THE POWER BEHIND CYPHER! DO WE FINALLY KNOW THE TRUTH?

[@thatlonewolfguy2878]

So basically the Emperor himself, through Hikaron, told Cypher "not yet." and Cypher understood in that moment that it was the Emperor he was communing with, agreed and left. I honestly think this gives a bit more weight to the theory that Cypher has to be the one to strike down the Emperor's physical form so he can either reincarnate and be born again or ascend to become a being of the Warp to rival the Chaos Gods themselves

[@davidmiller1354]

I recon that is what is going on. Makes the most sense

[@torn.blue.sky101]

Yeah, he seems to get away (with) quite a bit 🤔 Firstborn of the firstborn, seems fitting that he'd be the part of the emperors closest guarded secrets. Which is what he *does* very well....

[@jackfisher-kg9tc]

If that is the case then Cypher will be the one to strike down Dante. As there is the vision of a Dante being the golden warrior and the last to stand between 'something' and the emperor

[@FYAjibber000]

​@torn.blue.sky101 Cypher is a Calibanite....

[@Man_Emperor_of_Mankind]

​@FYAjibber000 Is it confirmed that Cypher is one astartes, and it's nolonger a title that is passed around like before the dedestruction of Caliban?

[@MrFlashpoint1978]

Guys. GUYS. Cypher is three watchers in a trenchcoat! IT ALL MAKES SENSE!!!1!

[@andrewfranklin3816]

Regarding the sword. Didn't Guilliman recognise the sword just before he got Cypher put in the cells... Why would Guilliman recognise anything other than his brothers blade?

[@AdamMichalMarkowski]

Especially since it was Guilliman who broke said sword.

[@wanderhillen2435]

I don't think there is any reason to believe it's not the Lion's sword, but Guilliman is a Primarch with incredible mental skills. He probably remembers everything he's seen in his entire life (Horus is certainly upset at some point his normally perfect memory fails him, which leads him to suspect telepathic tampering by the Emperor) and big G would remember any random guardsmans sword just as well as one that used to belong to his brothers. So while I do think the sword used to belong to the Lion, I don't think Roboute recognizing it would be the proof you seek.

[@D1str1ct]

@@wanderhillen2435 What about when Asmodai touched the handle and got visions?

[@wanderhillen2435]

@@D1str1ct Like I mentioned, I do think it is quite likely it is the "real" Lions' sword. Just not because Roboute recognized it.

[@ukaszbiaek6641]

it cant be Luthor Sword- its kept in the Rock

[@Knight-chaplainashriel]

That means Cypher was there when the Watcher's carried away the Lion. That he bore witness to the duel!!! HOLY GOLDEN THRONE!!!

[@Malketh333]

Has anyone considered the direct alignment toward Arthurian legend that Dark Angel lore has started to follow, especially with the introduction of Bors, who in the legends was a Grail Knight, but the position of The Grail Knight was the of Percival who in his travels met a Fisher King kicking off the whole quest to find the Grail to cure him

[@Malketh333]

TLDR; Cypher is Percival, The Sword is the Grail and the Fisher King is the Emperor

[@tomtricity]

My money is still on Alpharius. Omegon took over the Alpha Legion and was killed by Dorn. Omegon didn't spend all that time on Terra so he was never going to be more than a typical Primarch. Alpharius commented that infiltrating the DA was the hardest so if you're going to infiltrate them doing it as a mysterious figure by design would be the most ideal. And he knew his way around because he spent so many years there... Although I still feel like this is going to be one of those times where the writers are like ooooh I know we set it up to look like Alpharius but we wanted to be cool and edgy and SURPRISE! Cypher is just a typical Marine still somehow doing exceptional things! Bet you didn't see that coming!

[@Duppyman695]

My theory was always that Cypher was an Agent of The Lion. Working as a double agent, moving amongst the enemy and gathering information for his Liege Lord but now I'm not so sure.

[@UncleMikeDrop]

That would add some refreshing nuance to the Dark Angels and the Fallen.👍

[@Duppyman695]

@@UncleMikeDrop I still hope so but I no longer think so, going on the up to date lore I think it might just be Cypher is a lone Agent with his own agenda..... ?

