Black Book - Insurrection (PUBLISHED)

[Raktra]

Whoa, how'd I miss this. I'll read and contribute after uni.

[Sigismund229]

Now that I've finished working on my breachers for the day I can get back to editing

 

His forces marshaled, the Emperor launched his grand mission to liberate Man from the aliens and warp creatures that had destroyed it. Freedom expanded with the Great Crusade to world after world. Whenever a human society was found, diplomacy reached out with open hands, aiming to achieve compliance with the ‘Imperial Truth’, as it was known in those halcyon days. Many worlds rejoiced at the reunion with noble Terra and enjoyed security and prosperity as the Imperium rescued them from the darkness. Others required a closed fist as tyrants were broken and corrupt religions cleansed. Mercy toward humanity would always be sought, so long as it had not become irrevocably mutated or grievously tainted. The alien would not receive any such mercy as xenos oppressors were annihilated or sent running into the void in a series of epic wars that freed enslaved billions and rent empires asunder. In every corner of the galaxy, the brutish Orks infected the ruins like vermin and were eradicated wherever they were found. The Eldar, ancient and perfidious, were pushed back in encounter after encounter with those who stood being laid waste to by the Great Crusade’s might. In addition to these infamous races were countless others found; lesser species were met with no pity or remorse as they were exterminated, while the more bizarre or unnatural who were able to resist annihilation were driven into the outer darkness, such as the noisome Hrudd or the nightmare Salugth. Not all threats were as corporeal. On planets overrun with the taint of warp creatures and where the barrier between reality and madness were open, the warriors of the Imperium would leave nothing to chance. Vortex missiles and virus bombs unleashed in apocalyptic fashion would purge worlds of their madness in the form of Exterminatus, the most final of all stratagems.

 

Not all victories were military in nature. As the Great Crusade achieved victory after victory, one boon to the war effort was the reuniting of the Space Marine Legions with their gene-fathers, the Primarchs. Once thought lost, one by one they were found by the Emperor sooner or later. With his sons standing with him once again, the Emperor not only had generals waiting to fulfill their destinies but used their planets to further the Imperial cause. These homeworld's of the Primarchs would become host to their legions, with each becoming heavily fortified and reinforced. Along with a handful of other strategically-located planets, they became lynchpins of the Great Crusade as it moved further and further away from Terra, which strained central command and coordination. With these new bases established and distant Forge Worlds of the Mechanicum, the Great Crusade was able to travel farther by consolidating and launching assaults anywhere across the galaxy.

[simison]

The Primarchs Alexos, K’awil, and Koschei returned to their respective Legions and began to spread the Insurrection amongst their gene-sons, the sickly taint of the Warp secretly trailing after them. To cloak the secret rot growing within, Icarion adopted the Warrior Lodges of the Halcyon Wardens and twisted into a darker reflection of what was supposed to unite transhuman and human interests. Within each of the new Lodges, a kernel of betrayal was planted, seeking slowly to devour whatever loyal allegiances there were to the Emperor. The powerful bond between the Space Marines and their gene-fathers, the Primarchs, would prove to be their undoing as it became a vector for the traitorous new teachings, encountering few defences, leaving most to succumb. Most, but far from all. A valiant few would not be tempted by honeyed promises, their pragmatism questioning where that foul road would lead to. Others were too great of a servant to the Master of Mankind, seeing in him a god whom they owed their absolute allegiance to. Of these dauntless few, many of them were veterans of Terra, having earned countless commendations for their faithful service to the Imperium above all else, while others were simply too individualistic to simply accede to the changes happening in their legions. 

[simison]

While lesser beings may have become paranoid over premature discovery, this confederacy of night retained the inhuman discipline of its founder and maintained its seditious hand. As the years passed and the number of insurgents grew, the Primarchs discovered who they could rely on and who warranted death. With the same preternatural focus and foresight that had ensured his place as the Emperor’s most trusted Lieutenant, Icarion enacted an efficient cleansing of the legions loyal to him. It would take a score of years for the resistant elements to be finally purged, but when Icarion declared himself, he would worry not about betrayal from within.

