Blood Tears of The Warmaster
Prologue - The End and the Death of the Future That Was
I was there. I was there the day Horus fell. And on that day, I fell with him.
Ullanor. A day that was supposed to be our great triumph.
We were heavily outnumbered but that was nothing new to an Astartes.
The Orks, the Green Skins, they were no match for us. Even with their superior numbers.
The Emperor Himself was there. I think somehow he sensed this was a turning point, a moment that would make or break his plans.
Warmaster.
I see it now, as my consciousness fades. A name. A title. A role.
It was supposed to be his. It was supposed to be Horus.
But something changed, something stopped it. A path blocked by an unforeseen rockslide, forcing us all to take another route. A rail line diverted onto another track.
Was it an accident? Or was there something, someone who… interfered with fate?
Whoever it was, the future is broken now. What should be will no longer be. Cannot be.
I am… Loken. Garviel Loken. Yes, that was it.
I am… or was… a Captain. Nothing special. Not a great commander like First Captain Ezekyle Abaddon, not even a member of Mournival like Tarik Torgaddon.
I am… dying, watching my blood spill forth into a crimson pool as my brothers rush to hold the onslaught of the blighted Green Skins.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. We weren't supposed to be like this.
It began like a wave of discomfort. We all felt it. Like a piece of our hearts, our souls, had been ripped away. That something important had been forever lost.
Then the news came across the vox, that Lupercal had been wounded, mortally injured.
We all -for want of a better word- we panicked.
Commanders across the field demanding updates, demanding to know Lupercals location so we could mobilize, move, get to him in some way, any way to be there, be by his side, to save him.
We were known as one of the most disciplined legions of the Imperium, our father Horus Lupercal was the Emperor's First and Favourite son.
But in that moment, we acted like terrified children.
By Astartes standards of course. We still performed far beyond any human standards. We held the lines, we fought forwards, we didn't give a single inch.
But our losses were far worse than they should have been. This was always going to be a blood battle. Our entire legion against the Ork horde, outnumbered 5 to 1. It was always going to come at a cost. But not at this cost.
I think we still win. I won't see it of course. I won't be here to see what happens afterwards.
A burning spear of gold is seen piercing through the sky like a bolt of lightning. I think I see it moving towards the Tower of Ullanor.
I think its almost time.
My only comfort is knowing that I will be with my father again soon.
I almost see him now, reaching out to me with his hand, his radiant smile welcoming me home.
What could kill a man, a demi-god, such as he?
No mere Ork could slay Horus. Not even the greatest of the Green Skin lineage had a fraction of his might.
Something must have happened. Someone… Something… interference…
Oh well. This isn't my story anymore.
This is then end.
No more Warmaster Horus.
No more Garviel Loken.
Chapters:
Chapter 1 A New Master of War
Chapter 1.1 The Death of a Son - s/14324880/2/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 1.2 A Change of Plans - s/14324880/3/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 1.3 Horus of the Underworld - s/14324880/4/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 1.4 Dauntless Drinking - s/14324880/5/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 1.5 Hello John - s/14324880/6/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 1.6 Reset the Board - s/14324880/7/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 1.7 The Haunter becomes The Haunted - s/14324880/8/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 1.8 You Work For Us Now - s/14324880/9/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 2 The Errors of Nikaea
Chapter 2.1 Adoptive Sons - s/14324880/10/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 2.2 Magnus Unchained - s/14324880/11/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 2.3 Arraignment on Nikaea - s/14324880/12/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 2.4 The Discourse of Demi-Gods - s/14324880/13/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 2.5 The Stacked Deck - s/14324880/14/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 2.6 The Warmaster Challenges The Emperor - s/14324880/15/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 2.7 The Hound Disciplined - s/14324880/16/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 2.8 There Are No Psykers In The Alpha Legion - s/14324880/17/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 3 The Drums of War
Chapter 3.1 I Was There The Day The Warmaster Destroyed The Imperial Palace - s/14324880/19/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 3.2 A Tale Of Two Mournivals - s/14324880/20/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 3.3 The Laughing Falcon Ensnared - s/14324880/21/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 3.4 Talk of Murder - s/14324880/22/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 3.5 Remember Whom We Serve - s/14324880/23/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 3.6 The Darkest Day - s/14324880/24/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 3.7 Angelic Dreams - s/14324880/25/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 3.8 The Missing Primarch - s/14324880/26/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 4 – The Death of Secrets
Chapter 4.1 Loyal to the Truth - s/14324880/27/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 4.2 Flight of the Night Haunter - s/14324880/28/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 4.3 The Nature of Gods - s/14324880/29/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 4.4 For His Own Good - s/14324880/30/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 4.5 Pest Control - s/14324880/31/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 4.6 War Plan Silver - s/14324880/32/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 4.7 Long Knives - s/14324880/33/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy
Chapter 4.8 Alone In The Dark - s/14324880/34/Blood-Tears-of-the-Warmaster-An-Alternate-Warhammer-40k-Heresy