'I Know You' but it's the Fall of Istvaan III

[@SmileyBoi21]

A brief excerpt of “Galaxy in Flames” Flashes of explosions bloomed in the city’s north. Shooting stars punched through the dark clouds overhead scorching holes in which the glimmering stars could be seen. The stars shone down on the Choral City in time to watch the city die. “Did we hurt them, Captain?” Asked Solithon “Did this mean anything?” Tarvitz thought for a moment before replying. “Yes.” He said “We hurt them here they'll remember this.” A bomb slammed into the Precentor’s Palace finally blasting what little remained of its great stone flower head into flame and shards of granite. The loyalists did not throw themselves into the cover or run for shelter there was little point. The Warmaster was bombarding the city and he was thorough he would not let them slip away a second time. The battle of Choral City was over…

[@Pers0n97]

The death of Tarvitz and the end of Istvan III is the peak of what the HH series has to offer (a shame it's literally the start).

[@RAD1111able]

​@@Pers0n97You're dead wrong. I mean, it's a captivating trilogy (I treat it as a quadrilogy with Flight of the Eisenstein) but the series has a lot of moments like this.

[@Sawarynk]

I'm not crying. You're crying. Shut up.

[@nakenmil]

@@RAD1111able It does get bogged down in a lot of "sideplots" imho, and unfortunately ends up answering a lot of questions that preferably should have stayed mysterious.

[@luankelvin6510]

"The Stars shone down on the choral city in time to watch the city die" This is just beautiful writting i fucking love Galaxy in Flames.

[@MGlobal111]

When being an astartes of Emperor Children actually meant something.

[@alecdeter1999]

All I can think about is Rylanor being so Rylanor that he permanently debuffed fulgrim and Guilted The thousand sons with nobility into pissing in Fulgrims cornflakes

[@SlaaneshiChosen_Carmena]

Oh it still means something but that something has wrapped around to becoming the worst thing there is.

[@hawkshot867]

The loyalists of the Emperor's Children give me chills

[@WhiteIkiryo-yt2it]

Reading Fulgrim as my first HH novel and realising about half way through that I was about to read my first proper description of the Istvaan III Dropsite Massacre have me such chills. The fall of Fulgrim honestly was tragic but they screwed it up with the Mirror Cracked. Fulgrim being corrupted by the Laer blade was such a better reason for his betrayal than half the other traitors....looking at you, Perturabo you spiteful little bastard!

[@Mrcrazy80]

@@WhiteIkiryo-yt2it Working my way through the Heresy series now and I'm picking and choosing the books as I go (to save money and time). The first book I ended up skipping was actually Fulgrim, as I kept hearing a lot of negativity around his arc (and I already found him kind of insufferable in books 1-3). I still know the basic gist of what went down at Istvan V, so I don't think I've missed anything crucial. Do you agree or disagree?

[@randomcenturion7264]

Luna Wolves, Dusk Raiders, War Hounds, the TRUE Emperor's Children. Never Forget Them

[@GarkKahn]

They surely won't

[@asonofhoruslegionary]

We remember them

[@elitetrooper119]

They all die or something?

[@OljeiKhan]

​@@elitetrooper119the traitor legions deploy the loyal elements within their ranks on the planet's surface to quell a rebellion, and they orbitally bombard the shit out of them, it's all a setup to get rid of their loyalist elements. Only a handfull of these loyalists survive out of tens of thousands that were deployed.

[@Nomadith]

​@@elitetrooper119to abridge a massive amount of Warhammer 40K lore real quick - yeah. Basically groups of loyalist legions/armies sent down to a planet to die, but they survived thanks to one of their own rushing to warn them. Those who lived fought tooth and nail in the burned out remains of a broken planet, screaming and furious at the betrayal by soldiers who were (literally in terms of genetics) their brothers and their fathers. They refused to die for months, and screamed their defiance and hate even as they were torn limb from limb. But their sacrifice gave enough time for the rest of the loyalist forces to be warned, and that is why we remember them, as paragons of legions that have since degenerated into madness and spite.

[@LGreenStaRL]

This part of the horus heresy turned me loyalist

[@mr.badwolf7356]

Wait what? So you believed in the Emperor and his caused before and you don't anymore or you don't and you do now?

[@ironduke5058]

@@mr.badwolf7356 Second one

[@mr.badwolf7356]

@@ironduke5058 Not OP but I acknowledge that it is 1am in the morning. 🥴 So I am wrong.

