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After destroying Cadia, the forces of chaos are free to plot warp courses anywhere in the galaxy, attack anywhere in the imperium. The Eye of terror is fairly close to earth, with Armageddon, Averlorn, Stygies and a few other important systems between them.
Macragge and Konor are not among them. In fact Ultramar is about as far from the eye of terror as you can get in the galaxy, so why head all the way out there?

To try and stop the resurrection of Roboute.

 Exergy wrote:
After destroying Cadia, the forces of chaos are free to plot warp courses anywhere in the galaxy, attack anywhere in the imperium. The Eye of terror is fairly close to earth, with Armageddon, Averlorn, Stygies and a few other important systems between them.
Macragge and Konor are not among them. In fact Ultramar is about as far from the eye of terror as you can get in the galaxy, so why head all the way out there?

Among the objects looted from Cadia by the Black Legion were a large number of casks of Fenrisian ale. Abaddon kept them all for himself, wanting to prove himself as great a drinker as Leman Russ. He was still intoxicated when asked where the Crusade should head next.

Even abaddon hates the Mary Sue Marinezz?

 EmpNortonII wrote:

 Exergy wrote:
After destroying Cadia, the forces of chaos are free to plot warp courses anywhere in the galaxy, attack anywhere in the imperium. The Eye of terror is fairly close to earth, with Armageddon, Averlorn, Stygies and a few other important systems between them.
Macragge and Konor are not among them. In fact Ultramar is about as far from the eye of terror as you can get in the galaxy, so why head all the way out there?

Among the objects looted from Cadia by the Black Legion were a large number of casks of Fenrisian ale. Abaddon kept them all for himself, wanting to prove himself as great a drinker as Leman Russ. He was still intoxicated when asked where the Crusade should head next.

This is now canon, i will accept no argument.

From another post, it seems that Abbadon knew of Roboute Guilliman's return.

Yeah Abaddon's seers predicted the rise of Girlyman so Abaddon sends his troops that way to try and stop it happening, but in doing so gives the opening for that very thing to happen. Such irony

After the grueling​ battle for Cadia, Abaddon would probably get crushed if he went straight to Terra.

 BlaxicanX wrote:
After the grueling​ battle for Cadia, Abaddon would probably get crushed if he went straight to Terra.

That's possible. But there are a million worlds with weaker defenses than Terra and closer to him than Ultramar. None of them know he is coming. Seems like the best plan would be to his a few forge worlds to capture gene seed and weaponry. Strengthen yourself while weakening the enemy. A few quick victories like that and the chaos gods will smile upon you, showering your crusade with gifts to the point you might be able to take Terra.

 primalexile wrote:
To try and stop the resurrection of Roboute.

this, Terra could wait, a Primarch returning would be quite possiably the greatest threat to the black crusade that could happen

BrianDavion wrote:

 primalexile wrote:
To try and stop the resurrection of Roboute.

this, Terra could wait, a Primarch returning would be quite possiably the greatest threat to the black crusade that could happen

Would it? The ruinious powers have 6, possibly 8 primarchs on their side. Would 1 loyalist primarch really be that bad?

 Exergy wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:

 primalexile wrote:
To try and stop the resurrection of Roboute.

this, Terra could wait, a Primarch returning would be quite possiably the greatest threat to the black crusade that could happen

Would it? The ruinious powers have 6, possibly 8 primarchs on their side. Would 1 loyalist primarch really be that bad?

He shot the blade, man!

 Exergy wrote:
Would it? The ruinious powers have 6, possibly 8 primarchs on their side. Would 1 loyalist primarch really be that bad?

The only thing holding the Imperium together is Faith

Having a living Primach, and one of the best tacticians of the lot with them is a massive boost to their moral and faith

Roboutte is an Empire Builder, if anyone could rally the Imperium into a cohesive fighting unit, it would be him. Throw in the fact that an estimated half of all space marine geneseed comes from the Ultra Marines, I could easily see the Chapters throwing away the Codex Imperialis (especially if the guy who wrote it says its no longer relevant) and uniting under his leadership. You would effectively have a Great Crusade era Legion (if not more) hitting the forces of Chaos.

