Horus Lupercal – Warhammer 40K – Part 1 (Part 1 of 7)

The Rise and Fall of Horus Lupercal

In the early days of the Imperium of Man, Horus Lupercal was one of the 20 Primarchs created by the Emperor. Like his brothers, Horus was scattered across the galaxy by the Gods of Chaos, only to be rediscovered on the world of Cthonia.

A Humble Beginning

Horus’s pod landed on Cthonia, a planet close to the Sol System, where he was discovered by the Cthonian gang overlord Khageddon. Given the “no-name” of Nergüi, Horus grew up in the harsh environment of Cthonia’s undercity, engaging in perpetual gang warfare. His life took a dramatic turn when he stumbled upon the pod that had brought him to Cthonia, now being excavated by the Mechanicum.

Discovery and Ascension

Nergüi’s battle with the Tech-Priests and his subsequent recovery of their technology marked the beginning of his transformation into Horus. As the chamber collapsed around him, Khageddon instructed Nergüi to slay him, earning him his kill-name and unlocking buried memories of the Galaxy, technology, and himself. With his newfound identity, Horus proclaimed himself to the Tech-Priests.

Rise to Power

According to Horus, after his discovery, he was brought to Terra alongside several of his elderly comrades from the gang world. He landed on Terra to great fanfare, kneeling before the Emperor and taking an oath to serve him dutifully. This account is sometimes disputed, but it is clear that Horus’s early discovery gave him a significant advantage over his brother Primarchs. For 30 years, he was the only Primarch to have been discovered, and his friendship with the Emperor grew rapidly.

Command and Conquest

The Emperor eventually trusted Horus enough to give him command of the entire force of the Imperium. Horus proved himself to be a skilled leader, repaying the Emperor’s trust when he hacked the arm off a frenzied Ork that tried to choke the life out of the Emperor on the planet of Gorro. Despite some initial reservations, Horus formed close bonds with his brother Primarchs, including Leman Russ, whom he regarded as a savage but ultimately followed the Emperor’s wish to get along with.

The Seeds of Corruption

However, despite his many successes, Horus’s eventual corruption by the powers of Chaos would lead to the galaxy-spanning civil war known as the Horus Heresy. The favored son of the Emperor, beloved by most of his brother Primarchs, would ultimately turn against the very Imperium he helped create.

A Legacy of Betrayal

Horus’s story serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of unchecked power and corruption. From his humble beginnings on Cthonia to his rise as Warmaster of the Great Crusade, Horus’s trajectory was marked by both brilliance and tragedy. His legacy would forever be marred by the devastating consequences of his betrayal, leaving the Imperium of Man forever changed.

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