Emperor's Children - Eternal Champions
On a hundred and one battlefields, the heirs of Fulgrim destroy the enemies of man. Their gleaming gold and purple armor marks them as salvation for the faithful, and death for traitors. They are nothing less than humanities champions, the living embodiment of what Fulgrim gave his life for.
Origins:
Chemos was a dying world when the Third Son of the Emperor landed upon it. Centuries of rampant exploitation for its minerals both before and after Old Night had ruined it. Almost all food and water was imported from nearby agri worlds, due to it being a mining world and when warp travel was destroyed most of the planet's society collapsed from inability to feed its citizens.
Most of its remaining populace stayed within vast fortresses and meeked out an unremarkable existence in the mines, in exchange for food and water that had been through thousands of bodies before them. Starvation was common and so was gang violence in the lower Caretakers didn't care enough to keep an eye on it, until it hampered productivity at least. Then brutal crackdowns would ensue, quieting the violence...for a time,
Where the young primarchs pod crashed, a reservoir of water was unearthed. Taking this as a good omen, the boy was kept and taken into one of the vast work complexes to be raised. Chemos was a harsh land and normally the infant would have been thrown into one of the many graves to die but even the most coldhearted of men couldn't bring themselves to get rid of this beautiful sky-child.
This was unexpected. When he'd been sent by his overseers to see what had crashed on their planet, he'd been expecting a meteorite. Not a child. But as he rubbed his eyes, the baby was still there, proving to him that beyond a doubt this was all real! Water, clearer than anything he'd seen before, bubbled from where the child had landed. The man motioned to one of his fellow workers to keep an eye on the child, someone had to tell the Executives after all, and he aimed to get the reward for doing so.
The boy was named Fulgrim by the man who found him and was given to one of the Executives to raise as his own. Within 3 years he was doing the work of multiple grown men. That alone would have made the resources expended raising him worth it, but his true value lay somewhere else.
Fulgrim would prove to have the most powerful mind Chemos had seen, and this was shown when he single handedly repaired one of the cities broken Generators, giving light back to a part of the city that hadn't seen it in decades. This alone was enough to promote him to Executive level. Fulgrim would use his newfound power to convince the rest of the Executive committee to let him head expeditions to reclaim the rest of Chemos.
Within ten years of his finding, Chemos was no longer the industrial hellscape Fulgrim had landed upon. It was a planet that had come back from the brink of collapse strong, and due to Fulgrim's work, it now had the spare resources to allow the luxuries of civilisation such as art.
It was upon a reborn Chemos that the Master of Mankind would land, in search of his third son. When the third primarch and the Emperor met, Fulgrim dropped to a knee and offered himself to the Emperor's service if He would have him. The Emperor raised his son up, and embrace him...before introducing him to his sons.
The Great Crusade:
"My sons, As I am moulded in my father's image, you are moulded in mine. The Emperor is naught but perfection in Human form. As such, we must aim higher than what we are, so that one day we may truly prove worth of being the Emperor's Children,"
Excerpt from Fulgrims speech upon meeting the III legion
When Fulgrim was discovered, barely 200 of his sons were able to greet him. The rest of the legion that was supposed to be under his command had died from a strange wasting disease that only afflicted those of his lineage. Despite the best efforts of the Emperor himself, there was no cure found for it, leaving those infected with no options other than death, by the disease or in battle taking as many enemy lives as they could.
When addressing his sons for the first time, many of them were afraid that their gene-father would find some fault within them, that they were something other than what he wanted them to be. However, Fulgrim's words soon laid such worries to rest. He called them The Emperor's Children, and with that the Third Legion received its name. As a gift from Him to his Third son and his Grandchildren, the Emperor allowed them to use his own Aquilla upon their armour, a unique honour among the 20 legions.
