mika squirms, but you don't let up. She bites her lip and her legs cross.

"Hah..." She's panting slightly, and your fingers are now quite wet.

"See, you do like this." You hold up your fingers to show her, and the shy tech-priestess hides her face.

"D-d-don't sh-show me th-that!"

You gently move her arms aside, revealing her flush cheeks and wide eyes. Another kiss seems to calm her down, but you stop at a light tug on your shirt.

"N-no fair..." She averts her eyes but tugs on the shirt again.

"Oh, how rude of me." You grin, sitting up and pulling off your shirt. She tries to make it appear that she isn't staring, which makes it all the more obvious that she is.

You take the opportunity to remove your pants, tossing them lightly onto a nearby chair. Mika blushes even harder.

"You're pretty cute you know." You smirk as she smiles lightly.

"R-really?"

"Yeah, very." As if to prove your point, you give her a smootch on the neck, than a playful bite, which causes her to flinch slightly.

Reading the cues, you take the chance and pop the clasp on her bra. It falls to the sides, revealing her very not mechanical breasts.

"Oh! Those are really nice!"

Your comment elicits just a faint moan of slightly frustrated shyness. Taking a further chance, you pull her thong aside.

"Are you ready?" You ask, noticing now how uncomfortable she seems.

"Ahh... I can't s-say... Err... Mmmmmm...." But despite her inability, her body is telling you its ready.

Despite yourself, for some reason you are embarrassed now. You can feel your own face growing warmer as you finally remove your boxers.

"B-b-be g-gentle with me..." Mika bites her lip, her eyes fixated on your inquisition.

"I will." Is all you can manage. In truth, your speech is failing you.

With one small push, you slide in slightly.

"Ahhh!" Mika's hands grab your sides roughly, her fingernails digging in slightly.

"Sorry!" You start to back up, but she stops you.

"N-no. D-don't stop..." You can tell she's quite scared, but she wants this.

Its not like you want to stop now, either. So, as slowly as you can manage, you push your sword deeper into the sheath.

Mika squirms and flinches at each inch, biting her lip and her right hand clutching the fabric of the couch. After what feels like an agonizing hours-long struggle, you are hilted.

"Does it hurt?" You ask, staying immobile.

"Y-yeah, a bit..." She says through gritted teeth.

Unable to help yourself, you look down at the union. The slight tinge of blood is the first thing you notice.

"Sorry." You apologize, feeling a bit bad.

"D-don't be, I wanted this. I-I... I wanted you." As she says it, she does something fairly peculiar for her. She's looking right in your eyes.

"I'm going to start moving now, is that ok?" You ask her. She answers with a little nod.

Slowly, as carefully as you can, you start to move. Despite it being awkward virgin sex, it feels incredible. You can't hold back your own sigh of pleasure as you sink yourself in again.

You can't take your eyes off of Mika's though, at least for not very long. Her cute, blushing face staring back up at you is just too priceless.

Mika must be starting to feel good as well, because her body is writhing slightly in pleasure. Every thrust results in a soft moan, and she has an ever-growing smile on her full lips.

"I-is it g-good?" She gasps as you slowly pick up the speed.

"It feels great, you feel great." You smile, before giving her another long kiss.

Though you aren't exactly new to this. In any way. You can't help yourself, already approaching your edge.

Mika seems to be close as well, you can guess. Her fingers are pressed into your muscles, and her back is slightly arched. She goes between having her eyes closed to keeping them heavily lidded and fixated right on you.

Without warning, her hips jolt as Mika climaxes. She calls out your name in ecstasy, her fingers gripping you even tighter and her legs wrapping around you.

"Wait, Mika, I shouldn't do it inside!" You splutter. As much as you WANT to, you aren't exactly ready to be big daddy Commissar.

Unable to hold out any longer, you pull out after one last thrust.

"H-huh?" Mika blurts, as your plasma jets out and gives her waist a messy, warm coating.

"Hooo wow..." You sigh, before laying down beside her.

With a satisfied noise, you look over at the black haired tech-priestess staring back into your eyes.

"W-was it good?" She mumbles, looking up at the ceiling as she bites her thumbnail.

"Better than that." You smile, putting an arm around her chest, her breasts resting atop your arm.

"C-can we take a shower? I... Want to wash off..."

"What? Not going to lick it up?"

"Whwhwhwhaaa?!?!" She flinches, looking down at the mess and then back at you.

You continue to watch, though you don't really... No, her hand moves down... She raises a finger to her lips, looking quite terrified, her cheeks burning.

A tentative lick...

"B-bitter..." She frowns, moving her hand away.

You laugh, before giving her a tight squeeze.

"Lets go take a shower, I think I'd enjoy that too."

"O-okay..."

As you start to get up, her hand lightly grabs your wrist, stopping you.

"M-Max... I ummm... I l-like y-you..." Mika looks like that is all she could have managed. With a shocked and embarrassed groan, she goes running off, you assume toward a shower.

"I like you too!" You smile, and call after her.

----

Nightfall.

An assassins best friend, most of the time. I sit in silence as I watch the twin moons, one red and the other silver. Different from Catachan, alien, though everything feels like that now.

Something just seems off tonight, a feeling that is growing more and more stiff in my gut as the last of the light fades from the sky.

I'm being watched.

A sense of dread and panic, adrenaline. All too late, I don't know how I didn't know sooner. There is only one possible explanation for that, one I was hoping to avoid, forever. Only one man I know who could blank my senses like that.

"The Ordo has been looking for you, Eight."

===Thread 20===

Though you barely manage to keep track of the tech-priestess as she weaves through hallways and split paths, somehow you do. How she knows this place so well is still quite a marvel.

When you finally catch up, its beside a small unassuming door in a small corridor. Mika fumbles with a set of keys, taking nervous glances back at you.

She'd thrown her robe back on, though keeping it open to avoid getting it messed up by your rather gooey gift.

"Hah, like I'd let you escape." You smirk.

She doesn't say anything in response, her shaking hand finally pushing the right key into the lock and fumbling the handle as she pushes the door open.

Inside is a small, rather plain room. A single bed, some shelving and drawers. Beyond, another door leading into an unlit bathroom.

"W-would you like a shower?" Mika pipes up, rubbing her hands together as she looks from the bathroom to you.

"Very much so." You reply warmly.

The steaming stream of water now washing away the grime and sweat of the Titan battle, both of you finally seem entirely at ease. Mika still trying to keep herself modestly hidden as she washes up, you teasing her and foiling the attempt.

Both of you finally cleaned off, and Mika actually seeming to calm down, you step from the shower. The towels are modest, but do the job.

Mika watches quietly as you shave, which you hadn't had many recent opportunities to do.

You start reaching for your clothes, checking your communicator. Its quite late, far past the hour of nightfall.

"Sorry, didn't mean to keep you up this late." You smile apologetically to Mika. Its quite difficult not to just outright stare as she dries her hair, wrapped only in a single and quite revealing pink towel.

"Its ummmm... D-do, ah... D-do you w-want to s-s-stay the ni-night?" She stammers, perhaps louder than she had intended to as it catches you quite off-guard.

"If its not too much trouble?" You shrug.

"N-no t-trouble..." She says, staring at the floor and her face red as her robes again.

An hour later you wake back up as Mika shifts position. Looking down at the quietly snoozing tech-priestess, you can't quite believe your luck.

A yawn, and you pull her closer to you as you drift back into your dreams.

Something ringing loudly cracks your eyes back open. With an annoyed grunt, you reach over, slapping at your communicator. Finally it shuts off, and you roll back over.

A few seconds later, its insistent tone chimes again. This time you snatch up the device and hold it in front of your face.

The screen reads "Esh - Urgent."

Damn that Eldar, calling you all the time. Why can't she just leave a message like a normal person, xeno, anyone.

Well she should have known better to call at... Oh wait, its already 1pm...

Looking back, you notice Mika seems to have already awoken, as she's disappeared. A small note left on the bed-stand informs you that she needed to complete some morning rituals or something with machine spirits blah blah blah.

Annoyed at the intrusion nonetheless, you press the receive button and put the communicator to your ear.

Which proves instantly to be a poor decision.

"MAX?!" The earpiece squeals in protest at the volume.

"Damn it, woman, you don't have to yell into these things!" You snap.

"Well pick up the first time then! Gods!" She quips right back.

"What could possibly be so important that you are calling me at this hour? I haven't smoked any more souls, and I swear I had no choice but to play in that bloodbowl game..."

"What are you...? Its one in the... Ugh, never mind any of that you idiot, your friend is hurt!"

This snaps you to awake. Suddenly you have the device held to your ear with attention.

"What are you talking about, who?"

"Your Vindicare friend. One of our scout detachments found him this morning."

"Eight? How bad is he?"

Esh hesitates for a moment.

"Bad." She finally responds.

"Fuck. I'll be right there, tell me what happened."

"It would be pointless coming here, the healers wouldn't let you in to see him even if you tried to fight your way through. We don't know quite what happened, but it looks like he got into a tangle with a psycher of some kind."

"A psycher?"

"Yeah. Though it looks like he gave whoever it was hell. His pistol was empty and there was a good trail of blood. The scouts followed it but it ended at a river."

"Never mind all of that, how messed up is he? Can you guys deal with bullet wounds very well?" You are already throwing on your clothes and trying to figure out some way to equip your own armor.

"Its not a flesh wound, Max. I said he got in a fight with a psycher. He was bleeding from the eyes and ears when we found him, he's been catatonic ever since." The worried tone of Esh's voice does nothing except make you even more concerned.

"...When will we know?" You sit back down on the bed, suddenly feeling quite heavy.

"We don't know. The healers are trying their best, but even they aren't sure he'll ever come out of it."

"Keep trying your best, I've got something to deal with."

"Deal with?" Esh asks, clearly annoyed you are attempting to end the conversation.

"Yeah, because by the end of today, I'm going to kill whoever did it."

You find Mika busily messing with an open panel on Rex. The baneblade barks and starts toward you until Mika chides him to remain still. The robot relents, though his quivering antenna betray his true desire.

"Morning..." Mika stops when she sees your face.

"What happened?" She asks, standing up and quickly rushing over to you.

"Someone attacked a friend of mine. I need to go find out who."

Mika stops, but then nods and looks quite serious.

"You'd better go, then. I'll help you get into your armor."

As she quickly secures your armor pieces into place, you apologize for having to leave so suddenly. Despite her now serious tone, she's not angry with you. You thank her for being so understanding.

"T-there." She says, your gear finally all in place.

"Thanks, Mika. I'll let you know how it turns out." You reach down and pull her up in a tight hug. Quite to your surprise, she gives you a kiss right then and there.

"J-just don't do anything dumb, I don't have another Titan."

"Don't worry, I won't."

With one last kiss, you roar up the ramp on your new bike. A gift from Mika, something she'd been working on for quite some time.

In place of the usual bolters are plasma rifles, with a center-mounted grenade launcher. Twisting the throttle, you notice it seems to have quite a bit more power than the bikes you've ridden before. You make a note to take her on a ride the next time you see her.

For now, you have to decide where to go. Following the blood trail would be pointless. You have a feeling that somehow you'll just bump into whoever it is you've set out to end.

As you rip up dirt and your tires kick out small stones, you pull out your communicator once again.

The driving instructor at basic said never to do anything that might distract you from driving, but what did he know?

Ringing... Ringing...

"Ailia?"

"Max?"

"Yeah, its me."

"Ohai! My brother and I were just sitting down for lunch, care to join us?"

"As much as I'd like to, I've got a vendetta and the only prescription is to kill a psycher."

Ailia pauses.

"A... Psycher? Why? Whats up?"

You explain the situation to her as you ride, Ailia getting directions for you from her brother. The Tau girl seems quite upset at the news, having already spoken in quite length to Eight while you and Darkhammer were busy fighting on bear leaves.

"So he's in pretty bad shape?" Ailia finally asks, sounding downtrodden.

"That's what I've been told."

"Max, its Kais. Call the Eldar if you will, I'll personally send over some of our medical staff to help them out."

You make the call, fully expecting Esh to make a big scene of it and turn down the offer. Its quite surprising, then, when she graciously accepts. Not that you mind, the more staff the kid's got, the better his chances are.

You pull up to a slow stop alongside the Hammerhead, noticing Kais standing outside of it. It looks like he's giving orders to several Tau seated in Piranhas, who go flying off at a breakneck speed before you get close.

"That was the medical crew, they are quite adept at dealing with psychic injuries, I assure you." The Tau Commander claps you on the shoulder.

"Thanks for this."

"Think nothing of it brother, a friend of yours is mine as well." He nods sagely.

"Now, you look quite tired, come come. My sister's already waiting for us." He ferries you to the other side of the gunship, where you find Ailia seated on a blanket with a modest spread of food in front of her.

"Max!" She smiles as she sees you, but it falters once she notices your face.

"Revenge is heavy work, eat up." Kais motions for you to sit, and you do.

Though you aren't sure WHY you are hungry, you find yourself eagerly digging in. Tau cuisine is strange, to put it lightly. Gelatinous blue goo that wriggles at a touch, green damp strands that hang limp on a fork... These things you avoid, settling instead for some kind of meat in a rolled flat bread.

Kais eats beside you, but looks quite grave as he does. Finally, he speaks his mind.

"Whomever it was that attacked your friend was surely no amateur. I've had run-ins with Vindicare in the past, and there is no sneaking up on one." He sets down his bowl of blue gelatin.

"Fortunately," He continues, "Whoever the attacker was is not quite so skilled in the art of deception. My scouts picked up a blood trail earlier, though we didn't know from what until you called. Headed right into Tyranid country."

You notice Ailia's face lose some of it's color, and she looks as though she hopes she won't hear what comes next.

"So we're headed into 'nid territory." You say with an air of finality.

"Correct, we'll pick up the trail and see where it goes from there." Kais nods.

"Are you, uhh... Sure about this, Max?" Ailia asks, nervously watching you as you walk up and down the line of XV8's.

"Yeah, something wrong?"

"Well, its just that... You don't have any idea how to drive one of these things." Ailia shrugs, looking quite puzzled.

You stop, looking at her. Ailia stares right back at you.

"As if that's ever stopped me before." You grin, before pulling yourself up and into a Crisis suit.

"So... You're sure, about this?" She stands looking up at you, hands on her hips.

"I just went toe-to-toe with Abbadon in a Titan, and he had a bigger one. What could possibly go wrong?" You shrug.

"Well... Ok then..." She heads off to find her own suit.

"Now, lets see what this baby's armed with..." You start pushing buttons at random.

You are quite surprised when a Gretchin pops its ugly head up into your cockpit, and you stop messing with the controls.

"Oi boss, oi!"

"Uhh... Sup?" You look down at the green thing almost bobbing in delight.

"Boss, we gave ya mo' dakka bits!" It exclaims gleefully.

Poking your head out, you notice it indeed HAS given you quite a bit more shooty.

Strapped on in addition to the flamer and fragmentation launcher is a plasma rifle and a burst cannon. Well, odd but cool. Did that little shit just bolt those on? Oh wait... Yes it appears he did.

You turn back to look at the little Gretchin, about to give your thanks, before you realize he's disappeared.

Ailia's suit comes marching up beside you, pauses, and takes two steps back.

"What the...?! How did you...?!!?"

"I'm just that good." You slip on a pair of sunglasses and fold your arms, before sitting back down in the suit and closing the hatch.

Continuing on in your pursuit of figuring out this blasted thing, you keep monkeying with the controls. Surely if you just keep trying you will get it right, eventually.

"Max, are you all set to go?" Kais's voice comes over the speakers in your cockpit.

"Yeah, I think so." You push the controls, and the XV8 responds by lurching forwards. You barely manage to avoid crashing right on your own face.

"Yep, we're good." You assure the Tau, most of whom have stopped what they are doing to stare at you.

"Hey Max, what did you do to that XV8?" Kais asks, his hammerhead pulling up alongside you. He's staring, likely with a look of bizarre curiosity, at your suit.

"Got some more good bits for this foight." You tell him, finally getting into the rhythm of walking.

No one asks any more questions, and in hushed tones you don't pick up, the Tau ground crew agree they probably would rather not know, and chalk it up to you being human.

"Ok, lets do this thing!" Another Crisis suit rockets past you, pushing the suit to it's max speed. Which isn't entirely what you would call fast.

"Come on you xeno tin can, lets go lets go!" You push the controls to their limits and the suit picks up speed... Which is slower than the other suit, likely because you are weighed down with guns. Well, Karen would be mad at you if you ever told her you thought you'd had TOO much dakka here.

"You boys go on ahead... I think I'll sit back here and uhh... Do some stuff...?" Ailia says quietly over the comms.

"I think not, sister. It's far past time to get you over this fear of the swarm. You're going with us." Kais chides her.

"Hey uhh... Max? You doing alright buddy?" He asks you.

"Yeah, just fine!" In truth, you are struggling to keep the walker on it's feet. As per usual, the one thing you've yet to find is any brakes.

Well, no time like the present to push buttons and just hope for the best. Right?

You reach out and start slapping at controls, running your fingers over flashing lights, kicking at the pedals.

The XV8 lurches to the side, leaps to the right, and then activates it's jump pack. With a surprised gasp, you rocket upwards, hit your max climb ceiling, and fall.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuuuuuuu.....!!!!" Thankfully the suit does most of the work landing by itself, though you almost flub it and fall sideways.

"Hey, watch it!" Another suit calls out as you nearly slam into it.

"You uhhh... SURE you got this?" Ailia asks, the speakers doing quite a good job in relaying the concern in her voice.

"No problems here, just getting the kinks worked out. It was a uhhh... Malfunction in the forward stabilizing servos, reactor surge and whatnot."

"Max that doesn't even make any sense..."

"Cut the chatter," Kais's voice echos across the channel, "We're entering the Carnifex zone."

Well, that can't be too bad. You've met a Carnifex before, and he seemed pretty cool. Almost ate you, but didn't. That's pretty chill in your book.

That sentiment is rather shaken, as the ground trembles slightly. A warning sensor goes off, and you notice a large red dot moving toward a little blue one you assume is your suit.

"Combat power, here they come!" Kais shouts.

Combat power? That's uhhh....

Well surely it's this flashing blue one.

You push it, and the suit interior darkens. The weapons package comes up, the holographic gun sight projecting in front of you.

"I'm impressed you are somehow managing to actually pilot that thing." Ailia comments as she powers her own suit up into combat mode.

"Baby, I can drive things up and down given enough buttons and luck."

"Enough buttons? You didn't even know what one to press?"

"Nah, almost flipped some switches but then hit the flashy blue on instead."

"Get ready, they're almost on us!" Kais shouts, taking control of the Hammerhead's main gun.

Sure enough, a virtual wave of tyranids come rushing out of the forest, headed right at you.

You turn to face them, figuring it's probably best to start shooting. Everyone else is, so it must be the new "in" thing to do.

A carnifex is running right at you, and you notice this one is absent any facial scars. Probably a good idea to take him down before he reaches you. If that's even possible...

Without really knowing HOW to shoot, you do what you always do in this kind of situation.

Press everything.

The guns all fire at once, a torrent of missiles bursting forth from their pods. Karen would probably squirt at the sight of so much dakka at once.

Unfortunately, about half of your shots miss the carnifex completely, though they land hits on the other charging swarm members.

"Uhhh.. Guys a little assistance?!" You call out as the massive tyranid closes in.

The resounding blast of the Hammerhead cannon catches the carnifex in the side, blowing a huge chunk of bug out across the battlefield.

The carnifex looks down at it's wound, before resuming its attack!

Another salvo from your guns is enough to send it to the ground. Those missiles seem to have some great effect on target.

Your suit is blabbering at you in Tau, which you neither speak nor understand in the slightest.

"Max, take it easy and try slaving just one or two weapons at a time! With all of those guns on, you'll overwork the reactor!" Ailia warns.

"Pah, I'll just kick it if it starts failing on me." You shrug, before realizing there are still a ton of charging bugs.

"Kais you jerk, I hate you for dragging me into this!" The tau girl shouts as she hits her jets to avoid a wave of gaunts.

"Hah, you seem to be doing just fine." Her brother comments, before leaping from a hatch on the tank.

A gaunt attacks him, but he sends the 'nid soaring with a single blow from his massive arm.

The Tau Commander rips his way across the battlefield, shooting and punching a swath through the bugs. Tau may not be great in close combat as a whole, but you sure wouldn't want to take a punch from that arm...

Things seem to be going great, perhaps TOO great.

"Nothing is ever easy, something is about to go very, very wrong here..." You comment even as you unleash a burst of flamer at a leaping jeanstealer.

"Whaaat? Nah, we're winning!" Ailia seems incredibly relieved, and right in her observation. The tyranids are thinning out, and though more are coming, their numbers are quickly dwindling.

"I don't know, I've got a bad feeling about this..."

Sure enough, you turn out to be right.

"Fuck I hate it when I'm right..."

"What the hell is that thing?!?!" Ailia screams, backing away.

You don't blame her, not one bit. Any creature large enough to simply knock trees out of it's way is TOO big. Way too big.

"Damn, I thought it was just a massive swarm of them on the scanners." The Hammerhead pilot laments.

"What is that thing?!" You shout, firing a salvo of missiles at it. Which seem to have no effect, in the slightest.

"A Tyrannofex... We... We may have a problem here..." Kais groans.

"Alright, lets go you giant fuck!" You shout up at the massive beast.

Throwing caution to the wind, abandoning it at the sidelines, you hit your jets.

"Max what the hell are you doing?!" Ailia yells. In truth, you don't really have an answer to that.

You fire everything your suit has as you rocket upwards, emptying missiles and plasma and fire into the gigantic creature. It howls in distress at the sudden attack, before firing back. You continue to watch in satisfaction as the guns rip off chunks of chitin and bug goo. But now you've got that acid to worry about, forcing you to dodge.

You manage to boost to the left to avoid the first shot of acid. Unfortunately, your alpha-fire seems to have finally finished off the reactor. The suit goes dead.

You can't see a damn thing. Until the acid starts eating away at the front of your cockpit, anyways. The hole growing large enough until you can finally fit out of it. Though if you do jump, it will be fight at the massive tyranid.

With one leap, you jump from the now dead suit. With a gulp, you confirm you are in fact headed right at the eyes of the damn giant.

Well, no better time than now to pray that the axe the Grey Knights gifted you is effective against Tyranids as well as daemons.

Well, you don't get the chance.

A blast of acid is headed right at your face.

"God damn it!" You shout, unable to avoid the stream of green corrosive bile.

Ailia screams upward, grabbing you roughly and boosting out of the way of the attack.

"Great timing!" You shout, giving her a thumbs-up.

"No problem..." She grunts as she pushes hard to avoid another burst of acid.

"We're going to win this thing in one go!" You shout, climbing on top of the crisis suit.

"Wha? How?!" Her voice is strained as the suit crashes down hard, it's stabilizers barely holding.

"Simple, we gattai!" You slam your feet down hard into the suit, summoning your smoked souls powers as you do.

The suit starts reconfiguring around you, Ailia letting out a shocked yell as it does. Guns whip around, slamming down in new places, your arms are bolstered by the Crisis suit's own.

"Whats going oonnnn?!?!" The tau girl shouts, clearly in absolute shock as she's forced into a spooning position against you, both of you facing forwards inside the new contraption.

You strike a cool pose, axe in hand, and point up to the massive Tyranid.

Kais is looking at you with a "What the fuck am I watching?" face, and you guess most of the other Tau are as well.

"Time to die you damn bug!" You shout, activating the boosters one more time as you fly upwards.

"Max this is crazy!!!!" Ailia screams, unable to stop you now.

"Crazy? No, this isn't crazy!" You cackle, drawing ever closer to the massive Tyranid as it tries to hit you with it's acid again.

Summoning all of your power now, you send it right into the axe, which glows with a vorpal insanity.

"Final axe!!!!" With that, you swing the weapon right at the head of the beast. With the force of a thousand suns it collides, and at first it seems as though the armor will hold.

But finally, the Tyranid chitin proves no match for the power. The axe buries itself deeper and deeper into the creature's head, before finally sinking into the brain.

With a blaring, massive scream, the beast falls limp.

You come crashing down with Ailia, landing alongside Kais who still can't believe what he's seeing.

"And that, my friends, is how you pilot a mech." You say, standing the suit back up.

"What did I just... I don't even..." Kais scratches his head, well, the back of his helmet.

Dissipating your psychic energies causes the suit to reconfigure to it's original Crisis form. Leaving you standing on top of it, once again just in your power armor.

"Don't question it, I just go with the flow."

"But how did you? I mean...?"

"Soul joints mate." You shrug, hopping off of the XV8.

"Anyways, we'd better get back on the trail of this guy before more tyranids show up." You notice the battle has ended, and is now littered with the corpses of at least a hundred various bugs.

"Right..." Kais doesn't look quite convinced at how you managed to do that just now. To be honest, you don't know how it works either.

Without many more questions, you continue following the pathfinders as they lead you along the route the psycher took.

"Here. Along here." The pathfinder kneels down, showing you the faint trail of blood.

"We're getting close now." Another adds, hoisting his carbine and standing back up.

"We'd better be on edge, the cornered animal is the most fierce." Kais adds.

You agree. While you are out for revenge, you certainly don't want to walk into a trap. Not against someone who got the drop on Eight. Though really, if he could manage that, what makes you think you aren't walking into his snare right now?

Not that it would likely work, being that you have half a dozen Crisis suits, a Hammerhead, a Tau commander, and a pathfinder squad as backup... But still, you don't like activating traps.

"We should go about this smartly." Ailia says, laying out a plan that advocates patience. The pathfinders seem to side with her.

"I think we should attack outright, spring any possible trap and hit him front on. He won't be expecting that." Kais replies, the Hammerhead crew and crisis suits taking his side.

"I think I should go in alone." You say quietly.

"Alone?!" They both shout, dropping the squabble about the plan.

"Yeah, I don't want to get you wrapped up in this any more than you have to be." You stand up, "Besides, I can handle one measly psycher by myself."

You move as quietly as you can through the underbrush as you stalk forward. The pathfinders got you started on the blood trail, now you just need to follow it.

Which is precisely what you do. Axe clutched tightly in your hand as you stalk forwards. You should be able to sense him before he tries anything with his powers. You hope.

Glancing around wearily, you pray to not run into any more tyranids. That would certainly give away your position quicker than much else. Though with any luck, they already got to the guy and chewed him up, saving you the hassle.

"An interesting plan, Commissar. Coming in alone and leaving your support behind."

You whirl around just in time to knock the power sword aside with your axe, and the man jumps backwards as you lash out in retaliation.

"Bastard, what did you do to my friend!" You shout as you swing again, the blade of your nemesis axe coming within millimeters of it's flesh target.

"Your friend?! Surely you mean my assassin." He smirks, thrusting his blade forward which nearly impales you before you leap aside.

"Who are you?!" You inquire, with a cough of fire from your arm. The sudden attack catches the man off guard, and he falters backwards in the face of the sudden flame.

"No concern of yours, I should think!" He produces a plasma pistol and nearly gets a shot off before you fry it in his fingers with a shot from your lasgun.

"Hmph, not too shabby are you?" He muses, taking a step back as you advance.

"Fus Roh DAH!" The sudden burst of energy takes him by surprise, and the stranger has no time to react before being tossed backwards. His flight stopped hard by a large tree, and he sinks to the ground before leaping quickly to his feet.

"A nice trick, but no match for one of my skill." He wipes the blood from his lip, and grins.

"Get away from him, Max." A quiet voice from behind you.

Turning around, you notice Eight standing on rather shaky legs, his Exitus pistol clutched in one hand and his long knife in the other.

"Eight?! I thought you were..."

"I was, I woke up and tracked you here. The Eldar were kind enough to lend me a bike, though I didn't ask."

His face is hard, his eyes fixated on the stranger before you both.

"So good to see you again, though I must admit I'm not entirely pleased at being shot." The man spits.

"But if you give up now, I won't hurt your friend. Its time to go home, Eight." He adds, lowering his sword.

"Are you alright, kid?" You ask, reaching out. Eight brushes your hand aside.

"Fine. But this is my fight."

You give him a once-over. It's pretty evident he's in no position to fight, that much is certain.

"I don't mean to be the bad guy here, but I can't let you try to take him out, he beat you when you were in prime shape, man." You shake your head, "I'll finish him for you."

"NO!" Eight glares, but then his eyes soften and he shakes his head, "No, you aren't a killer, and this man is at his end."

You glance back at the stranger, finally noticing his ragged breath and how his left hand is now again clutching at a hole in his ribs.

"You always were one for murder, weren't you? That's how I found you, wasn't it?" The man stands back to his full height, hefting his sword once again.

"Fair enough." Eight concedes, stepping between the two of you.

"That's right. A killer before we even got to you. Do you know that, about your "friend", Commissar?" The man backs up, his eyes darting around as though searching for some escape.

"You don't have long, do you?" The vindicare asks, slowly starting to circle the stranger.

"Hmph, perceptive as ever."

"I'd give you a dogs death if I were able, but a clean kill is what the Ordo taught, isn't it?"

The stranger laughs, a ragged cough following.

"You don't deserve this." Eight says, leveling his pistol.

"Deserve this? I raised you, boy! I was the one who kept you alive! Those guardsmen on Catachan would have strung you up, whelp!"

Eight easily dodges an erratic swing. You almost intervene, but something tells you that Eight would never forgive you if you did.

A shot rings out, blood blossoming from the stranger's knee as he yells out and falls to the ground.

Eight doesn't say anything else as he presses the pistol to the man's forehead, his expression blank as he pulls the trigger.

With a jolt, the now headless corpse collapses to the ground. Blood spews from the wound, spraying Eight and his handgun. The corpse shakes and spasms around on the ground for several seconds, before the movements slow.

The vindicare lowers the pistol, wiping the blood and bone shards off of his face with the back of his hand.

"Lets get out of here." He tells you, and you can't agree more.

The assassin sits quietly on top of the Hammerhead as it makes its way back through the forest, through the piles of fresh Tyranid carcasses.

For a long time, he doesn't say anything, just stares out across the woodland, chainsmoking.

"He's right." He finally says, flicking a butt and watching the soaring cherry.

"What?" You turn to look at him, and Eight shrugs.

"He's right. When he found me, it was at the scene of a murder."

"Yeah, but it wasn't..." "You" is what you were about to say, but judging from the look in his eyes, it indeed HAD been him.

"Well I'm sure you had your reasons..." You add after the long silence.

"A poor one."

"Look kid, the past is the past and not something I dwell on. I'm not going to hold it against you, whatever it is you did. You've saved my ass on more than one occasion and you're more than alright in my book."

Eight looks at you, and, quite a rarity, smiles.

"Thanks Max."

"Don't mention it. How did he get the drop on you, anyways?"

"A specialty of his, the whole reason he worked for the Ordo. He could project out, dampen senses and mess with that kind of stuff."

"Ah, interesting abilities."

Eight doesn't add anything else, before lighting up again.

The rest of the ride cheers up significantly from there. The Tau prove gracious and happy hosts, and everyone is pretty glad to have survived the Tyranid attack.

Deciding now is a better time than ever, you decide to write Helena a note.

"Dear sis, sorry its been so long since I've written, but shit has been downright insanity. So far I've bested daemons, won the superb owl, surfed with the Emperor himself and oh yeah. IM UP TO MY EYEBALLS IN ALL KINDS OF STRANGE. I'm pulling more tail than fucking, I don't even know. Oh and I lost my left arm but got a bionic replacement."

"PS. I'm a psycher and shit now."

You set the letter down, giving it a once over.

"Yeah, that should do it." You grin.

"So what do you do for fun kid?" You ask him kindly.

"Fun?" He inquires, cigarette perched on his lip.

"Yeah fun, you know. Girls, games, sports...?"

Eight shrugs and turns back to looking at the passing scenery.

"I guess I used to play a game by myself in the Ordo. I'd pull out my picture and try to avoid the cameras seeing me. There were never any women around..."

"Dude..."

The tank slows to a stop at the Tau camp, Eight making sure the Eldar bike in tow doesn't slam into the back of it. Ailia bounds her Crisis suit up alongside you, opens the cockpit, and grins.

"C'mon you two, lets go have some FUN!" She exclaims, throwing her arm around dramatically.

What exactly Tau do for fun, you have no idea.

"You guys go, I'll catch up. Need to return this bike." Eight shrugs, hopping down onto it.

"Like hell I'm letting you sulk off back out on your own, Esh will have my head as is already in all likelihood!"

You grab Eight before he can bolt, pulling him closer and giving him a friendly noogie.

"No no my friend, you are coming with me, having a beer, and hitting on some shapely earth caste girl."

"But I left a note saying I'd bring the bike back..."

The assassin protests, but is no match for your superior strength. Though without the power armor, he might have come close.

Ailia waves you over to a tent, and you drag Eight into it.

Kais and a bunch of other Tau wait for you inside, noticeably absent their armor and weaponry. Ailia pulls you aside, explains the no-armament custom, and helps you shed your gear.

"Can't really ditch the arm, though." You mutter, and she grins before pulling you into the throng of mingling blueberries.

You notice Eight's taken a seat at a bar, and is already well into some dark, almost black drink. An old drunken fire warrior making some kind of joke, as far as you can tell.

Ailia takes you by the hand again, leads you over to what looks like a light blue waterfall, and fills a cup for you.

"Err... What is it?"

"Earth caste special with firewarrior water."

"What?"

"Just drink it..."

You do, and immediately wish you hadn't. It tastes more or less like bad vodka mixed with sugar water. Though when you notice a few amused glances from nearby fire warriors, you decide you aren't going to look like a bitch and down the rest of the cup.

"Alright, now I'm grabbing something else."

You slap down a hand on the bar, order something, get told he doesn't know what you are asking for, and finally just tell him to give you something strong.

Glancing over, you notice Eight looking quite uncomfortable as a younger fire warrior girl rests her head on a hand and tries to strike up conversation with him. Uncomfortable likely due to the fact that the earth caste girl's downright massive goods are resting atop his head, she being a bit more upfront than the fire warrior.

Well, maybe it will be good for him. You hope.

You can't exactly maintain your interest in his well being with Ailia squishing into your back. Absent any kind of armor, you can most definitely feel what she's trying to convey with her greater goods.

"Still worried about your friend?" She asks smoothly, helping herself to a sip of your drink before scrunching up her face at the taste of it.

"Yeah, can't say I'm not. Kid's been through a lot, I think."

Glancing back over, you notice Eight has disappeared. You whip around, scanning, but fail to see him. The earth caste girl and the fire warrior... Oh... Well if they are doing THAT together, Eight probably didn't stand a chance at either of them...

"Shit, where did he go?" You grumble.

Ailia reaches into your pocket, producing a napkin with a hastily scrawled message on it.

"Have fun, going to go return bike now. - VIII"

"Gah, that little brat!" You start heading off after him, but Ailia holds you back.

"As though you could even catch him." She snorts, before pulling you off to a dance floor despite your thrashing protests.

----

I don't like crowds.

Maybe it's because the Ordo school was quite small, maybe its because the settlement on Catachan contained very few people, I don't know.

I just know I don't like crowds.

The Eldar bike eats up the ground quickly, absent any rumbling and bouncing of the ground as it hovers almost effortlessly above it.

I know Max isn't going to be happy I slipped away, but unlike him, I make it a habit to not wreck vehicles.

The Eldar encampment isn't too far from here, but I take my time as I ride. It isn't often I get to have a vehicle, generally I get dropped off on foot and spend days on end in some shit hole swamp or blown out building.

I have to spit out the cigarette to pull down my mask. Its thermal vision giving me quite a clear vision of the Eldar in it's white on black hue.

Despite the scenic route, I pull up to them quickly. Too quickly, I'd been enjoying the ride.

"Didn't think we'd notice you'd left?" A calm voice from behind me.

"Sorry, I had... Something I needed to do." I apologize, hopping off the vehicle and landing lightly on the grass.

"You must be Esh, thank you for your hospitality." I bow my head in appreciation.