[@adamdickinson9332]

Years and years ago, I once was told that the Blade cypher has is the key to unlocking the golden throne, disabling the stasis device. This could help explain why the Big E said "not yet" and why it is so important to everyone. No proof at all sadly, but a neat idea. Not all secrets are buried in the rock after all.

[@thomaschandler1973]

I've always theorised Cypher was an agent of the watchers in the dark. Or at least aided by them. I would love The Fallen to be represented on the tabletop, with three possible play styles. The Lion, Cypher, and Luthor. Loyal, renegade, and chaos.

[@Lomhow]

That would actually be super cool, Then they could all use the same rule set and actually be balanced against each other! Based

[@Dreadbringer]

Boring status quo, i hope the Lion remakes his legion and anex all 3 factions

[@thomaschandler1973]

@@Dreadbringer The lion has less in common with his newborn sons than he has with the Fallen. I was not expecting the Lion's return to be among the true sons of Caliban but I love that it did. For the Lion to bring his legion back together, he would have to dismantle the fearful and stupid Dark angels. And GW are not going to do that.

[@Dreadbringer]

@@thomaschandler1973 its going to hañpen, and besides without dark angels there would be no astartes, without the lion no primarchs, the alpha legion is really stupid, just a meme, there is nothing more meaningless or stupid than that, the legions are coming back like it or not.

[@corwinchapman4565]

I wonder if the spirit that visited and saved the custodes might have been an aspect of Malcador. Malcador was the grandmaster of the assasin order, after all, and may still exist as a specter protecting the throne room and the body of the emperor, even if the "true" Malcador was obliterated by the golden throne.

[@dantecooke]

This, this I agree with

[@willesco7416]

When they showed that the alpha legion had infiltrated the Dark Angels early on ... I assumed Cypher was Omegon

[@crashingatom6755]

I’ve hoped this. He’s a living primarch, and he’s literally not mentioned for years at a time. 😢

[@C0ldIron]

The idea of them infiltrating the DA is funny because getting in is easy but actually getting any information of note is effectively impossible.

[@umapessoaqualquer3688]

But we all know that in truth Cypher is Alpharius pretending to be Omegon, pretending to be Cypher that is actually infiltrated on the Alpha Legion as Alpharius while he is in a secret mission disguised as Omegon in an assingment on the Dark Angels as the Cypher

[@daironhernandez7023]

I think hes omegon too, first actual son 1st legion hmmm hmmmmmm fallen angels hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[@willesco7416]

@umapessoaqualquer3688 sounds like something Cypher disguised as Omegon disguised as Alpharius would do

[@shaunholmes9900]

Think people need to remember that in other DA books Cypher has been captured and let himself be captured by DA many times and has been let go. He said something to Az to make him believe it. So Cypher has a mission only he can do.

[@Guywiththetypewriter]

I think youve missed the fact that this is all based before the Lion wakes up (its days after guilliman reaches terra, and when the lion wakes up he hears about guillimans indomitus crusade). I think this sword is a key, and will be a retroactive "this is how the lion was awoken"

[@glandhound]

At the time that Lion had to have a nap, Caliban got destroyed. At the time that Vashtor started rebuilding Caliban, Lion wakes up. Coincidence?

[@jewelrunner7756]

I played 40k in the 1990's back in 2nd edition.. My older bro was Dark Angels fan boy, so i knew all about Cyper of course!.. I hope they finally move the whole Cyper lore an storyarc forwards someday soon.. Especially now, with El'Johnson back, if ever there was a perfect time to do it, its got to be now!!.. 🤞🤞

[@anactofgod3343]

I had always hoped it would be Corswain as Cypher but its has to be Zahariel. The Lion himself said that they have a unique bond in killing of the Caliban Lion, Zahariel's psychic abiities could have manifested into forest walking, and his actual meeting with the Emperor being mind wiped. Maybe after fighting Corswain and the breaking, Corswain did something to split Zahariel and Choas fleeing from him as they did Luthor when he wounded the Lion.

