The Fall of Horus: A Tale of Chaos and Destruction
As the Solar War raged on, Horus’ forces finally arrived in the Sol System, but their leader was nowhere to be found. The absence of Horus and his flagship, the Vengeful Spirit, sparked grim speculation among Rogal Dorn, Malcador, and others. Their suspicions were confirmed when a ritual conducted by Ahriman and the Word Bearers created a massive Warp-rift above Luna, unleashing tens of thousands of warships.
The Siege of Terra Begins
At the head of the armada was the Vengeful Spirit, with Horus commanding from Lupercal’s Court. The defenses of the Sol System collapsed, and Horus struck directly at Terra. But as he besieged the planet in the Materium, the Ruinous Powers assaulted the Imperium in the Immaterium. The Emperor alone held back the tides of the Warp from the Sol System.
Horus’ Descent into Madness
As Horus finally arrived at Terra, he appeared to the Emperor as a feral wolf, goading him and declaring him a tyrant and liar. The Emperor refused to respond, instead announcing his rejection of the Ruinous Powers and declaring their puppet as nothing. As the siege raged on, Horus became increasingly absent from direct command, frustrating First Captain Abaddon.
The Chaos Gods’ Influence
Horus spent large amounts of time inside the pocket dimension of Lupercal’s Court, accompanied by Zardu Layak and his Word Bearers. He would fall into a comatose state, scanning the Empyrean for lore and weakening the Emperor upon their psychic battlefield within the Warp. Horus swelled with the powers of the Chaos Gods, commanding through fear rather than charisma.
The Final Stages of the Siege
After the setback at the Saturnine Wall, Horus became more directly active in the siege’s execution. He ordered Perturabo to use the Legio Mortis to attack the Mercury-Exultant Kill-Zone, despite its formidable defenses. When Perturabo expressed doubt, Horus was adamant it would succeed, because he willed it so.
The Endgame
Horus remained isolated aboard the Vengeful Spirit until the final stages of the siege. He began to prepare for his landing to kill the Emperor personally, issuing his first direct command not given through Argonis in weeks. Horus psychically ordered Angron to find and kill Sanguinius, an act of desperation.
The Final Confrontation
Despite the loyalist success in holding the Eternity Gate, Horus’ army was on the brink of victory. He intercepted a message from Roboute Guilliman that he and his reinforcements were mere hours away from Terra. Horus finally roused from his throne and journeyed to the bridge of the Vengeful Spirit, where he addressed his equerry Kenor Argonis as Maloghurst.
The Ultimate Gambit
To the shock of all present, Horus stated that he had lowered the Vengeful Spirit’s Void Shields, inviting the Emperor to teleport aboard his flagship. This would allow Horus to slay the Emperor before Guilliman’s reinforcements could arrive. The Emperor took the bait, and alongside Rogal Dorn, Sanguinius, Constantin Valdor, and their elite forces, teleported to the Vengeful Spirit.
The Chaos God Ascendant
Horus sprung his trap, using his sorcerous connection to his flagship to scatter the loyalists throughout the vessel. He took control of many of the Emperor’s own Custodes, forcing them to attack their own liegelord. Horus revealed his true power and mental strength, which he had been concealing to lure his father to him. According to Actae, Horus was preparing to be elevated to a fifth Chaos God, using humanity just as Slaanesh had used the Eldar.
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