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• Angron decides the time is right for his resurgence, and tears from the warp straight into his old enemy: Armageddon. Behind him comes an army of unimaginable scale and horror, the full power of the Blood Gods Daemon Hordes without the power of the Emperor to halt them. The Imperials and Orks who are still fighting are suddenly set upon by a voracious horde of Khorne’s daemons. Angron levels Hades Hive itself and constructs a mountain of skulls in its place. Although the Armageddon System has been at ceaseless war for decades, the death-toll is unimaginable. The Armageddon Steel Legion is forced to evacuate as many citizens as it can in the face of the unimaginable chaos and make for the edge of the sector. For all intents and purposes, the Armageddon System now belongs to Khorne.


• Ghazghkull catches word of these events and is enraged that someone other than himself has conquered his old enemy. He begins to amass a Waaagh! that dwarfs even his own previous efforts.

• Although the times are dark, not everything is at its grimmest. The remnants of the Mechanicum on Mars start to rebuild their world, but are now freed from the dogma they were previously under. They still believe in the Machine-God, but now know him to be the Emperor. Invention re-enters the Mechanicum and they begin developing technology and reverse engineering older machines. This sudden burst of positivity is mirrored in many sections of the Sol System, as a strange hope suffuses the people of the Old Imperium. The High Lords of Terra reorganise themselves into the Terran High Council, and decide that amore democratic system is required without the strong figure-head of the Emperor.

meanwhile in Tau space

• Hostilities between the Tau and Eldar increase as the Eldar begin behaving incredibly peculiar toward their allies. The Tau has detected a strange Warp signature amidst the Craftworlds but is denied all access to that region of their own space. The Ethereal Council demand the Eldar explain their strange behaviour, with the Kroot, Tau-Humans and especially the Vespid crying out for the Eldar to leave.


• The Eldar set up an armed blockade around this sector of Space (dubbed the ‘Hot Zone’ by the Tau) and refuse to allow the Tau into it. They are actually hiding a Blackstone Fortress amongst their fleet, and not just any Fortress but the one was their beloved Eldrad Ulthran was lost to them. They have banished the daemon within it and are trying to use it to save Eldrad’s Soul, but at a terrible price. The Eldar activate the Fortress and it flies into Tau Space activating its most deadly protocol. The Fortress explodes, killing several millions of the Tau Empire and draining them of their essence. Eldrad’s soul is plucked from the Warp and deposited into a Spirit Stone. The Eldar deem the sacrifice of the Tau as completely necessary. The Tau Empire is aghast at the Eldar’s actions and begins taking immediate steps to punish their former allies.

Good so far, but not so sure that after a long time of dictatorship by council, democracy would be the first thing to come to mind. Also why now the sudden emphasis on innovation and invention? Just because Emperor is dead means they can be more free in their actions? Now I would love to see Angron and Ghazghkul duking it out. That would be so awesome. Also when do we see Russ, Vulkan and Croax coming back?
Ouch about the Tau, guess they had to have some wounds in this scenario too.

guardpiper wrote:Good so far, but not so sure that after a long time of dictatorship by council, democracy would be the first thing to come to mind. Also why now the sudden emphasis on innovation and invention?

It's not so much the Death of the Emperor, but the revalation of the Void Dragon. I just get the impression that the Mechanicum would sort of "Wake Up!" especially after it killed so many of them.

Plus the switch to democracy comes around (in my mind) due to the High Lords of Terra suddenly being separated from a huge bulk of their power. They are now trapped in a system with the Custodes and Grey Knights (who previously only served the Emperor) several millions of religious refugees and the Inquisition (and we all know how good they are at taking orders). In the past they would call on the vast armies of the Imperium, but now the Astronomicon is gone, they find themselves almost alone. It's sort of damage limitation in their eyes, by sharing power they reduce the blame, and in this timeline they are at their most desperate ^^

I should point out though, this is just my view on it ^^ lol

The Pan Fo are released. All are toher races are, of course, now doomed.

What happens next?


Well Old Night 2.0 starts into the Star child is re-born and the wholeeee cycle starts again.

