Index Astartes - The Emperor's Children: The Paragons And The Pained
The Heirs to Fulgrim are amongst the most loyal Astartes, unwavering in their belief in the Emperor, beloved by all. The Forces of Chaos dread the Emperor's Children, their ferocity, known to all as the Phoenician Fury, is fuelled by the slaying of their father at the hands of the Warmaster. Their pursuit of perfection endures, but many have replaced it with hot wrath. Ten millennia after the martyrdom of Fulgrim and the fall of the Emperor, the Emperor's Children remain steadfast and their rivalry with the traitor Iron Hands has led them to the dead world of Medusa. Inspiring many a guardsman, the legendary saga of the Lords Of Magnificence is one that will last a thousand centuries and will strike fear into the hearts of the Black Legion for a thousand more...
"Perfection is not a state of being, It is a state of striving. The journey is all that has meaning, not the goal."
-Primarch Fulgrim Of Chemos, lecturing his legion during an unnamed compliance.
Origins
It was evident to all, from the very first Astartes to emerge clad in purple and gold, that the warriors of the III Legion were prophesied for something greater, something beyond the understanding of the mortal mind. The III Legion already possessed an aura of superiority due to their recruits hailing from a multitude of locations such as the landed gentry of Europa and the benevolent nobility of Boeotia. Noble Houses offered their finest youths as tribute to the Emperor, a result of their compliance at the hands of the Master Of Mankind. Their loyalty to the Emperor, rivalled only by the Adeptus Custodes, is believed to have inspired the name of the III.
In the dawning days of the Great Crusade, the Emperor's Children earned the honour to bear the Palatine Aquila, the Emperor's personal sigil. The Proximan Betrayal as it is now called was an assassination attempt by insurrectionists who came under the guise of a surrender. The Master Of Mankind was wounded by a Vortex weapon, and the entirety of the XVIth Cohort of the III Legion fell in defence of their liege.
But a few years after the Proximan Betrayal, the legion was struck by a pestilence, a foul corruption of their gene-seed. This Blight corrupted the Emperor's Children, causing their organs to deteriorate and their minds to break, killing the mighty Astartes in mere months, even weeks. Whilst the greater part of the Legiones Astartes numbered near the hundred thousands, the formerly great Emperor's Children numbered only two hundred. This changed, with the birth of the Phoenix.
A Phoenix Reborn
Fulgrim the Phoenician was the Emperor's third son, a primarch of beauty, elegance and regality. He was the embodiment of the Emperor's pride and nobility, a trait borne by his likeminded sons. Alongside all but one of his brothers, Fulgrim was scattered by the Ruinous Powers, landing on the bleak and grey world of Chemos. After his craft crashed amongst the rocks of the planet, the young primarch was discovered by a few of the many miners that inhabited Chemos. The miners found an ever shifting light, enchanting them. Noticing that fresh water had spouted from the location of the child's arrival, the miners named the boy in honour of Chemos' mythical bearer of water: Fulgrim. Fulgrim grew up as a miner, though his comrades noticed many things of their new companion. The boy, who can't have been half as old as his friends, was taller, stronger and faster than they. Most notably, his beauty and charisma inspired and charmed the other workers, giving the primarch great influence. By the age of 15, he had risen to become a governor of his fortress-city of Callax and had recognised his planet's dire situation. Through his charisma and beguiling beauty, Fulgrim arranged marriages, fought wars, and negotiated treaties until, half a century later, the primarch was the lone ruler of Chemos. Under his reign, Chemos prospered, and the once barren world became a paradise, like a phoenix born from its ashes, earning Fulgrim the name, "the Phoenician".
Then, from the skies, a fleet of dropships bearing a two-headed eagle landed on the surface of Chemos. At their helm; a being clad all in gold, towering over mortal men. But Fulgrim was no mortal man. The Phoenician rode out to meet his sire and without hesitation, knelt to the Emperor, pledging his services and loyalty to Mankind and its Master. The Emperor presented to his third son the III Legion and his two hundred sons. The Phoenician announced to his sons a sermon, one that struck devotion and valour into their very souls, one that moved even the stoic and unmovable Master Of Mankind. From the skies that day, a new era had begun for the Emperor's Children.
The Great Crusade
Despite being located early on in the Crusade, the Emperor's Children were in state to lead their own Expedition Fleet due to the affliction of their gene-seed. But with Fulgrim revealed to them, the legion steadily begun rebuilding their forces. During this process, the Emperor's Children were assigned to the command of Horus Lupercal, and the two legions and their primarchs built a tight-knit bond, one that proved to be disastrous for the Warmaster's forces in the war to come.
