Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Basically what would happen if the Imperium decided to give full knowledge about chaos to all of it's citizens?

A few more cults, maybe, various malcontents that would otherwise not pledge to anything or a made-up deity hailing Chaos as potential salvation? And more people emboldened to take up the fight against the oppressive Imperium (as embodied by their local government) because they believe it actually does have a dangerous enemy and may not have the resources to deal with another uprising.

More cults, more rebellions, more suicides and a lot fewer people willingly joining the Imperial Guards/the Arbites/the Inquisition/the Space Marines.

The Imperium would crumble.

I think it really depends on how it's presented.

The way I would do it is let the Imperial Citizens know that this great enemy must be defeated by banding together or each citizen might have their bodies and souls taken over by a daemonic force.. Maybe a few examples could be "shown" over the galactic TV network. Along with those planets being virus bombed into oblivion.

I bet a LOT of the malcontents would stop grumbling...

Mass riots, fewer guard,no more imperium

Knowledge of Chaos seem to be commissar-grade knowledge. I don't think it would be wise to have the general public knowing about them.

Knowledge of Chaos must already be reasonably wide-spread. How else could Chaos cults exist? It'd just be another banned religion in the Imperium, like Christianity in Roman times.

Kaldor wrote:Knowledge of Chaos must already be reasonably wide-spread. How else could Chaos cults exist? It'd just be another banned religion in the Imperium, like Christianity in Roman times.

Nice take Kaldor, I second to your take over my own.

Kaldor wrote:Knowledge of Chaos must already be reasonably wide-spread. How else could Chaos cults exist? It'd just be another banned religion in the Imperium, like Christianity in Roman times.

The knowledge that they have, at most, would be of a great 'darkness' that is preached against by the Ecclesiarchy (after all, what better to unite people than to hint at a great enemy from which they can only be saved if they worship the Emperor daily, even hourly). I doubt those who make up the bulk of the Cults actually know what they're getting into, what they're actually serving or the consequences of their actions. Those who would be more informed would be those to whom the Ruinous Powers have whispered to and seduced into their service, but would they truly inform the Cults they raise of who/what they serve?

It's about context. Average hive dwellers and agri-workers are probably kept in the dark about the nefarious powers. More backward, feudal, pre-industrial peoples probably get a different brief from the Inquisition and/or Ecclesiarchy. Imagine the fire and brimstone descriptions of Satan and his hordes during medieval times

Chaos is indeed IIRC Commisar class and higher only. And Space marines, ofcourse.

They would all fall under it's controll

More chaos, more heresy and more purging fire.

I like how no one in this thread stops and thinks for a second.

Wait.....maybe....if not everything is Grimdark.....that this might inspire more Imperial Pride?

You know, shows how "We stand above?" inspire people join the Guard to defend the Imperium?