The Horus Heresy: A Stream of Consciousness Review

[Jareddm]

I think it's fair to say that, prior to Talon of Horus, the prevailing "mainstream perception" of Abaddon the Despoiler was that of a megalomaniacal brute. What few appearances of him we got over the years granted the Warmaster of Chaos little personality or character. He was, in my humble opinion, little more than "The Threat". Thus, when Talon of Horus was released, I was delighted by the portrayal of a more thoughtful, nuanced Ezekyle Abaddon... but I'll admit to feeling like he was a little out of place. I liked the fact that Aaron Dembski-Bowden sought to "rehabilitate" the character, but it almost seemed like the efforts were made out of whole cloth.

 

So many people don't seem to realize just how much time has passed between the end of the Heresy and The Talon of Horus. Abaddon wasn't sitting in the Vengeful Spirit that whole time. He made a hundred year pilgrimage across the Eye of Terror, soul searching and trying to find purpose in his life after everything he believed in had been shattered. No one would be the same after that.

[Phoebus]

No, of course not. And, likewise, entire millennia have passed between the events of Talon of Horus and Soul Hunter - written by the same author. The fact remains, however, that it can be difficult to ignore those spans of time and the implied change that comes with them.

 

In this case, though, I'm kind of bringing up the opposite point. That is, rather than pointing out how much Abaddon changed between Horus Rising and Talon of Horus, I'm offering that he wasn't always what we perceived in vignettes set in the 41st Millennium. Perhaps an attempt to "rehabilitate" Abaddon as a deeper, more thoughtful character was underway as early as 2006... and it unfortunately fell by the wayside for some time. Or maybe that's just my flawed impression, and evidence to the contrary will arise as I re-read the series!

[b1soul]

How much time has passed between the HH and Talong of Horus. I was under the impression of decades or at most centuries from Abbaddon's perspective

[Phoebus]

Less than 750 years side-real, since the First Black Crusade is said to occur around 781.M31, and Talon of Horus predates that conflict. Of course, from Abaddon's perspective in the Eye of Terror, it may have felt like mere years or full-on millennia.

[Augustus]

Good stuff Phoebus. I enjoy reading your musings. They are very well thought out. I agree with the armor bit. Giant armor in my opinion needs to be in a large room or in an armoring storage area. How effectively could a space marine assemble his armor by himself.

[HeritorA]

Spot on Phoebus. Someone knows his lore

[Loesh]

 

In a way, I think my biggest surprise was finding out Lucius' personal quarters were a door, a bunk and a storage locker. Because Lucius seems like the kind of person who would have, or rather demand some sort of fanfare that just screams "Look at me! I am man! These are my accomplishments!"

 

But in a way, it makes sense. Lucius views himself as being a superior pedigree to everything around him and as a result, there is very little he views as being worth taking as a trophy. But on that same token, he is so selfish and jealous that whatever he does deem worthy he tries to hide from everyone by covering it with something mundane.

 

So, while I don't expect much, what I do expect is to be shown who the character is.

 

I'v been away for awhile, but I felt like commenting on this, because I don't think that has anything to do with pride or jealousy at all.

 

The other thing to keep in mind with Lucius is that of the other Emperors Children he's influenced by Slaanesh the least, and it's the reason she likes him in much the same way Abaddons own will makes him attractive to the other Chaos gods. He does not give in to hedonism completely because to Lucius that would represent a loss of control, he keeps himself close to his discipline and his tradition even if he seemingly disdains them because they allow him to focus on his swordsmanship.

 

In that way, it's only fitting that Lucius would have a relatively unadorned room.

[Conn Eremon]

I wouldn't say he is influenced by Slaanesh the least, in fact quite the opposite. It's a common habit for the Slaaneshi to be expressed in only one manner, but it's only one angle of obsessive indulgence. Lucius is very much about that, it's just expressed through his swordsmanship and drive for superiority that eclipses what one would just expect of even another Emperor's Children. Lucius has lost control. He cannot do, he cannot be, anything else. His entire existence, especially his later existence, is dedicated to the pursuit of his craft, and those singular moments when he surpasses those he pits himself against. AD-B once said, and I'm probably terribly paraphrasing, that Chaos doesn't change you. It takes what id already there, and expresses it. Lucius's gift is, essentially, that of a sore loser. It's his flaw, beyond, or perhaps because of, his obsession. When he does lose, he cannot accept it, cannot acknowledge it. He refuses it, and his gift expresses that.

 

Kol does have a point, though Lucius does get into the habit of trophy-taking. In a way that says a lot about his character. He's very self-absorbed, he's very competitive, he's very confident in himself. All traits one would expect in many Marines, especially the culture of the Third, but that he takes to even greater extremes. So how does he begin to take trophies? He scars himself. He is his own trophy.

