The Emperor's Size (Minor Spoilers for "Hammer of Olympia")

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**Delvarus Centurion**

Ketara wrote:
I think his appearance is a bit more convoluted than a simple 'He's an old geezer who projects however he wants to appear into people's mind'.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that's a huge part of his appearance. But it should also be remembered that he's effectively a warp god manifested in the flesh. Even the most basic of Chaos spawn drawing on warp energy can twist and mutate its body according to the whims of itself or the Dark Gods; healing and generating extra limbs. I'd consequently expect the Emperor to be able to change his physical appearance at will in the same manner.

Remember, he fought alongside Horus against the Orks and wrestled with Russ. Psychic power or no, you need a certain degree of physical reach to wield a sword of the size Guilliman borrowed. Your psychic strength doesn't matter much if your fingers can't wrap all the way around the hilt, or if Horus' weapon only needed to go three inches into your body to effectively decapitate you. There's just too many problems with him only staying the size of Malcador for it to be a feasible complete explanation.

No, I daresay he's got basic shapeshifting capabilities. He might return to the shape of a tired old man when he's tired and feeling a bit deflated (perhaps that's the closest thing he has to an original form), but when the time for war comes? He pumps up some giant pecs and a few extra hearts, has the Mechanicus fit some hench armour around his newly buff form, and strides out to do battle.

'And lo, did the Emperor did examine his newly rippling pectoral muscles and proudly exclaim, "Bitching!" before going forth to smote the non-believer'
Imperial Creed. 16/24754

Totally agree with this, he does infact constantly change just like daemons. He also invented the boltgun and carried that. I don't think he is the size of a normal human, I mean everyone forgets that Magnus, is no size. He is whatever size he wills.

**Grimskul**

I think a good comparison for the Emperor's size would be All Might in Boku No Hero Academia. The bulked up version is his mainstay form for the masses but there is a baseline normal human form for when he doesn't have to put up with the appearances.

**Galas**

The Emperor's size is just like Ira Gamagori in Kill la Kill. Hes just bigger than the previous time.

**Delvarus Centurion**

Grimskul wrote:
I think a good comparison for the Emperor's size would be All Might in Boku No Hero Academia. The bulked up version is his mainstay form for the masses but there is a baseline normal human form for when he doesn't have to put up with the appearances.

I don't think he has a baseline "‘Is this your true face?’ asked Corax. ‘I have no such thing,’ replied the Emperor. ‘I have worn a million faces over the millennia, according to need or whim.’" Deliverence lost page 120. If he never had a face, then he really never had a body.

**Racerguy180**

Delvarus Centurion wrote:
Grimskul wrote:
I think a good comparison for the Emperor's size would be All Might in Boku No Hero Academia. The bulked up version is his mainstay form for the masses but there is a baseline normal human form for when he doesn't have to put up with the appearances.

I don't think he has a baseline "‘Is this your true face?’ asked Corax. ‘I have no such thing,’ replied the Emperor. ‘I have worn a million faces over the millennia, according to need or whim.’" Deliverence lost page 120. If he never had a face, then he really never had a body.

maybe he was being metaphorical. or just pulled something outta his a$$ on the spot

**Delvarus Centurion**

Racerguy180 wrote:
Delvarus Centurion wrote:
Grimskul wrote:
I think a good comparison for the Emperor's size would be All Might in Boku No Hero Academia. The bulked up version is his mainstay form for the masses but there is a baseline normal human form for when he doesn't have to put up with the appearances.

I don't think he has a baseline "‘Is this your true face?’ asked Corax. ‘I have no such thing,’ replied the Emperor. ‘I have worn a million faces over the millennia, according to need or whim.’" Deliverence lost page 120. If he never had a face, then he really never had a body.

maybe he was being metaphorical. or just pulled something outta his a$$ on the spot

I doubt it from the way it is written, doesn't sound like he's being metaphorical, otherwise he would have said 'I have no such thing really', 'I have no such thing' seem explicit and forceful rather than metaphorical. Plus I don't like debating on those grounds, there is so much you can say 'that may be metaphorical or ironic etc. Unless its suggested I keep to the lore because otherwise every bit of evidence you use in a discussion will go in circles.

**Kid_Kyoto**

Wasn't there an early book (Legion?) where one of the Highlander Immortal dudes sees the Emperor's face and is horrified?

**Engrenages**

Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Wasn't there an early book (Legion?) where one of the Highlander Immortal dudes sees the Emperor's face and is horrified?

It's his true "physical face" he saw, but his "true face" in a metaphorical sense : when they hsook hands, he understood whazt the emperor was about, how ruthless he was, etc. It's got nothing to do with physical appearance.

**tneva82**

Delvarus Centurion wrote:
Racerguy180 wrote:
Delvarus Centurion wrote:
Grimskul wrote:
I think a good comparison for the Emperor's size would be All Might in Boku No Hero Academia. The bulked up version is his mainstay form for the masses but there is a baseline normal human form for when he doesn't have to put up with the appearances.