 

[With this, the general history section, (at least, the unedited version) is complete. Grifft, once Sigi finishes going through my sections, I'll arrange them in proper order and send them to you in a single burst. Now, as we know, we've talked about replacing the Space Marine section with something more central to our canon. We have Hesh's red page that can take up about a page or two, I think, but do we want to have the Pariah's be the entire focus of the section? I'm thinking it can be a subsection, while the section proper deals with the Vizenko Prosecution, since we need to introduce that event to our audience. Thoughts?]

[simison]

Alright, now that my family emergency is winding down, I'd like to share an early idea I had for the next 'chapter'. As I said in my last post, I want to feature both the Prosecution & Hesh's piece on Pariahs. To tie them together, I'm using the Jade General. In both canon and BotL-verse, the Jade General seeks to cultivate a growing Pariah population because he believes that their advantages will be beneficial to humanity as a whole. 

 

So, in the chapter, I'll start with laying down the foundation of the Prosecution, listing the various Primarchs who want to improve upon humanity, concluding with the Jade General's rationale. Here, we'll insert Hesh's piece, and hop back into the chapter by bringing in the Primarchs who are against genetic modification into the limelight. Then, we'll do a brief overview of the event itself (who wants to be our Magnus? Not Alexos since he wouldn't bring enough credibility to the cause. And Jade's not charismatic enough to be center of this argument) before concluding how this leads to an unspoken disturbance between the legions.

 

How's that sound?

[Skalpynock]

The Vizenko Prosecution

Pro-Genetics

Kozja (Wants to create the One True Legion)

Jade General (Wants to create Pariahs)

Alexos Travier (Cloning Marines)

Sorrowsworn Morro (Improve Astartes)

Raktra (Better Astartes)

 

Neutral/Undecided

Koschei

 

Pro-Purity

THE EMPEROR!

Alexandros VonSalim

Pionus Santor 

Daer'dd Niimkiika

Hectarion Mycenor

Azus

 

Dug that out from the General Discussion thread, kinda surprised it wasn't in Reference Information.

 

So. As you said, Jade and Alexos are out, and I guess nobody would listen to Raktra either. Which leaves us with Morro – who has already much to be blamed for – and Kozja, who seems to be the most likely to be heard of the lot.

[MikhalLeNoir]

I find it funny that Hec is pro purity, given the fact that he is tainted by khorne;)

[Skalpynock]

I find it funny that Hec is pro purity, given the fact that he is tainted by khorne;)

See also: "Russ at Nikaea". But yeah, I guess he'd be pro-purity exactly for that reason.

[MikhalLeNoir]

Yeah, could be the reason.

 

By the way, where is the rest?

 

Just thinking that Gwal did not take a side. So he stays neutral.

[simison]

I'm not sure, Mikhal. Either, A, it was an early idea that hadn't been fully developed. Or, B, it wasn't necessary for every Primarch to pick a side. I'm inclined to think it's a mix of both, actually, because I'm relatively sure Coch'ise hadn't joined us yet. 

 

Skal, I think you're right. As it stands now, Kozja is the best candidate to represent the gene-manipulation side, which has the added bonus of adding gravitas when he becomes the leader to the Revolutionaries. 

 

So, Gwal is also Neutral. Are there any other Primarchs who feel strongly about this debate one way or another?

[Skalpynock]

Yucahu is likely on the other side of the galaxy at the time, and wouldn't take part in the deliberations. Not that his opinion would matter, as he doesn't have one, or possibly even know of the prosecution. Subsequently though, he applies the edict as it is the Emperor's law.

 

Can't help but notice we have an even loyalist/traitor split on the issue. No traitors against the defiling of their own blood? No imperialists wishing the best use of theirs?

[Grifftofer]

I also think that K'awil would be absent from the prosecution, though he would send a representative of some kind.

[Hesh Kadesh]

If this is after the 'Missing Legion events' Morro is ready well changed. Depending on your guys opinion, I have no preference on whether he attends, acting as a Showcase for what can happen with genetic advancement and biological modification. He can bring Hennasohn and Corvo alongside; the former a powerful psyker and the latter heavily bionicised, using them as examples of progression with himself.