[Loesh]

I wouldn't say he is influenced by Slaanesh the least, in fact quite the opposite. It's a common habit for the Slaaneshi to be expressed in only one manner, but it's only one angle of obsessive indulgence. Lucius is very much about that, it's just expressed through his swordsmanship and drive for superiority that eclipses what one would just expect of even another Emperor's Children. Lucius has lost control. He cannot do, he cannot be, anything else. His entire existence, especially his later existence, is dedicated to the pursuit of his craft, and those singular moments when he surpasses those he pits himself against. AD-B once said, and I'm probably terribly paraphrasing, that Chaos doesn't change you. It takes what id already there, and expresses it. Lucius's gift is, essentially, that of a sore loser. It's his flaw, beyond, or perhaps because of, his obsession. When he does lose, he cannot accept it, cannot acknowledge it. He refuses it, and his gift expresses that.

 

Kol does have a point, though Lucius does get into the habit of trophy-taking. In a way that says a lot about his character. He's very self-absorbed, he's very competitive, he's very confident in himself. All traits one would expect in many Marines, especially the culture of the Third, but that he takes to even greater extremes. So how does he begin to take trophies? He scars himself. He is his own trophy.

 

I'd say you're thinking of what he becomes, not what he is. As Graham said on the subject, Lucius being a consummate swordsman has resulted him in slowing down on the path of corruption, yes he's singularly focused without driving so far into worship that he'd become a beserker with a sword. Lucius needs control, he CRAVES control, and falling too deep into hedonism would rob all that control from him and so he hasn't actually lost control quite yet by sheer force of will.

 

I also wouldn't say Lucius is a sore loser, by the time Cyrus reaches him he's become laughing mad at the concept of death. But with Nykona, Loken, and Tavitz he couldn't handle that shakeup in his worldview where fighters didn't battle with rigid rules and discipline, it frustrated him to once again not have that control over a situation, to be in fights that were lost not due to his skill but because his opponents did something 'outside the rules' that he imagined were there. It led to his soul searching and fight with Sanakhet.

 

Again to paraphrase Graham, it's this internal conflict of discipline and the desire to do whatever he wants that is actually going to drive him crazy.

[Conn Eremon]

I think we are arguing two different things in our use of "control." What you mean by him having control is martial and personal discipline. What I mean by him not having control is an inability to consciously choose or think beyond what his obsessions and dedication demand. He is an addict, in that his particular pursuit of perfection is a deep-seated need that he has no control over, something all too common with the corruption of the Third Legion. His singular purpose or focus may very well have insulated him from the rapidly corrupting effect the Warp has had on his brothers, but it's still very much Slaanesh's path. Which is exactly what Graham seems to be saying. Lucius is Her champion because he embodies Her ideals, just like Ahriman embodies Tzeentch, in spite of his own seeming resistance. Lucius doesn't resist, his is just a different expression of Slaanesh's ideals than most often depicted.

 

As for the sore loser thing, I am looking at Lucius as a whole, not just his 30k persona, as you mention. It's a wonderful daemonic manifestation, to overcome an enemy at all costs, suffering defeat as just another kind of victory. It is still evident in 30k, I would not say he had a shaken worldview. His laughing reaction to the potential of death was related to his descent to madness, but prior to that descent he reacted with frustration and denial, blaming his fate on others and ensuring his final victory and survival at all costs. While he does descend into madness, that mindset never really leaves him. His gift is an evolution of it.

[Loesh]

I think we are arguing two different things in our use of "control." What you mean by him having control is martial and personal discipline. What I mean by him not having control is an inability to consciously choose or think beyond what his obsessions and dedication demand. He is an addict, in that his particular pursuit of perfection is a deep-seated need that he has no control over, something all too common with the corruption of the Third Legion. His singular purpose or focus may very well have insulated him from the rapidly corrupting effect the Warp has had on his brothers, but it's still very much Slaanesh's path. Which is exactly what Graham seems to be saying. Lucius is Her champion because he embodies Her ideals, just like Ahriman embodies Tzeentch, in spite of his own seeming resistance. Lucius doesn't resist, his is just a different expression of Slaanesh's ideals than most often depicted.

 

As for the sore loser thing, I am looking at Lucius as a whole, not just his 30k persona, as you mention. It's a wonderful daemonic manifestation, to overcome an enemy at all costs, suffering defeat as just another kind of victory. It is still evident in 30k, I would not say he had a shaken worldview. His laughing reaction to the potential of death was related to his descent to madness, but prior to that descent he reacted with frustration and denial, blaming his fate on others and ensuring his final victory and survival at all costs. While he does descend into madness, that mindset never really leaves him. His gift is an evolution of it.

 

Fair enough, that makes a lot of sense to me as overall view of Lucius as a character.