I don't think he has a baseline "‘Is this your true face?’ asked Corax. ‘I have no such thing,’ replied the Emperor. ‘I have worn a million faces over the millennia, according to need or whim.’" Deliverence lost page 120. If he never had a face, then he really never had a body.

maybe he was being metaphorical. or just pulled something outta his a$$ on the spot

I doubt it from the way it is written, doesn't sound like he's being metaphorical, otherwise he would have said 'I have no such thing really', 'I have no such thing' seem explicit and forceful rather than metaphorical. Plus I don't like debating on those grounds, there is so much you can say 'that may be metaphorical or ironic etc. Unless its suggested I keep to the lore because otherwise every bit of evidence you use in a discussion will go in circles.

Of course one assumes he was telling 100% truth to Corax. Seeing he wasn't truthful to primarches and generally told people in general what they wanted(for primach telling how they are his true confidents and custodians just tools and to custodians reverse etc) can't really take what he says at flat value.

**Ketara**

When you think about it, we all have multiple faces. Compare your face at 2, 10, 20, 40, 70 & 100 years of age, and it'll be a different one every time right down the skin cells.

**Delvarus Centurion**

tneva82 wrote:
Delvarus Centurion wrote:
Racerguy180 wrote:
Delvarus Centurion wrote:
Grimskul wrote:
I think a good comparison for the Emperor's size would be All Might in Boku No Hero Academia. The bulked up version is his mainstay form for the masses but there is a baseline normal human form for when he doesn't have to put up with the appearances.

I don't think he has a baseline "‘Is this your true face?’ asked Corax. ‘I have no such thing,’ replied the Emperor. ‘I have worn a million faces over the millennia, according to need or whim.’" Deliverence lost page 120. If he never had a face, then he really never had a body.

maybe he was being metaphorical. or just pulled something outta his a$$ on the spot

I doubt it from the way it is written, doesn't sound like he's being metaphorical, otherwise he would have said 'I have no such thing really', 'I have no such thing' seem explicit and forceful rather than metaphorical. Plus I don't like debating on those grounds, there is so much you can say 'that may be metaphorical or ironic etc. Unless its suggested I keep to the lore because otherwise every bit of evidence you use in a discussion will go in circles.

Of course one assumes he was telling 100% truth to Corax. Seeing he wasn't truthful to primarches and generally told people in general what they wanted(for primach telling how they are his true confidents and custodians just tools and to custodians reverse etc) can't really take what he says at flat value.

Yeah he wasn't truthful to the Primarchs, but for a reason. What reason would he say that, if it was important that the Primarchs thought of him that way then he'd tell them that already instead of Corx asking him hundreds of years after he met the Emperor, so I doubt he's lying.

**chalkobob**

Delvarus Centurion wrote:
tneva82 wrote:
Delvarus Centurion wrote:
Racerguy180 wrote:
Delvarus Centurion wrote:
Grimskul wrote:
I think a good comparison for the Emperor's size would be All Might in Boku No Hero Academia. The bulked up version is his mainstay form for the masses but there is a baseline normal human form for when he doesn't have to put up with the appearances.

I don't think he has a baseline "‘Is this your true face?’ asked Corax. ‘I have no such thing,’ replied the Emperor. ‘I have worn a million faces over the millennia, according to need or whim.’" Deliverence lost page 120. If he never had a face, then he really never had a body.

maybe he was being metaphorical. or just pulled something outta his a$$ on the spot

I doubt it from the way it is written, doesn't sound like he's being metaphorical, otherwise he would have said 'I have no such thing really', 'I have no such thing' seem explicit and forceful rather than metaphorical. Plus I don't like debating on those grounds, there is so much you can say 'that may be metaphorical or ironic etc. Unless its suggested I keep to the lore because otherwise every bit of evidence you use in a discussion will go in circles.

Of course one assumes he was telling 100% truth to Corax. Seeing he wasn't truthful to primarches and generally told people in general what they wanted(for primach telling how they are his true confidents and custodians just tools and to custodians reverse etc) can't really take what he says at flat value.

Yeah he wasn't truthful to the Primarchs, but for a reason. What reason would he say that, if it was important that the Primarchs thought of him that way then he'd tell them that already instead of Corx asking him hundreds of years after he met the Emperor, so I doubt he's lying.

Maybe to hide a vulnerability.

**Albino Squirrel**

Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Wasn't there an early book (Legion?) where one of the Highlander Immortal dudes sees the Emperor's face and is horrified?

Yes, I remember that, too. Not sure exactly where it is, though. But somebody at least thinks they see his true face, and it looks ancient and shriveled.

**jhe90**

Albino Squirrel wrote:
Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Wasn't there an early book (Legion?) where one of the Highlander Immortal dudes sees the Emperor's face and is horrified?

Yes, I remember that, too. Not sure exactly where it is, though. But somebody at least thinks they see his true face, and it looks ancient and shriveled.

He is what 40,000 + years old. He hardly a young guy.

**Daba**

Maybe that huge gold figure is really more of the Emperor's puppet or secondary body, and the real/main Emperor is elsewhere?