After nearly a century of serving under Horus' command, the III Legion was deemed of an appropriate strength to partake in the Crusade alone. Filled with pride, Fulgrim and the Emperor's Children led the 28th Expedition Fleet to some of the most brutal warzones known to mankind, claiming glory and many honours to the legion. Byzas was a notable compliance, where the Phoenician and a total of seven marines quelled the planet. During the Crusade, Fulgrim came across Ferrus Manus, the Gorgon Of Medusa. The pair quickly formed the closest bond out of any of the primarchs, culminating in the mythical smithing competition between them. Both attempted to forge what they perceived as the perfect weapon; Fulgrim forged the steadfast hammer Forgebreaker and Ferrus Manus forged the infallible blade Fireblade. Upon inspecting eachother's achievement, the primarchs proclaimed the others' creation superior. Ferrus received Forgebreaker from Fulgrim, and Fulgrim in turn received Fireblade.
The Emperor's Children served with dignity during the Crusade, yet their first major challenge was the xenos world of Laeran, a beautiful world whose people, the Laer, bore twisted ideals similar to those of the III Legion. Studies from the Adeptus Administratum revealed that attempts to make the planet compliant would take decades, and so Fulgrim ordered the conquest and cleansing of the Laer. With the heroism and recklessness of the Captain of the Third Company, Solomon Demeter, the Emperor's Children broke through the Laer defences and cracked open their temples. Fulgrim himself led the charge, the flaming Fireblade in hand. Upon killing the last of the Laer warriors within a temple, Fulgrim and his personal entourage found the Laer in a trance, dancing and worshipping a sword. It was a sword like none other; silver, with a purple gem embedded in the pommel. Encouraged by the words of First Captain Julius Kaesoron, the primarch took the blade, and massacred the remaining Laer.
With the newfound silver sword, the Phoenician replaced Fireblade with the Blade Of The Laer, and his arrogance and spite grew beyond measure. The Great Crusade continued as it had for the past two centuries. The Emperor's Children engaged in some of the most brutal warzones known to Mankind; the most notable of these being the War On Murder and the Diasporex War. On the planet of Murder, the Emperor's Children led by Lord Commander Eidolon fought against the horrific abominations known as the Megarachnids. The Astartes of the III Legion fought bravely, battling alongside notables such as the Blood Angels under their primarch Sanguinius and the Luna Wolves under their primarch Horus Lupercal. After the War On Murder, Fulgrim and his legion came across the Iron Hands during the Xth Legion's campaign against the nomadic, fleet-based confederation of Xenos and Man known as the Diasporex. Fulgrim and Ferrus Manus' analytical and honed strategic minds culminated in the Battle Of The Carollis Star. During this battle, Fulgrim felt spiteful at Ferrus Manus' reckless charge, one that made the Phoenician feel that his deserved glory would be stolen from him. The Captain of the Second Company, Solomon Demeter, led his own chaotic boarding action, successfully capturing the Diasporex flagship. The humble captain approached his gene-father, only for Fulgrim to lash out and berate Demeter for taking glory from him.
Amidst a seemingly normal compliance, the Emperor's Children came across the Maiden World known as Tarsus. Curious but wary, Fulgrim requested for his brother, Magnus The Red, to join him, before leading his legion closer, only to discover the Eldar Craftworld of Ulthwé. The Eldar hailed the Pride Of The Emperor and Fulgrim agreed to meet with the Xenos on their craftworld. Fulgrim, Magnus the Red, and the senior officers of the two legions came face-to-face with Eldrad Ulthran, Farseer of Ulthwé, and Khiraen Goldhelm, a Wraithlord. The Farseer and the Primarchs engaged in deep conversation regarding art, culture and knowledge. Eldrad Ulthran sensed that the two were uncorrupted by the forces of Chaos and revealed to the pair of Horus' wounding. Fulgrim and Magnus were horrified and began to panic: their closest brother was dying. Fulgrim interrogated Ulthran, demanding to know more whilst Magnus infiltrated the Eldar's mind to sense for truth. The Eldar Farseer declared that it would be beneficial for the galaxy if Horus died, sending Fulgrim into a fit of rage and lunging for the Farseer. Before the Phoenician could end Eldrad, Magnus froze Fulgrim in place. The Emperor's Children were unable to intervene, under threat from the Thousand Sons and the Eldar warriors surrounding them. Together, Magnus and Eldrad peered into Fulgrim's soul, sensing the influence exerted by the Silver Blade Of The Laer. The Crimson King snatched the sword from his brother's hand, and Fulgrim looked on in despair as Magnus broke the blade over his knee. With its vessel destroyed, the Slaaneshi daemon within the sword broke free, attacking everyone around it, Eldar and Astartes. Fulgrim and the Wraithlord assaulted the daemon, their blades clashing in a flurry of blows, whilst Magnus and Eldrad attempted to psychically weaken the daemon. Together, the sudden allies succeeded in banishing the daemon.
