RISE OF THE STAR CHILD! THE TRUTH REVEALED

Hey everyone Rho here! Today we're discussing the origins of the Star Child. The rumoured rebirth of the Emperor of Mankind...
General Spoiler Warning to begin as today we will be referencing events from across the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. In particular the Horus Heresy Siege of Terra novel "the End and the Death" volume 2. As always I really recommend you read the stories for yourself first without spoilers! As that's the best way to enjoy the lore for yourself!
Games Workshop does not endorse or support this video. All views and opinions expressed in this video belong to Wolf Lord Rho and in no way reflect the views or opinions of Games Workshop Ltd.
A huge thank you to all my subscribers, your support truly means a lot to me. If your new, please consider subscribing to help the channel grow.
All art used in this video belongs to the artists.
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Music belongs to Wolf Lord Rho.

[@Nekomancer69]

I like to think that is why the Imperium is so dystopian, the Emperor cast off his humanity and that is why the current Imperium is so bad, he does not care. I wonder how he will feel about his empire once he gets his humanity back.

[@incognit01233]

Makes the tragedy of Angron more poetic.

[@TheSpicyLeg]

While I don’t disagree with your theory in form, I find it less enticing than the alternative. That is, the Emperor at least conceptually understands how bad the Imperium is, but finds it preferable to the alternative. What if the Emperor views the state of the Imperium as necessary? What if he believes it needs to be bad now, so it can survive later?

[@TraciPeteyforlife]

He is violently atheist. Unless he chooses to decide to become the only God.

[@jamesespinosa690]

@@TheSpicyLeg The 'problem' or the 'ethical debate' presented to and by The Emperor, is, is it better to live under a tyrannical dictatorship? Or better to go extinct? The Grim Tragedy of this equation is the source of 40k's badass nature. It's a world of 'Damned if you do, and damned if you don't" turned up to 11.

[@Mortarion-xt9wp]

I like to imagine that the two parts won't actually merge again. Having the gentle and wise part of the big E becoming the new emperor and guiding humanity, while a powerful and warlike god emperor protects mankind from the warp.

[@thatotherguy8138]

And, unfortunately, I wouldn't put it past GW to have the "Gentle and Wise" part be reborn as a Female Emperor. That should be shitposting, trolling, unserious and vaguely offensive, but... if it happened, I would be disappointed but not surprised.

[@bigbardvods]

@@thatotherguy8138tbh Emps is beyond petty human gender. He could come back as anything

[@David-li4uw]

@@thatotherguy8138Honestly, if they’d do that and not make female space marines, I’d take it.

[@Marcher1977]

​@thatotherguy8138 it's guaranteed to happen.

[@riccardopampagnin8681]

IMHO I think that it is going to be the opposite: the star child would become a new god in the warp, it is implied that he casted away his divinity

[@dalaminaubis7822]

One of the things I loved when getting into 40k was just how much lore there was to dig throug. As soon as I thought I had a decent understanding, I'd learn something new and have to rework it all out in my head. 19 years later and there is still so much, and more to be had every year.

[@huwtindall7096]

Glad you got to this bit Rho. For me this moment in The End and the Death was the single most important passage in the whole HH and Siege of Terra series. It answers so many questions (did he love the Primarchs - yes); why his soul is seemingly now fragmented (it literally is); and opens up the 40K lore for Big E being more active (parts of his soul have been nurtured into new beings). Love it.

[@HTWW]

'PRAISE BE TO SUN KID'

[@PapaPyth]

I was shocked that Thorn Of Light was basically all about the Star Child. Dawn Of Fire novels have been a blast!

[@temporarymfz9258]

I am so glad there bringing back the Star Child lore. Hiping that they will eventually take this lore in the right direction

[@PrinceOfDolAlmroth]

so if they're bringing back the Star Child, does that mean that all of TTS is canon?

[@TheMaypo2]

@@PrinceOfDolAlmroth of course !

[@BrunoCampos0122]

​@@PrinceOfDolAlmrothI'm new in 40k lore, what's TTS??

[@ForfeMac]

@@PrinceOfDolAlmroth Everything is canon

[@temporarymfz9258]

@@PrinceOfDolAlmroth To quote "Just. As. Planned."

