vizn3r/warhammer40k-lore huggingface dataset:
Third War for Armageddon - Armageddon Prime: Despot Gazgrim's War Horde, 200 Mobs, 18 GargantsBlack Slayers Tribe, 30 Mobs, 4 GargantsFirebellies Tribe, 18 Mobs, 3 GargantsRazor Speed Freeks, 21 Kult of Speed MobsVarga's Drop Legion, 24 MobsWarlord Badfang's Battle Forts, 3 Mobs, 16 Battle FortressesWarlord Gorshag's Big Gunz, 7 Artillery MobsWarlord Rukgor's Gargant Big Mob, 5 Mobs, 6 GargantsWarlord Thogfang's Gargant Big Mob, 2 Mobs, 7 Gargants
Third War for Armageddon - Armageddon Secundus: Great Overlord Ghazghkull's War Horde, 400 Mobs, 18 GargantsBlackskull Tribe, 30 Mobs, 3 GargantsBurning Death Speed Freeks, 25 Kult of Speed MobsCrooked Moon Tribe, 21 Mobs, 3 GargantsRed Fin Tribe, 30 Mobs, 4 GargantsRed Wheelz Speed Freeks, 18 Kult of Speed MobsWarlord Burzuruk's Gargant Big Mob, 4 Mobs, 9 GargantsWarlord Kroksnik's Death Traks, 4 Mobs, 32 Battle FortressesWarlord Morfang's Gargant Big Mob, 6 Mobs, 7 GargantsWarlord Morkbad's Big Gunz, 6 Artillery MobsWarlord Skarfang's Gargant Big Mob, 3 Mobs, 6 GargantsWarlord Thugsnik's Big Gunz, 6 Artillery Mobs
Third War for Armageddon - The Fire Wastes: Great Slayer Grimskull's War Horde, 60 Mobs, 8 GargantsSlasherzz Speed Freeks, 12 Kult of Speed MobsStompers Tribe, 16 Mobs, 1 GargantVultures Tribe, 16 Mobs, 3 Gargants Warlord Blargrot's Gargant Big Mob, 4 Mobs, 3 GargantsWarlord Rukglum's Big Gunz, 11 Artillery MobsWarlord Skarg's Gargant Big Mob, 4 Mobs, 3 Gargants
Third War for Armageddon - The Dead Lands: Great Fiend Gorssnik Magrash's Wa Horde, 250 Mobs, 160 Battle FortressesBlack Cloud Speed Freeks, 20 Kult of Speed MobsWarlord Bogsnik's Blitz Brigade, 12 Mobs, 41 Battle FotressesWarlord Skarsnik's Blitz Brigade, 12 Mobs, 41 Battle FortressesWhite Lightning Speed Freeks, 31 Kult of Speed Mobs
Third War for Armageddon - Ork Fleet Elements: 12-16 Space Hulks2000-3500 Fighta-Bommer Squadrons 2100+ Attack Craft80-100 Roks250-400 Kill KroozersSeveral thousand Ork BattleshipsDethdeala - Ork BattleshipGrimzag's Ammer - Kill KroozerKroolboy - Battleship Skullbanga - Space Hulk
Third War for Armageddon - Heretic Astartes: World Eaters Traitor Legion
Third War for Armageddon - Chaos Daemons: Blood Legions of KhorneScintillating Legions of TzeentchLegions of Excess of SlaaneshPlague Legions of Nurgle
Third War for Armageddon - Nomenclature: Due to the fact that the history of the First War for Armageddon against Chaos has been entirely suppressed by the actions of the Inquisition, most of the Imperium, and the citizens of Armageddon itself, consider this conflict to be the Second War for Armageddon, rather than the third.
Third War for Armageddon - Canon Conflict: While the 3rd Edition Codex: Armageddon on page 32 lists the Legio Magna as a Titan Legion of the Adeptus Mechanicus that fought for the Imperium, in more recent canon the Legio Magna is now considered a Traitor Titan Legion that turned to Chaos during the Horus Heresy.
Thokt Dynasty - Thokt Dynasty: The Thokt Dynasty is a Necron Dynasty whose crownworld is Meghoshta, "The Cradle of War." The territory of the Thokt Dynasty is located in the Segmentum Pacificus.
Thokt Dynasty - Dynasty History: The shifting void rifts of the Hyrakii Deeps of the Segmentum Pacificus hid the coreworlds of the Thokt Dynasty and their legions. These planets orbit the massive Meghoshta crownworld in a stately dance across the aeons, and smaller, heavily weaponised planetoids orbit them in turn.Wreathed in sparking blue energy, the crystalline continent-tombs of the Thokt Dynasty feed upon the radioactive power of the void rifts that surround them, the sky overhead thick with rippling darkness and flickering blue comets.The Thokt Crypteks have fashioned rad-receptors into the weaponry of their soldiers, harnessed from the potent radiation of the sparkling blue energy that permeates the rifts in the sky overhead, above the crystalline continent-tombs of the Thokt.A symptom of this choice is that this barely contained energy causes a shimmering azure light to emanate from the eyes of Thokt Necron Warriors', from their Gauss Flayers and even the cracks in their mechanical forms. When the Thokt gather for war, the barely contained power of the Hyrakii void rifts is ready to be unleashed upon their foes.Most recently, in 994.M41 the dynasty's fringeworlds were invaded by the Ork of WAAAGH! Bludtoof. Entire worlds were turned into killing fields in order to grind down the Orks in a bloody war of attrition.
