Title: The Dance of Death: The Rise and Fall of Mortarion and the Death Guard
In the grim darkness of Warhammer 40,000 universe, tales of heroism and villainy often intertwine, creating a complex tapestry of lore. One of these is the story of Mortarion, the Primarch of the Death Guard, a tale of relentless determination, tragic betrayal, and haunting vengeance.
To understand Mortarion, one must delve into his past – a past steeped in the toxic miasma of his home planet, Barbarus. From a young age, Mortarion was trained in the arts of war and armor-crafting by his adoptive father, Nekar, who was also the planet’s tyrannical overlord. As Mortarion honed his skills, he also taught his people, turning them into warriors, protectors of their own kind.
Victory after victory was chalked up for Mortarion and his army, the Death Guard, as they defeated one overlord after another, liberating Barbarus from years of oppression. Yet, at the pinnacle of this success, Mortarion faced an insurmountable challenge – his own foster father, Nekar, who had taken refuge in a citadel so poisonous that even the resilient Death Guard could not penetrate.
Amid this impasse, a stranger arrived on Barbarus, bringing hope and joy to Mortarion’s people. But this stranger was more than he seemed; he was Mortarion’s biological father, a man of golden hue with a perfect physique, a stark contrast to Mortarion’s pale, gaunt frame. The resemblance between them was uncanny, a glaring truth that Mortarion chose to ignore in his rage.
The golden stranger proposed a challenge: If Mortarion could conquer Nekar’s stronghold on his own, the stranger would leave Barbarus forever. But if he failed, Mortarion would have to swear fealty to the Imperium of Mankind. Despite protests from his soldiers, Mortarion accepted the challenge, his pride driving him to confront his foster father and prove his might to the stranger.
Unfortunately for Mortarion, the toxic air surrounding Nekar’s citadel proved too potent. As he succumbed to its effects, a foreign voice echoed in his mind, promising him the power to overcome death – the voice of Nurgle, the Chaos God, who saw in Mortarion the potential for a great demon prince.
But before Nurgle could fully ensnare Mortarion, the golden stranger intervened, striking down Nekar with a single flaming sword strike. With the death of Nekar, Mortarion was forced to kneel before the stranger, acknowledging him as his true father and the Emperor of Mankind.
Yet, this victory left a bitter taste in Mortarion’s mouth – the taste of unfulfilled vengeance. He had been robbed of the chance to defeat Nekar himself, a resentment that festered within him, leaving him vulnerable to the corruption of malevolent forces.
The Emperor, oblivious to Mortarion’s inner turmoil, welcomed him into service, granting him command of the 14th Space Marine Legion, known as the Dusk Raiders. The Dusk Raiders were renowned for their favored tactic of launching major assaults during the dark hours, earning them their ominous moniker.
Thus began the second chapter of Mortarion’s life – a chapter of service, but also of growing resentment and vulnerability, a ticking time bomb waiting for the right moment to explode. Stay tuned for the next part of this multi-part series as we delve deeper into Mortarion’s descent into darkness and his transformation into the Death Lord of Nurgle.
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