[@markmueller-rougier3098]

I have always thought it was Zahariel. With just a little bit of empowerment from the emperor.

[@themachine7534]

More likley corswain but yeah its one of those two for sure .

[@jagnestormskull3178]

But Cypher has never been a psyker on the tabletop AFAIK.

[@tomb7704]

It's worth pointing out that Malcador was the Master of Assassins, it would be fitting he would be portrayed as a masked assassin in a vision. It would also explain the lack of golden light that always accompanies the Emperor when he communes with people.

[@mycommentpwnz]

It's crazy how people can read the EXACT SAME THING and come to two different conclusions. To me, it was quite apparent that he is loyal, but in order to achieve his objective(s), (whatever that may be) he must sometimes ally himself with those who are enemies of the Imperium. "One foot in the light, the other in the darkness," when I read this, I didn't interpret it as his SOUL/SPIRIT/LOYALTY was split into light and darkness. Rather, I believe it means HIS PATH strays into the darkness, but he remains anchored firmly in the light. Then again, you know what they say, "A man will eventually take on the qualities of the room he finds himself in."

[@christophermcbride4230]

Its obvious that Cypher is actually Alpharius. His motivations, his abilities, etc. Not to mention the relationship the 1st and XXth shared from the HH

[@KajiXD]

No, I am Alpharius

[@masterdollpwnz]

Im alpharius

[@CakeChocolate1]

I highly doubt that, throughout the novel, Cypher was internally calling his fellow fallen dark angels as his brothers throughout the novel. Not to mention in the beginning when Hikaron was identifying him, Hikaron identified him as belonging to the First Legion. Idk tho i could be wrong..

[@udp1073]

I would say Omegon but yes, this book is an Alpha Legion book, for sure!

[@Brandon-ff1yo]

@@CakeChocolate1 Alpharius was known to be able to trick almost anyone, he`s talked face to face with his brothers before posing as their one of their sons and they still didn't notice (even the lion), after some training he was even able to keep Malcador out of his head, it's sort of a Primarch powers of his to make himself exceptionally usual/not stick out in any way, I personally agree that he probably isn't alpharius but it is a cool theory.

[@robbyrne6968]

Just a fun thing to think about. Two major players in the fate of the Emperor are just 2 regular space marines. Dante and Cypher.

[@horuslupercalaurelian1569]

Cypher and Asmodai are the reason I discovered 40k 30 years ago. Today I barely even remember they exist.

[@firestarthndrclan1261]

Could the figure have been Malcador? We know his body was turned to ashes after siting on the golden throne, but could it be possible that the smallest sliver of his soul is entombed within the golden throne much like the Emperor's? Malcador was the Emperor's right hand man, someone that almost anyone in the Imperium would trust without any hesitation. The Custodes to me would trust only three people without any hesitation (Now including Gullieman), Malcador, and the Emperor. Of course the third is the most likely given what had happened, but I think it being Malcador would be FAR more interesting and impacting.

[@sirleo003]

And a connection to Malcador would fit the "Cypher is Omegon" theory well

[@wanderhillen2435]

The figure appeared as an assassin as well, and we all know who founded that particular order. It also makes sense that if anyone besides the big E would know the key to the impregnable fortress that is the mind of a Custodes, it would be Malcador. All in all, I still think it's more likely that it was the Emperor but it would be mindblowingly cool if this was the first hint of Malcador returning.

[@AdamMichalMarkowski]

Seeing how most retarded ideas were invented by Malcador (Inquisition, human led Imperium that ended up both mostly failing) I sincerely hope that if there is anything left of that arogant, old control freaks soul it is being buttfucked by Slaneesh. He played out his role in the story, no need to bring a character that is dead-dead, like Horus, only to turn 40k into Horus Hersey 2: Electric Bogaloo - Family Reunion.

[@Lomhow]

I see some flaws in that. In the new book with Cypher, It is openly discussed between the custodian Hikaron and the assassins that the assassin's attempted 34 assassinations on Cypher. And failed every single time. Now it is 35. There's no way the custodians would allow Malcador reborn to be hunted. Multiple times. I interpreted that the Emperor himself (in 41st mil) wants Cypher to stay alive for something specific. And that Cypher agrees with the Emperor.

