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 end is here. The skies darken, colossal armies gather. For the fate of the Throneworld, for the fate of mankind itself...

The Siege of Terra has begun.

Dramatis Personae

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

The Emperor, Master of Mankind, Last and First Lord of the Imperium

Horus, Warmaster, Primarch of the XVI Legion, Ascendant Vessel of Chaos

The Primarchs

Perturabo, ‘The Lord of Iron’, Primarch of the IV Legion

Jaghatai Khan, ‘The Warhawk’, Primarch of the V Legion

Rogal Dorn, Praetorian of Terra, Primarch of the VII Legion

Sanguinius, Archangel of Baal, Primarch of the IX Legion

The IV Legion ‘Iron Warriors’

Forrix, ‘The Breaker’, First Captain, Triarch

Vull Bronn, ‘The Stonewrought’, 45th Grand Battalion

The V Legion ‘White Scars’

Jubal Khan, ‘Lord of Summer Lightning’, Master of the Hunt

Changshi, Bladeward to Jubal Khan

The VII Legion ‘Imperial Fists’

Sigismund, Lord Castellan of the First Sphere, First Captain, Marshal of the Templars

Halbract, Lord Castellan of the Second Sphere, Fleet Master

Effried, Lord Castellan of the Third Sphere, Seneschal

Camba Diaz, Lord Castellan of the Fourth Sphere, Siege Master

Fafnir Rann, Lord Seneschal, Captain of the First Assault Cadre

Boreas, First Lieutenant of the Templars, First Company

Massak, Librarian

Archamus, Master of the Huscarls

The XVI Legion ‘Sons of Horus’

Ezekyle Abaddon, First Captain

Horus Aximand, ‘Little Horus’, Captain, Fifth Company

Falkus Kibre, ‘Widowmaker’, Captain, Justaerin Cohort

Saduran, Warrior of the 201st Assault Battalion

Ikrek, Warrior of the 201st Assault Battalion

Thonas, Justaerin

Gedephron, Justaerin

Tybar, Justaerin

Ralkor, Justaerin

Sycar, Justaerin

Urskar, Justaerin

The XV Legion ‘Thousand Sons’

Ahriman, Chief Librarian

Ignis, Master of the Order of Ruin

Menkaura, Blind Prophet of the Corvidae

The XVII Legion ‘Word Bearers’

Zardu Layak, ‘The Crimson Apostle’, Master of the Unspeaking

Kulnar, Slave of the Anakatis Blade

Hebek, Slave of the Anakatis Blade

The Apostle

The Chosen of Malcador

Loken, Knight Errant

The Mechanicum

Kazzim-Aleph-1, Magos-Emissary

Chi-32-Bet, Enginseer

The Dark Mechanicum