Chapter 5.0 Words from the Author and Recap Summary
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Loyalists:
Rogal Dorn, Alpharius Omegon, Konrad Curze, Leman Russ, Mortarion
Nikaean Rebels / Crusade Vitae:
Sanguinius, Magnus, Lorgar, Perturabo, Jaghatai Khan
Uncommitted:
Roboute Guilliman, Fulgrim, Corvus Corax, Vulkan, Ferrus Manus, Lion El Jonson, Angron
Dead:
Horus Lupercal
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Chapter 1 & 2 Recap Summary
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=== The Ullanor Campaign begins as normal with the Ultramarines, White Scars and Lunar Wolves fighting back against the Ork Hordes.
=== Horus Lupercal is killed on Ullanor by a rogue cell of the Cabal. The Cabal are known to have stealth technology which can bypass Imperial sensors, and some members would likely have access to Athame type weapons capable of killing a Primark.
=== The Emperor attempts to save Horus but due to the Athame weapon cannot save him through acceptable means. The Regent of Terra Malcador, and Sanguinius of the Blood Angels immediately make for Ullanor upon hearing the news.
=== A funeral is held for Horus on Terra, where a Chapel is built on the grounds of the Imperial Palace to house his remains.
=== There is a different gathering of Primarks, on Terra instead of the Triumph of Ullanor. Where Ullanor had [Sanguinius, Mortarion, Magnus, Angron, Jaghatai Khan, Lorgar, Rogal Dorn, Horus and Fulgrim], the funeral of Horus has instead [Sanguinius, Roboute Guilliman, Rogal Dorn, Mortarion, Lorgar, Fulgrim, Ferrus Manus, Vulkan, Perturabo, and Leman Russ].
=== John Grammaticus leaves the Cabal, which is now in disarray, and begins working with Alpharius to try and find a way to stop chaos in a post-Horus galaxy.
=== Erebus is a bastard, and continues to be a bastard.
=== Konrad Curse goes mad due to fate changing, and his visions no longer being able to come true.
=== Sanguinius is appointed Warmaster. His Legion, The Blood Angels, are renamed The Sons of Sanguinius. Sanguinius also adopts the Lunar Wolves Legion following the loss of Horus, renaming the The Sons of Horus.
=== Sanguinius adopts Horus' Mournival, but also creates a new one for the Blood Angels, now the Sons of Sanguinius. The members have yet to be fully revealed, but you can probably guess at some of them. There is an upcoming chapter on this.
=== Sanguinius now spends his time campaigning split between the Sons of Horus and the Sons of Sanguinius. When he campaigns with the Sons of Sanguinius, the Red Tear remains his command vessel. When campaigning with the Sons of Horus he transfers to The Vengeful Spirit. During his absences, First Captain Abaddon commands the Sons of Horus, and Captain Raldoron commands the Sons of Sanguinius.
=== The Edicts of Nikaea occur. With Sanguinius as Warmaster, and still secretly mourning the loss of Horus, Sanguinius tries to intervene on Magnus' behalf to lessen the punishment at Nikaea, and possibly retain the Librarius. Sanguinius feels like he must avoid further harm coming to his brothers that remain which drives his decision.
=== The Emperor still hands down the same decision as in the original Heresy Timeline thus leaving Sanguinius feeling disheartened and discouraged following the Emperor's decision not to explain the dangers of the warp, and Magnus feeling even more frustrated and angry than the original Heresy Timeline due his opinion of being treated unfairly. This also causes a rift between Sanguinius and Russ.
=== Sanguinius forces Russ to accept the Edicts of Nikaea as well, in punishment for causing the entire event in the first place. Rune Priests are banned, and members of the Sons of Sanguinius Legion, and the Word Bearer's Legion are assigned to watch over Russ and his Legion ensure compliance.
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Chapter 3 & 4 Recap Summary
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=== Sanguinius destroys the 'Emperor' on 'Terra'. Sejanus, still being alive, works with the Warmaster to ensure compliance. There is no Daemon haunting the world call Samus due to butterfly effects (no point of creation).
=== Only the Emperor's Children try to bring compliance on Murder. This results in all of the Emperor's Children being slaughtered due to Eidolon's arrogance. Fulgrim redirects the Third Legion to complete the operation. This also results in the Laer compliance now being given to the White Scars to resolve since now the Emperor's Children are busy on Murder.
=== Erebus is being a bastard whilst being close to the Warmaster, hanging around the Sons of Sanguinius and the Sons of Horus.
=== Jaghatai and the White Scars fall into Slaanesh's trap of the Laer and the Laer Blade instead of the Emperor's Children. Key figures in the Third Legion are killed by Jaghatai as his Legion descends into decadence.
=== The Sons of Sanguinius and The Sons of Horus are forced to aid the Emperor's Children on Murder due to difficulties fighting the Megarachnids. The campaign purges the most arrogant of Fulgrim's Legion leaving the most competent alive due to pure effectiveness, but Fulgrim is still angered he needs help from Sanguinius and his Legions, despite still having a good relationship with the Warmaster.
=== Following Murder The Interex are discovered. Unlike Horus, Sanguinius is convinced by Fulgrim and the Mournivals not to try and negotiate with the Interex. The 3 Legions break the back of the Interex with overwhelming force, with the Emperor's Children left to conclude the compliance and regain their honour.
=== Erebus is a bastard and oversees the destruction of Athames, keeping several for his own uses.
=== The Lion meets with Sanguinius before the Sons of Sanguinius and Sons of Horus make for Davin. They plan a joint operation together for after the Davin campaign. This is cancelled without reason following the events on Davin, and the Lion is displeased by this.
