The Legacy of the Thunder Warriors (Warhammer 40,000 & Horus Heresy Lore)

Being a record of the history of the Thunder Warriors of the Legio Categis, the Imperium's first genetically-enhanced soldiers, and precursors to the Space Marines of the Legiones Astartes.
Art credits:
Ronan Talhout
Charles Lin
Filip-Hammer
Garrot
Judas Chaban
Markus Tervola
Oscar Obando
Gray-Skull
Diamondaectann
Victor Kevruh
Advisorium
Support the channel on Patreon: / oculusimperia
Follow me on Twitter: / oculusimperia
Thanks to the amazing Myles Eves for the new Patreon credits! Check out his work at myleseve.com/
Music: Missa Sicut lilium inter spinas by the Tudor Consort
This video is a non-profit fan-made lore discussion. Games Workshop, Forge World, Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer, Space Marine etc are all trademarks of Games Workshop Ltd. Games Workshop does not endorse or support fan-made "lore" videos. All views and opinions expressed in this video belong to Oculus Imperia and in no way reflect the views or opinions of Games Workshop Ltd or it's employees.
All works used in this video belong to their respective authors and corporations. Oculus Imperia holds no claim or propriety interest, either wholly or in part, in any of the work displayed here, with the exception of the audio commentary recorded for this video.

[@TheCreepyLantern]

"with no end of test subjects because humanlife was the cheapest of resources " oh man thank goodness the imperium in any way changed on that front

[@AlexanderDarkheart]

You're right humans got promoted from a test subject to primary cannon fodder.

[@MoonBeamLaser]

Ayo holup…

[@SusCalvin]

We're going to do away with psykana weaponry, no psi-titans in the basement around here.

[@somerandomschmuck2547]

Well, in places like Nocturn and Ultramar they did.

[@billyelliot4141]

Everyone is still taking clotshots full of the spike protein that no longer exists in nature, yet wondering why they have long covid. 🤔 they have lost the ability to conduct deductive and inductive reasoning. Blacklibrary nailed it on this one. 👏 nice work lads.

[@bvdemier1]

‘Is it dead?’ I asked, sunk to my knees and leaning heavily on the pommel of my sword. The Custodian looked at me and I felt the weighing of judgement in his wary gaze. At length, he nodded. ‘In a manner of speaking, yes. You have my thanks…’ ‘Heruk,’ I said, recognising the pause as an invitation, ‘Dahren Heruk.’ ‘Thunder Legion?’ It was my turn to nod. ‘I thought your kind were all dead.’ ‘We are. Near enough.’ ‘Tagiomalchian. I am in your debt, Dahren Heruk. Terra is in your debt.’ ‘Then I have one favour to ask of you,’ I said, raising my hand to stop Tagiomalchian from sheathing his sword. He looked at me, that impassive mask as unreadable as a statue, but then I saw the slightest nod. As the grip of mortality closed about me, I felt the dream. Smell and taste at first, but then I began to hear the cheers of victory as the Lightning Banner was lifted into the sky. I stood upon the slopes of Mount Ararat, Kabe and Gairok and Vezulah at my side. Reality grew fleeting though I heard the soft clank of Tagiomalchian’s armour as he came to stand behind me, and the scrape of his blade as he brought it aloft. ‘Give me the honoured death,’ I said, and the cheers rose louder. Unity! Unity! Unity! I closed my eyes as tears of joy flowed down my face, and whispered. ‘For Unity…’ And heard the blade fall. "Dreams of Unity" by Nick Kyme

[@Deridus]

I'll be damned if I didn't get watery-eyed at that.

[@WiseguyThreeOne]

@@Deridus Kyme is no Wraight or Abnett, but he has his moments. It's a good piece.

[@AlphariusandOmegon]

Wow thats the best piece of writing ive ever read from Nick Kyme, I'm usually very unimpressed by his writing even though he is fantastic as an editor he usually lacks the ability to edit his own stories and they can tend toward the dull.

[@theconcubin3]

Ii iiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiuiiuiuiiiiiuiiiuiiii

[@theconcubin3]

I’m iii😅u😅iiii😅😅iivi

[@raycearcher5794]

Guilliman: Historitor I am having an awful day, regale me with some history. Oculus: So here's the time your dad made some guys who were better than you but they all went nuts so he had your nephews secretly murder them. Guilliman: ...

[@SWProductions100]

Don't forget Guillimans golden guard uncles - they were there too!

[@marcoosorio3705]

Your nephews 🤣

[@thewayfarer8849]

An out of the way touch I really like is that on the White Scars flagship, there were Thunder Armour suits made in honour of them. That sort of understated "I remember you, though the world is unjust" is very 30k. Nothing is in vain. It is bleak, and brutal, and grimdark; but how you live always matters.

