THE LAST CHURCH

Written by Graham McNeill
Read by Adam Nicol
All rights reserved to Games Workshop and the original Author
WWW.OLDOILHOUSE.WEEBLY.COM

[@gabrielaubry1334]

11,000 years later... "All right! Listen here, you SHRIEKING REVENANT!"

[@justinheads5751]

Uriah cannot be Malcador.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

I still look at this comment and it brings me so much cheer

[@TRAVISHOWRYMUSIC]

Lol "Priest is mad"

[@bruni5289]

The Imperial Cult is heretical, Lorgar is a damnable fool who deserved the fate of the Lost and the Purged Primarchs

[@charlesballiet7074]

@@bruni5289 logar proves Uriah as correct though that the emperor was to be considered a god and that the more you limit something the more people will desire it

[@piltonbadger9897]

"A battle between a golden knight and a silver dragon" nice Easter egg there. Throwback to the Emperor fighting the Void Dragon aka Mag'ladroth.

[@blahaandersson6456]

St. George vs the Dragon is somewhat similar. Games Workshop being British and all..

[@jamesknighton4489]

I can imagine a stage play of this

[@Amatsaru29]

I would fear this would heavily get misinterpreted by the general media as a bash on religion. Without 40k being well known among the general public, context on the Great Crusade and the Horus Hersey would be needed. Though I would love to see a "Lord Inquisitor" level animation of this.

[@stalker747alf7]

@@Amatsaru29 If you would end it with an abridged version of the state of the universe 11 thousand years later it could work

[@godofwarhammer7655]

I would still go and see it

[@blahaandersson6456]

I'd rather have it in my mind.

[@QuestionableAdviser_]

@@Amatsaru29 I think the time will come, but it won't be around in our time. Maybe when were dead, and the media would see misinterpret this, heavily.

[@MarkvonTarkin]

"Just because you believe a thing to be true does not make it so." At this point the emperor did not meet the Ork yet. :)

[@King-Bubel]

Even in a vacuum, this story is fantastic.

[@jeanleon1637]

The Emperor is the personification of "The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions"

[@Alex_Fahey]

Funny that his move likely protected humanity more than anything else. He created a supremely powerful belief overriding the many smaller ones swarming the earth. By creating this unified belief, he likely saved humanity from complete extinction when they discovered the chaos gods. I'd say he paved a road right through hell to a slightly nicer section of it.

[@void735]

In any other story The emperor would be The villan, a tyrant. But in warhammer he is The nessesary lawfull evil humanity need to hold away The chaos influence

[@juliankirby9880]

The phrase 2 minutes to midnight is an Iron Maiden song(describing the clock Uriah has), and you have referenced another Iron Maiden song. Proof the emperor is Bruce Dickinson.

[@soccerandtrack10]

@Jean Leon someones a thinker... hint,hint.

[@soccerandtrack10]

@Julian Kirby i am iron man,says horis lupercal...

[@Jacob-lv6zy]

What I love about the warhammer 40 k universe and this story incapsulate it perfectly is that it is essentially a critisism of the traditional power fantasy and also ”Mary sue” story. Because as the priest rightfully realise is that the emperor is basically not a human despite him claiming otherwise. He is essentially a machine that knows objectively what is best for humanity at its current situation. But the problem is that this demigod of a man exist in a universe in which humanity is flawed. Despite he knows what is best and has essentially paved the way for a greater humanity, people will find their own meanings and answers and for some the ends just dont justifies the means. The imperium we eventually ended up with is nothing like the emperor himself imagined and what is left is just war and no end in sight. This story is not religion vs atheism and rationality. Its about subjectivity and objectivity and that the idea of a perfect world is doomed from the beginning.

[@admiralspire8867]

I never saw the Emperor as a mary stu. I agree with what you say tho.

[@Kidbizzaro6]

I appreciate your take, but I disagree with the notion that a perfect world was doomed from the beginning. For the briefest of moments, the Imperium nearly made it. The Crusade was in full force and expanding, and the human webway was nearly complete, and soon the Emperor would be able to shepherd mankind to complete its evolution to a fully psychic species within the confines of a stable and rational Imperium. I don't think there would ever be a time where mankind would be free from conflict, but that wasn't really the Emperor's goal; it was to winnow the warp, secure the future of the Imperium and greater humanity, enable mankind's evolution, and then return power to the people and step down as head of the Imperium. He came so very close to achieving this, and that's part of the tragedy of 40K. It may have been human frailty and superhuman ambition that laid the Emperor's dream low, but that doesn't mean it was never possible or worth pursuing in the first place.