"Please, spare me the pleasantries. The healers are going absolutely mon-keigh looking for you, they don't think your fit to be out." Esh looks me over ponderously, I can't help but feel quite exposed in her gaze, as though she can see right into me.

"Sorry, but its something I had to take care of personally." I may be young, but I'm not intimidated by her. I've... I've killed farseers. Not something I'm overly proud of, but certainly enough to erase my fear of them.

"I don't care, it wasn't my bike. You'd better explain yourself to HER though." Esh gestures to another Eldar storming up toward me.

"I should... I don't even... GRRRRRRR!!!!!" The newcomer grabs hold of me, giving me a rough shake as she does.

"Enough, I know you've no love for Vindicare, but you'll behave yourself in my presence, pupil." Esh snaps.

The young blonde haired Eldar lets me go, bowing in deference to Esh.

"Apologies, I let my emotions get ahead of me."

"Noted." Esh nods.

"It was your bike? I'm sorry, I had to borrow it to take care of something." I give the newcomer another apologetic bow of my head.

"Bike?! You think I care about the bike?!?! It was my duty to make sure you were looked after! Oh the hell I caught from the healers... Oooooo!!!!" She glares at me.

"Again, sorry." I can't help but look her over, though. She's pretty, for as little as I truthfully know about that word. Blonde hair, knowing, vibrant turquoise eyes...

"Ugh, whatever, just come with me!" Without warning, she grabs me roughly by the hand and pulls me along with her.

"If you don't mind my asking, to where?" I attempt to light a cigarette as she drags me along. Everyone seems to want to drag me along today...

"To the healers! Where else?! Stupid assassins... Gods..."

I stop, forcing her to as well.

"I'm not going back there." I tell her, perhaps a bit more bluntly than I'd first intended.

"And why, pray tell?" She folds her arms, glaring at me.

"I'm fine now." I shrug.

"Fine?! Oh, so your fine now? Well that is certainly a relief. Hey everyone! He's fine now!" She shouts around mockingly.

"Did I... Do something to offend you?" I mutter.

"You're an assassin." She almost spits the words, and I can feel the seething hatred in her voice.

"A vindicare no less, the worst of them all." She glares, which feels quite unpleasant.

"So?" I shrug.

"So? One of you... You... Things, killed my mother. I don't know why Eshwe is even letting you stay here! If it were up to me, we'd have left you lying in the fields to die!"

She's got a terrible, violent look about her now.

"I mean no offense. Tell Eshwe I've seen the healers and I'll just take my leave now." I shrug, backing away.

"Oh no you don't! She told me to take you, and on my word I'm taking you!" The Eldar grabs me again, and again I'm being dragged...

I sigh.

What a long damn day...

----

The music is downright pumping.

You can feel Ailia getting into it as she makes no attempt to hide the fact she's grinding her rather plump behind into your flagship.

Not that any of the other Tau seem to care. In fact, most of them are doing the same damn thing.

Kais is almost impossible to see, covered in so many of them. He's laughing, a drink in one hand and a handful of blue behind in the other, as he dances with at least five earth and fire caste girls. You grin, that dog.

"Hey, lets uhh... Cool off, shall we?" Ailia asks, having worked up a noticeable sweat as she turns around to face you.

"Sure thing, where too?" You ask, giving her a smile.

"Uh, well... Lets see... How about my tent?" She asks.

"As though I could possibly turn that down." You smirk.

Hand in hand, you let the Crisis suit pilot lead you off toward her own personal place. You think you know exactly what she's got planned, your imagination running wild...

So when you find yourself sipping a fresh drink of some kind of tea, seated on her bed with the Tau girl smiling next to you, it isn't quite what you had expected.

Though you don't mind the peaceful quiet for once, quite a stark and welcome comparison to the usual hustle.

Ailia rests her head on your shoulder, watching some kind of bubbling fish tank full of little crab like things set on a table in the center of the room.

"Nice little place you've got here." You tell her, genuinely admiring it.

"Its not much, but having Kais for a brother certainly does have it's perks." She giggles.

"Ummm... Can you take off your shirt and lay down on the bed?" She asks, blushing and poking her fingers together as she does.

"Huh? Yeah sure." You oblige, laying down to face her.

"Well, I mean flip around." She twists her hands as though to demonstrate.

Not really knowing what she has in store, you nonetheless turn over as requested. For a moment, you just lay there idly.

Until Ailia's hands start rubbing something cool along your back.

"Hey, uh, what is that stuff?" You ask, the slightly sweet, slightly tart smell hinting at your nose.

"Just relax..." Ailia coos.

You do, quite instantly. Whether you had wanted to or not. Her hands work quite expertly across your back, and you feel built up tension you hadn't known existed washing away.

"Wow, you're pretty good at this..." You mumble, eyes closed.

"Its a, uhh, Tau custom. For the one you like. All Tau women are taught it."

"Hmm? I like you too, Ailia." At your words, her face grows quite pink. You don't mind, you quite like that look...

*meanwhile*

Ra'alman watches through her crab spy network as her husbando gets some kind of backrub from some blue skank.

"Oooohhhh that manslut, I'll show him the next time I see him..." She growls from her undersea bed of coral.

----

7am.

Tonya awakens from her slumber inside the tomb.

"Oh Max, you naughty naughty boy, playing with my servos so early in the morning..." She coos into her dakimakura. The picture of Max staring back up at her in a seductive pose, his boxers nearly low enough to reveal everything.

"Oh my honey my sweet," She sings to the pillow, swinging it around in some kind of dance, "We'll be together soon enough. Forever and ever."

8am

Tonya hums quietly to herself as she writes in her diary. She recalls the morning, waking up alongside her lover as she glances longingly at the pillow. Most of what is written is little more than drawing little hearts around a newly acquired picture of Max in some kind of Grey Knight/Crisis suit hybrid.

9am

"And that is how I'm going to make him mine!" Tonya exclaims gleefully to the listening row of Immortals, who remain utterly motionless throughout the explanation.

10am->5pm

Tonya sits in the tomb, singing a quiet song as she plays with the figurine she had made of her lover. She smiles down at him, longingly.

"Soon enough you'll be mine, all mine!" She smiles, spinning around clutching the toy.

"Now, its time to go find you!" She sets the toy down, turning about gleefully as her scouts come in from their trip.

"Well, my little birds, tell me what you found!" She pets a wraith, rather lovingly, as she listens to the information.

"With whom? Oh no, surely he's been taken hostage. No matter, we'll go find him. We'll find him and make him mine!" She grins.

"Oh yes, all mine..." Tonya whispers with a grin, as she starts her walk up the ramp of the tomb.

----

I let the healers look me over, yet again. I hate this kind of thing. The sterile walls, the close, scrutinizing eyes.

It feels just like the Ordo.

"Are you finished?" I finally ask, my patience having long since expired.

The head healer frowns as she lowers her head to stare at me, and I can tell no matter what she says in return, the exam is far from over.

"In such a hurry to leave? You were lucky to have survived that, child." Her voice is kind, regardless of whatever ulterior motives she has.

"I just... I'd like to get some rest, outside." I shrug, hoping to not give off any tells that she can read.

Her face just grows closer, more concerned, and more scrutinizing.

"Care to tell me about why your mind is so fragmented?" She asks after a long pause, cocking her head in puzzlement.

"Fragmented?" I ask, not knowing what it is she's leading on about.

"Broken up, not whole." She continues, pressing for information.

"Sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about." I stand back up, turning for the door, when a hand on my shoulder stops me.

"You may not know, but I do. Tell me, did they have someone, a pscher... Did they..." I push her hand off of my shoulder roughly, shaking my head as I do.

"I don't want to remember any of that."

"Want to or not, child, one day it will happen. Those pieces will join and you will be left with it all intact once more."

"...Whatever." I push open the door, moving quicker than I'd originally thought. With a shaking hand I light up again.

"Finished already?" A cold voice from beside me, I don't even turn to look at the blonde.

"Short exam, she said I was fine."

"Liar."

"Whatever, why do you even care?" I stare over at her, not used to conversations spanning this long and not exactly thrilled with it, the tone or the direction.

"I don't!" She snaps back, "Eshwe told me to wait for you here, and I'm just following orders."

"I'm leaving." I tell her, before activating the cloaking systems of my suit.

Something trips me up, and I whirl around to stare back at her.

"Please, don't mock me. Just because I can't see you doesn't mean I don't know where you are." She growls.

"Again, why does it matter? Let me leave, tell Eshwe whatever you want and I'll back up your story." I shrug the pommel of her sword off of my leg.

"Tsk, as much as I'd love to, and trust me I would LOVE to let you go, I can't." She glares.

"And why exactly is that?" I make no attempt to mask my displeasure.

"Eshwe wants me to make sure you are well fed first." The girl spits venom with every word, I can tell she really does hate me.

"...If I just let you get this whole thing over with, can I go?" I ask, crossing my arms and deactivating my suit.

"Yes, so just quit being so much of a damn nuisance and just follow me."

----

Vect sits in his plush office chair. He sits and wishes he could be getting some work done.

He knows it isn't likely to happen any time soon.

"Fucking Parker, where is that kid when you need him?" He says through his cigar.

"Wuzzat daddy?" Senna pipes up from her position of balancing over his chair on her hands

"I think he said he wants some music. Isn't that what you said? Lets put on some music!" Senda cheers as she jumps down off the desk and rifles through Vect's private record collection.

"Hey hey, I wanna help pick!" Senna pouts, leaping over Vect and helping Senda tear through the selection.

"Bleh, all of this stuff is so old and booorringggg!" They both chime in unison.

"I know, lets put our favorite on!" Senna shouts.

"You mean our own album?" Senda asks.

"What else?" Her twin replies cheerfully.

They slap down their record and start dancing and singing along to themselves. Vect sits back in his chair, pounds the remaining bottle clutched in his hand, and puffs on his cigar.

"Damn it, Parker, I should have just GIVEN them to you." He groans, knowing full well his entire work day is shot.

"Can you two, maybe quiet down?" Vect asks his daughters, neither of whom hear him nor respond.

In their violent dancing commotion, they knock over his computer as well as several photos off of his desk. Both twins continue, taking no heed.

"Fuuuccckkk..." He groans, rubbing his temples.

---

Helena plops down on the cot inside her tent. She'd had to beg, plead, and eat out Sarah to get her to leave for the night. But this would totally be worth it. The night had been a complete success so far, and after a quiet meal together she'd invited the mekboy along to her tent.

Frederick enters behind her, looking quite hesitant as he does. In truth, he's excited but terrified.

"Hmm, whats this?" Helena notices, snatching up the envelope and reading it as she lays on her back, her head hanging off of the side of the cot.

Her face screws up as she continues reading, and her eyes dart back and forth as she carefully re-reads everything in the letter.

"What in the actual fuck am I reading?" She exclaims out loud, scratching her head as she reads the letter yet again.

Sure Max has always been less then eloquent when writing, but this seems even more rambling and strange than usual. A psycher? Him? HOW?!

"Err... Everything alright?" Frederick asks hesitantly from beside the bed.

"Wha? Fine, fine!" Helena exclaims, tossing the letter aside and snatching at Frederick's robes.

"H-hey, what are you...?"

She finally grabs them, and licking her lips, pulls them open.

"Oh." She says, with an air of disappointment, "You guys wear pants under these?"

"Well.... Yes?" Frederick says, not knowing what is the correct answer.

"Well ditch them, you won't need pants where we're going!" Helena grins mischievously.

"I uh... Won't need pants?" Frederick's eyes are almost spinning.

"Nah, follow me!" Helena, grinning ear to ear, snatches up his hand and something off of her dresser before leading him once again out into the warm night air.

"Where are we going?" Frederick asks in a hushed tone, not wanting to wake anyone else during the night excursion.

"Shhh! Just follow me!" Helena whispers back, giddily.

When they finally arrive, Frederick is quite puzzled.

"The... The ocean? I don't...!!!" He spins around as he notices Helena, who is now stripping.

"Oh don't act so shocked, I've got a suit on you know." She smirks, setting down the bottle of tequila on the sand.

"Err... I didn't bring a suit..." The tech priest fumbles, looking around and finally resting his eyes on Helena. His hearts, both of them, stop for the briefest of seconds.

Her slightly tan skin illuminated in the moonlight, messy sexhair fluttering lightly in the wind of the beach. She smiles at him when she notices his stare, which only stops his hearts again. He can't take his eyes off of her, as though they were meant to see her and only her.

"I... I..." He stammers, trying to think of something.

"Oh hush up and just get in with me." She smirks, grabbing his belt and ripping down his pants.

Frederick relents, and removes everything but his boxers, which are patterned with gears.

"Cute!" Helena exclaims, before grabbing the waistband and pulling him along with her into the surf.

Bliss.

This is bliss.

Fredrerick laughs along with the cute tank gunner as she splashes cool water up at him. Forget the servos, forget the wires, tonight he's having fun.

Helena laughs and smiles along with him, the completely unaware tech-priest. How silly. He thinks he's just having fun.

Helena grins evilly inside. Oh yes, he'll be having fun. He'll be having fun while she makes him hers all night long. Whether he's too embarrassed or not, she's making this night count.

---

"Hey Max?" Ailia asks, but you can barely hear her.

"Hmmm?" You ask, though it's really more a pleasurable moan as her hands draw back down your spine.

"Well, uhhh..." She stops, as though quite unsure of what to say.

Not giving her a chance to figure something out, you snatch her up quickly and bring her back down to the bed with you.

Her pink cheeks are so close to yours... You give her a kiss.

"Did it really feel that good? You look ready to pass out."

"I already have, several times." You mumble faintly, feeling the warmth of her pressing into you.

"Hey uh, let me up for a second."

You do, and several seconds later she returns to your side. Naked.

Though neither of you seem sexually charged, instead you are entirely content to pull her close. Feeling her body's soft touch against your own.

Before you even realize it's happened, you are asleep.

---

Kaleshi stops her reading, glancing around as she looks up from the book. She can't quite put her finger on it, but something is off here.

"You've been hogging him!" A sudden shout from the foot of her bed causes her to jump in surprise.

Lilith is glowering, her chin propped up on the foot of the bed, eyes fixated on her older sister.

"What are you talking about?" Kaleshi snaps, marking her page and setting the book aside before folding her arms.

"You've been hogging him!!!" Lilith repeats, this time more forcefully, with a much more whining tone.

"Max is my husbando, brat!" Kaleshi chucks a pillow, which smacks Lilith right in the face.

"Oooooooohhhhh!!!!" The little daemonette pouts loudly as she stands up, dramatically placing one hand on a hip and pointing at Kaleshi with the other.

"You need to share!" She shouts at her older sister.

Another pillow smacks Lilith in the face.

"Sharing is for kids, I take what I want, and I'm going to marry Max whether you like it or not." The khornette smirks at her younger sister's fury.

"Perhaps Lilith has a point, sister." Nyx says from the doorway.

"Wha!? Don't tell me you're in on this too!!!" Kaleshi groans.

"Ara~ara..." Is all Nyx says, araly.

"Well tough for both of you, he picked me so clearly I'm the victor here!" Kaleshi folds her arms, looking victorious.

"We don't care about THAT!" Lilith stamps her feet, "We just want you to share him every once and while!" The little daemonette pouts.

"Well..." Kaleshi thinks for a moment, before shrugging, "I guess it can't be helped. I'll share him with you two. Sometimes."

----

"HEY PARTNERS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?" Doomrider scratches his chin, not quite sure what to make of the scene in front of him.

You circle around the layout of the crime, shaking your head, than nodding.

Eight shrugs, exhaling a plume of smoke.

"No question about it here, guy was definitely vored to death." You nod sagely.

"We thought so." The uniformed officer says, though you know they don't know what the fuck they are looking at here. If they did, they wouldn't have called you in.

"You sure aniki? I think it was a pizza orgy." Eight gestures to something behind the couch, and you take a closer look.

"By the Emprah..." You shake your head in disgust as you stand back up, away from the string of mozzarella.

"A PIZZA ORGY VORE SESSION, THIS GUY'S FUCKED UP." Doomrider shakes his head and shrugs, lost for words.

"Damn right he is, we're going to have to catch them quick before they strike again." You snag a spare cig from Eight.

"To the car?" Eight asks, already knowing the answer.

"To the car!" You agree.

"DAMN IT, HOLD ON, LEMME FINISH THIS LINE!" Doomrider snorts, literally.

"OK I'M READY!"

The three of you step back outside into the cold air, night has fallen. Street lamps illuminate the empty city streets.

Eight hops onto his motorcycle, starting it up with a roar and putting on his sunglasses because fuck night time he's too cool for school.

You and Doomrider pile into the 1970 Hemi cuda, you're driving tonight.

"TIME TO CATCH A CROOK?"

"Yeah," You reply, slipping on your own sunglasses, "This guy is about to get bitten... By the law."

"YEEAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

The car hits the top of a hill and jumps as you go sailing off in pursuit of a criminal.

"SO WHERE ARE WE HEADED?" Doomrider ponders as the 'cuda hits another hill and jumps yet again. Eight follows in hot pursuit atop his cycle.

"Same place we always head when we need info on something down on the streets. Daddy S."

Doomrider grins, he likes where this car is headed.

The joint is already pimpin by the time you arrive, which isn't surprising for this late at night. Daddy S runs quite the place. Some kind of mix-up between a jazz bar and a crime syndicate. You let him off the hook for things, provided they aren't TOO stupid, in exchange for his vast wealth of knowledge.

The three of you get out/off of your respective vehicles and approach the bouncer, a massive Salamander with a storm bolter who eyes you wearily.

"We're here to see Daddy S." You say coolly.

"Big Daddy sees who he wants to see." The bouncer replies.

"Which is us." You state, holding up your badge.

"Good thinking Max." Eight gives you a light, friendly punch on the shoulder. You grin back. Thankfully it worked, or else Chief Vect would be chewing your asses out again for flashing the badge around in unscrupulous places. You don't think you'll ever live down using it to solicit a lap dance...

The pimpest of them all waits for you inside, seated upon his plush leopard print throne.

"Ahhh shit, if it ain't these three clowns 'gain." He smiles, flashing you with his bright whites.

"Daddy S you sonovabitch, I should take you in right now." You fronwn.

"This guy!" He pokes you in the chest and all of you have a good laugh.

"Whatchu need mah brotha?" The head Salamander leans back, resting his hands on his powercane.

"Info." Eight shrugs.

----

I follow along behind the blonde Eldar. I'm not sure where she's taking me, and frankly I don't really care at this point. Though for some reason I find my vision constantly drifting downward to her rather plump posterior...

"Geez, why I have to help YOU of all people... Gods! Taking care of a mon-keigh..."

"I never asked for this." I frown.

"That doesn't matter! Eshwe ordered this, and I follow her orders!" The blonde keeps dragging me along.

We finally enter a large tent, and even from outside I can smell something quite alluring. It smells like food... Good food...

"Drool much?" Snaps the blonde.

"I'm... Not used to fresh food..." I shrug.

"No? Too used to killing people, I assume."

I stop dead in my tracks, making no effort to mask my furious scowl.

"Shut up." I tell her, none too quietly.

"Whats that? Murderer saying something?" She smirks, knowing she's hit a nerve.

"Shut! UP!" I shove her. It was a reflex, mostly, but I still did it. The Eldar girl gasps in surprise as she teeters before landing on her plump behind.

"J-jerk! Whats the big deal!?" She glares at me.

"Do you think I wanted this?! Any of this?!" I hold out my rifle in disgust, before tossing it aside.

"Wh-wha...?"

"Do you think I was given some kind of choice? Some kind of rational layout?! I was a fucking kid!" I glare as I chuck my mask into her lap.

"Yeah, I've killed people, plenty of them! Xenos, humans, hundreds! But don't assume, for one damn second, that I EVER wanted this life!"

A lie.

Entirely.

The truth stung more than I'd just perhaps stung her, because it was the truth that ate at me every day.

I enjoyed it. At least a part of me.

The sweet noise of the bolt slamming shut, the calmness of looking through the scope. I don't know if I'd learned to love it, or if it had always been a part of me. It scared me to think about that.

Somewhere, something inside of me, enjoyed the act of death.

I stand, quite unsure of what to do next, until my better instincts take over.

"I'm sorry." I tell her, as I bend down, taking her hand and helping her back to her feet.

"No..." the blonde Eldar girl says quietly, her eyes quite sad as she stares at me, "No I'm the one who should apologize."

She hangs her head, taking my hand in both of hers apologetically.

I stiffen, having not expected this in the slightest.

"I'm blaming you for it, and I know it isn't your fault." She bows even lower, and I can hear a faint tremble in her voice.

I reach out, for some reason, and place my other hand on her shoulder.

"What's your name?" She asks quietly.

"Eight."

The blonde Eldar looks up, her eyes almost completely obscured by the mess of her hair. She smiles.

"I'm Eira."

"Sorry... For making such a scene." I look away from her, too embarrassed at myself for blurting out everything I'd just said. I'd never said any of that, never told anyone. Though some piece of me did enjoy the life I'd been given, another was utterly disgusted by it. I hoped that somehow the former would disappear, I think I could live easier if it did. But I knew, a gnawing in the back of my mind, that it likely never would.

I swallow, perhaps more loudly than I'd hoped. My face feels warm, a sensation I don't think I've ever felt before. Not like this, anyways.

"Do you want to go grab that food?" I ask her, fixated on the way she looks at me as I do.

"Lets." She smiles, and I feel my stomach plummet out from it's cozy position. More nervous than ever, I follow her as she leads me along.

===Thread 21===

“Hey, Max.”

You grumble, turning over at the sudden intrusion.

“Get up.” Something hard pokes you in the side.

With no small amount of bitching, griping, and complaining, you wake up. Ailia is standing in front of you, fitted in an apron, a spatula in hand.

“You’re going to miss breakfast.” She smiles.

Yawning, you apologize for being such a hassle as you rise. Something smells quite delicious and despite still being so exhausted, you wouldn’t be able to sleep with that fragrance in the air anyways.

“I have to know, what is that smell?” You ask, scratching at your chest hair. A move that reminds you a surprising amount of your dad when he would rise off the couch from a nap.

“Food.”

“Really? I thought it was tyranids.”

“Don’t joke about… Them.” Ailia retorts with a frown, before turning back to her work.

When you try to peer over her shoulder to see what it is, she pushes you back with the spatula and a giggle.

“No, wait until it’s ready.”

“Bah, fine.” You take a seat at the modest round table. The little crab things swimming around in the tank look somehow familiar, though you can’t quite place why. When you ask Ailia about them, she just shrugs and tells you Kais caught them in a nearby river and thought they would add a bit of life to her room.

A plate finally clinks down in front of you, and mouth drooling you gaze down and see…

“You have got to be squidding me…”

A whole squid, pan fried. Why.

“What? I thought this was supposed to be some kind of human delicacy…” Ailia murmurs, looking quite embarrassed.

“Have you ever, ah… Cooked, before?” You ask after several tense seconds of staring at the still quite raw sea food.

“Well, not anything like this.” Ailia admits.

Did a tentacle just twitch? Or are you seeing things?

Ailia doesn’t seem to notice your trepidation at eating this thing. In fact, she presses close, eyes fixated on you. You know she wants you to eat that. You know she’ll be downright devastated if you don’t.

With no small amount of panic, you pick up a two pronged tau fork and slowly cut off a tentacle. By the Emprah they are wiggly...

The tau girl leans in close to watch you eat as you raise it to your mouth.

"Welp..." You take a bite.

Chew once.

Hey, it surprisingly isn't that bad. You were expecting some kind of horrible tentacle throat rape, but instead you've found delicious seafood.

"Well?" Ailia asks, looking fairly anxious.

"Its actually pretty good." You reach back out for more. After several minutes, you've had about all of it you can eat though.

With a satisfied groan, you push yourself back from the table. Another long yawn, and you walk back over to the bed and flop down.

"You can't go back to sleep, Kais is waiting for you, said its important." Ailia grabs your arm, attempting to pull you back up. You act like you have already passed out, and she can barely get you to budge.

"Come oooonnnnnn! Kais will be mad at me if I get you there late!" She grunts, putting her full force behind a tug, which is still not enough to drag you off the sheets.

You let it go on for a good solid minute or two before relenting. Still yawning, you let her help you into the armor. Before leaving the humble dwelling, you snatch up your axe from its resting place against a chair.

"Where are we headed, exactly?" You mumble, rubbing tiredly at your eyes.

"To go see Kais, duh."

Unable to argue with such sound logic, you just let her lead you along. After a few minutes of walking, she stops you outside a rather large and imposing tent.

"Now remember, be professional." She brushes some unseen dust off of your armor, looks you over, and must like what she sees because she pushes you through the tent opening.

Professional...

You step inside, and immediately wish you hadn't.

Several dozen pairs of eyes are already staring at you, and several dozen more turn to you as the Ethereals give you quite ponderous looks.

"Is this the one, Shas'O?" A regal looking Ethereal asks, tilting his head to get a better look at you. Now that you look back at him, you realize none of the Ethereals are actually here, each represented by a hologram.

"It is, the chosen of their Emperor." Kais nods, absent his armor.

"Well I wouldn't go that far..." You add modestly.

"So the Imperium wishes for peace at last, does it?" Another Ethereal asks from the back of the group, standing so his hologram stands above the others.

"The Emprah is tired of this drawn out conflict, he wants it to be done with." You nod.

"And why, pray tell Guardsma... Asta... Human. Why would the Tau believe such an offer?"

"I... Ah... Hmm..." To tell the truth, you hadn't expected any kind of difficulty. Though now that you think about it, such tricks aren't beneath some of the less by-the-book troops. Though you doubt the codex astartes supports such actions.

"And your chaos gods, do they truly strive for peace? How are we to believe such a thing, when all they have ever brought to the Tau is war?" The grey prune asks.

"Again, everyone is tired of fighting. Peace for the greater good. Isn't that your saying? What good is more war at this point?" You are fully awake now, and quite alert.

Many Ethereals look around to each other, and you hear faint whispering. Some just sit in silence, stroking their chins as they stare at you. It must seem quite bizarre to them, and when you think about how you look, it really is.

"And how do we know that Chaos is truly going to stick to their word? Many a time we've been met with simple deception in our past dealings."

"The Chaos gods want the fighting to end as well, there are more prosperous goals we can all accomplish united. I've stood in their presence and I'm alive to talk about it today, that should tell you enough."

The doubtful Ethereal scowls, sitting back in his chair, his eyes still fixated on you. Still, you aren't about to back down.

"If the Tau follow you on this plan, if we do commit forces to see it finalized, what then?" The grey asks, interlacing his fingers and staring at you over them.

"Then the galaxy experience something it hasn't in far too long, friend. Peace."

Several Ethereals smile and nod at your words, as though they too have such a vision of the future.

"Peace does not last, human, your own kind seems quite at fault for that as well. Ho..." He's about to continue berating you, until the oldest, saggiest, wrinkliest motherfucker in the room stands up.

"Quite enough, I should think. Still, human, we are going to require much more significant evidence than this..."

---

Awe.

No other word can describe what they all feel, standing in awe as they watch.

A lifeless corpse, that is all that had sat there just a few hours prior. The decaying husk of a god.

Now, they watched as life seemed to be pouring into the One seated upon the golden throne. His gaunt face rejuvinated into it's stoic, statuesque visage. Fingers long frozen in place now twitching, moving almost ponderously over the arms of the throne.

---

"So let us get this straight, you are just going to leave us here?" The psycher asks, adjusting his hat, "You are going to abandon us, with just fifty thousand flavors of snow cone?"

"This guy." The Emperor grins, poking the loudmouth in the rips, and the psycher smiles back.

"But seriously, man, you aren't going to hit one last wave with us?" Another complains, and the Emperor holds up his hands to placate them all.

"Sorry dudes, but you know I've got to take care of this. Don't worry, I can visit again to hit that righteous surf."

The Emperor turns, finally, to those he trusts to keep the place well.

"You guys watch after it, remember to clean the ice machines and all that jazz."

The grey beards nod in unison, they aren't exactly the most vocal bunch...

---

"Ahhhhh... Wow that was a good rest, but man am I sore!"

The ever expanding crowd almost all have a heart attack as the voice booms throughout the chamber.

---

The Ethereal jumbles his words to a stuttered halt as something golden and glowing appears by your side.

"Sorry I'm late to the party, Max. You have no idea how hard it was to get away, I guess I'd forgotten everyone would be kinda freaking out and whatnot."

You sigh in relief, and turn to shake your head and grin as the Emperor stands up inside the room.

"Y-you aren't perhaps..." Starts an Ethereal.

"I am, in the flesh, whole once more." The Emperor booms, projecting his power through voice.

"And it is not lightly so, for the reason I've returned is that which this man explained to you. For too long have we spilled blood in naught but a fool's struggle. Though I cannot speak for others, I can guarantee you this. The Imperium of Man will hold fast to its word, peace."

The Ethereals don't seem to know quite what to say. Their faces masks of shock, stunned silence, some blink in disbelief.

"Well, it would be beneath one such as you to lie." The oldest looking Ethereal nods.

"So what you're saying is...?" You ask, tilting your head.

"For the greater good of all!" The Ethereal states with a flourish, "We shall stand as brothers."

Outside the tent, Kais grabs you by the shoulders and gives you a friendly shake, his broad smile alone projecting his glee.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant, you two!" He pumps his massive arm in victory.

"Eh, sometimes you just have to make shit real, man." The Emperor shrugs.

"Hey, are you sticking around?" You ask him, and the Emperor laughs but shakes his head.

"Man, if only I could. No, Terra is freaking the big one so I need to go tell everybody to chill the fuck out because I've got this."

"Ah. Well, I'm not too surprised, really." You shrug. It makes sense, you can only imagine the pandemonium when he first opened his eyes. The collective shit everyone lost when he stood up.

"Yup, so rock on I'll catch ya later." He salutes with his index finger, before teleporting away.

"He picked a good time." You chuckle.

"Hey, so what now Kais?"

"Well, I've got to prepare. With any luck, we'll recieve heavy reinforcements and there is much planning to be done. Ailia is going to have to help me out, and you're welcome to stick around but it will probably be dull work." The Shas'O shrugs.

"...How boring?"

"Hours of dataslate work, drawing up plans, getting logistics in order..."

"Sorry, but I'll pass." You shake your head. You would just get in the way, probably.

Suddenly, in a blaze of golden light, the Emperor's torso appears in front of you. He holds out a stone tablet with some kind of bizarre scrawl on it. The letters glow blue, your head feels light, and there is chanting in your mind. As swiftly as he appeared, so is he gone.

"Well that was... Strange..." You mutter. Kais looks as though he was about to say something, before thinking better of it.

"Hey Max." The Emperor pops his head out from behind you, and you almost trip over yourself.

"Err... Yeah, whats up man?"

"Go tell any forces we have on the planet what's what, I've got to make some calls and shit dude."

"Sure thing."

"Righteous." He pops back into the warp-hole.

Well, that gives you something to do today, at least. Probably better than sitting around here annoying Ailia when she's trying to work. Though that doesn't sound bad, either.

"Hey blueberry, I've got to go. I'm on a mission, from god."

Ailia turns around from her talk with several members of the Earth caste, and runs over to you.

"Whaaa??? Already?! You've barely been around, though!"

"Yeah, I know. Sorry but its kind of important."

Ailia lets out a very comical sigh, putting her hands on her hips. She leans in and frowns.

"Fine, but you'd better make it up to me the next time."

"Will do." With that, and a quick kiss, you head for your bike.

You feel a bit of anticipation at the sight. You haven't even had a chance to really try it out yet, and can't wait to put it through its paces. Mika does good work, and surely that applies to the... Oh fuck.

The bike.

You grimace, remembering Eight punching holes through it with his Exitus rifle.

"Oh Emprah..." You groan. Grey knight or not, there is going to be one pissed of Canoness waiting for you.

Yeah, you can't return without the bike. Which is going to be a problem.

Stopping alongside it, you wince.

Yep, quite a problem.

In fact, you don't even know how you can move it. The engine is shot to hell, chunks and metal bits lying around in the grass...

"Damn, this thing isn't moving any time soon..." You sigh, sitting down and thinking.

"YEAH, IF ONLY THERE WAS SOME WAY TO GET IT RUNNING WITHOUT A WORKING ENGINE."

"Indee... Hey!" You whip around, and notice Doomrider standing behind you, his flaming skull a devilish grin. He's got his ring on and a shirt over his armor that reads "19-0".

"Doomrider! Whats good man!?" You engage the broshake, which he activates.

"I WAS JUST CHECKING IN, WANTED TO TELL YOU TZEENTCH'S KID IS DOING WELL!" He holds up a photo and you look at the small child. The baby boy is screaming, sparks jetting out from the lights in the background, Tzeentch looking happy but exhausted and the Emperor smiling proudly.

"That's... I'm happy for them."

"SAME. YOU WANT A HAND WITH THIS BIKE?" He jerks his thumb over at it.

"Yes, please. I think I know someone who can help fix it up..."

***

"Naw, Karen's out wif da boss. Dey's lootin fa moar dakka." The Mekboy shrugs.

In truth, you are just happy they didn't try to kill you when you first arrived. It had seemed like they might, until one Nob recognized you and "krumped dose gits good" to get them to not fill you with bullets.

"Oh... Well I'll have to find her soon. That said, can you give me a hand with this?" You motion over toward the wrecked SoB bike. Doomrider disappeared after parking it, late for a "Pizza orgy."

"Yea, we can git it roight fixed up fer ya."

"Great!"

***

"Oh... Oh no..." You groan.

The Mekboy and his boyz grin as they park it in front of you. Oh Terra, you should have just told her it was destroyed...

In place of it's bolters, which were never broken in the first place, now rests a kustom shoota and a choppa strapped to a pole. Where once were Imperial symbols are now hastily stamped out Ork ones. The exhaust pipes extend two feet above the bike itself, but not as tall as the giant Ork banner on the back of it.

The engine doesn't even appear repaired. At all. Hell, you can still see the bullet holes that bore right through the engine bloc. Still, somehow the bike is chortling along, spewing black smog from it's pipes.

To top it all off though, the icing on the cake, they've given it a hasty red paint job.

"We fixed it roight up fer ya, loike I said! Roight beutifal she iz!" The Mekboy folds his arms, nodding his head proudly at his work, maybe even tearing up a bit.

"Why why, oh why..." The Orkz don't seem to have heard you.

"D'attle be twe... Twunty... Gah! Lotsa teef, plus tip, 'humie!"

"I uhh... Don't have any?"

The Mekboy frowns, as do his boyz.

"Well den, make sure ya git some an gib em to me lata."

"Right, will do..."

The Orkz hook the bike to the back of yours with some chains. After securing it upright with some training wheels which appear to be made from standard Imperial diner plates, they assure you it's ready to go.

Grimacing at the prospect of showing up with it, you gun your own engine and start the journey to the Soul Sista's headquarters.

The Sororitas are outside the building when you arrive, doing some afternoon practice or something. All eyes turn to you as you ride up, present in tow.

Oh yeah, this is going to go great. You can just tell by the murderous look on the Canoness's face that she absolutely digs her pimped ride. Even Lycheria looks a bit put off, but perhaps more concerned for your safety than anything else.

You finally slow to a stop in front of the group, parking the "Deff Kounty Gitz Kustom Choppah" in front of it's owner, and shutting off your own engine.

Turning to them, you say...

"Problem, Canoness?" You ask, taking a sip out of an Ultramarines mug you gifted from a Blood Ravens rhino along the way. Doing your absolute best to remain entirely calm, as though nothing was out of the ordinary.

The Canoness, apparently, cannot speak.

Her face is a bright purple, and she almost appears to be choking as she splutters and gnashes her teeth. She's got a death-grip on the handle of her flamer, and another on her sword.

"Yo gurl, I heard you like fightin Orkz. So we put Orkz on your bike so you can waagh when you waagh."

That appears to have been the final straw.