[@firestarthndrclan1261]

@Lomhow I wasn't saying that Cypher is Malcador reborn, I was suggesting that the person Hikaron saw in his dream was Malcador. I suggested this since whoever spoke to Hikaron, Hikaron, trusted without any doubt, which the Custodes only trust three people on that level: Gullieman (after assuming command), The Emperor, and Malcador. Malcadors body was turned to ash by the golden throne, but he was also an immensely powerful psycher, enough to choke Horus. There is a chance a very small sliver of his soul is still within the throne. Of course, it's likely it's the Emperor, but I think it being Malcador is FAR more interesting

[@ericmumper6821]

The portion of the book that discussed the artificer who died making the component for the door and left a flaw in the system seemed very similar to the story in the Vashtor book about the flaw that allowed the Inquisition base to fall. So maybe it's Vashtor.

[@Vaille32]

I’d love Cypher to turn out to be Omegon. It would be great to have a traitor Primarch in the setting who is not actually a Demon Prince. And of he’s Omegon, he may still be loyal while playing the long-game as a traitor. I know there’s zero chance of any of this, but Alpha Legion is my fav…

[@BM-wf9uf]

The whole thing with Alpharius and Omegon is that Omegon stayed loyal with Alpharius didn't.

[@zelemmy]

My guess, The sword was the first weapon made for the first Primarch. I think it's possible the blade has some relevance to the Emperor's rebirth as a perpetual. Perhaps it has something that will allow the emperor to regain his former self if struck by it. And perhaps while amazing to have him as a singular powerful force once more, maybe he needs to be able to reach around the galaxy as his current state allows.

[@williamscottshelton945]

in the book "Unforgivin" by Gav Thorpe Asmodei tries to take the sword off of cypher when cypher turned himself in to the dark angels was a very good scene as well when Eziekial asks how Cypher escaped from the rock 7 times before!

[@madmerlinsart]

This has got me even more excited about Cypher. He's always been one of my fave 40k characters and I've been a staunch supporter of his importance in the revival of the Emperor. The part about asking forgiveness just makes me think of Iacton's line in Grey Angel "Forgiveness lad, he's lost the chance for forgiveness." and that that mysterious Dark Angel is in fact Cypher. I still also believe that the Lion's Sword is a potent weapon capable of killing a Perpetual, we know the first legion was given custodian of many lethal and deadly weapons, so maybe one that could kill the Emperor or others like him. Also love the part where the Daemon is taunting him, really cool and a sign he's not all bad.

[@alwalker3479]

When the end is upon the Imperium, Cypher will raise the sword above his head and speak the Litany of Activation “By the Power of Grayskull”

[@runeshellstrike9551]

It is my theory that Cypher IS the Emperor. What do we really know about how perpetuals work? Would a perpetual be able to resurrect his physical self without his psyche IF he was mortally wounded and his psyche was entrapped in an object...say the Golden Throne? Here we have a perpetual physical resurrection without it's very powerful psyche. Cypher is that physical resurrection and it is his gest to reunite the halves back to the whole. The sword is the key that will allow him to do that. When the fatal blow is struck against the Corpse Emperor the sword acts as a conduit and channels the psyche back into the physical husk...Walla the Emperor reborn. Why the Emperor is keeping this all so secret is he knows Chaos is always watching, always looking to thwart his plans. Cypher not having the psychic part of himself would be much like the Sisters of Silence and other null psychics. The "Not yet." instruction could simply mean the Emperor is in the process of completing something and needs a little more time before he is reborn.

[@thatlonewolfguy2878]

I actually like this theory far more than the "oh he's alpharius or omegon or connected to the alpha legion" stupid shit

[@davidwilliam9681]

Maybe he's an original surviving Thunder Warrior? Born on Terra, escaped the Thunder Warrior purge by hiding on Caliban and eventually acquiring Dark Angel geneseed.

[@AdamMichalMarkowski]

More and more Cypher feels like Zahariel. Dude seemed to be most confused among those who followed Luther, was supposed to find some sort of secrets regarding Caliban. Also how does timeline allign? Can we be sure Cypher did not fuck off from Terra to somehow aid Lion in his return?