[@LexYeen]

The universe may be a cold, uncaring void where sometimes the grim calculus of war is sadly required, but that does not mean we cannot hold a flame against the dark or remember those who fell to bring us to where we are now.

[@TheCreepyLantern]

i didn't know that. it makes me love the scars even more

[@ArchArturo]

I'm a Salamanders fanboy, but every time I hear about the White Scars I'm just so amazed by them.

[@TheCreepyLantern]

@@ArchArturo Vulkan lives!

[@butcherbird4195]

Source? Interested.

[@professorsponge1554]

The Legio Cataegis is my favorite part of the lore. Supposedly stronger than the best Astartes, unstable, but they believed entirely in the emperor. They were rabid dogs, but loyal to their core. The fact they went berserk around mutation and chaos suggests they might have been fine tuned too well to terminate the emperor's true foes.

[@iainhansen1047]

That ending about them being fundamentally human is beautiful

[@Nexsoxs]

They weren't good people, but they were people. Inarguablely.

[@pastorofmuppets9994]

There's nothing like the little serotonin boost I get upon hearing that opening chime of our favorite Historator's cogitator booting up. Each record is a masterclass of eloquent storytelling and incredible voice acting, and does great honor to our most holy Emperor.

[@DeusExMachina10001]

Bit random but one of my favorite bits of in-character quirks about Oculus is the emphasis of the words "He" and "His" when speaking of the Emperor. It's like a verbal representation of the capital H in the Emperor's pronouns.

[@Yandarval]

That is how its supposed to be done, when speaking of royalty.

[@yevgeniy720]

Shut up

[@stevemanart]

The Oculus has long since lost his rose colored glasses about the past and present of the Imperium, but he hasn't yet lost his reverence for The Emperor in who he was and what he did.

[@m249machinegun2]

Mirror universe idea: Goddess Empress of Mankind

[@DeusExMachina10001]

@@m249machinegun2 We already have one. Her name was Erda. She fucked everything up for everyone forever.

[@unintentionallydramatic]

Unification War content is always very welcome. I honestly wish we'd learn more about pre-unification Terra than whatever random chapter they're trying to push on a given day.

[@Kropothead]

It’s a fascinating historical period. I’d love to learn more about the various anti-Imperial factions, like Narthan Doom’s forces.

[@mattstakeontheancients7594]

I’d love that as well. Love to know when the emperor became a warlord and started making custodes. How long did it take to unify the continent. How old was Constantine when the final battle took place.

[@maxstr]

But Unification War content doesn't sell mini figures

[@unintentionallydramatic]

@@maxstr Only because they haven't taken Necromunda rules and built a skirmish wargame around it. It honestly hits every note they'd want outta it -Allows for constant addition of new OP factions -Allows for gear to be introduced without having to be justified -Allows for extra bits to be sold in a sort of lootbox system So not only would it be neat, they'd even get to be exploitative doing it.

[@HighlyImprobableName]

Ancient Terra, mad tribes, geneclans, psy-abominations and pseudo-noble butchers fighting across ash swept rad-wastes. Welcome to Epic Necromunda.

[@awesomehpt8938]

Im sure the thunder warriors were given many honours and allowed to retire in peace after achieving victory in the unification wars right? Right?

[@mrbadguysan]

They got peace. What more could they have wanted.

[@alyseleem2692]

Indeed.... There is a peace to the abyss, one could say. Oh, wait, the Warp is nowhere near peaceful. Ah, well. It can't be helped.

[@egregoros1898]

@@mrbadguysan What better death for a true warrior could be had? Would you rather they died a dishonorable death at the hands of time? These warriors were not yet immortals like the Astartes that came after them. Also, the Emperor used the Custodes which is itself a mark of respect that could only be higher if the Emperor did it himself. He knew they were impossible to use beyond Tera and couldn't be left to splinter into uncontrollable factions. He made the only choice he could.

[@-Thunder-Warrior-]

"We all went to live on a farm."

[@vsGoliath96]

Sure! The Imperium is well known for its happy endings and peaceful retirements.

[@williammiller4768]

Gather ‘round, children. Another tale unfolds. For The Oculus!

[@Sh1tbagActual]

I feel like if the emperor had just gathered the LC, and been like “My warriors, the time of your need is at an end, and in respect to spare you the degeneration of your bodies and minds, I wish to allow you to choose the method of your passing” they would have gone along, and the massacre wouldn’t have been needed.

[@LexYeen]

Transmission received, praise be to the Omnissiah and the Emperor alike.

