Welcome back to the continuing series on the epic saga of Warhammer 40,000 lore. In today’s installment, we delve into the dramatic events that unfolded on the planet of Istvan. The clash between the Space Marines and the Heretic Sorcerers was a conflict of titanic proportions, and its reverberations echo even now.
The Heretic Sorcerers, with their unnaturally loud voices and psychic abilities, pushed their cultists into a frenzied rage. These ordinary beings, driven to madness, charged headlong into the Space Marines’ fire, their bare hands their only weapons. But the Space Marines, the legions of Aartis, stood unyielding, holding back the onslaught of the frenzied itics.
Meanwhile, the Emperor’s Children executed a flawless landing in the palace, bypassing all air defense systems. The Third Legion, with precision and determination, found and defeated the traitorous Governor Vardis Pral, who was armed with a monstrous psychosonic weapon. Lucius, the best swordsman of the Emperor’s Children, struck the fatal blow.
While this was happening, the Sons of Horus, led by Garal Loan, stormed the temple fortification and slaughtered all the war singers. Despite unimaginable challenges, victory was achieved, and the Aartis rejoiced. Yet unbeknownst to them, this joy was short-lived.
Shortly after their victory, communication with the fleet was lost. Then, from above, bombs rained down. These weren’t ordinary explosives, but a terrifying weapon of the Imperium – the life eater virus. It transformed all organic matter on the planet into rotting sludge within hours. The entire planet, its forests, oceans, and population, were annihilated.
From aboard the vengeful Spirit, Horus’s flagship, a single shot was fired. The rotting sludge, highly flammable after the viral bombardment, ignited. A new sun seemed to light up before Horus’s fleet, only to extinguish just as quickly, leaving only a lifeless rock where a populated planet had once been.
But even before the bombs fell, the Estares on Istvan had already been warned of the impending betrayal. Among those who remained in orbit were many who disagreed with the terrible decision. Nathaniel G, one of the leaders, gathered those still loyal to the Emperor. They seized the frigate Eisenstein and hoped to reach Terra to tell the Emperor about the betrayal of his favoured son, Horus.
One of the captains of the Emperor’s Children, Saul Tarvitz, couldn’t bear Horus’ plan. He hijacked a transport ship and flew to the ground forces, warning them minutes before the bombs fell. Tarvitz and the ground forces took shelter in numerous bunkers and fortifications, which withstood both the virus bombing and the scorching of the entire surface.
After the firestorm died down, Horus sent scouts to the planet’s surface. His surprise and fury knew no bounds when he learned that about 100,000 loyal Estares had survived in the ruins of the capital. From the surface of the planet came cries of grief, despair, rage, and spite. The Space Marines, having never before shed so much blood of their brethren, were most despondent at the betrayal of their own Primarchs.
Before Horus could order a second bombing, Angron and the World Eaters were deployed to the planet. Thirsty for the blood of their brothers, they charged at the half-mad survivors. The fury was unprecedented in the galaxy. Both sides were no longer Aartis, they were wild berserkers, yearning only for the end.
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