[@shadowborn1456]

As a thousand sons fan No it didn't for me

[@plaguesnstuff7657]

@@shadowborn1456 As a Dark Angels fan loyalty is it's own reward

[@williammiller4768]

“I was never a Son of Horus.”

[@collecter343]

"I was and remain a Luna Wolf."

[@mochammadhisyam3950]

"A proud son of Cthonia, a loyal servant of the Emperor, beloved by all. I am your enemy." - Garviel Loken's valediction to his former gene-father Horus Lupercal

[@thegarbageman8713]

Better to die for the emperor twice than live as a traitor once

[@RAD1111able]

That doesn't make any sense. A better phrasing would be "Better to die for the Emperor than live as a traitor forever".

[@13thblackcrusadeenthusiast54]

@@RAD1111able Just imagine one lonely Dreadnought, standing on the fields of Istvan III... he died twice. Once in his mortal body, second time in his walking tomb. Only in death does duty end!

[@reasonableguy9090]

Well said brother. For the Emperor!

[@PodreyJenkin138]

The first death is the death of the old legion at the outset of betrayal The second death is at the hands of a former brother

[@maxobb7259]

@@13thblackcrusadeenthusiast54 there was a Death Guard dreadnought who stayed to make sure loyalists could safely get into a bunker before they were bombed. His name was Huron-Fal and he gave his life to make sure people lived (for a bit longer).

[@Sovahni]

The Emperor's Children always sought perfection. They sought to be the finest Astartes of the Legions. They threw themselves into damnation on the promise of it and lost their way thanks to its temptations. But what of Saul Tarvitz? A simple line captain who refused to participate in the reckless pride of his legion. What of this man, who saw himself as nothing special, nothing perfect, who managed to escape Istvaan almost by accident? Who threw himself back into death's path in order to save his brothers and cousins? Whose bond of Brotherhood with other loyalists would ensure the Flight of Captain Garro, and bind together the True Emperor's Children, the last of the War Hounds, the unbreakable Dusk Raiders, and the most ferocious of the Luna Wolves into a force of resistance in the face of overwhelming odds. Upon the battlements of the Palace on Istvaan would he lead the shattered forces of the Loyalists. Members of every legion present who were within range of its walls when the Virus Bombs first fell. Where a steadfast figure was needed he placed his banner and took not one step back. Where skill at arms was needed, he spearheaded every counter charge and in his example rosed the souls of his men. Where planning and preparation were required he would lay forth plans, strategies and tactics to ensure the survival of the shattered loyalist forces for but one more day. Where his men faltered in the face of their traitorous kin would he appear to rally them and continue the fight, knowing that every moment they held out was a moment longer than the Arch Traitor had ever planned for. Warrior, Leader, Tactician, Strategist, Soldier, Astartes. And now from the here until the ending of the Imperium, until the last son or daughter of Terra takes their final breath the question has been answered. "Did the Emperor's Children ever find the perfection they sought?" Yes. In Saul Tarvitz, Captain of the Emperor's Children, foremost loyal son of Fulgrim. Leader of the loyalist forces of Istvaan III. The first to injure the pride of the Warmaster. The Perfect Astartes.

[@death_denial]

😢😢😢

[@darthkeron9044]

Dam brother, 🥲

[@cyclenitram7598]

Brother, Brother Im crying Brother. I'm crying Brother

[@Shoelaces77]

Well said, brother

[@sovereign6291]

Your writing was...perfection.

[@thealaskanseparatist6786]

Bad Company, but you're a Luna Wolf fighting off encroaching Sons of Horus from the choral palace.

[@twerkingporo4026]

Fantastic idea.

[@speckmarine6557]

yesss

[@robosoldier11]

the part that always gets me is the last of the loyal world eaters when they confront Angron. Angron is so upset at them he personally goes down and they nobly charge their traitor father. The spirit of the warhounds lived out that day and truly did injure the pride of the eater of worlds.

[@WhiteIkiryo-yt2it]

Or you could pull a Sevatar and be a loyalist twice and traitor once and still get respect from both sides.

[@pestilentanger]

please dystopianchimp make this

[@Kobble03]

"This death is ours, we deny you your victory!"

[@thewerdna]

Somewhere, in the depths of that city, a lone Dreadnaught begins his long vigil over the dead world, patiently waiting and remembering all those who were lost. Waiting for when the time is right, even if it takes ten-thousand years, that vengeance is dealt in their names against those that betrayed them.