"THIS IS WORSE THAN HERESY, THIS IS.... THIS IS SOME KIND OF... I DON'T EVEN KNOW!" She thrusts her sword, which you block with your axe.

"Why you mad, tho?" You ask.

Apparently this triggers some kind of seething fury, because you narrowly avoid another swing, and she is now foaming at the mouth.

"Enough!" You finally shout, using the power of your mind to knock her back slightly, "I'm on a mission from the Emprah."

"Pah!" She spits, "Even if you are some kind of Blood Raven... Grey knight... Commis... To hell with it! To even joke about such a thing is heresy!"

A burst from your own flamer overpowers hers, canceling it out as the jets collide and saving you from a fiery demise.

"Quit playin."

Another flamer battle, and you remain alive.

"You quit playin!"

"GRAHHHH!!!! Why won't you just die like a good little heretic!?"

"Fus Roh Dah!!!!" You send her flying back into her sisters, who catch her.

"I told you, I'm not a heretic. The Emperor has awoken, and sent me here, personally, to inform you of something."

"Hah! As though that were even remotely possible." The Canoness snorts.

Lycheria frowns, her brow furrowing.

"Now that I think about it, I did see some kind of golden pauldron save you the first time we met." She says quietly.

"Exactly, and now I've come here to tell you this. The wars over, Emps is teaming up with the big bad four and any other xeno willing to join us. Malal is on a rampage and needs to be stopped. Are you bad enough bitches to serve the Emperor?"

The Canoness stands back up, seething.

"Even if that were true, you don't have any proof."

"Sure I do." You grin, and hand her the photo with the Emperor's new kid. She pauses, blinks one long blink, and faints.

---
But not before hitting her flamer one last time. You weren't expecting that, and without having any kind of defense, you are incinerated. You can feel your flesh charring and melting, turning black as you howl in agony.

Slapping at the flames, doing your best to try to save yourself, you keep stumbling backwards. No matter how many times you roll, the flames won't go out.

Something gives you a shove, and you are falling...

Right into the water.

"Nani, mai hunny?" Ra'alman sings, stirring up the water in front of your face.

"H-help... Me...." You groan, feeling the life fading from you.

"Well, I guess it can't be helped. I'll just have to use THAT." The fish exclaims exasperatedly.

With one gulp, she swallows you.

Shouting out in agony, you can feel her rough mouth already pulling off the charred outer layer of your skin. She laughs at your pain, as though it bolsters her.

"Don't worry, Max, I'll be sure to take good care of you. You can live forever, down in here <3"

Tentacles lurch out, and begin ripping off your charred flesh as another rips off your codpiece.

"First, we just have to replace this icky body of yours with something better." She sings.

The pain and pleasure mix into some kind of sickly sweet sensation. You've already blasted one gooey mess onto the pile of eggs in front of you, and the tentacles seem to want another. Still more emerge, and start dripping some kind of bioluminescence green gel onto you.

"Don't worry, soon you'll be just like me!" Ra'alman's giggle echos throughout the depths of the vast ocean.
---

Lycheria looks completely shocked by the photo, though her reaction isn't QUITE as extreme as the Canoness's. She sits there, shaking her head of silvery hair in disbelief.

"I mean... How?!" She finally says, doing her best Jags-fan impersonation.

"Don't look at me, I have no idea how god on god snu snu works." You shrug.

"Eww... Not that, I mean how did the Emperor and... HER get together, even?"

"I don't know, actually. Some kind of unrequited love obsession from her, a party in the warp with plenty of booze, shit just happens I guess?"

Lycheria sets the photo down, and rests her head on the table as she closes her eyes.

"I don't even want to know..." She groans.

"And then the big guy just puts his..."

"MAX!!!!"

"Into her eye of..."

"OVER THE LINE, STOP!!!!"

"...Sorry."

Lycheria sighs, before getting up and grabbing out a tea set. She gets busy making some up while you watch.

"So this is all for real? We're actually going to be teaming up w-with... Chaos?" She looks as though that whole phrase nearly made her vomit.

"Hey now, they really aren't terrible. To be honest, Nurgle is kind of a bro, Tzeentch is at least polite, Khorne is a great coach and has a soft spot. Slaanesh grabbed my... Well you don't need to hear about that."

You take a sip of the tea out of the Ultramarines mug as Lycheria looks at you, her gaze betraying the fact that she does indeed want you to finish that sentence. Tough for her, it isn't something you want to remember.

She sighs after a long moment that tells her you are not going to continue that story. Resting her forehead on the table, she closes her eyes as though trying to sleep.

"I want you to pinch me, because I'm clearly stuck inside some kind of terrible, terrible nightmare." She groans.

"Sorry, but its no nightmare. Besides, I really don't think you'll find them too bad to be honest. Most of them are crazy, but in sort of a good way." You shrug.

Lycheria rotates her head to give you a good long stare, and you rest your own head down on the table.

"But now who am I supposed to fry?" She complains.

"Huh? Well I'm betting Malal still has some kind of legion of his own, so probably those guys."

"Oh, right. Well, that's something, at least." She sighs, closing her eyes. You'd forgotten just how cute she is.

"Yeah well, we don't have to worry about that quite yet, so lets do something fun." You grin.

"What did you have in mind?" She asks, looking as though she's about to go to sleep.

***

With a pained groan, you peel your eyes open, wincing at the bright morning sky.

"O-oww..." Lycheria mumbles as she sits up next to you, her eyes clamped shut as she rubs a bump on her head.

"Where are we?" You look around with squinted eyes. Wherever you wound up, you certainly aren't in SoB territory anymore.

The Ork bike is next to you, so you use it to help you stand up and then lean on it for support.

"Oh, I'm still drunk, I think..." You sigh, quite annoyed at that.

"So what, that isn't important. What I want to know is, why am I naked and covered in marinara? Your junk is, too." She notices.

You blink, look down, take in the sight, look back up, and blink again.

"So it is." You confirm.

"Hey uh, Max. Where are we, exactly?" She asks, looking around.

You scan the surroundings as well, and it all looks quite foreign to you. Though you may be drunk, you don't think you've been here before. Probably.

"I don't know, but lets get cleaned up before we figure that out. My junk smells like garlic." You pick up your discarded codpiece and set out to find some source of water.

A nearby stream serves well in cleaning yourself up, which you do by falling face-first into it.

"Completely intentional." You inform Lycheria, who looks dubious about that.

She jumps in as well, and despite your half-drunken morning stupor, you must be leering too hard because she splashes you playfully.

"Your antics have only served to jiggle your "sisters" even further, I am aroused." You tell her in a robotic tone.

"Get dressed." She says despite laughing.

The two of you now clothed again, its probably high time to head back. Though that will be a problem, as you don't know which way back is.

"Oh wait, I'll just check my communicatus device, it can show me the whey."

You whip out the gadget...

You grin, an evil idea having somehow breached the surface of the vodka-lake that is your current mind. Something tells you its a decidedly BAD idea, but vodka say "IT IS BEST IDEA, OF GLORIOUS SOVIET COMRADE! YOU NOT LIKE VODKA IDEA? PERHAPS YOU MIX WITH SOME JUICE AND MAKE AMERICA SHIT DRINK, PERHAPS YOU NOT MAN ENOUGH FOR VODKA STRAIGHT?"

"I'm man enough." You frown.

"Huh?" Lycheria inquires, an eyebrow raised.

"Quiet you sexy woman, I'm werkin on sumfing."

"Cool, I'm going to go back to sleep. Wake me up when you find out where we are, or something fried and greasy, preferably both."

"DIAL ROBOT OF CRAZY, FAGGOT DO IT!"

"SHHH, I'm doing it, I'm doing it. God you're an annoying inner monologue."

You finally get the number punched in, having picked it up from some paper that wound up in your pocket at your last meeting with Tonya.

"Muhahahahaha, Gentleman, behold!"

"Quiet, you, its ringing." You frown at the voices.

"H-hello?" A quiet voice with a slightly robotic melody.

"Hey baby, what are you wearing?"

"OH?! Mmmm, Lolita black lace, I'll be the little girl just for you."

"I AM WEARING GLORIOUS HAT OF MOTHERLAND, MANY MEDALS AND MUCH THANKS TO COMRADE LENIN! WE MUST MAKE MANY BABY TO SERVE IN ARMY TO DEFEAT WESTERN IMPERIALIST DOGS!" You slather in your best accent, which is pretty bad.

"We shall show those sons of whores what true power is, let us disembark upon the path of glory for the motherland!" Tonya shouts back, much to your surprise.

"Comrade Anushka, I am needing more of the vodka drink."

"I will procure some for you, that we may win this war."

A click and the line goes dead.

What the fuck just happened? Did she just play along with you? Hmm, you check the conversation log and notice it went on for exactly 60 seconds. Strange.

Ah well, you are feeling adventurous. With a giddy grin you dial in Helena's number. Sure it may be like 4:45 am on her planet, but fuck her she used to make you get up to take out the trash.

"...Max?" Helena yawns.

"Comrade sister, have you started making baby for motherland?"

"I... What?"

"Is all quiet on western front? Is pig dog NATO cowering like bitch?"

"...You've been drinking, haven't you."

"I sing for you, great song of motherland, to awaken fighting spirit."

"Yeah, yeah you're drunk." She manages, but you barely hear it as you belt out lines of gibberish to the tune of the soviet anthem.

"Max, enough! What the fuck was with that letter, what the fuck were you even talking about?"

"I cannot talk now, comrade sister, I am on blessed mission from most divine Emperor."

Helena screams in frustration, and you can tell she's quite annoyed with you at the moment.

"Are you angered, comrade?"

Another torrent of very select words and your ear piece whines in protest. She might even have Esh rivaled in that regard.

"Enough with the accent, just tell me what the fuck is going on already!"

By the time you've finished your drunken recollection of events, a good hour has passed. Lycheria is snoozing with her mouth open, your hat over her eyes to block the sun. Helena is oddly silent.

"Wow, you've really gotten yourself into some shit, eh?"

"Yeah, you know me. If there aren't guns, constant fear of death, and several pairs of tits its no party I'm attending."

Helena sighs, and leaves her tent.

"Yeah, you haven't changed at all." She groans.

"Did you honestly expect I would?"

"No. The whole of the Imperium would change before you would, and apparently that is actually happening soooo..."

"Meh. How have you been, still slobbing Sarah's big knockers every night? Ask her if she wants another round from me, wont you."

"Ask her yourself! And no, I haven't been, well, not as much anyways."

You sit up at these words, if she's not lezzing out all day err dae with Sarah, something is WRONG.

"What did you do? Or who? Whats his, hers, its name? ...You aren't fucking Slaanesh are you? Because I totally called dibs on that first."

"Wha...?! Gross... I've been, ah... Seeing someone."

This is relevant to your interests.

"Whats her name?"

"Frederick."

"Ah, I see. Though I always took you for the butch of the pair, not the other way around."

"Frederick is a MAN, asshole..."

"Whatever you have to tell yourself I guess?"

"Fuck you, jerk." Helena retorts.

"Anyways, I've got to go. I have a hot sister of battle jumping up and down in panic, waving and screaming at me."

"..."

"I think she wants my co..."

"Call me when you sober up!" Helena hangs up abruptly, but you've already started pressing buttons.

Ringing...

"...Hello?"

“I demand you to examine my plasma cannon and see that it is fully repaired… also I need you to run a system scan in my computer mainframe.”

You hang up quickly. Who the fuck did you just dial?

Ah well, you head over to see why Lycheria is jumping around pointing off into the distan...

Oh god it's Abbadon.

"Get on the bike, get on the biikkkkeeee!!!!" Lycheria howls at you, and you clumsily sprint over to her.

"Where the fuck did he come from?" You ask, watching the Chaos warmaster closing in on a bike of his own.

"I don't know! Just gun it!"

You turn the starter knob and...

Nothing.

"FUCK!" You try it again, still nothing.

"Start ya git or I'll krump ya gud!" You yell, slamming your bolt pistol down into the bike's dash.

With a furious rumble, it actually turns over!

"go Go GO GOOOOOOO!!!!!" Lycheria smacks her fist into your back.

You wrench the handle back as had and as fast as you can. The bike explodes into speed.

"Dats da goodun fah dis race boss!" A gretchin pops out of the front wheelwell with a wrench, cackling as he climbs up and points at a red button.

"Sod off ya git, any Nob knows dat!" You toss him off of the bike into the stream and press the button.

With a scream, the engine is injected with pure fightan juice, and what you thought was fast is now redefined. The bike is clocking at such a breakneck speed you can barely hang on, let alone control it.

Despite this, Abbadon is still hot on your heels.

"How the fuck...?! Get the fuck out of here you ass!" You shout back at him, winging the empty bottle of vodka. It smacks him in the face and he lets out a pained yell, but it doesn't deter him.

"Press it again, press it again!" Lycheria yells as Abbadon moves even closer, his front wheel nearly at the back of your own. He's started firing his front bolters, and you have to swerve out of the way to avoid their raking fire.

Telling caution to take two steps back and fuck his own face, you spam the red button as fast and as hard as you can.

Again the engine is injected, and again it puts on the speed. Only this time, you keep the button held down. You don't know if it's Orky construction can keep going without exploding, but if you let up you are going to get killed.

Abbadon's tires seem to be leaking some kind of black haze, and you don't have to be a genius, though you totally are, to figure out Malal has something to do with it.

The engine is whining and sputtering, but it's keeping its speed. Can it hold out, though? Abbadon is falling behind, but you don't have enough of a lead yet. You are going to have to do something to get out of this mess.

You jam the brakes and skid the bike to a stop, as hard as you can.

"Max, what are you doing!?"

"HAhahaha, giving up so easily mortal dog? Huh, whats that? You want me to make you feel good with my hand? Well, alright."

"I'll make you feel good!"
Abbadon strokes Max's Inquisitor!

Max takes 50 damage!

"I'll make you enjoy my hand."
Abbadon's hand clamps tightly!

Max takes 65 damage!

"Hah! At your limit already?! Fine then, cum in my hand!"
Abbadon's fist moves fast!

Max takes 85 damage!

"I-I'm cumminnggg!!!!"

*Splurt splurt*

"Hahaha, I'll make you my sex slave now!"

"N-no! You cant! Not theeerrreeee!!!!!!"

Ilias: "Did you enjoy being made to cum by the warmaster? Honestly, such a pathetic hero to give in to something like that! He's too strong to take in a frontal engagement, use your psychic powers to give you the edge. Go now, brave Max, and defeat that daemon for me!"

"Od Ah Viing!!!"

Your words of power echo across the desolate landscape, rippling across the nearby ocean as waves across the surface.

A furious, echoing screech resounds throughout the galaxy. Men are awakened in their homes, babies scream, worlds quake.

The great void dragon, already awoken by you earlier, now summoned to your aid.

A massive gash opens in the earth between you and Abbadon, and the warmaster is forced to skid to a stop, and ultimately abandon his bike as it goes sailing off the edge.

Its work done, the void dragon screams once again, before returning to it's home within Mars.

"What the fuck just happened?" Lycheria asks.

"I don't know, but I've got a massive erection."

You gun the waaghbike again, and build up some speed. Surely Abbadon can't just run after you, but its probably best to be safe and just get as far away as you can.

Lycheria clings to you as you ride, though the armor-on-armor kind of ruins the experience.

"Which way?" You call back to her, and Lycheria looks around for any recognizable landmark.

"There!" She shouts, pointing at a jagged mountain in the distance.

"I know the HQ is east of that, so just head toward the mountain and we'll figure the rest out from there!"

"Got it." You crank up the speed again, bumping and skidding across the difficult terrain. Finally you hit a road and can really pick up the pace.

The Ork bike does its job pretty well, you have to admit. Especially considering it shouldn't actually run.

===Thread 22===

The engine revs underneath you, despite being riddled with holes courtesy of Eight and his Exitus rifle. Marvel the Orks are, however, it is somehow still propelling the bike along at a decent clip. Shame Karen didn’t have anything to do with it, she seems like she’d have made it even better somehow. Maybe you’ll haul some destroyed vehicle to her the next time you decide to head that way.

Lycheria is settled in on the rear, you’ve just escaped Abbadon, everything is going right. As right as your days ever go, anyways.

“How does that guy keep popping back up for more, anyways?” Lycheria ponders, though not letting go of you as the bike jerks and bounces from a rock.

“Eh? Abbadon? Gigantic inferiority complex.”

“Really?”

“Maybe, who knows?” You shrug.

You push the looted bike harder, wringing out every bit of speed as you sail across the plain opening up. It may just be mud and grassland, but you really get screaming across it on the Orkish special.

Daylight turns to dusk as the ride continues. Lycheria shifts around uncomfortably in the seat, and you have to admit you are feeling the effects of the ride as well. You really went a long ways last night.

After what feels like another few hours, you finally arrive back at the Sister’s HQ.

And shit has hit the fan.

“Faster, Sisters! We’ve not much time!” The Canoness shouts, apparently having forgotten her fainting spell.

All around, Sororitas are in a mad rush. They are piling into vehicles, snatching up flamers and bolters, checking their chainswords one last time.

“Canoness, what’s going on?!” Lycheria shouts as she dashes over to see what all the fuss is about.

“Hmph! Didn’t think you were coming back! Should punish you for this, but we haven’t time!” The Canonness frowns at Lycheria, and outright GLARES at you.

The older Sister herself is already walking toward a Land Raider, flamer in one hand and chainsword in the other.
“So, what exactly is going on?” You ask, downright confused. Blame the massive hangover creeping in.

“Nothing of your concern, Inquisitor matters, Grey Commissar.” The Canonness huffs.

“Bitch, I am the Inquisition, don’t you see this flashy assed outfit? Now tell me what’s going down.” You fold your arms and block her path.

“Ugh, whelp! If you must know, a massive contingent of Guardsmen is arriving today. We’ve been tasked to clear their landing zone of any enemy presence.”

You falter slightly, you hadn’t expected reinforcements, not this soon anyways. That means they are coming from a nearby planet, which means…

“Helena…” You can’t help but grin maliciously.

“Who?”

“Dumb sister of mine. Anyways, I’ll assist you with the operation.” You tell the Canonness straight up.

“Hell no.” She retorts.

“As though you have a choice.” You >imply, tapping your armor with your axe.

“Tsk, fine! Just stay the fuck out of my way!” With that, the Cannoness storms off and almost charges into the rear entrance of the Raider. Other sisters have to lurch out of her way to avoid being plowed over.

“Knight!” She calls back at you as her tank starts firing up and going through pre-mission litanies complete with incense, “You’ve got an assassin waiting for you inside!”

“Assassin?” Lycheria looks at you dubiously.

“A friend.” You assure her as you head inside.

Sure enough, Eight is waiting for you inside. Unlike the Tau who seemed so welcoming, the Sisters seem to be going out of their way to avoid him at any cost. They walk on the farthest side of the hallway that they can, never stepping within ten feet of the desk Eight sits on.

“Hey, what’s up with that?” You ask, quite honestly puzzled.

“Well… Even Sororitas have been accused of heresy, and sometimes if it’s a powerful one, the Inquisition… They just deal with her, quietly. It’s not like one could know directly, but the corpse left behind makes it fairly obvious.”

Even Lycheria hesitates noticeably when she draws closer to the young Assassin, who doesn’t seem to notice or care that everyone but you is avoiding him like he may explode at any moment.

“Hey kid, what’s happening?” You grin, but your smile falters when you notice Eight being more morose than his usual self.

“What’s up?”

“I’d prefer we talk alone.” He glances over at Lycheria, who stifles.

“Relax, she’s cool. What do you need?” You ask, leaning on the power axe.

Eight produces a small envelope and extends it out, you take it without thinking it through.

“What’s this then?” You look at the white sealed envelope, unmarked but for the “VIII” hastily scrawled across the front. Its deceptively plain.

“I’ve got something I need to take care of. If I don’t return…” Eight nods at the envelope in your hand, “I want you to please bury that on Catachan, if you ever wind up there. If you don’t… Then burn it.”

The envelope in your hand, light as a feather, now feels as though it weighs a ton.

“What is this?” You finally ask.

“The only things I own.” Eight states simply.

It’s not like it would be appropriate, but you have the urge to open it and see its contents for yourself. At the same time, you are struggling on what exactly to do.

“So where are you going? I mean you’ve…”

“Like I said, something I have to take care of.”

“Well I’m pretty much free, let me…”

“Something *I* have to take care of. Sorry, Max, but I can’t take you with me on this.” Eight frowns deeper.

“Well you can at least tell me where you’re headed.”

Eight cocks his head, his eyes boring into your own.

“I’m not foolish, if I do that you’ll just follow me regardless.” He shakes his head.

Well, kid’s got a point…

“Not a good enough excuse kid, now spill the beans.”
Eight’s brow furrows.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Yeah so you’ve said. Doesn’t mean I’m about to let my friend hand me something like THIS and run off to Emprah knows where.” You wave your mechanical arm for emphasis.

“You aren’t going to let me leave are you…?” Eight sighs.

“Not until I find out exactly what’s going on.” You grin.

Sure he could try to slip past you, but in this narrowish hallway you could likely grab him before he could escape. He may be a tough sonovabitch but he's not tough enough to escape a power armor bear hug.

A long moment passes, before Eight finally nods.

“Alright, I’ll tell you. But if I do, you promise to take that envelope.”

“Fair enough.” You put the envelope gently into one of the pouches on your belt.

“Now,” You take a seat on another desk, facing Eight, “Where are you headed?”

Eight takes a long moment to fish out a cigarette, and gestures for a particularly young Sororita to come over to him. She looks entirely hesitant, but he insists with another wave of his hand. The girl approaches, flamer at the ready though she’s trying to not make it completely obvious.

Eight leans down as she draws near, right down to her flamer. The girl is visibly trembling now, and you wonder just how shaken this assassin in their midst really has them. Eight uses the pilot light of her flamer to light up, smiles, and watches for a moment as she slinks back with a calculating stare.

“You know anything about the Ordo I belong to? About Vindicare?” He asks, exhaling a plume of smoke.

“A little.” You admit. Not exactly something you are studied up on.

“Well the Ordo doesn’t exactly… Take kindly, to those who try to leave it.” Eight shifts on the desk.

“Which means?”

“A kill team.” He says flatly.

“A what now?”

“They aren’t about to let me go, Max. The Emperor himself could tell them to, and they would still follow the code of the Ordo, if quietly. That man you met earlier was just here to affirm my status, and unfortunately must have made a broadcast.”

Eight pulls out a small dataslate and hands it to you. On the small screen you can see what appears to be the outline of a ship, though the photo was taken at night.

“Is that a small landing craft or something?” You ask, tilting the screen around, trying to get a better view.

“Exactly.”

“Full of other assassins?”

“At least half a dozen, all of them ranking members within the Ordo… Former instructors of mine, mostly.” Eight flicks ash onto the desk.

“All the more reason I can’t let you go alone.” You tell him, sitting up to the full height of the power armor.

“What makes you think you could even get close to them?” Eight asks flatly.

“Well I mean… Errr…”

“Max, you’re a good fighter, but this isn’t going to be a fight. They would kill you before you ever even saw them.”

“Hey now, I don’t mean to brag but you didn’t kill me outright.”

“I don’t mean to dismiss you as a warrior, but I had some kind of malfunction with my scope, some kind of inner glare inside of it. Nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

“Oh…” You pause, wondering what would have happened had this not been the case.

“And these aren’t Vindicare out on their first mission alone, these guys are all veterans.”

“So what makes you think YOU stand a chance?!” You blurt out.

Eight pauses, as though not having expected such a question. He takes another long draw and leans back.

“Like I said, they are former instructors of mine mostly. They’ve taught me everything I know, and most of them are getting quite old, for a Vindicare. I’ll stand a good chance so long as I get them all in one go, before they can split up.”

“…And if you don’t?” You ask with a frown, “What happens if they get a chance to split up?”

“Well… Then things get complicated.” Eight nods, flicking the butt into a nearby trashcan.

Before you can ask anything else, Lycheria presses her finger to her ear and appears to be listening intently. Her face darkens and her gaze falls to you.

“Understood.” She states.

“Something up?” You ask, while still trying to come up with something more to ask Eight.

“Yeah, you could say that. The Guard need a place to land, now. Apparently they are encountering some massive resistance in the air, I guess Malal’s legion has more fighter craft than anyone expected.”

It feels like you swallowed a rock.

“Did they mention anything about the tank battalions?”

“Nothing, but apparently Creed has gotten them through the worst of it. Now they just have to land, and there’s a whole damn legion setup on the field below them, apparently.”

You jump off of the desk, snatching up your axe as you do. Though with a flash of realization, you hesitate, and turn to Eight.

“Can you wait until this is over?”

Eight shakes his head.

“If I do that, they will have split up, and if half a dozen Vindicare split up and want the same target dead… Well, it’s going to happen.”

“Max,” Lycheria looks worried, her finger back against her ear, “The landing craft were going to try to break off and find somewhere else to land, but too many of their ships are shot up and wouldn’t make it. The orbital bombardment was blocked by some kind of… Field, I guess. If someone doesn’t clear out these chaos troops…”

“Got it.” You tell her.

“Don’t worry about me, I’ve got a plan. Your sister and Guard need you, I don’t.” Eight states as he slides off the desk and hefts his rifle.

Now, you’ve got a choice to make.

You’ve got enough juice left in your communicator for two calls. Should have tossed the thing in a fire to give it a charge, but you’ve been busy. Also you forgot…

That means you can get some help together, for both you, and maybe someone to at least try to watch Eight’s back for you. You know he’ll slip any kind of direct support, but surely someone could at least watch him without him knowing. Maybe.

Who do you call in to support you? For Eight?

“Alright man, but you had better come back, hear me?”
Eight nods, before turning to go.

What you didn’t tell him is that you are going to try to get him someone to at least watch his back, whether or not he wants it.

You and Lycheria head off to a different part of the structure as you dial your communicator.

“M-Max?”

“Hey Mika, what are you up to today?”

“M-me? Well I mean… I-I was going to maybe work on something with SLaDOS…”

“Can you hold off on that? I need your help.”

You explain the situation to her, and Mika seems quite startled by the news as her stammering only grows worse the more nervous she gets.

“So you’ll help?”

“O-of course! I’ve g-got a little s-s-surprise for them, actually! And Rex is in t-top shape!” Mika seems quite fired up.

“Great, meet us there!”

That call complete, you dial again.

“Max? Need something?” Esh sounds quite busy, lots of background noise.

“Yeah, it’s about my assassin buddy actually. He’s headed off on his own and doesn’t want any help, so naturally I want someone to help him by at least being there in case shit goes south.”

“Oh? A support team?” Esh inquires.

“Something like that, yeah.”

A flurry of activity in the background, and you hear Esh yelling something angrily, which is followed by more shouting.

“Everything alright?”

“Just peachy, I’m trying to get these retards to quit being so stuck up and stubborn and listen to what your Emperor is saying. As much as I love my craftworld, a real planet is a nice thing to have.”

“So… You’ll help him out?”

Esh sighs, loudly, and must have turned away from the conversation because the level of background noise dies down.

“I’ll send someone, I’m far too busy at the moment, Max.”

“Thanks.”

Lycheria looks anxious as you finish the call, and you pause to give her a look.

“What?”

“Consorting with xenos….” She huffs.

“I’d be dead if it wasn’t for them. Besides, Emps thinks they are chill and that’s good enough for me.”

You grin at her reaction as she grumbles but nods.

“Anyways, we’d better get going or we’ll miss the good parts of the fight!” Despite yourself, you can’t help but feel a bit excited at the prospects. Has this whole thing changed you that much? It wasn’t too long ago that you think you would have gladly shirked out of something like this.

“Indeed, so quit wasting time and book it!” Lycheria regains some of her mojo and sprints out the exit, headed toward the other Sororitas who have begun to depart.

You burst through the doors as well, the heavy metal moving aside effortlessly with the strength of your armor.

Settling onto the bike Mika hooked up for you, the engine fires up and Lycheria pulls up alongside you on a bike of her own.

Wait… No you recognize that bike…

“That’s the Canonesses!” You shout accusingly as you point toward it, "She got a new one?!"

“Just arrived this morning... And relax, she’s in the landraider so she didn't need it. Besides, I’ll bring it back.” Lycheria says coyly, waving off your comments.

The two of you rev up and head out. The ride behind the tracked vehicles is far too dusty, and soon you’ve moved up ahead of the pack, joining a contingent of other Sororita bikers. The rowdy bunch clamor for a fight, and you recognize a few you’ve had… Relations, with.

As you draw nearer the landing zone, you can already tell…
This is going to be one hell of a fight.

The Chaos ground forces are busying themselves spraying wildly into the air with everything they’ve got. Red tracers arc into the sky toward assorted Imperial fighter craft, already engaged with Chaos air assets. Above them all are dozens of Guard landing craft, many with smoking engines or other damage visible from the ground.

Several, you notice, are spiraling out of control, headed for the ground.

All you can do is hope that Helena isn’t on one of those.
“Come Sisters, we need to take out their guns to clear the skies!” Lycheria shouts, raising her chainsword above her head and beginning some kind of Sororita chant, which the other bikers pick up on.

You…

You just yell, crank the throttle, and pray these plasma guns work.

Chaos marines turn to face the charging horde of the Sisters and yourself, leveling heavy weapons. It may have been a poor idea to just go charging at them, but it’s too late to do anything now.

A massive boom and muzzle flash from your right.

Through the forest, trees crashing down in his wake, comes Rex. His main cannon blasting away, side guns beginning to engage as well. The Chaos troops are forced to split up their fire.

If they were even given a chance to fire.

A recognizable bolt of plasma arcs toward the Chaos lines from behind Rex. Something looms from beside Rex, another massive tank.

“S-sorry I’m late!” Mika exclaims through the battle channel.
You don’t have time to answer her before your line of bikes makes contact with the Chaos troops.

Mashing at the trigger button, the plasma guns on the bike erupt into fire that rakes across several Chaos Marines in front of you. Even their black and white power armor doesn’t stand up to the assault, and several fall.

Too close for the guns now, you grab your axe from behind you and heft it above your head.

With a satisfying crunch, it burrows through the helmet of another Chaos marine as you swing it on a pass. The Sororitas behind you are engaged as well, and you hear the gurgling roar of chainswords meeting their marks and pained yells as flamers engulf others. Lycheria is praising the Emperor even as she barrels over a Chaos marine with her bike.

Thankfully, the two tanks coming up on your rear prove to be more than just a distraction. Rex is hammering away at the Chaos positions, most of their munitions simply bouncing off of his hardened armor.

“Mika, what tank are you in anyways?” You call out on the comm.

“The s-stormblade! I’ve been fixing it up after R-Rex found her!” Mika yells excitedly even as she obliterates a group of Chaos Terminators with the blastgun.

“Good call, I dig it!” You laugh, though it’s cut short when you are forced to duck to avoid a chainaxe.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see Lycheria being tossed from the bike as a Chaos marine kicks it over, his boot on the front tire. You won’t be able to turn your own bike around in time, so you leap for it.

The jump carries you over several traitor guard, and you drop them a nice surprise in the form of a frag grenade.

With a roll you land, slashing out with the axe. The arcing swing slices easily through yet more traitors, and Lycheria is back on her feet and letting loose with the flamer in her hand.
“Thanks for the save!” She shouts over the din of battle.

“Don’t mention it! We need to link back up with your girls, we’re too far out!”

It’s true, you are too deep into Chaos lines with no support nearby. The two massive tanks are getting bogged down by more and more heavy weapons as the Chaos marines turn to deal with them, and are being forced to hang back and rely on their heavy frontal armor, while keeping their sides and rear safe.

“Going somewhere Max!? I should think you would stay a while, after all, we have a lot of catching up to do, you and I!” A voice all to recognizable from behind you as you and Lycheria try to fight back to friendly forces.

“Fuck you Abbadon, how many times do I have to beat you before you learn!?” You shout back to him.

“We shall see how well you fare without any tricks, worm!”

Bolter rounds slam into your back, thankfully stopped by your armor.

You stop, and turn around to face the warmaster.

“Max, what are you doing?! We need to get out of here!” Lycheria shouts, having opened up a line back to her friends.

“Go! I’ll catch up! But first, I’ve got to settle this.” You glare at Abbadon. You are really, really tired of putting up with his shit.

The Chaos marines stop attacking, forming a circle around you and Abbadon. The towering figure in power armor has a wicked grin across his scarred features. He’s enjoying this.
Something you plan to put a stop to.

“We’re going to settle this, once and for all.” You tell him, and both of you approach the other. Despite your own power armor, you are still craning your neck to look up at his face.

“Will we, eh? I’ll feel settled when I’ve adorned my armor with your skull, maggot.” He spits furiously.

You notice he has a sword much like the one you saw Horus wield, as well as a lighting claw of some ancient make. He’s going to be tough to take on in close quarters.

At the same time, given the small proximity of the area the Chaos marines are giving you to fight, you aren’t going to be able to rely completely on your ranged abilities, either.

Without warning, Abbadon slashes out with his sword. It’s all you can do to step back and block the blow with the blade of the axe. The force of it knocking you back slightly.

Abbadon laughs, he knows he has the advantage here. Hell, you know he has the advantage here. That doesn’t mean you are going to duck out and run now.

He doesn’t expect the plasma cannon surprise attack, you made it seem as though you were getting ready to come at him with the axe. Still, the shot only catches him in the side and seems to do little to his terminator armor.

Though it seems to have pissed him right off.

The warmaster attempts to rake you with his claws, comes again with the sword… You are forced to fall back, along the edge of the encircling Chaos marines, who shove you forward roughly. Under the furious assault, you draw out the blade Nurlge gifted you, hoping the Sisters aren’t seeing you doing so.

Catching Abbadon’s sword with your axe, you step in and thrust with the corrupted blade of the sword. The warmaster seems to recognize the danger of this new weapon, however, and quickly backs away. Both of you continue to circle as he eyes the plaguesword.

Rustling up your ji… Mind powers, you summon as much energy as you can muster.

“TIID KLO UL!!!!”

You aren’t sure if time slows, or if you speed up. Either way, it seems as though you move effortlessly while everything around you is stuck almost in a standstill.

Which gives you more than enough opportunity to lash out with your axe.

The blade carves into Abbadon’s frontal armor, and despite its toughness, the axe is sinking in. Abbadon’s face is slowly turning to panic rather than fury, and his lightning claws are coming in at you.

Wrenching the axe out at the last minute, you duck out of the way of the claws and roll backwards. Breathing heavily, you can barely get back onto your feet. Your head hurts. That much power must be more than you’re able to sustain at the moment.

Despite the wound in his chest, Abbadon doesn’t seem fazed.

Knocking aside yet another attack, your arms feeling quite noticeably weaker, you activate your comm.

“Creed you old bastard, I know you’ve got something up your sleeve and I know you’ve got a plan but I need it now damn it!”
As though on cue, the ground beneath you starts to tremble.
What you had thought were low hills around you, were in fact, something quite different.

Baneblades.

A dozen baneblades.

“Holy shit, how did you get this many?!” You shout. Abbadon isn’t letting up, his strikes becoming faster and more furious at the appearance of the new threat.

Mika and Rex are pressing forward with the new massive tank assault, the Chaos forces numbering too few and too lightly armed to deal with so many. They seem on the edge of retreat.

And that…Is when the drop-pods start falling

Blue and white drops pods.

…With gold trim.

“Oh fuck no!” You howl.

Abbadon steps back, looking around at the pods crashing into the dirt as well as Chaos marines. He must have decided it wasn’t worth sticking around.

“When this final battle is upon us, fool, you and I shall stand and fight alone!” He glares, before stepping through a warp hole.

“You fucking coward! I had you!” You cry after him, and Abbadon sneers as he disappears and the warp hole closes.
All at once, the drop pod doors fly open.

Doves.

Thousands of doves.

The Chaos marines try to shoot at the Partridges as they depart the pods, but find themselves quite unable. The white birds are swarming everywhere in their attempt to fly. The Chaos marines are slapping at them, trying to brush them aside to get a clear shot. Any round they do fire just falls short, caught up in the flurry of feathers.