Despite Fulgrims beautiful speech, the fact was that the Emperor's Children didn't have the numbers to Crusade on their own. As such, the Third legion was sent to fight alongside the Sixteenth, Horus's own Luna Wolves. While the first meeting left both of the Primarchs unimpressed with their counterpart, over decades of working together to further their Father's dream the two bonded, and so did their legions, forming brotherhoods that would last well beyond the heresy.
Eventually however, with the reintroduction of Fulgrim and the ability to gain gene-seed directly from the source, the Third Legion grew back to its former size and strength. Eventually, the Third legion split off from the Luna Wolves when they regained the strength to do so, diving into its first real challenge, the Purging of the Laer.
The Laer were a species of Xenos that took a hundred different forms. Due to the difficulty of taking their homeworlds, there was discussion of making them into an Imperial protectorate species, isolated to their own system in exchange for not being exterminated. To Fulgrim, this was nothing short of heresy.
"Was the Crusade not meant to cleanse the stars of the Alien? Was mankind not supposed to be the sole inheritor? What will we tell those who come after us, glorious tales of how mankind owns all the stars except for those in the Laer's system? Nay. One month. One month, and on my father's name I promise you, Laeran will belong to the Imperium"
Despite all odds, Fulgrim kept his word. The Emperor's children suffered heavy losses but at the end of the month, Laeran had been conquered. However, on the advice of his Librarian Sons, Fulgrim had the whole planet destroyed for materials soon after conquering it. While destroying the planet that they had fought so hard to conquer was questioned by many of his other sons, they trusted within their father and their father trusted in his psychically gifted children.
As the Crusade went on, Fulgrim would come out as one of the most sociable of the Primarchs. He formed deep friendships with Magnus and Perturabo, finding beauty in Magnus's books and Perturabos designs. However, his closest friend was the Primarch of the Tenth Legion, Ferrus Manus.
Underneath a great Terran Mountain, Fulgrin had gone to forge a perfect weapon to help him fight in the Great Crusade. Ferrus Manus had been down there, and laughed at this boast, challenging Fulgrim to prove it. For days and nights they forged, before each showing a weapon the other called superior. They traded weapons and with it, set their friendship in Iron.
Even Fulgrim, However, had his critics. Lhorke, the Legion Master of the orphaned World Eaters, along with Jaghatai Khan found the primarch and his legion far too Haughty for their own liking, but wouldn't hesitate to aid or call upon them in battle for the sake of pragmatism. However the only true enemy he had among the primarchs was the Warrior-King of Macragge, Guilliman.
Guilliman and Fulgrim had their falling out after a hard fought campaign of the former on a former Human world, where the inhabitants had turned themselves into eusocial creatures. They were well entrenched and despite their heavily divergent form, quite civilized. Guilliman, having been raised since birth to be more tolerant of mutation, had originally sought to take them into the Imperium. Approximately half the creatures sought to join the Imperium, while the other half wished to stay independent. The independent faction made the Imperials pay in blood, but with the mind of a primarch behind them and a space marine legion as well victory was assured. On the day that the XIIIth legion achieved victory, the IIIrd dropped out of warp space and landed near the capital city, where the bodies were still being picked up. The leaders of the Imperial Faction, and Guilliman were negotiating final terms of joining the Imperium within the XIIIth Legions Flagship when the first shots were fired.
"Fulgrim! Fulgrim, stop firing damn you! Those are imperial citizens. Have you gone mad? Our father will come to know of this"
"Brother...who do you think ordered this?"
-Reputed transcript of the Vox-Conversation between Guilliman and Fulgrim
The Emperor had decried judgement upon their race and found them wanting. They weren't human anymore, and there was no room for non-humans in the new Imperium. This had been proven upon Laer, and Fulgrim was ever the dutiful son. After this incident, the Sons of Guilliman would never again fight upon the same grounds….until they met once more upon the wretched grounds of Istvaan.