[@chrisfrombeyond4240]

I think all of your suppositions are spot on. Another idea: If the "Star Child" shard was the Emperors humanity....then what aspect of the Emperor did the Lion meet in the ethereal forest? Could it perhaps be the same psychic aspect of the Emperor that Horus would converse with during the Siege? A wounded and frail old man.

[@cassiusaureliusanima]

I think that the Emperor is trying to tell the Lion that he is dying and he has to become wiser. He was his best general, one of the best swordsman, but now he has to put that perfect focus onto new things. Those he never had the chance to refine due to his duty in the Great Crusade. While Guilliman is a multitasker, the Lion is the perfect deepfocus. Now, he has to defend humanity and the dream that his father had, even if it is just in his heart and trying to lead by example while he is trying to become the king he couldn't be in his homeworld. The king he should have been and the father that the Emperor never was and that starts by becoming wiser as that old king. That also comes by knowing something new for him. The possibility of forgiveness.

[@Marcher1977]

Considering the way time works in the warp, the shard of the Emperor in the warp could have been acting retroactively the whole time. We have no idea of the kind of influence it has been exerting on the events we are familiar with.

[@TheSpicyLeg]

Excellent point. We see 40k and the result of the Heresy from realspace. But that isn’t how the warp works.

[@jamesespinosa690]

Great observation there!!!

[@Chryeven]

My theory is that the Starchild is a merge of the kindness of the Emperor and Horus reborn. His last words to Horus were , “I wait for you and I forgive you.” I also think Valdor has a role in it, like, give his spear to the child so he'd stab the corpse of the Emperor to gain all of his knowledge

[@db4552]

That's a dope little theory, be banging if it came true!

[@doubledigital_]

That would be insane

[@Aristaios]

except he destroys horus spirit so hows he gonna come back?

[@Chryeven]

In the most archaic myth, Horus and Seth form a divine pair characterized by rivalry, each hurting the other. From this confrontation came Thoth, the lunar god, considered their common son. About Thot : When he is represented in the form of a baboon, he is also the rising Sun (fresco of baboons in temples or on the bases of statues). Baboons have the habit of uttering loud cries of territorial assertion at daybreak, just before sunrise; this habit earned them their association with the solar rebirth because they cheered the star at its appearance1.

[@MaticustheRed]

​@Aristaios In the new lore, he doesn't turbo-blast Horus' spirit.

[@charleswacker7166]

So potentially, the seed of immortality that Russ set out to find is the Star Child. Am I alone in wanting to see an older, wisened Russ that’s had to go “Lone Wolf and Cub”?

[@valherurides2109]

Classic manga

[@joelfowler6998]

We already have the Grey Knight Baby carrier...

[@DavidD8029]

For the God Emperor! For the Algorithm!

[@jacksoncox9370]

Another banger Rho well done

[@Deemancer]

Russ and Star Child´s traveling through the galaxy like Lone Wolf and Cub😂

[@gavincross2902]

You know... I like the videos Rho but I really love the fact that you reference books I do not have in my collection so I can add to it. Thank you.

[@krisrobinson3787]

The Star Child pushing against the God Emperor for rulership over the empire would be interesting. Of course in the end after nearly dooming humanity they should join forces and kick off a huge crusade to beat back the enemies of mankind together. It would be interesting to see how all the primarchs react.

[@danieljennings3729]

There goes the seed of the emperor in the warp. All the lighter sides of the emperor. The rest remains a seat on the throne to suffer and endure.

[@trajanfidelis1532]

Thanks for the video!

[@Cleav727]

Red herring. At the start of Lion, Son of the Forrest, Lionel Johnson comes across and old withered king in a boat fishing. I’m wondering if that was or, was a fragment of the emperor

[@stefanhenning40]

I just got back into Warhammer, and had to go back to one of my favorite channels.