[@mikaelantonkurki]

Interesting point Arik Taranis holds no ill will towards the emperor for whatever happened neither does another survivor: Dahren Heruk who still considers himself loyal to the Emperor. Endryd Haar also stayed loyal to the emperor if we are to believe that he really is a thunder warrior.

[@blacktemplarbrotherlucius1935]

It makes younwonder if the Thunder Warriors where more loyal than the Astartes. Since the loyalties of the Astartes varies in order but most as the Crusade went on where loyal to the Primarch then the Emperor but if said Primarch was loyal then they where one the same. Perhaps the Emperor should have kepted them if to supplement gor the Custodes as gaurds or retinue. I only suggest that since Thunder Warriors are tougher, stronger and more durable than the Astartes but their serm to quick to rage and seem to be mentally unstable.

[@ZeroNumerous]

@@blacktemplarbrotherlucius1935 Of course they were. Astartes are, at their core, men more loyal to their brotherhood, their primarch, their homeworld, or themselves than the Emperor. But the Thunder Warriors? They were the castoff sons and daughters of Terra, who knew only suffering and death. And then He came, and raised each one of them up into majesty and wonder. He reached out into the mud and dirt where they scrabbled, desperate and pitiful, and He lifted them above the suffering. And He promised them a greater wonder for all that knew them, and great wrath for all who opposed them. He gave them strength and power beyond their feeble human natures, and then granted them succor from His great dream. How could any among mankind ever resent or hate such a being, when they knew him as thus? The Astartes of Terra were also wholly loyal, for much the same reason. The Primarches needed to eradicate their Terran contingents with the betrayal on Istvaan III after all. Perhaps the Thunder Warriors could be kept? But they were breaking down on a genetic level. They needed to be changed earlier, as children or teenagers, and perfected properly. At that point they're basically just Astartes, but without any specific primarch to draw their genetic code from. The Astartes were faster to produce and more stable.

[@stevevincent1881]

​@@ZeroNumerousWhy exactly do you think the traitor Legions had to virus bomb hundreds of thousands of Astartes at Istvaan III? They were almost entirely Terran-born, those segments of their Legions that were in place when The Emperor started His Crusade. They were fiercely loyal to The Emperor. The ones that turned were once they had started recruiting from their Primarch's home planets and such. Look at the most fiercely loyal Astartes of the entire Heresy. Men like Loken, Garrett, Sigismund, etc. These were all Astartes who were crafted into peerless warriors after being selected from the slums of Holy Terra.

[@bumbyonline]

@@stevevincent1881 Loken was Cthonian not Terran

[@stevevincent1881]

@@bumbyonline You are absolutely correct. I got him and Garro mixed up.

[@eichler721]

A Unification Wars series of books with Chris Wraight and Guy Haley as writers for the Custodes and Emperor. With others allowed to write about the Thunder Warriors and the Unification Wars would be amazing.

[@mmallory22]

The Legio Cataegis is one of the great examples of the harsh moral ambiguity in anything done by the Emperor, how part of you wants to believe that he’s the arch protagonist but you can’t deny the fucked up things he did. Maybe the Thunder Warriors were a brutal necessity to end an era of unimaginable nightmares on Terra, and maybe in the end it wasn’t feasible to allow them to live, but god damn… massacring them at the end of all their hard fought labors was cold.

[@fguocokgyloeu4817]

I very much enjoy the story of the Emperor. The optimistic take is that he is just a phenomenally talented tyrant. The pessimistic take is that he is every bit the prohumanity idealist he is depicted as, and that this noble god had no better options than the nightmarish course he took.

[@pauledwards9493]

Too dangerous to be kept alive.

[@HeartlessNinny1]

I agree with both of you. If nothing else, he sure ain't a good guy. 😉

[@mmallory22]

I’m still pro-Big E for the simple reason that he is Anathema to the Primordial Annihilator, and the greatest enemy of the Pantheon is my friend as far as I’m concerned. Even being heartless to a population of millions can be justified if your end goal is to save uncountable trillions of people from damnation. After reading the Siege of Terra books I’m like “Dude, fuck the Warp, the Emperor protects.”

[@HeartlessNinny1]

@@mmallory22 very fair. I was a CSM player way back when and I'm building my army anew, so that's just my perspective is all.

[@michaelhowell2326]

I think there are still a few Thunder Warriors out there in the galaxy somewhere other than Trazyn's collection. I hope they aren't all soured to the Imperium though.

[@arbeione]

The Thunder Warriors are just so cool! Great characters. For me the World Eaters are the closest Astartes we had to the Thunder Warriors. No wonder they’re my favourite legion. Great video. Thanks for uploading.