Which leaves the remaining Chaos forces quite exposed to the newcomers…

***
“Ah, nothing like fresh glory in the morning.” Harry grins as he steps onto the battlefield, lazily shooting a nearby Chaos marine as he struggles to get the doves out of his face.

He sticks a Partridge flag into the head of the Bloodletter that his drop pod landed on, crushing it’s skull.

“Thank the Emprah! The Partridges save us all!” A Sororita shouts, her face one of complete and utter infatuation.

The Egomancers all grin, their work already taking effect.

“All in a day’s work for us, I assure you dear Sister.” Harry takes a drink out of his space wolves mug, his beaming smile belaying his happiness.

***
“Hey man, should we…”

“Dude, DON’T go in there! Are you fuckin’ crazy or somethin?”

“But we-“

“NO! You know how pissed old man Creed is going to be?”

“H-huh? Pissed about what? I’m just glad the Galactic Partridges came to our rescue.”

“Yeah, me too. What were we talking about again?”

***
Creed puffs on his cigar as he watches the screen, eyes glued to what he hoped he wouldn’t see.

“Fuck.” Is all he says.

***
Logan Grimnar slams his fist into the wall of his ship, repeatedly. He had been planning on entering the fray first, providing the Sisters some aid and splitting the Chaos forces.

Unfortunately, somehow, none of his drop pods were functioning.

“It just doesn’t make any sense, the odds of them all going out at the same time…” The tech marine shrugs, quite baffled.

"Can you get them up in time to make it down there at all?" One of Logan's retinue asks, his voice gruff and angry.

"Sorry, it's going to take some time I'm afraid." The Tech marine shakes his head.

Logan doesn’t say anything, if he opens his mouth he will probably just scream.

Partridges…

He LOATHES Partridges.

As the doves finally clear, you see that the fight is over. They may have arrived late. REALLY late. But the Partridges have polished off the last of the Chaos forces and are now busying themselves erecting banners and statues. There is already a crew filming it and reporters from every Imperial channel commentating on the glorious victory the Partridges had here today.

With a dejected sigh, you sheath your sword and hang the axe at your side. While you want to confront Harry, call him out on his shit, you know it would be pointless. You can feel the power resonating from the Egomancers, and despite your own mind kung-fu, you can’t compete with this many of them.
At least you’ve got one thing to look forward to, or you hope you do anyways.

“You there, Guardsmen!” You shout, pointing at a group freshly emerged from a landing ship.

“S-sir!? Knight… Commissar? Sir?” Their Sergeant tosses a very confused salute.

“I’m looking for the tank battalions, tell me where I can find the Russ’s at.”

The befuddled guard lead you through the craft as they continue to land. You look over your shoulder and see Lycheria perched atop a landraider, scanning the battlefield. She spots you and jumps excitedly, waving. You wave back to let her know you saw her, and continue on.

“Right here, sir!” They stop outside a few dozen ships.

Sure enough, meeting up in the middle of their dropped ramps, is the Russ division.

Wasting no more time, you rush out into the center of the pack. Spinning around, you search each face, desperately seeking to find her.

“Hah, didja think I’d get taken out before I could even land?” A sarcastic voice.

“Pfft, if I hadn’t come to your rescue you wouldn’t have had a chance!”

Despite yourself, you grab Helena around the middle in a bear hug, lifting her off of her feet.

“T-tooo hard…!” She gasps, and you set her back down where she rubs her sides and looks annoyed.

“Whatever you wuss, man the fuck up. And you! Tits McGee! Get on out here so I can ogle you!” You shout at Sarah’s head which is poking out through a hatch on their tank.

“Fuck you.” She states blandly.

“Round two? Name a time and place girl.”

“Asshole…” The busty girl mutters, dropping back down into the vehicle.

Helena appears to be looking around now, much as you had been just a few moments ago.

“Sorry, I don’t think they have vibrators of your required girth on this planet.”

“Shut up! I’m trying to find someone!” She storms off toward an officer barking orders.

You follow along, not quite sure where she’s going with this.
“Hey, where did the tech-priests land at? I only see about half of them here.” She asks the officer, who looks as though he was about to tell her off before he spotted you walking up beside her.

“The tech priests took the brunt of the assault on the descent, this is the lot of them.” He says gruffly, before turning back to his work.

“Frederick…” Helena whispers, her face pale.

“Huh?” You help her to the ground as her legs falter. Tears flow down her usually teasing and happy face. It’s a rare day that you see your sister cry, and never something you like to see, no matter how annoying she can be at times.

You don’t know what to say, but you hope maybe the Sisters can help her out a bit. Helena doesn’t leave your side as you start the walk back through the battlefield toward their lines. Weaving through the massive landing craft and Guard.

Despite your usual self, you can’t honestly come up with anything to say to Helena. A thought which frustrates you, because you feel like you should say something. Anything.

“I knew it was stupid of me.” Your sister says quietly as she walks beside you, holding your arm for support, be it physical or mental.

“You can’t blame yourself.”

“I can’t for what happened, but I can for letting myself get involved like this…” She breaks off, hanging her head.

You don’t look up as two massive tanks come up alongside. Without looking you can already tell it’s Rex, as he woofs happily upon seeing you. The other tank…

Did it just meow?

“Need a lift?”

“Sure, thanks.” You smile sadly up at someone you’ve never seen before as he offers out a hand.

“FREDERICK!!!” Helena screams, and in the blink of an eye has tackled the tech-priest off of the tank and pinned him on the ground. Once there, she both berates him loudly in between snogging him to the point he’s almost gasping for air.

“G-gross…” Mika states from her position atop the hatch.

“Huh? Well yeah, I mean it’s weird seeing my sister like that I guess…” You shrug.

Mika looks to Helena, then back at you, her brow furrowed.

“That’s your sister? That’s weird.”

“Eh? Why’s that?”

“Because she’s c-currently… Erm… With my b-brother.”

You pick up a bolter round casing and toss it over at the pair still on the ground, Helena glares and snaps something you can’t quite make out.

“Get a room!” You cup your hands and shout at them.

----

Eira leads the small contingent of Eldar forces through the marshy swamp, quite annoyed at the mud coming up to her knees. She’d just washed her armor too.

Not letting herself sigh, she continues to follow quietly behind the leading scout. An older man, well versed in tracking targets. He’d picked up the trail of Eight, and the group had followed it for quite a while. Until it dead-ended and they realized they’d been had.

Now they had spent the last several hours weaving around, backtracking when met with more dead ends. By this point, Eira was getting quite frustrated. She was downright mad.

Eshwe had told her to gather a small force and be a reactionary asset to Max’s friend, but she had failed to mention anything about the assassin trying to ditch them. Which he had done quite successfully up until now. The tracker was pretty sure they were headed on the main path now, and wouldn’t run into many more side-routes. Whatever the Vindicare had wanted time to accomplish, he’d had it in droves.

Either that, or he’d met a swift end without any backup to assist him.

Either way, Eira didn’t really care. She had no love for assassins, even if they seemed different up close than they appeared from afar. They were still mon-keigh, emotional and not to be trusted. She would rather be somewhere else entirely than be chasing after this idiot on his fool’s errand.

“Farseer, we are drawing near. Best keep low, lest we be spotted.”

Eira nods and drops down to a crawl, matching the scouts as they slowly move through the dense underbrush. Mud smears the front of her armor, her arms. Eira isn’t adverse to getting dirty, but she certainly doesn’t like it.

The scout holds out a hand to signal them to stop as he peers out into the clearing from the position on the ridge. After several moments, he motions them forward.

Eira, disgruntled at having to go this far for a Vindicare, moves up beside the lead scout, and surveys the scene before her.

The ship is clearly wrecked, massive holes opened up in its hull, slag pouring out. Melta bombs, most likely. Though how or why is a mystery to her.

There are remains of several corpses, riddled with holes of varying diameters. Most are going to be completely unidentifiable, their heads having been targeted. Before or after death, she does not know.

Several look like Vindicare to her, and she beckons her team forward, cautiously moving down into the slight depression as she looks for traps. There don’t appear to be any, though Eira doesn’t allow herself to relax.

Yes, Vindicare. She would recognize those suits anywhere, and what remains of their masks.

Eira puts her finger to her ear, contacting Eshwe.

“What have you found, Eira?”

“Eshwe. We’ve come upon the remains of a fight, no one alive in sight but I’ve sent the scouts to push out and check the perimeter. Seven corpses here. Did the one we’re searching for have any identifiable features? Not on the face, none of them have heads.”

“Wait one.”

Eira gazes around at the bodies, pushing aside several Exitus rifles with her feet as she flips each corpse onto its back. The bloodied remains aren’t quite stiffened at this point, though the blood has congealed and stained the sandy ground around the bodies.

“None that I’m aware of, I’ll have to contact Max a different way, his communicator is inactive. Eshwe out.”

Eira looks around again, scanning each of the bodies. She doesn’t remember much about that assassin, and doesn’t care to. Though if she discovers him, she can return to the base. Though she doesn’t exactly want to find him here, like this, she keeps looking.

She spots something she recognizes. A human habit, one of their smoking sticks. Wretched things. Its clutched in the fingers of one of the Vindicare corpses, one of the headless ones. After a quick check, she confirms none of the others have any death sticks, and contacts Eshwe again.

“Go ahead.”

“Target confirmed, terminated. Returning to base.”

----

You gaze at the envelope in your hand as Rex bounces along the ground, his treads flattening the corpses of the Chaos marines underneath their massive print.

Though you don’t know where that kid wound up, you don’t think he’d want you peeking at whatever is inside the plain white package.

More interested in teasing your sister at the moment anyways, you place the envelope back inside the pouch. Eight couldn't have gotten himself into too much trouble. You hope.

===Thread 23===

Eira looks for a final time as the glowing hot slag drips from the decimated ship. At the seven headless corpses littering the ground. She cares little for the happenings of mon’keigh, but she obeys her teacher.

A dataslate she’d picked up proves mildly interesting. A picture of Eshwe’s mon’keigh, with the words “Primary Target” listed above it. Eira is a bit bemused to be finally putting her knowledge of the mon’keigh written language to work.

“Farseer.”

With a glance she acknowledges the scout, who stands at attention.

“A blood trail, heading east into the woodland.” He informs her.

“How far in?”

“Unknown yet, should we follow?”

Eira looks around the area, bristling, ready for trouble.

“We’ll go in as a group, remain vigilant, I fully expect some sort of plot.” She hefts her own sword to get her point across.

The Eldar form up and walk toward the edge of another ridge. Sure enough, even in the diminished light she can see the drops of blood leading up the sandy rise.

“How did you miss this?”

“Apologies, Farseer. We picked it up on our second pass.”

“Make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“Affirmative.” The scout nods, having known his mistake. It may not have mattered much here, but in a different scenario it might have meant everything. Eira’s duty was to make sure they knew that.

Pushing her mind out, she can feel through the plethora of life blooming in the forest. The massive trees down to the smallest of insect. And another presence. A fading presence.

A lone figure, lying on the ground. The small opening in the canopy above pouring down moonlight onto him.

“Identify yourself!” She shouts out, calling the challenge to the unidentified man.

A pained, wet cough is all that answers.

“On me.” She tells her scout team, who form up. The Eldar approach, arms raised, fingers poised lightly on triggers. Eira stops them without a word when she recognizes him.

“You?” The Farseer questions in a low tone. She doesn’t know what kind of trick he’s trying to play. Until she sees the wound through his abdomen. A devastating hole, staining the bed of leaves with slick blood.

Cautiously she approaches, her finger leaving the trigger of her pistol. His face is one of recognition, pale from blood loss.

Eira takes a knee beside him, taking off her helmet as she does. Eight is visibly shaking, one hand pressed hopelessly to his wound. She knows little of mon’keigh physiology, but she knows enough to realize he doesn’t have long.

“You two ov…!” Eira’s barking order is cut short by the Vindicare putting a hand on her knee and shaking his head slightly.

A small gesture toward a pouch on his suit. Eira reaches inside and withdraws a partially crumpled package. Though she doesn’t understand their fascination with such things, she withdraws one of the cylinders and places it in between his teeth. It takes her a moment to work out the lighter, but eventually she gets it down and the glowing orange cherry illuminates Eight’s face as he draws in.

“Are there any left?” She asks him pointedly, concerned for her squad at the prospect of an unseen foe.

The assassin shakes his head, and she takes the hand he offers to her in her own.

Eira nods, noticing his grip and trembling weakening, his eyes growing unfocused as they stare into the star strewn black above.

Silence passes, but his time of suffering is short. Shaking turns to twitching, ragged breaths to light gasps for air.

The Farseer lays his arm back by his side. Reaching out slowly, her fingers meet his lids, and close his lightless eyes. She sits there for a moment, beside the still corpse.

----

You pause for a moment at the fleeting sensation in your mind. Something seemed off, but you only felt it for the brief lapse of a second. Unsure of what to make of that, you do your best to put it from your mind. The battle has been won, though the war remains.

“Alright there, Max?” Helena asks, taking a sip of the mug the Sororitas offered to her. You’ve downed about half of your own.

“Yeah, I think so?” You shrug, feeling a bit off still.

“Good, because Frederick and I have to get back for roll call before they realize we’re missing.” She hops off of the table she’d been sitting on, tech-priest in tow.

“Alright. Nice to meet you man.” You raise your mug to Frederick who gives you a wave with a mechanical arm as he’s dragged along.

Ah these damn kids and their love games, you smirk and take another drink. Well at least he’ll keep her out of your hair.

“Pretty decent fight, eh?”

You turn around to a beaming Lycheria, absent her chainsword and flamer. Her armor flecked with a bit of blood and giblets from the battle.

“Not too shabby, shame Abbadon got away.”

“Quite.”

Night has fallen and you don’t really feel like going anywhere. The Sister’s HQ is relatively safe, more so with Rex parked outside, the hum of his engine still audible from inside the building. It gives you some comfort to know there’s a pile of guns and armor waiting for anyone foolish enough to try to attack.

The Sisters don’t seem to mind you staying the night, both you and Mika take them up on the offer. In fact, you find yourself on the fringe of conversation as Lycheria seems to take to Mika quite well. The shy tech-priestess doesn’t seem to quite know what to make of the Sororitas all fawning over her. It offers a brief respite from your usual hustle and bustle, which isn’t something you mind.

Morning comes too early, as does the serenade of groggy Sororitas complaining as they don their armor and rip into breakfast. Apparently they were going to let you stay asleep, as neither Mika nor Lycheria are present when you finally peel your eyes open a few hours later.

“Going somewhere?”

Slowly you turn, leg half-placed inside its greave, toward the voice.

“Oh, Canoness, how nice to see you.”

“Cut the shit.” She growls, and you realize how quite exposed you are in only half of the armor.

“You wrecked my bike, and I’m none too thrilled. Find me a new one or I’ll incinerate you myself, Knight Commissar or not.”

As quickly as she appeared, she leaves. You don’t waste time and hastily encase yourself in the Grey knight power armor. She doesn’t seem stable enough to not come back and just barbecue you anyways.

Stepping out into the forum, you are quite perplexed to be the only one there.

“Hello?” Your voice echoes across the brick walls, and is greeted in turn by mere silence. Until your communicator goes off.

“Yes?”

“Oh good, you’re awake! I got you some new batteries, make sure to charge them before they go dead this time!” Lycheria chides you.

“Sure, that will totally happen. Where is everyone?”

“Oh that minor detail? We’ve kidnapped your tech-priestess friend and are headed for some R&R, no boys allowed.”

“…So where is that at?”

“Call you soon Maxy!”

*click*

Women…

Upon stepping into the bright mid-day, you notice even the baneblade is missing. They took him along too? Lucky metal box…

Though the Sororitas left you food, you found yourself none too hungry and left it alone for the most part. A fact you rather regret now, but looking the hundred yards back at the HQ you realize you’ve already gone too far.

This adventure of yours is drawing to a close, you know that. The final battle with Malal is bound to happen any day now, once this new hodgepodge alliance gets together at last. With that knowledge in hand, you figure it might be best to close up some loose ends.

Looking at your communicator, you can only pick out two groups you really haven’t gotten to know too well. Karen and da Orkz, because you’ve only spent a day with them. And Tonya’s Necrons… Because so far they’ve cut off your arm, tried to turn you into one of them, and have generally just been downright batshit.

“Yeah not up for that today…” You punch in Karen’s number.
“Oi you gits! I told ya ta paint it red not blue! Now quit muckin about and git ta werk!”

“…Karen?”

“Ah, sorry Max! It’s pandemonium here right now!” She laughs tiredly.

You’re taken back for a moment by an Ork using the word pandemonium, and Karen asks if you are still on the line.

“Yep. So what’s going down?”

“Well, to be honest two things. One, trying to get these idiots to realize we are teaming up with you guys. Two, the film krew for “Top Mek” is here.”

“Top Mek?”

“Yeah, you know,” Karen laughs, “They review Trukks and dakka and whatnot, great show really.”

Intrigued, you hop onto the ex-canoness now-ORKZ bike and fire it up. Its lack of a functioning engine doesn’t stop it from chortling to life.

“Sounds… Fun?”

“Oh believe me, it is! Come check it out!”

“Be right there.”

The Ork bike speeds along the uneven terrain easily on its oversized tires. As tantalizing as the “push-button-receive-speed” flashing red button is, you ignore it. Likely because you’re still a bit groggy.

Not that you really needed it, the Ork camp isn’t too far off. You enjoy the scenery along the way. Somehow this place has really grown on you, which is something you would have never expected in your wildest dreams when you first arrived. Though that seems like ancient history, and you are certainly not good at judging time, in reality it was but a handful of days ago.

A vast ocean that spans much of the planet, lively forests and gurgling springs, snow capped peaks of the mountains… You find yourself longing to stay somewhere like this. Though maybe without having to constantly escape death…

Pulling up to the Ork camp, you see that it is indeed downright pandemonium. There simply isn’t a better word to describe it. Boyz are running about everywhere, stage lights and tools in place of choppas and flashy bits. They don’t even pause to give you a once-over as they dash place to place.

You park next to a giant red trukk, the scale of which is impressive. Though you’re no expert on Orks, you figure they must be able to fit a whole lot of other trucks into this one, with room for some looted tanks even.

“Oi, deres a humie ‘ere! Git krumpin boyz!”

The brief moment of panic at the shout behind you fades as you turn to Karen, who’s wearing a bemused grin at your reaction.

“Not funny.”

“So wrong, very funny.”

As much as the thought is both interesting and completely and absolutely against everything you’ve ever known, there is one thing you can’t get over.

Karen looks good. Damn good.

“Hey, quit drooling or the boyz will think you’re one of them and grab you to help out.”

“Wha? Right, sorry.”

The Ork princess smiles before snatching you by the hand and pulling you toward her. Just in time to avoid a Nob on a bike from turning you into a smear on the pavement.

Pavement?

“Oh so you noticed eh? Like I said, “Top Mek” is doing some filming here and wanted pavement for one of their sections.”

“Orks can pave?”

“We can do a lot of things, if we get around to it.” Karen frowns, but her expression quickly brightens again as she sees a stomping figure approaching.

“Oh hi dad!” She calls out.

“Wats dis den eh! We ain't gots time fer beakies roight now, too much werk ta do so quit muckin about an git too it!”

The Boss stops and peers down at you, his face squinting hard.

“Oh, it’s you…” He grumbles.

“Oh hey Boss, check out mah flash!” You crack off several stormbolter shots into the air, before activating you armor release and revealing your mechanical arm. The lasfinger, plasma cannon, flamer combo makes quite a show as you shoot into the sky.

It rolls well and you don’t manage to do any damage, though.

“Eh! Dats roight flashy it is! Goona ‘ave ta git me one a dem double shooty bits!” He grins, chomping on his cigar, which you notice bears the same emblem as the ones Creed smokes.

“Dis one ‘ere isn’t too much ova git, ‘es alroight Karen.” The Warboss gives you a friendly thump on the back, which would have possibly been fatal without the power armor to save you.

Karen beams, and gives you a wink that says you did all of the right things. It makes your heart skip a beat, and even though this should feel decidedly WRONG, you don’t care because it’s a good wrong.

“Now den, I needta git dese grots inta order.” The boss grunts, smiling at Karen before turning around to roar at several boyz just standing around. You wince as he clocks one over the head, which compacts the Ork to half its original standing height.

“Your dad is… An alright guy.” You nod.

“He can be, but the stress of trying to organize this is really getting to him. Today he put his boss pole on backwards.” Karen giggles.

The thought of that even makes you laugh, which loosens you up. To hell with the old view of Orks, these guys are cool in your book.

“Anyways, why don’t we go watch some filming!” She grabs you excitedly, and you find yourself wishing you’d maybe left the armor off for today, just to be closer to that athletic figure.

“Hey!” She shouts, almost jumping with anticipation, “Da Squig segment is about to start!”

“…Da Squig?”

“Oh right, you don’t really know what this show is about, do you? Well basically… Nah I can’t really explain it, you’ll just have to watch yourself!” Taking you by the hand, she eagerly leads you through a crowd of Orks that only grows more dense the further walk.

“Oi you gits, outta da way, princess comin thru!” A Nob, noticing Karen trying to weave through the crowd, shouts. And starts swinging a nasty looking power klaw around. If his booming voice didn’t clear a path, THAT certainly did.

“Thanks!” She smiles at the Nob as she walks by, and he bows his head in return.

Karen still leading, you feel a bit awkward as you tread through the path that opened up. Though a lot of Orks are trying to get a view of something ahead, many of them watch as you pass. Some look downright jealous…

“Hurry, its starting!!!” She gasps, pulling harder. The two of you clamor up onto a set of bleachers, which you notice appear to be constructed out of nothing other than vehicle parts and more rivets than are likely necessary.

For the first time you’ve been in the Ork camp, you really are caught off guard. Not by a noise or an action, but by a deafening silence.

Three very distinct looking Orks are standing on a track of newly lain pavement, beside what you surmise was at ONE TIME a trukk. Now it appears to be nothing more than a set of wheels, a cab, and a massive cluster of rockets all facing forward.

“Roight you gits, its toime ta test out dis ‘ere trukk. Now ta do dis we needed ah git crazy ‘nuff ta do it.”

“Sum say e’s da reason red is fasta, and dat e’s actually wut happens when yous got ‘nuff dakka. All we know iz, ‘es called DA SQUIG!”

I want to say something, but I'm not going to spoil it. Doesn't concern HLQ though.

On cue, a squat looking thing in a white suit and a massive white helmet pops up into view inside the trukk, and give the other three a solemn nod.

The trukk begins to whine dangerously as its rokkits warm up. Their glowing orange tailpipes cast such a wave of heat that you can feel it even from the stands. They can’t possibly be thinking…

Oh, you guess they are.

The rokkits fully ignite all at once, and for a moment the trukk sits at a standstill. The next, it’s, well, rocketing down the track.

You think the three Orks are commenting on the run, but you can’t hear them over the overwhelming roar of all those rokkits. The trukk is now whipping into a series of s-turns, and though you would have though it impossible, handling them quite well.

Karen is standing up and cheering along with every Ork in the place, and testament to the noise of those rokkits, you can’t hear any of them.

The driver of that trukk must be clinically insane, there simply isn’t any other option. Though this is the Orks and all, he’s actually accelerating going INTO turns and somehow it’s actually WORKING?!

“Isn’t this great!” Karen yells at you, and the rokkit-trukk is far enough away now that you can actually hear her.

“It’s pretty awesome!” You have to practically scream back.
The trukk looks like it almost flips over during a high-speed cone area. Where it plows through half of the cones, though that only seems to please the Orks more as they cheer louder.

The whole run is over in very little time, and the trukk comes screaming through the finish line, several of its rokkits exploding as it does so. Even the cast of three Orks on the ground seem to be quite excited, it must have been a good time.

At long last, the overwhelming torrent of sound of those rokkit engines dies down, and is replaced by the cheering of thousands of Orks. It takes several minutes of the three on the track to get them to all calm down.

“Anotha great time by da Squig, dats da fastest yet it iz! Wut did ya think ah dat run ‘ammond?”

“Roight good un, fastest time yeh.”

“Hey, come on, we’ve got somewhere we need to be!” Karen grabs your hand again, and before you can protest that you want to keep watching, she’s dragging you off of the bleachers.

In fact, the Ork girl doesn’t even give you time to talk as she races through the crowd, using her own choppa to clear a path this time. You’re a bit put off, you had wanted to keep watching.

“Hey Karen, what gives!?” You finally get a chance to ask as she’s forced to slow down to let a deff dread stomp past.

“Huh? Oh! You’ll see!” She gives you a very mischievous grin. Your trap sense is whining in full alarm now.

“No, seriously, where are we going?”

Karen ignores you as she bounds across the road before another dread blocks the way. Normally you would be more than content watching the loot in her trukk bounce and wonder how your boss pole would look perched upon it, but you are far too worried.

“Uh… Princess?” You chime again, and still find yourself either unheard or unheeded.

Karen pulls you toward an opening into a dimly lit room, and finally the two of you stop. Looking around, you notice several odd looking Orks staring at you. One has a checklist he’s going over, and he nods in satisfaction. Two more are manning what appears to be a diesel powered camera.

“Hey Karen?”

“What Max?” She smiles sweetly, too sweetly.

“Mind letting me know what’s going on?”

“An nows da toime fer our next segmint we like ta call…”

“Big Fukk in a little Trukk!”

The speakers inside the small room answer your question for her.

“…You didn’t…”

“Make sure to have some fun!” Karen smiles, before pushing you through an open doorway, and into the bright area beyond.

You stumble out rather clumsily, nearly tripping over your own armored foot. The Orks laugh, and despite yourself you can't help but feel a tad embarrassed.

The three Ork MC's are waving you over to them, and though Admiral Ackbar is screaming in the background, you nonetheless walk over.

"Now we'ze 'eard youz wif da princess, dat carrect?" The one with longer hair in a leather jacket asks.

"I... Yeah?"

"Lucky git!" The crowd bellows.

"You eva 'eard of da Soozuki choppa, 'umie?" The Ork in the suit asks.

"Err... No?"

Da Squig comes rolling out of a nearby mekshop in what you surmise, must be the Soozuki. Well, they certainly weren't kidding when they called it little...

Small, if anything, would be it's defining characteristic. Its basically just a box on wheels with seven tires. Yes, there are only three on the left side. Calling the miniscule engine perched in the front "quaint" would be more than it deserved.

"Dis 'ere may not be da fastest trukk, or da biggest, but it don't take too many teef ta git one a deez!"

"Oh...Kay?"

"Now 'umie, you evah driven a waaagh transmisshun befoh?"

"No, I can't say that I have." You shrug, very aware of the cameras pressing in from all sides.

The three Orks stop talking, scratching their heads and looking a bit puzzled.

"Ah well, 'ell be fine!" The one in the suit pushes you toward the trukk.

"See humie, all ya gotta do is git da fastest toime ya can round dis 'ere trakk." The shortest one says, as though it were not completely obvious what they wanted you to do.

"Look, we'ze even gotcha one in red, so its extra fasta!"

Sitting down at the Orks insistence, you realize immediately that for an Ork, this would be a cramped ride. You also realize that there is no steering wheel.

"Hey, mind telling me how you steer this thing?" You ask, still looking over a bizarre assortment of gauges and dials, most of which don't appear to be hooked into anything. One is even simply nailed to the dash.

"Hahahaha! You'ze a funny humie, da pedals ya git!" The long haired laughs.

"Right..." There are at least twelve pedals that you've found so far.

"And to shift...?"

"We'z ain't got toime ta splain everythin ta ya, on a skedule!" They close the door, leaving you alone. Inside this trukk. With absolutely zero guidance, really.

Hesitantly, you reach out and do the one thing you would do in this kind of situation...

Well yeah, there is only one thing you would possibly do in this kind of situation. You press the red button.

The choppa lurches to life, it’s small engine chugging hard enough to actually shake the entirety of the pitiful vehicle. Hard enough, in fact, to shake the rear window right out of place. It falls loose and shatters against the ground, much to the delight of the Ork crowd, it would seem.

Oh yes, this is certainly very safe.

Gingerly you place your foot on one of the now seventeen pedals present inside the vehicle, several of which you’ve found don’t actually depress at all. Half of the cylinders rev, the other half remain idle. How, you don’t know.

Another pedal, another small push, and the other half chimes in.

Two gas pedals. One engine. Seems legit.

You idle the trukk up to a blue starting line, Karen waiting for you alongside it, holding a checkered flag.

“Good luck!” She mouths with a grin.

You give her a very hard stare, which only widens her smile.

A wave of her flag, and you’re off!

The engine explodes, losing its entire top half, a great start. Not that this effects the vehicle in any way, it seems, as it still keeps picking up speed somehow.

Too much speed.

Despite what they said about it not being fast, it turns out to be just as quick as your bike even. Already you’re approaching the first hard corner, a tough 90 degree. Well this is much more like how you were trained to drive as a Guardsman, despite being forcibly removed from that section of training after one hour and three near fatal crashes.

All you have to do is find the brakes.

You push on pedals one by one, searching for the one to slow down. After all seventeen pedals yield no such result, you try a few of the less intimidating looking buttons. Still nothing. Perhaps a switch…

After a few terrifying moments, you come to a stark and grim realization.

There are no brakes.

The Soozuki goes flying past the turn, and with a bump you have left the trakk. Orks have to dive out of your way as the trukk crashes through the bleachers. Despite your panic, the onlookers seem to be having a good time of it.

Though you’ve long since removed your feet from the pedals, the vehicle hasn’t slowed. A sinking feeling in your gut, and you confirm your worst suspicions. Both gas pedals are stuck to the floor, in full-on position.

“Oh Emprah preserve me…” You groan, looking back through the windshield. At least you found out how to steer, somewhat. A small ball embedded in the dash that rolls freely. You can spin it to the left and the trukk slowly responds. Spin it to the right and it goes right. When you spin it forward, the trukk actually accelerates further, so you quickly stop that. When you try to roll the ball backwards, you are pretty sure the trukk is actually laughing at you.

It bears a striking resemblance to a ancient piece of hardware from Terra you’d once had the pleasure of seeing, something called “Golden Tee”.

Though this line of thinking is quickly erased from your mind and replaced with a primal fear when you realize your current heading. The coastline looms in front of you, and judging by your rate of speed, you will be there in mere minutes. As hard as you spin the ball, it has little effect. At your current pace, you simply can’t steer hard enough to avoid the shore.
You can’t help but dismally chuckle a bit at this turn of events. Somehow you always end up heading back toward the water, and here on Yagis V, that rarely if ever ends well.

As if on cue, all prior suspicions confirmed, you spot an all too familiar swell in the water.

Nearer and nearer, unable to stop the trukk, unable to turn or slow down. You just sit back and shake your head as the Soozuki bounces over the ground, its seven tires now reaching sand.

A gaping maw of horrors erupts from the seas, and there’s nothing you can do about it now but watch.

The trukk goes slamming into Ra’alman’s jaws, and she grips it hard. Sword-like teeth sink through the top and bottom, puncturing several of the tires as she lifts you into the sky. The engine whines horribly as its met without resistance and the tires spin freely.

You resign yourself to a life of unseen and unspeakable horrors.

Until the fish god pauses, and even over the groan of metal being depressed and the engine screaming, you thought you heard something.

Out of the corner of your eye, you catch a flash of green. Than another, and another.

With a furious howl, Ra’alman is forced to drop you and turn to face this new threat. Your engine dies upon impact, and you cover your exposed head and hat to try to minimize the damage. Thankfully, somehow, you have landed on all four working tires and three rims.

Tonya stares you right in the eyes, gives you what she must think is a loving smile, and turns back to Ra’alman.

“You can’t have him! He’s mine, ALL MINE!!” She screams up at the best, letting loose another shot from her staff. The Immortals surrounding her increase their rate of fire as well. The gauss seems to have some effect on the fish-god, who bodyslams the shore and wipes out a good third of the Necron army in retaliation.

It’s a full-on crazy waifu fight, and you’ve got a first row seat in a dead Ork trukk.

“Wait wait! Stop!” Tonya screams as the battle is getting out of hand.

At her command, the fighting ceases.

“What if… We share him?” She asks questioningly to the fish god. It hangs in the air, about to crunch down on a dozen Necron warriors as it ponders her proposition.

Both of them turn, slowly, to stare right at you.

The outlook abysmal, you start hitting every button, every switch, every dial inside this damnable Ork hunk of squig fodder.

The last button you hit? Why, the one with the skull on it, of course.

Which apparently has some kind of effect when the vehicle is off, as there is a very off-putting shake, a grumble and a clang.

You look back, and see the rokkit rising up in the back, it’s exhaust sticking out where the rear window used to be. For a second you wonder if perhaps the removable window was actually a design feature, but you don’t get many seconds to think. The rokkit engine ignites and…

Sputters out!

“Fuck my life!” You kick through the thin floor with both of your power legs, and feel your feet meet ground. In a last ditch effort, you make a run for it.

The power armor helps a lot in this regard, but even with it on, you find using your legs to power a heavy hunk of mostly cast iron and scrapped steel to be tiring work. Not only that, but even the Necrons are starting to gain on you! Must be those three shredded tires dragging you down.

A gauss round slams into the rear of the trukk.

“Stop shooting you fools! I want him alive so I can make him un-alive later!” Tonya berates the one who took the shot.
This only triggers you to run faster, and you find yourself hoping beyond hope that somehow the red paint will help you. Though your legs ache already, you somehow manage to push the vehicle faster, enough to stay out of the grasp of the Necrons at least.

“I don’t want to be robotic fish fertilizer!” You rant, slamming a fist on the dash in anger.

Wings made out of corrugated aluminum pop out of the side of the trukk.

The rokkit in the back re-ignites.

You can do little more than hang on as the rokkit ignites and you can feel the thrust already. Despite this, you have no idea if this thing will really fly.

But you are about to find out.

"Go you fucking pile of bolts! Go!"

The craft achieves lift-off!

...Only to almost immediately spin 180 and head right back the fish jaws of love.

The current heading of the trukk is bad. Very bad. Those jaws, those teeth... You've no desire to be back there again. Still, this craft of sheet metal and pure waaaghpower doesn't respond to desires, at least not yours.

"Tonya!" You call down to the pariah as you go zipping past overhead.

"I don't want to be shared, I've eyes only for you!"

The Necron's face brightens at your words, and with a grim determination she turns back to Ra'alman.

"Let fly the gauss!" At her order, the Necron warriors and Immortals renew their assault. A fresh torrent of gauss fire drives the fish back. Slowly, ever slowly, you realize you are going to clear the maw.

You go sailing over the head of the great sea beast, avoiding a terrible fate.

Frantically you spin the ball, which is more responsive in the air. The craft turns back toward the Ork camp.

On a plume of smoke, fire, and hatred you ride. The craft bucking and jolting as the rokkit coughs a death yet again. As often as Ork tech seems to work, so often it fails, it seems.

The trukk jukes up once, before nosing down. You are going to come in, hard.

"Git outta da waaayyyy!!!" The Warboss shouts as he sees your careening craft.

Orks scramble for cover, diving under the bleachers, hold trukk doors in front of their faces as shields.

The trukk slams down roughly, bounces once, and then flips on it's side where it skids to a halt in a furious flurry of grinding metal and showering sparks.

"Aaannd across da loine!"

You sit for more than a long moment, still strapped in to the trukk, lying on your side. You aren't sure how you survived that, but you are pretty sure that is the last time you want to give driving anything Orkier than the bike a try.

"Oi humie!? You alroight in dere?" Hammond stoops down to peer at you through the windshield, which is full of spiderweb cracks.

"I'm not sure, honestly."

"Whateva, I gots sum good news fah ya."

"I'm not the worst time on the chart?"

"Wut? Nah yous a roight git driva you iz, but dese boys ova 'ere wantcha in dere own show!"

