Welcome back, Warhammer fanatics! We’re diving back into our multi-part exploration of the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000. Today, we’re focusing on the harrowing tale of the Betrayal at IST van 5 and the grotesque transformation of the once proud Raven Guard flagship, the Shadow of the Emperor.
When the monstrous entity Nurgle marked the entire Death Guard, his horrific gifts were not limited to the Space Marines themselves, but extended to their ships and machinery. The Shadow of the Emperor, once a testament to human ingenuity and power, was turned into a nightmarish behemoth, a rotting, pulsating abomination covered in filth and unrecognizable biomechanical growths. The sight of this ship, bursting with plague flies and miasmas, was so vile that mere mortals were said to sicken and die at the sight of it. The ship was renamed the Terminus Est, a fitting moniker for this embodiment of death and decay.
The Death Guard, under the steely control of Mortarion, proved their worth and right to rule through mighty deeds of destruction, corruption, and endurance. Despite the grotesque transformations brought upon by Nurgle’s gifts, the Death Guard Lords and Chaos Lords adhered strictly to their pragmatic, infantry-based tactics. Mortarion, ever the tactician, instituted the Mantles of Corruption, powerful tokens that have become symbols of dread and menace over the millennia.
The most combative Lords of the Death Guard, the Lords of Contagion, storm into battle in filth-encrusted Terminator armor, weapons taller than a man in hand. They favor direct, brutal strategies, confident in their ability to withstand and overcome any enemy. Other Lords, such as the Lords of Poxes or Lords of Vilance, prefer more insidious strategies, opting to wear down their foes with relentless attritional warfare, airborne diseases, or mass bombardment.
The Sorcerers of the Death Guard, channeling the vile energies of the Warp, bring forth Nurgle’s blessings upon friend and foe alike. Their grotesque spells weaken their enemies, reducing their bones to decay and muscle to sludge. The battlefield itself is not safe from their influence, fortifications collapsing and the very ground degenerating into decay under the onslaught of ethereal parasites. Despite their power, these Sorcerers are often regarded with disdain by their brethren, their power and influence a necessary evil in the pursuit of victory.
The Death Guard Sorcerers, undeterred by the scorn of their brethren, have formed their own congregations, each with whimsical names like the malignant Plague Casters, the Slop Moore Maggot Mancers, and the Cadaverous Famine Bringers. Despite their outcast status, the Lords of the Death Guard recognize their usefulness as living weapons, and some even allow them to command to a certain extent.
One notable exception to this rule is the Vectorium of the Fourth Plague Company, where the Sorcerer’s power is not just tolerated, but reigns supreme. But that, fellow Warhammer fans, is a tale for another day. Until then, may the Emperor protect you, and remember – in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.
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