The Emprah is a human too, he's probaly going to make the same mistakes.

guardpiper wrote:Good so far, but not so sure that after a long time of dictatorship by council, democracy would be the first thing to come to mind. Also why now the sudden emphasis on innovation and invention? Just because Emperor is dead means they can be more free in their actions? Now I would love to see Angron and Ghazghkul duking it out. That would be so awesome. Also when do we see Russ, Vulkan and Croax coming back?
Ouch about the Tau, guess they had to have some wounds in this scenario too.

Yeah, the tau deserve a few dead mates here and there, my guys took 75% casualties! Go DH hang in there!

I cannot resist insisting on Leman Russ returning with the reborn child Emperor (Star Child or no) and the Wolves having to protect this kid from everyone in the galaxy. I'd have Russ break out of the Eye of Terror after a titantic battle with Abaddon, killing him once and for all so that we could free up some room for new Chaos characters. Russ would probably be chased out of the Eye by both Angron and Mortarion.

Also, Imperials would have to come up with a new way to navigate the warp. My money would be on this development coming from Ultramar--especially if Roboute woke up there and found the Astronomicon gone. Wolves might make a dash for the UM strongholds only to be cut off by a new hive fleet or something. Great campaigns to cut through from both the SW and UM sides result.

I'm heading there man The Hooded Stranger in The Fenrisian System Plus Abaddon is pretty much anti-everything in my timeline now, as the Chaos Gods have need of their mortal followers anymore (being the fickle monstrosities they are)

Oh noes, you lost me with the Hooded Stranger (except that it is an Odin-esque image). Please extrapolate.

Dark Lord Seanron wrote:
4. Fenris and its systems go into mourning for the All-Father. The Space Wolves repaint their armour a Deep Grey and repaint their weapons black in mourning. News of a strange hooded traveller spreads through the Fenrisian system.

I imagine the SW taking the Emperor's death the hardest of all the legions (to be told your whole life that Leman Russ andthe Emperor will lead the last great battle, only for the Emperor to die would be quite a blow, especially to this usually most confident of legions)

I imagine the Hooded Traveller is a character of great significance (I'm still jotting stuff down, so don't wanna give too much away, lol) and your bang-on with him being an Odin reference. He is also a reference to the Emperor's original visit to Fenris, where he came disguised to challenge Russ

The SW lore is too good to simply ignore, so I was hoping to do an uber-story for them

Uncharacteristic of Russ to come back in anything less than a full-orchestra twilight of the gods explosion carrying some traitor's head out of the Eye with a load of other enraged traitors limping after him. Agreed that the Wolves would not take news of Emprah's death well but the correct Norse response would be insane courage (read Tom Shippey on Tolkien) rather than Edwardian mourning.

Manchu wrote:Uncharacteristic of Russ to come back in anything less than a full-orchestra twilight of the gods explosion carrying some traitor's head out of the Eye with a load of other enraged traitors limping after him. Agreed that the Wolves would not take news of Emprah's death well but the correct Norse response would be insane courage (read Tom Shippey on Tolkien) rather than Edwardian mourning.

Yeah i can totally see Russ riding out of the eye of terror on some kind of giant crazy warp wolf, using adimantium chains to steer it. Leaving a trail of climactic explosions and dead traitor marines everywhere. (he is one of my favorite Primarchs). When the SW see this they go into a berzerk ape rage at every non human thing in sight.

Yeah, that's more of what I was thinking.

Emperors Faithful wrote:Very well thought through!
Might I point out that perhaps the Warp travel is still possible, just MUCH more unreliable?

You are definitely right about all sorts of smaller Empires sprouting up. Perhaps Maccrage or Cadia would be renamed Nova Terra?

But what would the CSM do? They've now outlived the one they hated for so long, and the Imperium has all but crumbled. Would they want to scour humanity from the galaxy? Or would they seek to forge thier own (or even help) some of these smaller Empires? (Remember, quite a few CSM were motivated by the right reasons, just in a very twisted way)

Ther is already a planet called Nova Terra. A sergeant called Constantinius from the Sons of Gulliman turned to chaos and renamed it after himself. He ruled for 13 years before he was killed in a rebellion. Any ways cults on the planet still praise his name.
And I would have thought that you would deemed this thread heresy...