[@jeremymay6823]

It’s a lot like the argument in The Messenger with Milla Jovovich, subjective objective and based entirely upon ones angle of perception and influences

[@user-nl6xv2fh9f]

I have been reading reviews online about this short story and everyone was butthurt about the "atheism vs religion" and that the writer picks a side, completely missing the point that this whole short story had nothing to do about. Makes me glad that at least someone got it. Also i would like to mention ( something that a lot of people seem to miss ) the story is supposed to be at 30k. Humanity had already achieved what we would call a peaceful and rational society. We had peace with all the major known factions eldar, orks etc its just that the age of strife happened for 9k years and pushed humanity way back. Its not established but its always hinted that when the emperor finally proclaimed himself to the whole world he seemed to be in a hurry. It seemed that he had certain cards available in his hand and had little time and resources to do it the right way. But who knows maybe he planned all of this in the end. Maybe he knew the chaos gods would trap him either way so he planned it in a way where he would be caught in the trap but not entirely crushed by it, thus escaping and finishing what he started

[@admiralspire8867]

@@user-nl6xv2fh9f A lot of peoples claims that the Emperor would be ashamed to see what happend to his Imperium. But deep down I know that, before anything else, he would be proud. By all means, mankind should have quickly died out the moment he got interned on the golden throne, and yet, through faith alone, here we stand, defying certain doom at every steps. If the Emperor suddenly rose up from the throne, I believe that his first thoughts would not be "The Imperium has become a religious hellhole! Ahhh!", no.. His thoughts would be "How is the imperium even alive? I'm impressed!".

[@hanchiman]

Proves that you don't need to write about burning heretics and killing xenos to make a great 40k story :D

[@Ennio444]

Exactly. I wish we had more writers exploring other parts of the 40k universe, other than Marines and Inquisitores and heretics.

[@werechicken1969]

Definitely, I'm kind of sad more warhammer 40k stories don't explore other concepts than just the endless war.

[@topesjeebal8760]

well....a heretic (one who chooses not to believe - in this instance - in the vision of the Emperor) actually burns in this story so I have no idea what you are talking about

[@MizantropMan]

Something still burned tho.

[@jackknighttheoriginal1956]

More like 25k at this point. But I get what you're saying.

[@hereLiesThisTroper]

What a wonderful story and a wonderful read. I don't assume that McNeill based his story from Nietzsche's parable, 'God is Dead' but basically Mc Neill's story is a precursor of Nietzsche's prediction in the parable. "If God is dead, and we killed him, who will then replace him?" said the old man. Warhammer 40k had a very ironic take on answering this question. The Emperor, in the end, became a god, with mankind dependent to his devotion, the very thing that he tried to destroy. It is indeed ironic. When Horus saw the vision of the future by the chaos gods, they did not show him a lie... He showed him the truth and this all happened because The Emperor could never fathom the need for every man to have faith. The old man in Nietzsche's parable rang true... "If God is dead, and we killed him, who will then replace him?"

[@TheFluffenhammer]

hereLiesThisTroper that's a fantastic take on the tale.

[@Erikjust]

Maybe not faith as such as in faith in a deity a god, but they need a reason, a goal to strive towards something to inspire them to look towards, something to unite them in a common purpose. The result otherwise is stagnation and chaos. That was ironically enough one the Khans greatest fear the lie of "This is it you are now the strongest there is nobody left who is stronger than you, all you can do now is sit in your castle and build greater walls."

[@richbattaglia5350]

@ErikJust Which Khan said this?

[@Ares99999]

"If God is dead, and we killed him, who will then replace him?" "There is no replacing what never existed in the first place."

[@hereLiesThisTroper]

@Ares99999 uh huh. I guess Stalin just executed all the priests for nothing then.

[@paulmahoney7619]

The best part was they gave both Big E and Uriah good arguments.

[@blumiu2426]

Somewhat, it was the most fair I've known, but not by much. Revelation made most cases while Uriah was on the defense with little else.

[@richardshiflett5181]

Religion has no good argument

[@phantomwraith1984]

You can't make a compelling argument against someone's faith. People of science believe there is only humanity and our willpower to persevere and strive for better heights. People of religion will always believe in a higher power to guide them on their road. You can't change a person's faith. They'll take it to their grave

[@timm2428]

@@phantomwraith1984 why does there have to be a divide between science and faith? One of my favorite series is how the universe works , to me the birth of the universe goes hand in had with genisis. God said and let there be light,boom the big bang. Theres much we understand but just as much we cant and may never understand.

[@phantomwraith1984]

@@timm2428 such is the case of creationists Vs atheists, one will never acknowledge the other. As I said, an atheist of science won't believe in something unless it can be proven with science, and a religious creationists will take the word of the Bible/Quran etc over anything else. Me personally, I'm an agnostic atheist. I don't believe in a singular deity whom I have to worship day in day out, but I do believe there are forces of the universe we don't yet understand

[@commanderdanielcousland9981]

This story is a perfect take of the horror that will occur in 40k universe. The fact that Urel saw the Emperors face and was saved by him, thereby assuming him to be a God is the perfect foreshadowing of the turn humanity will take in the future. Whoever wrote this story needs a god-damn cookie.