 

As the weakest of the Primarchs initially coming from being only half formed when his pod was breached by the fauna of his homeworld, he always felt inadequate, and so enlisted the help of Rakarth (who thought he was helping Slaanesh, but in reality a result of Be'lakors manipulation) who Morro 'captured' he began modifying his body. Russ intervened, and made the truth about Morros actions on Styx known to the Drowned at large, and forced a Watch pack on them. The main Drowned fleet disappeared from imperial records for 30 years, during which time Russ and Magnus along with the their legions went missing. Although many Drowned legionaries were serving alongside the various warfleets during this period, the loss of nearly 100,000 legionaries of that same legion during this period only to reappear caused many questions to which logic left one possible answer, but no proof.

 

During this period, Morro has rebuilt his legion, but discovered a secret on Molech. Led there by an entity known only as Harbinger, he learns the secret of the Emperor and considers the possibilities of recreating that himself. These experiments become known as 'The Forlorn', which he keeps hidden in the depths of his ship. They are a result of Eldar gene splicing and fleshwarping with Warp Powers; Rakarth believes it is for Slaanesh and the Eldar, but is doing it for Morro, acting as as a 'slave surgeon'. In reality binding the Astsrtes in a manner so that Slaanesh takes their souls rather than the Eldars, in a bargain that The Dark Prince has no intention of keeping, while Morro is doing in in a bid to save humanity, using the weapons of the warp against the gods. Be'lakor is playing a long game, setting Slaanesh up, gorged on the power of Eldar slain by Morro and his legion to oppose Khorne, leaving Nurgle to take sides in an effort to survive, but due to Tzeentches nature, being opposed by Nurgle and unloved by Khorne, weakened and unopposed, breaking his imprisonment and setting him free in time to take the Emperor's life and become the 5th god, gorged on his power.

 

There are lots of pieces moving though, and he is sinply taking advantage of the situation.

 

Of course, Morro only knows that where he was once comparatively weak, he is now strong, and will eventually have a legion of super powered monsters; 'we always said that we were creature of the Old Night'.

 

At the prosecution, he can either unleash himself and the Forlorn, or act through proxies. It depends on what Pionus, Cochise and Icarion believe to be best. This could be where Pionus and Morro's friendship ends.

 

As an aside, Pionus/slips our underwater war; any preferences on location? I'm guessing that in accordance with the Canonverse, we have Neptune having a naval human species which gets destroyed, that will be one of the Drowneds notable battles; that can get donated to your legion as a Gift to the Scions once Pionus is found? It is too early to be fighting there, but where else? Styx is floaty sky islands, and I don't know if you want to fight on Iona?

 

Sorry for the word wall, had some ideas running around earlier I needed to get down. As it stands, that is Morros story.

[MikhalLeNoir]

Styx is floaty sky islands

 

Really? Caerbannog, the homeworld of the Wardens of Light is from similar design, where whole continents fly in the sky. We should make something from it. Two so similar planets must have some kind of connection.

[Kelborn]

*breathing in - breathing out*

 

"Gwal...I am your father!"

 

"Whait what? Nooooooooooooooooo!"

 

"Yes, join the Dark Side of the Lovecraft and..." *breathing in - breathing out* "the RULE OF COOL will win this war!"

 

Something like that?

[AlphariusOmegon108]

*breathing in - breathing out*

 

"Gwal...I am your father!"

 

"Whait what? Nooooooooooooooooo!"

 

"Yes, join the Dark Side of the Lovecraft and..." *breathing in - breathing out* "the RULE OF COOL will win this war!"

 

Something like that?

I laughed way too hard at this

[MikhalLeNoir]

...?! I don't get it. :(

[Slips]

I wouldnt mind fighting on Iona it is kinda-close to Terra. However, using Neptune for an underwater war is a bit too poetic of a chance to let slip by!

 

It would also be kinda ironic (i guess? Its early for me atm my brain is still fuzzy) that the Drowned liberate a world, give it to the Scions as a gift of the deepest friendships only to go in later and attempt to raze the place.

 

Also, since we know little of the larger Terran Solar system in the cannonverse (specifically planets like Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto [technically not a planet :p]) means we have some free reign to do some cool stuff in the area without directly interacting with Terra.

[Kelborn]

Oh man... you really need to look Star Wars. At least the old trilogy.

It's not funny if some don't get it.