[Vorenus]

I was enjoying your review...any chance you will take it up again?

[Phoebus]

Vorenus,

 

I've been meaning to for a while now. Truth be told, it's been a real chore to keep up with the Heresy AND re-read the series from the beginning while helping raise two toddler boys! For the first time ever, I find myself sacrificing short stories and audios just to keep pace with the main entries.

 

That's not to say I haven't cheated myself of an opportunity to catch up with this project (which, at any rate, helps me appreciate where the story is going) here and there, though.

 

So, without further ado...
 

Highlight of the evening:

 

It's such a minor part that prepares us for such a minor engagement, but Chapter Six of Horus Rising is one of my favorite bits of the first half-dozen novels. In this series, we are told a great deal about how the primarchs are brilliant creatures... but are rarely shown it. Far more prevalent are those instances were the primarchs are depicted as rather frustratingly mercurial, stubborn, short-sighted and not-all-that-special when it comes to waging war. With that in mind, this, to me, is Horus Lupercal at his best: charismatic, making his subordinates feel empowered, "selling" his intent in a way that - at worst - is akin to a chess player with a far higher perspective than his opponent.

 

Virtually the only minus to this entire chapter (to me, at least), is Gavriel Loken being warned by Torgaddon that Horus is going to call on him. I say this only because Loken presents nothing to the strategium council that he could not have delivered of his own initiative, without forewarning.  Horus's virtually telegraphed request for someone to pipe in and Abaddon's awkward silence (the que for Loken) are thus wholly unnecessary.

 

Still, it's the concept as a whole that's great, and it's a perfect summary of what Horus and the Luna Wolves are about. The latter are the heirs of the legacy of a savage ganger culture. They exist to raze worlds, and most of them revel in their calling. Horus, on the other hand, isn't just a "warrior without peer;" he is the "diplomat supreme" who holds the leash of these dogs of war, and sometimes the smart play is to look like the benevolent lord. His genius is in using his superhuman charisma to not just make someone feel trivial (see Dorn, etc.), but to not feel like they're being used when employed as Loken was. Kudos to Dan Abnett.

 

"Low" point of the evening:

 

WARNING: petty observation that ties to a larger complaint for themes that are prevalent in the Horus Heresy/Warhammer 40k setting as a whole follows...

 

If there's one thing that grinds my gears is the seemingly arbitrary dumbing down of Heresy/Warhammer 40k warfare.

 

I would totally get it if Garviel Loken felt the need to execute a conventional infantry assault on an land-based enemy stronghold in order to reiterate to the inhabitants of Sixty-Three Nineteen that resisting the Imperium is a terrible idea. That's not the case, though. There are hardly any witnesses to Tenth Company's overwhelming assault. More to the point, Loken is correct: as described, the loss of life incurred by the Imperial Army's regiments up to that point was pointless. It was due to (what I consider to be) an arbitrary need for the setting's military commanders to focus on archaic land warfare at the expense of a measure of realism that would be perfectly acceptable in this setting. Having a few regiments decimated because their commanders were too unimaginative to bomb the strongholds across some bridges doesn't make the Heresy setting better. It's the shortcut to grimdark - not the only way there.

 

Just to be clear, there's nothing wrong with melee combat, etc., either in the Heresy era or in the setting's 41st millennium. That concept is supported by the technology that defines the setting. What kills me is the unexplained - inexplicable, really - technological conundrum wherein space travel and orbital bombardments are very real and very possible, but artillery generally sucks and walls somehow work (because, unless artillery inexplicably sucks, a wall would have to be thousands of meters high to confound even conventional, modern-day howitzers). It just feels like, somewhere along the line, it was decided that the Rule of Cool needed to be more about Terminators needlessly walking for a few hundred of meters while shrugging off ineffective fire than teleporting far closer and unleashing hell. Or landing by Thunderhawk after gunships ruined the enemy's defenses. Or arriving by Land Raiders, which are much faster and more impervious than even Tactical Dreadnought Armour happens to be.

 

I get it, man. The game is mostly skewed toward infantry models and ground vehicles. And, yeah, someone, somewhere, is going to field a Terminator squad without Deep Strike, a Land Raider, or some other means of sensible conveyance. It's something that could happen in the game. That doesn't mean Gavriel Loken's Tenth Company (or any Legiones Astartes/Adeptus Astartes force) should basically say, "Screw it, we'll walk," just because.

[Augustus]

Glad you picked up the pitchfork there, Phoebus. It's cathartic to know someone feels the same way about that issue

[Vorenus]

Thank you for returning to the fray!

 

If it's any consolation (I'm sure it won't be!), I have three young boys, the care and feeding of which has really cut into my game time as well as my reading time.  I feel your pain!