[@phantomwraith1984]

Well honestly how could you not? Seeing the Emperor in his true form, 14feet tall of pure power, strength, beauty, leadership and wisdom, and the fact that you see him in the flesh right in front of you rather than a figment of imagination. Who in their right minds wouldn't look upon the Emperor and ask "My God, what would you have of me." Also goes to show the Emperor doesn't practice what he preaches. He says that religion is the cause of conflict and superstitious paranoia, and yet he goes on a holy war crusade across the galaxy to convert everyone to his faith of Scientology all while maintaining his Godly appearance rather than appear as just a Man.

[@howiefuzz6894]

"Grim-Dark Cookies" would be an amazing brand.

[@BloodnOil]

​@@phantomwraith1984So first off, while we know not Big E's true form, it is not whst he makes visible to others. Secondly, while I get the sentiment, Scientology is a horrible analogy to what he is presenting and practicing. Really I think the truest term would be humanism, though in a wh40k extreme way.

[@novemaspectus3429]

People don't give the priest enough credit. He managed to not only look directly at the Emperor, but managed to maintain his sanity even years later. Even the Emperor's own Primarchs could barely look at the Emperor face to face.

[@welkinvolg9619]

was thinking of the same thing.

[@K4inan]

What are you even talking about? This is something you've conjured up lol

[@Aristaios]

except he didnt the priest walked back into the church as it was burning

[@SpeedeyFreaks]

@@Aristaios Yes, but the priest still managed to hold his own for so long. It is only when he finally realized that he couldn't let go of his false beliefs, that he decided to die with them.

[@andreabozzola8482]

Bruv, the Emperor WANTED to be looked upon by this miserable man. He wanted for him to choose, freely, between the Light of the imperial truth or drown in fire in the lies of the laughting, chaotic entities one of which grew to conscience during our medieval wars of faith. You give Revelation too little credit, he could have just obliterated the place and the man, to the soul, with just a sight. Instead he walked down to that last vestige of bigotism and gave this pititul mortal the chance of a lifetime, to be ridden once and for all of masters omnipotent and to side with the magnificence of his Race while his new master guides it to reconquer the stars XD

[@bc_cimmerian]

And yet, the Emperor fully knew about the existence of souls, Malcador kept a Bible, and Ollanius Persson was a Catholic. That is why I love 40k. So many layers.

[@owenrobson5617]

Malcador kept it purely because he was the head curator of terra's history, more than out of religious obligations.

[@bc_cimmerian]

Owen Robson I thought it was due to its peevious power over the minds of men, etc. Book of Eli style.

[@owenrobson5617]

Yes, a relic of Terra's ancient history

[@NathanZackery]

Not to mention knowing that witches and psykers actually exist!

[@kelman727]

Owen Robson Yet souls, demons and gods are objectively true in 40k, and the Emperor knows that better than anyone.

[@ConservativePunkTV]

The priest turns out to be right in the end. He told the emperor that humanity would need something to venerate and worship, and that his dream of a future of pure reason was essentially doomed. 40k is set in the ruins of the emperors plan.

[@informationyes]

40k has a lot irony in it like how Horus betrayed the emperor because he thought the emperor wanted godhood but was his betrayal that lead to him being worshiped as a god, The emperors absents means religion needed more than anything, the mechanicus both love tech more than anything but stifle it more than anything, Its a universe where battle are won and lost but the war never ends, basically the crap keeps on flowing.

[@informationyes]

@William King And this setting the greatest tales may be told

[@OEFarredondo]

The Warp works in mysterious ways. A woven tale so intricate even the entirety of it is confounding to the greatest of living beings.

[@kriticosART]

Lorgar was right

[@mq5731]

@@informationyes Has anyone ever thought that maybe the thing that is actually killing the Emperor is the giant hulking mountain of Irony he is buried under?

[@michaeldonnelly8367]

Don't normally listen to fan readings, I find that a lot of readers just don't have the voice to keep me interested, or are unable to do a good voice for characters that I am a big fan of. You however have done perfectly, this is fantastic.

[@1ZombieRob]

*tips golden fedora*

[@TheFluffenhammer]

nods with silver monocle

[@TheCorrodedMan]

+Adam Nicol dances with brass cane

[@ahok.168]

Emperors voice was PERFECT

[@DarkSolace33]

+TheGaymers Truly.

[@ahok.168]

The Emperor of Mankind My glorious overlord! *bows constantly*

[@TheFluffenhammer]

thanks man!

[@ahok.168]

Adam Nicol Dont thank me! The Emperor is present! Show some damned respect, Adam! Who the hell are you anyway!? D:

[@trrebi981]

Emperor, I bow to no man. And I know you are but a man, fallible and all to human, who is naught but what man could become given time. You are no more worthy of my servitude than I am of your's. Take my life if you wish it MAN, for there is no authority that can force my knees to bend, save that which spills blood. Strike me down, for death is nothing compared to validation.

[@bonefetcherbrimley7740]

...Dear god thunder warriors are terrifying!