The Heresy:
"9 of my brothers have turned against our father. My own beloved brother, Ferrus, has shunned our Father's light...and for what? I do not yet know. But when I saw him the night before Istvaan...I swear to our father, I saw regret on his face. Perhaps...perhaps there is a chance I may still save him, and we may become brothers once more,"
-Excerpt from the Phoenician's Diaries, Redacted by order of the Inquisition.
The Emperor's Children were the Third Legion to arrive at Istvaan, arriving alongside their Iron Hand cousins. Strangely, when the ships had first met outside of the warp, rather than the customary boarding of each others ships to renew brotherly bonds between warrior's while their primarchs bonded, the only space marines to board either ship was the Primarchs own honor guard, and Ferrus Manus themselves.
Fulgrim and him talked long into the felt a great weight upon his heart when Ferrus departed, to plan his own formation. Now that his brother was gone...it was time to get back to the process of making War.
The Emperor's children were among the first wave, to be backed up by the Raven Guard. They fought like Gods of War against the Blood Angels, weeping for those that had once been the most stalwart of defenders of art and beauty. The might of the 300 companies was taking its toll however, and it was a relief when the Raven Guard landed to reinforce them...but not for long.
Bolter fire tore through the back flank of the Emperor's Children, the betrayal of the Raven Guard met with confusion before anger. Fulgrim, although beyond angered at the loss of his sons, kept his calm so he may save more. He joined with the Sons of Angron, who reported losses from the Night Lords. Lhorke had barely survived the battle, and Kharn had disappeared entirely. They had to evacuate. Grouping up with the survivors, Alpharius, Mortarion and Fulgrim fought to get a path to a way off the planet. But there were too many. They needed a distraction.
Mortarion sold his life to distract those he could, letting Alpharius and Fulgrim carve a path to the ships. Luckily the marines who'd been protecting the crafts had managed to hold off the traitors long enough to allow the Primarchs and the Survivors onto the ships.
"Go now! I'll buy you time" Saul's voice called over the Bolter-Fire as the Apothecary dragged Lucius up. A horde of Iron Hands stood outside the Bunker Tunnels. One of Saul's legs were entirely mangled, making him unable to walk. Lucius was in no shape to fight either, his arms in a similar state.
"Brother, no! This is a good death. Together against an enemy of the Emperor!" Lucius would desperately call out, trying to push the Apothecaries hand aside, but lacking the arm strength to do so.
"Indeed! This is a good death Lucius...But not yours. Avenge me brother," Saul would say, a calm tone in his voice. It was the same tone as Venerable Rylanor before he blew his Reactor to overwhelm a Land Raider and stop it from murdering his Brothers. It was the tone of Vespasian, holding off an Iron Hand squad even as he bled out. It was the tone of a Martyr to be.
As the door slammed shut, Lucius swore his Oath of the Moment. The Tenth would pay. The Gorgon would pay.
The Emperor's Children would be constantly attacked on the way to Terra, yet their few surviving navigators never lost their way, the light of the Emperor shining strong through the darkness.
The Siege of Terra:
"I am not a soothsayer like Kurze or Magnus. I claim no knowledge of what is to be. I am as my father made me, a perfect tool to enact his will. Yet even I can feel the hand of Destiny upon me. To kill a primarch...It has happened thrice before. Despite this, my mind balks at the thought of fighting one of my brothers. Yet I know that this war will only end with them on their knees before our Father...where perhaps he may heal them from their madness,"
-Excerpt from the Phoenician's Diaries, redacted by Order of the Inquisition
On Terra, the Emperor's Children fought to defend their Emperor. The Chaplains of their legion swore horrible oaths and promised the Legionnaires that this was the end of all. That either they returned to their primarch with glorious victory or not at all. Failure was unacceptable for no battle would ever show such importance as this one.
They helped inspire the people, showing them what it truly meant to be a Human in these trying times. Armies of mortals trained under the watchful eyes of the Emperors Children, changing them from being inexperienced novices to trained soldiers, ready to sell their lives at the walls.
