Underrated Tragic Story from the Horus Heresy [Spoilers]

[DogWelder]

 

I've seen this picture become popular in the 40k fandom and I thought I'd share the meaning of it since read both the Unburdened and the Honoured books which came with the artwork.

 

The two central figures depicted (Aethon the Captain of the 19th Company of the Ultramarines and Kurtha Sedd a Dark Apostle of the Word Bearers) used to be very close friends before the Heresy. They fought together and, with Aethon's diplomatic skills and Kurtha Sedd's influence, set up sort of a cultural exchange between the Ultramarine and Word Bearer legions. Sedd impressed Aethon with his devotion to the Emperor and his philosophy regarding spiritual matters while Aethon did likewise by explaining a lot of Ultramarian culture and strategy to Sedd.

 

However after his Legion's censure at Monarchia, Kurtha Sedd's sanity began to slip. Shortly after this, his despair and rage drove him to massacre a group of pilgrims within a prayer hall. Remembering Lorgar's words, Kurtha became panicked that the Emperor had witnessed his shame and became certain that retribution would come. However retribution never came, and his Legion's officers covered up the incident. Having come to realize that the Emperor was not an omnipresent, divine being, Kurtha renounced his faith.

 

Aethon was also present during the censure at Monarchia. He was with the Ultramarine companies that destroyed the cities of Monarchia. His accompanied accompanied his Primarch to the meeting with Lorgar and was there when the Emperor forced all 100,000 Word Bearers to kneel to them. For this, he carried a great deal of guilt. Throughout the time leading up to Calth, he sincerely wished he could have met with Kurtha Sedd and apologized to him.

During the Calth Underworld War, each would become a rallying figure to their side.

 

Aethon reorganized the Ultramarines into a proper fighting force from the tattered remnants of several companies and chapters. His strategic mind and unshakeable faith saved the lives of countless Ultramarines and civilians alike. His company discovered and captured a Word Bearer communications hub and fortress, using it to reorganize the Ultramarines on the planet shortly after they were forced underground.

 

Kurtha Sedd on the other hand, rallied the scattered warbands of Word Bearers in the Underground caverns. His fanatical hatred against the Emperor and leadership making the surviving 17th legion a deadly force who launched attack after attack on the disoriented Ultramarines.

 

Ultimately, they committed their forces to one final battle. While the Ultramarines won the engagement and drove the Word Bearers back, Kurtha Sedd would kill Aethon. His feelings toward his friend were so strong that when he killed him, the Chaos Gods would offer Kurtha Sedd the opportunity to ascend into demonhood for breaking such a bond.

 

Kurtha Sedd would later be killed by the Ultramarine Aeonid Thiel just before he could finish his ascension however.

 

In the end, both friends would end up being buried on Calth, one way or another.

Edited June 20, 2017 by Caius Tadius

[Styles]

Shame the books were not very good.

[DarkApostle7]

It looks like a good novel

 

however seems a tad copy and pasted from Sorot Tchure's background/ storyline, as both are friends with an Ultramarine and both kill them, but Sorot came first

[DogWelder]

It looks like a good novel

 

however seems a tad copy and pasted from Sorot Tchure's background/ storyline, as both are friends with an Ultramarine and both kill them, but Sorot came first

 

I think it offers a nice contrast to Sorot's story. Cause Sorot had his face cut off and had to live with what he had done while Kurtha ended up with the same fate he inflicted on his friend.