[@TheFluffenhammer]

They are not friendly people, no

[@soccerandtrack10]

@@TheFluffenhammer my armies worse, go look me up, a thinker of the emporor will connect the dots and the man in the dessert. like i said thinker.

[@-Thunder-Warrior-]

"Yes."

[@Venom1846]

Wow, he literally didn't stop until the last stone of the last church was dropped on the head of the last priest.

[@MrTurbowhitey]

A true vision of what Lenin and Marx dreamed of. A bloody monster who claims to bring light and reason, but only leaves death and darkness in his wake

[@sashisasj3850]

I would rather die in a holy war then die by the hands of my countrymen or be starved to death by my own government. And that is coming from a man who is not rly religious.

[@petretti3537]

If the Emperor existed in real life, he would be right to do all these things for no gods exist in the real world. But in the Warhammer 40k universe gods truly do exist, making the Emperor wrong

[@A_B_1917]

+Petretti Not really. This actually makes Emperor even more right. Gods in WH40k are evil beings that get some of their power from faith, and so destroying faith in his universe is more understandable than it would be in ours. +Sashi Sasj Personally, I'd just not like to die in a gruesome way, but maybe I'm weird.

[@Vedioviswritingservice]

How do you know what exists in this world ? What arrogance to make such a statement.

[@tbobbobs7606]

If only the Emperor could have this conversation again with the 15 trillion zealots of Mankind in 41st millennium.

[@revantobias8567]

if he had bothered to teach his sons instead of letting them flail in ignorance, then he could. But the emperor is an incredibly stupid man.

[@venomstar6789]

am been asking myself a lot about the emperor like why did he aloud the the age of technology to go the way it did he new the dangers of the warp but he did't really help at all or even had a back up plan and to aloud mankind blow it self up with nuclear bombs is just crazy in a way he is just at fault for mankind down fall as the eldars are imo

[@horuslupercal6745]

Watch "If the Emperor had a Text to Speech Device". It's hilarious and does exactly that (though with more colorful language)

[@revantobias8567]

N3RD1NS1D3 it is. Can't wait for the next episode. Spoiler alert VULKAN LIVES... (STOMP, STOMP)... VULKAN LIVES!!! (STOMP, STOMP)

[@soccerandtrack10]

@@revantobias8567 your projection is laughible neverborn, he is still human,humans make mistakes,even infinite intelligent 1s like the emporor.

[@Enumclaw]

TFW you realize that 40k is basically the Book of Revelations coming to pass.

[@citronm1405]

The Emperor could be considered the Anti-Christ.

[@richardshiflett5181]

Book of Revelation isn't real, you religious fanatic.

[@TwiggyShei]

@@richardshiflett5181 the Book of Revelations is very real. It is a real book, you can read it, it exists. As to whether or not it will come to pass, that remains to be seen, but a great mind is one open to possibility, not one that rages against anyone who contradicts it.

[@FunkBastid]

Richard Shiflett chill Emps. You have another 25,000+ years before you go hypocritically fedora-tipping across earth.

[@VanDaRifleman]

It's the book of Revelation, not Revelations...and yes, the Emperor of Mankind would be an antichrist figure.

[@FerreusVir]

Graham McNeill is a Emperor-damned genius. I am so happy to have finally heard/read this.

[@FerreusVir]

I don't even know what you were trying to say.

[@FerreusVir]

The only strawman I heard was the one that came from the priest.

[@SuperGman117]

Since when is a person a logical fallacy? Additionally, they also talked about some lore anyway.

[@SuperGman117]

***** Revelation/The Emperor isn't innocent of logical fallacies in this story.

[@welkinvolg9619]

+natanaj yep, i am an atheist too, and I find this debate rather ignorant to be honest. If this conversation reflects the writer's belief (I hope not), then I think he is an atheist with a narrow point of view about religion lmao. I often see Catholics and other Theists do these strawman debates too though. Goes to show most humans are the same when it comes to differences and lack of understanding towards things they don't want to understand.

[@wilji1090]

Given that the Emperor lived long enough to witness the rise of the Abrahamic faiths, I find it weird that no one supposes that he could’ve been any one of the figures portrayed. Not anyone noble like Moses or Noah, but more like Judas Iscariot and such. In general though I love this story and I love learning about Uriah, it’s just a shame that Uriah didn’t have better counters for the Emperor’s pedestrian arguments. Hell, the Emperor could’ve easily pointed out that what the faiths were all giving power to the Dark Gods. I dunno though... it just seems weird that neither side used more persuasive arguments. Uriah is understandable but the Emperor is not.

[@Dramatic_Gaming]

I mean, there's a reason Big E has a halo and looks like Jesus...

[@katefresina832]

@@Dramatic_Gaming Look I highly doubt Emps could have been Jesus. Jesus taught love, compassion, not to be judgemental of others, and loving unconditionally. Also ''Love your enemies'' is not a very Emporer thing to say.