He gestures to a film crew behind him.

"We'z filmin when big gits attack, we wantcha ta do alla dat... Again."

"So let me get this straight... You want me to climb back into a sheet metal ship that seems to work by not making sense, drive it back out there, and swiftly avoid being eaten? For a second time?"

"Yah." The Ork grunts.

"Yeah, OK."

"Wut? Really 'umie?"

"Sure, whatever..."

You drop out of the harness with a click of the release. Standing up, you brush yourself off of rubble and pieces of metal.

"Gimme another trukk or something, I'll give it another go." You shrug.

The film krew glance around to each other. Clearly, they hadn't actually expected you to go along with it.

"How about a rain check, I think he probably needs a break..." Karen cuts in, waving the crew off.

"What? Why?" You protest, wanting to head back out for another round.

"Because he back of your head is bleeding." Karen tells you.

"And your hat is gone."

"My hat is missing and my head is bleeding, eh?"

"Welp, uh... Pretty much?" Karen shrugs, gingerly attempting to use a white cloth to stem the trickle of blood oozing down your hair.

"Clearly, then, there is only one logical route to take."

"...A dok and bed rest?"

Both of you look at each other, each knowing that THAT certainly is not within the realm of possibilities at the moment.

Karen sighs, shaking her head as she does her best to wipe away the rest of the blood and tie the rag around your head in a makeshift bandage.

"I'll get my kustom racer, then."

"Good girl."

The Ork princess leads you along toward her personal mekshop, but won't let you enter until you've got a proper bandage. After a valiant struggle, you cave in and let a dok take a look at you. The bizarre Ork seems a bit downtrodden when you refuse multiple injections of various colors and settle for just a linen headwrap.

The kustom racer, is, well, certainly kustom. A sleek (for orkish standards) low-slung four wheeled contraption of jet engines, exhaust pipes, and rokkit boosters. You'd been a mild fan of races back on your home planet, and this reminds you of them.

If someone took one, slapped on guns, jet engines, rokkits, and a wicked flame emblem front over a bright red paint job.

"So, this thing fast?"

"Fast? You haven't even EXPERIANCED fast." Karen smirks, sliding a pair of goggles down over her eyes.

"I'm driving." You interject as she slides behind the wheel.

"I don't mean to be harsh, but NO. I'm professionally trained on waaagh transmissions."

"Yeah? By who?"

"Some say he's only taken one student in the last twenty or so millenia, some say he taught Gork and Mork. All I know is, he's called, da Squig."

The wicked machine of engines and firepower roars to life with a throaty rumble. Pipes kick out black exhaust, spewing out inside the mekshop. Jet engines engage and a high pitched whine forces you to clamp your ears shut.

"Oh yeah, she's ready!" The Ork girl grins, giving the side of the vehicle a satisfied pat.

"Great, now where do I sit?" You frown upon realizing that the vehicle is a single seater.

"Sit? Well... You can hang on the back?" Clearly Karen hadn't thought this far ahead either.

Fortunately, there is a handhold on the back, enough for you to clamp on with your strong mechanical arm. You plant your feet against the rear spoiler, doing your best to lock yourself into place.

A sane person would have taken one look, and bowed out gracefully. Thankfully, you are not a sane person.

"Lets get this shit on." You reach up and place a cigar in your teeth. You'd nicked it from the Warboss as he'd clapped you on the back. Surely he won't notice.

You light the cigar on a jet engine, take a puff, and place a pair of goggles Karen handed you over your own face.

"Kick it."

Why oh why you uttered those words, you don't know.

What you do know, is that your body was not ready. Not even the slightest. For what it was about to endure.

Most vehicles accelerate gracefully, sensibly taking at least some time to reach up and snatch speed in its claws. This, however, ignores such things as grace, and gnashes speed in its ugly hands before deciding it isn't radical enough and chucking it aside.

Simply put, the Kustom racer goes from zero to about FUCK in an average of oh shit seconds.

You can't even manage to scream obscenities, its all you can do to keep your mouth shut and pray to the Emprah. Even the cigar is straining, the wind nearly ripping it from your teeth.

You can't tell Karen to slow down, either. Not even with a hand gesture, because now you've got both of them clamped down tight on whatever you managed to find purchase on. You haven't bothered looking, eyes fixated ahead as terrain shoots beneath your wheels at a speed that redefines speed.

Karen, for her part, seems to be rather enjoying it. She's smiling and humming some kind of Orky tune as though this were merely just a Sunday drive through the country.

Completely oblivious, it seems, to you nearly pissing your power armor from the ride.

If the trukk you rode in earlier made it to the shore quickly, you don't even know how to DESCRIBE this.

Despite your strain to stay on the racer, you are scanning as hard as you can for one thing, and only one thing.

Someone or something has your hat, without your strict consent, and that is simply not acceptable.

"Hang on, I'm going to hit the Turbo Boost!" Karen shouts back at you.

The what?

Did she just say something about boost?

Is she implying this thing goes faster?

Turbo Boost implies an increase in speed, a standard unit of distance over time.

What Karen should call the button she hits would be the button for the insanity engine.

The racer doesn't increase speed, no. Speed simply nods, realizes it's been bested, and steps aside, yielding to its successor.

The rokkits all ignite at once, jet engines scream, the pipes go from spewing smog to not being able to rid themselves of it fast enough, as though the smoke itself is flowing upwards. The wheels even leave the ground, which must be why she'd installed the two small wings off to the sides of the vehicle.

Still, despite all of this, you see what you came for. Your hat, clutched in Tonya's fingers.

With a smile, she sniffs the brim, and looks back up at you.

"Faster! FASTER!" You cry, but to no avail.

Despite your speed, despite this terrible dragon of the land, you are too late.

With a faint wave, Tonya fades from your vision along with her immortals.

Taking hat-chan with her, to wherever it is that she goes.

"Fuck. Everything."

Just as bad, well, perhaps not QUITE as bad, looms another issue.

Ra'alman, the strong black she-beast that she is, isn't taking too kindly to seeing yet another woman with HER MAN.

A point the fish god demonstrates by rising up out of the water, a towering figure of devilish intent.

"Stop this thing!" You shout to Karen; who despite giving you a look clearly questioning your sanity, of which there is little, does so.

"You uh... Sure about this, Max?" She asks, clearly quite put off by you walking on wobbly knees (from the ride...yeah) toward the towering deity of the oceans.

"Hey you! Yes, you!" You wave your hands above your head, and the gigantic beast gives you a ponderous stare. Or whatever passes for one, you think.

"I'm listening, mortal." A screeching voice inside your mind, like a train flipping on its side and scraping it's contents of nails across the chalkboard plains beside its tracks.

You actually have to work your jaw and blink to get the ringing out of your brain.

Opening your mouth, you delve into it.

"Alright so listen, we both know that this CLEARLY isn't going to work out, that much is obvious. I mean, you are a massive goddess of the ocean and I'm me."

The fish tilts its head slightly as it listens to you talk. At least it appears to be intently following along.

"I know, you are clearly hooked on me, and I'll admit I'm quite a catch. That said, I need more line than you are willing to give me, you can't keep me wound tight on a spool. Now let me put this into scale for you, I'm willing to try something and I'm not trying to bait you into a trap alright?"

"Go on..." A hiss in your mind, this one not as sharp and painful as the last burst of psyonic speech.

"What I'm trying to say is that there might be some way to make you less toothy and I'm up to the gills in ideas."

Ra'alman hangs ponderously for a moment, before slowly lowering down and resting gently on the sand in front of you.

"Fair enough, but any more puns and I just eat you."

"Alright, I just don't want you acting shellfish toward the others alright? You've got to learn to share if this all works out somehow."

"I should devour you just for that. But continue."

The truth is, however, you don't have that many ideas about what to do. In fact, you hardly have any.

This is well beyond the point of your own powers, of that much you are certain. You can do some pretty impressive stuff with your relatively new psyker abilities, but this is not one of them.

You'd give Tzeentch a call, figuring this would be right up her ally, but you don't exactly have her number.

As you're thinking that, the cigar suddenly pops and fizzes, quite unusual. A small strip of metal falls out. Most peculiar.

The little plate is engraved "Tzeentch" and lists a communicator number. That fucking Creed...

You dial it up and wait. Ringing...

"The hell do YOU want, mortal?!" Tzeentch growls, her voice low and dangerous. You can make out the crying of an infant in the background.

"Err.... Sorry it seems like a bad time, but to summarize I need help transforming a fish deity into something I can stick my Inquisitor into."

"..."

"Hello?"

"You aren't joking, are you?"

"Nope." You announce.

"...You know I don't particularly like you, at all in fact, don't you?"

"Yep."

A sigh.

"Very well, I'll offer my assistance. In return, I'll get something from you of my choosing, something small and something that will effect you little I should think. I've yet to plan that far ahead, but know I'll ask something of you when the time comes."

She clears her throat.

"Alternatively, Slaanesh wishes me to inform you that it will uphold the same deal, and when I asked what it wanted it started drooling and masturbating furiously."

"Well, whats saying we can't all join up as a team? One big double chaos god, psyker sandwich?"

"...You're serious? Alright I guess? Slaanesh knows what it wants, by the way."

"...Do I even want to know?"

"Your Farseer, a pair of her dirty drawers with a lipstick heart on them."

Well, those shouldn't be too hard to obtain. Then you remember exactly who it is you are dealing with... Well THAT is certainly going to be an interesting conversation.

"That will be difficult, but do-able. And you?"

"You'll find out later when I get around to it, now stand back from the shore."

As much as the thought of making a deal with the secrets and CHANGE unnerves you, its too late now. The water before you has turned into a swirling maelstrom of violet and blue in nearly an instant.

"Whoa, now THIS is some shit." Karen muses, taking a seat on the kustom racer and watching the scene unfold.

That is, indeed, some shit.

The swirling vortex is arcing into the sky. Waves of color move in such a way that it causes your head to ache. You aren't sure what it is that you are watching, and you aren't even sure it won't break your mind.

The waters surge over Ra'alman, and the fish god seems quite hesitant at the events. Not that you blame it, in the least.

The seas grow only more colorful, the sky overhead darkening to a coal black of storming clouds as the water seethes. Ra'alman has disappeared entirely beneath them.

Karen is watching, goggles still in place, her hand with popcorn in it frozen in place as she forgets about the snack entirely.

"I'm twelve and what is this...?" You say in awe at the vision of color, motion, and energy.

The spectacle slowly peaks, before starting to wind down. The ocean stops swirling, the colors fade, the clouds dissipate.

You notice instantly that the towering fish god is absent, and in its place...

Nothing.

"Hey what the fuck guys, this wasn't part of our deal!" You shout angrily.

"Calm yourself, whelp. She's disappeared by her own accord, not of our doing."

"Yeah, but I still expect my payment." Slaanesh adds.

"So she's... Hiding?" You inquire inside your mind.

"Indeed. I'll be taking my payment as well, as our contract has been fulfilled."

So there you stand, wet from the spray of the crazy blue waters, beside your Ork friend. With absolutely nothing to show for the deal you just made.

"Chaos gods are dicks."

"Duh, I coulda told you that." Karen licks the butter off of her fingers.

Though you remain on the shoreline for at least an hour, calling out and trying to get some response, you are greeted with only silence. Even your mind powers do nothing.

"We should probably just give up..." Karen pipes up, a bemused expression as she watches you strolling up and down the beach.

"Yeah but how do I know they didn't just screw me over?" You complain.

"That's... Part of dealing with them, I guess?" She holds up her arms, nothing else to add.

"Well that... Sucks." You frown, and chuck another rock out into the waves where it lands with a satisfying splash.

"Eh, you win some you lose some. Now lets head back, I'd like to do something else at least before dinner."

Something else... Something else...

"Hora hora, what are you thinking of doing with the Ork princess?"

Both of you jump at the intrusion, whirling around. A being quite unlike anything you've seen thus far stands before you. A round, powerful tail covered in dark blue scales, pale green hair that falls nearly to the base of said tale. Red eyes that seem to almost glow slightly.

"No. Fucking. Way." You gape.

"Well, I can always turn back." Even as she says it, she does it. In mere moments, the Ra'alman you've always known is staring down at you yet again.

"Now have your fun mortal, I've god things to attend to before I can meet you again." With that, she heaves her heavy body into the air and crashes into the sea. A massive plume of water erupts, drenching you, Karen, and the kustom racer.

"Forget what I said earlier. NOW I've seen some shit." The Ork girl just shakes her head and shrugs, lost for more words.

----

Something about the quiet of the forest in the evening is alluring. Perhaps something primeval in man itself, perhaps just because it reminds me of a place I once knew so long ago now.

I'd expected Max to argue, naturally. Hell, even I know what that letter meant. I knew, in the back of my mind, that it was unlikely I was ever going to return.

A point I discovered, within myself, that I was fine with. I knew the target wasn't really me, they don't care about lost assassins. They don't have to. Eventually something in our blood runs out, and we pass on naturally. I'd felt the weakness coming off in the distance for a while now.

So when I'd found the data concerning my suspicions, upon that vile corpse, I knew what had to be done. I can't let them kill Max off, in a heartbeat, before he ever stood a chance. Not if this crazy plan has any hope of budding into a new life for this universe, not if I can put a stop to anyone forced into this life of ends.

No. If destiny needed a sacrifice for this to all fall into place, I willingly give myself.

So I'd given him that envelope, and I'd made him take it. It gives me some kind of solace to know I'd left it in capable hands.

They wouldn't be expecting me. That I know. I would have expired already had I not pilfered a vial of the stuff I'd needed from the corpse of the wretched being who had once been someone I'd once been trained by.

The ship resides in the clearing, exactly as I'd planned it all out. Too predictable when hunting one of your own species.

Sure enough they'd placed a guard on watch. A grey old man for one such as us, perhaps even thirty five or more.

Everyone has to pee sometimes. And sometimes, you just happen to get a knife though the back when doing so. Life sucks like that.

I don't feel a thing as the blade plunges in, again and again. Blood trickles from fresh wounds, the sentry struggles and tries to cry out, but is stifled by my hand crushing his windpipe.

I'd known him, I realize as I silently lower the body. A marksman instructor, one of the few at the Ordo I'd ever felt respect for. The same one from whom I'd picked up my one bad habit.

"Sorry, old man." I whisper down to him, and a small smile greets me as he recognizes my face. I hammer my blade once through his skull to end his pain.

The satchel at my side isn't exactly run of the mill Vindicare equipment. Meltabombs aren't really our thing, but an assassin who doesn't adapt isn't much of an assassin.

My feet barely crunching the leaves blanketing the ground as I approach the ship, I pull one of the bombs out. I'd already rigged up timers and a sticky solution to get them to stay in place. Now I begin placing them, every few feet along the hull.

It would be a terrible end for those inside, that much I knew. I knew, and did not care. I hated that. Or I wanted to. I'm not even sure how I work anymore, I know the Ordo had messed with us. I was sick of knowing that.

The last bomb stuck in place, I prepare my egress.

"Not too nice of dead men to try to off those of us with a job to do, Eight."

"We're all dead men here."

The calm lasts a mere moment. Flashes of gunfire erupt, both of us having gone for our Exitus pistols. His mistake, I always was fast on a draw.

Plan in the gutter, I do my best to improvise.

The double tap caught the first through the chest and head, which is something I've yet to see anyone or anything survive.

But more are quickly pouring out, and I've only so much ammunition.

I dive behind the landing gear of the ship, rounds whizzing overhead and erupting sand to my sides. Popping out quickly, I deliver another salvo into yet another one I recognize.

Five left, I've counted. Five rounds in my pistol.

Focusing, I let my mind slow down everything as I steady my nerves. Another break from cover, another round through a head.

The gun battle keeps up, and I'm almost sure I've got the edge, until I spot a fateful glimmer to my left. Too late, I don't have enough time.

I whirl, and both of us fire at the same time.

Pain. I'm used to pain. I grew up on it, I was trained in it, the Ordo deadened my senses to it.

The one holding the Exitus rifle staggers, half of his head gone, before collapsing.

He was the last, I find out, as the meltabombs ignite into an inferno of metal slag. I'd made it far enough from the blast to not be consumed, but looking down at my wound... It was for naught.

I cough, blood staining my hand.

Well, I could have asked for a worse ending. Completing a last mission isn't a bad way to go.

The forest calls for me, or maybe its the blood loss. I can feel it seeping from me now, warm, running down my abdomen and legs.

So I walk. For how long and how far I don't know, but I walk until I can walk no more.

The canopy above breaks, a hole overhead where I can see the stars. I try to lay down gently, but end up collapsing. Swallowing, I taste only iron.

Oh. The stars are out. Its been a long time since I've had a chance to gaze up at them. I wonder where Catachan is, I've no knowledge of astronomy.

Already I can feel my head getting hazy, darkness growing at the edges of my vision.

An Eldar comes, maybe more, I can't be sure. She places a cigarette in my lips, a kind gesture for her to do at my weak insistence.

I look up to the sky, concerned little for the Eldar. There is no more looming threat for them, and more importantly, Max.

I smile at the thought.

"Max..." I whisper faintly, only the brigtest of stars still visible.

"I'm... I'm going home." I smile.

The sounds of the forest see me out.

----

"Parker!" Vect barks gruffly to welcome the newcomer into his study.

"No. Kyle."

"Kyle? What kind of name is that?" Vect asks, chewing on his cigar.

"My name, sir."

"And you're a Dark Eldar? That isn't a very Dark Eldarish name son."

The pilot sighs, he had grown to expect this. Despite this being his fifth or so meeting with the big man.

"Whatever. Anyways Parker, Parker told me you're someone I should consider letting run this place."

"Kyle. You already did that."

Vect frowns, looking up from his newspaper. He scowls at Parker, these fucking kids these days and their rap music...

"So why are you here?" He finally sighs, ashing his cigar in an ornate ebony tray.

"Didn't I already... Never mind. The Imperium of man wants to ally with us."

Vect looks down at his newspaper again, reaching out for his coffee mug.

"Tell them no, bad for the newspaper business."

"Sir if I may..."

"Fine, but we get 75%! and that's our final offer!" Vect pounds his desk.

"Right, I'll pass that on..." Kyle bows and swiftly exits the office.

----

You and Karen turn to head back toward the Ork camp. This time you tell her to take it easy on the crazy speedfreak stuff, your legs and arms have yet to forgive you for earlier.

Thankfully she obliges, and the ride back is perhaps half as fast and furious as the ride out. Though a tanned, bald man in an ancient Terran car tries to race you along the way.

The Ork camp is dying down by the time you arrive. Apparently the filming is over, as the Orks are now packing the last of the set up. They give you funny looks as you enter, and some of them mutter under their breath. About some humie git bein wif da princess, though you can't hear them.

The film crew who had planned to document your second raid look rather miffed at being left in the dirt. Apparently their trukks hadn't come close to being able to keep up with Karen's souped up monstrosity.

Though their mean stares quickly soften as Karen apologizes. Apparently all of them have a soft spot for her. You aren't sure if you will ever understand that. As far as you knew, Orks were all about getting killy and making waagh.

Progress though the camp seems good, you have a feeling tonight is going to go well. Screw the xeno haters the Imperium is made of, you are having a great time with this female Ork and you intend to keep it that way.

That is, until, the Warboss steps into your path.

"Its toime ta rokk, ya git!" He grins, shoving a guitar into your hands.

"What? Again?"

"Oi! Jus anotha song an you can git back ta bein a git!"

"Fine." You shoulder the guitar strap. The cord of your guitar only extends halfway to the nearby amps, before snaking off and ending at a pile of shredded tires. But when you pluck a string, sound reverberates from the system. Damn Orks and their nonsensical technology...

Before you can gripe, the Warboss takes the lead.

Waagh on da vox, dakka on da holo
Imperial man take what he can, shooty on da silva screen
Krumpin em up and choppan em down, living out a fantasy
There’s a big boss ridin ‘round in a big black looted trukk
Don’t let it be wrong, don’t let it be right
Get outta da way git, ur roight in ‘iz soights

Big dakka
Big dakka
Numbah whan
Big dakka

Big dakka krump da zog outta ya
Necrons, flash makas, shootin up hollywood
Vindicares alive wif da flashy bitz, getting off an doin rought bad
If you izn’t smart, dey’ll eat ya up, chop off ya bitz as dey do

The song comes to a grating halt as the Warboss furiously rips his guitar right off of it's strap.

"Oi! You lousy grots! Git yer filthy 'ands off a me trukk!" He takes the guitar and wings it hard at a group of gretchin crawling around a particularly large and spiky trukk.

It sails brilliantly through the air, before slicing a gretchin in half at chest level. The others panic, and break into a scattered run as the Warboss bounds after the rest.

"Well... That was... Fun?" You shrug.

"Sure, never mind that. I haven't had you to myself in forever and its just getting annoying now." Karen folds her arms, peers at her father, and then snatches your hand.

Karen stops to peek around corners, eying other orks as they mukk about, pulling you quickly along when she thinks they aren't looking.

"Hey, not that I mind, but why are we being sneaky like?" You ask in a hushed tone at another stop.

"Huh? Well, no reason really... But some of these boyz might get a tad bit... Well, more jealous if they see me take you into my own tent."

"Oh. OH."

"Yeah."

You notice Karen's cheeks are a bit flushed, the pink on her green features is a dead give away.

At long last, after at least a dozen stops to check for a clear coast, you've arrived. The tent is far larger than the boyz huts, and set apart from them as well. Lining the outside, standing guard, are dozens of turrets.

"Don't worry, I already programmed you in as a "do not kill", they won't shoot." Karen smirks, noticing your hesitation to approach.

Sure enough (though you inch along slowly), the turrets do not turn you to giblets and armor flakes. You sigh in relief, that would have been a bad way to go.

"Come on, hurry up!" Karen grins, tugging harder.

You aren't about to keep the princess waiting, and let her lead you on inside. The interior of the tent is, at least by Orkish standards, lavish. Carpet lines the floor, plush pink rugs covering much of it. You even notice a bathroom through an open curtain.

"Wow, nice place you've got here." You marvel, lightly touching the pink netting above the bed.

"Pink?" You turn to her with an evil grin, "An Ork with a pink accented room?"

A shirt to the face quaffs your teasing.

"Oh quiet, you. I'm going to take a shower, why don't you just take a seat on the bed or something? You can flip on the viewscreen if you'd like."

You pull the shirt off of your face, noticing it actually smells rather... Nice?

Karen steps through the curtain into the bathroom and draws it shut before you can add anything more.

Though you'd thought to give the books lining a shelf near the closed entryway a look, that train of thought is abruptly derailed.

Karen flips on a light inside the bathroom, and in an instant you notice one thing. The fabric of those walls is fairly thin on the shower side, which is closest to the bed, and you can see her figure almost perfectly through them.

Which means, much to your Inquisitor's interest, that you can more or less make out everything. Like Karen slowly unstrapping her belt, and lowering her shorts.

"Emprah preserve me..." You whisper inaudibly as you continue to watch.

"Hey!" Karen calls through the fabric, and you stiffen, thinking she'd heard you.

"You umm... Can take of your armor, if you'd like." She says, the embarrassment in her voice carrying through.

"I would, but it's really easier to get on myself and tough to get off without help." You admit.

"Oh." The Ork princess comments, and you can't help but notice the outline as she slips her thong and tosses it into a bin. "I'll help you after I'm done, then."

"That would be..." She pulls her sportsbra over her head and your words get jumbled in your throat as you watch a very noticeable bounce. "Fine." You finish throatily.

The sound of the shower starting fills the tent, but you can barely perceive it. Your other senses, it seems, have lent their power entirely to your eyes. And oh, do your eyes need it now more than ever.

Karen steps gently into the shower, which only causes her outline to grow more distinct. She lets her hair down out of it's ponytail, and even through the curtain you can see it is rather curly, like waves cascading downward... Right to her tight butt.

Your jaw is practically on the floor by now, you are visibly drooling, you don't frankly care at this point.

Your Inquisitor protests at the unwelcome pressure of the armor's codpiece, and under any other circumstance you may have found that quite uncomfortable. Now, however, you can barely perceive it.

Karen pulls her hair back as the water flows over it, running her fingers through the lush tangle. You are on the edge of the bed, leaning as far forward as the position allows.

Leaning down, her back toward you, she pumps what you guess to be shampoo into her hand. Standing back up, she runs it through her hair, so, so slowly.

Leaving it for now, you notice her lean down again and pick up a cloth. Another few pumps of another bottle, and she's begun to wash her body. Even through the curtain its easy to tell she's absolutely athletic. But not some muscle beast that Imperial women tend to think they will become if they work out, more like a body sculpted to the perfection of form.

You can only sit and watch, utterly mesmorized, as something as simple as a girl showering gets you more worked up than you could have ever imagined.

As she at long last closes the valve to the shower, you have only one thought. You don't want it to end.

A thought quickly forgotten when she draws back the curtain and steps out into the larger room once more.

Karen stands before you, luscious dark hair dripping, all of her dripping. Encased only in a short fluffy pink towel.

She must have noticed you staring, because her face cheeks are only burning more and more red, her eyes avoiding you as her legs mull awkwardly.

"So umm... Want me to help get that armor off?" She finally asks.

"Yes ma'am!" You almost shout, standing up immediately.

Gentle green fingers run over the hard ceremite plates as Karen searches for the releases. You try to guide her along, but only give her faint clues. Watching her its almost too cute to want it to end.

With a small hiss, the last piece is removed. Damn, you think to yourself, damn why can't you be wearing TWO suits of armor?

"Do you... Need a shower?" She asks quietly, her eyes averted despite you still being quite clothed.

"I don't think so? The armor has some cooling mechanisms, and stuff..." In truth, you can barely form words. Where your brain is getting the power to actually speak from, you are unsure.

"Can you do the rest?" Karen asks, before climbing briskly onto the bed, and burrowing into the sheets.

"Uh, yeah."

Her back to you, you let the last of your clothing drop to the floor. You notice a pink towel on the ground at the side of the bed.

Not knowing what else to do, you carry out the only logical course of action your brain can come up with, and slip into the sheets beside the princess.

"So umm... I don't really know the rest... I've only read one Terran romance novel and it kinda... Ends, right about now." She says, her face pressed into a pillow.

Gently, you pull her over to face you. Her eyes are locked on your own now, her face still flush and her breath excited.

Leaning in, you lock your lips to her own plush set of pink ones. And Emprah, does it feel good.

Karen seems to be getting the hang of it after several moments, her hands wrapping around to grab onto your back as you slide on top of her.

She gasps as you break off and start back, drawing the blankets over you as you work your way down.

"Max, I don't... AHHH!?"

The sensation of your lips meeting her other pair causes her hips to jump and she grabs your head in shock.

"Relax." You tell her reassuringly. Despite your words, you can still feel the energy poised nervously in her body.

With every lick, a gasp. With every kiss, a moan.

Her hands are still in your hair, only now looser and rubbing your scalp slightly. You may be pretty dense when it comes to some things, but you have a knack for this kind of stuff.

After a long while of preparation, you throw back the covers and unveil your prize.

Karen lays panting slightly on the pink sheet, slightly dampened by the water that remained on her body from her hasty drying. Her breasts rise with each quick breath, and her eyes remain locked in hard on your own.

"Ah... Don't... Stop?" She almost asks, entirely unsure of herself.

You grin, though to reassure her rather than tease. Your inquisitor eyes the breech, consults with the astropaths, and decides entry into the warp is safe.

Karen gasps as you slowly push forward, her hands grabbing your hips and squeezing quite hard. You don't have to guess hard that she's new to this, you know enough about Orks to know they lack any... Tools.

So you take your time, responding to her body as hers does to your own. For several minutes that pass in an eternity, until you come to rest in base to base combat.

"You can, uh. Move now, I think." Karen says after several long moments of rest.

"You sure?" You ask, noticing a small trickle of blood.

"I'm sure." She smiles, gently clasping your side.

So you start to move. Immediately finding yourself on the edge. It may have been due to the show through the curtain, or how she took your armor off. Either way, its all you can do to hang on.

"Tankred... Endures..."

"Huh?" She asks, you halfway through a thrust.

"Err... Nothing."

Karen's moans pick up, louder and only more passionate as you increase your speed. You find yourself making quite a bit of noise as well. Though you certainly got her prepared with your oral abilities, she's got you gripped like a vice. A wet, warm, incredible vice.

Karen's fingernails are almost painful as they dig into your skin, and her clamped eyes and wide mouth combined with that tell you that you are doing well, young padawan.

Reaching out, you cup one of her breasts for a moment, enjoying the bouncing soft orb. Quickly you return it to its place beside her hips, needing the support, and the sensation almost causing you to detonate the krak missile early.

"I'm... I don't know this feeling... What... Ahh? Ahhhh!!!!" Her hands grab you hard and her hips drive up to meet your own. You keep up the pace, riding through her climax. You can't stop now, this is bat country and you have a package to deliver.

Your instincts cut short as she pushes you away quickly, your Inquisitor quite annoyed as it leaves it's tight hideout.

"S-sorry!" Karen gasps, out of breath, "I know it may seem dumb, but I don't know if humans and... Well... I'm not ready to be a mom yet... Ah sorry, this is so stupid of me." She claps her hands to her face.

Her fingers peel open to reveal one of her eyes as you laugh, starting quietly and growing until it fills the whole tent.

"Don't worry, I get it." You tell her kindly. Karen still looks a bit perplexed.

"Umm... I could, you know. Use my mouth, maybe?" She asks, looking to you for guidance.

"Yeah, I'd like that." You smile, giving her long hair a single stroke.

Karen leads you off of the bed, and kneels awkwardly until her face is level with your flagship.

"Hmm..." She gives it a look, tilting her head SHAFT style as she does so.

"Its cute!" She finally smiles, before gently placing her lips around it. You nearly let loose the exterminatus right then and there.

Karen gingerly takes more of it in, though you wince and have to let her know to avoid her canines as she tries to pick up the pace.

The whole while she looks up at you with those innocent eyes illuminated by the lighting above. You twitch, and she must sense you're getting close.

"N-not inside?" She tells you, garbled by the current predicament.

"Gotcha." You manage to gasp.

She quits mukkin about and gets back to work, and work she does. You try to hold out, to hold the line as you were taught in the guard, but there is just no way.

You are at the peak, and this time you can't stop yourself. Though when you try to pull away...

Karen has you gripped hard around the waist, not allowing you to remove your powersword. You can tell just by the look in her eyes that she's grinning as you finally relinquish your plasma onto her tongue, which runs eagerly up the shaft of the blade.

She holds you there for several moments, until your hips stop twitching, your expression a mixture of heavenly pleasure and pure exhaustion, before finally releasing her grip.

"I thought you might like that, maybe?" She asks, her voice a bit off, before swallowing with a strange expression.

"Bitter." She giggles, screwing up her face.

You mutter something unintelligible, before falling backwards onto the bed.

You barely notice as she steps into the bathroom to brush her teeth and gargle mouthwash. Or when she walks back out and helps you into a better position on the bed.

"That was... Incredible." You tell her.

"Hmm? I thought so, too." She says sweetly, rubbing your head, which causes your eyes to close.

Without even realizing it, you've slipped off into dreamland.

"Kirby? The fuck are you doing here? This is Warhammer and you are neither grim nor dark."

"Bitch I swallow things whole, steal their power, and fight the most powerful beings in my known universe all while being pink. I OWN grim and dark."

----

Tonya sits inside the cold, pressing walls of the dismal tomb. She combs her hair out as she hums something to herself, a tune she knows without knowing where it came from.

All the while she stares at the hat resting upon the framed picture of her beloved. She can't help but smile when she looks at it. One day she will have him, all to herself. One day he will be hers.

"Do you need anything, mistress?" A Necron in a maid outfit asks her, stopping at her doorway after delivering a small nondescript package and a steaming pot of oil.

"No, thank you." Tonya dismisses the maid kindly, and turns back to her shrine, alone again.

"Oh Max," She sighs, laying down on the stone alter and placing her chin on her hands, mere inches from the picture. "Why do you elude me so?"

Checking her communication device again, she sighs dejectedly when it reads "no new messages", as it always does.

Grabbing the hat lightly she rolls over on her bed to face the ceiling. Though she doesn't understand why, a part of her doesn't like this place, with its dim green light and blank grey walls.

Tonya hugs the hat to her chest and closes her eyes as she breaths in. The smell of it is almost like having her darling right there. Almost, but not enough.

"I'll make you mine." She whispers, holding the hat dear.

"I'll make you mine, forever and ever."

---

"Glory to the Partridges!" Guardsmen cry out as Harry wades his way through them. He and his retinue looking downright fabulous as they do. It had taken him quite a while to make sure his servitors had gotten ever purity seal EXACTLY right.

"Yes yes, we are the champions of this day." He raises his space wolf mug in salute to their cheers.

"Not what I saw." A cold, calculating voice reaches his ears. It cuts through the praise of the Guardsmen like a well honed knife.

"Ah, Creed. Pleasant to see you again, did you enjoy my triumph here?" Despite his cool demeanor, Harry is a bit panicked. Creed being one of the few with sound enough mind and hardened nerves, enough to ignore the powers of the Egomancers.

"Cut the bullshit, Harry."

The chapter master stifles at being called by his first name by a mere general. Though he is furious, he dare not lash out. Creed may be a mere human, but he is a tough and resolute opponent. Even when caught off-guard, his plans are almost always foolproof.

"You and I both know what really happened here." Creed grumbles, his gravely voice still pronounced despite the stogie clutched in his bared teeth.

"Shame, then, how the story will go down in the ages to come." Harry remarks, all pleasantries lost.

Creed grunts once, what passes for a laugh for him.

"We'll see who has the last of it, bird." With that, he turns away and stalks off.

It takes all of his strength to keep himself from losing all to rage. Harry clamps down hard enough on the mug to nearly shatter it, but stops himself from wrecking his favorite belonging.

"Indeed we will." He answers, Creed long gone.

===Thread 24===

“Max…” A quiet, somber voice awakens you from your sleep. You crack open your eyes and notice Karen standing over you, dressed in a pink camisole.

“Hmm? What…” You see the entryway open, a Farseer you don’t recognize standing just inside of it. She’s got a faint trace of blood down the front of her armor, and the expression she’s wearing instantly tells you that this is nothing good.

Pulling the sheet around yourself, you stand up and approach her. As you draw near, she extends something out to you. Gently you take the small, thin object from her fingers. She gives you a slight bow of respect as you do.

“What is this?” You ask, but instantly find your voice leaving you far behind.

“He placed it in my hand before he…” The Farseer’s voice trails off.

A picture.

You gaze at it for a long while, how long you’ll never know. It doesn’t register, or maybe it’s just that you don’t want it to.

“Is this some kind of sick joke?” You ask, voice hoarse and choked.

“My sympathies.” The Farseer says, and with a deeper bow she departs back through the entryway.

Knees weak, too weak to stand, you fall backwards into a sitting position on the pink rug beneath you. Placing a hand on your head, you look around the room, and back at the photo.

The picture is a simple one, black and white. Tortuga, you recognize that. You for sure see that you are drunk, severely so. But that isn’t what is eating at you, ravenously tearing your heart from its place in your chest.

Eight is propping you up in the picture, and even though it’s small, almost too small to see, you catch it. A tiny smile, which translates to so much more when you consider the man wearing it.

Scrawled in his chickenscratch, marking the white beneath it is a single word.

“Brothers.”

Next to it, a few small droplets of brown, dried blood.
You don’t even have to ask. You already know what’s happened.

“I’ll… Go make something…” Karen says awkwardly, noticing your expression, and she leaves as well.

Some men say they never cry. Some even say its beneath a real man to cry, that its weakness, for women and children. These are men that have never known true loss.

Nothing could have held back your tears, not all the forces of Malal, not the warp, not even the Emperor himself. With a muffled sound you break down, clutching the photo, unable to look down at it.

“Damn it kid...” You shake your head. You would do anything to turn back time, to just knock him out and not let him go. Though you know, deep down, he would have found a way to slip off regardless.