The Primarchs apologised to the Farseer and, with news of Horus' wounding, Magnus the Red assembled the Thousand Sons and began their journey to Davin. Fulgrim amassed his legion within the Pride Of The Emperor and, surprising his sons, the primarch apologised, kneeling before his legion and telling them that they should treat him as a father when he earnt their respect. The senior captains such as Julius Kaesoron, Solomon Demeter and Marius Vairosean were all shocked by the primarchs newfound humility after months of arrogance and ill manners, and the legion collectively agreed that the show of modesty from their primarch had earnt him their undying respect and loyalty.
A Brother's Betrayal
Fulgrim became concerned for Horus' wellbeing after receiving messages from both he and Magnus, so the Emperor's Children set off to convene. On his journey, the III Legion encountered the Iron Hands, and Fulgrim and Ferrus Manus came together as close brothers. From the onset of the meeting, the Emperor's Children entourage noticed minor details that alarmed them. Ferrus Manus held Forgebreaker close to him, and the Gorgon's Morlocks were on alert, seemingly ready for battle. Fulgrim and Ferrus discussed many matters, laughing and joking. Then Ferrus Manus' expression turned sour and he changed the subject of the exchange to his true intentions: the Heresy. Ferrus Manus hoped to sway his best friend to his cause, using his intense charisma and playing with Fulgrim's ego. But the Iron Hand was surprised when Fulgrim's face contorted to horror. The Phoenician argued, demanding why the Warmaster of all the primarchs would betray their father. The heated argument escalated to a battle as Fulgrim unsheathed Fireblade and Ferrus Manus drew Forgebreaker. The former friends came to intense blows as their honour guard clashed around them. Gabriel Santar himself decapitated Marius Vairosean, and the Emperor's Children were forced to retreat. At Julius Kaesoron's urgings, Fulgrim turned tail and fled, escaping with the remainder of his guard to his flagship. Before the Iron Hands could open fire, the Emperor's Children activated their warp drives, disappearing from that region of space.
The III Legion was too late to inform the Emperor of the Warmaster's betrayal, with the Dark Angel Luther reaching Terra first. Fulgrim's elegance and light heartedness was replaced by cold hard rage, a trait his sons expected to see more in Angron than their gene-father. Under orders from the Master Of Mankind and Malcador the Sigilite, the Emperor's Children united with Angron's World Eaters and Mortarion's Death Guard for the attack on Isstvan V. Those three legions were to be sent in first, preparing the dropsite for the following Imperial Fists, Blood Angels, Word Bearers and Alpha Legion. Fulgrim stated that he and his legion were to be the first to land. Angron objected, saying that his legion was to drop first due to their expertise in shock warfare. Fulgrim merely glared at Angron, making Angron howl in laughter and earning the Red Angel's respect. The Emperor's Children were to land first.
Reckoning came but days later and, as decreed, the Emperor's Children landed on the barren and dusty wasteland of Isstvan V. Fulgrim emerged first, Fireblade signalling the primarch's arrival. The rest of his legion followed in a near suicidal charge on the Iron Hands, fuelled by fury. The World Eaters and Death Guard swiftly followed, and Fulgrim assigned the Second, Tenth and Thirteenth Companies to assist the Death Guard in fortifying and defending key positions. Fireblade matched its wielder's passion, burning bright, as Fulgrim ordered the charge to continue. Once the Emperor's Children fought with finesse and honour, but all vestiges of honour were gone. Warriors of the III Legion brawled and butchered, fighting with such ferocity that even the unshakeable and merciless Iron Hands felt unnerved and felt something no foe had ever made them feel: fear. Whilst the relentless World Eaters and the indomitable Death Guard followed their objectives, the Emperor's Children continued their onslaught until Fulgrim glared into the silver eyes of Ferrus Manus.
At that moment, the reinforcing four legions of Astartes arrived atop a ridge. Fulgrim heard the shouts of victory emanating from the World Eaters, Death Guard and Emperor's Children, but the Phoenician paid no heed. His only goal was to take his rival's head. Fulgrim gripped Fireblade with both hands until his focus was shattered by the ear shattering noise of bolter fire coming from the reinforcements. Ferrus Manus smirked, and Fulgrim turned to witness his allied legions being gunned down by the Imperial Fists, Blood Angels, Word Bearers and Alpha Legion. Astounded by yet another betrayal, Fulgrim's expression hardened. His legion, on the other hand, tried to convince their primarch to withdraw, to fight another day. Reluctantly, Fulgrim followed his legion to the extraction sites, but not before assuring to the Warmaster that their duel would come one day. The Emperor's Children raged, slaughtering any traitor they came across in their mad dash to reach the Thunderhawks. Successful, the bulk of the III Legion extracted on the Thunderhawks, reaching their fleet in the atmosphere and escaping from the system, though at great cost. Rylanor, the Ancient Of Rites, gave his life gunning down the traitors as the loyalists fled the planet's surface. The III Legion then became side lined for most of the war, attempting to rebuild their legion whilst continuously fleeing from the traitors sent to crush them.