That and the fact that Abbadon was drunk on Fenrisian Ale when asked where the crusade should go next.

Ultramar is the Emperor's vision for humanity, by and large.

Take it out and you make a big statement.

A sprint to Terra doesn't end well. Horus tried that and ended up throwing himself on The Emperor's sword in a gambit to avoid reinforcements.

It is obvious from what I read that Abaddon wanted to destroy the body of Guilliman, but unfortunately (for him) was not quite able to do so in time.

I suspect Abaddon plans to create the Crimson Path towards Terra (a route which becomes so embroiled in chaos that his daemonic allies can manifest without the need for summoning, rituals, etc).

While this is work in progress, I suspect Abaddon will be attempting to get the drop on any forces that could later oppose him,

It will be interesting to see if he is aware of The Lion and attempts something similar with The Rock.

 Exergy wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:

 primalexile wrote:
To try and stop the resurrection of Roboute.

this, Terra could wait, a Primarch returning would be quite possiably the greatest threat to the black crusade that could happen

Would it? The ruinious powers have 6, possibly 8 primarchs on their side. Would 1 loyalist primarch really be that bad?

Keep in mind when I say "greatest threat" I don't mean "he will stop the 13th black crusade easily" etc. but he adds a pretty big compliation. Gulliman's a sharp mind capable of incrediable orginization, even for a Primarch (even among the primarchs Ultramar was something to be envied) this isn't just a great general returning, this is a potential resurgance against the rot and intertia thats set into the IoM. which means it'll make abbaddon's plans a LOT less reliable, as his long term plan has been thrown into doubt

I know this is gonna sound bad. But It more feels like the black crusade is going for Ultramar because the "story has to keep going". He can't just beeline for Terra (even though that would lead to more conflict anyways), he's gotta go head to head with another big name to put on a show.

Its a show I wanna watch sure. But its a show.

 Exergy wrote:

 BlaxicanX wrote:
After the grueling​ battle for Cadia, Abaddon would probably get crushed if he went straight to Terra.

That's possible. But there are a million worlds with weaker defenses than Terra and closer to him than Ultramar. None of them know he is coming. Seems like the best plan would be to his a few forge worlds to capture gene seed and weaponry. Strengthen yourself while weakening the enemy. A few quick victories like that and the chaos gods will smile upon you, showering your crusade with gifts to the point you might be able to take Terra.

As mentioned, its probably because Roboute is the immediate threat. The Emperor has been sitting on Terra for 10k years, and thats not likely to change. But Roboute is a new wildcard in the mix, someone who might actually do something.

Abbaddon also probably doesn't want to be bogged down in the 2nd siege of Terra, which in all likelihood is going to last for a few decades at best, and more likely centuries, only to have the Ultramarines and half the Imperium come and hit him in the rear and trap him between the walls of Terra in front and the legions of the Imperium behind.

I'll admit. Dealing with Ultramarine quickly and keeping Guillimon busy before he has a chance to do his empire building thing isn't too bad of a strategy. The mess on Terra is a lot less threatening then GeeDubs most celebrated Mary Sue. Of corse plot armour will ensure that not only can he fight off a Crusade he'll simultaneously build an empire and have the largest Elder harem in the galaxy (which might piss off Slaanesh so at least some drama).

 Exergy wrote:
After destroying Cadia, the forces of chaos are free to plot warp courses anywhere in the galaxy, attack anywhere in the imperium. The Eye of terror is fairly close to earth, with Armageddon, Averlorn, Stygies and a few other important systems between them.

If the Orks were able to tarpit both Abbadon and the Imperium into a ridiculously protracted battle at Armageddon (exactly the kind of thing orks want) it would make me so very happy.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 ProwlerPC wrote:
Of corse plot armour will ensure that not only can he fight off a Crusade he'll simultaneously build an empire and have the largest Elder harem in the galaxy (which might piss off Slaanesh so at least some drama).

I doubt they'll kill off RG/Ultramarines entirely, but it would be interesting if Abbadon destroyed Ultramar just as a way of showing people that the smurfs aren't entirely protected by plot armor. That might be why GW has Abbadon heading that way. Probably not, but I can dream.