[@essexclass8168]

Ollie lived even longer than Big E and spent his last life a Christian though. I'd Imagine an argument between the two would be more "intelligent".

[@philip8498]

the emperors whole schtick was to never mention the dark gods to anyone ever at all. because he thought if he just kept them buried in obscurity, they would starve and die. telling the priest that chaos was a thing and his faith was feeding it whether he wanted to or not may have actually convinced him to abandon his religion and join the emperor. it may also have caused him to start a chaos cult on terra the moment the emperor looks away. which is something you very much want to avoid if youre planning to have your army out in the galaxy burning all the religions to the ground.

[@johnandreo]

Dude....YOU ARE AWESOME ! Can you spare 3 years of your life so you can read all the 40k novels?

[@emperorconstantine1.361]

I agree with you!

[@TheFluffenhammer]

john andreo I would love to, but unfortunately, I have to do real life job to get the food on the table. :D or I could take up hunting

[@gabrielmoffitt8141]

Adam Nicol you could start a patreon account

[@XvShadowsvX]

Dont you find it ironic that the very thing the emperor fought to destroy is what became of his imperium?

[@AnythingBoringShow]

+Yolo !!! bit cynical, dont you think? it may have been that he most likely never knew it would happen, or that the horus heresy would happen and that he would be placed on the golden throne. It was that he just didn't understand that when he took away those religions, what would happen is that people would find other things to believe in(namely chaos and the god emperor) because taking something away from people would make them crave it more. The emperor had also unlimited intellect so there was nothing he didn't know, people need faith in times so that when they didn't know something or understand it, their faith would guide them.

[@DarkSolace33]

+Yolo !!! That was not my plan.

[@MonoVideo93]

+Adrian Golte any source for that?

[@Brakvash]

+Toothless HERESY! The Emperor will strike you down!

[@patrickwatza9853]

The very first book that was used to start the Imperial Cult was written by Lorgar, the primarch that truly started the Horus Heresy and ultimately became a Demon Prince of Chaos Undivided.

[@kelman727]

Always imagined the Priest as a Scot. The hints are certainly there.

[@axelNodvon2047]

45:53 GIVE IT UP THUNDER WARRIORS!! YOU HAVE LOST!!! WE HAVE THE HIGH GROUND!!!!

[@welkinvolg9619]

One does not simply underestimate the Thunder warriors' powers.

[@matrixtrollmarine]

adorable (then comes a volley of FUCK YOU!! followed by mechanized slaughter)

[@ironwithin3875]

This is where the fun begins

[@trippyulyanov2012]

Cowabunga it is

[@jeythecount6546]

The great thing about this story is that it shows Emperor as a ignorant and selfish man who doesn't understand and doesn't want to understand religion. The priest wins at the end.

[@enclaveherewhyisntyourvide3089]

Ok Tau

[@dianapadilla9578]

I agree

[@TheEyez187]

He's been around since before the "Bible" days, he would have witnessed all the religions and their faults, their atrocities. He understands it well, hence his wish to rid humanity of the insidious beliefs! The priest wins? or naive, ignorant humanity failed? :D

[@jerminnigor4095]

@@TheEyez187 Yes and by stopping all those faults and atrocities of religion. He kills people who wont submit to his code. He puts not only Earth but the whole Galaxy to the sword. Its ironic how he detest religion for the same faults that he himself did.

[@TheEyez187]

@@jerminnigor4095 Kind of makes sense to get rid of any people following the false earth religions. Think what would happen if all those fanatical followers of relgions with God/s who don't answer their prayers (because they're non-existent) could act when confronted with "actual" Chaos gods that will listen to their whims and prayers and will act on them in various nefarious ways. You'd be nipping a fanatical cultist population in the bud! Mars had it mostly right, science all the way!! :D

[@knot8676]

I can't praise this enough. I've made people swear an oath to listen to this.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

That is high praise indeed!

[@HiveMind3006]

Found this by accident! Nice surprise, thanks very much. I enjoyed listening while painting my Dark Angels dreadnought.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

thanks man! Glad to be of service. :D

[@OperatorHark]

There is so much talent in the Black Library authors, but Graham McNeill is one of my favorites. Every work he's written I've been absolutely enthralled in.

[@michaelcastro9026]

Geez I hope that games workshop or black library make a novel or something that deals with the unification of terra.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

I'd be all over that like a rash!

[@WordBearer86]

+Adam Nicol Thunder Warriors ftw! From what I've read of them so far, the one or two appearances of them in the HH novels, they were actually stronger, faster, and vastly more ferocious opponents than the 'modern' Astartes. Granted, it came at severe costs.

[@godofwarhammer7655]

Me to

[@anxioussamurai9017]

I love this story because it shows how one man's faith gives him the strength to stand up to the mightiest entity in the universe. Neither character is completely right or wrong and both make compelling arguments.

[@jestergodfield690]

That was quite the debate! Love it, and you've got a great voice for prolonged reads/listening too ;D

[@TheFluffenhammer]

many thanks!