[@Fissiccisst1]

I absolutely love the idea that the Emperors Humanity is actually whats started taking action. It sounds like the Emperor deliberately made a Chaos God, an actual benevolent one, who's been absorbing the positive emotions of the Warp. This would also explain Guilliman's concerning conversation with the Emperor, where the Emperor regarded him as a mere tool. That all that remains on the throne is a husk, In fact, what if Emps split off more than we think. That emps threw everything off he didn't need to fight, and stay focused on the task at hand, the jettisoned everything else off like an escape pod. Cause he saw the mortal wound to his corporeal form coming. Leaving only enough power and mental thought process left to defeat Horus and power the throne. In terms of adjectives, he kept Power and Duty of his soul in his body. The power to kill, and use the astronomicon, and the duty to continue to do so effectively in perpetuity. Meanwhile, the star child, over the 10k years has been gaining form and accumulating the power lost, the power left behind in his old body to fight Horus.. And the guilliman fight, if it was the star child, shows not only the compassion to save and heal his Son, but also the capacity for harm, for vengeance. The instance of the guy(forgot his name) that sacrifices himself and a figure of the emperor manifests and smites the chaos army. If memeory serves it felt like he was described as almost sorrowful, like he didn't want it to be this way, that people had to die to summon him to aid them. And the burning of the garden feels like a slap back at nurgle for causing issues. You screw with me, its gonna cost you kind of move. If all this is true. I don't think the Star Child is going to be all good vibes. Not that it'll be evil, but I don't think Emps split off just his good parts, I think he split off everything he would need for round two. Silly Headcanon I just came up with: Each Primarch Returning is also an activation of an aspect of the Star Child. Guilliman is the activation of Duty and Hope. The fire(literally for nurgle) to start this war to possibly end chaos. The Lion is the activation of Determination, and Ruthlessness. The will to kill, and do it without mercy

[@crippletime]

Algorithm comment

[@theabomb8305]

Praise be the omnisaiah

[@Spekd]

This

[@jimbo3671]

Partake

[@dandolanphotography8983]

Algorithm like and Reply.

[@jamesconnor5923]

It worked

[@Notrog21]

Well that would make sense as to why crazy uncle Valdor is hanging out in the warp pocket. If he had a piece of the emperor that needed watching that could explain a lot of what he could be doing as the yellow king.

[@TK199999]

But we also know the EoM has been losing his humanity since at least Molech. He mentions it to Malcador in the Valdor novel, that more of himself has been lost, but it can't be helped and they both knew it was gonna happen. Also that it would continue to happen, but we don't know to what end. Unless again we are back to time having the no meaning in the Warp. So when the EoM cast off his hope, the effect moved backward and forward through time. So even in past the EoM felt that part of himself leaving him before even the Great Crusade.

[@nathangillispie51]

Great video thank you

[@TheFaulkned]

Definitely a hint. Abbonet is my favorite 40k author. And he lays out his stories really well.

[@josemariaseloterio9743]

Guy Haley is good too

[@7Acolyte]

Dan Abnett is extraordinarily good. But I don't think he should be injecting his own original characters and stories from the 41st Millennium into the Horus Heresy and vice versa.

[@TheFaulkned]

@7Acolyte I'm pretty sure he has to run story ideas by gws board before it goes into print. So if this was his idea he definitely go approved before it was published. But I would agree that no one person should have absolute control over someone else's IP

[@7Acolyte]

@@TheFaulkned Indeed. I figured that was the case. Regardless, I don't like it - he shouldn't be trying to do that, and GW shouldn't be enabling him. Warhammer 40K shouldn't just be 'The Abnett-verse'. It doesn't matter how good he is. The setting should be bigger than any one person's ideas and preferences (and Abnett certainly has some tendencies I'm not fond of).

[@saeyabor]

In a very dramatic, extra-steps fashion, the Emperor is putting on an Eldar "War-Mask"

[@Kaida760]

In Malcadors words.........."A child star.....cast off and into the Warp"

[@CrispinBac0n]

Fuelled to grow at every soul's experience hope and compassion in opposition to chaos feeding off of nasty experiences for every soul, the power of the star child / child star is imesurable. What about it's birth? Slaanesh was birthed and the eldar got wiped out.....what of every soul upon the birth of a star child?