[@fake-inafakerson8087]

Though not in a legion, there some talk that the minotaurs may themselves be thunder warriors

[@arbeione]

@@fake-inafakerson8087 that’s interesting I’d not heard of that. Wouldn’t they suffer from relatively short lives though? With the genetic problems they had? Their bodies would degrade much quicker than an Astartes?

[@darkhighwayman1757]

I always felt for the Thunder Warriors. The initial tools of the Imperium

[@Peter-by3ox]

The thunder Warriors deserve so much more attention, they are a massive fav of mine their vulnerability juxtaposed with their brutality is awesome

[@nickwilliams3688]

I was just wondering what 40k thing I wanted to watch, and then this is published! Praise the Emperor, hail Oculus!

[@lordfrostwind3151]

I have similar issues with the handling of the Thunder Warriors as the handling of Angrons rebels both in universe and just in general storytelling, objectively useful if dangerous assets that are recklessly discarded in the most callous sense and men who deserved far better than what they received causing obvious and avoidable problems down the line by any objective measure. Even if they are rapidly destabilizing you could do as they do with Eversor assassins, leave them in cold storage until the need arises and unleash them upon an enemy or even at least offer them the choice to be given a merciful death at the end of unity, be contained in cryo until the Emperor calls upon them or seek exile among the stars. Imagine the Emperor unleashing a demi legion of Thunder Warriors into the Siege of the Imperial Palace straight into the traitor lines. Loyalty is a two way street and while the Emperor should not be perfect, he too often waxes from unreasonable callousness to outright self destructive foolishness.

[@Furzkampfbomber]

Even more important than loyalty from bottom to top is the loyalty from top to bottom. If someone in the lower ranks is disloyal or betrays his emperor, army or nation, it's already bad enough, not at least because disloyalty might spread - but there are still all the others that are and will be loyal. But in case an emperor, general or politician betrays the people under him, well, then the whole thing falls apart. An army or nation is the work of many and although the one on the top is of utmost importance, well, what can he do without all the people under him that work, invent, maintain and sacrifice for, I hate to say it but... the greater good? So subsequently an Imperium that is based on inherent lies and the betrayal of its Emperor, well, that is meant to fall apart.

[@crusadingtemplar]

What an Idea!!. I got an image of the traitor titans breaching the imperial Palace walls .. Only for thunder warriors to pour out of the breach before the masonry has stopped tumbling...

[@z.adkins862]

The most important thing to remember about the Emperor is that he's a dumb, vicious asshole who claims to love humanity but in truth DESPISES humanity. Literally every problem the Imperium faces is directly tied to the ground work the Emperor laid down, right down to eradicating otherwise loyal soldiers the second they were too bothersome to work with.

[@lordfrostwind3151]

@z.adkins862 And that's sadly what he often comes across as and it's a crying shame because in the old lore he wasn't perfect but the mistakes were understandable that even a man who has lived thousands of years could still make, even Monarchia you could justify somewhat as him having a completely unreasonable response because Lorgar stepped on something sensitive to him, but it needs to do something to show some regret over what happened even if it's just him in private or with Malcador, what it comes across as currently is "I can't believe Lorgar would betray me after murdering his favorite pets right into front of him." The Emperor being detached from humanity and failing to understand some stuff makes sense especially with how long he has lived but completely forgetting how humans actually work is just baffling.

[@lordfrostwind3151]

@sethmawdesley6854 the Emperor exhausted upon his Golden Throne gave a simple order, "Release the Cataegis." Dorn was confused by the order, Malcador's face was briefly crossed by a look of sadness and horror, while a single Custody bowed and left to see his master's will done. Deep within the Dark Cells the air was filled with the cold mist of discharging cryo chambers, an army of creatures, human once but misshapen and twisted into muscular frames barely held together by their bodies were herded by the black and gold armored custodese into a chamber. Before the horde of barely contained aggression one golden warrior stood slaming his spear into the floor bringing them to attention. "Thunder Warriors, first of the Emperor's legions, your master calls upon you once more! The world you have fought to reclaim is in danger. Traitors and warp spawn pollute what you fought and died for will you fight for your world and your master one last time?" The mood shifted, the aggression became focused and wordlessly the hulking behemoths went to the armor and weapon racks, donning what equipment each twisted form could. When the Traitor Titans breached the walls a roar was heard, not the blaring horns of the Titans or the victorious howls of Horus's legions, it was a roar of hatred and fury unleashed. Figures in aged power armor and some barely even being contained by that much stormed out of the breaches charging straight for the unworthy successors who defiled their achievements, heedless to the rapidly adjusting artillery and Titan weapons. That day before the walls Thunder shook Terra once more.

