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The High Lords of Terra claim to be acting under the Emperor.

I believe that their only source of legitimacy is the Emperor's Tarot.


For, with that Tarot, they can "receive orders" directly from the Emperor Himself.


So, my question is, has the Emperor's Tarot ever been shown to give a meaningful command? Has the Emperor ever successfully communicated since His ascension?

as I understand it their source of leigimacy isn't the tarot, but rather that the high lords are regents.

BrianDavion wrote:
as I understand it their source of leigimacy isn't the tarot, but rather that the high lords are regents.

but I don't think the Imperium follows divine appointment-ship like the Sikh Gurus. Hence there is no reason for people to believe that they are infallible.

Maximus Bitch wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:
as I understand it their source of leigimacy isn't the tarot, but rather that the high lords are regents.

but I don't think the Imperium follows divine appointment-ship like the Sikh Gurus. Hence there is no reason for people to believe that they are infallible.

no one does belive they are, which is why the IoM fights itself as much as anyone else. 40k is best understood as a setting designed for us to line up our plastic army men and have them fight, no matter what the plastic army men ARE, and it works GREAT, I show up and have a random game vs you, ohh gee we've both got ijmperial guard. guess we're fighting a civil war!

In the Inquisition wars triology the main character gets commands straight from the Emperor through the Emperors tarot. It's proved to be him during their eventual meeting, though I won't spoil the circumstances.

Other then that I don't think there's any examples of the Emperor giving direct messages through the tarot. The Tarot is a hugely common thing spread across the Imperium and is used both for card games, by charlatans and by legitemate psyker practioners. Basicly it's just a deck of cards with Imperial motives, but they can definetly be used by a divination psyker to focus his/hers abilities.

Maximus Bitch wrote:
The High Lords of Terra claim to be acting under the Emperor.

I believe that their only source of legitimacy is the Emperor's Tarot.

Their onl source of legitimacy is the fact that they command huge institutions with massive power. The council of the High Lords of Terra was already in place during the Great Crusade. The Emperor and his Primarchs weren't handling the massive bureaucracy necessary to maintain their Imperium standing and growing. They were not overseeing the import of fresh water and food necessary to make the billions of Terran survive on palet where ocean were vaporised and soil became almost steril during the Age of Strife, niether were they administrating the Treasory or the multitude of petty, yet all important task that makes Empire live and die. The idea they take order from the Emperor is a bit like the order that absolutist kings only answer to God. It's both a metaphore to describe hteir ultimate power and a cultural justification for it. They don't need neither expect to receive orders from the Emperor. The last person who has received a direct order from the Emperor would be Alicia Dominica.

epronovost wrote:

Maximus Bitch wrote:
The High Lords of Terra claim to be acting under the Emperor.

I believe that their only source of legitimacy is the Emperor's Tarot.

Their onl source of legitimacy is the fact that they command huge institutions with massive power. The council of the High Lords of Terra was already in place during the Great Crusade. The Emperor and his Primarchs weren't handling the massive bureaucracy necessary to maintain their Imperium standing and growing. They were not overseeing the import of fresh water and food necessary to make the billions of Terran survive on palet where ocean were vaporised and soil became almost steril during the Age of Strife, niether were they administrating the Treasory or the multitude of petty, yet all important task that makes Empire live and die. The idea they take order from the Emperor is a bit like the order that absolutist kings only answer to God. It's both a metaphore to describe hteir ultimate power and a cultural justification for it. They don't need neither expect to receive orders from the Emperor. The last person who has received a direct order from the Emperor would be Alicia Dominica.

the last person we know of whom allegedly received a direct order from the emperor

BrianDavion wrote:

Maximus Bitch wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:
as I understand it their source of leigimacy isn't the tarot, but rather that the high lords are regents.

but I don't think the Imperium follows divine appointment-ship like the Sikh Gurus. Hence there is no reason for people to believe that they are infallible.

no one does belive they are, which is why the IoM fights itself as much as anyone else. 40k is best understood as a setting designed for us to line up our plastic army men and have them fight, no matter what the plastic army men ARE, and it works GREAT, I show up and have a random game vs you, ohh gee we've both got ijmperial guard. guess we're fighting a civil war!

but according to the Imperial cult its a sin to act against the Emperor's (civil) servants. which would only be possible if doctrine gave the High Lords some kind of divine mandate or halo, like the appointment of the Sikh gurus.

Maximus Bitch wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:

Maximus Bitch wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:
as I understand it their source of leigimacy isn't the tarot, but rather that the high lords are regents.

but I don't think the Imperium follows divine appointment-ship like the Sikh Gurus. Hence there is no reason for people to believe that they are infallible.

no one does belive they are, which is why the IoM fights itself as much as anyone else. 40k is best understood as a setting designed for us to line up our plastic army men and have them fight, no matter what the plastic army men ARE, and it works GREAT, I show up and have a random game vs you, ohh gee we've both got ijmperial guard. guess we're fighting a civil war!

but according to the Imperial cult its a sin to act against the Emperor's (civil) servants. which would only be possible if doctrine gave the High Lords some kind of divine mandate or halo, like the appointment of the Sikh gurus.

of course they have a divine mandate, they're servants in the maintance of the Emperor's imperium.

It is probably better to say that the High Lords are trustees of the Imperium and the Big E the sole contigent beneficiary. Contingent on power over the Imperium reverting to Big E when he gets off the throne and starts doing stuff...which ain't happening any time soon.

BrianDavion wrote:

Maximus Bitch wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:

Maximus Bitch wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:
as I understand it their source of leigimacy isn't the tarot, but rather that the high lords are regents.

but I don't think the Imperium follows divine appointment-ship like the Sikh Gurus. Hence there is no reason for people to believe that they are infallible.

no one does belive they are, which is why the IoM fights itself as much as anyone else. 40k is best understood as a setting designed for us to line up our plastic army men and have them fight, no matter what the plastic army men ARE, and it works GREAT, I show up and have a random game vs you, ohh gee we've both got ijmperial guard. guess we're fighting a civil war!

but according to the Imperial cult its a sin to act against the Emperor's (civil) servants. which would only be possible if doctrine gave the High Lords some kind of divine mandate or halo, like the appointment of the Sikh gurus.

of course they have a divine mandate, they're servants in the maintance of the Emperor's imperium.

by mandate I mean some kind of official "guarantee" from a divine power. something like papal infallibility.