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Jester Godfield the Paetron is live!

[@theannouncer5538]

They need to write a novel set during unification wars. This short story was great

[@frankcz7672]

It's unbelievable how wrong some of you get the story. It's not atheist vs believer. It's the reasoning behind his decision. When you read the horus heresy, at the beginning, it's often that the conquered worlds inhabitants just ask to be left alone. And the answer/dilemma is the actual story.

[@captain0080]

Indeed, after being rescued from certain death Uriah believed that there was a god who offered salvation to those willing to accept him, but once he learned the god he worshiped was a man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goal Uriah saw the future, and in that future there was only war.

[@phantomwraith1984]

If anything it just shows how much of a hypocrite The Emperor is and doesn't practice what he preaches. He claims religion is the cause for most of mankind's conflict and superstitious paranoia and yet he goes on a holy war crusade across the galaxy to convert everyone to his faith of Scientology all while maintaining the appearance of a Godly being than being just a Man.

[@Fulgrim_The_Phoenician]

@@phantomwraith1984 However, The Emperor knows what kind of impending doom awaits humanity out there in the dark corners of the galaxy. Without him, forcing us to work together, humanity would haven already fallen.

[@phantomwraith1984]

@@Fulgrim_The_Phoenician true. It's basically a case of between the emperor and the chaos gods, the emperor is the lesser evil

[@Vedioviswritingservice]

@@captain0080 An insight given to him from God:)

[@khornebezerker7251]

I can't believe how good those books are. And the voice actor is amazing

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Thanks man! :) it's appreciated.

[@chessmastertom]

What a amazing reading, i just keep coming back to this masterpiece.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Tom Wöhler a massive thank you sir. It floors me that people not only take the time to listen to this, but take the time to leave these kind comments.

[@br1na332]

I've read and listened this story many times over the years and this is a truly phenomenal rendition. Wonderful work.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

I thank you! It still, to this day, is the most viewed video I've ever done. XD

[@Noisius]

This is art...

[@TheFluffenhammer]

A massive thank you sir

[@somedude669]

I tend to hate fan readings, but this is good!

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Massive thank you! I'm really pleased that people are still finding and enjoying this

[@gregoreisenhorn6601]

There was a short age of reason that was the Dark/Golden age of technology, the Emperor was desperate to return humanity to that Age since after its downfall The Emperor shows himself to see humans not as a collective of individuals but as humanity a single gestalt entity responsible for their collective actions that error in judgement was his downfall for in his negligence he allowed his sons to be tempted by chaos and turned into their puppets.

[@citronm1405]

The updated thumbnail was a great idea! Your version of this short story is the best available. It is better than the fan animated version that came out a year ago and even better read than the official Black Library version. The new thumbnail is eye catching and I hope it brings more views! :) 👍🏾

[@TheFluffenhammer]

A massive thank you on all counts mate! It amazes me that people still come back to this now. Means the world to me, it really does. Thank you so much for listening.

[@nafsiammara]

You're a professional, right? This has to be your career. If not then do it. You're good.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

nafsiammara I'm not, but trying to get there. Many thanks for listening fella

[@Azaghal1988]

@@TheFluffenhammer You definitely have the talent, can do different voices and read nearly flawless with a well moderated pitch and volume. And everything is perfectly understandable even for non native speakers (i'm german)

[@TheFluffenhammer]

@@Azaghal1988 still working at it and hoping that'll it work out and I can quit the day job. Thanks man. It really does mean the world to me that people enjoy this stuff

[@simonhagebolling3571]

Incredible story, detailed argumentation, fluently and vividly written, splendidly told. Colorful escaped into a gloomy world. I loved it!

[@citronm1405]

Thank you for reading this story. Graham McNeil is an fun writer and this was well read. :)

[@TheFluffenhammer]

citronm1 Thank you for listening and commenting!

[@thekeeloking7269]

I cannot get enough of your voice, it fits amazingly for The Emperor

[@GainsDorn]

What an amazing story! A "must read" or "must listen" for every 40k-Fan

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Gains Dorn many thanks dude

[@citronm1405]

The Emperor is the Christian Anti-Christ. 2 John 1:7 - "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 "Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God." For the Emperor! ;)

[@andreabozzola8482]

Just existing since 7000 b.p., the Emps outclasses Christ with 5000 years of highlander-like existence, wandering the Earth and living among us

[@Konnieman]

Also the Emperor did not wish to be seen as a God

[@citronm1405]

@@Konnieman The Emprah exalted himself above all others. Whether He called Himself a "god" or not becomes irrelevant at that point.

[@Konnieman]

@@citronm1405 He's a super powerful Psyker actually, bolstered by millenias of faith. Gods in 40K aren't the same as depicted in the Bible, that's why the Emperor can't be seen as the Anti Christ. Where the AC would make people worship him as a God, The Emperor outlawed worship, including of himself, Lorgar was one big example of worship gone wrong.

