Thinking about Nikea...

[Piousservant]

I’ve been thinking, what if Nikea was an attempt by the Emperor to stave off the threat of the Heresy?

 

First off, I don’t buy the theory that the Emperor intended the Heresy, so this is working on the basis that he did not want it to happen. Of course, it seems like a lot of his decisions don’t make much sense if he wasn’t intending the Heresy but I think that’s the partly the benefit of us looking in from the outside so this is an attempt to look at his actions from what might have been his perspective.

 

Consider that the future is becoming clouded and the Emperors vision is less able to see what will come to pass. Perhaps, however, he sees the potential for the Heresy but does not know what or how the Dark Gods will bring down the Legions. All he knows is that the combined might of the Dark Gods conspires against him and with the growing darkness in his vision the Emperor knows that they will make their move soon – if they haven’t already.

 

If you look at things from this perspective some of the Emperors decisions, and his secrecy, make more sense. Not his early treatment of the Primarchs so much (that I put down to his failure to comprehend their human weaknesses) but some of his later actions. Principally Nikea.

 

The Emperor knows about the Warp and knows about the dangers of the Dark Gods. He knows, therefore, that psykers are the most at risk – from the perils of the warp and from corruption.

 

I wouldn’t expect it to even occur to the Emperor that one of his Sons would deliberately seek out and turn to the worship of the Dark Gods. To the creator of the secular Imperial Truth that would be pretty incomprehensible. The most likely way therefore, for the Dark Gods to be able to influence and corrupt the Legions would be through corrupting its psykers, who are the most vulnerable to such attack. The Librarius departments, then, represented a very real threat and the potential cause of the rebellion that the Emperor can see lurking on the horizon.

 

Seen from this position the Emperors decision at Nikea (particularly with the retcon to include all Liberians not just sorcery) makes, I think, a little more sense. What do you think?

[Legatus]

At the Council of Nikaea I know (IA:TS) the Emperor did not outright ban anything. He listened to the arguments from the opposition and the proponents of psyker use, and eventually the compromise was reached that Librarians would be strictly and thoroughly trained, while the use of sorcery was outlawed. That made a ton of sense, and was very reasonable.

[Piousservant]

At the Council of Nikaea I know (IA:TS) the Emperor did not outright ban anything. He listened to the arguments from the opposition and the proponents of psyker use, and eventually the compromise was reached that Librarians would be strictly and thoroughly trained, while the use of sorcery was outlawed. That made a ton of sense, and was very reasonable.

 

I totally agree. However, the OP was based on the background as it currently stands rather than the, now retconned, council as shown in IA:TS. I did prefer the original myself but, if I can be honest, that doesn't really add anything to the topic at hand.

[Captain Juan Juarez]

At the Council of Nikaea I know (IA:TS) the Emperor did not outright ban anything. He listened to the arguments from the opposition and the proponents of psyker use, and eventually the compromise was reached that Librarians would be strictly and thoroughly trained, while the use of sorcery was outlawed. That made a ton of sense, and was very reasonable.

 

I totally agree. However, the OP was based on the background as it currently stands rather than the, now retconned, council as shown in IA:TS. I did prefer the original myself but, if I can be honest, that doesn't really add anything to the topic at hand.

 

But that has kinda been retconned by the HH series and A Thousand Sons in particular; Librariums were disbanded and Librarians were returned to the ranks of the Battle-Brothers.

[Bartol the Unforgiving]

At the Council of Nikaea I know (IA:TS) the Emperor did not outright ban anything. He listened to the arguments from the opposition and the proponents of psyker use, and eventually the compromise was reached that Librarians would be strictly and thoroughly trained, while the use of sorcery was outlawed. That made a ton of sense, and was very reasonable.

 

I totally agree. However, the OP was based on the background as it currently stands rather than the, now retconned, council as shown in IA:TS. I did prefer the original myself but, if I can be honest, that doesn't really add anything to the topic at hand.

 

But that has kinda been retconned by the HH series and A Thousand Sons in particular; Librariums were disbanded and Librarians were returned to the ranks of the Battle-Brothers.

 

That always confused me regarding the former librarians. How would you essentially deny something that is so intrinsic to one's self? To be a trained psyker in your librarius for so long then told to just not be it anymore because people are scared of you.

[Legatus]

Apparently, according to the Horus Heresy Council of Nikaea, it was ok to be a psyker, just not to use any psychic powers.

[Kodanshi]

Apparently, according to the Horus Heresy Council of Nikaea, it was ok to be a psyker, just not to use any psychic powers.

Ah, so it’s like British law? Over here you can BE a prostitute, but actually engaging in any prostitution activities is entirely illegal! Erm… how does that work?! ;)

[Captain Juan Juarez]

Apparently, according to the Horus Heresy Council of Nikaea, it was ok to be a psyker, just not to use any psychic powers.

Ah, so it’s like British law? Over here you can BE a prostitute, but actually engaging in any prostitution activities is entirely illegal! Erm… how does that work?! :lol:

 

Piracy, soliciting and being a solicitor/lawyer are the three oldest professions in the world... :(

 

On another note, family friendly board dude.. Try another analogy?

 

 

And Legatus is correct; as long as you didn't use your powers, you were fine... Because the only way to stop being a psyker is to die - or at least it was then.

[Legatus]

That's why the Index Astartes Nikaea decision made sense.

[Kodanshi]

On another note, family friendly board dude.. Try another analogy?

 

Apologies, but it was the first thing that came to mind. I learnt it during lessons in Law class, haha.