Interesting thought a friend of mine had. The Tau are known for taking technology that is new to them and reverse engineering it and making use of it for the "greater good". Perhaps some high-ranking Imperial somethin or rather catches wind of this and manages to have a small earth caste element shuttled onto Terra, take a look at the Golden Throne, and repair it. Problem solved? Even if it is with the help of xenos filth...

The hooded Traveller arrives at the Fang, despite the suicidal conditions involved in doing so. He passes through the Fang strangely unchallenged, and brother SW who tries to bar his way suddenly pauses and allows him past. He arrives in the Great Hall of the 13 Great Companies were the 12 remaining Wolf Lords are gathered. The Wolf Lords demand to know who the stranger is, and he reveals himself to be a Lone Wolf known as Wodin Naggfar. He reveals that he has travelled for many decades throughout the universe, at first searching for an honourable death, but eventually questing for what he refers to as ‘The Great Truth of The Future’. He urges his brothers to cast aside the melancholy that has gripped the Legion, as The All-Father and Russ need them. At the mention of Russ, the Captains excitedly enquire what the Wodin knows. He reveals that their Primarch is trying to return to them, but is penned in and under siege and requires his sons aid to rescue not only him, but all of mankind. A great victory-feats is held in Wodin’s honour and the SW make immediate plans to head to their Primarch’s location: The Eye of Terror.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Manchu wrote:Uncharacteristic of Russ to come back in anything less than a full-orchestra twilight of the gods explosion carrying some traitor's head out of the Eye with a load of other enraged traitors limping after him. Agreed that the Wolves would not take news of Emprah's death well but the correct Norse response would be insane courage (read Tom Shippey on Tolkien) rather than Edwardian mourning.

The SW, like anyone else, are capable of hubris and pathos, and are as equally succeptable to meloncholy as well (Brynnagar from 'Battle for The Abyss' is a good example). As for the correct Norse response, that's a slight sweeping generalisation. The Norse were human too, and were capable of intense sadness and meloncholy (as are we all) and even Tolkien's norse-esque characters (King Theoden of Rohan) are capable of great despair and sadness BEFORE deciding to actually ride out and face battle. I see the SW as the most supremely-confident of SM chapters, but when they lose both the All-Father and Russ, I see them as becoming lost, even more-so than everyone else, before coming out better at the other end.

As for Russ riding out "full-orchestra twilight of the gods explosion carrying some traitor's head out of the Eye with a load of other enraged traitors limping after him" makes him slightly two dimensional. I mean it was out of character for him just to stand up mid-feast and essentially bugger off for a few centuries. I imagine his return having alot more gravitas than that. I know everyone has this romantic view of the SW as if they are a Chapter full of Thor-a-likes, but Norse Mythology has so much more to it, and I'd like to think that the SW mirror all those factors!

Keep it coming. The Space Wolves part is my favorite by FAR!

You should really write a book, Dark Lord Seanron. (at the end, a psyker wakes up and says "oh, it was all a dream." lol) Seriously. This is very well writen.

@Penut: Ah, but we of the Inquisition know it is just a small part in his plan...

I see...you Inquisitors know how to play the game of Stealth and Faith.

penut the butter wrote:I see...you Inquisitors know how to play the game of Stealth and Faith.

Hell yeah!! woot! Ordo Maleus FTW.

Sun Tzu:
"All warfare is based on deception."
capter 1 paragraph 18

Basically Sun Tzu thinks the inquisition does war right. this is what gives us the right to burn people!

What I thought was interesting is that Sun Tzu says that the State should have no say in how the General runs the war. It simply there job to start it. -_-'

Which means we of the inquisition don't have to listen to anyone. ANYONE!!!
Mwhahahahahahaaaaaa!!!

That brings up an interesting question...if someone were to be accused of chaos worship would there be a trial?

@Norwulf:I agree that Sun Tzu was very wise.You can't kill what you can't see unless your really lucky with a really fast shooting gun..

