In the vast universe of Warhammer 40,000, the 17th Legion – the Imperial Heralds – started using words that smelled of the holy incense from the Culus church. Phrases like ‘Apostle’ and ‘Creed’ slipped into their lexicon, and some dared to label the growing mindset among the sons of Lar as ‘heresy’. A term that was thought to have been buried deep in the past.
Under the leadership of their Primarch, the Imperial Heralds waged a war against all they deemed as ‘blasphemy’ and ‘heresy’. This wasn’t a war fought with bolters and chainswords, but with words and ideas. They erased religious idols from other civilizations, razed ancient texts, and demolished cultural monuments. No potential benefit from studying lost human societies could justify their existence.
The most talented chaplain of the Legion took it upon himself to create grand works explaining the divinity of the Emperor. He delivered captivating sermons to the masses they conquered, inspiring faith and devotion in the Emperor’s rule. Despite their progress in conquering the galaxy not being as rapid as others, the Imperial Heralds boasted of an absolute and unwavering domination. Planets brought under compliance by the sons of Lar turned into the most devoted worlds of the Imperium.
This transformation wasn’t swift. It took decades of careful and cunning work by Lorgar, who was as adept at dealing with human hearts as other Primarchs were with bolters and chainswords. Faith in the divinity of the Emperor gradually seeped into every Space Marine of the 17th Legion. The Chaplain, the vanguard of the religion founded by the Primarch, subtly created parallel military structures called lodges that served as a means of spreading Lorgar’s views.
The sons of Lorgar, created from his gene-seed, needed a cause to fight for more than others. The flame of faith, which ignited their hearts far brighter than any exalted rationality, held more value to them than the very foundation of that cause. The nature of the Great Crusade significantly influenced the transformation of the Imperial Heralds. They fought across numerous fronts, suffered losses, and recruited new members from Culus and dozens of other worlds.
When the last Imperial Herald accepted the divinity of the master of mankind, Lar added the final touch. The legion was renamed the Word Bearers. Lar saw this as evidence of his intention to bring happiness to the people of the galaxy at the feet of the golden god.
However, there were whispers of a genetic flaw within the Word Bearers, similar to the Thousand Sons or the Space Wolves. It was said that Lorgar’s sons were so devoted to their Primarch that they couldn’t act against his orders or disbelieve his words. Even when they recognized Lorgar’s mistakes or the negative consequences of his actions, they couldn’t resist or disobey.
The Word Bearers used the name ‘Aelan’ as a term of reverence for their Primarch. The meaning of this ancient Cusan word teetered on the edge between golden and solar. However, their love for Lorgar did not extend to the other Primarchs. They saw their spiritually imbued brother as a failure, interpreting his aversion to violence as a weakness.
Despite the criticisms, Lorgar remained steadfast. Like many of his brothers, he received the nickname ‘Uren’, an ancient Terran deity known for hypocrisy and false humility. Yet, even in the face of such labels, Lorgar hoped to bond with his brothers and serve the Imperium faithfully.
Stay tuned for more tales of faith and heresy, as we delve deeper into the saga of the Word Bearers in the next part of our series.
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