[@zhess4096]

@@citronm1405 So is "God" Chaos Undivided? There is theory that the Abrahamic God is actually Khorne. Maybe the jihads and crusades happened because Khorne wanted bloodshed on Earth. He is also the god of law and justice that is why he created the commandments and the sunnahs. Most Abrahamic religions have a negative view of excessive hedonism like too much drinking or sex. They emphasize temperment more than anything. Slaanesh is the rival god of Khorne so that might explain it. No offense though but it is fun making theories.

[@Zoocsgo]

Stumbled across this at 12am before work couldn't stop listening thanks Adam!

[@TheFluffenhammer]

I hope you got some sleep! :D

[@patrickmcabee123]

Well done Sir, a fine episode..👍🏾😎👍🏼

[@TheFluffenhammer]

A massive thank you for taking the time to listen

[@TheEyez187]

Awesome narration mate,cheers for the upload! Keep them coming! :D

[@TheFluffenhammer]

I'm hoping to get around 2 40k short stories out a month. fingers be crossed!

[@TheEyez187]

That's good to hear, something to look forward to in my subscriptions! After listening to it a 2nd time, I thought at times you sounded some what like Sean Bean, he has a cool voice so... :D Did you ever listen to any of GrimDark's narration's?

[@TheFluffenhammer]

+TheEyez187 I've not... thanks for heads up, I shall hunt out and have me a listen!

[@TheEyez187]

GrimDark Narrator is his full channel name. He still does narrations, but GW unfortunately made him remove all WH & WH40K audio's, thankfully he sent me my own personal copies. He still has other narration's such as Dead Space, Battletech and H.P. Lovecraft shorts. It's a pity, his Eastern Block (Romanian/Bulgarian) accent complimented his work. It was quite fittng for Vampires or my ideas of Commissar's and I.G. Still worth checking him out though. :D

[@szymon4michalek]

+TheEyez187 Could you share those copies? :P

[@sharlin648]

Thank you for reading this out :)

[@TheFluffenhammer]

more than welcome! thank you so much for listening!

[@MrMrrome]

+Adam Nicol This is awesome, if you haven't done anymore of these you really should. Seriously, I may be a little drunk but you could do this professionally.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

+MrMrrome that's my long term plan duder. many thanks!

[@leiyoung6535]

+Adam Nicol you epic man, would love to hear you do more 40k like maybe if there was a book on the emperors crusade or something :)

[@TheFluffenhammer]

+Lei Young I've got to be careful with what I pick, less the GW Hammer will come a crashing down

[@ssssin320]

No Pity! No Remorse! No Fear!

[@horuslupercal6745]

I love this reading! Thank you so much for making it

[@samloveswarhammer2885]

Such a beautifully written and preformed story I am genuinely honoured to have listened to your reading of it. Thank you

[@humbleheathen69]

You have such a good reading voice.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Many thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@InGodWeTru2t]

This was just simply beautiful. Thank you

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Thank you for taking the time to listen mate. It means everything to me.

[@leftwardglobe1643]

This was wonderful, you have a great voice. Thankyou for making this.

[@Rakanarshi2]

Wow, what a good story. Thanks you very much, you are a fantastic narrator.

[@tmontgomery9255]

Just stumbled across this,and WOW,,,,just wow no words can say how well this is done.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

I thank you for taking the time to listen and respond. It means the world to me that people do

[@tmontgomery9255]

@@TheFluffenhammer and I want to say thank you for taking the time to make it, as I know how life can be. With jobs,family,bills, extra drama. To take the time to make something ,that is,tbh so hugely enjoyable is rather awesome.

[@fababybaby4807]

I read this one years ago. Was actually my favorite as it pauses the series and makes you think.

[@seaglass3034]

My goodness--what a reading! Thank you for putting such effort into this. Your take on their voices are just as I had envisioned. Thank you!

[@chaoticallycalmcultistofch1580]

Awesome Short. Graham Mcneil done it again. blew my mind with another superior narrative. Awesome.

[@shadowtiger6723]

Awesome Thank you this was a great story glad to hear it

[@TheFluffenhammer]

thank you for taking the time to listen.

[@Stardweller1]

Lesson learned: You can never truly rid the world of religion, and even if you could it wouldn't solve any problems.

[@Ares99999]

Sure it can. Sure it would. And sure it will.

[@johnTaylor9760]

Beautifully written and narrated, thank you for you for sharing!

[@courtcrenshaw2815]

Excellent presentation. Thank you.

[@heldaneurbanus5135]

Enthralling story and very well read. The Emperor is a hypocrite, and mean. He does exactly the same thing he accuses uriah of, picking and choosing his evidence. He's downright petty.

[@lordsanguinius3467]

How is he picking and choosing, exactly?