Thokt Dynasty - Notable Campaigns: Rise of Ankhnas (Unknown Date.M42) - When the Necrons of the Thokt Dynasty awoke from their great slumber, they found many of their coreworlds dominated by marauding Orks. Protocols were enacted to reawaken the dynasty's warriors, yet on the Tomb World of Ankhnas, the Necrons got more than they bargained for. As the undying legions marched forth from their stasis crypts, they were confronted by a colossal horde of Orks led by Goff Warlord Gazklaw. Without an Overlord to guide them, the Necrons were chopped apart in short order. Their living metal bodies phased out of existence, only to be reanimated back within the tomb complex. Once more their protocols demanded they march forth, which they did, right into the waiting choppas of the jubilant Goff horde. It's said that Gazklaw killed so many Necrons during his time on Ankhnas that his Mega Armour was made entirely of sheared-off chunks of necrodermis that shone like chrome beneath the world's unforgiving sun.
Thokt Dynasty - Dynasty Colours: The azure light of the Hyrakii Deeps surrounds the Thokt Dynasty's legions, pulsing in their weapons and illuminating the dull metal of their warriors' forms.
Thokt Dynasty - Dynasty Symbol: The Thokt favour the cold blue of their crownworld's immense void reefs.The incomplete circles of the Thokt dynastic symbol show the alignment of the Hyrakii Deeps to the crown and coreworlds of the dynasty's ancestral star systems.
Thokt Dynasty - Sources: Codex: Necrons (5th Edition), pg. 68Codex: Necrons (7th Edition), pp. 12, 42, 49, 90, 163-164Codex: Necrons (8th Edition), pg. 26White Dwarf 454 (June 2020), "Index Xenos: Goff Orks", pg. 20
Thomas Macabee - Thomas Macabee: Thomas Macabee was a Gue'vesa who was remade into a Pariah by the Necrons of Kronus during the Dark Crusade.Before his transformation, he was an archaeology professor and a prominent Gue'vesa of the T'au community on Kronus. He led an ill-fated archaeological expedition to explore the Necron ruins on the planet.The expedition unwittingly opened the entrance to the Necrons' subterranean tomb complex and awoke the undying warriors.Most of the expedition were slain by the awakened Necron Warriors, with the exception of Macabee, who was discovered to bear the Pariah Gene and thus could be of some use to the Necrons. He was captured alive and remade into the cybernetic construct known as a Pariah.The Maccabee Pariah then acted as the speaker and advisor for the Necron Lord of Kronus during the Dark Crusade.
Thomas Parrott - Thomas Parrott: Thomas Parrott was an author for Games Workshop's Black Library imprint.
Thomas Parrott - Blackstone Fortress: Fates and Fortunes (Short Story) (2019, collected in Vaults of Obsidian (Anthology))
Thomas Parrott - Dark Angels: The Test of Faith (Short Story) (2019, collected in Nexus & Other Stories (Anthology))
Thomas Parrott - Eldar: Isha's Lament (Novella) (2019, ISBN 978-1-78999-013-3)
Thomas Parrott - Imperial Knights: Loyal to the End (Short Story) (2020)
Thomas Parrott - Space Marine Conquests: Masters of Shadow (2020, ISBN 1-78999-165-X)
Thomas Parrott - Others: Spiritus in Machina (Short Story) (2018, collected in Inferno! Vol. 2 (Anthology))Salvage Rites (Short Story) (2019, collected in Inferno! Vol. 2 (Anthology))Nexus (Short Story) (2020, collected in Nexus & Other Stories (Anthology))
Thoresta - Thoresta: Thoresta is an Imperial Arboreal World where the Human population lives in the planet's trees. Several of its tribes possess genetic adaptations to their environment that have granted them slightly elongated bodies beyond the Human baseline, which provides them with a longer stride.
Thoresta - Trivia: Thoresta was created by Games Workshop employee Colin Cubbon and it was featured in White Dwarf 484.
Thorian - Thorian: The Thorians are a Puritan faction of the Inquisition that takes its name from Saint Sebastian Thor. This hero, venerated across the entire Imperium, overthrew Goge Vandire, the tyrannical High Lord of Terra who plunged the Imperium into the Age of Apostasy in the 36th Millennium.The Thorians believe that Thor was divinely inspired and that he moved with the Emperor's light burning bright within him. To many Inquisitors of the day, it was obvious that Thor was imbued with a measure of the Emperor's will and charisma. They believed that it was not the first time that the Emperor had acted in such a way, citing such heroes as Saints Capilene and Josmane as previous vessels of the Emperor walking amongst His people.The Thorians believe that the Emperor's near-death at the hands of Horus allowed Him to break the final bonds between the crude matter of corporeality and ascend to assume His true nature as a deity. His spirit wanders the void, travelling as a whisper in the Warp, flitting from place to place and perhaps even time.Thorian dogma holds that the Emperor has manifested His spirit through His chosen vessels many times when His people needed Him, but that these bodies were able to contain only the barest fraction of His power and soon withered and died.They await the day that He shall be reborn and lead His people onwards in a second, and final, Great Crusade. To this end, the Thorians closely study the interaction of consciousness, energy and the Warp, believing that if they can manipulate these energies correctly they can channel the Emperor's spirit into a suitable physical vessel and effectively resurrect the Master of Mankind.There have been many attempts to create a body suitable for such an important ritual, but so far none have succeeded.Followers of the Thorian philosophies constantly scour the galaxy for beings they call "Divine Avatars," individuals of such power that they may able to contain the Emperor's soul once more -- or be turned to evil by the Ruinous Powers.