[@LordCrate-du8zm]

Hey that’s me!

[@mechasmog9903]

I AM HE WHO REMEMBERS! ANCIENT OF RITES

[@joemomma2189]

The last victim of the Betrayed- Rylanor the Ancient

[@TheLostPrimarch2nd]

Sons of Horus, Death Guard, World Eaters and the false Emperor's Children. The first to fall. Luna Wolves, Dusk Raiders, War Hounds and the true Emperor's Childern. The first to stand. Ave Imperator, Captain Tarvitz. Ave Imperator. The Second will not forget

[@reasonableguy9090]

Well said brother!

[@one_for_null7349]

my primarch... I THOUGHT RUSS KILLED YOU.

[@TheLostPrimarch2nd]

@@one_for_null7349 He tried, but at this point Leman's record of killing primarch is 0 of 4. HE FUCKING SUCKS.

[@johngavin3180]

​@@TheLostPrimarch2nd That may be true, but what is the structural integrity of your spine?

[@TheLostPrimarch2nd]

@@johngavin3180 My spine is fine, although he did take an eye. It's fine. I relieved him of a testicle. We are even.

[@WendingWyrd]

I love that little smile on Saul’s face. In the final analysis, Horus didn’t beat them. He had to kill them with a bombardment. Saul Tarvitz, a mere company captain of the Emperor's Children, led loyalists from four different legions against a primarch. The Warmaster. And it was Horus who ran out of time. That was its own victory.

[@Earliersphere]

he lead them vs THREE Primarch and his "betters" in the captains. Saul really was the bet of what an emperors children marine could be perfect in his craft as a leader with out the self aggrandizement that cursed his legion.

[@jackblack9605]

The irony was that Saul Tarvitz essentially embodied the perfection that the higher-ranking members of his legion, like Fulgrim, Eidolon, and Lucius, were chasing. He didn’t need to prove himself, chase clout or glory, or seek higher positions. He knew his place, excelled at what he did, and remained humble

[@thesaxon3966]

Goes to show, when traitors are running amok, you better call Saul...

[@vibechecker3168]

"Die Imperial Dog!" The Emperors Child drove the blade into the chest of the Blackshield. Unbothered the marine pushed himself up the blade seizing him by his white hair. A fist mangled his perfect features, as blood, bone and shattered teeth went all about, and then both hands seized his head. "NO..." the loyalist growled. "not... dog... HOUND!!!" They both screamed as he crushed his head.

[@brutalwave3800]

What book is this from?

[@Sweetness71775]

Holy fuck. That goes fucking hard.

[@matthewr1518]

Is this from a book? If it's about Endryd Haar I'd love to read it.

[@Whispurer]

Let it be known that World Eaters were the most abundant amongst the loyalist forces purged on that wretched day. Rest well, Warhounds, you deserved so much better.

[@MrEvan312]

If I remember correctly, a lot of those fell by Angron's own hand, too; one of their centurions even managed to inflict a wound on the Primarch's throat. It was one of the few times Angron felt love and pride for his legion: he saw some of his old self, of his Nucerian family, in those men. They stood for what they believed in, even if it meant death, even if it meant facing him, and they fought to the last. They died showing the traitors what makes a true Astartes.

[@Wayoutthere]

Any last words?’ "Aye. Piss on Angron’s grave when he finally lies dead."

[@FusionCoreHoarder]

Dear World Eaters, I am sincerely sorry that you got a moron for your Primarch

[@somethingsomething2685]

Dying alongside your Luna Wolf and Emperor's Children brothers is one hell of a mood.

[@jackstrayfeald1007]

There were even a few lost looking Warhounds at the end...

[@kharnth3bl00dy]

And warhounds 😭

[@leomartinez9764]

There were no Dusk Raiders around if there were any still alive in the trenches.

[@HuevoBendito]

"Huron-Fal’s systems were on the verge of shut-down as he stumbled to a safe distance, skidding to a halt. ‘This death,’ rasped the voder, ‘this death is ours. We choose it. We deny you your victory.’" - Excerpt from "Flight of the Eisenstein" by James Swallow

[@72skci72]

😢😢😢😢

[@iamfuckstro1438]

I've taken to saying this any time I face certain death in a video game

[@rustkarl]

“For a moment there was a tiny star on the battered plains outside the Choral City, marking two more lives lost within a maelstrom of murder.”

