Word Bearers Warhammer 40K – Part 1 (Part 1 of 6)

The Word Bearers: A Legion of Unyielding Devotion

In the grim darkness of the far future, there exist few Legions as infamous as the Word Bearers. Originally known as the Imperial Heralds and the Iconoclasts, this XVII Legion of Space Marines has been a bastion of unyielding devotion and fanaticism. Theirs is a tale of unwavering dedication to their Primarch, Lorgar, and the Chaos gods they would eventually come to worship.

The Early Days of the Word Bearers

From their inception, the Word Bearers stood apart from their brother Legions. They fought with a fervor that bordered on fanaticism, driven by a zealous devotion to their cause. Their original recruits were drawn from the sons of defeated enemies, raised to know the crimes of their fathers and the price of the Emperor’s forgiveness. This unique approach forged a Legion that fought with a cold fury, driven by the conviction that only the condemned and redeemed could truly know.

The Great Crusade and the Unification Wars

During the Great Crusade, the Word Bearers played a pivotal role in the Unification Wars. They delivered the Emperor’s ultimatum to the enemies of humanity, offering a stark choice: submission or destruction. Upon defeating their foes, the Word Bearers would purge any heretical or sorcerous materials, condemning works, individuals, and buildings to destruction in the name of the Imperial Truth. This earned them the nickname “Iconoclasts” among the greater Imperium.

Lorgar’s Discovery and the Feudal World of Colchis

The discovery of Lorgar on the feudal world of Colchis marked a significant turning point in the history of the Word Bearers. The Primarch had unified the planet through brutal religious wars, driven by visions of the Emperor’s coming arrival. When the Emperor finally arrived, Lorgar dropped to his knee, leading the population in rejoicing and worship of the Emperor as a god.

The Slow Conquest of the Word Bearers

Unlike other Legions, the Word Bearers proceeded slowly in their conquest of the galaxy. They built temples and shrines in veneration of the Emperor, who was deemed the God of the Imperium by Lorgar. Any form of blasphemy or heresy that threatened the Emperor’s realm was ruthlessly suppressed, with ancient scrolls, books, artworks, and icons being burned and smashed before the advancing ranks of the Legion.

A Legion Kneels

Despite their unwavering devotion, the Emperor eventually brought his wrath to bear on the Word Bearers. The Ultramarines were ordered to destroy the city of Monarchia, a testament to all that Lorgar and the Word Bearers stood for. The entire Legion was forced to kneel in the ashes of their greatest achievement and re-pledge themselves to the Great Crusade and the Emperor.

The Search for Answers

In the aftermath of this humiliation, Lorgar began to question his worship of the Emperor as a god. He maintained his view that faith was central to the human psyche, but sought answers through the Old Faith of his homeworld, which he had previously destroyed. His search for truth would lead him down a dark path, one that would ultimately result in the corruption of the Word Bearers and their pledge to the Chaos gods.

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