What is Chaos' incentive to keep fighting

[minigun762]

This may seem like a silly question, but for some of the Legions, I'm wondering what their reason for the continuing struggle is.

 

For the Cult Legions, they're basically tools of their individual Chaos Gods, so thats reason enough.

The Word Bearers are primarily out to convert the rest of the Imperium to a Chaos worshipping empire, but the rest of the Legions seem more like they were dumped by the Emperor and as such, they're fighting because they were screwed over at some point, but 10000 years later, is that still enough?

[Epic Thoughts]

It's not like you can go back and say, "Sorry, I was wrong, I shouldn't have tried to kill you all," and expect any sort of positive outcome. Why keep fighting? Because there's no going back. To stop fighting is to die.

 

There are a myriad of reasons. I know I say it alot, but, seriously, go read "Lord of The Night" by Simmon Spurrier. Possibly the best book ever printed by The Black Library. Puts you right in the boots of one of the oldest Chaos Marines around. From religious desires, to being pawns of the gods, revenge, the drive to survive, homocidial mania and simple megalomania, the reasons to keep fighting as as varied and unique as those who continue to fight.

[Zeller]

Not that I doubt you haven't read it but Storm of Iron provides insight quite a few times from the IW perspective. Remember, the passing of time relative to the traitor legions is far less than that of the Imperium due to the Warp. They still feel resenment, betrayal, and many other emotions but their emotions are so deeply ingrained they've become a part of a destructive passion.

 

Really the basic reason to keep fighting is because they are warriors bred for no purpose other than war. Honestly, what else would you expect them to do with their time? I can't imagine Khârn reading bedtime stories to children at local hospitals in the forseable future.

 

Live by the blade, die by the blade.

[minigun762]

but, seriously, go read "Lord of The Night" by Simmon Spurrier. Possibly the best book ever printed by The Black Library.

 

Oh I read that, it is a great insight into the various views and mentalities that would go through a Chaos Space Marine's mind.

Also just a good read.

 

EDIT: Yeah Zeller, I read Storm of Iron as well, another great book, probably one of my favorite. That is a good point about time passing more slowing with the Traitors, I had forgotten about that aspect.

[Smurfalypse]

For some the hate will never end...Like was said before the passage of time in the warp is different than that outside the warp. From the word bearer perspective its really just about hate, they gave everything for an "ideal" and that ideal turned his back on them and in fact scolded them for believing that idea. When everything you believe in is shown to be false it might have a lasting impression on your mind In Lorgors case it utterly broke him, and before every other WB was basically related to him they all had that same desire. There are a few legions that you can almost look at it as sorta the emperors fault in an odd sorta way, the word bearers and definately the thousand sons both were kinda let down by the empire. Hate within a family is strong and it will never end, at this point its all they know.

[Fury_of_Fenris]

well when they lost the war i think their eternal hatred has been fuelled by their shame and the chaos gods scarred into their minds for eternity and embracing the slaughter as they do is probably the only thing that calms thwem but who really knows

[Griffin]

Blood for the Blood GOD!

 

Do not question, only kill.

[Lay]

"We fight the Long War, not through vain notions of duty and honour, but through a far purer purpose: hatred. At the height of our glory we were betrayed and cast out by our kin. Guilliman, Dorn, Sanguinius - these are names I curse. Horus, Perturabo, Angron - these are names I revere, names I would follow to the very end. It is this hatred that has sustained me through the long millenia. I tend it with bitterness. I nurture it with the deaths of my former brothers. For I know that when the end is upon us and Horus is returned, then the false emperor shall be cast down from his sepulchral Golden Throne, and we shall take our rightful place at the side of Horus, the true Emperor of Mankind."

~Ferrous Ironclaw

[Griffin]

Amen Brother.