Title: The Haunting Tales Of The Dreadnaughts: A Warhammer 40,000 Series – Part I
In the grim darkness of the far future, tales of valor and defiance echo through the cosmos. Today’s saga begins with a Dreadnaught, a mechanical behemoth, home to the spirit of an ancient warrior, whose mind was fully consumed by a curse afflicting all wolves. This metallic monster, known as Murder Fang, is kept locked away in an icy cell, thawed only when the need arises to obliterate formidable adversaries. This chilling tale, however, carries a sliver of hope. In the year 999, Murder Fang aided Logan Grimnar in locating the Wulfen on the doomed world of Vurus, suggesting that there may still be remnants of his conscious mind.
In the vast pantheon of Dreadnaughts, the Death Watch Dreadnaughts of the Blood Angels hold a special place. They serve as the final resting places of great heroes, like Moriar The Chosen. Known in life as Captain Moo Morar, he was critically wounded on the planet Coga. Upon his interment within a Dreadnaught chassis, he succumbed to the Black Rage, but with time, managed to barely contain his affliction and continue the fight.
Whispers abound about Morar, ensnared by another curse – the Red Thirst. This forced the tech Marines to modify his sarcophagus. Yet not all Blood Angel Dreadnaughts are consumed by wrath. Some, like the venerable Librarian Marist, are distinguished by their astonishing patience.
Marist’s story is intertwined with the battles against the xenos known as the Octo Calvari. These alien followers of Chaos Undivided wielded formidable psychic abilities, subjugating three Imperial planets. When the Blood Angels arrived, they found the Octo Calvari invulnerable. Marist was among the victims, but before being encased in the sarcophagus, he ordered the construction of a prison for the Octo Calvari, now known as Marist’s Vault. Guarding it for 3,000 years without rest, Marist truly embodies the spirit of sacrifice.
In contrast, there are those whose names were nearly forgotten in the annals of history, like Ranor of the Emperor’s Children. Once a celebrated warrior, he was mortally wounded by the Eldari and encased within a Dreadnaught. Most of his time was spent aboard the cruiser Andrus, ensuring the execution of his Primarch’s decrees. However, the tides of war led to his dispatch to Istvan 3, where his fate was seemingly sealed.
But Ranor survived and for the next 10,000 years, he forged plans of vengeance. He discovered an unexploded viral bomb, intending to use it against the Demon Primarch Fulgrim. Despite the bomb’s detonation, Fulgrim survived, though his pride suffered a blow.
The tale of the Dreadnaughts is one of defiance, sacrifice, and valor, and today we barely scratched the surface. As we continue our journey, we’ll delve deeper into their stories, shedding light on the forgotten corners of the Warhammer 40,000 lore. Stay tuned for more in this multi-part series.
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