The hot tears roll freely down your cheeks, and you hang your head in your palm and just let them. You don’t care who sees you, what they might say. Today, a man cries.

When you finally emerge from the tent, it is with a blank face. Adorned in your heavy, grey armor, bristling with weapons.

Karen is waiting outside, having changed somewhere into a fresh set of mechanic digs. She looks up from her racer, grease spots on her clothes, wrench in hand.

“Are you… Alright?” She asks as you stop in front of her.
“I will be. I’ve got one last loose end I need to wrap up before the defecation hits the oscillation, so I’ll be heading out.

“Well, good luck.” Karen smiles, giving you a smooch.

“Let’s hope I won’t need it.”

You swallow hard at your own words. You’ve learned a lot during your time on Yagis V, quite a lot. Namely, don’t go near the ocean.

And don’t mess with the Necrons.

Which is precisely what you are about to go do.

…Though you aren’t without second, third, fourth thoughts.

“What the fuck am I about to do?” You ask yourself as you swing a leg up over the bike.

“Good fucking question!” Your mind rages back.

“I’m about to go try to… Reason with an insane undead robot thingy?” You shrug.

“WHY”

Revving the bike up, you don’t dignify that with a response. So what if your brain is screaming at you, Ackbar is sounding all the alarms, and even your spidey sense is telling you to take two steps back, fuck your own face, and think about what you are really doing.

You slip on a pair of shades.

Fuck those guys, they are just going to have to deal with it.

The motor of Mika’s custom bike screams as you wheelie away from the Ork camp. The work she put into every detail really shows when you open up the throttle. Though you admit to yourself that you may be an awesome driver, there is nothing you enjoy driving more than a well made bike.

Faster and faster you fly across the plain, shredding grass into a torrent of green behind your wheels. It doesn’t matter how much speed you put on, you know this isn’t something you can just run away from. The other issue with the Necron certainly isn’t helping you right now either.

Not to mention, one absolutely critical detail.

...That psychobitch currently has your hat.

The ride clears your head, and allows you to think. You need some kind of plan, which isn’t your strong suit.

As you drive across the field of emerald green, you think. You think hard.

Do you smell smoke? Nah, must be your imagination.

An advantage. You need some kind of advantage. It would be crazy to just think you could just waltz on into the Necron Tomb and come out alive. No, scratch that, fleshy.

The thought causes you to shudder slightly. You really enjoy your meaty bits, and imagining as metal slowly replaced…

“NOPE.”

You skid the bike to a halt, though not at your panicked imagination, but at the terrain. There is a high, rocky ridge with plenty of scrub on it, overlooking a low dry riverbed. You gaze up at the heights, before scowling down at the brown dirt underfoot.

It seems as good a place as any to spring some kind of trap.
Now, time to call in some backup.

Punching in a number, you press the device to your head and count the tones.

“…M-Max?”

“Hey Mika. Listen, are you busy right now?”

“M-me? Well, ah… No?”

“Great! Now this might sound crazy but…”

You hear something kick a stone from behind you.

“Who are you talking to, my darling?” Comes an all too familiar voice.

"...How did you even find me?!"

"Silly honey, I've been tracking your communicator."

"...Max? H-hello?" You hear Mika ask quietly, the speaker still against your ear.

"Going to have to call you back, I'm afraid."

“Oh Tonya, I was just about to… HA!” With a shout you whirl around, activating your plasma cannon and praying to the Emprah you were fast enough.

Cold, mechanical hands latch onto your arm, and strong fingers force it shut. Guess not.

Shit! If you fire it now, it’ll probably explode!

Out of time, you do the only other thing you can think of, and grab for your axe…

A blast of gauss against the flat of its blade sends it spiraling out of your hand. The Immortal behind you stands still, it’s calculating eyes watching your every move.

You’re thankful it was at least a decent enough shot to not blow off your other arm. Though you wonder if perhaps it missed.

“Now now, I’ll have to punish you if you’re going to be difficult.” Tonya scolds you with a frown, as though you were some kind of child.

She clamps down on your arm, and with incredible strength, forces you to the ground.

A wicked grin illuminates her features, her eyes alight with a crazy green fire.

“Fuck my life.” You sigh, wishing you had perhaps just ignored the Necrons entirely.

“Don’t worry, soon we’ll make you just. Like. Us.”

The feeling of vertigo overwhelms you as Tonya warps.

You phase in, your head spinning and your stomach feeling as though it had just dropped through your abdomen. The sensation is akin to the worst seasickness you’ve ever experienced, multiplied tenfold.

Clutching at your mouth, it’s all you can do to not just hurl. But you wonder why you even stopped yourself.

Hold it Max, hold it…!

It simply isn’t going to happen.

“Bllaaaarrrrrggghhhhhh!!!!” You wretch, vomit spraying from your mouth like a pressure hose. Brilliant, vibrant green vomit. In any other situation, you may have impressed yourself with the distance, volume, and consistency.

Now, though, it only adds to your feeling of utmost dread.

The Necrons all stand, dead in their tracks, as they look at you. Each now adorned with a fresh coat of your stomach contents.

"Man, tequila and Ork pizza do NOT mix."

...No response from the killer robots from space, not surprising.

You wipe your mouth off on the stone slab in front of you. None of the Necrons have yet moved. Each is looking at you, quite hard, and with stares that may have been humorous if their faces could make them.

Tonya sighs as she grabs you roughly by your pauldron, and begins dragging you across the cool floor of the Tomb.

“Honestly, we were all set to begin the ritual and you delay us with something like that.” The Necron girl shakes her head, as though the mere thought were unimaginable.

“It’s your fault for doing that warp thingy, something about the way you tin cans do it doesn’t work with me.”

“Hmm? Don’t worry, soon enough, nothing like that will bother you, ever again.” Tonya looks back and smiles at you. You know she’s trying to make it look reassuring, but given the context it only adds to her insanity.

Knowing it would be useless to struggle, a crowd of Immortals following close behind in the narrow corridor, you succumb to being dragged. Not that you can’t walk, but if she wants to make you into one of THEM, than fuck her you are going to make her work for it.

Though you may have pissed her off, you can’t fault Tonya for one thing, she is pretty gentle with you. Aside from the whole “ONE Of US. ONE OF US.” Shebang she’s got going.

So much so that it doesn’t hurt as she swiftly peels off your armor, handing it away to a filing line of Warriors. It takes her mere minutes to strip you down to your Commissar outfit.
With a light push, she sinks you down into the bath. Yet again.

“So as long as I keep chucking, I can stay human? Better watch out girlie, I can puke my own weight much as a…”

Tonya shoves you underwater, before pulling you back up.

Her face is now hard, her eyes boring right into your own.

“You will become one of us, there is simply no alternative. Delay as much as you wish, we are a patient group.”

You swallow hard, Tonya seeming to have changed in an instant.

“Only after, can we spend an eternity together.” She smiles.

Okay, maybe not.

Though you’ve got a band around your arm, locking your plasma gun and flamer in place, the Necrons made one crucial mistake.

They left your lasfinger alone. You know you will only get one shot at doing anything with it, and that means you might blow it too early or wait too long.

Shit.

You hate making calls like that.

Oak: “This isn’t the time to use that!”

“Okay! Geeze!”

You decide to wait it out. There’s no telling if your steam idea would work or not anyways, and it’s too risky to blow the one thing you’ve got going for you right now on such a minute chance.

Instead, you simply sit inside the warm water, resting your back against the stone wall of the tub. Tonya hums a quiet song as she scrubs you.

If it wasn’t for her batshit personality, you wouldn’t necessarily mind her doing this.

“Soon enough you’ll be perfect.” She smiles, before continuing to hum.

Ahh but that personality…

Tonya lifts you out of the bath as easily as you would a child. You make a mental note to remember her strength. If it comes down to a test of raw power, you most certainly will lose.

“Now! Its time!” The Pariah exclaims excitedly, before wrapping you in a crimson cloak.

Into your right hand, she places a staff. Onto your head, some kind of Necron-styled headdress.

“Befitting of the lord you shall be.” She smiles.

“Great! So if it’s cool with you, I’ll just be a lord like this and ignore all the robo bits, thanks.”

Tonya giggles as though it were some kind of joke.

The stomping Immortals press from behind, leaving you little choice but to walk forwards. Though there are tunnels crossing left and right that you might be able to run into, the Immortals could gun you down before you ever got out of range.

“So why me?” You ask as the march continues.

“Hmm? Simple. You are you.” Tonya frowns.

“Well that makes about as much sense as I’d expected it to.”

The long walk finally stops in the center of a massive chamber. The ceiling must extend a thousand feet into the air, and the far wall would take you a solid fifteen minutes to reach.

“So this is it, then?” You ask, noticing what appears to be some kind of sarcophagus waiting for you.

“Yes. Here, Max, you shall ascend to the halls of immortality.”

“Hey, mind if I ask you one thing?”

Tonya raises an eyebrow. Which makes you ponder as to why she HAS eyebrows, but you can’t let that distract you now.

“Do you mind if the others wait outside? If this has to happen, I’d like you to be the only one to see.”

You can feel your heart slamming against your ribcage, this might be your one chance at making some kind of a move here.

But first you have to get your pieces into position.

For a fleeting moment, you feel your heart sink as Tonya frowns.

Eternity slows to a standstill, time itself losing its own pace.
Until the Pariah nods.

“Very well.” She says quietly, before turning and ordering her honor guard to wait outside.

Now, you just have to try to flirt with her and get your inqui…

*click*

The sarcophagus opens up, and the mere sight of its interior causes your mind to blank. A wicked series of needles jut out at bizarre angles. Tubes snake through the interior, ending in nozzles and jets. That most certainly doesn’t look like a place you want to end up.

But what choice do you have? You know the lasfinger would be worthless against her from the front at least, and she could blast you in half with her staff pressing against your back as easy as anything.

“Hey, can we talk about this? Maybe think it through?”

Tonya pushes you harder, nearer and nearer toward the horror construct.

“The time for talk can wait until after. We will have much time to talk.”

With a push, she places you into the sarcophagus. You have to scrunch up your body to avoid the needles. But as soon as that door closes, it will force them into you.

“Don’t worry,” Tonya says, noticing your expression, “I love you.”

“I don’t love you.” Is all you reply as you close your eyes and wait for the terror to begin.

But for several moments, there is mere silence.

“But I… I…” Tonya’s face screws up as she stares at you.

“Come to think of it, can you really even call what you feel love? Can a circuit board love?” You ask bitterly.

“I… I can! I’m not a circuit board! I’m Tonya!” She turns away from you and crouches down, holding her temples as she shakes her head.

"Tonya..." You grunt. "You didn't even have a name until I gave you one."

"I love it though. It's me! I'm Tonya and I'll always be Tonya!"

Here, after all this, is the other opportunity you waited for. The lasgun in your finger might be small, but at this range, to the back of her head…

That would be that.

You can end it all, right here, right now.

“How can you even call it love?” You ask, your finger itching to let loose.

Tonya lowers herself to her side, curling up into a ball, still holding her head.

“Because its love. I… Somehow. Somehow I still know love.” She’s shaking now.

“Still?”

“I wasn’t always like this. I know that, though my memories… I know I was different, once. Like you.” She looks back, tears in her eyes. It’s almost as if she was…

“Human.” She sniffs bitterly as she stares at you.

That certainly gives you pause.

“Yes, even I was human once.” She hides her face against the floor.

Gingerly, you step outside and away from the bizarre device she had stuck you in.

“I can only remember a little bit,” She continues, “Only a little, and it was all so long ago now.”

“You weren’t always… You know? Robofied?”

Tonya laughs once, a pained, forced sound.

“No. I used to be so pretty, so fragile… Now… Well, just look at me!” She exclaims, grabbing at her metallic body, a look of disgust adorning her features.

“But I held onto that fantasy of the little girl I was, that one day, I would find my prince.” Tonya sits up, facing you, her eyes hidden behind her bangs.

“So when I saw you… With all those other girls, I thought… I thought…”

Tears are streaming down her cheeks now, and when she finally looks back up at you, it isn’t with the face of a cold metal warrior, but one of a scared girl.

“I thought that maybe, just maybe, you could love me too.”
You can’t help yourself. You chuckle a bit.

Tonya looks at you, her eyes flickering.

There’s no stopping it now, you let loose. Your laughter echoes through the chamber, filling it.

“You mean, this WHOLE time, you just wanted what those others had? Damn, girl, all you had to do was ASK!”

You reach down, extending a hand to her. Tonya looks at it, longingly, before gently placing her own inside it.

“That, and maybe not try to make me a Necron. Kind of cramps my style.”

---

And as you take her hand in your own, you extend one, hard finger.

The las shot rings out, its piercing chime.

Tonya's face is one of surprise, as the blast pierces her forehead. The metal of her skull melting as the shot bores through before zipping out the other side.

The hole smokes slightly, and you can see the charred remains of wires and circuits within it.

"Sorry bitch, but you went too far."

You put your boot on the dead Necron’s skull, and give it a shove. The robot body of the crazy Pariah clangs to the floor, perhaps a bit louder than you had planned on.

Immortals file into the room, each of them stopping to stare at you.

“Going to kill me, eh?” You ask, taking your best fighting stance.

“There’s just one problem for you.” You grin, and hold up a chair.

“I don’t want no troubbr.”

All at once the Immortals open up, gauss fire ripping past you as you run.

“FUS ROH DAHHHH!!!”

The mind attack hurls them backwards, and with everything you’ve still got, you leap over their heads. As you sail over, you crack one in the face with the chair.

“Dayum Jackie! This shit is WACK!” Chris yells as he runs alongside you, the towering Salamander looking panicked despite holding a flamer.

“I don’t want no troubbrrrruuu!!!”

Both of you sprint for the exit, preparing to fight your way through the horde of Necron warriors.

---

You help Tonya to her feet, and gently wipe the tears from her eyes. Though her exterior may be cold metal, you can sense a warm soul within.

“So… You don’t want to be…”

“NO!” You tell her firmly, hoping she finally gets that point.

“But… If we don’t… What will happen when you finally…”
You sigh, before patting her head.

“All mortals die, that is just how things work. I can’t tell you WHAT my future holds, because quite honestly I don’t know. But maybe, someday, I’ll figure out a way… To do something, like that.”

Tonya leans into you as you rub her hair.

“But that is a long ways off, and I still really like this body of mine.”

“Addition: Meatbag.”

“Hush, you.”

“You owe me some hard cash, I had a lot of money riding on you being robofied!”

“Both of you, just shut up, for now at least.” You sigh at your arm, which after a little bitching and “Complaint:”, goes silent.

“I’m sorry. For everything.” Tonya says quietly, before reaching down to her… And pulling out hat-cha…

“Wat.”

She removes the Necron headdress, before replacing it with your beloved Commissar hat. The Pariah smiles faintly as she adjusts it.

“Well… That was… Anyways, can we get out of here? No offense but this Tomb gives me the creeps.”

“Sure. I’d go anywhere, as long as it’s with you.” Tonya hugs you around the middle, and despite everything she’s done, you can’t help but return the gesture.

The hug lasts as long as it needs to, for Tonya. You don’t let go until she does, finally, before looking up into your eyes with a smile.

“If you don’t mind, and I know it won’t be fun at all… But I’ve got a friend that I need to see. One last time.”

Tonya takes the picture that you offer her, and looks it over with a sad expression.

"I forgot what its like, to miss someone." She whispers, squeezing your hand.

You couldn't be aware, not then, of the price of a god.

The two of you emerge, at long last, out into the fresh air. You suck it in, filling your longing lungs with its sweet, sweet taste.

“I really, really don’t like that Tomb.” You groan, stretching your legs, now back in their armor. Tonya had it cleaned for you, and it shines like it never has before.

“It’s a bit… Dim, even for me.” She admits.

The gentleman that you are, you help her onto the back of the bike after swinging yourself onto it. The Pariah takes a moment to get comfortable, before grabbing you around the waist and holding tight. Too tight.

“Hurk… Uhh? T-Tonya?!” You gesture to your throat.

“Ah! Sorry! It’s just…” She glances down at the bike, then back at you, looking downright terrified.

“I’m not used to going fast, at all.”

“Well you’d better hold onto your panties… Do you…?”

“Want to… See them?” She asks, raising the skirt she had put on ever so slightly.

“Well I mean… But later! Just hold on tight, but don’t choke me out!”

With that you rev up the engine, and twist the throttle.
Even at the low speed you take, Tonya is panicking like you are moving at a million miles an hour. With every bounce she gasps, with every rock she “eeep!”s.

You admit, you find it rather cute. But unfortunately for her, you’ve got your mind on something else at the moment.
Right now that letter in your pouch feels like it weighs as much as a Titan, as does the weight on your heart.

Your mother had told you once, when you were young, that everyone has their choices to make. For better or for worse, Eight had made his. You aren’t going to sully his memory by thinking he chose wrong. You just wish you had gotten a chance, just one, to really say goodbye.

Though it was a bit late, too late, you were going to tell him. You were going to tell him, and then take that envelope and bury it, in the black dirt of Catachan. You would do whatever it took to carry out that final wish, he deserved it.

----

I look out over a field of green. All seems surreal. I know none of this is reality. I know, and yet find myself at ease with that fact.

The shapes, the colors… Everything muted in a white haze. A washing white bloom that is almost too bright.

But despite everything, I feel something I haven’t perhaps ever felt, or maybe I simply can’t remember. Whole.

I walk through the vast expanse, eyes half lidded. I walk, and walk, and walk. This place seems endless, perhaps it is.
I crest a hill, and stop, my eyes opening wide now.

Two dark shapes stand in front of me, and though I can’t see their faces, I don’t have to. It’s been so long, but I know who it is that I see.

Will they understand? Will they take me back into their arms, will they finally bring me to peace? Or are they here to judge me? To berate me for a life of death, of murder and misdeed and ill fortune onto others?

I hesitate now, perhaps more than I ever have.

Until the figures raise their arms, welcoming me with the promise of a warm embrace I haven’t known for far too long a time.

“Home.” I whisper, though there is no sound in this place.
I start to run toward them, abandoning any remaining doubt. No, they aren’t here to force me to deal with my past. At long last, I’ve found what I’ve been yearning for most of my remembered existence.

Nearer and nearer I draw, and I can’t help myself as I shed tears. I have so much to tell them, I want them to listen, to hear how I’ve missed them both.

I know they will listen. I know they will finally bring me to a much needed rest.

A faint, dark blotch in front of me. My elation falters as I see it, it looks so out of place here…

A void begins to open in front of me. Dark and evil, like the gullet of a terrible beast. Howling winds the only sound, as though a slew of angry Daemons clawing at me.

Shocked, I skid to a stop, putting up my arms to shield my face from the wind. The black chasm only continues to grow, and I watch in terror as the figures on the far side slowly begin to drift away, still standing on the far side.

“No!” I shout, and in a last ditch attempt, I jump.

Far. Too far. I can’t make it.

My fingers reach out longingly, aching to feel the far side. But to no avail. Falling, down and down, tumbling into the darkness.

A long, ragged breath.

A forest alive again with the sound of morning, dew clinging to all.

“No.” I whisper up at the canopy above.

I can feel the life in my bones, no pain present in my side. Cold. I feel cold again.

I hate it. I hate it more than I’ve ever hated anything.

…I don’t want this.

My hand reaches out, searching, until I find it. A cruel piece of steel, an instrument of my deeds.

I’ll go back. Back to that place. Back to the promise it held.
Cold metal against my temple, like a kiss of death. I’ll go back…

*click*

The Expitus pistol falls from my hand as my head sinks and my knees rise to meet it.

Why.

Why can I never have what I want, why is every choice made for me?

“Because this isn’t your story, not yet.” A melodious voice reaches through the branches, skirting the trees until it graces my ears.

Footsteps crunch leaves underfoot as someone, or something, approaches. I don’t care at this point. Hopefully whatever it is will just send me back. I want to talk to them again, I want to…

“Surely you don’t think that vision was real? Do you?”

“Real enough.” I clutch my side. The blood is dry now, and the hole is gone.

“You’re a peculiar one, aren’t you?” Whatever it is asks, now standing over me. I don’t even bother to look up.

“Is it too much to ask, for all of this to just be over? I died for something, I died the best way I could have. At least… At least give me that.”

“Hmm… Sorry, but that isn’t my place. No, Eight, we can’t turn back time, not now.”

I sit up, reaching around, looking for something else now. I find it, and slowly place one in my lips. A flick of the lighter, and I draw in.

“Just who are you?” I finally look over, nothing can shock me now.

A beautiful girl. Well, that I hadn’t expected. Though not a girl, but rather…

“Daemon…” I frown.

The girl with a light blue hue smiles, brushing aside a feather that falls into her face as she sits down next to me.

“That’s right.” She nods, brushing out her dress of leaves.

“Why?” I ask simply, though really that question carries all the weight of anything else I could have asked at that moment.

“Because your friend made a deal.” She replies with a smile, and a twinkle in her soft hazel eyes.

The cigarette falls out of my lips, I’ve forgotten about it.
“Max… Did?”

The girl nods, reaching out and picking up the still glowing cig, which she places back.

“That’s right. A deal with my mother.”

A well of intense anger, which quickly subsides. Max may not think anything through, he may not look two steps ahead, but if there’s anything I know about him, it’s that he wouldn’t do something like this on purpose… That doesn’t make me feel any better.

“She tricked him.” I state.

The girl smiles, perhaps sadly, as she places a hand on my shoulder.

“Not a difficult thing.”

“Perhaps not. Before this goes any further, I’m going to let you know, I won’t be a pawn in any kind of game. I won’t be…”

“Used?”

I open my mouth to reply, but think better of it and close it shut. I only give her a hard stare in return.

“Well, I expected that, or rather, we did. We certainly aren’t playing fair, are we?” She giggles, rubbing my arm.

“Fair. Hah.” I shrug her off and let myself back onto the ground, still stained in my own blood.

“What is ever fair.”

The Daemon lies back alongside me, looking deep in thought.
“Nothing is ever fair, I suppose.”

She stops for a moment, and I know she’s looking over at me, but I won’t give her the satisfaction of looking back. I want her to know that it wasn’t my choice to come back here, that if it had been up to me, I would have stayed dead.

“Well, we knew you would be like this. Which is why we thought to offer you something else in return for your help.”

I snort mockingly at her words.

The girl sighs, before sitting up. She pulls my head over onto her lap, though I struggle. I know she’s using some kind of warp trick, whatever you can even call something like that. With two fingers, she gingerly plucks the cigarette out of my mouth.

“Gee, how persuasive. Just let me…”

Lips.

This is… I don’t even know…

The wind blows through the forest as she sits back up, a faint smile gracing those lips that just were... On my...

“Rest now, you’re going to need it.”

Hah, rest. As though I could sleep. As if I could…

Zzzzzzzzzzz.

Tzeentch's only daughter, between Lilith and Kaleshi in age

"Dohohohoho!!!!"

"Ara ara~"

"Hahaha!"

The blue tzeentchette starts, and does her best to turn quickly without awakening the sleeping Vindicare.

Her three sisters are all standing there, giving her a knowing and evil grin.

"Hey hey Niut, what was that, just now?" Kaleshi teases, knowing full well how to push her younger sister's buttons.

"N-nothing!" Niut snaps.

"Hmmm? Was it good, I never expected to see your first..." Nyx takes over, grinning behind her hand.

"I-it... J-just as planned!" Niut shouts, before warping out, Assassin in tow.

----

You look down at the envelope as you ride, thinking to yourself. Though you do want to open it, it just doesn't feel right.

Feel.

With a startled yelp, you slam the brakes and the bike skids sideways, you can barely keep it up.

Tonya is screaming.

You, are screaming.

After skidding for a good few hundred yards, the bike finally tilts over and you put your foot down to stop it. Your chest is heaving fast as you breath rapidly.

"What was that just now!?" Tonya yells, clearly shaken up, and clutching onto you harder than ever.

"I don't know." You state simply, blinking rapidly as you try to clear your head.

You DON'T know, really. There was some kind of spike in energy and you could feel it, in your BRAIN.

In your experience, that is rarely, if ever, a good thing.

An experience proven wrong as a warp hole opens in front of you.

And out steps... Out steps...

"YOU MOTHER FUCKER, WAS THIS ALL SOME KIND OF JOKE WITH THE ELDAR?!" You berate Eight even as you down a handful of bear leaves to give him the biggest hug of his life.

"No, I really did... Did you just..."

You can only respond with a roar.

"What just happened, whats going on?!" Tonya yells, entirely confused.

Eight hesitates, but only for a moment, before snatching the pouch off of your belt.

"Wait, what are you...!?"

"Trust me, this is the only way!" Eight yells, even as he stuffs his own mouth full and crunches down.

"Max this is.... ROOAAARRRRR!!!"

"ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!" You bellow back at your bear comrade. In the land of bears, fierce mountain bears rarely can bear with another bear, but you can bear with this one, if only bearly.

Another warp hole, and both the startled Tzeentchette and Pariah turn toward it.

"NOW THIS IS MY KIND OF PARTY!" Doomrider grins as he surveys his surroundings, watching Max and Eight roaring and clawing at various things. He pulls out something from his belt, a mad cackling laugh following.

"HERE, EAT THESE!" He chucks the two things out, and Max and Eight, both bears, devour them whole.

"What was... What are... What did you give them?!" Tonya asks, not knowing what the fuck is going on.

"OH NOTHING, JUST A LITTLE ICE!" Doomrider can't contain himself, and shovels a literal shovel full of assorted substances into his mouth.

"I-ice?" Niut asks nervously, still a bit upset at being caught by her sisters.

A drop pod falls from the sky, slamming into the dirt with a force that shakes the very earth around it.

Darkhammer bursts forth, grinning as he strolls.

"Ha ha, time for bear leaves!"

Four bears. Four glorious, terrifying bears.

They bound across the desolate snowlands of the north, headed toward the great castle beyond, a dark place nestled in the mountains of the lost kingdom.

"ROAAARRR!!!" Eight says.

"ROAR ROAR ROOOARR!" Max agrees.

They all steel their bearnerves for what is to come, the finality, the greatest fight of all time.

The battle that will end the world.

Burgundy awaits, high upon his wizard tower, brushing his crown of rainbow furs out of his face.

"So, it begins." He says quietly, watching the approaching bears as they charge up the icy hill.

Only he is rendered momentarily speechless, shocked to silence, as the bears rise up.

And put on ice skates.

"Hah, so you've come to face me at long last, have you?!" Burgundy shouts from upon his tower of compensation.

"ROAAARRRR!!!" Darkhammer exclaims, slashing to a halt alongside his brothers.

"ADFAJSDLF;ASDFSDFASDFAJDAJG;SJD!!!!" Doomrider agrees.

The other bears look over at him, at his spinning eyes of color and his mat of ever changing fur.

Doomrider shrugs.

"Well, you'll find me no easy opponent!" Ron shouts, as he activates his jet pack.

Eight raises his arms, and uses his rapid fire claw attack. The sharp black hooks sailing through the air, coming close to Burgundy, though the wizard dodges expertly.

"ROOOOAAAAAAARRRR!" Max bellows as he increases speed, heading right toward a jagged jut of ice. With deft expertise, he launches himself into the sky, paw raised for attack.

"Aha! A brilliant attack!" Ron laughs, before juking around at the last moment.

"Now, things are really heating up, its really getting out of hand fast. And you know what that means." The dark wizard grins his terrible grin.

"ROOAARRR!!!!" Darkhammer yells in warning, but too late.

They are powerless to stop Burgundy as he raises his lips to the conch shell, and blows hard. The resounding noise causes avalanches across the mountain range, and resonates across the world.

"NEWS TEAM, ASSEEMMBBBLLLEEEEEE!!!!"

Max lands, whirling around in shock. If Burgundy summons his news team, there's no stopping his evil.

"ROAAAARRRRRRR!!!!" Max shouts in anger, attacking again and again. Each time, the wizard throws up another shield of rainbows.

Doomrider knows its no use, already he can see the four riders of doom approaching.

"IVE GOT A GRENNAADDDEEEE!!!" One of them shrieks, sitting so he's faced toward the ass end of the horse.

"ROOARRR?!" Eight shouts.

"ROAR!" Max agrees quickly. If there is any chance of winning, they are going to have to use THAT.

Darkhammer dodges a charging stampede of nefarious black panthers, dropping several with his HAMMMER CLAWS.

There's no time, there simply isn't...!!!!

"ROOOOAR!" Max shouts, causing all the other bears to look upwards.

A glorious, golden bear descends from the heavens, paws outstretched.

The world stops at a standstill as he lands, resuming when he opens his eyes.

"ROOAR! Dudes!" He roars, with a grin.

"ROAR!" Max shouts, bearfisting the Emperbear.

"ROAR Bear!" He returns with a grin.

They all know its time, those five bears of fate. Time, at long last, to put an end to all that is Ron Burgundy.

"ROAR!" They all shout in unison.

And with that, bear gattai.

The five bears all leap into the air, spinning around in a circle of furious snow, ice, and alcohol. Even the dark wizard himself steps back in shock at the sight.

"Odin's raven! They are really doing it!" He exclaims as he watches.

Sure enough, the bearazord lands with a deafening boom, before rising off of it's knee and punching its paw.

"You bear, we heard you like to bear so we put a bear in yo bear so you can bear while you bear!" Xzibit yells with a thumbs up.

"ROOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!" The bearazord yells, before assuming a fighting stance.

"Oh yeah, lets dance. News team! BEARFIGHT!" Burgundy yells as he summons a lance of pure ego and hits his jetpack thrusters.

The four knights of the apocalypse charge as well, and the bearazord rushes toward them.

Again and again they clash, trading blows, each feeling the pain of battle.

"ROOAAR! Dudes, ROAAARRR!!!" The Emperor of Bearkind exclaims.

"ROAR!" Max nods, turning back as the wizard and his minions all charge at once.

"ROOAR ROOAR, ROAR ROOAR, ROAR ROAAR, ROAR ROOAR ROAR ROAR ROAAARRRRRRRRRR!!!!!" Max roars as he leaps, drawing back his paw into a fist and then punching outwards.

"I'm in a glass box of emmooottioooonnn!!!!" Burgundy howls as the bearing finger slams into his wave of forces.

A massive struggle, the power alone causing great crags in the earth to split open and the seas to swell. Each side vying to push back the other.

With a final "ROOOAAAAAARRRR!" The bearazord emerges victorious.

"Jazz fluuutttttttt.....!!!" Burgundy shouts, one last hurrah in the face of his own demise.

The burning bear fist obliterates the dark wizard, and his four horsemen, and the world can again know peace from this evil.

***

The two girls stand, watching in utter amazement at the sight.

Even the Emperor of Mankind himself had teleported in, stuffed his own mouth full, and joined into the fray.

They had watched, quite lost for words, as the boys went at it.

Again and again, they would roar to each other. Again and again, they would lash out in attack, or fall back in injury.

But there was no denying, that at the end of the day, they had emerged victorious. Though only after forming some kind of... Thing, as they each clamped onto one of the Emperor's limbs and Eight on his back where he made "pew pew" noises with his fingers outstretched.

"Wow, they really gave those things a thrashing."

"Yeah, poor shrubbery never stood a chance." Tonya agrees, before frowning.

"Ni!" She adds.

"Huh?" Niut turns to the necron, quite puzzled.

"I... I don't know why I said that..." Tonya says with a deep, lost frown.

===Thread 25===

"Ugh..." You groan loudly as you sit up at long last, grabbing at your head with both hands to try to slow the spinning world down. It doesn't work.

Though you notice, without really caring at this point, that your friends have disappeared.

Because at this very moment, there is only one thing you care about.

"I need some damn coffee..."

"Darkhammer said the same thing."

You start at the unseen voice, peering around, entirely unprepared to face whatever Tzeentchian horror awaits.

"Have at you, daemon."

"...Max?"

You tilt your head up, your eyes rising to meet Tonya's.

"Oh, just you."

The Pariah laughs a small laugh, before canting her head and giving you a ponderous once-over.

"...I was pretty serious about that coffee..."

With several struggling, old-man grunts, you finally pick yourself up off of the ground with a last heave. Grumbling, you scratch at your chest, which does nothing through the power armor.

"Damn it..."

"You alright?" Tonya asks, her face one of... True concern?

"Decidedly not, I forgot how bad those things leave you the next morning." You tell her even as you reach around to grab the last of your gear.

"What did we do, anyways?"

"Nothing much. Attacked some shrubbery for a few hours, and I think you hibernated after that."

"Feels more like I went a few rounds with an Ogryn in an old timey no-gloves match."

"Probably from you headbutting the ground and biting at..."

"Don't need a play by play, I'd rather not know, I think."

With a sigh, you sling yourself up onto the bike and peer at your necron girl. It wasn't too long ago now that she was trying to make you into some kind of cold robotic science experiment. Which, for good reason, wasn't exactly your cup of tea.

"So where are we headed, anyways?" She asks, hefting herself up onto the bike behind you.

"Beats me, I was headed for the nearest coffee place."

"...Its four hours past nightfall."

"And?"

"Nothing, I guess? Its just that, I prefer..."

You crane your neck to look back, mouth agape in horror.

"Tea?" She finishes quietly.

Damn robots and their soulless excursions into destroying humankind, they could at least let you have your bean juice without having to explain yourself.

"So let me get this straight, instead of wanting the excrement of ground up beans and hot water, you want... Leaves, steeped in water?"

"I prefer tea, but I'm fine with either, I suppose."

You can only just turn back around, shaking your head. You knew by this point, that the Necrons were pretty wacked out.

"Damn straight!" Chris shouts.

"No trobburrr!!!"

The Salamander hangs his head and leaves.

...But you didn't know that the Necrons could be soulless enough to choose tea over coffee. Monsters, pure monsters the lot of them.

"Wait." You sit up in the firm leather seat of the bike.

"What kind of tea?" You ask, turning back to Tonya.

"Well the best kind, of coarse." She grins, forcing you to smile back, your lips moving on their own.

"Earl grey." You finish for her.

"I was going to say Chai, but that works too."

"Damn straight it does." You grumble as you fire up the bike. If you are going to have tea, you are at least going to have the greatest tea in the Imperium of man.

As you rev up the engine, your mind gives you a none-too-subtle "FUCK YOU BUDDY!" at the loud and obnoxious noise.

Mika's custom bike, is if nothing else... Well, it pretty much is everything you could ask for in a bike. Massive engine capable of plaid, check. Plenty of dakka, check. Servo skull navigation system... Well maybe you can get one of those eventually.

For now, you just rely on your trademarked sense of direction to see you through.

"Max, I don't mean to be rude but..." Tonya scans around, looking at the decrepit trees that seem to hang limp and dead in the silent forest. "I don't think this is the right way."

She's probably right, but above all else you are a man. If there is one thing you know about being a man, its this. You never ask for directions, because you always know exactly where it is you are going.

...Though it takes you about an extra hour to get to the small town thanks to your "shortcut".

After a slow, rolling stop, you kill the engine and lean the bike on its kickstand.

"Pip's House of Cheer.", which you can surmise is a tea house because of the billboard telling you so. Sometimes you are impressed at your own genius.

It also helps that its the last building still standing, the rest all appear to have been leveled. Probably by some of the blown out tanks scattered around.

Too tired to scan for traps, you enter.

Which means, as you should have expected on Yagis V, that there is a trap waiting for you.

The rope net springs upwards, snatching you and Tonya and pulling you close to the ceiling.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" You ask, struggling against the thick coiled ropes.

Suddenly, from below, you spot movement.

"Max, what are those?" Tonya asks, pointing.

Below you, armed with bolt guns and sticks, are six servitors.

Chav servitors.

"WE CAN TALK THIS OUT LIKE GENTLEMAN!" You shout, even as you activate your plasma cannon and send a burst into two of the servitors standing close together.

"We can wot mate?"

"INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION!" Your lasfinger catches another through the skull, dropping it like a bag of potatoes. Boil em, mash em, stick em in a stew.