[@Isgoroth]

I think its the lions sword, and that sword is a way for the emperor to "heal" or maybe a webway key

[@Josh_wenig_Licht]

It's for toast and jam.. The emperor is enormous. He has custom loaves of bread made in a secret bakery.. In his current state, he longs for a simple slice of toast and jam.. He's just bringing him a sword to spread the butter

[@syph5487]

Gotta be Zaharial right? After the book I think its more then ever locked it in my head and he actually met the emperor at one point before he mind wiped him, maybe he planted the seed in cypher's head back then.

[@protoclone138]

He masked his presence and power to hide from Chaos. If Chaos were to find out Big E's up to something, they would stop him. But the element of surprise is what E needs for his plans to succeed. For a realm like Chaos, who exists in all times at once, hiding from them is a great feat.

[@TK199999]

There is a theory that states there is one other person the Custodies will listen too other than the EoM, that is Constantine Valdor. For Valdor is the only other being besides Malcador who was there at the beginning.

[@hawk4192]

There are 2 people who need to be involved before the Big E can be allowed to die. One is Magnus. He would be needed to be redeemed and sit on the throne. The other is Vulkan. He is needed to remove the destruction device that he put on the throne.

[@jamiecunningham8394]

Maybe the lions new sword is actually his old sword reforged and granted to the Lion as a sign to reforge the legion in forgiveness and understanding and Cyphers true mission was to present the sword as an omen or alarm clock for the Lion to awaken.

[@scatterthewinds3126]

we have all the clues... cypher will give el'jonson the lion sword who will kill the emperor on command in the dreamforest to release him into a god when the time is right.

[@billymoffat4812]

I think it’s a shard of the Emperor that’s trying to see that it becomes the controlling aspect of him. Cypher is a part/ back up plan to seeing that happen. We have already seen loads of powerful beings shattered (C’tan / Magnus) and we have the chat with Roboute Guilliman to show just how shattered he is. Also we have the power that all that faith is giving the emperor but with that comes the fact that it has the ability to over ride the man that was before the throne with the what the emperor god is thoughts of the trillions that worship him

[@jamesread4469]

You say it is a key... what if it is a key to webway gate in the throne room, what if it is the key to closing the gate and freeing the emperor from his interment upon the throne.

[@TheLastRaven]

Obviously, Cypher is Alpharuis.

[@rogerbrownreacts8528]

Plot Twist. My theory is Alpharius divides when he dies. The Emperor can obviously count to 20. The think Alpharius died as a baby and divided. Cut off one head and two replace it. I think Cypher is a Alpharius Division.

[@thatlonewolfguy2878]

@@rogerbrownreacts8528 He's not got anything to do with Alpharius or Omegon or the Alpha Legion, it wouldn't make sense for him to say "when our legion shattered" referring to the Dark Angels otherwise, he's not a perpetual either, he also has immense respect for the Lion Sword as it's the blade of his gene-father, which anyone related to the Alpha Legion would not feel that immense burden that Cypher does

[@rogerbrownreacts8528]

@@thatlonewolfguy2878 He could have been referring to another legion was my thought. He used no proper noun.

[@TheLastRaven]

@thatlonewolfguy2878 that is true. Fact of the matter is we need to stea... um claim his sword for the honor of the chapter!

[@moonnightbricks3948]

Working for GW at the time, I know his name came from Lucifer...cifer=cypher.....