[@OmegaLittleBob]

GW would never do this. But I would love if they made a rule book for the Unification Wars much like the original 1E Rogue Trader rule book. In that it would be a book with some basic lore, factions and rules that expected the players to fill in a lot of the blanks and to bend the rules as needed. I would want them to make very few, possibly no models (heh yeah right) and instead show examples of how you could kitbash various GW kits to make Thunder Warriors, Techno Barbarians, early Imperial Army, Rogue AI and Crazed Chaos Psykers. Granted we can already do this with existing systems and just flavoring stuff differently for the setting, and 3D print artists have made a bunch of Unification Wars inspired models. But having an official book put out, would act as something for everyone to gather around, find each other and help get more people into the idea.

[@mattaffenit9898]

I mean, I've got thirty Thunder Warriors if that ever does happen. I'd play that. Considering just using them as counts-as-Custodes at the moment.

[@tunguskalumberjack9987]

You left out the one other very important ingredient- artwork! Though I’m sure you were picturing it as you wrote that. I would buy that book the second it was released- it was the artwork from pre-40K Warhammer Fantasy that got me to buy my first issue of White Dwarf in 1986 or “87, as inspiration for drawing. When 40K came out, I was hooked for life. I would be absolutely obsessed with a Unification Wars/ Age Of Strife/ Dark Age Of Technology sourcebook if one was made. It could even be similar to the Visions Of Heresy book, which I find to be indispensable. Great idea, mate-

[@trazyntheinfinite]

Thats something i do not understand with gw There sooo much Potential and goldmines with 40k and are desperate to avoid them. They could make 40k und progress that story Parallel they could make money wirh 30k or even the war in heaven. Its like porsche 911, 40k as flagship all the others as Derivats of that

[@mattaffenit9898]

@@trazyntheinfinite Large companies tend to be averse to risk. And it is a risk. Not a catastrophic one, by any means, but a risk nonetheless.

[@trazyntheinfinite]

@@mattaffenit9898 perhaps they should do some Research with their fans And warhammer + was also a risk and i would say that was not really calculated

[@inductivegrunt94]

The True Heroes of the Unification Wars! Them, the Custodes, and the Exertus Imperialis were the real army of the Emperor, the ones who unified Terra in his name. The Thunder Warriors were heroes, even when cut down to the last by those they trusted. May their sacrifice be not forgotten, nor left in vain. We must crush the alien, purge the mutant, and cleanse the taint of Chaos. Not for us, but for them. For the Thunder Warriors. Ave Imperium! For the Emperor! For the Heroes of the Unification Wars!

[@kenicherothered6816]

May they never be forgot.

[@justcommenting4981]

Nah. Uncontrollable heretic savages. Guilty of thought crime against The Emperor. Good riddance. Glory to The Emperor!

[@spiritofthegorg6950]

Woke up randomly in the middle of the night to find the oculus has blessed US with another lore bit. Also crazy how many patreons Show their continued Support, just goes to Show how greatly we all value your work! May this comment please the holy algorithm

[@username12120]

Always loved the idea of the Thunder Warriors, in my own head-cannon I posited that in the final days they weren't so much exterminated as they were so reduced in number as to be utterly combat ineffective as a fighting force again. And in that aftermath the survivors are then split up and deposited in the nascent Legiones Astartes formations, a diamond hard veteran corp to guide, train and be the spear tip in the war to secure the rest of the Solar System. By the time of the Great Crusade proper there's only a handful of them left at all, either isolated warriors, entombed dreadnoughts, senior officers or just total cripples gasping their last in medical confinement as they lose all sanity and physical control. Just a legionnary legend of the bad old days before reason, justice, and civilisation took back its rightful place in the galaxy.

[@libertyprime2013]

That’d make sense for the most loyal of the thunder warriors. I also think it’d be cool if a handful were kept in stasis and when Terra was attacked by the traitors they were able to have their final stand.

[@username12120]

@@libertyprime2013 Yeah! A last stand all the while grumbling about how they were right all along about these shoddy mass produced newbloods.

[@gfanikf]

Hell yeah I love me some Unification Wars!

[@DarkEyesOX]

Oculus, you KILLIN' it consistently lately

[@venerablebrothergoriate5844]

Oculus, I treasure your videos like no other channel on this platform. I do have a request, that one of your next videos be an exploration of Tactical Dreadnought armor. Learning about it and its capabilities was largely responsible for my current fascination with Warhammer, and the technology of the Imperium of Man. It was also the field-testing of my favorite legion, the Iron Hands, that was greatly instrumental in its development and tactical applications. Sadly, there are few that have covered tactical Dreadnought armor, and none to the degree of professionalism and immersion that you put into each and every piece of content on your channel. A video about Terminator armor would be BEYOND excellent, a video to which I would refer all those curious about it. I’ve shared your channel with everyone I know who shows even a passing interest in Warhammer. Your input on tactical Dreadnought armor would be the last piece in the puzzle for me. I wish you nothing but the best, Oculus.