[@Wayoutthere]

A new Star was born.

[@RedStar441]

"Did we hurt them captain? Did this mean anything?" "Yes, we hurt them here. They'll remember this." Rest well Tarvitz.

[@SledgeGamingYT52]

I was going to leave a thumbs up on this, but it is at 69(nice) Likes. So i will just leave a comment instead

[@The_Scug]

@@SledgeGamingYT52 get back here and like it

[@jackstrayfeald1007]

I know I've commented on this video before but... I've only just noticed the Son of Horus leigonary on the bottom right, has an Emperor's Children hand of his pauldron... That's genuinely both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

[@tellurius4951]

They may be divided by their legions, but they are united by their loyalty

[@Logan-il1rw]

*Luna Wolf* he was never a son of horus

[@superperfectcell3rbs677]

“We’ll Go Together Then, Shall We?”

[@KingLich451]

:'))))

[@robbiestafford6889]

“This death is ours. We deny you your victory.”

[@Wayoutthere]

Overloading his reactor the final FU

[@jackstrayfeald1007]

When the Emporers Children became the true phoenix's they were supposed to be...

[@Sweetness71775]

The flames of Exterminatus made them rise to new, glorious heights.

[@rookcapcoldblood2618]

I just finished reading Fulgrim last week. I was an Emperor’s Children fan before that. Now I just want to stop it all from happening. Save Fulgrim, and Lucius, and Solomon. Save Ferrus and the Iron Hands. Stop the whole damn Dropsite Massacre. Fuck Horus. Fuck Erebus.

[@asonofhoruslegionary]

You speak for many of us on that account

[@jackstrayfeald1007]

Don't forget Kor Pheron...

[@superbobo3308]

No fuck lucius, he betray saul

[@rookcapcoldblood2618]

@@superbobo3308 That's why I want to stop it from ever happening. He deserves a good friend like Saul instead of his own ego dragging him down.

[@crazyrabitbob5891]

Fuck Erebus

[@brandonkipta4426]

In this moment, Saul tarvitz surpassed Fulgrim in perfection. Standing alongside others as stars beneath a very dark sky.

[@ethanfrields7050]

Our names may be forgotten, and our bones crumble to dust, but our deaths will echo through the millennia to come. - Saul Tarvitz, Battle of Isstvan III The Emperor knows their names, each and every one.

[@nightelf2487]

Imagine if the emperor uses his psychic powers once he leaves the throne to reanimate all the ones that died on that planet while making a sanguinius to fight in one final stand against chaos?

[@DjuraValtr]

@@nightelf2487 that would honestly blow every fan's mind but GW is too simple minded to think of something like that simply because that doesn't sound "grim DArK" enough.

[@LostSoul340]

​@nightelf2487 Its actuslly confirmed in one of the novels the Legion of the Damned is the fallen of Istvan

[@cowboyglizzy1883]

Couldnt have picked a better song. Literally. Almost like it was made for this moment.

[@blacksabbath5300]

I just wish they gave proper credit to who actually made it rather than whoever that is they did give it credit to

[@wither5673]

''I cant believe he didn't cry during titanic! do men even have emotions?'' men:

[@Rahab198]

Istvaan lll where legends come to cry.

[@AdvogadoFalido]

“I was never a Son of Horus. I was and remain a Luna Wolf. A proud son of Cthonia, a loyal servant of the Emperor, beloved by all. I am your enemy.” Garviel Loken, 10th Captain of the Luna Wolves

[@lachlanevans5013]

“We shall go together then” last words of Huron Fel, dreadnought of the death guard, Flight of the Eisenstein.

[@Aurora-313]

"This death, it is ours! *We* choose it! We deny you your victory!"

[@brotherhoodofsteel4751]

Imagine a game centered around Istvan III where you play as loyalist forces slowly whittled down one by one till the final level is just the survive objective from Halo reach

[@jameskurth3560]

That would be interesting.

[@Whispurer]

Would make for a dope SM2 expansion

[@orangeops8875]

This would be really cool

[@vitamemec4708]

Objective Survive appears as the vox starts buzzing about virus bombs and everyone starts running

[@disgruntleddude]

Only if it has online co-op with randoms. Every single stranger would feel like a brother by the end of even one level.