• The beginning of the Great Xenos War (or referred to by the Tau as the War of Vengeance). The Tau launches a massive assault against the Craftworlds, and although they lack the sheer scale of the Eldar ships, they make up for it in numbers, tactics and advanced weaponry. Several Craftworlds take severe damage, and hundreds of Eldar Lives are lost. A massive bombardment on the Saim-Hann Craftworld kills several hundred of its people as well as blasting its Chamber of Khaine into the void. The Craftworlds begin to pull out of Tau Space, with their fleets desperately trying to stave off the more numerous attackers.


• The Vespid (who had called for the exclusion of the Eldar from the beginning) launches lightning raids on several of the Craftworlds. Some of these attacks cripple engines and weapons, whilst others are simply suicidal assaults to spread fear and panic. The Kroot Kindred’s also reap a huge tally on the Eldar, with many secrets being unlocked through the consumption of the Eldar Dead.


• The Eldar grimly realise they have underestimated the Tau, and begin to cruise out toward the boundaries of Tau Space. A Single Eldar vessel breaks from the fleet and flies directly into a planetoid between the Craftworlds and pursuing Tau Empire. The ship impacts on the planet leaving a huge crack in the structure of the planet. The Tau suddenly finds themselves under assault from unknown alien vessels from the planet with energy weapons that apparently corrupt and liquefy whatever they contact with. The Tau bid a hasty retreat in the face of this unexpected enemy. Both the Eldar and the Tau limp away to lick their wounds, whilst the mysterious alien raiders begin probing farther from the sundered planet.

You're doing an excellent job with this thread, I'm really enjoying it! Thanks!

One thing that I'd wonder about is what would happen to the navy as a whole, without access to forgeworlds and stuff- a lot of the ships would start to break down, wouldn't they?

This is going amazingly so far. I particularly like the idea of Gazgull getting angry as someone other than he defeated Armageddon. I also like to hear about this tau/eldar war, the tau finally showing what they are really made of.

• Waaagh! Ghazghkull translates into the Armageddon system with reckless abandon, and heads straight for Angron’s new base of operations. The massive Waaagh! Impacts upon the world, slaying millions of daemons in the initial assault. The battles attract the attention of the Warp itself with Khorne and both Gork & Mork looking on with savage joy at the war playing out before them.

• Ghazghkull himself leads a spearhead assault toward Angron’s Temple of Bone and some of the heaviest fighting is here. Angron strides from his Temple, and launches himself at Ghazghkull. The two monsters trade mighty blows, actually toppling the tower itself. Ghazghkull drives his power klaw through Angron’s chest, however Angron simply bellows in rage and clutching the Ork Warlords upper body in his huge talons, tears Ghazghkull in twain. Many of the Orks flee the field in disarray at the death of their beloved prophet, with others battling on to the bitter end. The Ork Waaagh, which would have decimated any other species begins to break under the fury of Khorne’s legions.

• Khorne bellows in harsh laughter as his most prized son kills the prophet of Gork & Mork. His laughter is cut short however when the shadow of the two other deities fall upon him and they “rough ‘im up good ‘n’ proper”. This act of cosmic violence temporarily severs Khornes link with the Armageddon system, sending the vast daemonic hordes screaming back whence they came. Angron screams his anger at being denied his victory. The Armageddon system is now a galactic charnel house of blood and desolation.

• Khorne retreats to his Tower of Brass in the Realm of Chaos. Gork & Mork find the whole affair deeply humorous.

• The Armageddon system is now a ghost system, devoid of all life.

Seanron,

Great stuff so far. Just one possible twist for you to consider. Rather than having the Chaos Gods simply discard their mortal minions on a capricious whim, let us assume that the Emperor ascending after the Golden Throne's failure allows him to defeat the four major gods but not Chaos entirely. With Khorne, Nurgle, Slannesh, and Tzeentch out of the picture, it opens up the demon realm for the ascension of new primary powers. Throughout the known universe, demon princes begin competing for worshippers and fighting openly amongst each other and anyone who even remotely opposes them as they attempt to ascend to even greater levels of power. For example, World Eaters could begin worshipping Angron instead of Khorne and now Angron finds himself able to bestow blessings on his followers and that his powers increase the more people he gets to believe in him. In game terms, it would open up alot of new possibilites in the Chaos dex.

Again though, great stuff. Definately enjoying the possibilities that are opening up to move the story line along but not elminating people's Armies.