The Tale Of Three Captains
Meanwhile, the three companies assigned to assist the Death Guard bore the brunt of the incoming traitor fire. Solomon Demeter and Nathaniel Garro led multiple companies of Death Guard and Emperor's Children to the extraction point guarded by the World Eaters. The World Eaters commanded by Khârn fortunately escaped from the traitors' onslaught with the help of Garro and Demeter. In orbit, Solomon Demeter managed to contact the Pride Of The Emperor and his primarch. Demeter expressed his intent to flee to Ultramar and inform the Ultramarines of the treachery. Fulgrim approved of the plan, saluting the Second Company Captain, praying that this was not going to be the last time they met. But Khârn, the acting leader of the decimated World Eaters Legion due to Angron's comatose state, intended to reach Nuceria and revive Angron. He argued that splitting their forces would make them more vulnerable, and that the Ultramarines were more than capable of holding strong against any force the traitors sent to their domain. The two captains almost came to blows, until Nathaniel Garro's charisma made Khârn relent and allow the Emperor's Children and Death Guard to change course to Ultramar.
The three shattered legions parted, and the Death Guard and Emperor's Children set their course to the Ultramarines' world of Calth. During the journey, the loyalists noticed a fleet of Word Bearers bound for Calth, though fortunately the Word Bearers did not see the loyalist force. Inquisitive, Garro and the Emperor's Children officers convened to discuss their course of action. Lucius, Captain of the Thirteenth Company of the Emperor's Children, proposed a daring and near suicidal action: infiltrate the Destiny's Hand, the personal flagship of First Chaplain Erebus, steal the Word Bearers' plans and destroy the ship. Tarvitz and Garro cautioned against the proposition, but Solomon Demeter saw potential in the young Captain, and gave the go ahead.
Erebus, First Chaplain of the Word Bearers, was not yet aware of the loyalists attempting to warn Calth, nor was he aware of the strength the shattered survivors of Isstvan possessed. Astonishment coursed through his mind when his fleet was suddenly assaulted by a force of loyalist vessels. Nathaniel Garro's sudden strike caused the Word Bearers to think that they had been assaulted by a much larger foe, whilst the loyalists kept up this guise, confusing the traitor fleet. Amidst the chaos, Lucius and aspects of Thirteenth Company achieved their goal of boarding the Destiny's Hand and began creeping towards the bridge. But their cover was blown when they were came upon by a large force of Word Bearers. The Astartes of the XVII Legion warned their First Chaplain of the intruders, but their message would be cut short when Lucius' power sword came down on their necks. The ship's crew were alerted of their presence, and all the Astartes available focussed their attention on killing the loyalists. With their cover blown, the Emperor's Children threw away what stealth they had, and started opening fire on any traitor they laid their eyes on. Lucius and a half dozen of Astartes broke onto the bridge, and Lucius clashed his blade against Erebus' crozius.
The Emperor's Children fought fiercely against the Word Bearers on the bridge, allowing a sergeant of Thirteenth Company to purloin the plans for the Battle Of Calth. Realising that his numbers were dwindling minute by minute, Lucius disarmed Erebus, slashing him across the abdomen before escaping the bridge. Now numbering just over twenty, the warriors of Thirteenth Company tore through any resistance they encountered, reaching the ship's hanger and, beyond all expectation, the heroic Astartes escaped back to the loyalist fleet. As they had succeeded in their goal, Garro and Demeter took advantage of the chaos to warp jump towards Calth, the disorientated Word Bearers not registering that their foe had fled.
Upon approaching Calth, the loyalists hailed the Ultramarine garrison, requesting to make contact with their primarch, Roboute Guilliman. The Ultramarines permitted the Death Guard and Emperor's Children to land on the surface, and the astropaths on Calth managed to reach the Lord Of Ultramar. Confused, Guilliman demanded an explanation. Saul Tarvitz explained the situation to the primarch, of the betrayal on Isstvan V and of the traitors' plan to ambush Calth. Roboute Guilliman set his destination for Calth and, within days, the primarch had landed on the world. Solomon Demeter and Nathaniel Garro presented the Word Bearers' plot to the now enraged primarch. Thanks to the cool head of First Captain Marius Gage, Roboute Guilliman stayed his anger and organised the defence of Calth. Collectively, the loyalists agreed to make the defences subtle as to lure the Word Bearers into a trap. The Death Guard, experts in attrition warfare and defence, were placed in charge of the fortification of Calth.
