VENGEFUL SPIRIT
(The battle of Molech)
Graham McNeill
It is a time of legend.
The galaxy is in flames. The Emperor’s glorious vision for humanity is in ruins. His favoured son, Horus, has turned from his father’s light and embraced Chaos.
His armies, the mighty and redoubtable Space Marines, are locked in a brutal civil war. Once, these ultimate warriors fought side by side as brothers, protecting the galaxy and bringing mankind back into the Emperor’s light. Now they are divided.
Some remain loyal to the Emperor, whilst others have sided with the Warmaster. Pre-eminent amongst them, the leaders of their thousands-strong Legions are the primarchs. Magnificent, superhuman beings, they are the crowning achievement of the Emperor’s genetic science. Thrust into battle against one another, victory is uncertain for either side.
Worlds are burning. At Isstvan V, Horus dealt a vicious blow and three loyal Legions were all but destroyed. War was begun, a conflict that will engulf all mankind in fire. Treachery and betrayal have usurped honour and nobility. Assassins lurk in every shadow. Armies are gathering. All must choose a side or die.
Horus musters his armada, Terra itself the object of his wrath. Seated upon the Golden Throne, the Emperor waits for his wayward son to return. But his true enemy is Chaos, a primordial force that seeks to enslave mankind to its capricious whims.
The screams of the innocent, the pleas of the righteous resound to the cruel laughter of Dark Gods. Suffering and damnation await all should the Emperor fail and the war be lost.
The age of knowledge and enlightenment has ended. The Age of Darkness has begun.
To my Mum and Dad, the best I could ever have wished for.
~ DRAMATIS PERSONAE ~
The Primarchs
Horus Lupercal, The Warmaster, Primarch of the XVI Legion
Mortarion, The Death Lord, Primarch of the XIV Legion
Fulgrim, The Phoenician, Primarch of the III Legion
Leman Russ, The Wolf King, Primarch of the VI Legion
Rogal Dorn, The Emperor’s Praetorian, Primarch of the VII Legion
The XVI Legion ‘Sons of Horus’
Ezekyle Abaddon, First Captain
Falkus Kibre, ‘Widowmaker’, Captain, Justaerin Terminator Squad
Kalus Ekaddon, Captain, Catulan Reaver Squad
‘Little’ Horus Aximand, Captain, Fifth Company
Yade Durso, Line captain, Fifth Company
Serghar Targost, Captain, Seventh Company, lodge master
Lev Goshen, Captain, 25th Company
Grael Noctua, ‘The Warlocked’, Sergeant, 25th Company
Maloghurst, ‘The Twisted’, Equerry to the primarch
Ger Gerradon, Luperci
The XIV Legion ‘Death Guard’
Caipha Morarg, 24th Breacher Squad, Second Company
Ignatius Grulgor, The Eater of Lives
The XIII Legion ‘Ultramarines’, Battle Group II (25th Chapter)
Castor Alcade, Legate
Didacus Theron, Centurion, Fourth Division
Proximo Tarchon, Centurion, Ninth Division
Arcadon Kyro, Techmarine
The IX Legion ‘Blood Angels’
Vitus Salicar, Captain, 16th Company
Alix Vastern, Apothecary
Drazen Acorah, Appointed lieutenant, formerly of the Librarius
Agana Serkan, Warden
Legio Crucius
Etana Kalonice, Princeps, Paragon of Terra
Carthal Ashur, Calator Martialis
Legio Fortidus
Uta-Dagon, Princeps, Red Vengeance
Utu-Lerna, Princeps, Bloodgeld
Ur-Nammu, Warmonger
Legio Gryphonicus
Opinicus, Invocatio
The Mechanicum
Bellona Modwen, High Magos, Ordo Reductor
House Devine
Cyprian Devine, ‘The Hellblade’, Knight Seneschal
Cebella Devine, Adoratrice Drakaina
Raeven Devine, First Knight
Albard Devine, Firstborn scion
Lyx Devine, Adoratrice Sybaris
House of Donar
Balmorn Donar, Lord-Knight
Robard Donar, Scion
Imperial Personae
Malcador the Sigillite, Imperial Regent, First Lord of Terra
Brython Semper, Lord Admiral of Battlefleet Molech
Tyana Kourion, Lord General of the Grand Army of Molech
Edoraki Hakon, Marshal of the Northern Oceanic
Abdi Kheda, Commander of the Kushite Eastings
Oskur van Valkenberg, Colonel of the Western Marches
Corwen Malbek, Khan of the Southern Steppe
Noama Calver, Medicae corps
Alivia Sureka, Larsa harbour pilot
Jeph Parsons, Dock worker
Miska
Vivyen
The Chosen of Malcador
Garviel Loken, Knight Errant
Iacton Qruze, ‘The Half-heard’, Knight Errant
Severian, Knight Errant
Tylos Rubio, Knight Errant
Macer Varren, Knight Errant
Bror Tyrfingr, Knight Errant