[@BK2207]

I enjoy all your videos of the Unification Wars. It is such an interesting era because the Imperium was in its infancy, and their means were very humble or on par with their enemies at the time. Also, it is the foundation of so many cornerstones things that will follow during the Great Crusade.

[@SirJustinTheLion]

This is honestly a beautiful peice you've created for us. Thank you so much for the love and attention you put into your craft.

[@zrrion6the6insect6]

there's a world eater who's mentioned as being big for an astarties and who claims to have been with the imperium since before the war hounds were a thing at all. While it is possible that that world eater simply predated the primarch project (I think letoo is a confirmed example of that, however you spell his name) he may also have been an attempt at upgrading a thunder warrior for use alongside the astarties. We know that astarties geneseed can be used to stabilize a thunder warrior as a few of the escaped thunder warriors have figured out how to do such a thing. An official process isn't outside the realm of possibility. It's possible that the process was very selective or was very expensive but there was clearly some bottleneck that prevented deployment and culling was chosen as a superior option than upgrading. Unless GW makes my dreams true and after the conclusion of the heresy series starts a unification wars series I suppose we may never know. If I can continue to theorize further though, there are a few characters who are "false astarties" Namely folks like luther who were augmented later in life to roughly astarties level and I feel that this may have been a result of an augmentation somewhat like that of a thunder warrior (although likely tempered significantly to produce more stable results) with geneseed and cybernetics used to stabilize them. Whatever barrier the thunder warrior upgrade process, and by extention the false astarties process may have had it would be likely that a primarch would easily be able to command the resources to have it performed in limited numbers to uplift their closest friends upon their reunification with the imperium. I also suspect that some of the thunder warrior creation process was used as the groundwork for the raptor project and for the primaris rubicon. In the case of the raptor project being able to quickly take an adult soldier and upgrade them to astarties level would be an excellent way to bolster the raven guard's numbers and the issues were likely a matter of stability and expediency. And the rubicon also is a case of ascension that takes place after adulthood is reached. I doubt any of this will ever be touched upon in detail but it at least seems reasonable to suspect that the emperor's genework was sophisticated enough to serve as a base for future development regardless of how the results of their use under pressure were at the time of their initial development. After all the earliest of the emperor's soldiers were the custodies and they were certainly not crude so there really is no reason to think the technology of the thunder warriors or the raven project was crude either, only that it was used under non-optimal circumstances and for crude ends.

[@mirromarnicco3162]

Erdon Harr was his name, or something like that. And yes, I think that it is highly plausible that he was in fact a Thunder Warrior. Honestly I love the idea.

[@arturorayon9052]

All hail the Lore Master

[@AzmondDontez]

Somehow these just keep getting better and better. Excellently, expertly done.

[@squeesmyth9025]

ive been following since octo started out and he never ceases to astound me with his quality ,my favourite lore master by a country mile, proud to be a fellow Irishman

[@flakbait5771]

Fantastic. Huge fan of the Thunder Warrior lore; thank you!

[@rutothechaser6146]

I get home from work. I see a new Oculus video. Life is good.

[@sweaterketchup2730]

Just while I was painting some Votann I see this! Perfect channel to listen to while painting:D

[@lolbit1232]

Built to kill, born with death in mind, some even loyal after the backstabbing, truly the finest start for a army of man

[@faded_ink3545]

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only the Oculus Imperia

[@Subject_Keter]

The Biggest Baddest Warriors, I wonder if Trayzan has one? Want to see one fight a Primaris.

[@beardfistthegoldenone7273]

I'm almost certain Traxyn describes a thunder warrior at some point in his book.

[@disembodiedglances8695]

You create some of the best Warhammer 40K content out there. When I think I understand some aspect of the lore, your videos come and make me feel like I understand them better, their essence, their point. Please keep it up with this quality. You’re amazing

[@syvarris467]

Beautiful narration as always. I often use these to fall asleep, it’s so soothing. Though that intro gave me existential dread.

[@fguocokgyloeu4817]

You call down the Thunder Warriors, I will bring up the Whirlwinds.

[@jrr7031]

I couldn't have clicked on anything as fast as this! Also; please narrate the story of "The tempestus Galleries" .....it got me BACK into 40k.

[@eldoriath1]

Just wanna say big and clearly how much I appreciate what you do and how awesome you are at it. Gathering lore, making a manuscript and the voice acting that is extremely superb. Have recently listened to your first and earliest works (which I do enjoy!) and just wanna say that you have evolved and come a long way since then and the effort you put in really shows.

