Ahriman: Eternal

[FabiusV4lcoran]

So I just finished Ahriman: Eternal and I'm kinda confused.  *Spoilers for the Omnibus and Eternal follow*

 

What was Helio Isidorus's plan as the Pyrodomon?  He was sucking other Thousand Sons in, making them Rubricae.  What was the point?  Just to defy Ahriman?

 

Was it revenge for his own time (and that of his brothers') spent in the abyss?  

 

Also, is this the first of another set of Ahriman books, or is it just GW trying to gauge support for more Ahriman stuff?

[Ahzek451]

Did you read the next book Ahriman: Undying yet?

[FabiusV4lcoran]

Well now I feel stupid; didn't even know that was a thing.  Thanks!

[Ahzek451]

Naw, the book was sold out quick and somewhat fell under the radar. You're not the only one that didnt know.

 

Id be happy to go into discussion on it, since I certainly have some...thoughts....but I dont want to get spoilery. 

[FabiusV4lcoran]

I actually managed to snag a copy off Amazon...I'm doing a pallette cleansing non-40k book, and then I plan on burning through it in a week.  

 

Maybe I'll post if I have any opinions!

[FabiusV4lcoran]

On 11/2/2025 at 8:02 PM, Ahzek451 said:

Naw, the book was sold out quick and somewhat fell under the radar. You're not the only one that didnt know.

 

Id be happy to go into discussion on it, since I certainly have some...thoughts....but I dont want to get spoilery. 

Hey there!

 

So I finished Ahriman: Eternal....and while I LOVE my Thousand Sons, and I think Ahriman is a really good character...........I just can't get down with time-messery.  

I know it makes me a poor Tzeentch disciple, but it just feels like such a cheat.  I LOVED the whole Thousand Sons interfering with the lingering War in Heaven, but I do not enjoy the Pyrodomon plotline much.  I'm hoping they put it down for good int his book, but I feel like we're going to be stuck somehow seeing it back in the next one.

[Ahzek451]

Congrats! You got through it fairly quick. 

*spoilery warning*

I was not particularly tickled by the Pyrodomon either. 

I read the series as they were coming out so my memory is fuzzy overall. But how I sum it us is...."What Ahriman has been doing until now". The story essentially brings you up to the point that Ahriman wants to break into the Black Library. Which is where Ahriman has been sitting in his lore since his debut around 2nd ed. many years ago. 

In essence, its a fun journey but it does not add anything new as far as present lore. Ahriman has been known to want to reverse the rubric for a long time, this series covers his re-introduction to the legion(of sorts), the killing of Amon, and basically cleaning up the resulting mess of trying to reverse/cast the rubric....again(I got it this time guys!). A lot happening that results in not a lot happening. Ending in a spot where its as if nothing happened at all. Which is fun, and fine. Sort of. You will enjoy the journey, but might feel frustrated where it ends up.

 

But I guess this would fit nicely in the will of Tzeentch. The deeper (possible) implication is that Ahriman ranks up in being one of the most stubborn mortals in the universe, believing that he will one day achieve his goal, but the sad truth is that Tzeentch takes advantage of this in a sort of mocking puppeteering manner. Using Ahriman's drive for fun or purpose, teasing him just enough to let him think he can one day be successful, but never letting him "catch the cheese". But for Tzeentch, he is entertainment and a good puppet,  Ahriman's exploits having secondary effects in Tzeentch's grand scheme unbeknownst to him. 

I do hope that the series continues, and that whatever comes next will add new lore to the story and will actually see Ahriman do SOMETHING with the black library. For a fan like me, like I mentioned before, he has been attempting to bust in and do something for a very long time. Old lore illuded to the idea that there was knowledge in the BL to possibly become a chaos god, and that is what Ahriman was after, but it seems GW has shifted this to looking for info on reversing the rubric as Ahriman's character has evolved since the introduction of the horus heresy.
 

Edited December 17 by Ahzek451

[FabiusV4lcoran]

23 minutes ago, Ahzek451 said:

Congrats! You got through it fairly quick. 

*spoilery warning*

I was not particularly tickled by the Pyrodomon either. 

I read the series as they were coming out so my memory is fuzzy overall. But how I sum it us is...."What Ahriman has been doing until now". The story essentially brings you up to the point that Ahriman wants to break into the Black Library. Which is where Ahriman has been sitting in his lore since his debut around 2nd ed. many years ago. 