Thorian - History: While the Thorians as a faction have only grown in prominence since the 36th Millennium, the heart of their philosophy is one that dates back much, much further. So-called "resurrectionist" cults and philosophies have waxed and waned throughout the history of the Imperium, and can be traced back to the earliest days of the Inquisition.Now considered to be one of the more Puritan factions, the chequered history of those who believe in the Emperor's rebirth has not always been considered to stand on the right side of heresy. The history of the Thorians is, at its heart, the history of the battle for the Emperor's soul.
Thorian - Reign of Blood: With all but a few Inquisitors having abandoned the discredited resurrectionist agenda, the Inquisition enjoyed a period of relative stability for several hundred standard years. However, during this time a new threat was emerging that would focus the attention of the Inquisition on external forces menacing the stability of the Imperium.Thus it was that when perhaps the Inquisition was most needed, its eye was focusing on new alien species discovered on the Eastern Fringe and events on Terra were rapidly turning to anarchy.The 361st High Lord of the Administratum, Goge Vandire, used a combination of blackmail, bribery and murder to establish control of the Senatorum Imperialis, including also taking the mantle of Ecclesiarch for himself. Using the power of both positions, Vandire set about establishing a galaxy-wide tyranny subservient to his insane demands.A few Inquisitors had tried to warn of the impending catastrophe, but to most of their comrades the seemingly petty machinations of a single High Lord had appeared inconsequential when compared with the threat arising in the Halo Stars.With his Frateris Templars, a corruption of the Imperial Navy and Astra Militarum, Vandire attempted to impose strict rules of behaviour on the populace of the Segmentum Solar and beyond. Deviation in ritual and belief was ruthlessly crushed, while a new dogma was enforced proclaiming the semi-divinity of Vandire himself.Many that have read of these terrible times have wondered how the Inquisition could have allowed it to happen. To understand this, one must look at two things: an oversight of the importance of the Adeptus Ministorum and the temporal power it wielded, and a resurgence in pro-resurrectionism around the world of Dimmamar.
Thorian - A New Philosophy: For the first millennia of the Age of the Imperium, certain Inquisitors had become fixated upon the resurrection of the Emperor by restoring or strengthening His crippled mortal body. With the purge initiated by von Dressen and Baigdan, resurrectionism had become an isolated, almost extinct philosophy.However, as the centuries passed, those Inquisitors that were intrigued by the possibilities of resurrection but wary both of the dangers associated with and the prohibitions placed upon pursuing such an agenda, a different approach was taken.These scattered individuals carried out their works in secret to begin with, wary of anti-resurrectionist sentiments throughout the Inquisition. However, as the studies of several progressed and they came into contact with one another, a tangential philosophy was born -- the "incarnationists."The Principles of Incarnationism were simply, yet eloquently, penned by Theodre the Questioning in the works titled Musings Upon the Will of the Emperor:"The Emperor walks among us. He chooses his vessels to do His work, as He has done so since time began. The rotting carcass maintained in the Golden Throne is not the Emperor, for He travels abroad, tending to His Divine Will, instilling His power into those that have been chosen."But what if the Emperor could be granted a body that does not wither and die, that could be His vessel for all eternity to come? I believe that such a thing is possible, that the Emperor yet waits for His new body to be found or created. In essence, a new Emperor will be created to lead Mankind to its destiny and conquest of the galaxy."Though the incarnationists were but a fledgling faction, their numbers included not only several well-placed and highly respected Inquisitor Lords such as Theodre, but also a number of young, dynamic Inquisitors that were keen to be pro-active in an organisation that had become increasingly dogmatic as it had grown and become more established.Thus it was that before he came to prominence amongst the rest of the Imperium, Sebastian Thor was well-known to several agents of the Inquisition. Ever interested in tales of sainthood and remarkable individuals, a number of incarnationists were drawn to the world of Dimmamar, even before the rise of Vandire and his Reign of Blood.At a young age, Thor was noted not for his physical size or skill, but for his presence, charisma and oratory ability; talents, some Inquisitors believed, that verged on supernatural.As was usual in such circumstances, Thor was closely observed to detect the taint of Chaos or alien influence or mutation in his remarkable skills, but was found to be resoundingly pure. Totally pure, which in itself raised eyebrows amongst the incarnationists.The excitement of the incarnationists was felt by other members of the Inquisition, and so it was that those who were not perturbed by growing stories of ancient pyramids at the galaxy's edge were caught up in the growing interest in Dimmamar.Though few would ever realise it, the rise of Sebastian Thor not only halted Vandire's reign, but was also partly responsible for it being allowed to start.