A few weeks after the arrival of the loyalists, the Word Bearers came to Calth under the guise of orders from the Warmaster. However, the Word Bearers would be massacred when they neared Calth. Guilliman's fleet emerged from the other side of the planet, surrounding the Word Bearers and forcing them onto the surface of Calth. Despite heavy casualties, the Word Bearers were numerically superior and succeeded in landing on the planet and pushing back the Death Guard and Ultramarines. The Emperor's Children led by Saul Tarvitz launched an ambush on the back lines of the Word Bearers, pushing the Word Bearers deeper into the Death Guard's defences. The veteran Tenth Company of Emperor's Children annihilated the Word Bearers they came across, Tarvitz's superior tactics and leadership overcoming the Word Bearers' numbers. Yet unknown to the defenders, Kor Phaeron and the more experienced Word Bearers snuck past the loyalists' radar, capturing Calth's weapon systems and turning them on nearby planets and satellites. Solomon Demeter and the Skitarii assigned to him culled the Word Bearers' cultists in an assault on Kor Phaeron, besieging the weapon systems. Lorgar Aurelian's initial plan had failed, and the primarch instructed Kor Phaeron to devastate Calth no matter the cost. Kor Phaeron ordered the remaining Word Bearers into the catacombs beneath the planet as he focussed the weapon systems on Calth's sun. Sensing something was wrong, the loyalists chased the traitors into the catacombs, and Guilliman demanded that any loyalist ships evacuate the system, narrowly avoiding the immense amounts of radiation inflicted on Calth by its sun.
Whilst Calth had been irradiated and many thousands of Ultramarines had perished, many more Word Bearers had been killed due to the trap, though Kor Phaeron barely escaped death at the hands of Guilliman. The Underground War had begun, the loyalists commanded by Nathaniel Garro and Remus Ventanus clashing with the remnants of the Word Bearers commanded by Maloq Kartho hidden beneath Calth's surface. Yet from Armatura, the loyalists received news of Leman Russ and the Space Wolves' involvement in the Invasion Of Ultramar, now known as the Shadow Crusade. Guilliman utilised the brilliance of the Emperor's Children for shock assaults and ambushes, their skill quickly dismembering any invasion force they were assigned to destroy. After a long year of brutal warfare, the Emperor's Children and the Ultramarines, now reinforced by the Night Lords, pursued the Space Wolves and Word Bearers to the Space Wolves' homeworld of Fenris. The entire contingent of Emperor's Children sent to Ultramar led a shock assault, ambushing the sadistic Space Wolves whilst Guilliman duelled Russ and Lorgar. The Space Wolves had begun a mad genocide of the civilians of Fenris, fuelling the Word Bearers' ritual to summon forth the warpstorm known as the Ruinstorm. Carnage erupted across the battlefield, and Guilliman quickly lost the upper hand against the Slaanesh-empowered Russ. Solomon Demeter recognised the direness of the situation and, gripping his bolter, he charged Russ, catching the Wolf King at unawares and embedding multiple bolter rounds into the primarch's leg, allowing Guilliman to retreat with his legion and the rest of the Emperor's Children. Alone, surrounded by Space Wolves, Demeter duelled Russ, his power sword beginning to chip and shatter from the strength of Russ' blows. Russ easily knocked Demeter to the ground but, in his arrogance, he began to gloat, drawing close to Demeter's face and savouring the taste of his blood. The Emperor's Children captain gripped a fallen Space Wolf's chainaxe and caught the Wolf King with his guard down, sinking the revving chainaxe into the primarch's side, dealing a fatal blow. Howling, Russ repeatedly punched Demeter in the face, quickly ending the exalted Emperor's Children and turning his face into little more but a sludge of blood, bone and brains.
But the wounds Demeter had inflicted on Russ had an immense effect. The traitor's life began to fade and as such, Lorgar hurried the ritual to create the Ruinstorm. The sadism and butchery of the Space Wolves enabled the ritual, and the galaxy split in half. Star systems shattered as incomprehensible amounts of psychic energy flooded into Russ' dying body, elevating him to a Daemon Prince Of Slaanesh and affirming the VI Legion's descent in psychopathy.
Demeter's sacrifice was not in vain, as the Emperor's Children, now under the joint command of Saul Tarvitz and Lucius, retreated with the Ultramarines back to the capital of Ultramar, Macragge. The Emperor's Children and the Ultramarines assembled with the Death Guard led by Mortarion, the World Eaters led by Khârn, the Night Lords led by Konrad Curze, the Iron Warriors led by Barabas Dantioch and the Imperial Fists led by Alexis Polux. The loyalist Astartes and primarchs convened a council, engaging in intense discussion over the fate of the half of the galaxy separated from Terra by the newly-formed Ruinstorm. The Astronomican had been disrupted, and all communication with Terra had ceased. Saul Tarvitz and Lucius voted in favour of Guilliman's concept of Imperium Secundus, though the issue of a regent would be brought forth. The Emperor's Children supported Guilliman as Imperator Regis, deeming Mortarion and Curze too ruthless and merciless. The two other primarchs took up different mantles, Mortarion as Lord Warden and Konrad Curze as Lord Protector. Nathaniel Garro, Captain of the Death Guard's Seventh Company and friend to Saul Tarvitz, pondered where Solomon Demeter was. Lucius was the one to announce the last stand of Solomon Demeter, spreading despair amongst the ranks of the Astartes of Imperium Secundus. Konrad Curze announced that there would be a grand funeral for the fallen champion. Saul Tarvitz lay Solomon Demeter's helmet onto a pyre dedicated to the Captain, and Lucius bore the torch, igniting the pyre.