A dozen Immortals warp in and all at once the small cafe is ablaze with gauss fire.

The Chavbots are yelling out unintelligible things, none of which you can hear over the roaring crackle of your flamer, the whine of your lasfinger, or the drone of your plasma cannon.

"...Didn't you whisper to me that we were going to try to talk our way out of this?" Tonya asks as the smoke clears, the Chavitors all in smouldering pieces.

"You can't talk to them, they are immune to logic, and jedi mind tricks."

"Jedi... What?"

You stare Tonya in the eyes, and quite surprised, she stares right back. With a small, mystical wave of your hand, you speak.

"You will not turn me into a Necron."

"...Didn't I already say I wouldn't?"

As you cut yourself down, helping Tonya to the floor, you can't help but smirk.

Jedi mind tricks, gets em every time.

The Immortals having quietly gathered up the bodies and dragged them into a closet, you and Tonya are left alone to your drinks.

"How is it? Its been a while since I've tried making any." The Necron girl says, scratching her cheek shyly.

"Not bad...?" You tell her, trying to pick the scarab out of your mug without her noticing.

With a sigh, you lean back in the chair and take another drink. Or try to.

"Where the fuck do you all keep coming frommmm??!?!" You hiss quietly at yet another scarab pulled from the mug.

"Now that we're alone, there's something important we need to discuss." Tonya says, turning solemnly back to you.

"The Necron alliance with us, right right..." You shrug.

"That can wait." Tonya tells you, stirring her tea.

"Still have no plans of becoming a Necron."

Tonya sets down her tea suddenly, locking eyes with you.

You sigh, and sink a little lower in the seat.

"Yeah I know, I could stand to be a bit more serious, but just... Not tonight."

You awake, quite groggily, in Tonya's arms. You must have dozed off, because she's carrying you princess style through a wide wooden hallway.

With a pomf, she drops you onto a bed, having already stripped you of your power armor.

"Wah, what are we going to do..."

"You know damn well what we're going to do." She interrupts.

With a flick, she shuts off the lights.

A firm pillow under your head, cool sheets pulled up around you...

Certainly not what you had expected.

Especially now that there is a naked Pariah next to you, staring right at the ceiling.

"Huh, that isn't what I thought you were implying."

"Hmm? What did you expect?"

A cool, metallic hand clasps around your very confused but very intrigued inquisitor.

"Oh."

"Yep."

"Well, I suppose if it will help you sleep." The Necron says, bemused as she swings herself over to straddle you.

"You sure about this one, bud?" Your inquisitor asks.

"Not in the least." You have no reassuring words for him.

"Emprah preserve us all." He says, staring up into the waiting Necron tomb.

The sensation is... Different, that much is true. Not warm like the others, but not cold either. Snug and somehow calculating, it isn't a bad feeling.

Well.

Until you hit the gears, at least.

---
"RAAAWWWWWGGGGGGG!!!!" You howl in pain as your inquisitor meets a whirring set of cogs.

The gears keep spinning, however, and there is nothing you can do, no amount of struggling capable of freeing you now.

Your agony echoes through the room as the gears continue to pull, ripping at your flesh.

With a terrible realization, you see that they aren't about to stop.

"No Tonya, no!"

With a terrible, metallic grin, Tonya only says one thing.

"Hue hue hue."

The horrible process continues, more and more of your flesh being sucked up... A sickening sense of realization.

Its eating you.

All of you.

It takes twenty minutes for her to consume you whole, though only fifteen for you to finally die.

Her belly extended now, Tonya gives it a satisfied pat before letting out a small burp. She covers her mouth, embarrassed.

"Thanks for the meal." She grins.
---

"Whoa! What are those?!" You jerk your hips back quite suddenly.

"My mistake, I'll slow them down."

Slowly, she sinks back down and you meet the gears yet again.

Wet, soft gears?

"Oh wow that feels... good?!" You twitch and convulse at the sensation.

"Ah~! It does!" She gasps, grinding herself down and forcing you deeper, which causes you to grab at the sheets.

"Wait if you d...!!!!" Unable to stop yourself, you flood the tomb with your plasma.

"..."

"..."

"Already?" She asks, looking a bit amused.

Not about to let a Necron of all races give you any shit about finishing early, you flip her over onto her stomach.

Slamming your inquisitor home yet again, you start to give it your all to make up for your previous error. Tonya, no longer poking fun at you, is clutching the pillow as she gasps.

You aren't quite sure how a Necron orga...

Tonya suddenly convulses, her entire body shaking as she lets out a loud moan which turns into garbled machine code. Her eyes glow a brilliant green for a few brief moments, illuminating the entire room in a faint glow.

After that display, she sinks down into the bed, and you collapse on top of her.

"Wow." You can't help grinning as you lay down once again in the rather nice bed.

"Wow what? You're not even close to done for the night." Tonya says, a mischievous tone in her voice.

"What do you mean?"

---
But all too late, you realize.

"You should have known I wasn't about to give up." She smiles, her Immortals already holding you down.

"Uhh... Wat?"

Tonya sighs in complaint as two more Necrons drag a glowing green trunk into the room.

"Its a portable unit, but it will just have to make due."

There is no escape now...

Max is turned into a Necron, he spends the rest of his life yearning to live again, despite his Pariah waifu.
---

You sit up in the bed, too tired to even sleep at this point.

For what its worth, Tonya hasn't slept either, though you aren't sure if she even needs to.

"Oh, morning already?" She chimes happily, drawing aside the curtains to take in the sunrise.

"So now I can get some sleep?" You almost plead.

"Sleep? No no, we've got to get going! Did you forget everything the Emperor told you before he left?"

"...Yes?"

Tonya sighs, her hands on her hips as she looks down at you.

"Today is the big tactical meeting. We're all supposed to gather together to work out how to defeat Malal and his forces."

"All of us...?"

"Yes, all of us. The Eldar, the Tau, the Orks, everyone."

Pulling the covers over yourself, you turn around and close your eyes.

"Cool, let me know how it turns out."

"You can't skip, not today."

"Why?" You groan.

"Because this whole thing could fall apart without you. You are what is holding this shaky foundation together, at least for now."

"Five more minutes?"

"..."

Tonya drags you out of bed, and helps you into your armor yet again. At least some tea perks you up, noticeably absent any scarabs this... Well, nearly scarab-free.

The Pariah hustles you onto the bike, in quite a rush it seems.

"Step on it, or we will be late!"

Error 404 - Bike skills not found

"Max watch it!" Tonya shouts as you nearly collide with a tree.

"Hnerk?" You look up just in time.

To see the tree you do hit.

Despite rolling end over end across the ground, and skidding to a painful halt, you pass out upon stopping. Simply too tired to stay awake at this point.

An explosion, perhaps your motorcycle exploding, you don't have your eyes open to see.

Until, that is, the trees start attacking you.

"Ow, what the fuck is going on!" You shout, scrambling to your feet as another heavy branch pummels you on the back.

"The trees! Get away from the trees!" Tonya shouts, running for the road.

"Owwww! Bitch!" You smack at another set of branches with your axe as they rake you. Again and again they rake you.

Just as you are about to dive for the road, a root leaps up to give you a nice punt.

"Fuck you and every oak that looks like you!" You cry, before landing hard on the pavement. Well at least your face broke most of the fall for you.

"Are you alright!?" Tonya shouts, rushing over to you.

You spit out a mouthful of twigs, angrily wiping at your tongue to get bits of bark off of it.

"Lets just get to this damn meeting." You grumble, looking at the smoldering wreckage of your bike as more trees continue to beat on the flaming remains.

By the time you arrive, you are incredibly late. Beyond the point of even a cool late arrival. More like being the dick who forgot shit was even going on.

It doesn't help that you're sound asleep by the time you arrive, nor that you adamantly refuse to wake up once there.

"Well this is a problem..." Ailia comments, as the girls crowd around to look you over.

"Tch! Up, you!"

A psyonic jolt rips through your body, and you leap to your feet almost instantly, your eyes peeled as wide as they can be.

You lower your eyes at Esh, who glares back.

"You're late." She states.

Lost for words, you do the only thing you can think of.

"Yowtch!!!" She cries as your hand smacks into her rump with a satisfying sound.

"Serves you right, some cold water would have worked."

"I told you we should have gone with my plan." Senna grumbles.

"Your plan was to dose him up with combat drugs." Kaleshi states as Lycheria raises a concerned eyebrow.

"I-I'm just glad he's here..." Mika adds quietly.

"Well you all seem to be getting along pretty well." You speak up as you take a seat and reach for a bowl of assorted snacks.

"It's because we've all had to put up with you, common enemy and all that." Esh smirks.

"Hows that backside?"

Her smile quickly fades.

"You'll get yours for that."

"Hey dudes, I mean its great and all that we're all together and whatnot. But can we get on to this stuff now? Its kind of important man."

You finally notice the Emperor standing next to Creed and the four chaos gods, all of whom are watching your antics.

"Yeah, lets make it happen, the faster this gets done the better. But I want to know exactly what I'm doing here, I mean, plans aren't exactly my strong suit." You shrug.

"Precisely why you have to be here." Tzeentch says, despite looking quite unhappy to see you.

"What?"

"Its simple, really. You are the anti-plan."

"The what?"

"The anti-plan. As in you can take a perfectly good plan and completely fuck it up, like you always do, always messing with my pl...!"

The Emperor grabs Tzeentch and does his best to calm the fuming raven goddess down. She struggles, clearly quite angry.

"That's why she doesn't like you, you're always messing up her plans." Kaleshi whispers to you, before biting your ear.

"Ow. I see, so that's been her beef with me this whole time, that I screw up plans?"

"Screw up? More like implode." Niut adds.

A faint hiss and a sharp pain in your neck.

"What the fuck is with everyone... Oh hey Doomrider."

"JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP YOU AWAKE!" He gives you a thumbs-up.

"What was it?"

"DIRECT DAEMON-COCAINE INJECTION."

"Seems safe."

"IT ISN'T."

While the girls and various commanders and generals get together hatching some kind of battle plan, you add in insightful tips to help them out.

Like how fast your heart is beating, and how awesome of a drummer Neil Peart is.

"Also I don't much care for your purple balloon face." You shake your head disappointingly at Creed.

"I think you gave him a bit too much." The General eyes Doomrider wearily.

"I DIDN'T MEASURE IT." The Daemon admits with a grin.

"Here, maybe this will help." Senna hits you with her own injection before the wall of protests can stop her.

"You've been waiting to do that this whole time, haven't you..." Senda glares.

"Maybe."

You don't know why the colors are all talking, or why your heart is now a baneblade, or why this room is actually ancient aliens.

All you know, is one simple thing.

"I have a massive erection." You state, loud enough for the entire gathering to hear.

"...Classy." Esh facepalms.

"Oh, I think I gave him the wrong one..." Senna admits, flipping through her key ring of syringes.

"Maybe we should get him out of here? I don't think he's going to be much use like this..." Lycheria says, poking you in the forehead, which draws no reaction.

"The colors, duke, the colors..." Your tongue lolls off to the side of your mouth.

"He p-probably just needs some sleep.." Mika says, tenderly closing your eyes.

While the real planners get back to their task at hand, the girls carry your rather limp form to a different tent and lay you down on a pile of sleeping bags and pads.

"Should we just... Leave him here, then?" Karen scratches her head, quizzically giving you another look.

"Lets at least get him out of this armor, or he'll wake up with a sore neck." Lycheria laughs as she gets to it.

It doesn't take the group long to get you out of your armor, in fact it hardly takes any time at all. They seem to work well together in a group.

The girls pause at the doorway, turning back to look at you.

"Get some sleep." Senda says quietly.

You sit up in bed quite suddenly, your eyes alight with crackling warp energy.

"No one sleeps tonight."

"Max what are you..."

"Activate tentacle dicks." You say, staring blankly forwards.

"Haha, oh Max get some... Good gods he isn't kidding, look out!!!"

***

With a satisfied groaning stretch, you emerge from the tent at long last. Its a new day entirely, a fresh morning dew adorning the ground.

"A great day for a final battle." You admit, cherishing the sunrise.

A groggy torrent of curses and complaints follows as you fling open the rest of the windows with a flourish of your mind powers.

The girls all look incredibly tired, exhausted even.

"Haha, what got into you all last night? Stay up doing boring plans and whatnot? I slept great!" You snatch a cup of coffee from a passing servitor and take a long sip out of the Blood Ravens mug.

"What got into us? What GOT INTO US?!?!?" Esh fumes.

"Quit complaining bitch, you know you liked it." Kaleshi smirks from behind her Sudoku book, adjusting her glasses.

None of this registers with you, too enthralled with the happenings of the camp around you. The whole army is mobilizing, and by army, you mean everybody.

Orkz are helping Guardsmen load up shells, Eldar and Tau are discussing something... This is a scene that a few weeks ago, would have been an utter impossibility.

"Well hat-chan, its been a fun ride hasn't it buddy?"

"Max, we need to talk."

"Talk? Why?"

"Dude, I'm pretty sure that was some crazy Slaaneshi shit last night, I'm kind of concerned for you, as a friend."

"Ah, don't fret little buddy, it will all work out."

"Max, who are you talking to?" A familiar voice asks from beside you.

"Huh? Oh, sup Eight, didn't see you there. My hat."

"Your... Hat?"

"My hat."

"...Right. Well you should get your group moving, we're heading for point Alpha in half an hour."

"Point Alpha... Point Alpha... Why does that sound familiar?" You rub your chin in thought.

"Ah well, it probably isn't important anyways. Hey girls! Get up, its time to go fight!"

"How can you be so awake? You didn't even sleep at all last night!" Ailia laments as she pulls on her pilot suit.

"What? I slept great." You shake your head with a chucke. Tau aren't great at jokes.

"Whatever, lets just get this over with." Esh grunts, hefting her spear and walking out past you.

"I am so ready for this!" Kaleshi booms, sprinting out after her, already adorned in her armor and chainaxe in hand.

The rest of the girls file out, most looking quite tired.

"I-Its not that I mind, but that was k-kinda w-weird..." Mika says as she stops in front of you, before looking you in the eyes, giving a small squeal, and running off to go find Rex and her Stormblade.

"Well dude, it's been one hell of a wave." The Emperor walks up next to you and claps you on the shoulder.

"No matter how this goes down man, you've made me proud."

"Thanks Emps."

He gives you a thumbs-up before walking toward a group of very tough looking armor clad bad asses who present him his flaming sword.

Well, now you are all set for this final battle. Knowing that, you hop onto the nearest tank and stand upon it, folding your arms defiantly.

"Right then you lot, lets get it on."

"That's cool and all, bro, but we aren't your ride." Helena sighs.

"I can ride with whoever I damn well please." You frown.

"Yeah, but we are the ambush group, not the point Alpha crew."

"...And?"

"And you specifically said you were heading to point Alpha, not get off of my tank!"

Helena wings a wrench at you, which bounces harmlessly off of your pauldron.

"Pfft, whatever, this tank isn't cool enough for me anyways." You stick out your tongue and hop down.

"Cool story bro."

Both of you make faces at each other for a minute.

"...But make sure you come back alive." Helena adds as you turn to go.

"I always do, don't I?" You grin.

"Don't soil your record now then." She frowns, before closing her eyes, sighing, and then smiling at you, "I'll come kick your ass back alive if I have to."

"I won't need it, this shit is in the bag." With one last wave, you head off toward the...

"HEY MAN, GOOD OF YOU TO SHOW UP!"

"You know me, how could I say no to drugs, booze, and crazy women?"

"HAHA, TOO RIGHT!" You and Doomrider brofist.

"I was wondering when you would show up." Kaleshi smirks.

"Ara, did you miss these that much?" Nyx asks, attempting to reveal her cleavage before realizing her armor doesn't allow... Wait, apparently it does.

"I am going to kill... So much shit... And I'm going to love it!" Lilith exclaims, blazing with crazy warp energy from her miniature armor.

"Well she certainly seems excited..."

"All the Slaanesh forces are fired up for some reason, even the big... it, itself seems to be ready."

"Really?"

"Rea~~lllyyy..." Slaanesh says as it runs its hands down your pauldrons from behind, before leaning forward to whisper in your ear.

"What you did last night... That was art, pure art."

"Err... Thanks?"

"Should I be concerned at all, in the slightest?"

"Depends, do you like tentacles?" Lilith asks.

"...Maybe?"

"Well then maybe." Nyx grins.

"I am so lost."

"Well you had better find yourself and quick, because its time for SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!!!!" Kaleshi raises her axe, revving it hard. The whole of the Chaos forces roars at her gesture, from the largest of daemon prince to the smallest of chaos spawn.

"Quite an impressive force we have here." You muse.

"Fuck yeah it is, we run this shit." Kaleshi grins, putting on a pair of sunglasses before slipping a pair onto you.

Nyx gently places a fat stogie in your mouth, which Lilith lights with a bit of daemonic fire.

"Swag." You grin from your position atop the twin linked chaos landraider limousine.

"Pure swag."

With the armored fist of Chaos, your chosen army leads the assault. Ahead of you, far off in the distance, the forces of Malal wait. Even from here you can see the smog rising above their army.

"Punk ass doesn't stand a chance." You grin.

"Gentleman, its time." You tell the Noisemarines occupying the top of the vehicle as an honor guard.

"By your command."

"Begin."

The Noisemarines raise their weapons, and play the song of battle.

"...What is that, what are you playing?!"

"The song you told us to play."

"That sounds like a mariachi band."

"Si senior."

"...Continue."

Your massive landraider eats up the terrain until it stops with a gasping hiss.

Before you, sprawling as far as the eye can see, the forces of Malal.

The warped, skeletal bodies of marines, long since dead, standing in their ragged armor. Unspeakable beasts ten men high with gnashing bleached bone skulls and black soulless eyes.

"So, Commissar, at long last it comes to this!" Abbadon shouts at you, slipping off of his own landraider.

You match him, and both of you approach to within a foot of the other.

"You remember the rules?" He asks, gesturing at his second man, a chaos sorcerer.

"I did not." You nod.

"YOU READY TO GET THIS ON, SHITBAG?" Doomrider asks, spinning his axe around in his hand easily.

"Good thing I didn't have to."

"Well then, its time." Abbadon sneers, drawing his terror sword from its sheath.

"Oh yeah, motherfucker, its go time."

Abbadon gets the first swing in, his sword missing your face by a mere millimeter. His fist, however, collides with your skull.

This forces you to jump back to avoid another slash, and to juke again to dodge the incoming fist combo.

"Man you really are a cunt, you know that?" You ask, wiping the blood from your mouth.

"And soon you shall be dead and all will be well!" Abbadon shouts, striking again, this time his sword nicking your left pauldron as you roll to avoid it.

You notice Doomrider easily dispatched of the Chaos sorcerer, against the rules or not as both you and Abbadon still stand.

Abbadon seems to have seen that as well, and in his moment of hesitation you strike. Your axe lodges itself in his terminator armor, sinking into his pauldron where it gets stuck.

"Guh!" You leap backwards to avoid another attack, and draw your last remaining melee weapon. The sword of Nurgle.

"Time to die, human!" Abbadon yells with a massive downswing. You raise your own blade, which meets his. Sparks of chaos energies ignite along the edges of the swords, and you struggle against his size and strength.

You do the only thing you can think of at that moment, and extend your finger.

The las blast catches Abbadon right where he would least expect it.

"Ow you fuck! That was my knee!!!"

Abbadon breaks the weapon lock to fall back, giving his knee a look. Sure enough, there is a nasty fresh hole through it.

"Serves you right, bitch." You raise your sword yet again, giving him no quarter.

"So, one shall live and the other shall fall. Today, you die!" He screams, collapsing to the ground.

"Malal, I implore thee! I choose now to ascend!"

Before your very eyes, Abbadon starts to change...

You rush up to him and kick him square in the balls, but the foot, it does nothing!

"HAHAHAHA! Now, Commissar, witness the doom of mortals!" Abbadon roars, rising to his full height, easily four times your own.

"Man, that is some cheating bullshit right there." You groan, noting now how outclassed you might be.

"Well, seems a good a time as any!" Kaleshi yells, leaping onto Abbadon from behind and burrowing her chainaxe into his neck.

The Daemon prince that was Abbadon swats at her, but she is too fast to be struck.

"My, it looks like I'll have to get dirty after all. Pity, blood all over my clean armor." Nyx says, tight lipped and for the first time that you've ever seen... Angry?

"Witness the power of decay!" She cries, raising her arms. All at once, the ground erupts into hives of swarming black insects. The bugs bombard Abbadon, and though he swings at them, his attacks do nothing to stop their assault.

Lilith stomps once, and tentacles shoot from the mouths of the hives, lashing themselves around Abbadon's limbs.

"Now, Max! Hit him now!"

With everything you've got, sword raised above your head, battlecry echoing across the field, you jump.

Sailing with all the fury of the Emperor, the chaos gods, the Angry marines... Channeling the rage of Fucklaw himself, you fly.

Abbadon swings out at you in one last attempt, his sword drawing nearer and nearer...

A crack, and his hand explodes in a torrent of black ooze.

"You're all clear kid, now lets blow this thing so we can go home!" Eight yells through the vox.

"There can be...!" You land on Abbadon's chest, sword raised.

"ONLY ONEEEE!!!!!" With that last shout, you swing with every ounce of might you can muster.

The plaguesword buries itself into the pale white flesh, black blood spraying forth as it digs deeper and deeper. Abbadon screams, you scream, everyone screams for ice cream.

Until, with a jerk of freedom, the blade exits the other side. The wave of black blood washes over you, and you raise your sword, basking in it.

Malal's chaos forces appear quite flustered, hanging back.

"Good show, for a human. Pity it matters little." Horus says, knocking aside several chaos marines as he steps forward.

You ride Abbadon's corpse to the ground, watching with satisfaction as he head bounces once and rolls to a stop at your feet. You place one foot on it, and pose dramatically, the daemon girls at your side.

"Leave my son to me."

You turn, and notice the Emperor land effortlessly slightly behind you. His generally warm face and twinkling eyes are now solemn and dark.

"I knew it would come to this again, Horus."

"And again, you shall die."

With a resounding boom that nearly knocks you off of your feet, the blades of Horus and the Emperor meet yet again.

"I never wanted it to end this way!" The Emperor shouts over the din.

"You were always a pitiful fool!" Horus cries back.

Two daemons of Malal, jerking, skeletal things, leap from the ground. Their claws rake out at the Emperor, startling him and forcing him to dodge.

"MAX!" Doomrider shouts.

"Got it!"

The two of you each pick a daemon and engage. The beast snorts and wheezes at you as it strikes, the claws scraping into your armor. A wince of pain and you realize they drew a bit of blood.

"LOOK OUT!" Doomrider tries to warn you, but too late. A dozen Chaos marines bearing the black and white of Malice are behind you, chainswords raised...

Until a rhythmic thumping starts to clear them out. Whipping your head around, you see Eight charging through the fury of the full on battle, a heavy bolter somehow in his grasp as he fires into the group ambushing you.

Freed up, you strike down the daemon at last, which gives the Emperor all the room he needs.

With one furious thrust, he sends his sword right through Horus's own, skewering the primarch through his chest.

"DO IT!"

"Za warudo!" The Emperor shouts, and time freezes. In the span of a millisecond, he throws a hundred tiny knives into Horus.

Leaping ontop of a stompa with a drum roller on it, you kick the control lever and run the dying Horus over with the massive roller.

You, the Emperor, and Doomrider all punch the stompa until it explodes.

"WRRRRYYYYYYYYY!!!!!" You, and no less than a hundred Eversors, all yell.

That piercing scream seems to break the last of the will of Malal's forces. Leaderless now, it seems, they still try to fight on for a few moments.

Until Eldar psychers pour on the heat, Tau let loose with some truly nasty weaponry, Mika and her Admech open up with the fury of the machine spirit.

Dark Eldar, too fast for the lumbering Chaos marines, rip Malal's forces to bits with fast strikes. The Ork line shows no sign of breaking, protecting the Necrons behind them and allowing their devastating fire to continue unrelenting.

Now if only there was one thing to win this all over...

Thirty Titans and at least a hundred baneblades all rise out of the ground, and start firing.

"I am the plan!" Creed cups his hands and shouts out over the battlefield.

That seems to be the last straw for the forces of Malice, who start to break and route. Stupid, as that just makes them easier to chew up.

There is no quarter, even as they run. Not a single soldier of Malal lives to see another day.

"I can't believe we finally did it." You say, as the battlefield begins to quiet down.

...Until you hear a faint song, almost a whisper on the wind...

"Haaaattteerrrssss~..."

"Oh no, oh fuck no..." Creed glares so hard it breaks the control console in front of him, and he snips the cigar in two with his teeth.

"...Don’t hate us like we’re famous..."

"No no no NO NO NO NO!!!!" He jumps down, grabs a tarantula turret, raises it to the sky with strength of fury, and forces it to fire with pure hatred.

"HATERS GOONA HATE!!!" The drop pods all chime as they slam into the ground all at once.

"FUCK. EVERYTHING!!!!" Creed pitches the turret aside in disgust.

"Ah, a glorious day for the universe indeed. Good thing the Partridges were here, or this would have ended in disaster!" Harry chimes as he strolls out from his drop pod in a burst of doves.

"Oh, well if it isn't my good friend Logan." He pauses, taking a sip of his Space Wolves mug as he smiles back at the glowering Wolf lord of Wolfish Wolving Wolves.

The Egomancers already seem to be taking effect, as you hear cries of jubilation from the lesser forces of each race. Though those with strong enough mind can resist their powers.

Not that this seems to matter, as guardsmen are already helping the Partridges to erect massive banners, alluding to their glorious battle here.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me..." You groan, feeling quite helpless.

"Badger shit cunts."

"Badger shit cunts indee... Wait, Fucklaw?!"

The old Commissar gives you a quick once-over, before nodding curtly.

"What are you doing here?"

"A simple errand, really. But I feel like..."

"Huh?"

You realize, all too late, your fatal error. Fucklaw's eyes twitch, and his hand raises the pistol. You can tell he doesn't want to shoot you, but it might not even be up to him.
---
Fucklaw is a man of few things, but there is one thing he has to stick to.

His principles.

*BLAM!*

The shot pierces Max's head, and the body of the faux-commissar falls to the ground with a thud.

"Heresy, its all heresy!" Fucklaw shouts, before destroying this thread.
---

"No Fucklaw no! The enemy is out there man! OUT THERE!!"

You narrowly avoid the shot from his pistol, than another, and another.

"Are you fucking INSANE!?!?! YOU INTERRUPTED FUCKLAW YOU FUCKING DIPSHIT ASSFUCKING YOKEL!" An angry marine shouts as he pulls you out of the way.

"Hey, thanks for the save!"

"I SHOULD PUNCH YOU IN THE DICK! I DIDN'T GET TO KILL ANYONE YOU CUNTLICKER!" As though to demonstrate his point, the angry marine boots a corpse, sending it flying.

Fucklaw approaches again, his gun holstered.

"Excuse my outburst, you knuckle dragging cocksucker, but you should know to never interrupt me."

"Yeah, got it. Now, about these Partridges..."

"Creed... Hey, Creed..." You whisper.

"What is it, kid? I'm not really in the mood?"

"Got any spray paint? I've got... A plan!"

Creed raises his head off of his double face palm, looking you right in your crazy eyes.

"You? A plan??"

"Oh yes, a plan."

***

"Brother, why did you erect these new banners? They don't conform to the codex Partridge."

"What banners? Hey, what are these...?"

***

The Blood Ravens all perch at the outside of the battle.

"Gifts?" One of them chimes quietly.

"Gifts!?!?" Another joins in.

***

"GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS!....." Is all you can hear now coming from the approaching wave of red tide.

"Emprah preserve us all..." Harry says, dropping his mug as the Blood Ravens begin...

To gift...

Themselves...

EVERYTHING.

"FLEE, YOU FOOLS!!!" You shout to your forces, who look at you bizarrely.

"I said run! Don't you see?! Run unless you want to be gifted to the Blood Ravens!!!!"

"By the dark gods, no!" The Marines shout, quickly piling back into their metal bawkses.

"GO GO GO GOOOOO!!!" You hound your own driver even as you help the three daemonettes up onto the landraider limo. Doomrider and Emps jump up to meet you.

"Hold onto your butts, I've got this!" The Emperor shouts, before giving the landraider a single tap.

It immediately turns golden, with radical rock music blaring out of its speaker guns, its treads now replaced with surf boards.

"What are we going to do?!" Lilith cries, panicked, at the red wave approaching.

"What I do best," The Emperor states, standing once more, "We're going to surf our way out of this."

And surf you do.

The torrent of rushing Bloody Magpies serves as a wave, a wave the Emperor plans to surf brilliantly.

Below, you can see the Ravens quite clearly. In their hands they clutch various things. Partridge bolters, purity seals, a space wolves mug, whole Partridge marines themselves...

"Wow, I didn't think it would work this well..." You comment, quite impressed at your deed.

"Never underestimate the Blood Raven's penchant for gifting, man." The Emperor nods, chuckling at the sight.

Things seem to be going great, you are surfing along with Kaleshi and Emps, the battle is won...

Oh fuck.

You slip on the shiny surface of the metal bawks, and before you can stop yourself...

"Gift?" A Blood Raven asks, stopping to look at you.

"Gift!" Another chimes in.

"Oh no..." You groan.

And all at once, they start to gift you.

They gift you real hard.

"Gotcha!" Kaleshi shouts as she grabs your wrist, and with a heave, pulls you back onto the landraider.

You are covered in Blood Ravens purity seals, emblems, and a hasty red paint job.

"I... I've been... Gifted...." You gasp, hugging the tank as it continues to surf the wave of marines below it.

"Oh, that's a good look.... BWAHAHAHAHAAA!!!" Lilith finally just cracks up, pointing at you.

"Ara ara, poor Max. Don't worry, we can get that all off."

"This... This is what relics must feel like..." You shudder in your armor.

Even the Emperor doesn't appear immune, his legs covered in purity seals and Blood Ravens markings where the waves of Ravens crashed over the front of the tank.

"Get us out of here!" You yell to him.

"I'm trying dude, but man this swell is gnarly!"

"Just do something!!!"

"The Angry Marines, head toward their titan!!!" You point the Emperor toward your one and only possible salvation from the gifting that lurks below.

"GET WITH THE FUCKING PROGRAM YOU TWATS AND RAMP, FUCKING SHIT WHAT IS TAKING YOU SO LONG YOU ASSDICK?!"

"You heard 'em, ramp this damn thing!"

So the Emperor does the one thing that can save you now, he ramps off of the foot of the titan.

The momentum of the wave carries you into the sky, where you leave the last of the Blood Ravens behind. Your landraider soars effortlessly for several moments, before descending to a radical landing inside of the Angry Marines line.

"WELL PISS IN MY FUCKING CEREAL, IF IT ISN'T THE SHITEATING COMMISSAR AND THE HOLY EMPEROR OF FUCKING TERRA HIMSELF!" Temperus Maximus yells, so angry he snaps a rhino in half with his fury.

"Thanks for the assist." You tell him.

"SHUT YOUR DAMN PILE HOLE YOU SHIT EATING MAGGOTFUCK, I WASN'T TALKING TO YOU, CUNT!"

"Hey, Temperus, cool it dude..." The Emperor raises his hands to try to placate the chapter master.

"NO! I DIDN'T GET TO FUCKING KILL A SINGLE MOTHERFUCKING COCKFAGGOT BITCHSUCKER THIS WHOLE FUCKING SHIT ASSED DAY!"

Angry marines.

"HEY YOU YELLOW BELLIED SHITFUCKERS! THOSE THRICE-HERETICAL MAGPIES JUST TRIED TO LOOT THE EMPEROR! WHAT THE FLYING FUCK ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT THAT!?"

And then we run.

"Hold the fuck up..." Temperus says in a very uncharacteristic booming voice, a whisper to him.

"Did those fucking cuntrags try to gift you, Emperor?"

"Well I mean..."

"GET THE FUCKING POWERBATS, THE POWER FUCKS, GET FUCKING EVERYTHING THAT CAN FUCK SOMEONE UP WITH POWER! TODAY WE ARE GOING TO DICKSLAP SOME BITCHTOED BIRD MARINE FAGGOTS!" Temperus screams, grabbing at a pile of power weaponry and carrying most of it with him as he breaks into a furious charge toward the wave of Blood Ravens with a final "FUCK!!"

In a torrent of curses, so loud you have to clamp your hands over your ears, the Angry Marines charge after their chapter master.

"Bad day to be a Partridge or a Blood Raven, I doubt the Angry Marines can tell the difference, or even care!" Kaleshi yells as you all run from the ensuing fray.

"I'm just glad I'm not one of them!" You yell back.

You notice a mushroom cloud made of Blood Raven and Galactic Partridge body parts behind you. Once in the air, they gather up to form the word "SHITFUCKINGCUNTS!" in the sky.

"Yeah, real bad day to be one of them." Lilith agrees.

At long last, you are finally out of the action. The battle still wages between Angry Marines and anyone unfortunate enough to be left behind, but you are just thankful that doesn't include you.

After checking in, you affirm none of your friends got caught up in that shitstorm either.

Your group slows up to a stop, all of you breathing hard.

"Well, dude, I need to go find my bird girl and make sure she's alright." The Emperor says, before vanishing.

"I'M OUT OF COCAINE!" Doomrider pipes up in a panicked voice, shuffling through his bags to affirm that he is, indeed, completely powder free.

"I'LL CATCH YOU LATER OR SOMETHING, BUT I CAN'T STAY HERE THIS ISN'T COCAINE COUNTRY!" He warps out as well.

"Cool, so we get to...Mmmmph!?" Lilith glares at Nyx, who placed a hand over her mouth to cut her off.

"We have things to do as well, you two have fun now..."

Even they disappear.

Leaving you with...

"Been a while since we were alone, hasn't it..." Kaleshi says, standing beside you as you both watch the clash from a far distance.

"Yeah, it has been."

"So... What now?" She asks you.

"Now? I never think that far ahead."

Kaleshi giggles, before leaning her head against your shoulder. To tell the truth, you really hadn't thought this far ahead.

"Well, whatever it is, I want to be there."

"I want you to be there, with me." You tell her, looking down at your loving khornette.

"Getting soft on me?"

"Pah, as if. I'm just one smooth operator."

"So you are." Kaleshi laughs.

You both watch the carnage for several minutes of silence. The Angry Marines don't appear to be having too much trouble tearing everything to pieces.

"I'm sure there is going to be a lot of shit left to do after this last thing dies down, so can I count on your help?"

"Max, of coarse you can count on my help, we're all..."

Your thumb on her chin stops her short, and you raise her eyes to meet her own.

"I'm not asking if you're going to be my ally, I'm asking if you're going to be my girlfriend."

Kaleshi blushes, quite the contrast to her brazen facade, but lurking down in there you know there is the little girl who always wanted to wind up with the prince.

"I didn't think you were... Uh... The girlfriend type of guy..."

"Well when you face down as much death and shit as I have, a guy starts to realize that there is more to this life than mindless heretical sex."

"Well I mean... If its what you want..." Kaleshi isn't looking you in the eyes, in fact she appears to be avoiding doing exactly that.

So you kiss her.

You feel her arms slip around your waist as she leans into it, and you can tell its her way of saying yes.

"Not going to be an easy road, I don't think, hope your ready for it."

"Hah, I'm the daughter of a god, I'm ready for anything."

You give her hand a squeeze as you both stare back out over the battlefield.

***

Years later, happily married, you look back on that short event in your life, the event that changed everything.

"Tell us again dad!" Your three children all cry, and you hold out a hand to placate them.

"I'll tell it again tomorrow night, now its bedtime for the three of you."

"Aww!! But Daaaadddd!!"

"You heard your father, now go to sleep!" Kaleshi, Nyx, and Lilith all tell the kids.

"Little rascals..." You smirk, heading off to your own bed with your three gorgeous daemonettes in tow.

