The Traitorous Path of the Night Lords
During the tumultuous Horus Heresy, the Night Lords Legion played a pivotal role in shaping the fate of the galaxy. Despite their rogue status, they were unexpectedly tasked with joining the loyalist forces to quash the traitors in the Isstvan system.
A Dubious Alliance
Records from that era fail to provide a clear explanation for the Imperial military’s decision to include the Night Lords in their campaign against the Sons of Horus, World Eaters, Death Guard, and Emperor’s Children. However, one account suggests that the slow and uncertain nature of the Imperial justice system led to the hasty assembly of a powerful force, which included the Night Lords.
Betrayal on Isstvan V
Upon arriving at Isstvan V, the Night Lords turned against the loyalist Legions, participating in the devastating Dropsite Massacre alongside the Word Bearers, Iron Warriors, and Alpha Legion. This brutal assault decimated the Raven Guard, Iron Hands, and Salamanders, paving the way for the Night Lords’ subsequent genocidal campaign in the galactic east.
Thramas Crusade and Its Aftermath
The Night Lords’ fleet was eventually ambushed by the Dark Angels during the Thramas Crusade, resulting in significant losses, including the destruction of one-fifth of the Legion. Their Primarch, Konrad Curze, was gravely injured and left comatose by Lion El’Jonson, forcing Sevatar to take command and regroup the remaining forces. Before his capture, Sevatar divided the fleet into six parts, ordering them to scatter and wreak havoc across the Ultima Segmentum.
Curze’s Captivity and Escape
Meanwhile, Curze was stranded aboard the Dark Angels’ flagship, Invincible Reason, where he evaded capture and eventually escaped to Macragge. The splinter fleets of Night Lords continued to cause chaos throughout the galaxy, with notable battles taking place on Sotha and elsewhere.
Power Struggle and Eventual Downfall
A renewed power struggle within the Legion erupted on the Nightfall, with Curze’s former Equerry Shang seeking to continue the search for the Primarch. However, Shang was slain by Gendor Skraivok, who proclaimed his intention to join forces with Horus and push towards Terra. Curze, now a prisoner of the Lion, Guilliman, and Sanguinius, was eventually frozen in a stasis coffin and ejected into deep space, rendering him absent from the Battle of Terra.
Legacy of the Night Lords
Despite their scattered and leaderless state, elements of the Night Lords joined Horus’ main fleet and participated in the siege of the Imperial Palace. Gendor Skraivok’s ill-fated duel with Raldoron, First Captain of the Blood Angels, led to his downfall and eventual possession by a daemon. The Night Lords’ legacy as traitors and individualistic killers was cemented, leaving an indelible mark on the galaxy.
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