Thorian - Acceptance: As the Reign of Blood continued and Sebastian Thor spoke out against Vandire, the Inquisition was content to aid him by shadowy means but otherwise left him be, interested to see whether this potential Divine Vessel would provide some kind of key to them.As evidence of this marked fate grew, such as Thor's astounding ability to generate such great faith in those around him that it could conjure or quell Warp Storms, the incarnationists had found themselves a new focus. While before they had looked for all manner of vessels that the Emperor might inhabit, they began to focus on the saintly, fully mortal Human beings like Sebastian Thor who might provide the final answer. They became known as "Thorians."With their emphasis on finding a natural Human receptacle, close work with the burgeoning Ordo Hereticus and their own devout policies of Daemon-hunting and anti-possession rituals, the Thorians were regarded as stoic, pro-Imperial and Puritan Inquisitors, and thus gained wide acceptance, even if their number was relatively small at first.The Principles of the God-Incarnate were written in the middle of the 40th Millennium by Inquisitor Helsten, and were the compiled dissertations of several Thorian Inquisitors from the Tiberias Conclave.Though not widely known amongst even the other members of the Inquisition, these principles can be said to be part of the foundation of the Inquisition and its mission. With this knowledge under their control and a great determination to destroy the Emperor's enemies, the Thorians have come to be regarded as one of the most Puritanical factions, even though their philosophy was once perhaps the most heretical of all.
Thorian - Principles of the God-Incarnate: The Emperor really is a god, His ascension after the fight with Horus very real. Like the other gods, such as those of the Aeldari or Chaos, He exists within the Warp and in essence He is the god of Humanity.The one limitation to any god is that to have power over the physical world, they must rely upon mortals to do their work. The Emperor is in fact the greatest example of this -- the galaxy-spanning Imperium of Man is merely the material instrument of the Emperor.In a similar fashion, the Chaos Gods must have Champions, possess worshippers or temporarily create physical manifestations in the form of Daemons.The bottom line is that the Immaterium is merely a psychic reflection of the material world, and without intelligent mortals, none of the gods would exist.All of the existing chronicles points towards the gods, and other Warp entities, craving after the physical universe. However, what if a god could become a physical incarnation? If a man like the Emperor can become a god, it stands to reason that a god could become a man.This is the idea of the "God-Incarnate," the physical vessel for a god in the material world. The idea of the God-Incarnate is that there will be a certain individual (or individuals) who will allow this to happen -- a god could invest their power into the mortal body and literally become a living god (commonly known amongst Thorians as "Divine Avatars").Without being restricted to the Warp, and therefore restricted to the manipulation of crass, mortal pawns, what power would such a god have?
Thorian - Implications of the God-Incarnate: One can imagine that Humanity would be doomed if one of the Divine Avatars were to become the incarnation of a Chaos God. Similarly, the idea of the God-Incarnate is not restricted to Humans -- the Aeldari are striving to create a new god -- Ynnead -- to defeat Slaanesh, while a God-Incarnate of Gork or Mork would be terrible new plague upon the galaxy.However, possibly an even greater threat to the Imperium, and the reason why the God-Incarnate is such a secret that only the Inquisition knows of it (not even the High Lords of Terra are aware of the concept) is that it would be possible to reincarnate the Emperor into a living being again.As far as many in the Inquisition are concerned, the "Second Coming" of the Emperor would be a bad thing. This is quite an understandable position really, and springs from uncertainty. If the Emperor were to become a God-Incarnate, what would happen to the Astronomican? What would be Humanity's reaction to having their god walking among them? Would the Imperium be torn apart by war, as believers and unbelievers in the Second Coming clashed?If the Emperor were in physical form, could He be killed again, and if so would He be destroyed forever, exposing Humanity to the many perils that the Emperor protects them from? Would the Emperor be destroyed if things went wrong, if the Divine Avatar was unsuitable?All in all, many in the Inquisition would rather see the Imperial status quo go unchanged.
Thorian - Inquisition and the Magi: It is the real task of the Inquisition to seek out possible Divine Avatars and either kill them, control them or study them according to their personal philosophy. Over ten thousand standard years they have gathered information about what to look for to indicate the existence of an individual as a possible Divine Avatar.Under the cover of rooting out Heretics, witches and mutants, some Inquisitors are searching for individuals that show signs of Divine Avatar-like properties.The Magi (the original philosophical descendants of Moriana) are doing the same thing, only rather than wishing to suppress the God-Incarnate they want to bring it about. Some of the Magi may be trying to create a God-Incarnate of the Chaos Gods, out of selfish hope to either be the Divine Avatar themselves, or by earning the eternal favour of their god for being the most loyal of servants.Others may be trying to reincarnate the Emperor, seeing this as the true way forward for Humanity. So we have the Inquisitors and the Magi both questing after the same thing, but for very different reasons -- an eternity of secret conflict.
Thorian - Signs and Portents: The myths and legends surrounding the God-Incarnate tell of the coming of the new god amidst great upheaval, strife and war. Just as the Book of Revelations lays down the horrors of the Second Coming of Christ, or Ragnarok heralds the end of the world, so too will the God-Incarnate's arrival be proceeded by momentous events.There are many Inquisitors that believe the end of the 41st Millennium is just such a time with such tumultuous circumstances -- Ghazghkull's biggest WAAAGH!, the multiple Tyranid hive fleets attacking the Imperium, the reawakening of the Necrons, and a growing Adeptus Mechanicus schism -- all indications of growing turmoil and strife.Similarly, there are indicators that point towards who the Divine Avatar/s will be; shrouded in myths and legends as you'd expect, some of them as simple as "Ten Ways to Recognise the Divine Avatar":"He shall have a great doom upon his brow, he shall be a witch of great power, he shall be altered in the physical form, he shall be able to talk and walk with the animals."Nobody knows all of the signs, and part of the reason for the Thorian faction of the Inquisition hunting down all the psykers, aliens and mutants they can is to study them, to find out what they can about these individuals so that they might better understand the type of person who would become a Divine Avatar.