Guilliman, now the most powerful man within that half of the galaxy, assigned the Emperor's Children to Konrad Curze's command, assisting the VIII Legion in hunting down and capturing the traitor primarch Corvus Corax, who had crept onto Macragge and was wreaking utter havoc across the world, particularly the Illyrium region. Aided by Mortarion, Curze implemented martial law across Illyrium, which led to the capture of Corvus Corax. The triumvirate of Imperium Secundus held a trial for the Ravenlord, a trial in which Tarvitz and Lucius took up the roles of judges. The trial quickly devolved, and Konrad Curze lashed out, engaging in a vicious brawl with Corvus Corax despite the attempted intervention of Lucius. Tarvitz and Lucius ordered their men to take aim at the rogue Curze, before Curze would stop. The Primarch of the VIII Legion had seen in his visions that the Emperor still lived and Terra still stood. Overjoyed, the Emperor's Children celebrated the confirmed existence of their idol whilst Mortarion escorted Corax out of the chamber.
Terra still stood and, whilst it did, the Astartes would always be subservient to the Emperor. Guilliman quickly dissolved Imperium Secundus, and the triumvirate targeted the moon of Davin, one of the few regions of space where the Ruinstorm had parted. The Emperor's Children followed the three legions to Davin, where they reunited with the brother they thought dead: Angron. Khârn, unaware of Demeter's death, truly felt sorrow when he received news of the Captain's death. Now with the full strength of four legions and assisted by contingents of many more, the loyalists launched their final attack: the Second Battle Of Davin. Lucius commanded the Emperor's Children assault, duelling and banishing dozens of Slaanesh's Daemonettes whilst resisting the Prince Of Excess' taunts and seductive whispers. Saul Tarvitz joined up with the Death Guard and swarmed a Lord Of Change, Nathaniel Garro himself striking the killing blow and plunging Libertas into the Daemon's neck. The Emperor's Children assisted in distracting the daemonic blockade alongside the Ultramarines and World Eaters, allowing Mortarion, Curze and fractions of their respective legions to pierce the Ruinstorm and reach Terra. The Emperor's Children pledged their support to Guilliman and followed the primarch in his steady advance to Terra through the heavily fortified worlds of the Imperial Fists aimed to delay the XIII Legion.
The Phoenix's True Death
Whilst the contingents of the Emperor's Children led by Solomon Demeter became deeply involved with the Heresy, the main force commanded by their primarch had less impact on the war until its dying days. Fleeing from the massacre of Isstvan V, Fulgrim led his legion back to Chemos, far from the front of the war. For a couple of years, the legion slowly rebuilt, their geneseed's efficiency allowing hundreds of recruits to undergo the transformation every month. This ended when the world of Chemos was suddenly besieged by a joint army of Alpha Legionnaires and Blood Angels. The Siege Of Chemos prevented the legion from regenerating at such a fast rate and, whilst they were not a legion that should be underestimated, they were not of a strength that would prevent the besiegers to eventually overrun them. Fulgrim's tactical and deeply analytical mind detected a weakness in the Blood Angel blockade, one that the Emperor's Children exploited by launching their entire fleet through that weakness, routing the Blood Angels and allowing the III Legion to begin a slow but steady retreat to Terra. While they retreated, engaging in savage guerrilla warfare, the legion paused at multiple recruitment worlds. For the next six years, the legion continued this process, until the Emperor's Children had reached just over half of the force they had amassed on Isstvan. From the astropaths of the Luna Wolves on Molech, the Emperor's Children learned of the Warmaster's armies rapidly converging on Ullanor for their end goal of razing Terra to the ground. Fulgrim instructed his sons to set their course for Terra, arriving at the same time as the Death Guard and Night Lords, mere weeks before the traitors beset Terra.
The III Legion may have appeared to the Iron Warriors as pompous and arrogant, the IV Legion was pleasantly surprised to witness the craftsmanship and construction skills of the Emperor's Children, traits inherited from their gene-father. Together with the Death Guard and the Iron Warriors, the Emperor's Children finalised the fortifications of Terra as reports came from the Night Lord scouts of Ferrus Manus' invasion of the Solar System.
