Rogal Dorn: The Sentinel of Terra – Part 4

In the annals of the Imperium’s history, the unification of the Father of the Seventh Legion, Rogal Dorn, with his army stands as the swiftest. A phenomenon of fate or mere coincidence, Dorn’s philosophy mirrored the ideals of the Emperor of Mankind and the objectives of the Great Crusade. This ideological alignment was reflected in his progeny, the legionnaires who embodied Dorn’s fulfilled aspirations.

An intriguing facet of the Seventh Legion’s lore revolves around the Templars, a squad acting as Dorn’s personal guardians and protectors of the Temple of Oaths aboard the colossal starship, Phalanx. Contrary to its religious connotation, the temple was a secular sanctuary dedicated to the principles of the Great Crusade. Housing the torn banners of vanquished foes and statues commemorating fallen heroes, the temple was off-limits to all except Dorn and his Templars.

Dorn was a firm believer in the idea that victory transcended mere physical conquest. He theorized that the destruction of an enemy’s citadel, and the eradication of their symbols of faith, did not equate to absolute victory. He aimed to offer the conquered populace something monumental and inspirational, a demonstration of the Imperium’s superiority over their dreary past. Dorn was prepared to pay any price to achieve this, yet it would be a mistake to perceive this as kindness. Instead, Dorn’s actions were grounded in pragmatic calculation, his idealism manifesting in the value he placed upon the reasons for battle, as much as the battle’s outcome itself.

Despite Dorn’s restrained demeanor, his unwavering devotion to the Emperor of Mankind occasionally surfaced during rare flashes of emotion. These instances were notably seen during his clash with Conrad Kur, who suffered for his grim predictions, and during a brief confrontation with Ferrus Manus, who held differing views on the campaign led by their respective Legions.

Each Primarch held unique perceptions of Dorn. Leman Russ, for instance, likened Dorn to the swift, merciless strike of an axe. Terano, however, believed that Dorn shared more commonalities with ordinary people, though his emotions flashed like lightning where a mortal might experience a spark. Dorn, like his brothers, represented humanity in a grand, intimidating, and majestic form.

During the Great Crusade, the Seventh Legion acted as the strategic reserve of the Emperor’s forces, thanks to the massive Fortress ship, the Fallen. Dorn’s talent for strategy, especially in urban battles, earned him the reputation of a siege specialist. When the Emperor sought to build a grand palace on Terra, he enlisted Dorn and the Seventh Legion, entrusting them with the construction of this monumental edifice.

The honor bestowed upon Dorn did not go unnoticed by the other Primarchs. When Perturabo, the Father of the Iron Warriors, discovered that Dorn had complete confidence in the palace’s impregnable defenses, he unleashed a barrage of accusations at Dorn, shocking the bystanders. Dorn, not wishing to engage in a war of words, opted to distance himself from Perturabo, leading to a rivalry between the two. This animosity struck many as unnatural, considering their shared talents in architecture and fortification. But the similarities ended there, and instead of fostering understanding, these shared traits fueled competition. Both Primarchs were indeed stern and reserved, but the roots of these traits were as different as night and day, adding another layer of complexity to their contentious relationship.

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