[@willtiffany5409]

"The only thing we have left in common is that we will die here together! I am Rylanor of the Emperor's Children, Ancient of Rites, Venerable of the Palatine Host, and proud servant of the Emperor of Mankind, beloved by all! I reject you! Now and always!" -Ancient Rylanor

[@luiscasadiego1674]

"Even now amongst the stars, there are heros whose tales will never be told, angels whose legacy is not but ash. Know this my sons, the blood of those heroes remains priceless, though it was spilled in silence." - sanguinius.

[@scool222]

beautiful…what book is this from

[@P.W.N.ed_9000]

“This death……This death is ours, we choose it.” “We deny you your victory!”

[@nemesis3219]

The hardest part of this whole thing isn't just Saul, who chose to come down even though he knew what it meant, looking back to etch each of them by name into his very soul - its that hand on the shoulder of the Luna Wolf from an unseen Emperor's Child. Such a simple thing. The gentlest of reminders. Here, at the end, they are not alone. They are betrayed, but they are not alone. They will never see the future they were promised. But they are not alone. In this moment, this end, I don't think there was ever a stronger bond in the whole story. And there never will be. A stark reminder, that the gentlest of gestures, can have the strongest impact.

[@tellurius4951]

"It is an honor to go with you, my brother" -unknown Emperor's children astartes to his Luna wolves brother in arms

[@liciniusscapula7696]

I believe that’s a world eater, from the bluish color. If anything that makes it even more touching.

[@adennkyramud116]

​@@liciniusscapula7696 Bottom right is a Sons of Horus legionnaire in sea green, or rather a Luna Wolf as the loyalist Sons called themselves. There is an Emperor's Children hand resting on his pauldron. The World Eater would be the front left marine, with the blue shoulder pauldron

[@liciniusscapula7696]

@@adennkyramud116 Ah, I forgot the sons of Horus went sea green. My mistake.

[@pestilentanger]

shoutout to those death guard who stayed alive like cockroaches who were killed weeks after the main loyalists

[@TaZzL3R]

Nathaniel Garro made sure your sacrifice wasn’t for nothing. Rest easy now, loyal children of the emperor. You were perfect.

[@vanstarate]

Garro is Death Guard

[@TaZzL3R]

@@vanstarate i never said he wasn’t

[@DươngĐạiDũngDương]

"in my service,I only knows my brother,my legions and my father,but at this moment now, I know all of your" -an unknown legionary-

[@brutalwave3800]

“Today, we are not born of different worlds or raised in different legions. Today we are the defiant of Istvaan 3, the bane of the warmaster. Today……today we are all brothers…”

[@Skeezickus]

"Even a few lost looking world eaters"...

[@Rahab198]

No not World eaters, War hounds.

[@jackblack9605]

Before the Ultramarines were the poster boys of an Astarter, the Emperor's Children was that standard. They probably fell the hardest, but EC like Travitz, Rylanor, Demeter and Vespasian showed that it wasn't about becoming perfect but being pure and perfect in action. They were the emperor's children

[@bluedog843]

Never forget that the Warhounds had the most legionnaires of all of the Astartes in the Choral City. Whether out of the hatred for their father, genuine comradeship for their cousins and brothers, or belief in what the Imperium was meant to be, they stood their ground against the impossible.

[@frugalporpoise526]

This goes fucking hard.

[@buryitdeep]

One of the saddest stories in all of 40k.

[@AurelianRoma]

Hellsrrach

[@Rahab198]

I'd go further and say one of the saddest in Sci-fi

[@HappyNoob17YT]

@@Rahab198 true

[@StephenHenryIV]

Loyal unto death. They are not forgotten.

[@Th3Kingism]

Deep beneath the surface of the dead world the Ancient of Rites awaits, for the next 10,000 years he waits. A lone SOS signal reverberating through space.

[@Rahab198]

Though Space and time and Legend.

[@bluedog843]

The gentle drum beat in the background sounds like the final bombardment of the Choral City. It’s magnificent.

[@phantomwraith1984]

"Sons or Horus, Emperor's Children, and even a few lost looking World Eaters. Before, they were but grime streaked faces among the endless days and nights of battle. But now they were brothers. Men he would gladly die alongside."

[@fabriciobraccini7180]

Every time the other Emperor's Children are talking about Saul before Istvaan III it's always about how "He is just a line captain. He will never achieve anything, the man is a rank and file soldier not meant to lead. He will never rise above. He would never be one of Fulgrim's chosen" especially Eidolon, they all think incredibly little of him, but when duty called he proved he was meant to be so much more than the people that put him down thought. He could have stayed on the ship and let it all happen, but he chose to get in a thunderhawk and go down to Istvan 3 to fight for what he knew was right and to save his brothers. A true child of the emperor.