"Where do you think they get it from?"

"I blame you three."

"HAH! As if."

----

>harem end time

The "Battle of SKULLFUCKED BIRDS" as the scholars will one day call it, draws to an end.

Thankfully, none of your friends did.

"I'm so glad you all made it..." You look over the girls standing in front of you, truly thankful.

"Well yeah, its not like I was going to die before doing THIS!" Esh reaches out and tries to give your backside a smack, but you are too fast.

"No wait Max, what are you... AHHH?!?!?" Esh yells as you give her thick rump a resounding SMACK before spinning her around and setting her back down.

"You know this is far from over, though, don't you?" Ailia asks with a smile.

"Yeah, I know, still a lot of work to do."

Its true. Though you may have won here today, the universe is far from a peaceful place.

"We'll need to stick together if we have any chance at uniting everyone for good..." You ponder.

"..." Comes the wall of silence from the girls.

"So, you're saying..."

"Yep! We're all going to pile onto a ship and sail about the stars bringing peace and prosperity in our wake!"

"..."

"And maybe make some... Heretical lovin?"

"..."

"Inquisitors on deck, alien sex!"

***

A year later, and you cruise about the universe on the massive ancient battleship. Its quite a peaceful life, really, aside from the occasional unification mission...

Hah, as if.

You're a man stuck with a horde of women who only want one thing most space flights, as most are incredibly boring.

"Inquisitor?" One of your Marines asks as he notices you hiding underneath a pipe.

"SHHH!! They'll hear you!"

"Too late!" You hear Lycheria shout.

"Get him!" Senna and Senda cry in unison.

"Marines, stand against this foe!" You tell your troops, who look to you, then back to your harem.

"Apologies sir, but you are on your own here."

"Nooooo!!!!"

The girls all start dragging you, you know exactly where they want to take you.

"Sheesh, why are you playing hard to get?"

"Because we just did it an hour ago! And two hours before that!!! I'm dry, I'm exhausted, I have paperwork to do!!!"

"Tough shit, I only came twice." Kaleshi frowns.

"...So if I get you all off again, you'll let me actually do some, you know, WORK?!"

The girls all look between each other. The Daemonettes taught them how to talk without speaking, and you don't like that. Not one ducking bit.

"Agreed."

"Than bring on the tentacles..."

You summon your inner Slaaneshi prince and tentacles spring forth from your body.

Kaleshi and her sisters, Karen, Lycheria, and the Twins all lick their lips excitedly.

Esh and Mika look a bit panicked, they always do when you spring these things up, though.

Tonya is already masturbating furiously in full BDSM gear.

You sigh as you shove wriggling tentacles into every available orifice.

"H-hey! Not my... Ah, my bbbbutt?!" Esh howls, muffled against the tentacle in her mouth.

"Eh? Oh sorry, got distracted BY ALL THIS PAPERWORK I HAVE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE TOMORROW!"

Turning toward your seawaifu, you plead for some assistance. She rolls her eyes.

"Ugh, fine!"

With that, she turns into her massive self and swallows you all whole.

Her tentacles add to your own, and pretty soon the insides of her nether place is full of climaxing women and copious amounts of semen.

And such is life for you, not that you mind. You still manage to get work done, and the universe is a more peaceful place than ever.

Ah shit, you almost forgot, Eight starts at the Academy tomorrow. You had better get this ship headed in the right direction.

You look down at the collapsed bodies of your harem, each of them exhausted. Your tentacles are still moving on their own.

"Wait... Max, no!!!!" They all cry.

...You'll get some work done later, tonight, you have no brakes.

----

"So... That was quite the fight..." Frederick sighs, taking a seat next to Helena on her tank.

She graciously accepts the bottle of juice from him, before leaning her whole, tired body onto his.

"So what do you think happens now?" He asks, gently putting his arm around her.

"With my idiot brother in charge? I fear for the Imperium of man."

They both chuckle.

"Frederick..."

"Hmm?"

Their lips meet, and Helena pulls the techpriest down with her onto the top of the tank.

"Hey uh, don't take this the wrong way, but... I love you." He tells her, eyes locked in her own.

Helena smirks, kisses him again, and they tumble down the open hatch and into the tank.

***

A year and a half later, you attend their wedding. A smaller affair, with the Emperor himself leading the ceremony.

"You ready?" You ask your sister, who despite looking scared, nods.

At the end of the long aisle, you hand her to Frederick.

"Take good care of her, she's your problem now."

"I will, forever." He nods, oblivious to your joke.

***

The Blood Ravens stare out over the vast expanse of the field.

"Brothers, this is the day we have long waited for." Gabriel Angelos looks proudly across his Marines.

They have done it, at long last.

They have gifted everything.

"I'm not really digging this paint job, dudes." The Emperor pipes up, looking distressed at the red coat on his golden armor.

"Ah yes, today the Blood Ravens stand victorious." Gabriel takes a sip out of his new mug, which has the symbol of the Galactic Partridges upon it.

Soon, the symbol of the Blood Ravens is on everything and anything. Titans, Terra, Orks, toilet paper.

Everything is a gift of the Ravens.

The Imperium of the Blood Ravens looks well, going on into the future. They manage to hold everything together by simply gifting themselves anything that appears out of place.

Thus, the event of "The Gifting" ushers in an era of peace of length the universe has never seen the likes of.

***

About to go to bed, you grimace when you feel something scaly wrap around your leg.

"Hora hora? I didn't get mine yet, Max."

You sigh as you turn back to Ra'alman, who smirks as her tail continues to wrap you up.

"Can we do it without eating me, just for tonight maybe?"

"Hmm? What fun is that? But... I suppose, just for tonight."

With a powerful rip, she tears your pajamas off with one go. Her snakelike tongue flickers across her lips.

Without warning, she suddenly thrusts you into her, causing you to jump in surprise.

"Hmm? Was it good? I got it wet just for you~" She whispers as she nibbles your ear.

Good? Oh, most certainly yes. Completely different than the other girls, with small tentacles that toy with you once inside.

"Oh, what was that just now? Did you cum already? Well, one down and ninety nine to go I suppose."

"Ninety... Nine?!" You gasp.

Ra'alman's smile grows further.

"I'm adding two more times for every time you complain..."

***

I take a seat, watching the flames and the dust of the dead battle rising around me.

A sight all too familiar.

Max was snatched up somewhere, so I guess I don't have to worry too much about him.

Just as I flick my lighter, I hear something. With a pause, I wait, but don't hear the sound again. Another flick and I draw in my welcome reprieve.

I hear it again, a cough.

With a frown, I stand up from my seat atop a dead Chaos Marine and peer around. Another cough, but from where?

As I hear it again, I finally figure it out. With my foot, I shove a dead cultist off of something.

Or rather, someone.

A Krieger lays there, clutching his head. I notice a hole in the helmet and pull it off. I can see a nasty bump, but nothing fatal.

"Here, let me get you drink." I tell the guardsman, and reach out to take off his mask.

A hand stops me, which I gently brush aside.

"Relax, the air is safe here."

Despite his protests, I remove the mask.

Or rather, HER protests.

The girl lays there, her head in my hand, as I pause for a moment.

Her face is dirty and tired, but rather pretty. She isn't looking me in the eyes, and her face is red.

I reach out and place the water bottle against her soft pink lips, and watch a trickle of water run off of them before she accepts it and starts to drink.

Neither of us talk as I help her to her feet, and it appears one of her ankles is sprained as she can't walk on it.

Not knowing what else to do, I bend down and carefully pick her up. This causes her to blush even more furiously.

Even as I gently place her on a cot with the Krieger medics coming to take care of her, I can't help but have the feeling that we will meet again perhaps, someday.

As I turn to go, I feel a small tug on the back of my belt.

Turning around, I see the kriger girl sitting up slightly on the cot, her hand on my belt, her eyes averted and her face red.

Her other hand is extended out, and clutched in her fingers is a small yellow flower.

With a smile, I reach out and accept it. The girl looks back at me, and for a moment I think I see a faint smile grace her shy features before she turns over and the medics cart her away.

Leaving me standing, in the battlefield once again, clutching the small flower.

I give it a small sniff.

Pretty.

I shirked out of the awards ceremony that the Imperium had insisted on having. I don't really care for stuff like that.

Instead, I look down at the flower I'd preserved by pressing it, which I carry with me now.

The ship I'd... Borrowed... Lands gently on Catachan. Though its been a long time, far too long, since I've been here... Somehow, I know exactly where to go.

The settlement of my youth, long blown out and overrun by the surrounding jungle. Only the inner field provided enough room to land.

None of that bothers me, so long as I find what I'm looking for.

My boots crunch over the dried leaves, and I sling the Exitus rifle up a bit. I still remember enough to know trouble could lurk around every trunk.

But I find what I'm looking for, rather than a fight.

A small plot, with two modest bricks atop the soil. Though cracked and weathered beyond recognition, I know to whom they belong, though not their names.

Setting down a small envelope, its corners bent, I stand back up and give the graves a slow salute.

Oh.

Its raining...

Or... Perhaps it isn't?

I raise a hand to my eyes, and when I pull my fingers away I notice they are slick and wet.

Maybe I'd forgotten how to cry, maybe the Ordo had made me forget. Either way, I don't stop the tears now. I stand there, for a long while, until they slow to a stop.

Shit, I had better be getting back before someone realizes I was gone.

I wasn't looking forward to this "Academy" Max was talking about, but Esh and Mika were both teaching me things now to try to get me ready.

"I think... I found a new home." I tell them, and as I turn away from the graves, somehow, I know they would be happy for me.

***

The Emperor laughs as he bounces his son on his knee. The baby, now two, giggles and smiles.

Tzeentch is sleeping gently against his arm, and he adjusts her so he can pull her into an embrace.

The baby suddenly stops giggling, frowns, and belches.

All of the lights in the room explode in a shower of sparks and glass.

"We really need to figure out a way to get him to stop doing that..." Tzeentch mumbles.

The Emperor laughs, which makes his son laugh along. Both he and Tzeentch know that years from now he will be a beacon of hope and unity for the galaxy.

But for now, he's a joyful bouncing two year old with a fascination for keys, which drives the Admech batshit.

***

"You going my way, tech-priestess?"

"Wha!?" Mika shouts with a start, before whirling around to face you. You can't help but grin at her reaction.

"Ah, y-you startled me..." Mika says quietly.

The battle is long since over, and night is nearly upon you yet again. Most races have broken camp and are seated around fires or screens, talking and eating joyfully.

With one stark difference, not a one is shooting at the others.

"S-so, d-do you want to get some food... Or the Emperor probably wants to s-see you maybe..."

"That isn't why I came to find you." You say quietly, taking her hand and bringing her around until she's in front of you.

"W-well we can go grab some food may..."

You kiss her before she can finish, and spin her around until you are pressing her against the tank.

"Ah... M-Max what are you...!?"

You pull away again, a thin strand of saliva connecting your tongues.

"I came to ask you something."

"A-ask away?" Mika stutters, her face entirely red.

"Be mine, I can't keep doing this without you, I realized that. So I want you to follow me to wherever this crazy journey finally ends."

Mika pauses, shuffling her feet nervously.

"C-close your eyes..." She stutters.

You do, and feel her lips meet your own yet again.

"Th-That's my answer..." She smiles, and you smile back, before pulling her into a tight hug.

Four years later, you and Mika are both awakened by your son fussing from his crib.

"Your turn..." She mumbles in her sleep.

With a groan, you pull yourself out of bed and head over to the crib in the other room.

"C'mon Tanner, what's wrong?" You pick the infant up, and look down into his crib.

Oh, his Admech mobiles is out. You fix it with one of your mechanical arms while bouncing your son to keep him occupied.

"Oh, is that why he's crying?" Mika asks, rubbing at her eyes.

"Yeah, probably blew a fuse."

Mika fixes it in under a minute, and you set your son back down under it, where he quietly watches it spin.

"Now, back to bed. I've got a long day tomorrow."

"Hey hun?"

"Hmm?"

"D-do you... Maybe... W-want to make another one?"

***

You barge in, rather unceremoniously, into the room where all the Eldar have come to meet to discuss the after-battle whatnot's, you stopped paying attention about the time you just kicked in the door.

"Hey, I'mma let you finish your space Elf meeting, but first I need to find Eshwe and get my swag on."

Out of the corner of your eye, you see a red-faced Eldar clutching a spear.

"Max... You....."

"You mad?"

The energy blast knocks you out of the building, and you can't help but laugh as you tumble end over end through the grass.

"Damn right I'm mad!" Esh glares, standing over you.

"Perfect angle, thanks!"

With a "yoink!" You slip her panties right down and off.

"H-hey! Whats the big deal?!"

"Shush up, I need these!" You force them off of her, despite her struggling, and pocket them to give to Slaanesh later. You decide it would be better to not let her know the reasoning...

"Wow, you just wax it today?"

"Ugh." She steps on your face.

"Hey, while I'm down here, mind if I ask you something?"

"What is it, stupid idiot dolt of a mon-keigh?!"

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

"..."

"So... Yes?"

"Ugh, fine! I guess! Gods know I can't trust you to watch out for yourself! Its not like I wanted this, or anything." She glares, looking away, but helps you to your feet.

Before she can react further, you grab her and force a kiss. She struggles, only for a moment, before grabbing you roughly and pulling you tighter to herself.

"Idiot." She mumbles.

"I don't know how I fell for an idiot like you..."

"My charming good looks and swashbuckling charisma." You grin.

***

Two years later, you are neck deep in Administratum paperwork, rushing to get it all completed. Your dinner, left for you, sits cold and untouched.

"Max!" Esh barges into the room, looking quite ruffled.

"Babe?"

"I'm pregnant!" She bursts in a panic.

"Hoo-kay, well that was certainly..."

"Get it out, now!" She points down to your crotch.

"Hey now, I mean, its great news and I'm happy and all but..."

"Shut your face, we need to keep doing it to complete the baby."

Oh now this is just too golden an opportunity to pass up.

"Fine but first you have to say something."

"Please?"

"Not quite. Look me in the eyes, flash me some clevage, and tell me to get over there and fuck you."

"W-what?! I'm not doing that you fiend!"

"Well, guess I'll just get back to doing this paperwork..." You make a show of picking up the pen and shuffling a few papers around.

"UGH! FINE!" Esh wings the pillow she was clutching at your head.

"G-get over here..."

She blushes as she notices your grin, and you give her the eye that tells her she isn't out of this yet.

"Oooo....! Get over here and f-fuck me!" She shouts, stomping her foot.

***

I bristle against the cool of the command bridge of the ship, high upon the perch of Max's head.

Neither he nor I know what our future holds, where we will go, what there remains to be done.

Despite the uncertainty, I feel content.

No matter where I end up, Max will be there, and that is enough.

I feel him tighten me down on his head.

"Gentlemen, to the future." He grins, before the ship enters the warp.

== Trolling ==

''"I've been taking it too easy on you guys I see......''
''HUE HUE''
''HUE HUE HUE HUE''
''HUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEH
UEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHU
EHUE"''

- ''Papa-N, on Anon thinking the rape train has brakes''

=== PROMOTIONS ===

"We purge with righteous zeal!"
Her flamer crackles to life, and you have not time to dodge, or do anything really, before the barrel is staring you in the face.
You never thought you would go out like this, a choppa to the face maybe, but not a Sororita making guardsman toast.
The jet of fire engulfs you, the white hot heat searing away your flesh from bone. The pain is excruciating as you are roasted alive. You try to scream, but nothing emerges as liquid flame pours into your lungs.
Your body falls to the ground, charred and broken. Your last thoughts are of home…

----

"Give me that spear, xeno wench!" You roar furiously, snatching it out of her hand.
"It's on like orky-kong you over sized worm!"
You run full tilt toward Ra'alman, who again opens its mouth.
You are mere feet away when the beast lurches forward unexpectedly, closing its gigantic maw down on you.

The teeth shred you to ribbons instantly.

----

"I... I'm shrinking?!" You stutter as your body slowly loses mass.
And even more terrifying, your "heavy bolter" starts to shrink as well.
"What the fuck is going on?!" You shout, but your voice has grown meek, quieter...
...Girlish...

Your world goes dark for a moment, but then recovers.
Only you're not on a beach anymore.
You are bent over, chained across a bed.

Your new vagina completely exposed...

"HUEHUEHUEHUEHEUEHEHEHEHEHEUHEUHEHEUHE BR BR BR BR BR BR!!!!!"
Oh god, that is worse than a thousand of Ra'alman's screams.

The noise marine walks up to your face...
...and flops out his gnarled, purple, studded manhood...

"BRBRBRBRBRBRBR!!!!!!!" The noise marine's insane ramblings grow ever faster and louder as he presses the tip of his daemon to your virgin lips.
Another chaos marine, this one sprouting with wriggling green tentacles, moves behind you, ready to taint your purity seal...

"Oh thank the Empruh, help me Lycheria!" Seeing her raises your hopes, she can surely get you out of here.
All hopes are dashed as she unzips her corset...

...And a massive emperor's champion falls out, dangling inches from your ass...

"Noo, you can't put it in there, that spot is EXTRA HERESY!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
Will Maxima be brutally anal raped by a futa sister of battle and her brazillian noise marine cronies?
FIND OUT NEXT TIME, ON DRAGON BALL ZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

----

"You're on your own, skank!"
You snatch up your gear and jump to your feet, breaking into a sprint.
"Wait, please don't go!" She pleads as the Hive Tyrant rushes in at her.
You run as fast as your legs can carry you, looking back over your shoulder.
The Hive Tyrant has busied itself introducing her xeno bits to its epic gun wang, while at the same time chewing off her left arm.
"Its not your fight Max, its not your fight." You try to reassure yourself as you feel your soul leave you in disgust.

You slow down to catch your breath, the screams of the Tau girl gone now, having grown ever more quiet as the life faded from her.
You collapse of exhaustion, tears streaking down your face as you realize what it is you really just did.
With a shaking hand you raise your laspistol to your own head.
"See you later, space cowboy..."

*BLAM*

----

And that's when she stands back up.
Revealing h24" twisted xeno plasma cannon.
"Hey, that's a pretty cool gun! Mind if I hold it?"
"Sure!" She replies happily, flopping it down on your hand.
"Whoa, its warm."
"Wait! Don't play with it so much or it might go off!!!"
You don't hear her as you stroke and fondle the alien cannon.
"No! Stop! ...Ah!?"
The cannon explodes in your hands, covering you in sticky blue plasma.
"Cool. I wonder how it tastes?" You remark as you lick the tip of the barrel.
"Oh, this plasma tastes really good!"
She's squirming as you continue to fondle the cannon.
"W-well if you want some more, reload it."
"How do I do that?" You ask with another lick of the barrel.
"First you have to cock it."
"Later, maybe..." You shrug, setting down the still toasty plasma gun behind you.
"For now, let me give you another taste of MY plasma."
Ailia opens her mouth, sticking out her tongue.
"Guess again, xeno slut."
You spin her around, revealing both her heresies to your throbbing power sword.
Which one will you purge?
"You shall feel the hot wrath of my blade."
You lower the titan's cannon toward her eye of terror.
"No! That hole isn't for the greater good!"
She struggles in vain as your ship steadies itself, preparing to enter the breach of the warp.
But before you can press forward into her dark heresy, a baneblade pops up from underneath one of the instrument panels.
The barrel turns to you and obliterates the Crisis battle suit from the inside out.

[[Creed|"CCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!"]]

No!

Even TACTICAL GENIUS isn't going to stop you.
"I must purge the heretics!" You cry.
"No, Max, you are the heretics."
And then Max was a chaos primarch.

"For SLAANESH!!!" You howl as you press forward with your seventeen penises.
"There is no way those will fit! Stop! NOOOO!"
Its too late, you thrust forward and drive them home, feeling the warp overtaking you.
Your monster dicks shoot out and invade every greater good this xeno fuck toy has to offer.

You focus the warp and pull Lychria and Esh to you through it.
"By the Emperor, what heresy is this!"
"Oi! Mon-keigh, whats the big... By Uthwe NO!"
You remove enough of your squirming daemon princes to be able to violate both of them.
"So many holes, I WANT THEM ALL!"

You fill every available hole in your prayer of obscene pleasure to your new god.
The four girls struggle, but there is no escape.
And there are no brakes on the rape train.
Your purple, bumpy, throbbing dicks violate them in their tight pink purity seals, their wet pleasure caves, and their protesting mouths.
You start to climax.
Unfortunately for them, when a Slaanesh daemon of your magnitude cums, they can keep it up for several decades if they so desire.
Purple daemon-batter floods out of every hole and the four struggling girls suddenly go slack against their penis-bonds, unable to escape.

"And so that's why, idiot mon-keigh, nothing will ever happen between us!" Esh yells before hanging up.

What in the actual fuck did you just hear that tsunseer describe?

...As your ship exits the field you fire up your comunicatus devices.

"Tzeentch, heed my call."
For a moment, silence.
But then...

"I'm busy right now, GO AWAY!"
You notice, just before the feed cuts out, that she is busily fingerbanging herself...
...To a picture of none other than the Emprah himself.

----

It's single rape time.

You realize you are covered in some kind of thick liquid that seems to be dripping out of your every....
DEAR EMPRAH NO!
Your eyes fly open entirely, as you realize exactly what is happening.

----

"You can't possibly mean..." The Emperor staggers back.
Tzeentch, blushing, nods her head repeatedly.
Well this is certainly going to cut into his board time.
Still, he's the god Emprah of mankind, he can handle this shit.
"FALCON PAWNCH!"
His fist creates a cradle made out of pure gold.
"What do you want to name him?" Tzeentch asks quietly.
"Max." The Emperor responds.
"And he shall know no boundary."

----

"Hey Max."
"Yeah Emprah?"
"Can you babysit for me tomorrow?"
"wat"

----

“Ha ha.” She beins to laugh slowly, quietly.
“Ha ha ha ha…” Raising her spear and pointing it right at your chest.
“Listen Esh, I can explain…”
You barely manage to leap out of the way as the spear thrusts through the space occupied by your heart barely a second ago.
“EXPLAIN!?! YOU CAN… EXPPLLLAAIIINNN?!?!?!”
You are ducking, dipping, dodging and ducking to avoid the repeated thrusts, unable to get a word in lest you catch one through the gut.
“YOU KNOW DAMN WELL, IDIOT MON-KEIGH, WHAT YOU WERE DOING!”
A fateful jap catches you finally, you should have known you weren't agile enough to dodge an Eldar's attacks forever.
You groan as Esh slowly works the blade around, grinning at your suffering.
"Hope it was worth it." She says, before a nearby Eldar separates your head from your shoulders.

----

Lycheria laughs as she watches you squirm in your bonds, unable to escape the bed. She's smiling as she rubs her heavy flamer against your rear hatch.

"I thought this thing was over!" You shout.

"Over? Over? No no silly, it's just BEGUN!"

The noise marines press closer now, continuing their tremendous and terrible song.

"HUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEH
UEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHU
EHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUE"

"Wait! Wait I don't even know whats going on! Where am I, why do I have girly parts?!"
But Lycheria doesn't answer as she presses her zealous servant of the Emperor forward.

You can only tense up and cry out as it slowly works its way inside.

Lycheria grabs your hips as she works herself deeper, oblivious to your pain.
"Don't be like that..." She says coyly, "I've brought you a friend, look."

A Carnifex lurches up toward your face.
Before lowering its massive bile cannon.
You don't even have time to cry out as the beast thrusts itself into your mouth.

Struggle as you may, there is nothing you can do to stop it as it drives itself into your throat.
"See? All better now." Lycheria coos as she starts picking up her pace, completely ignoring your new lady bits as she violates your dark heresy.

It's all too much, you can't handle it. You can't breathe and the inside of your tank burns from it's hatch down to it's cockpit. The weapon way stronger than it's weak defenses.

Finally you give in and just let them have their way, there isn't anything you can do to stop it anyways.
"Ahh, this feels so good." Lycheria moans as she thrusts as deep as she can penetrate, ignoring all of your saves.

You can't even scream, the Carnifex seems to have found a rhythm and is completely ignoring the fact that you've vomited the entirety of your stomach already.

The sister of battle grunts as she finally transitions out of the assault phase and fires her flamer.
You can feel its burning liquid filling your insides.

The 'nid follows suit, and your mouth is boiling over with it's thick bright green slime.
"Ahh, that's better..." Lycheria moans as she withdraws her force, you can feel excess plasma leaking from your hatch and dripping down your leg.

"Your turn, boys." She snaps his fingers.
And the noise marines start to move in, still playing their horrific tune.
"BRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBR!!!!!"

A noise marine plunges into every one of your holes, none of them seeming to care about two of them already being filled to the brim with a sticky mess.

Your mind breaks as they take no mercy on you.
Hell.
This is hell.
But you love it.
"Oh Emprah yess, fill me with all of your taint of chaos!!!" You scream.
The noise marine's song becomes more chaotic and frantic as they climax.

An assault from all sides, you aren't sure if your body can take it.
Flamers and plasma cannons erupt, and by the time their furious assault ends, you are left leaking and bound with but a single wound remaining.
"Poor little Maxima, don't think you're done just yet..." Lycheria laughs as she flips you over and re-binds your hands and feet.

----

You fall to the hard ground, and the flayed one laughs coldly at you as you grasp at your stump arm.
It shuffles closer, and you notice with horror what's attached to it's pelvis.

A severed, bloody, but somehow erect inquisitor.
Which is pointed right at you as the Necron rips off your pants.

You can struggle, but you can't escape.
The flayed one holds you in place with it's claws as it lowers itself down.

You feel something cold and hard poke you in the ass.
You are about to be violated by your dead friend's remains.

----

You can't handle the wait any longer, you are overcome with lust.
With the force of a thousand suns you plunge yourself down into the hatch.
The feeling of the large purple lips enveloping you is curiously decadent.
"Its so... So good..." You moan as you start working in and out of the hatch.

"Ah! If you do it that much... No! My-my treads are moving on their own?!"

You can feel yourself starting to get close, fucking this tank is just too incredible.
"I-I'm coming!"

Your gun erupts and fills the crew compartment with sticky plasma.
"Crew incapacitated!"

----

You slip your armored codpice back on.

"Sorry ladies, but I really don't want to be a dad and I'm not sure what you could be carrying."
You put your pocket protector back on, don't want those pens wrecking your shirt!

"Pfft, whatever nerd."
The sisters kick you out and leave you behind in the cold while they fuck each other furiously with Inquisition-approved strap ons.

So you head out to sea. There is only one thing you can really pleasure yourself with anyways.
Ra'alman leaps from the water, rearing his ugly head.
"I'm ready for you again, my love!" You call out to him.
"Oh Ra'alman, you sexy beast of the seas, I want you!" You call out to the monster.

He responds with a terrifying roar, before surging up into the sky and peering down at you curiously.
You close your eyes and raise your arms, ready for the coitus that will forever seal your love.
You had left those bolter bitches behind at the realization. You don't want anyone else in your life, you just want your massive fish-hunk.
With a scream, he descends and swallows you whole.
Though he is very careful to avoid getting you with any of his teeth.
Down and down you descend in his slippery throat, which is full of small tentacles that rub you pleasurably.
"Ahh... It's so good..." You moan as you remove your clothing and surrender yourself to the slippery wet darkness.

The more you descend, the longer and wetter the tentacles get, all the while growing more and more active.
They are stroking you softly now, and you can only close your eyes and squirm at the pleasure.
Your mind collides with the fish, and suddenly you find out that it is in fact a female.
Though it doesn't speak, and its thoughts are primal, you can understand what it wants you to do.
The beast wants you to fertilize its eggs.

----

You thrust harder.

"No no... LEFT, damn it, LEFT!"

The girl grinds her teeth in frustration.
You try to angle yourself to the left. Its exceedingly difficult to do both, you don't think these things were really made to drive...

You must have slammed your magazine in his well too hard, because she jolts and the walking death machine jumps upwards.

"Hey! Watch it you idiot!" The girl shouts as the engine lands. Not that you can understand her through the gag ball.
Unfortunately for his, the landing also drives you into her as deep as you can penetrate.

"Hiii!!!" She shrieks in surprise.

Fuck it, you can't drive like this. But you aren't through trying.
You pick up your speed, and the walker starts stumbling along as the girl squirms and moans in pleasure.

The engine wobbles and shakes as the girl starts convulsing, pressing against the bonds connecting her to the vehicle as she rides his climax.
Finally, she goes slack inside the machine, and the walker crouches down.

Well, you didn't get anywhere, but it was fun.

----

You grip your controls hard, grinning.
This is going to be a fun race.

The two of your engines echo ever louder off the sides of the buildings as you race down the street. Doomrider cackling madly as he shoots up with his free hand.
You are too busy laughing to notice the blown out lemon russ turret blocking your path.

"OH FUCK!" You see it, but it's too late for you to react.
The front of your bike hits hard and you are thrown violently over the handlebars. You can only curl into the fetal position to try to minimize the damage now.

The pain is excruciating as you bounce and skid along the ground, the hard pavement ripping off pieces of your skin.
The bike explodes behind you, but you are too incapacitated to notice.

You've finally stopped bouncing, and you notice sickeningly the bone jutting out of your leg.

----

"Oh SLaDOS, I can't take it anymore! Your terminals are just too fucking sexy!"

You reach out and grab her panel roughly.

"~No! Wait!~"

You don't wait, instead tapping several of the keys seductively.

"~Ah! When you touch there, mmmmm!!!!~"

You keep doing it, until a small hole opens on the side of the computer bank.
Wasting no time, you plunge your usb drive into it.

"~It feels so good!~"

You pick up your pace, hammering your device into that dirty slot.

"~Oh, I'm going to....! 01000011 01110101 01101101 00100001~"

With one last thrust you finish as well, and you lean against the terminal bank, panting hard.

"~You had better take responsibility...~"

A chute opens on SLaDOS, and a small cube falls out of it. The emblem of a Commissar hat on it's side.

----

Only you feel something semi-hard pressing into your lower back.

"Hey, uh, Mika? What's hard in your pants?"

Mika jumps slightly, and squeezes you with her legs.

"It-it-its... My penis."

----

"Done!" She finally exclaims happily.

Something weird flops down in your mechanical hand, and you look down from her face to see what it is.

Her 9" schlong now rests in your palm, and its rock hard.

----

You stand on the stage meekly.
"I-I k-kissed a girl and I..."

But the crowd of Orks cut you off as they furiously roar and charge the stage.
They grab you and haul you away, the warboss and daughter looking at you disgustedly.

Finally, they toss you roughly inside a hut.
The first thing you notice is the twenty or so naked nobs.

The second is a looted video camera.
"Um... Whats going on?" You finally ask.

The cameraboy looks up.
"We'ze shootin poor wittle white boy seventeen 'fousand, you'z da star."

They shove you roughly onto a nearby bed, you are powerless against their rippling green muscles.
"Waagh, wut iz we gon do to 'im on dis bed boss?"

They are stroking themselves as they wait.
You try to activate your plasma rifle arm, but a nob just grabs you around the arm and holds the hatch shut.
"Oi, I'mma let you finish 'umie." He grins.

"But dis gon be da greatest video ah all time..."

The nobs close in, grinning ear to ear, until the largest of the bunch shoves them all aside.
"Not so fast ya grots, Iz da biggest so I gits 'im first!"

He grabs you by the hips and flips you over roughly.
"I've been waitin ta try dis out..." A Mekboy chuckles as he revs some kind of gasoline powered monstrosity from behind you.

"You cant escape mah big dakka, Iz goona enjoy it inside ya 'eavy arma..."
You gulp as you feel something long, thick, and warm slap down and rest on your ass...

----

== Original Threads ==

Thread I: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17067317/

Thread II: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17073735/

Thread III: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17095883/

Thread IV: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17116254/

Thread V: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17168467/

Thread VI: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17191456/

Thread VII: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17215659/

Thread VIII: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17248917/

Thread IX: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17270982/

Thread IX - OVERTIME: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17274776/

Thread X: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17315227/

Thread X - OVERTIME: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17318585/

Thread XI: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17351359/

Thread XII: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17387115/

Thread XIII: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17403735/

Thread XIV: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17434182/

Thread XV: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17503191/

Thread XVI: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17543409/

Thread XVII: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17585606/

Thread XVIII: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17609064/

Thread XVIII - OVERTIME: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17614648/

Thread XIX: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17670430/

Thread XIX - OVERTIME: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17675827/

Thread XX: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17711900/

Thread XX - OVERTIME: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17717366/

Thread XXI: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17762102/

Thread XXII: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17858278/

Thread XXIII: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17917036/

Thread XXIII - OVERTIME: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17923444/

Thread XXIV: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/18031213/

Thread XXV - The End: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/18110493/

Thread XXV - The End OVERTIME: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/18114549/

== Sequel ==

[[Heretical Love 2]]

==Stats==

Max Decarus

BS: 4+

WS: 3+

S: 4 (bionic arm)

T: 3

W: 5

A: 3

Ld: 10

SV: 3+

Wargear: Bolt pistol, Commissar Hat, Bionic Arm, Nemesis Waraxe

Bionic Arm: Max can use any of the following weapons once per turn instead of his main weapon: plasma pistol, flamer, hotshot lasrifle

Commissar Hat: All male models within 6" are inspired by the manliness of Max Decarus and re-roll failed Leadership tests (as they want to be as manly as he is) in addition they may use his leadership instead of their own.

Nemesis Waraxe: |S+2| |AP-3| |D d3+1|

Luck of the Emperor: Max gets a 3+ invul save and can re-roll failed to hits, In addition each time this model suffers a wound or a mortal wound, on a 5 or higher, the damage is ignored.

Chills with Daemons and the Emperor: when Max dies, roll a dice, on a 4+ Set up this model within 1” of where he died with d3 wounds remaining.

Psyker: (Cast 2 Deny 1) Max Decarus Knows the Smite Psychic Power And 2 From The Max Decarus Discipline

||The Max Decarus Discipline consists of Three psychic powers||

1. Fus Ro Dah! |Fus Ro Dah! has a warp charge vale of 6 if successfully cast pick a unit within 9” of the psker, that unit suffers d3 mortal wounds and it moves d6” In the opposite direction of this unit.

2. Wuld Nah Kest! |Wuld Nah Kest! Has a casting value of 7 if successfully cast, the psyker moves an immediately d6” forward and adds 3 to their charge roll.|

3. Tiid Klo Ul! |Tiid Klo Ul! has a casting value of 8 if successfully cast all enemy units wholly withi 12" always go last in the combat phase. If they have an ability that lets them fight first in the combat phase, you would switch off between who goes.|

Cool with both sides: This unit cannot be your warlord.

Flayed: All necrons re-roll all failed hit and to wound rolls against Max

Big Pimpin: Any female model in base contact with Max joins Max's team for the duration of the game

Bear Leaves:
During one combat phase per game, Max Decarus is able to adopt the following stat changes. ST 6, T 6, A 5 WS 2+ BS 5+

Bane of the Machine Spirits:
Max Decarus is able to commandeer any friendly vehicle on the field. Any movement phase that Max Decarus attempts to drive a vehicle, roll a d6. on a 4+ the vehicle must move half of its regular move distance and cannot advance. He then immediately disembarks from the vehicle

Pimps Retinue : Max Decarus can take up to two models from the following list as part of his own unit, with rules for the units found in their appropriate codices all of which have the '''CHARACTER''' rule:

Tau XV8 crisis suit

Dark Eldar Succubus

Eldar Farseer

Herald of Slanesh

Herald of Khorne

Herald of Nurgle

Vindicare Assassin

Canonness

Techpriest

Necron Triarch Praetorian

Ork Warboss

'''Point cost 250'''

== Gallery ==

<gallery>
Image:Shitmang.JPG|The Dice Gods show their appreciation of Max once again
Image:Heretlove2.JPG|Oh, Dice Gods, you so crazy
</gallery>

[[Category:Stories/Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Heresy]]
[[Category:Awesome]]
[[Category:NSFW]]
[[Category:Warhammer_40,000]]