At the onset of the Horus Heresy, the Traitor Legions found themselves in an advantageous position: three Loyalist Legions had been broken on Isstvan V, and most of the others were out of position due to the Warmaster’s scheming. Here’s the state of play for the Warmaster’s forces in the opening moments of the Horus Heresy.
The Emperor’s Children
Flushed with victory on Isstvan V and jubilant at the personal triumph of Fulgrim over Ferrus Manus, the Emperor’s Children were ready for the long road to Terra. While there would be no shortage of battles along the way, the main detour for portions of the IIIrd Legion was into the Eye of Terror, where Fulgrim would ascend to Daemonhood with a little (unwilling) help from his brother Perturabo. Flooded with Daemonic power, Fulgrim and his warriors would join the Siege of Terra at Horus’s bidding.
The Iron Warriors
Participating in the second wave of the Dropsite Massacre with their customary, brutal, efficiency, the Iron Warriors were destined to go on to fight in some of the best-known battles of the Horus Heresy, such as Phall, and Tallarn. Ultimately, the Iron Warriors destiny was on Terra. Perturabo would serve as the strategic lynchpin to the Warmaster’s grand designs – but he wouldn’t be happy about it.
The Night Lords
Another participant in the second wave on Isstvan V, the Night Lords would set out to wreak havoc across the Imperium, before joining the bulk of Horus’s forces for the assault on the Sol system. Along the way, they would become entangled with the Dark Angels in the Thramas Crusade, and for a time Konrad Curze would even find himself captured by the First Legion and imprisoned aboard the Invincible Reason.
The World Eaters
Having purged their ranks of loyalists on Isstvan III and drenched themselves in the blood of their foes at the Dropsite Massacre, the World Eaters revelled in the glorious slaughter the Heresy offered. From Isstvan, they passed straight to Ultramar and Calth, where Angron would be raised to Daemonhood. Ultimately, their destiny was to lead* the assault on the Emperor’s Palace, where their Daemon Primarch would confront the Winged Angel of Baal.
The Death Guard
The Death Guard were among the first Traitor Legions, and cleansed their ranks of loyalists on Isstvan III. However, there was a fly in their ointment. Their own Captain Garro escaped this purge and managed to warn the oblivious Imperium of the Warmaster’s treachery. Because of this, Horus had to change his original plan of striking at Terra immediately, turning instead to the trap at Isstvan V. The Death Guard would advance on the long road to Terra via a deeply traumatic detour in the Warp, emerging in the Sol System forever changed.
The Thousand Sons
Following the crushing outcome of the Council of Nikaea, the Thousand Sons withdrew to their homeworld. There they languished, playing no further part in the Great Crusade, nor the burgeoning rebellion, until Magnus the Red learned of Horus’s plans. Using the exact type of sorcery that had earned him the Emperor’s approbrium, Magnus tried to warn the Master of Mankind, but instead caused calamity. The outcome was perhaps inevitable – the Space Wolves led a Censure Host that shattered Prospero and the Thousand Sons, with the survivors fleeing into the warp and ultimately the warm embrace of the Warmaster. For Magnus and his sons, bitter revenge awaited.
The Sons of Horus
As the Warmaster’s Legion, the Sons of Horus had the most to do in the wake of Isstvan V. Firstly, theirs was the duty and honour to orchestrate the push towards Terra – but many challenges faced them. Elements of the XVI Legion devoted themselves to hunting down the Shattered Legions, while others still crushed bastions of Imperial resistance. Behind all these actions was Horus’s quest for more power – taking him to Molech, where he would receive the blessing of the Dark Gods. Ultimately, though, they fought battle after brutal battle as they carved their bloody path towards Terra, and a confrontation with the Emperor of Mankind.
The Word Bearers
The Word Bearers were involved in Horus’s betrayal from the onset – indeed, it’s reasonable to say that the Heresy originated within the XVIIth Legion. They were instrumental in many of the opening gambits, especially the Dropsite Massacre and the equally infamous Betrayal at Calth. They would go on to join the march on Terra, during which their Primarch Lorgar would play an instrumental role in corralling the Daemon Primarchs… though he would not always retain Horus’ favour himself.
The Alpha Legion
The most mysterious of the Legions, the Alpha Legion were almost entirely inscrutable, and questions persist as to their true purpose and allegiance. Ultimately however, their actions speak for themselves: they joined the slaughter of the Loyalist Legions at the Dropsite Massacre. They would go on to fulfil other roles too, sowing dissent and confusion on an almost galactic scale and plaguing the White Scars at Chondax. One of their main duties would be to penetrate the Sol System ahead of the main Traitor advance – an act that would bring them into direct conflict with the Imperial Fists and face-to-face with Rogal Dorn…
The Traitors ended the Dropsite Massacre in a position of great strength. The Loyalists were fragmented – and in some cases decimated – and the galaxy was ripe for the taking. Thankfully for the rest of us, this is a rich tapestry for some incredible stories and games!
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* No-one can agree who really led the assault – but what cannot be denied is the blood-spattered enthusiasm of the World Eaters. Let them have this little glory… after all, it goes badly for their champions once Sanguinius and Sigismund catch up with them.