In essence, its a fun journey but it does not add anything new as far as present lore. Ahriman has been known to want to reverse the rubric for a long time, this series covers his re-introduction to the legion(of sorts), the killing of Amon, and basically cleaning up the resulting mess of trying to reverse/cast the rubric....again(I got it this time guys!). A lot happening that results in not a lot happening. Ending in a spot where its as if nothing happened at all. Which is fun, and fine. Sort of. You will enjoy the journey, but might feel frustrated where it ends up.

 

But I guess this would fit nicely in the will of Tzeentch. The deeper (possible) implication is that Ahriman ranks up in being one of the most stubborn mortals in the universe, believing that he will one day achieve his goal, but the sad truth is that Tzeentch takes advantage of this in a sort of mocking puppeteering manner. Using Ahriman's drive for fun or purpose, teasing him just enough to let him think he can one day be successful, but never letting him "catch the cheese". But for Tzeentch, he is entertainment and a good puppet,  Ahriman's exploits having secondary effects in Tzeentch's grand scheme unbeknownst to him. 

I do hope that the series continues, and that whatever comes next will add new lore to the story and will actually see Ahriman do SOMETHING with the black library. For a fan like me, like I mentioned before, he has been attempting to bust in and do something for a very long time. Old lore illuded to the idea that there was knowledge in the BL to possibly become a chaos god, and that is what Ahriman was after, but it seems GW has shifted this to looking for info on reversing the rubric as Ahriman's character has evolved since the introduction of the horus heresy.
 

Thanks!  

 

You nailed it.  I really enjoyed reading everything, but the end result is null.  That's a really good insight about how this matches what Tzeentch would do, and Ahriman being too stubborn/full of hubris to do anything but dance to that tune.  

 

I haven't read HH much; I just don't enjoy that setting as much as I enjoy the aftermath.  I hope they don't reverse the rubric; I feel like that would take a lot of the character out of the Thousand Sons and make them just another chaos legion.  The Rubric adds so much more to their narrative and flavor (ashen though it may be.)

[Ahzek451]

I agree, I like my robotic, dust-filled marines. Always have. In my little mind, its an aspect that sets them further apart from even their other god-kin (WE, EC, DG). 

What I am about to say is not a prescription I would necessarily want, but based on years of watching GW be GW, the following would not shock me at all if it happened:

I can see a path where, not in BL lore, but in main cannon lore, Ahriman does indeed break into the Library and gains a snippet of knowledge. They did tease it via what Yvraine did to Ahriman. He can reverse the rubric in very limited quantities and it results in a new model opportunity for GW to introduce a new non-rubric unit that is neither a sorcerer or a robot. Perhaps they are brought back to flesh and blood, and have returned personalities but are unable to become psykers, and revert to being mindless if sorcerers are not around. Who knows. I would just say that expect anything going forward now that each god-legion is it's own faction, GW will be looking at new ways to expand each faction's arsenal and lore.

At least we do have SOMETHING in the current lore that hints that the Thousand Sons are very much active and not idly sitting around. Moving Sortiarius out of the eye and into realspace, parking it next to Prospero and transforming Prospero into an army production facility AND recruiting a ton of pyskers via Magnus's open invitation....GW did all this to help pave the path forward for expansion. From 2nd edition to 8th, all we had GW coming in and out of full faction to warbands. With no real lore progression. If you jumped in at that time, all you really knew was that Magnus was parking his butt in the eye and that the T.sons largely just partipated in raids from the eye. Antagonizing the wolves but never really winning. 

I can respect the thoughts on the HH, but I would recommend dipping your toes in if you like Ahriman. His character gets a fair bit of insight and time in the spotlight. 

[FabiusV4lcoran]

1 hour ago, Ahzek451 said:

I agree, I like my robotic, dust-filled marines. Always have. In my little mind, its an aspect that sets them further apart from even their other god-kin (WE, EC, DG). 

What I am about to say is not a prescription I would necessarily want, but based on years of watching GW be GW, the following would not shock me at all if it happened:

 

That could make sense.  I definitely see what you mean about the new burst of activity for the Thousand Sons; the fact that Exile did update the story (in any way) shows that the Sons are definitely a focus.

 

I'm starting to dig in a bit; I"ve read the first three so I know now I can kinda jump around.  I'll probably check out Ahriman's stuff.