[@Dementia-pt5uz]

He embodied what it meant to be part of the Emperor’s Children

[@ironduke5058]

You forget, that was only one part of the Legion. The Emperor's Children were in this weird transitional period between "Perfection is knowing when to stop, it's when you're in a unique position and you fit just right" and "Perfection is going ever higher, always rising to find a potential greater than you thought you had within you." This often led to a few different view points with some Emperor's Children still having immense honour and pride but tempered by humility, while others had some much pride it crossed well into arrogance, but with the absolute conviction to always become better. You see this in the relationship of the more matured Saul Tarvitz and the young Lucius. Saul kept Lucius humble and grounded, while Lucius kept him sharp and on his toes. So yes while to some Saul was all those things you mentioned, to others he was the perfect soldier personified and that was completely fine because he excelled at it. To say he wasn't respected is a huge disservice to his character, he was made commander of the defense at Isstvan almost unilaterally for a reason. Everyone agreed Saul could lead them and lead them effectively

[@84fstudios6]

POV: You’re asking your Captain if you hurt them, if this meant everything - knowing full well you did.

[@OmphalosDaemonium6612]

I bet people are gonna bawl if they get to see the isstvan massacres in cinemas.

[@tellurius4951]

Which one of the two massacres? On Istvaan 3 or Istvaan 5?

[@OmphalosDaemonium6612]

@@tellurius4951 both. Hence massacreS

[@Pieetrr]

if it ever gets to the cinema its a bunch of female space marines dying by the whitest most masculine Horus adaptation ever pressing the button, so no im good

[@OmphalosDaemonium6612]

@@Pieetrr wha..?

[@LordCrate-du8zm]

@imperialservitor6612 ignore him, he’s one of those alt right “EVERY PIECE OF MEDIA IS WOKE! LIBERALS RUINED DEMOCRACY RAHHHHH”

[@12coudak000]

I envy you, Captain Garro. You have something I do not. ‘What is that?’ ‘A duty. You know what it is that you must do. You can find that clarity of vision, a mission that you can grasp and strive to fulfil. But me? Each day of my calling is new, a different challenge, constantly striving to find the right path. All I can be sure of is that I have an aspiration, but I can’t yet see its shape.’ ‘You are of purpose,’ murmured the Astartes. ‘We both are,’ agreed Keeler. ‘We all are.’ Then she reached out and touched his cheek, and the sensation of her fingers against his rough, scarred face sent a tingle through Garro’s nerves. ‘Since you delivered this ship from the predations of the warp, some of the crew have been praying here for a miracle to save us. They asked me why I did not join them in their calls to the Emperor and I told them there was no need. I told them: “He has already saved us. We only have to wait for His warrior to find the means”.’ ‘Is that what I am? The Emperor’s divine will, made flesh?’ She smiled again, and with it she brought forth again the flutter of powerful emotion that Garro had felt alone in the barracks. ‘Dear Nathaniel, when have you ever been anything else?’ -Flight of Eisenstein

[@sovnya9140]

Saul Tarvitz embodied not only what it meant to be an Emperor's Children, but what it meant to be a Space Marine. There is few who served humanity, and served the Emperor more loyally and more passionately than noble Saul Tarvitz.

[@RichtofenE115]

“Let’s meet the end together, my brothers…”

[@ncrranger7349]

Notice how theres no death guard, its because most of them couldn't rally up with sauls forces and fortified their trenches, almost all of them were cut down by their traitorous brothers of their legion and their father mortarion when he harrowed the trenches

[@tellurius4951]

But one captain is flighing through the warp to tell the story of the greatest betrayal in the history of our species

[@Earliersphere]

And Mortarian needed Mortis titan support to kill his sons, even than they stood to the end of the battle.

[@Dementia-pt5uz]

“Did we hurt them, Captain? Asked Solathen. “Did this mean anything?” Tarvitz thought for a moment before replying. “Yes,” he said “we hurt them here. They’ll remember this”

[@FourEyedFrenchman]

You only ambush a foe you fear. The traitors knew their chances were slim in a straight fight if they didn't sucker punch the loyalists in their ranks first.

[@Sigfrido1986]

When an author can make you feel part of some fictional army and experience the emotions of those great characters, hell... that's a great author.

