Title: The Flames of Monarchia: The Word Bearers’ Reckoning
Part of the captivating tapestry of Warhammer 40k lore comes in the form of the humbling tale of Argel Tal, a warrior of the Word Bearers Space Marine Legion, and his tumultuous journey of humility, rage, and shame, woven under the shadow of the Emperor’s scorn and an unexpected encounter with the sole survivor of a ravaged city.
The tale unfolds with Argel Tal and his fellow Word Bearers kneeling before the Emperor. The act, which would’ve been taken as a stinging humiliation by other Legions, was accepted with quiet submission by the Word Bearers. However, the emperor’s order for the Word Bearers’ primarch, Lorgar, to kneel while the Astartes of the Ultramarines – their rivals – were commanded to rise, sparked an inferno of rage within Argel Tal.
The contempt was palpable as the Emperor declared the Word Bearers the only Legion to have disappointed Him. The reason? Their seeming inefficiency in conquering planets and their propensity to waste resources on propagating beliefs, something other Legions managed with greater efficiency. Such a reprimand, followed by a wave of unseen energy that sent Lorgar to his knees, was a slap in the face to the Word Bearers.
The Master of Mankind departed, leaving the Word Bearers to confront their shame under the watchful gaze of the Ultramarines. Argel Tal, filled with a bitter resentment, sought to shield Lorgar from the prying eyes of their rivals. Yet, there was more humiliation to come.
The Emperor’s final directive was a twist of the knife – the Word Bearers were to be overseen by 20 warriors of the Adeptus Custodes, their actions to be reported back to Terra. This directive ignited Lorgar’s rage, compelling him to strike at Guilliman, the Primarch of the Ultramarines. A fight seemed inevitable, the tension palpable as both Legions raised their bolters. But no shot was fired, only due to a necessary order from Argel Tal, who secretly wished for a chance to make the Ultramarines pay.
As the Word Bearers retreated in shame, Argel Tal noticed a lone figure on the surface of the decimated Monarchia. Curiosity piqued, he returned to the surface and discovered a lone woman, the sole survivor of the Ultramarines’ onslaught. This woman, revealed to be Cyrene Valantion, was physically exhausted and blind but driven by a purpose known only to her.
Cyrene, a former priestess of Shuhl-Asha, would later become a living martyr and Confessor of the 17th Legion. Her role in the society of Monarchia was believed to be one that provided moral support, a trait that would later prove valuable when the Word Bearers found themselves grappling with the Emperor’s reprimand.
The fleet spent two weeks adrift in orbit, during which Argel Tal visited Cyrene thrice. Her seemingly naïve questions led Argel Tal to confront his true emotions about the burning of Monarchia. It was not sorrow he felt, but a deep-rooted hatred, and more alarmingly, he realized that he might be capable of hating the Emperor.
Cyrene’s words, as unsettling as they were, made Argel Tal face the harsh reality. The crusade he had fought for was based on lies, and he found himself without a cause. His decision to save Cyrene Valantion from the ruins of Monarchia marked a turning point, not just in his life, but in the tumultuous saga of the Word Bearers as well.
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