Fulgrim was stood on the steps leading to the Imperial Palace when the Lion's bombardment came. His piercing eyes observed as all manners of orbital weaponry crashed against the Aegis. In his gauntleted hand, Fireblade radiated. The Emperor's Children fought with the Night Lords during Konrad Curze's counter attack to retake the Lion's Gate Spaceport, and the III Legion battled with the same ferocity that they did on Isstvan V, terrifying the traitors, who believed that only the Khorne-empowered Salamanders could fight in such a fashion. As the traitors pushed ever closer, the Emperor's Children fought harder and harder, inflicting innumerable casualties on their fallen brethren. Lord Commander Eidolon duelled the enraged Autek Mor, and the Lord Commander's hammer struck with such force that Autek Mor was decapitated, though the Iron Hand would be resurrected by Zardu Layek. Julius Kaesoron lunged at Gabriel Santar, the two former friends duelling in the same manner as their primarchs. Despite Santar's skill, Kaesoron fought dishonorably, shooting the First Captain in the shoulder and moving for a killing strike, prevented only by Santar being teleported back onto the Fist Of Iron. Eventually, Fulgrim and the remnants of his sons guarded the Eternity Gate. Recognising the ability of his sons, Fulgrim sent them away to defend other key positions. The Phoenix stood alone at the Eternity Gate, cleaving daemons, traitor Astartes and even Titans with his power sword. The onslaught was endless however, and Fulgrim felt his life drain as the minutes passed. Finally, thanks to Mortarion's psychic nature, the Eternity Gate was temporarily sealed, allowing Fulgrim to pull back to the Sanctum Imperialis.
Sensing the traitors approach, Fulgrim bid his brothers farewell as he stood before the doors leading to the Golden Throne. Ferrus Manus broke down the Eternity Gate with Forgebreaker and led the last of the traitor primarchs to the Imperial Palace but, due to Perturabo's intellect, they would be separated. The Warmaster gripped Forgebreaker tightly as he realised his foe. His greatest friend and his greatest enemy. No words were exchanged between the brothers as they charged, Forgebreaker clashing against Fireblade, something that had not occurred since the Warmaster's failed coercion nine years past. Whilst Ferrus Manus held back in an attempt to turn Fulgrim to Chaos so they may end their father together, Fulgrim held no such affection. The speed and savagery of his strikes pushed Ferrus to the very limits of his patience and martial might. The Phoenician took advantage of his enemy's affection, plunging Fireblade deep into Ferrus' chest and making the Warmaster cry out in pain. Enraged, Ferrus Manus gripped Fulgrim by the throat before pummelling him into the ground with the very hammer he had forged. The Phoenix rose no more. Sensing the death of their primarch, the Emperor's Children launched into a fit of rage akin to Khorne's Berserkers. This phenomenon, known as the Phoenician Fury after Fulgrim, turned the Emperor's Children into mindless savages, butchering friend and foe alike whilst they were bombarded of visions of their father's death. After Ferrus Manus' death at the hands of Horus and the Emperor, the Phoenician Fury passed, and the remainder of the Emperor's Children held a funeral for Fulgrim.
The Heresy Ended
After the Heresy, the Emperor's Children struggled with the Phoenician Fury, which became a more and more common occurrence amidst the ranks of the III Legion. Aided by the Sorcerors of the Thousand Sons, the Emperor's Children formed their own branch of the Librarius entirely devoted to the control of the Rage: the Brothers Of The Phoenix. The Emperor's Children, much like the rest of the Astartes, became split concerning the publication of the Codex Astartes. The anti-Codex Emperor's Children were led by Julius Kaesoron and Lucius, whilst the pro-Codex Emperor's Children were led by Eidolon and Saul Tarvitz. When Horus Lupercal backed down and the primarchs permitted the creation of Chapters, Julius Kaesoron became the first Chapter Master of the Emperor's Children, whilst Tarvitz, Lucius and Eidolon each became the Chapter Masters of their own Chapters.
During the Great Scouring, Lucius' Chapter, known as the Blademasters, bore arms against the Raven Guard during Nykona Sharrowkyn's Burning Of Iydris. The Eldar and Emperor's Children created a truce as Lucius fought his way through the Plague Raptors, twisted proto-Astartes infected with Nurgle's Rot. Lucius' blade then came to meet the two black blades of Sharrowkyn. The two master duellists fought with such speed that even the most skilled of the Blademasters failed to follow the duel. Strengthened by Nurgle's so-called love, Sharrowkyn shattered Lucius' blade and nearly killed the blademaster, had Lucius not narrowly avoided the strike, leaving a scar on his cheek. As Sharrowkyn leapt for another blow, Lucius embedded the broken blade of his sword between Sharrowkyn's eyes. The blademaster carried Sharrowkyn's body by the sword in the Raven Guard's face and threw Nurgle's Champion into the void of space.