[@soulminiatures7387]

Huron-Fal's systems were on the verge of shutdown as he stumbled to a safe distance, skidding to a halt. 'This is death', rasped the voder, 'this death is ours. We choose it. We deny you your victory.' with a single burning nerve impulse, the mind of the warrior at the heart of the dreadnought uncoupled the governor controls on his compact fusion generator and let it overload. For a moment there was a tiny star on the battered plains outside the Choral City, marking two more lives lost within a maelstrom of murder.

[@snoopy4216]

halo wars did this music so perfectly and it shows it can be adapted so well

[@Bread-nx9fo]

Ancient Rylanor absolutely destroyed Fulgrim's ego, RIP Ancient of Rites

[@augusto2581]

Try not to cry challenge: Failed.

[@PinkBroBlueRope]

Me and the boys about the head into the principle's office after doing the most mortifying shit known to mankind

[@niccolo6865]

When i read this book i didn't know enough about 40k to make this hit as it should have. Now I know

[@Evil_Bread_Manipulator]

Which book was it again???

[@trentlewis9923]

The bonds that the loyalist forces formed during the three months of fighting their traitor brethren had to have been stronger than any previous bonds that they may have shared with their parent legions during the great crusade.

[@geerat1205]

When being Deathguard stood for more..

[@Fordo007]

The Deathguard/Dusk Raiders, Luna Wolves/Sons of Horus, World Eaters/War Hounds, and Emperors Children were the first to stand against Chaos. Those they fought have no right to those names.

[@Rahab198]

Not Death guard, Dusk Raiders

[@ItamarO93]

Had Rylanor or Saul been 1st Captain, The Emperor's Children would have never fallen.

[@badfoody]

Warhammer 40k Universe: Cruel, uncaring, horrifying, Merciless, Brutal, Grim The Imperium: "GET UP"

[@kitupainting6068]

The best sons of the Imperium died on Istvaan III, Istvaan V and on Holy Terra.. for 10 000 years we dont saw better sons of Mankind.. Hail to the fallen Heroes!

[@helmuthvonschrodinger5985]

For Glory of the Third For our fallen brothers For 34th Millennial "the Death Eagles"

[@Drakekhan]

I can just imagine 1 loyalist member of all 20 legions cut off from tarvitz looking to the sky after fighting for a couple months watching as the final orbital strikes came down just smiling and sitting down as each take off their helmets and start congratulating each other for being loyal and surviving before dieing made me cry

[@LAV-III]

“Did we hurt them captain? Did this mean anything?” “Yes, we hurt them here. They will remember this”

[@eiplays2768]

AYO I FUCKING LOVE THIS SONG. bro halo wars is such a good game

[@tellurius4951]

May their names and their sacrifices never be forgotten. They had something traitors will never understand. They all had honor. Rest well *True* Emperor's Children, Luna Wolves, Warhounds and Dusk Raiders

[@martinnavarrete5279]

I will always Love Halo and Warhammer 40k for moments like this, when there is heroic futility, even against the face of death and failure there is honor in doing what is correct and standing with your ideals. For the Loyalist that upheld the true Human spirit. PD: something i love about Warhammer 40k and Halo is how you can put music of one in the other and viceversa and still fits with the context. And by the way great artwork it is beautiful with the music.

[@joshuagarment2211]

Some say what happened is a tragedy but there sacrifice helped win the war as they held the traitors long enough for a warning to get to the imperium giving them time to prepare

[@death_denial]

Raised on different worlds, trained by different masters, waged war under different banners, united as one in the end as Loyalists.

[@leon-wx1co]

I can't imagine what the loyal emperor children felt in thier last moment when they realized thier father and brothers betrayed them. Looking up into the sky before it all ended.

[@cyclenitram7598]

Luckly I think TEM had just enough time to get some of them into bunkers before Horus virus bombed the planet. Dusk raiders were hit the hardest by it

[@ikergonzalezmartin2201]

We have a sv, of the HH, and the emperor s children bounced back ,and this is beautiful to watch because it reminds me of all the effort those characters did to bounce back, My Palatine Pookie qwq

[@melchiorkohler2586]

from all of this one thing hits me the most. and its the brotherly gesture of the hand on this guys shoulder in the bottom right corner.

[@Yutyrant95]

As a new Warhammer fan, the Heresy series was how I started... This moment hurt...

[@Centurion0419]

“Let’s make the end memorable!”