During the siege, the Emperor's Children operated as heads of mortal troops and as strike forces where they were needed. Fulgrim himself took to the battle whenever able, repelling breach after breach. He wished to take it to the direct battlefield but direct orders from Perturabo ordered otherwise. Fulgrim was a good brother and a good son, obeying the Iron Lords will...until his formerly most beloved of brothers took to the battlefield.
Fulgrim could not resist the need he had to defeat Ferrus, and to take him back to their father. He would be truly brothers with the Gorgon once more, even if it was over his brother's maimed body. He charged into the fray, accompanied by his phoenix guard, letting none stop him on his way to bring judgement.
He thought they'd talk as they fought. At the very least, promises to make it quick or to redeem their sibling. But there was none of that. Two demi-gods dueled in utter silence, as their weapons, each forged by the other deflected and parried blows that carried enough force to destroy a dreadnought. Yet...Ferrus was slowing. His heart did not seem to be into the fight...or perhaps Fulgrim truly was the superior fighter.
Within Minutes, Ferrus was on his back with Fireblade pressed into his neck. There was a somber acceptance in his eyes and he exposed his throat further.
"End it then brother. Better to die than live like this,"
Fulgrim could not, not without knowing why, why his brother had turned against their father. The Gorgon could read his thoughts and would answer them in kind.
"I had no choice. There was corruption within my legion. Before I could stop it...the corruption reached me. The silver skin of my hands reaches further and further...and my mind is not my own under its control. End me Fulgrim. Our father will not forgive me for what I have done, and it is better to die a lord of men, than live a slave,"
Fulgrim shook his head, the lie having worked its magic upon him. There was hope for him, to redeem Ferrus.
"Nay Brother. Our father's love is unending. He will forgive you, and he will heal you. Come, let us go,"
Fulgrim pulled him up and clasped him to his breast...before gasping as spikes pierced his armor and internal organs. Fulgrim would try to push back, but Ferrus had always been the stronger. He'd pull the Phoenecian closer, crushing both his hearts against the spears Ferrus formed from his armor.
"Enjoy the silence Brother and thank the Dark Prince that you are spared the Screams,"
Those were the last words Fulgrim, Primarch of the Emperor's Children, would ever hear.
The Emperor's Children fought like gods of war to retrieve their father's corpse. The Iron Hands could not stand against the furious grief fueled assault of the orphaned sons, retreating as they brought the corpse of Fulgrim back.
The Emperor's Children nearly drove themselves to extinction again over the death of the Primarch. Without their gene-father, the vast majority of the Emperors Children broke off from the fortress, going on a single minded path of vengeance. They died to a man, but reaped a devastating tally upon the Traitors.
The rest of the Emperors Children managed to organise themselves under Lord Commander Vairosean's Command and fought bravely before the end of the Heresy, and the Emperors Enthronement.
Post heresy:
As the last surviving Lord Commander of the Emperors Children, Vairosean was named Legion Master. The Emperors Children had been cut down to barely five hundred members, barely enough for one crusade. Vairosean set himself to rebuild, bringing his Legion back to a quarter of its previous number before its next great trial...The loss of Fulgrims Heart.
The Betrayal of Bile
Bile had great renown both in and outside of the Legion, and after the Heresy had been elevated to Chief Apothecary. He had a spotless record, although he was prone to secrecy. Around M32, A scout marine coming to retrieve a relic from the Primarchs Tomb on behalf of the Chaplain saw a horrific Sight. Bile, standing above the Primarch's Stasis-Coffin and draining blood from his corpse.
The heresy of their gene-fathers' desecration was beyond comprehension, and when Vairosean was told he demanded Fabius Bile come for questioning. Rather than doing so, he escaped with a small part of the legion...and Fulgrims primary Heart. The next 50 years would see the Emperor's Children pursue Bile, yet be unable to capture him. Vairosean himself died to one of Biles geneforged monstrosities, one with rather familiar white hair.