[@GaryPipe-go6uh]

If they wanted to make it really grimdark they should have that fragment return to The Emperor but in that moment the agony and pain of 10k years of the golden throne is truly felt sending a massive powersurge of pure despair flooding the empyrean creating his greatest nightmare. The Dark King

[@1337_YbuR]

If Russ was safe keeping the star child part of His soul in the warp and they manage to restore the Emperor i'm running naked in the streets

[@Clasteau]

Imagine how frightened the Ruinous Powers must be. I have to think they have had an inkling of it soaring around and growing, hoping to crush things before it came into it's own. The question is how much they truly guessed what that was. Big Teezee is probably figuring it out, while K is just wanting to kill it. Nurgle might be blighting himself after what happened previously.

[@MrGlobbits]

Anyone know when TEATD Pt. III will be available again? I missed the first lot on Amazon, now it's out of stock with no date for it becoming available again.

[@Karhedron]

The Emperor 're-emerging' in the Guilliman/Mortarion interaction was an odd one for me... If he's regained so much strength as to bring his sons back to life and burn away Nurgle's own garden, why's he so inactive elsewhere still? It felt like a good opportunity to make the story of 40k be more than just Chaos vs Imperium - Isha could have briefly broken free and healed blue boi, letting some of the 'ancilliary' races place a part

[@Hollowbarista]

" I see the future, a new star will rise I see the world through the all-seeing eyes Of the Starchild Starchild I have entered another dimension My perception expands Transcending beyond comprehension Evolution of man? "

[@Ashtor1337]

He knew the future was war and needed to be what humanity needed. He past his own Rubicon.

[@wchamp170]

These writers always do this to specifically make people question whether it's a coincidence or it's foreshadowing. They give themselves the option to go. Either way. Very smart writing

[@ryanhupp5240]

Just wait till the star child merges with the upcoming aldari guard. We can finally have those half aldari astartes from 1st edition.

[@empireschild1]

I do have a question then other then being a shard. What I'd the fake big e that the black legion meets on the way to find the vengeance spirit?. The way it acted if I remember it could be big e laziness.

[@kartoffelsalat0]

I just hope Trazyn has his master ball ready.

[@CaptainWwowW]

Trazyn: yoink

[@Neardarkphotography]

I really like your theory about what burnt the garden of nurgle. Its probably more interesting than what GW will actually say it was

[@valherurides2109]

Even more out there suggestion, a sharded Emp like the C'Tan?

[@Kristian.B.Kristiansen]

The word almost everyone forgets in the excerpt Rho read out: "almost"! Because the Emperor did still hesitate over killing Horus. Did still love him.

[@deadpixy1425]

If he isn’t reunited with the star child before he is killed he will probably become the dark king.

[@ViperC78]

KZbin! Support and promote Rho more, or know the Emperors wrath!

[@joakinzz]

i often dislike the emperor but after knowing his ultimate sacrifice i like the guy a litlle more

[@MegaKing10001]

Even though he casted apart of himself didn't the emperor still hesitate to kill horus? And could this part of the emperor be what is needed to heal him physically not spiritually?

[@jakejackel3]

I think the star child has been collecting all the souls that were sacrificed to the throne hince why it is becoming so strong in the warp.

[@stunitech]

**Spoiler for Penitent follows** Maybe this is what Valdor is up to in the city of dust. That's also referenced in The End and the Death

[@doubledigital_]

makes you wonder what thing is sat on the throne right now...!!

[@MrCemicalX]

So with the Star child whats next? Sensei back as well?

[@amateurwizard]

Yes, for the emperor.

[@Dann-qp2uw]

Sounds like the shards of Ctan. Gods.

[@felipeherrerasalinas9488]

The algorithm is very good.

[@alexgeary6706]

Praise be Space King

[@KrisToCool]

Sounds a lot like Magnus… so if Magnus doesn’t need his shard to be whole, why does the Emperor?

[@paladinebahamut]

Goes a long way to explaining why there aren't Warp Gods of more positive aspects. Also why the Imperium has turned into such a shithole

[@Aristaios]

ironic they talked him out of godhood and he became one anyway

[@iatebambismom]

Please attend your local Arbites precinct for processing.