[@johndunn1625]

Remember the loyal fallen. Through their efforts the Warmaster's forces were bloodied and stalled, allowing the loyal sons the Emperor the time they needed to answer this horrific threat. Though their deaths were inevitable, every day they survived, every bolter shell that was expended upon them, every traitor they destroyed, was a victory in the face of the traitors and an insult to their very existence.

[@comediccomrade5716]

Stuff like this is why I prefer Horus Heresy era over modern 40k it’s still grimdark enough where shit is horrible but it’s more so the loss of hope over the compete removal of it.

[@carsoncasmirri3874]

After going through it I honestly feel so much more for Guilliman lamenting the death of the dream.

[@Ghost3210]

When he spots the Alpha Legionaire without realizing it.

[@sanguinius_yt]

Loyalist astartes from traitor legions are the greatest. Loken, Torgaddon, Tarvitz, Dantioch, Garro, Rylanor and many more.

[@JakanMcCaucaugh-zf4ch]

Chaos didn't lose. Though due to the bravery and quick thinking of one lowly sergeant, who's loyalty to mankind greatly outstripped his own rank, chaos failed to win. To the bitter end, those who remained loyal to the emperor proved time and again they were in fact his children.

[@safaf112csafasf7]

"It was an honor to be with you, brothers."

[@tweedilde8089]

The Emperors Children remain as my favorite legiones and the best example of what they should have been can be seen with the bravery and iron will of Saul Tarvitz. But let us not forget the fervour of the Warhounds, the defiance of the Dusk Raiders and the fury of the Luna Wolves.

[@Sweetness71775]

"This death... Is ours. We choose it. We deny you... Your victory..."

[@tomtommerson6320]

"Emperor's Children don't run!" "They do from this!"

[@HappyNoob17YT]

Rip Captain Ehrlen

[@johngavin3180]

As this horror is happening, brothers being betrayed and destroyed a lone dreadnaught begins his vigil over the soon to be dead world.... pocketing a weapon of sheer destruction, waiting to use it upon his father who had betrayed him and his brothers.

[@buryitdeep]

I know you We've been here before No surprises A settled score I know the darkness From inside Reckless rage And poisoned pride I know the weakness I know the pain I know the fear We do not name And the one who comes to find me When my time is through I know you Yeah, I know you

[@headhydra6499]

The flame of Istvaan still burns in my heart😞🔥

[@papa-deuce]

We are the Sons of Horus no longer! That name no longer bears any meaning. We are the Luna Wolves, warriors of The Emperor, and we gladly fight and die in his name!

[@hasanameeri4659]

Emperor knows their names every one them

[@josephcola9662]

A last stand that only ended 10k years later, when Rylanor dealt one final, lasting wound to his gene-father's pride.

[@levietanhle915]

may the soul of the suffer loyal son of the traitor father rest in piece , not having to walk among the ashed remain of istvaan 3 anymore

[@ReconRookie]

The Emperor may be a total dick at times, but you can't read Galaxy In Flames and NOT feel pride from the loyalist's last stand. The righteous fury of the War Hounds, the stalwart defense from the Dusk Raiders, the pure nobility of the Emperor's Children, and the dogged determination from the Luna Wolves all fill you with a sense of lingering hope for humanity. Like, you know how it ends. What The Imperium becomes in 10,000 years. But that final act of defiance against evil makes you think, "Maybe humanity isn't doomed. Maybe what Tarvitz and Loken and Torgaddon did on Isstvaan III will mean something"

[@hunterodwyer2626]

"WE ARE AGAIN THE LUNAR WOLVES"

[@Vaax27Gaming]

When the Dream officially died. And better men were murdered in cold blood by their brothers and fathers.

[@sirlogath1951]

Emperor's children singing is amazing to be honest.

[@xianderthest8014]

This is where the Emperors Children truly shined for me despite always being one of my favorite Legions of 30K before their fall. Also bummer on the image link it just gives me the 404 error.

[@dystopianchimp]

Just updated the link!

[@HaloFTW55]

When we see an Astartes, we shouldn’t see a superhuman warrior but a child. A nervous and indoctrinated child soldier fighting in the body of a transhuman who wants to be a hero. When we see loyalist Astartes (especially those during the Horus Heresy), we see those children being what they wanted to be. Heroes.

[@davidintrabartolo5887]

"Not a warrior. A child. A nervous, indoctrinated child who wants to be a hero," When you start thinking of the Astartes in this way, a lot of things start making more sense.