Welcome back, fellow lore enthusiasts, to another exciting entry in our multi-part series unraveling the shadowy annals of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Today, we delve into the dark corners of Imperial records, shedding light on the secretive and ominous practices of the Emperor’s wayward creations.
Our tale begins with the clandestine undertakings of the Emperor’s creations, conducted under an almost impenetrable shroud of secrecy. Scant records exist detailing the horrors that these supposed legionnaires unleashed upon the unsuspecting galaxy. The truths they hold are often obscured, half-facts and allegories rather than objective reality.
Our accounts do not cover the Berserkers, the monstrous creations of the World Eaters on Bodt and countless other worlds. Nor do they delve into the nefarious deeds of the Iron Warriors, who reduced billions to raw materials, not for recruitment, but as living vessels to mature the organs of Space Marines. Instead, we delve into the abyss, exploring the darker, more sinister aspects, reminiscent of the horrors of the old night.
From the scant knowledge we’ve gathered, one element stands out – the Inducti. These atrocious beings are the result of the unholy fusion of a legionary and a warp entity, born from the dark pacts concluded by the Warmaster and his allies. These creatures rapidly multiplied among the ranks of the Word Bearers since the Istvan 5 massacre, their numbers growing as the war raged on and corruption took root in the hearts of the traitors.
These Inducti, as records suggest, were the result of weak augmentations catalyzed by esoteric power, leaving only deformed remnants of legionaries turned into unique monstrosities shaped by the essence bound to the soul of the aspirant. Names like Lupal and Gal Morbach, akin to Gal Vorac, echoed on the battlefields of terror, deemed blessed sacrifices to overthrow the Emperor. To those who encountered these abominations, and for some unlucky enough to march alongside them, these entities were forever etched into their nightmares.
Records from the Night Lords reveal the legionaries referred to these Inducti as ‘Shadow Consumed’ in the Nostran dialect. They were not brothers-in-arms, but twisted instruments of fear to be unleashed and then discarded.
The Third Legion, as it’s widely known, took a perverse interest in the surgical modification of its warriors. In their misguided quest for ‘perfection,’ they mention a certain Fabius, the chief apothecary of The Emperor’s Children, and the architect of their transformation.
Fabius, along with his acolytes drawn from all Legions, performed horrific acts of flesh manipulation. They implanted Xeno organs to enhance the legionary’s abilities, leading to the creation of the cacophony. Fabius crafted the Inducti in his image, viewing the flesh of the Leones Aartis as a canvas for his most perverse dreams. Some of these Inducti, dubbed Tato, were implanted with chemicals to grotesquely increase their size and strength. They had limbs replaced with writhing tentacles, monstrous claws, and khitous exoskeletons in place of skin.
But the Emperor’s Children were not alone in their abhorrent practices. Reports from Talan speak of the Iron Warriors’ Inducti, grotesquely fused with vehicle mechanisms, reduced to mere cogs in the machine.
Despair gripped many legions in the early years of the Horus Heresy. The galaxy was shrouded in a perilous storm, and those who refused the Warmaster’s aid were consumed by wrath. The legions who fought on Istvan 5 were shattered, but not destroyed. In their wounded and broken state, they clung to the promise of vengeance, seeking alternative ways to replenish their ranks.
Stay tuned for our next entry where we’ll delve deeper into these alternative methods used by the loyalist legions. This is a tale of desperation and the lengths warriors will go to in the face of extinction. Until next time, keep exploring the rich lore of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
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