Engine of War wrote:I know this is gonna sound bad. But It more feels like the black crusade is going for Ultramar because the "story has to keep going". He can't just beeline for Terra (even though that would lead to more conflict anyways), he's gotta go head to head with another big name to put on a show.

Its a show I wanna watch sure. But its a show.

As a storyteller and an old game master, you are completely correct. If Abbadon heads straight to Terra the story is either stagnated in a drawn out siege with forces of Chaos before being defeated, or the forces of Chaos are defeated once again without a long drawn out siege. Either way, pretty much the end of story for Abbadon and the Traitorous Legions.

But if Chaos goes around cutting a Crimson Path taking System McGuffin after System McGuffin, the story goes, "Oh no! Abbadon has control of this ultimate McGuffin! How we ever stop him now?" It makes Chaos look like more of a threat while not actually changing anything and keeping the story wheels spinning. They'll be spinning in place but spinning none the less. Which should keep the largest percentage of players happy. It also gives a very good fluff reason for CSM to fight any other faction as they could be after anything, anywhere as part of the 13th Black Crusade.

Dakka Flakka Flame wrote:
I doubt they'll kill off RG/Ultramarines entirely, but it would be interesting if Abbadon destroyed Ultramar just as a way of showing people that the smurfs aren't entirely protected by plot armor. That might be why GW has Abbadon heading that way. Probably not, but I can dream.

I think as of the third book in the Gathering Storm series this is not the case. I agree even with the return of Guilliman, the writers could have made a more interesting story of him and the Ultramarines there actually losing Ultramar to the Traitor Legions barely escaping with their lives. We all know that ol' Bob isn't staying there anyways so there is no actual need for them to have Ultramar in story terms. Additionally, it shows that even the Ultramarines cannot stand against the 13th Black Crusade alone (thereby upping the ante). Guilliman needs to head to head to Terra and he needs to unite the loyalists once again. This makes the 13th Black Crusade seem even more impressive as well as proving that indeed the Ultramarines are not the Steven Seagal of 40K.

It also allows GW to write another book on the eventual reclaiming of Ultramar in the future if they want to.

 Exergy wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:

 primalexile wrote:
To try and stop the resurrection of Roboute.

this, Terra could wait, a Primarch returning would be quite possiably the greatest threat to the black crusade that could happen

Would it? The ruinious powers have 6, possibly 8 primarchs on their side. Would 1 loyalist primarch really be that bad?

But would they even all work together? At most we might get two or maybe three working together, but even then they will backstab each other when they can.

Not to mention Angron would probably rip the other primarchs apart while Magnus teleports somewhere to laugh about how his plans are working out.

 Exergy wrote:
After destroying Cadia, the forces of chaos are free to plot warp courses anywhere in the galaxy, attack anywhere in the imperium. The Eye of terror is fairly close to earth, with Armageddon, Averlorn, Stygies and a few other important systems between them.
Macragge and Konor are not among them. In fact Ultramar is about as far from the eye of terror as you can get in the galaxy, so why head all the way out there?

So that he can be beaten by the Ultramarines.

I mean it is all very well saying that the return of Guilliman will allow him to start doing empire building stuff again but lets face it, how many actual imperial citizens and governors actually know about the existence of the Primarchs? Bear in mind that the official policy position of the Imperium regarding Chaos Marines (at least for people who do not specifically need to know), is that Chaos Marines do not exist. Those systems under the control of Space Marine chapters will likely know some legends of their own corresponding Primarch but there is zero reason to believe that, in a society where everyone is viewed with suspicion and where history is kept purposefully hidden from the population at large, any systems unaffiliated with a Space Marine chapter would know of the Primarchs. Many systems won't even know about the Space Marines themselves.

The secrecy, loss of and rewriting of history and paranoia of the Imperium makes Guilliman managing to make any headway in unifying systems under himself without ending up in conflict with the Imperium itself, which would view such an event as treasonous, makes him having any sort of great effect on any galaxy spanning war impossible.

 Grey Templar wrote:

 Exergy wrote:

 BlaxicanX wrote:
After the grueling​ battle for Cadia, Abaddon would probably get crushed if he went straight to Terra.