[@asepheleleshabalala1352]

Thunder Warriors. Heresy in high volumes to follow for sure. Be careful Oculus. The Emperor's eyes are still watching.

[@jldavis337]

Unification and early 40k lore is the most interesting facet of the hobby for me. And the implications of the Votaan reintroducing Dark Age of Technology tech into the current game will hopefully provoke more insights and lore vids. Great video, I'd watch more of this.

[@vesapietila8733]

Thank you for giving tomorrow a meaning. Can't wait to watch this and work on my 30 Wolf Guard Termie project.

[@bjorntheviking6039]

Always love hearing about the Legio Cataegis.

[@lordmortos979]

Can you believe it! Just two days from retirement.

[@peterga3658]

Great Video man as usuall

[@samuelmartin223]

This is one of my all time favorites.

[@antoniokokic7488]

Great narration, and fitting background music. Well done!

[@Gorton]

Welcome back! Hope you had a good break. I’m looking forward to another year of awesome vids like this 👍🏼

[@mrbadguysan]

Can’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs. The Emperor knew this.

[@dassemultor6940]

"...the squat kin of the Votann." I see what you did there

[@Ozcogger]

It's been way too long since I've had the free time to sit and enjoy your content. Ty so much for this high quality work.

[@thomasowens3135]

Amazing video as always! Been waiting on this one for a while. Thank you so much!

[@butHomeisNowhere___]

"There is nothing more that he can take from me..."

[@PooperInspector]

Mount Ararat was an inside Job 🥺

[@butHomeisNowhere___]

We miss you, Ushotan 😭

[@Whyred100]

Excellent video and topic! Keep up the fine narrative and content outpunt - cheers 🍺!

[@davebowman9000]

Loved this! Another wonderful entry!

[@johnbarry4994]

Amazing video as always keep up the good work it's all spectacular And a good listen

[@CherokeeWill]

Great episode, love this era of Terra and how brutal it is portrayed. Fine addition to your channel sir

[@chrishermann216]

Hey Oculus, this humble servant has been a big fan of the channel for a long time. I just wanted to say your videos are top tier, thank you for the awesome content and thank you for bringing the lore to life.

[@DarthBane22]

Oculus, I would love to see a breakdown of the various classes of vessels used by the imperium. Like the Gloriana class behemoths.

[@MrAtoz-jq5ry]

Absolutely awesome Occulus Imperia. Always wait breathlessly for you uploads. Thank you.

[@Nomadith]

I haven't been here this early since Valdor vibe-checked the Thunder Primarchs into early retirement.

[@butHomeisNowhere___]

I'll remember that scene for the rest of my life. Ushotan telling Valdor that he's more broken then even Ushotan, and saying "What more could he possibly take from you???" And Valdor, solemnly, "Nothing..."

[@br7693t]

I've had a shit day, and this is exactly what I needed. Thank you

[@SizzleCorndog]

Just reread Valdor and I’m so glad you included his anecdotes about the thunder warriors because in the confrontation between him and Ushatan was amazing. That being said it really annoyed me that they wrote into the lore that the astartes had their legion icons before meeting their primarchs.

[@saucemandela]

everytime i watch your channel, i think to myself how does he not already have 1M+ subscribers. best WH40K lore channel on youtube!

[@TheBlktmplr]

You know as fucked up as the betrayal at Mount Ararat was, at least the Emperor permitted them to be recorded as the glorious unifiers of Terra who planted the final banner that signaled the end of Unification. In a way their wish to simply be remembered was granted, which is better than Legio II and XI got.

[@vsGoliath96]

I've always loved the idea that, as the augmented super soldiers of the Imperium became advanced, their power coming closer and closer to that of the Emperor, each successive iteration lost more of its Humanity and ability to understand us. This continues through the Primarchs all the way to the Emperor himself, who simply appears incapable of understanding the thoughts and reasoning of anything below his godhood. Even his own children were just numbers on a spreadsheet to his mind.

[@Subject_Keter]

We all know Big E just make the Thunder Warriors drink nothing but Brawnado, it got what plants crave!

[@awesomehpt8938]

Did the thunder warriors ever fight in the thunderdome?

[@thewayfarer8849]

You know at least one of them said "Break a deal, face the wheel!" at Mount Ararat

[@ElderOten]

High quality content as per usual! Keep it up!

[@josephthomas4797]

My favorite one yet Oculus! Excellent work!!!!!!!!!!!

[@guardianaerdan8588]

Another wonderful video to look forward too after work.

[@bigollameo]

4 hours since release, and almost 7K views! Oculus Imperia's content is in high demand.