Thorian - Thorian Related Factions: As one can see from the history of the Thorians, the beliefs that have built over time into the Thorian philosophy can be manifested and acted upon in a number of different ways.As well as the Thorians there are other resurrectionist/incarnationist factions, including splinter groups within the Thorians themselves. Here are a few examples of such groups:
Thorian - Horusians: Despite the pogroms of the 35th Millennium, Horusian ideals have waxed and waned in popularity ever since the founding of the Inquisition. The Horusian ideal is quite simple, and yet also unpalatable for many Inquisitors, even those with a resurrectionist outlook.Their assumption is that somehow the powers of Chaos that manifested themselves in Horus might be harnessed for the creation of a Divine Avatar, or perhaps in the process of transferring the Emperor's soul from its current form into the body of a living god.Considered Radicals except by themselves, the Horusians are few in number but fanatical in their cause. They tend to be older Inquisitors, frustrated by the lack of answers provided by other resurrectionist theories, and therein lies the danger. Chaos and its power can never be viewed as a quick route to success, for in that direction lies damnation.Quite apart from the normal anti-resurrection arguments, many Inquisitors view Horusians with suspicion, out of fear that their dabbling with daemonic possession and Warp intrusions endangers those around them and the Imperium in general.However, the most experienced Horusians are well-versed in the perils of the Warp and Chaos and so are numbered amongst the most proficient and dedicated Daemonhunters in the entire Inquisition.Like all such philosophies, the Horusians must tread a path along a precipice of dedicated service to the Imperium and the fulfilment of their researches. It is a path that most have trodden wisely, but not all Horusians have remained faithful and, perhaps like Moriana ten thousand standard years ago, succumbed to the lure of the Ruinous Powers.
Thorian - Anomolian Beholders: While other incarnationist Inquisitors believe that it is their duty to bring about the Emperor Incarnate, the Anomolian Beholders believe that such thoughts skirt with hubris and heresy.Instead, they are perhaps the most conservative of all the incarnationist factions, their goal being not to create the Emperor Incarnate, but to observe Humanity and await His arrival. They see it as their job to prepare for this momentous event and to stand ready to offer whatever assistance may be needed at that great time.The predominant activity of the Anomolian Beholders is locating potential Divine Avatars and observing them. Only if they are convinced that the vessel is tainted will they destroy it. Much like the original Thorians they are content to examine and research remarkable individuals for signs of potential or corruption.They are more zealous than most to follow up any sign or omen of a possible Divine Avatar, and are amongst some of the most travelled Inquisitors in the galaxy.Anomolian Beholders tend to be pragmatic, down-to-earth individuals, after a lifetime of seeking wisdom and enlightenment, only to have their hopes thwarted time and again. They tend to take a longer view of matters, and despite numerous setbacks to achieving their goals, are always optimistic that the future may hold the answers.This has garnered them a reputation for being level-headed and reliable, and other Inquisitors will often happily overlook their foibles in return for these better qualities.
Thorian - Ardentites: Though not truly following a philosophy of resurrectionism or incarnationism, the Ardentites are best discussed alongside such factions. Their somewhat quirky belief is not widespread amongst the members of the Inquisition but had been persistent in various guises for several millennia, either within the broader Thorian ideals or as a distinct faction in its own right.The Ardentites firmly believe in the basic principles of the Emperor Incarnate, but there the similarity with the Thorians end. Rather than a single Divine Avatar, the Ardentites feel it is more likely that the power of the God-Emperor is likely to manifest through a group of people, or more likely the entirety of Mankind.Given Humanity's slow evolution towards being a psychic race, evidenced by a gradual but perceptible increase in mutation and psychic ability, it is the belief of the Ardentites that the ultimate plan of the Emperor to protect Mankind during this vulnerable stage was to disseminate His power throughout Humanity.So it is that the Ardentites do not concern themselves merely with remarkable individuals, but rather attempt to locate evidence of the Emperor's presence in any person expressing proof of talent or psychic ability. This is a vague, unsure process, for none can say what defines evidence of the Emperor's presence, though certainly there is no end of accounts of miraculous events that might be accounted for by intervention by the Emperor.Known sometimes by the rather derogatory title of "miracle-chasers," much of the disdain for Ardentites stems from the erratic behaviour of Inquisitor Voragian Thex, who spent two standard centuries during the 39th Millennium attempting to prove the Ardentite theorems, but was unable to produce a shred of evidence. Having presented his findings at a conclave of his fellow Inquisitors, he was censured for dereliction of duty for devoting time and resources to his baseless beliefs.It is perhaps this defiance of defeat and a rebellious streak that characterises many Ardentites. They are widely regarded as eccentric individuals who see the work of the Emperor everywhere, but they also make great investigators for they will often delve deeper and for longer than others, unwilling to make obvious conclusions from their discoveries but to seek inner meanings and hidden motives in what they encounter.