[@Burn_pits]

We obviously aren’t gonna know until the last siege of Terra book comes out. Towards the end, when the death guard are coming and Cypher appears. It popped in my mind right then that he has a pretty big role to play in whatever future GW is planning on guiding the ship too. I also have a very sick feeling that the great angel is going to play a much bigger part. I am not going to lie, I will probably cry when he it gets struck down. I also think that he will return. We saw with mephiston seeing both angels fighting in the warp His two sides. They both make up the angel. Anyways off topic, I think that dark angels are going to be tied in heavy into 40k. They are painting the ground work for the lion to be a tempered wise father to his newly rebuilt legion. Something epic is going to happen, you can feel it. The dark imperium novels with RG wishing for a warrior brother to aid him with a legion. The dark angels redeemed with there current brother’s unifying. They have said multiple times in the lion book how many DA sons were on caliban. Most were indeed loyal. The unforgiven becoming the redeemed, unified under there father who has been tempered and understands what must be done. I don’t know why everyone thinks there’s going to be strife between them because they’re already was that. You have to think in terms of a storyline. There was the heresy when the brothers were at each other’s throats both loyalist and traitor, there was the last depressing 10,000 years, and now we’re at the turn to fight out of the corner and bring back humanity into the fold. Honestly, they could bring back all of the loyalist primarchs and the emperor. They have the ghoul stars out there that they can bring in a new threat with and have chaos always be in the background rearing its head at random. They’re not out of the equation just not as powerful as they are now. You can kind of see that they’re trying to wrap chaos up and not have it be the number one threat anymore.

[@Dave08071988]

Perhaps "not yet" means "not until the Lion has returned" so that the Emperor can be discovered on the throne, slain by the Lion's Sword. The spark to ignite a second Heresy and bring all of the Primarchs together, where such a concentration of power would bring about the resurrection of the Emperor as a perpetual.

[@pauljohnson6309]

The dark angels recovered Luthers sword in a short story set well after calliban was shattered

[@g.sergiusfidenas6650]

I know it not is like Luther could only have just one but that aside Luther's sword is currently in possession of the Dark Angels, one of their Chaplains got some info from a Fallen he thought might guide them to the Lion's Sword but the one they found instead was Luther's, it was corrupted by Chaos, giving more weight to it being the one he used in his duel against The Lion; they took it to keep it in their vaults at The Rock.

[@kateyderr3077]

Can't say it's lore, but Amber Kings video on Lion'el Johnson mentions Cypher back when the lion first landed on Caliban. He mentions him as a lord of his own lands and the "keeper of secrets" back when they were still just humans.

[@cheeseburger12]

Maybe its not a sword at all but a key... And when you stick it in people, it unlocks thier death. Caboose knew

[@joeclerkin2653]

Why does everyone forget about the 300 Companions that are always with the big E? Would Cyper get thru all of them too?

[@tyronechatley5429]

Go on you maddog your knocking it out the park lately rho

[@xavier84623]

The sword is probably both the lions blade and also a key. It disappears and the lion comes back, probably taken by the watcher to go be a key.

[@alexandercastillo2519]

For how much I love the theories; you all are gotta be choke finding out he IS Zahariel lol

[@jagnestormskull3178]

Now, time and time again, we've been shown that Chaos cannot corrupt a Custodian's soul. But what if that Custodian is dead? A daemon might be able slip in and turn that Custodian into a daemonhost.

[@BM-wf9uf]

Not likely. Especially not that close to The Emperor himself.

[@jagnestormskull3178]

@@BM-wf9uf Oh right, the palace wards.

[@danielhouse897]

One homebrew group I made a while back was Cyphers legion. Basicly they were loyal to big e but never knew what the lion chose so they work to help big e in the shadows and have mostly voulentiers but have some Fallen who seeked redemption and some 1st legion and unforgiven members that were lost in battle or something

[@jjdelany8130]

Could it be because the emperor could possess a custodies easier than trying directly to communicate with a conflicted cipher?

[@BM-wf9uf]

Given the fact all this happened while Khorne was invading Terra I think it's safe to assume The Emperor deliberately chose to speak through Hekarron. If the The Emperor tried to speak to Cypher directly it's possible he may have dismissed it as a trick of the warp... Everyone knows the Custodes speak on behalf of The Emperor, with his authority.

[@corwinatreides9568]

i would love if malcador came back. along the lines of it took ten millennia to regenerate from the power of using the golden throne. I just want to see how he would react to this dying imperium.

[@christopheraaron1255]

"... never sought the ruinous powers, such as Luther." Such as, in this case would mean that Luther is one of the ruinous powers.