That's possible. But there are a million worlds with weaker defenses than Terra and closer to him than Ultramar. None of them know he is coming. Seems like the best plan would be to his a few forge worlds to capture gene seed and weaponry. Strengthen yourself while weakening the enemy. A few quick victories like that and the chaos gods will smile upon you, showering your crusade with gifts to the point you might be able to take Terra.

As mentioned, its probably because Roboute is the immediate threat. The Emperor has been sitting on Terra for 10k years, and thats not likely to change. But Roboute is a new wildcard in the mix, someone who might actually do something.

Abbaddon also probably doesn't want to be bogged down in the 2nd siege of Terra, which in all likelihood is going to last for a few decades at best, and more likely centuries, only to have the Ultramarines and half the Imperium come and hit him in the rear and trap him between the walls of Terra in front and the legions of the Imperium behind.

Aye the traitor legions took a long time laying siege time. They lost and could not break the last defences in tine before terra was reinforced. Swconsly they had chaos gods throwing a massive warp slow lane up for them.

Add that the first had experts like petarbo. The second might have iron warriors but unlikely there primarch to command it.
The warbands are more independently thinking and less drop into rank.

A less effective force for a fixed siege.

Abaddon canbdo alot of damage still not being bogged down in a giant attrition war

 A Town Called Malus wrote:

 Exergy wrote:
After destroying Cadia, the forces of chaos are free to plot warp courses anywhere in the galaxy, attack anywhere in the imperium. The Eye of terror is fairly close to earth, with Armageddon, Averlorn, Stygies and a few other important systems between them.
Macragge and Konor are not among them. In fact Ultramar is about as far from the eye of terror as you can get in the galaxy, so why head all the way out there?

So that he can be beaten by the Ultramarines.

I mean it is all very well saying that the return of Guilliman will allow him to start doing empire building stuff again but lets face it, how many actual imperial citizens and governors actually know about the existence of the Primarchs? Bear in mind that the official policy position of the Imperium regarding Chaos Marines (at least for people who do not specifically need to know), is that Chaos Marines do not exist. Those systems under the control of Space Marine chapters will likely know some legends of their own corresponding Primarch but there is zero reason to believe that, in a society where everyone is viewed with suspicion and where history is kept purposefully hidden from the population at large, any systems unaffiliated with a Space Marine chapter would know of the Primarchs. Many systems won't even know about the Space Marines themselves.

The secrecy, loss of and rewriting of history and paranoia of the Imperium makes Guilliman managing to make any headway in unifying systems under himself without ending up in conflict with the Imperium itself, which would view such an event as treasonous, makes him having any sort of great effect on any galaxy spanning war impossible.

umm EVERYONE knows about the Primarchs, the loyalist primarchs aren't some super secret thing no one knows about. when they're described as demi-gods thats not figurative, that's basicly their place in the IoM. they're semi-divine figures, saints, and not small ones, they almost certainly occupy the turf that is occupied by the apostles of christianty.

There is a galactic holiday celebrating Sanguinius.

The wider population might not know that primarchs are magical biological super robot gods, but many will at least know there were/are some great heros of the Emperor.

I imagine the public knows they are the Emperor's sons, where his great generals during the crusade, and sired the Adeptus Astartes. the only real SECRET about the Primarchs is that some went bad. ther's no reason to bury gulliman, dorn, sanguinis, etc. and EVERY reason to celebrate them. that said the traitor primarchs are basicly wiped from history, IIRC it's implied that the war records of the traitor primarchs was carefully transfered to the loyalists. so a planet brought into the fold by Horus, would be listed as having been brought in by Gulliman or dorn etc.

BrianDavion wrote:
the only real SECRET about the Primarchs is that some went bad. ther's no reason to bury gulliman, dorn, sanguinis, etc. that said the traitor primarchs are basicly wiped from history

Not only wiped from history but the traitors also haven't been doing very much at all. They muck about on their daemon worlds in the Eye of Terror, too drunk on power to care how the war on the outside goes. Besides, if some of them did get off their butts to step in what reason would they have to follow a jumped-up marine like Abaddon? He'd get squished in an instant if he so much as dared suggest what some traitor Primarch should do, and then he couldn't have his big moment after all the retcons to make his previous failed Crusades seem like a plan.