Thorian - Revivificators: Unusually for a resurrectionist cult, the Revivificators have few ties with the Adeptus Ministorum. Their focus is directed towards the transition of the Human soul to the Warp at the point of death. In particular, they study the means by which this can be slowed, halted and, ultimately, returned.This study takes them to battlefields and plague areas, to conduct their investigations on those close to death. They are also frequenters of tombs and mausoleums, hence a certain amount of disrespect for the practices of the Ecclesiarchy. Known as "ghouls" or "ravens" for their somewhat morbid practices, the Revivificators are also known to have learned much from the capture of various Aeldari over the centuries.In particular, they find the principle of the Craftworld Aeldari Spirit Stone intriguing, and have on numerous occasions attempted to replicate the practice of capturing a departing Human soul. So far, such attempts have proved wholly unsuccessful, for Mankind's psychic technology is far inferior to the psychic-engineering properties of Asuryani wraithbone.There are also those that have read Van Hinkel's treatise on the Soultheft Methods of Eldar Pirates, penned by the Inquisitor Lord in the late 39th Millennium. This detailed manuscript contains Van Hinkel's report on interrogations of captured Drukhari, as well as collating information from many other sources previously scattered in various libraries and data-files throughout the Inquisition's fortresses and void stations.The least scrupulous Revivificators have attempted to repeat the torturous practices of the Drukhari, usually on Heretics and other criminals, though not exclusively so. Few amongst the Inquisition know of the grisly dungeons staffed by telepaths and wired with arcane machinery for the detection and extraction of psychic energy.Ultimately, it is the goal of the Revivificators to study the Golden Throne itself and perhaps alter its working so that the Emperor's body might be restored. To this end, it is not only the passage of the soul to the Warp that the Revivificators study, but also the processes by which a corpse may be maintained in a state ready for such a reinfusion of the soul.Access to this knowledge and technologies means that Revivificators often live far longer than even other Inquisitors, the oldest being Inquisitor Lord Verinath, who was shot and killed whilst hale and hearty at the age of seven hundred and sixty three Terran years.
Thorian - Ordo Sepulturum: One of the smallest and most specialised organisations within the Inquisition, the Ordo Sepulturum operates around the Eye of Terror and is dedicated to investigating a specific threat -- the Zombie Plague.Although occurrences of Plague Zombies have been recorded across the Imperium for many millennia, it is in the wake of the Plague Fleets of the Chaos Champion Typhus that they have grown in number to the point where they present a threat to the Imperium in their own right.Before Abaddon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade, the incidence of Zombie Plague around the Cadian System dramatically increased. This was noticed by several agents of the Inquisition who were soon in communication, and within a few standard years several more Thorians, most notably Inquisitor Aghastri, were investigating the Zombie Plague and the Ordo Sepulturum was formed.As a combination of both a Chaos infection as well as a physical malaise, the Zombie Plague has always been on the agenda for Thorians to study, but its unpredictable nature and sporadic occurrences meant that it took luck or a tremendous amount of patience to capture Plague Zombies for investigation.With the advent of the Eye of Terror-related epidemic, Inquisitors that had previously been thwarted in their missions to achieve specimens were suddenly confronted with a plethora of test subjects.The Zombie Plague physically degenerates those it infects -- and infection can occur in many ways, including psychically -- but maintains a portion of the life essence of the victim even after physical death occurs. The parallels between the Zombie Plague and the operation of the Golden Throne have not been overlooked.The increased study of the Zombie Plague has led many Thorians to believe that in its unaltered form it may well provide several clues to the nature of the Emperor's life-in-death, but all forms of the "faith virus" so far examined have undergone mutation.That the Plague Zombies still possess a Warp-reflection has been confirmed not only by psychic investigation but also by the fact that several psykers have been able to control these creatures -- psychic manipulation is normally only possible through the Warp-ego of a creature.The possibility that the Plague Zombie infection is an offshoot of Golden Throne technologies is not widely supported and the common theory is that it was spawned by the Dark Mechanicum within the Eye of Terror.Much more rare is the Obliterator virus, which again is a Chaos-born contagion that combines elements of physical corruption with mental disruption. Allowing the psychic manipulation of technology, the Obliterator virus allows for Humans to interact and meld with machinery, not only on the physical plane but also on the psychic and spiritual level.In combination with what has been gleaned from Aeldari psychic technology, the existence of the Obliterator virus lends hope to the idea that an augmented Divine Vessel could be artificially created, should a non-corruptible version of the virus ever be developed.
Thorian - Thorians and Recongregators: Though much less imbedded in their philosophies, there is a continuing and growing enmity between the Thorians and the Recongregators. The cause of this contention is not the aims or differences in belief of the two factions, but rather their methodology.The Thorians expend much time and power in locating possible Divine Vessels that might perhaps be an avatar of the Emperor-Incarnate. In contrast, the Recongregators often spend much of their time manipulating important individuals, as well as numerous demagogues, agitators and rebellious visionaries.There have been many reported occasions of the Thorians and Recongregators coming into conflict over these individuals, each wishing to observe or use them to further their own ends. It is a source of much frustration to the Thorians when they have spent much of their resources investigating a particular person, who might perhaps have shown innate leadership, foresight and charisma, only to find that their potential Divine Vessel has gained these abilities simply through manipulation on their behalf by an Inquisitor interested in Recongregation.On the other side, the Recongregators know that there are those amongst the Inquisition that think their theories of destabilisation and deconstruction are very dangerous, and prefer to work as secretly as possible. The unmitigated prying they suffer at the hands of the Thorians, as the Recongregators see it, jeopardises work and plans that have often been solar decades in preparation and execution.So it is that simple, Human exasperation can set these two factions against one another, with disastrous consequences to both. Secrecy compounded by a clash of goals often turns into individual paranoia or vindictiveness, distracting Inquisitors from their important vocations.It is a dilemma that has no obvious or lasting resolution, for while the Thorians continue their quest in search of the Divine Vessel and the Recongregators continue to manipulate influential men and women across the Imperium, the two factions' paths will cross and lead to dispute and, almost inevitably, physical conflict.
