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Scions of the Storm


Skirax

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It was pretty good. I would like to see some more stories exploring Lorgar as a war-leader and not just a preachy sycophant. Especially to see some of the background behind the legion's military structure, like the Coryphaus and what not. Seeing as it shares my name, I'm interested in this position greatly ;) All we ever seem to get from Lorgie's lot is "Praise the Dark Gods, or your soul will be eaten/devoured/burnt/torched/tickled/aggravated/confused for all eternity, bwaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!"
Best example of Word Bearers fiction yet. Made me empathise more with their position on the Emperor and their faith, and sound less like whiny children. The personification of Lorgar as their patron saint, and the author's ability to stay true to established characters (Kor Phaeron was egotistical and arrogant, Erebus was quiet but ruthless) while still making his own compelling (Talgron) really stood out among other writers. For the most part, Black Library authors have an intrinsic need to angle existing characters to their own concepts and ideals, which in many cases alienates established characters (for an example, read the three or so different conceptualizations of Sanguinius and try to find the common thread). Reynolds seems to have the required humility to remain true to the chapter's established archetype, while still fleshing them out to be Astartes in the heroic sense. I hope fervently that he will be allowed to do the Word Bearer's side in the Battle of Calth books, as he has the best grasp of this chapter (in my opinion) I have yet read.

Well, I liked it. It wasn't super or anything overly-brilliant, but rather well done. The battle was pretty much normal Astartes action, but I enjoyed the imaginery, the place where the battle took place was pictured like being some long-lost, ancient & isolated paradise.

 

Characters weren't that fleshed out, their main personalities were shown yes, but nothing more, not much about what layed under their skin, only the outer shell.

Sor Talgron, if my memory servers me right, wasn't that special or anything. He didn't differ that much from normal marine in any senses.

 

Though, he is the one I'd like to hear more about, as his role in Heresy was pivotal; fooling the False Emperor, pretending their loyalties layed on Him, making Him to believe that the XVII Legion supported Him.

 

I'd enjoy greatly if Reynolds did the book focusing on Word Bearers, those near Terra with Sor Talgron.

For me it was greatly weakened by having a very similar plot to another story in the collection. Thorpe's Dark Angels story also had the Astartes hero realising that the humans were not such bad guys after all, and having teleporting terminators barge in and shoot up the ruling councils against the hero's wishes.

 

To me, much of the fault for this lies not with Thorpe and Reynolds, but with the editors, who should have noticed the multiple similarities and ordered changes made to differentiate the stories.

For me it was greatly weakened by having a very similar plot to another story in the collection. Thorpe's Dark Angels story also had the Astartes hero realising that the humans were not such bad guys after all, and having teleporting terminators barge in and shoot up the ruling councils against the hero's wishes.

 

To me, much of the fault for this lies not with Thorpe and Reynolds, but with the editors, who should have noticed the multiple similarities and ordered changes made to differentiate the stories.

 

I wouldn't blame the editors myself, true the stories are very similar, but the underlying theme of both is different enough as to make them different.

 

In Call of the Lion, Astelan plays the role of an arrogant conquer who feels that might makes right, all others be damned. He did not care to negotiate a peace, if he had arrived first, he would have dropped podded and teleported in from the get go.

 

With Scions of the Storm, Logar is the jilted scorned son, he knew the truth the entire time, and it was his hatred of the Emperor that drive him to ensure that the planet was purged. If the Word Bearers had arrived before Logar has been chastised by the Emperor, they easily could have used religion and the might of the Emperor to bring the populace into the fold with minimal or bloodshed. Plus, given the planet's penchant for worshiping the Emperor, it would have been a great recruiting world for the WBs

In Call of the Lion, Astelan plays the role of an arrogant conquer who feels that might makes right, all others be damned. He did not care to negotiate a peace, if he had arrived first, he would have dropped podded and teleported in from the get go.

Wrong.

 

Was it not for Astelan, the world would have been bathed in blood immediately, as it was afterwards. Thanks to the battle-hungry jr.chapter master Belath.

Astelan played the role of a wise, peaceful negotiator, while Belath was that arrogant conqueror who felt might makes right.

In Call of the Lion, Astelan plays the role of an arrogant conquer who feels that might makes right, all others be damned. He did not care to negotiate a peace, if he had arrived first, he would have dropped podded and teleported in from the get go.

Wrong.

 

Was it not for Astelan, the world would have been bathed in blood immediately, as it was afterwards. Thanks to the battle-hungry jr.chapter master Belath.

Astelan played the role of a wise, peaceful negotiator, while Belath was that arrogant conqueror who felt might makes right.

 

 

Did I flip flop names? Damnit, been a while since I read the story, sorry about that

  • 2 weeks later...

Well, I thought it was actually pretty good, but that's because I don't actually like or respect Lorgar's character very much.I think it compared very well to The Last Church - Uriah was a man sustained his faith, whereas Lorgar is just some brat who is sustained by his faith.

 

But Astelan and Sor Talgron compare well - the difference between them is that the Lion wasn't towering over Astelan convincing him that he was right - whereas what could poor Talgron do in the face of his father, commander, and priest but accede?

 

And again, you can compare Talgron and Uriah - Talgron, a space marine couldn't say no, but Uriah looked into the face of a living god and turned away. And Uriah was just a man.

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