[@matthewtucker1578]

OK, spoilers for E&TD pt3 . . . . . . . Could the starchild be a symbiote aspect of the soul shards of the emperor and Horus, after his death in E&TD pt3? His soul wasn't obliterated as was canonically known for years, so could be the case it is an amalgam

[@fluffmma9076]

🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@jeanpagette5019]

Algorithm comment submitted. KZbin accepted

[@surtrpicks]

Comment update 1.1

[@zennloo7343]

my hopes and dreams ride out into the empyrium upon this starchild comment.

[@jameng1315]

Getting pretty bad. They should just take away ability to comments and like as well

[@JackLarsen-rp9qj]

For the Algorithm! Praise the God Emperor!

[@babyyoda0U812]

The speed of my click

[@ajaxtheunderkin2545]

Whoop whoop

[@ThatFreeWilliam]

Magnus should get the Starchild to absorb. Fair is fair.

[@lupiniii6868]

Fuck yea algo

[@mikevasquez1103]

Child star? Big E is pretty messed up so that fits.😜

[@Meloncolliepoet]

Hm. I believe that the progression of the plot, is sadly tied to the sales of plastic minis. Ultimately, any decisions will be financial. :(

[@chainsawsubtlety9828]

"The late '80s, early '90s"? No. Not possible. No one was even alive, back then.

[@caseymay5449]

👍

[@MrMysticphantom]

what if Star Child = Dark King in the 40k

[@wolvo5441]

Hail space king!

[@Ashtor1337]

Something something feed the algorithm

[@user-yw7qm4lx5n]

Every day I wake up with the feeling (subtle knowledge) that god emperor of mankind is somewhere there, roaming our world in a thousand guises, watching us and waiting for the proper time to shine and lead us into a galactic expansion 🙏(sign of aquila here)

[@believer973]

For all the fan theorists out there, no the Emperor will not live again he will not rise and will not reincarnate. A major pillar of 40k is that humanity worships a dead god.

[@luccasdubai]

Yes, but that can be retconned at any moment. We have Primarchs returning, all Xenos becoming extremely powerful… + another Civil War Ark between the Emperor and the Star child sparking the return of more primarchs would be crazy… so I don’t doubt anything they could do with it

[@UnhingedJessie]

Nothing is sacred in 40k lore anymore.

[@believer973]

Play it at 1.25 or better yet 1.5 speed to make it bearable. It's really fun lore so worth changing the speed for.

[@RobouteGuilliman-M41]

This was discussed, at length, months ago by Chapter Master Valrak. This - thing - can't be very strong. The Emperor was a bloodthirsty, backstabbing techno-barbarian, long before this monstrous thing was 'born', back before the Age of Strife. If IT comes back, I would imagine the Emperor waging war on it, along with the Inquisition, and other fools like the Black Templars. It would be funny if it passed it's power onto Guilliman, resulting a gigantic schism in the Imperium.

[@dillene]

"Child star?" New canon: the Emperor was Shirley Temple

[@UnhingedJessie]

"I have awoken. From now on you shall call me... Empress."

[@erho2967]

Tzneeeeechey

[@minuette1752]

Chaos will just kick his butt again.

[@jesselopez5708]

Algae Ryhthm comment

[@malcolm_in_the_middle]

Turns out the Star Child was the Empress of (wo)Mankind all along! And she's coming back to save the Imperium from the Patriarchy!

[@andrewwatts2443]

Given GW at the moment wouldn't be surprised if the Star child is female.

[@SigfridSWE]

I don't care any more... theres no point

[@chrismills2439]

and when he comes back GW will screw the character

[@pedropierre9594]

The emperor will be reborn as female

[@thatotherguy8138]

More likely the "Star Child" will attach itself to a woman, so there will be "two" Emperors. And the "Female Emperor" will chastise the "Male Emperor" for all "His" failings before taking "Her" place as the "Emperor of Humankind". I wish I was just shitposting with this. But I honestly believe this is a legitimate path that GW will explore, and it would not surprise me in the least if GW actually went down a path that is similar to this.

[@matthewlamont3112]

It could make sense. The male warring in the warp as the protective father, the female caring for the species in the physical realm as the nurturing but stern mother. But yeah, if it is, it won't be for any in universe narrative reason.

