Welcome back, my fellow Warhammer 40,000 enthusiasts, to the next thrilling installment in our ongoing exploration of the vast, grimdark universe of the 41st Millennium. Today, we delve deep into the trials and tribulations of the Word Bearers, the 17th Legion of the Adeptus Astartes, and their charismatic yet controversial Primarch, Lorgar.
During the Great Crusade, a galaxy-spanning campaign of breathtaking scale, news traveled slow, and misinformation was rife. The mighty Emperor and his War Council, inundated with conflicting reports, were forced to rely on faith in their distant legions. Amidst this backdrop of uncertainty, the Word Bearers were subjected to scrutiny. Yet it wasn’t faith that cast the first doubt on their loyalty but the sluggish pace of their conquests.
While the Word Bearers were faithful soldiers of the Imperium, their style of conquest was alarmingly wasteful. Instead of a swift, brutal subjugation, Lorgar’s legion invested heavily in the restoration of conquered worlds, erecting grand temples and training mortals in the tenets of their faith. This methodical approach hampered the pace of their campaign, attracting the attention of Terra’s ruling council.
Concerned by the inefficiency of the Word Bearers, the military council sent emissaries to investigate. What they discovered was disconcerting. The slow progress wasn’t due to unforeseen challenges; instead, the Word Bearers were intentionally delaying their conquests, focusing on rebuilding cities and social structures, erecting temples, and instilling faith in the God-Emperor.
The loyalty of the Word Bearers was never in question. The planets they conquered were compliant, regular in their tithes, and obedient to Terra’s commands. However, their slow pace of conquest and the spread of religious belief – something the Emperor himself fought against – was a cause for concern.
Despite the Emperor’s clear distaste for organized religion, his son Lorgar had essentially started a cult, spreading his false doctrine throughout the galaxy. Entire planets were exterminated merely because their populations refused to acknowledge the Emperor as their sole god.
The Emperor, in his wisdom, attempted to rectify this. He issued demands to Lorgar to purge his Legion of misguided beliefs. He also sent missions to the planets conquered by the Word Bearers, hoping to bring them into compliance with Imperial dogma.
To execute this divine reprimand, the Emperor summoned his son, Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines. The 13th Legion, known for their exemplary service, were the ideal candidates to show Lorgar and his Legion the true path. The Emperor hoped that the sight of the noble Ultramarines would serve as a beacon of hope, a symbol of what could be achieved through diligent service to the Imperium.
However, the Emperor’s plan of corrective action took a turn for the worse. The Ultramarines arrived on the planet of Khur, tasked with the destruction of its capital, Monarchia, and seven other major settlements. The inhabitants were given a week to evacuate, sparking a wave of chaos and bloodshed.
In the end, the Emperor’s attempt at correction only served to deepen the rift between him and the Word Bearers, a tragic event that would have repercussions echoing throughout the millennia. But that’s a story for another day. Stay tuned, dear readers, as we continue our journey through the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000.
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