[@casketbase7750]

Uwoma Kanadwire and her patronage of the Thunder Warriors is only a footnote in Imperium prehistory, but their failed coup has always loomed melancholically in my mind. She was one humanitarian dissenter of the corrupt court, rallying the ragtag discarded soldiers against the traitorous regime. 40k is not a setting where righteousness prevails against overwhelming odds. The extermination of the Thunder Warriors, the expulsion of Kanadwire... they weren't the most important heroes the Imperium ever defeated, but they were the first.

[@aceace5867]

A well read, melodic, intelligent, almost musical quality to your discourse. Contrasting the bloody, atrocious.. beautiful!!!

[@AStudioustype]

Silky smooth as always!

[@piotrd.4850]

0:25 - something that Oculus himself acknowledged in "a little chat" with venerable Inquisitor Verity Calendra.

[@vontheunknown7982]

There's a rumor that the warhounds captured a thunder warrior and into a space marine, but what do you guys think?

[@Nomadith]

There was! Endryd Harr, who never had the butchers nails impalnted and became a black shield and one of Malcador's knights errant. He's described as even bigger than a space marine and had even more anger and rage than his brothers with the nails, and he killed a thunder warrior single-handedly whilst it too 3-4 regular marines to drag one down

[@vontheunknown7982]

@@Nomadith Oh, good to know 😊👍

[@Discotekh_Dynasty]

Endryd Haar? There’s some great audio dramas featuring him.

[@ImpudentInfidel]

This channel talked about him in the Xana video.

[@Thedagda801]

Fabulous stuff good sir

[@bigroxxor420]

I love your videos, oh learned scholar of the Imperium. Always looking forward to the next!

[@oj8868]

Phenomenal thumbnail artwork Oculus!

[@frankkelly05]

I would love to see a game set in the unification wars.

[@nicholasgraveline7384]

Once again. Utterly amazing!!!!!

[@kristianmoore6682]

A unification wars game would be incredible, whole new armies and weapon options could be done, play as thunder warriors, mutant gang, techno barbarians etc...even mk1 astartes.

[@schergood7877]

Can you make a video about the Elysian drop troops? Great work, bitte more!

[@erwerewolf]

Gonna let it play a bit for the mighty algorithm and let it keep me company for my 4 am sunday morning. For tzeentch! (Coughs) i mean for the empire.

[@TherealSBlair]

They gave Him the world. He gave them betrayal. Is it any wonder the traitor Primarchs felt that they too would be cast aside?

[@ZeroNumerous]

He did not betray the Thunder Warriors. Could you imagine such men living unto old age? Retiring? Training the new generation? Of course not, for such meager and pitiful existence is not for a barbarous horde such as they. So He granted them the one thing that such warriors--and warriors they were, not soldiers--would want. He gave them a true warrior's death, with the final and greatest enemy they could ever hope for. The Thunder Warriors did not feel betrayed. None of their number have ever shown such feelings, nor did any of their known numbers go to their graves cursing Him. They were given the chance to fight the one enemy they couldn't during the War, and they lost. They gained warrior deaths fit for men such as they, and did not go gently by wasting away in misery and rot. They were given honor, eternal and unyielding, as the men who secured Terra. They were given a chance to shape history. Only the Primachs, so selfish they didn't see their place in His grand vision, would have felt the Thunder Warriors were cast aside.

[@TherealSBlair]

@@ZeroNumerous "The Thunder Warriors did not feel betrayed" Seemed the one that spoke during the unveiling of the 1st legion might disagree. Also, being culled by those who were called ally (in a surprise attack) after being depleted during a titanic battle against the final planetary holdouts hardly seems a "warrior's" death. I doubt any sought retirement on some beach with a frozen drink in hand but to be simply slaughtered like defective cattle? It's not like the battle for the system was over. The system campaign was darker, bloodier and more violent than much of the planetary campaign. Dying in that would have been honorable at least. Cast aside is exactly what they got. Like father, like son. Maybe it really was a forgone conclusion.

[@henryviiifake8244]

@@ZeroNumerous There's no way you genuinely believe that. 🤣 They were betrayed. Straight up. The Thunder Warriors were created and used liberally by the Emperor until he had a way to make himself some shiny new toys. Then the Thunder Warriors were sent straight to the Shadow Realm. Like the Astartes, they were just tools to him. It's just that the Astartes were a more useful tool to him. At least the Emperor managed to convinve some of the Primarchs that he cared about them.

[@jgc3233]

Excellent job!

[@norkimo8797]

oh man I was just looking for something to listen to

[@braydonarryn]

Great content as always

[@intervention.07]

Your content is awesome

[@JD-td6oh]

The thunder warriors!! Hell yeah!! Thank you lord Bal 😤🤌🤌🤌😎

[@anthonyraines4764]

Brilliant content. Thank you!