[@Marcher1977]

This will happen and for all the wrong ideological reasons.

[@Maxidemt]

​@@thatotherguy8138c'mon isn't that cool, I'd love to see the Golden Mommy Empress

[@jameng1315]

Wouldn't be a bad idea. However, Knowing all the nonsense going on right now. They probably turn the empress into a not very good looking male like character

[@deviljocky598UT]

I missed this channel alpha legion is still te most interesting to me but this is just gold

[@mikevasquez1103]

Perhaps, there needs to be an Imperial Rennaissance. Perhaps, the Imperial Truth THE REAL IMPERIAL TRUTH must be reborn before the Emperor can be reborn. Perhaps, the Star Child awaits that rebirth. Maybe, said reborn Emperor could instead of becoming the Dark King, could become the Guardian Deity of the Webway.

[@wernerwernerowy8761]

Haha, of course imperial shit paper will help here. great situation, humanity will have no common points except the fear of MS and nothing else, humanity will feed even more chaos. In short, a hard life, then death and demons destroy your soul. Beautiful gifts of imperial Truth

[@aguspuig6615]

boi

[@ironic4910]

.

[@Kami_81]

I predict the star child will be a female version of Big E. When reunited they will merge and Big E will become transgender and from that point on will be referred to as they/them.

[@torch1028]

1st

[@Aybo1000]

Chances on the star child being a girl?

[@7Acolyte]

65% probability it will be a black lesbian.

[@cj4857]

​@@7Acolyte that used to be a guy

[@dread_pirate_robberts2677]

Why did you pick these topics? What made you choose this topic at this time?

[@rogerbrownreacts8528]

Duh...The Topic God who sits on the Algorithm Throne.

[@chrislock4716]

Maybe he didn't want to get accused of stealing someone else's video ideas.. 👀

[@Mortarion-xt9wp]

​@@chrislock4716What are you implying?

[@robc7205]

​@@chrislock4716 see what you did there

[@sancocho1718]

Since Warhammer borrows from other sci fi IPs, it would not surprise me of it borrowed the concept of female combatants, lije like tye fish speakers of dune. I can see games workshop bringing back emps as a girl star child, making female Primarchs and female space Marines. Given the custodes retcon

[@Chris-wn3vr]

Who wants to take bets that it’s going to be a girl.

[@christopheraaron1255]

Let me guess, you're anti-woke?

[@DarthP1kachu]

@@christopheraaron1255 i think more anti-forced-pandering, which everyone should be.. Pandering to people who doesnt give a shiz about warhammer 40k in HOPES it will get people who turn their noses up at it, more interested is utter bs.. turning big E into a woman would be forced and needless pandering and is just.. i cant say the word.. i personally dont give a shiz about female custodes as it has always been a possibility for females to become custodes (tho their way of bringing it in to the lore was absolute garbage) & their numbers would be incredibly low as males are more likely to survive the process.. turning a biological man (Big E) into a woman for nothing but pandering is just.. mindblowingly stupid.. same thing with female Primarchs and female Astartes because canonically they cannot be females (the process would kill them 100% of the time) only males.. and contrary to what many leftists think.. gatekeeping is a good thing.. it would be no different than turning Black Panther (a black man) from marvel into a white woman and use "She could have just been adopted" as an excuse.. it would be equally stupid..

[@UnhingedJessie]

The Empress has always been a purple haired Queen who believes in tolerance of every species.

[@tommystratpaul]

@@christopheraaron1255who in their right mind are not?

[@jameslave98]

@@christopheraaron1255ok rabbi

[@redwillow1853]

I think GW needs to cut the bullshit and actually take some BIG steps forward with the story. All this hinting around at this and that has gotten old at this point.

[@kellyjohnson768]

The End and the Death was a terrible mishmash of ideas and concepts interspersed with random and pointless space marine battles on Terra(Dabnett is terrible IMHO), culminating in a drawn out piece of trash, but I've always loved the Starchild theory in the Lore

[@7Acolyte]

Ouch. Scathing on TEATD, but I also found it quite frustrating.