=== Sanguinius is wounded on Davin, slightly worse than Horus would have been due to the enemy having more time to prepare. There is no time to take him back to the ship medbays. Erebus convinces the Mournivals to perform the ritual on Sanguinius. In the heated debate, Little Horus Aximand and High Warden Berus Dahka are killed. Sejanus is wounded, as is Ezekyle Abaddon.
=== Sanguinius speaks with Magnus FIRST during his time in the warp, due to his superior psychic talents. Erebus fails his deceptions utterly, but he convinces Sanguinius Horus could have survived had the Emperor used the powers of Chaos. Sanguinius is full of doubt, but his sadness at the loss of his brother drives him to seek the truth. He tells Magnus they will meet on Prospero to uncover the truth of the Emperor's power and if Horus could have survived his death at Ullanor. Neither Primarchs have completely fallen yet, but the seeds of doubt have been sown.
=== John Grammaticus discovers Alpharius and Omegon are twins.
=== Sanguinius abandons his Legions to meet with Magnus in secret. Ezekyle Abaddon and Raldoron are left in charge of Sons of Horus and Sons of Sanguinius respectively. Abaddon strikes up a friendship with Mersadie Oliton which tempers his more aggressive side, but also advises Sanguinius to purge the Legions, which Sanguinius refuses.
=== Sanguinius is attacked by Konrad Curze who is convinced Sanguinius will bring doom to the Imperium. Sanguinius wins the fight, and Konrad withdraws, but he warns the Warmaster that if he becomes the monster he has seen in his visions he will kill Sanguinius.
=== Sanguinius meets with Magnus, Lorgar, Perturabo and Jaghatai to uncover the truth of the warp. Erebus is returned to Lorgar with Sanguinius expressing his distain for the Chaplain. The truth of the Gods/Primodial Essences is discussed. Jaghatai reveals that there is a new prophecy that they will bring about a new Chaos God/Primordial Essence. Magnus believes this can be used to bring Horus back to life and rebuild the Imperium around near limitless psychic power. Sanguinius resolves to do whatever is possible to bring his dead brother Horus back to life, even if it means defying the Emperor. Perturabo is tasked with planning a new Crusade, the Crusade Vitae to ensure the plan can succeed.
=== Abaddon plots with Askaellon to purge the Sons of Horus and Sons of Sanguinius without the Warmaster knowing. Askaellon agrees.
=== Mortarion and the Death Guard are saved from Nurgle's clutches by Ingo Pesh, First Captain of the Alpha Legion. Ingo Pesh kills Typhon before he is able to cast the ritual that would throw the Legion into the warp to suffer the plagues that would turn the Legion, preventing Mortarion's fall to Chaos.
=== Perturabo outlines his plan to the Nikaean Rebels, including a Civil War on Mars, and which brothers they hope to bring onto their side. Sanguinius insists the minimum of life lost, and seeks to take advantage of the warp storms to avoid fights with other Legions. Sanguinius has a vision of Molech and plans travel there with Magnus and Lorgar.
=== Abaddon and Askaellon enact their planned purge. Abaddon spares Sejanus and Tarik despite his better judgement due to being interrupted by Mersadie Oliton. The now loyal Sixteenth and the Askaellon led forces of the Ninth purge the remaining loyalists amongst the Ninth Legion. Raldoron is killed. A pair of Frigates escape under the command of Captain Vitus Salicar, rescuing Sejanus and Tarik as the Vengeful Spirit is destroyed. One Frigate is to make for Terra and warn the Emperor. The other makes for Fulgrim in the hope the Primarch of the Emperor's Children can aid the loyalists.
=== Omegon meets with Eldrad Ulthran and the remnants of the Cabal to broker a truce and seek to try and thwart the plans of Chaos. Along with John Grammaticus and Sylandri Veilwalker they resolve to travel to Terra to avoid a major collapse of the Imperium with the death of the Emperor.
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Sorry for the delays in posting, life is hectic. I might not be able to be back on my previous schedule but I have nearly a chapter in the can ready, and I have the next few chapters planned out. In the next 2 chapters the sides will be fully aligned (unless I need to restructure to let plot lines flourish more). All remaining Primarchs will pick/be driven to a side, but I know where each are going even if we don't fully get there in 2 chapters.
I also have a concept for an ending, plus a few twists and turns, but I don't know how long it will take to write this all out. On the one hand I don't want to rush to the conclusion, but on the other hand I don't want to make things drag or have chapters that just 'bulk out' the story without providing any value.
All feedback is welcome as always. I enjoy reading the comments and seeing people guessing where the story will go.
Also anything to boost the story to get more people reading it is appreciate. Favourite, share, comment, it all helps.
I might do some spin offs if this becomes popular enough. Part of me wants to explore an Abaddon - Oliton friendship more. I skate over it here because it doesn't play a large part of the story but it could be interesting.
Likewise, seeing the effect on the Blood Angels (Now Sons of Sanguinius) as a result of Sanguinius being Warmaster, something which has been glossed over. Again, the Sons of Horus unintentionally have got more starring roles but that is mostly because without Horus their relationship with Sanguinius becomes fundemental to his fall. Unlike Horus where the fall with Pride, and a lack of recognition, Sanguinius' fall is out of sadness and loss. I've poured a lot of my own personal losses over the years into that part and anyone who has lost close friends or family can probably empathize with a man who is willing to do anything to get his lost one back.
There are many more stories I could do, but it depends if people consider it worth it. I have my own intellectual property ideas I want to write, but this universe and its characters will always be close to my heart, especially now the Horus Heresy is complete. Depending on how well this does, I might end up committing more or less time to it versus my other projects. I will finish it though, regardless.
All the best.
EndOfEmpires.