Thorian - Thorians and Amalathians: Though both espouse Puritan ideals, the Thorians and Amalathians are frequently at loggerheads with each other, perpetuated mostly on the part of the Amalathians. The goal of the Thorians, to resurrect or reincarnate the Emperor, is anathema to the maintenance of the Imperial status quo espoused by the Amalathians.The distrust of the Thorian agenda is propagated mainly by the Amalathians through the rest of the Inquisition, as any attempt to return the Emperor is diametrically opposed to the continuance of the Imperium and its organisations in their current state. The Amalathians respond vehemently, and often violently, to any enterprise that jeopardises the current state of affairs.In Imperial historical terms, the Amalathians are a relatively new phenomena, and the Thorians paint a picture of them as an upstart, reactionary philosophy, particular in comparison to the ages-long tradition and beliefs of the resurrectionists and incarnationists.This is seen by the Amalathians as arrogance, symptomatic of the general disregard for the Imperium perpetrated by the Thorians. With this in mind, the Thorians care little for the aspirations of the Amalathians and their intransigent attitudes regarding the Imperium. They see the perpetuation of the Imperium as a mere footnote against their grandiose plans for the resurrection of the Emperor and His restoration as the true leader of Humanity.For the most part Thorians are keen to observe rather than to influence, gathering knowledge for future quests and finding answers in the eternal questions about the nature of mortality, the Emperor and the Warp.The actions of the Amalathians do little to contradict this agenda, and the Thorians are usually quite content merely to watch the efforts of the Amalathians in an amused, condescending manner. Thus most conflict is initiated by the Amalathians, whether the actions of the Thorians directly affect their aims or not -- it is a question of principle rather than substance that the Thorians must not be allowed to further their aims.In turn, aggressive action by the Amalathians will garner a response from fellow Thorians, escalating the situation and increasing the instability and danger inherent in the decentralisation that defines the Inquisition.By these unconscious means, the Thorians have been drawn into a centuries-long feud not particularly of their making, but one that attacks their fundamental philosophy and purpose.
Thorian - Acolytes of the Thorians: Thorian Inquisitors often recruit those with a keen eye for investigation into their cadres. Sages able to research every branch of a family tree going back millennia, and Enforcers with their talent from the hunt are both useful allies.Many also maintain links with the Adeptus Ministorum, in particular the Orders Famulous of the Adepta Sororitas, whose task it is to monitor the bloodlines of those who rule the Imperium.Oftentimes, word of a potential Divine Vessel comes through a contact in the Ecclesiarchy, in response to an upsurge in religious activity based around the words of a previously unknown figure.
Thorian - Thorian Domains: The Thorians' reach extends across most of the Calixis Sector, shadowing the influence of the Calixian Conclave and following in the footsteps of many cabals.First and foremost, the Thorians' gaze settles on places where the will of Mankind is being tested, such as Frontier Worlds or those in states of strife. Here, they believe, they will find evidence of the Emperor's presence in the hearts of mortals and perhaps even clues as to where His avatar may rise again.For many standard years, the world of Tranch has been of distinct interest to Thorian Inquisitors who have made it their special duty to champion any Inquisitorial business there. Whether or not this level of interest in Tranch is merited, the Thorians intend to be ready to act should the Emperor's design manifest itself.
Thorian - Thorian Operations: It is the Thorians' goal to seek out places and individuals that they believe are being "moved" or influenced by the hand of the Emperor, aiming to discover, aid, and understand them.This task is not as easy as it may seem, as sorting the merely miraculous from the truly divine takes considerable insight and skill. It is also a domain that the Adeptus Ministorum claims to have a monopoly on, and thus they take a very dim view of others who would contradict them as to the will of the God-Emperor.Therefore, during their Inquisitorial duties, Thorians spend a great deal of time exploring records, following rumours, and trying to validate the deeds of Imperial heroes (often many standard centuries dead).One such example of this type of ongoing investigation is the general debate currently among Thorians about the noted Admiral Forritar. Forritar was killed some two-hundred and forty-seven standard years past during the Battle of the Glittering Hallows in a sizable fleet engagement against Ork raiders deep in the Markayn Marches Sub-sector.Some Thorians believe that Forritar's obsession to cleanse the Marches of the Ork menace (which ultimately led to his demise), is an indication of the will of the divine and should the admiral's complete plans for the sector ever be recovered, a precious piece of the Emperor's design will be revealed.Of course, there are also many who simply view Forritar as an old fool who didn't have the good sense to prosecute a sound battle line against the Greenskins.