The Galaxy, 2 years after the Death of the Almighty God-Emperor of Mankind

• The Sol System is now a democratic (albeit highly corrupt) state, separate from the rest of the universe. Policed by the Custodes, who are weary of their role as the Night-watchmen of the new Terran Council. The Grey Knights defend the Inquisition left within the Sol System, who has become frighteningly isolationist. The Mechanicum of Mars has also become a more autonomous, and several incredible breakthroughs improving life in the Sol System in general. The Terran Council is also secretly bidding the Mechanicum to develop an alternative to Warp Travel.


• The New Imperium (based in the Calth System) has linked with several of its neighbouring systems to create a new and broader Calth System. The Primarch Guilliman leads the system, seemingly for the benefit of mankind. However, the strain is starting to show, especially as he must breach his own Codex Astartes to ensure there are enough to police this new and larger realm.

• The Templars (formerly the Black Templers) are on a seemingly endless quest to seek out the newly reincarnated Emperor that their Chaplains prophesised. Several systems are cleansed of Daemon Taint, but the Templars never stay for any long period of time.

• The Dark Angels are on a similar quest, led by their Primarch. In the years after the Emperor’s death, Luther finally dies of old age, content at having been forgiven by his closest friend. However, a mysterious figure stalks the Rock through its journey, bearing a strangely familiar sword.


• The Xenos War continues, with the Tau striking at the Eldar whenever they can. The Ethereal’s set up ‘Re-Education Centres’ on various colonies, which in grim reality are actually Prison Camps. Any Eldar captured is transferred to these camps and brutally ‘re-educated’. Several Craftworlds find that the Tau are an even worse threat to their survival than even the Monkeigh.

• The Imperial Fists are on the brink of extinction as the Demiurg and Human explorers push their way out of the Halo Stars and back into known space in order to aid the floundering Imperium. The Demiurg begin establishing colonies, and attempting to aid any Imperial survivors they find (albeit on the condition they join The Demiurg Nation). The future of the Imperial Fists is uncertain.

• The entirety of the Space Wolves chapter leaves Fenris, and sets off on ‘The Last Great Saga’ to free their Primarch from the Eye of Terror. Worlds in need of aid are liberated as they are encountered, the ferocity of the Wolves brushing away any resistance. However, more and more brothers are suffering from the Curse of the Wulfen although this doesn’t slow down the Wolves advance through real space.

• The Hrud are now a genuine threat to the other civilised races. When the Eldar cracked the surface of a world to see off their Tau pursuers, it actually signalled a declaration of war from the Hrud who had existed within the planet. The Hrud begin picking off any world they find, and uniting with Hrud colonies that exist on several worlds.

• The Void Dragon leads a vast horde of specially designed Necrontyr against Hive Fleet Barbossa. The Dragon is infinitely fascinated with the Tyranid Organisms it encounters and begins processes to harness their savagery into his own warriors. The Deceiver meanwhile hides himself in the galaxy, fearful of the Void Dragon’s immense hunger, and also seeks a way to release his final brother to ‘even the score’. The Night Bringer however is in his element, preying on Fear and Desolation, especially in the wake of the Hrud advances.

• Abaddon sets a warpath back to the Eye of Terror, purging any and all resistance he meets. He crosses paths with the Emperors Children and decimates them, wiping out half their remaining number. Abaddon serves no one and now wishes to see the Warp and the Galaxy burn.

• The Khan travels far and wide searching for his legion, aiding those he finds who begin to form a ragtag army behind him. He also purges the Dark Eldar wherever he finds them. The Dark Eldar are closer to being wiped out than ever before as She Who Thirsts begins to drink even deeper of their essence.

• The Eye of Terror has almost doubled in span. The powers of Chaos bleed into the material realm without the Emperor’s might to halt them. However, the Cadian Gate still stands strong, as Prophets of The Emperor rise in the populace proclaiming His return. Whilst attempting to divine more about its Pylons, Cadian scientist unearth a strange Stasis Tomb that they cannot penetrate.

One word for a hell like that:Ragnarok

Ragnarok is actually the Viking term for Armageddon, and is ussually celebrated as the 'Last Great Battle'. I think thier word for hell was Freida or something.

(Sorry to nitpick)