Six hundred years after the Heresy ended, the Emperor's Children and Thousand Sons fought in the Frost War against the Space Wolves. The war was commanded by Eidolon, the Chapter Master of the Auric Hammers, and Ahzek Ahriman, Chapter Master of the Thousand Sons. Utilising his strategic might, Eidolon forced the Space Wolves into a pitched battle on the world of Prospero. The Brotherhood Of The Phoenix proved themselves in this battle, banishing the Daemonettes summoned by the Space Wolves and demonstrating their ability to trigger the Phoenician Fury whenever they wanted. The Space Wolves were banished from Prospero, but the power of the Brotherhood Of The Phoenix concerned Eidolon, and he called for a council on the Emperor's Children homeworld of Chemos. Julius Kaesoron, Saul Tarvitz, Lucius and Vespasian convened in a meeting called the Phoenix Conclave. There, the successors of the Emperor's Children argued and bickered over the Brotherhood Of The Phoenix, resulting in incredibly strict sanctions for the Brotherhood.
In M34, an ambitious member of the Brotherhood Of The Phoenix by the name of Majorian Gehennus quickly rose the ranks of the order, becoming Grandmaster of the Brotherhood. Whilst the Chapter Master of the Emperor's Children supposedly held the power, Majorian was the real master, manipulating the various successor chapters for his own gain. Using his influence, Majorian managed to sway many of the Brotherhood to his cause and lift many of the sanctions restricting them. After half a century of schemes, Majorian's lies were detected by Fortesus, the new Chapter Master of the Emperor's Children, who declared the Illuminare Crusade to depose Majorian and end his reign of deceit. Fortesus reunited the Emperor's Children and, with reinforcements from various Ultramarine and Luna Wolf successor chapters, Fortesus besieged Chemos. Majorian's armies consisted of fallen Emperor's Children and Ultramarine chapters, Blood Angel and Word Bearers contingents, and daemons of Tzeentch. The Majorian Heresy was the largest interhuman war since the Ferrusian Heresy, and the war spread across the region of space surrounding Chemos. After seven years of brutal warfare, Fortesus broke into the Fortress-Monastery of Callax, seat of Majorian. Majorian bore his crozius as he duelled Fortesus, but the Grandmaster was no match for Fortesus. Fortesus slew Majorian, retaking Chemos and banishing the Tzeentchian daemons. The followers of Majorian believe that he is an oracle, a messiah, and he will return one day to purge the galaxy of non-believers.
Since the formation of the Great Rift, the Emperor's Children have pledged their support to the returned Horus Lupercal and his Indomitus Crusade. But the Emperor's Children have received reports of the return of Medusa, and half of the Sons of Fulgrim target the world, seeking to uncover its secrets.
Homeworld
Chemos was once a barren industrial world, its skies filled with smog and coal. When Fulgrim united the planet, he reformed it, turning it into a paradise, with luscious forests and sparkling seas. During the Heresy, the Alpha Legion successfully took Chemos, but the world held no importance to the XX Legion, so the citizens and environment of Chemos remained untouched. Yet during the Majorian Heresy, four years of siege warfare ruined the landscape, and Chemos has since returned to a barren waste.
Organisation
The Emperor's Children split into multiple Codex compliant chapters at the end of the Ferrusian Heresy. Each chapter contains sects of the Brotherhood Of The Phoenix, but the Brotherhood itself acts independently from the chapters.
Since the betrayal of Ferrus Manus and the Iron Hands, the Emperor's Children have held a fierce hatred of the X Legion. In the Ferrusian Heresy, a force of loyalist Iron Hands attempted to aid the III Legion, only to be executed on sight by the Emperor's Children. Their hatred of the Iron Hands is so strong that even Emperor's Children that have fallen to Chaos refuse to ally with the Black Legion or Iron Hands, no matter the cost.
Known Members
Ferrusian Heresy
• Primarch Fulgrim
• First Captain Julius Kaesoron, first Chapter Master of the Emperor's Children
• Lord Commander Eidolon, first Chapter Master of the Auric Hammers
• Lord Commander Vespasian
• Captain Solomon Demeter, Hero of Calth
• Captain Marius Vairosean
• Chief Apothecary Fabius Bile
• Captain Saul Tarvitz, Hero of Espandor, first Chapter Master of the Sons Of The Phoenix
• Captain Lucius, Hero of Armatura, first Chapter Master of the Blademasters
• Rylanor, Ancient Of Rites, Dreadnought
Post-Heresy
• Fortesus, Chapter Master of the Emperor's Children
• Majorian Gehennus, Grandmaster of the Brotherhood Of The Phoenix, turned traitor
• Achillion, Chapter Master of the Blademasters
• Paris Lycaon, Chapter Master of the Sons Of The Phoenix
• Bellonus Vesuvian, Chapter Master of the Auric Hammers
And that's the Emperor's Children done. Yes, Fulgrim is meant to be this heresy's version of Sanguinius. As always reviews and advice are welcome. I'm going on holiday for a couple of weeks so it'll be a while until the Iron Warriors' chapter comes out, but I will begin work as soon as I get back.
Torgaddon out.