The Third Legion yet pursue Fabius Bile, individual warriors swearing to bring back their Gene-Fathers heart. Yet none have come back. The only thing stopping the Legion Master from ordering another crusade against the Eternal Enemy, is their obligation to the Imperium.
When the Scions of Fulgrim take to battle, they never do so alone. Alongside them the Astra Militarum march. Forces under Third Legion command have a noted improval in battle prowess, although whether it's due to the superiority of the Transhuman Commanders or due to divine inspiration while fighting alongside the Angels of Death is unknown.
Lucius the Eternal
Lucius the Eternal is a name that strikes fear into traitors and gives hope to those loyal to the Throne. One of the few survivors of Istvaan, the Marine grew to fame during the scouring, as he brought down Iron Hand warband after Iron Hand warband, searching for those he'd once called his brothers within it. He disappeared in early M31 after plunging into a warp rift in pursuit of a traitor who had been trying to escape and was assumed lost, but would reappear in M34, seemingly unaged, to help fight off an invasion of Chemos by the Iron Hands, before disappearing once more.
Recruitment:
The vast majority of those implanted with Fulgrims Gene-Seed come from Chemos. However if any young boy during a campaign shows enough Bravery and skill, a Legionary can vouch for them and they will be implanted.
A newly implanted legionary devotes themselves to a certain form of warfare, and are taken into specialised squads by those who already excel in said form. Once they feel like they have achieved perfection, they move to another form.
Organisation:
The Legion is headed by the Legion Master who has three Lord Commanders underneath him. Each Lord Commander has a third of the legion under their command, excluding the force that stays upon Chemos to keep it safe.
In actuality, the actual battlefield command of the legion is left to its Captains. Each Captain excels in one particular form of warfare, and has jurisdiction over all other captains when their speciality comes into play. The position of Lord Commander is more to decide how many forces are dedicated to any particular battle, and to handle politics with other Imperial Factions.
Homeworld:
Chemos is the home of the Third legion and the source of most of its marines. Every year, upon the celebration of Fulgrims meeting with his Father, a vast tournament is thrown where boys of proper age fight in arenas in order to prove themselves worthy of becoming a legionary. The best are taken into the legion. One does not necessarily need to win in order to become a marine, indeed a loser who shows great skill and honor may be taken into the legion as well.
The planet is a cultural hub, a pleasure planet off limits for most of the imperiums nobles. It also manages to supply the majority of the Third Legions wargear without ruining its beauty by following the strict guidelines put out by Fulgrim.
Gene-Seed:
Fulgrims Gene-Seed is highly compatible to almost all aspirants. All of the organs work perfectly well. However, occasionally an aspirant will be blessed with his eyes turning purple and his hair white like their gene-father. It is seen as a sign of future greatness by many in the legion.
War-Cry:
The Sons of Fulgrim have mostly stuck to their great crusade era warcry of "Children of the Emperor! Death to his Foes!" but when fighting against Iron Hands, all that can be heard are bloody oaths to kill them and their Primarch.
I am back! Someone said there's gonna be a legion a year, and turns out they were pretty much correct. But yeah, Emperors children! Personally, I didn't know much about them before I started writing this. But after reading a bit, I fell in love with them. Plus, I've been listening to a lot of Rylanor's Last Stand, beautiful song I'd definitely check it out.
Two things though.
First up, Bonus points if you can find out where I got the idea of Bile taking Fulgrims primary heart from! I'll throw you a shout out in the Iron Warriors Codex.
Second, I am going through some of the earlier chapters and fixing them up a bit (or atleast I hope to). Nothing lore changing, but just an acknowledgement and thank you for all the little mistakes that were pointed out.
Anyway, follow, favorite, review, whatever you'd like. I do go over the reviews, and I respond to them if I can. If you'd like to tell me personally what you think, feel free to pop me a DM at Xenopax The Third#5773 on discord, I'm much more active there. Next up, Iron Warriors, The Wardens of the Eye. Cheers!