Thorian - Thorian Inquisitors in Calixis: The Calixian Conclave of the Inquisition contains numerous advocates of the Thorians' faction. Perhaps the most influential of these is Inquisitor Orannon Helgaer, who often speaks for the Calixian members of the Ordo Malleus and is said to have the ear of the sector's Inquisitor Lord as well.Orannon is an old man who has given long service to the Imperium and, in the eyes of many, has earned his place within the upper echelons of the Calixian Conclave. He uses this power shamelessly to further the Thorians' cause.Though he seldom leaves his estates on Quaddis, there is little that the Inquisition does within the sector that escapes his notice, especially if Thorians are involved -- and all Thorians know (or soon learn) that the favour of Orannon is a very valuable thing.Also counted among the Thorians of the Calixis Sector is the newly risen Inquisitor Maganon. Recently of the Adeptus Ministorum, Maganon is an example of how far-reaching and persuasive the teachings of the faction can be. Turning from the strictures of the Imperial Cult after becoming disillusioned with its prodigious bureaucracy and hypocritical practices, he was taken by the Thorians' purity of purpose and their belief of the divinity within Humanity.Having gathered a cadre of like-minded Acolytes, he is currently striving tirelessly to make a name for himself within the faction, often coming to the aid of other Inquisitors in the hopes of passing on the Thorians' message.Maganon is an intensely driven man, which can often be off-putting to those that first meet him. However, beneath the fervour and rhetoric lies an honest soul and a true servant of the Emperor. Given time, Maganon's star may well rise very high in the sector's conclave.
Thorian - Thorian Secrets: While rumours persist of the Thorians locating individuals touched by the Emperor and even influencing the fate of worlds in the quest to awaken the divinity of Humanity, there is very little hard evidence to suggest that any person or place that the Thorians have been associated with was in fact "touched" by the Emperor.As a result, many of those in high places pay little attention to the ramblings of the faction or the actions of its Inquisitors -- as long as they fulfill the will of the Emperor and fight His foes, their loyalty need not be questioned.However, unknown to all but a select few within the faction, its various actions over the past few years have been a cover to hide the Thorians' actual purpose in the Calixis Sector. There is evidence, some whisper, taken directly from the writings of Sebastian Thor himself, that soon a great darkness will arise within the Calixis Sector -- a darkness so powerful that it will threaten the very fabric of the Imperium with its existence.Many Thorians believe that the Tyrant Star is the herald of this darkness. It is also said that when this darkness arises, so too will an avatar of the Emperor. Born from the same womb, it is written, these two will tear the sector asunder in war.The Thorians believe this time is at hand and for the sake of the sector, they must find this avatar and protect "him" until he is ready to make his war.
Thousand Sons - Legion History: The Space Marines of the Emperor's Legiones Astartes were genetically engineered, psycho-indoctrinated warriors with superhuman abilities and minds and souls for war. In addition, each individual Legion had its own idiosyncrasies and character -- the product of their gene-seed and unique warrior culture.The Thousand Sons were a Space Marine Legion bound up with occult lore, mysticism and the otherworldly powers of the psyker. It was these esoteric arts of war that made them one of the most formidable Legions, but also one of the most distrusted, and would eventually see them subjected to the Emperor's judgement against them.
Thousand Sons - Creation of the XV Legion: Like all of their predecessors among the Legiones Astartes, the XVth Space Marine Legion was first forged on Terra by the Emperor of Mankind and its original members were recruited from the Terran population. Their gene-seed was first derived from samples of the psychically-gifted DNA of their genetic father Magnus the Red and then implanted into the first Thousand Sons Astartes in the gene-laboratories of Luna during a brief resurgence of Warp Storms within the boundaries of the Sol System.This brief surge of Warp activity generated psychic convergences all across the globe, resulting in spontaneous outbreaks of psychotic violence. This unusual activity likely did not have any additional mutational effect on the Legion's gene-seed. However, upon learning of these ominous events years later after he was given command of the Legion following his discovery by the Emperor on the world of Prospero, the Primarch Magnus considered these portents as boding ill for his Legion.The initial corps of Thousand Sons Legionaries, the Student-Aspirants, had been chosen from psychically-gifted individuals who had been citizens of the former Achaemenid Empire that had existed on Terra and had been ruled by the Emperor for nearly a standard century. Because they had been under Imperial rule for so long, the Achaemenids had not suffered as greatly as other regions of the planet during the Emperor's Unification Wars to reunite all the various techno-barbarian tribes and nation-states of the Earth under His rule.The student-aspirants of the XV Legion had been chosen from among those Achaemenid families the Emperor Himself had determined showed potential and were suitable for the gene-seed implantation process. These young men were taken from the territory of the Achaemenid Empire to the Emperor's secret gene-laboratories beneath the Himalazian (Himalayan) Mountains, where He first had begun His experiments in Human enhancement and created the primarchs, to begin the student-aspirants' transformation into Space Marines. One of these first student-aspirants was Ahzek Ahriman and his twin brother, Ohrmuzd Ahriman.Once it had been raised, the XVth Legion was deployed by the Emperor to gain experience through the suppression of the few remaining pockets of techno-barbarian resistance on Terra to Imperial rule.Having proved themselves in this first campaign, the XVth was formally named the Thousand Sons by the Emperor and given their own expeditionary fleet so that they might begin to make contributions to the Great Crusade the Emperor had unleashed to reunify all of Humanity within the newborn Imperium of Man.