 

@Slipy: I like the idea. Why not using one of the other planets of the Sol-System? They weren't used in the canon heresy (except Titan), so we could use them.  Forget it. Athrawes just posted something I was not aware of. ^^"

[Athrawes]

I thought neptune was a gas giant? Is that not the case in 40k? 

 

Speaking of the solar system, does our universe still include Sedna? The massive, "false world" of Xenos origin located just outside the solar system in the ice reef of the inner Oort cloud? In the fluff for the great crusade, The Burning of Sedna was always described as the last large scale battle before the Solar system was entirely in the hands of humanity for the first time since the age of strife.

 

Since the Xenos that created Sedna were never fleshed out, I was wondering if I could make the Purging of Sedna a Lightning Bearers Exemplary battle. Which, could mean the empty husk of Sedna is still there by the time the siege of Terra rolls around. This has the added bonus of giving the traitors a nice tactical 'jumping off point' before pushing into the rest of the Solar system for the siege.

[Doctor Perils]

Yep, Neptune is a gas giant, but that doesn't necessarily come into conflict with the idea of 3d combat that some of the legions have.

 

I like your idea of Sedna, roll with it I say.

 

 

Also, Kelborn, I think I know Star Wars: I understand the reference(s), I just don't really see why it's so funny 

[Slips]

Gas Giant it may be, its still named after the Roman God of the Sea / Poseidon. For both Aqua-Legions, its all too poetic to have a final/massive/<insert synonym here> conflict there.

 

If we do want to get a bit more literal, we could use one of the Gas Giant's Icy Moons such as: 

• Europa, 
• Ganymede, 
• Callisto (would also be appropriate due to the nature of Callisto's tale in Greek Mythology), 
• Triton (another worthwhile candidate, Messenger of the Sea in Greek Mythos)
• Enceladus.

Of these icy moons, a few of them have Cryovolcanic Activity (ice volcanoes), which could be something interesting to play off of from a storytelling perspective. Instead of being Burnt / Moten / Incinerated, you are Flash Frozen / other scientific terms I'm blanking out on.

 

Especially when you consider that the Water-Ammonia mix sometimes found in these melts at -95*C means you can have some fascinating stuff to explore that, honestly, I Haven't seen done before.

 

Of the Moons I listed above, one of the Strongest Contenders would be Europa due to it having a Hypothesized Sub-Surface Water Ocean and also having an, albeit weak, Oxygen Atmosphere. It also being hypothesized as having a pretty strong possibility at supporting life naturally would also make it a prime Terra Forming candidate, imo.

 

Ganymede would be another strong contender being 8% bigger than Mercury (but having only 45% of the mass) and having a Magnetosphere. It also has a Sub-Surface Saltwater Ocean.

 

So yeah!

 

SCIENCE!

[Kelborn]

Oh...ok, nevermind. Forget it. It was funnier when I imagined it. :/

 

Sounds great, Slipstream. :)

So why would they fight there? There must be something important enough for an invasion. An artefact? An outpost? Simple destruction on their way headding Terra?

A damaged and crash landed ship with something or someone important on it?

[Slips]

Thats to be determined.

 

The only tangible reason I can think of for fighting over such a planet would be War Materiel. And the most sought after would be Archeotech...which, imo, would be the most prevalent in the Solar System, humanities cradle.

 

Neptune could have an Archeotech Facility within its Atmosphere or something like that.

 

Since Gas Giants aren't known for their Raw Minerals and such :p

[simison]

I thought neptune was a gas giant? Is that not the case in 40k? 

 

Speaking of the solar system, does our universe still include Sedna? The massive, "false world" of Xenos origin located just outside the solar system in the ice reef of the inner Oort cloud? In the fluff for the great crusade, The Burning of Sedna was always described as the last large scale battle before the Solar system was entirely in the hands of humanity for the first time since the age of strife.

 

Since the Xenos that created Sedna were never fleshed out, I was wondering if I could make the Purging of Sedna a Lightning Bearers Exemplary battle. Which, could mean the empty husk of Sedna is still there by the time the siege of Terra rolls around. This has the added bonus of giving the traitors a nice tactical 'jumping off point' before pushing into the rest of the Solar system for the siege.

 

Have at it.