[@heldaneurbanus5135]

For a start he comments on the beauty of the church.. and next breath says nothing good ever came from religion. Yet the church would never have existed but for the faith of those that commissioned it. Listen carefully. There are quite a few instances. I think it makes the story even better because it shows his hubris. He *thinks* he is the ultimate humanity has to offer, there to usher in a new era of enlightenment, but is just a supremely powerful tyrant. Yet his intentions are noble. I like complex characterizations like that.

[@Brakvash]

+Heldane Urbanus Err I disagree, the Emperor straight out says that if it weren't for the riches that the church accumulated alot of religious art would most likely have been done for secular purposes; it is YOU who are either cherry picking or misunderstanding. To be honest, I don't really give a crap about his hubris, he's nonetheless a very swaying character. Cynically speaking, it's the charismatic and cunning ones who rule the world and make the truth, not the truthful ones (if there is ever a case of absolute truth); this both addresses the hubris of religion and government.

[@kelman727]

The priest is a hypocrite, since he wags his finger at the Emperor warning that people will worship him, when it's made clear that his entire faith is based on a nothing more than a vision of the Emperor.

[@kelman727]

+SpaghettiandSauce Wars were already being fought, and were slowly destroying Terra. The Emperor merely ended them, and thereby made creating the Imperium - freeing an entire galaxy - possible.

[@JudasCrusader]

this was excellent!

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Massive thank you sir!

[@Abyssal86]

This is a wonderful reading, thank you for sharing it with us.

[@Buckshort91]

Amazingly read good sir. Well spoken and clear.

[@tabuseventythree5678]

I like how you used the church of Idar-Oberstein for the background. Very fitting.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Well spotted squire!

[@wojplask]

Voice acting - perfect Imperior voice - very good Debate - awesome Put this in school program

[@TheZombieman87]

'Imperior' is not word. Did you mean 'Emperor'?

[@wojciechpaskowicki7464]

Yes I did :D

[@josefhlavsa2891]

Amazingly read, well done. Thank you a lot.

[@bpresgrove]

I just found this channel and love it! Great job and excellent reading. On to the next.

[@ShishouDzukiZaManako]

the pain in his bones, no match for the pain in his heart

[@TRAVISHOWRYMUSIC]

Just finished listening to this again. I heard the official audiobook recording of this story and I hands down prefer your recording. This feels like more of an audio drama and theirs feels like another audiobook, if that makes sense lol

[@TheFluffenhammer]

A massive thank you man! I came at this as if it was a talking heads play, rather than a audiobook. It makes it a but rougher and not as polished, but to me it makes a lot more sense. I'm blown away by your kind words man, thank you

[@Azaghal1988]

Thanks for this, greatly read.

[@Adneybushdoctor]

Awesome book would love to see it as a play, good idea James Knighton

[@TRAVISHOWRYMUSIC]

Your Emperor's voice felt right to me the first time I watched this. My ps4 had auto played it and I had no idea who you were and what other stuff you'd done either. I just excepted it as the Emperor's voice lol. Not that it matters, but I thought I'd tell you anyways

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Thank you for telling me fella, I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@scottcrawford1646]

still nearly a nightly listen after bout 3 yearz

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Wow man. Thats amazing to hear... thank you. That's incredible to me.

[@thalastian_thundercleese]

Love this story, and this is a fantastic reading!

[@grantaum9677]

Love listening to your reading of this. My favourite bit is when he gets out the good wine

[@Dolphin665784]

It's a movie in my head

[@raymond74152]

Amazing

[@maximilianbesting]

you sir are absolutely awesome at this. SUBSCRIBED, hoping for more.

[@bobit2000]

I love your reading voice! Really enjoyed, thanks for the content :)

[@mq5731]

OH THE IRONY

[@flcmaybe]

Outstanding work

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Many thanks fella! I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

[@MrBudPuphin]

Fantastic reading! Thanks.

[@Tirze]

what a great voice... and a great Story

[@Thelordofalldarkness]

Well read. Quite a story.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

Many thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed, and I hope you've had a listen to some of the other tales we have on here

[@dervalle0072]

1:13:49 Heretical car :)

[@TheFluffenhammer]

It was a Mazda. Heresy on wheels in tells ya.

[@ToeInMyJam]

This was brilliant, thank you.

[@pjsparrow5904]

I just finished this audiobook this morning and so far, it's my favorite Warhammer 40k story/book because it highlights the absurdity and horror that relgion is and yet foreshadows everything that is yet to come. *cough* Inquisition *cough*

[@Pyrus425]

That was amazing. REMOVE CHOAS REMOVE CHOAS REMOVE CHOAS REMOVE CHOAS

[@markbrigandi7497]

Pyrus what’s a choa? And why should we remove them?

[@tomasellis6274]

Along comes Jesus with this wonderful, moralistic philosophy, about why we should be tolerant and understanding of our fellow human beings, and then we spend the next two thousand years killing one another, because we can't quite agree on how he said it -Mont Python

[@Deathryzer]

Loved this little masterpiece!

[@5txangel]

Great voice ! Thank you for uploading.

[@TheFluffenhammer]

thank you so much mate. :)