[@chromacypher8409]

I still believe he is Alpharius! Alpharius could have divided and shattered the Alpha Legion during the HH. Both heads of the Hydra were not as big as a normal primarchs, or small as legionaries. Trained to infiltrate by the Emperor, could have steeled him against the dark gods, and would make sense as to why Cypher was never discovered as Alpharius. His ability to break out of the dungeons, Alpharius. Playing both sides, Alpharius. Returning to Terra with the Lions Blade, to prove his legions superiority over the Lion, Alpharius. Wanting to see dad after such a trip, Alpharius. 🤷‍♂️

[@cassiusaureliusanima]

We have to remember that Zahariel, the Cypher, was surprised by knowing the true identity of the previous Cypher. What if he just saw that the previous cypher was some kind of agent of the emperor or the emperor possessing someone as he did with the corpse of the custodes and that he gave him a job since them? That would explain the reaction of cypher in this situation

[@allways28]

I’d like to see how the modern dark angles can justify treacherous murder of loyal imperial citizens to the recently awoken lion. Cypher lord of the fallen in my opinion is one of the best modern 40k books, can’t wait for the story to continue

[@BM-wf9uf]

The Lion already knows what the modern Dark Angels have done. He doesn't care. He has simply said that no more Dark Angels will act without his approval.

[@tank7737]

I love your work my dude. Keep it up.

[@dracodarastrix4175]

Maybe it is fragment of Malcador? We know that you can get fragmented look at what happened to Magnus. So my theory is that it was a fragment of Malcador that spoke to the custodian and kept him alive.

[@GauntsTanith]

I mean, he got to the bridge, the lad still had to go through the 300 companion custodes that protect the emperor inside the throne room. So, I would turn around.

[@Mantheon]

Cypher is Omegon or Alpharius(depend on which you believe died at the hands of Dorn and Guilliman) since only them could have known the secret passage and i don't think a simple Astartes could feel the need to go see the Emperor. Plus the Custodes just telling him those 2 words instead of cleaving him is definitely pointing at something other than a despicable Astartes(Custodes hate Astartes since they view them as flawed and corruptible). Or the man is the baddest Dark Angel Legionnaire to ever live

[@carljhirst]

One of the best story telling that gripped me in every 40K nerve I have. Just like the cherry on top of the Warhammer Cake. 40K needs to hit the movies. Movie after movie, until that fight on the bridge, of the Vengeful spirit. Would be the Infinity War equivalent. Then through the Black Crusades, Cadia and then Cypher here in this story.... AWESOME!

[@charlesdanaa8514]

Whatever the answer, it's Guilliman's fault.

[@henlix1]

I’d like to see lion Forrest walk straight into the throne room (after speaking with gulliman about the terra crusade) with a few risen dark angels only for them to be surprised/blitzed by cypher. Leaving only lion and cypher alone. Lion is pissed off and is about to kill cypher. This is when lion realises he has his sword. Cypher offers the sword and kneels before the lion asking to be killed for his nefarious actions that he’s taken the past 10,000 years while guarding the sword. Lion asks him to rise and makes him 1st captain of the risen knowing in the current empirium it’s not always black and white as he’s seen with the other risen he’s found since being revived. I’m no writer but this is would be so hype imo.

[@gregorydillon9167]

Of course, all this assumes the whole book wasn't a lie by Cypher. The Cypher mystery I'm the most curious about is the discord that follows him. Is it an aura, something he does purposefully, or something that isn't real, but things just seem to happen around him.

[@fernandoalvareztorrico8743]

Damn Cypher. Even after a book about him, we still don't know who he is or what his real i tentions are.

[@gavinbowmer5176]

I don't get way he only wants the fallen to help him when he told the grandmaster to help the blood angels and a blood deat

[@christopheraaron1255]

Cypher is in the 2nd ed Chaos Codex, which is ACTUALLY the best codex.

[@Lukey2481]

Can't be Omegon. I can not remember which book it was but cypher speaks to omegon at a parade and they have some tense moments. Cypher even threatens him for being disrespectful by tapping him with his plasma pistol. And omegon takes it as a serious threat. So even primarchs show him some respect.

[@augistry5439]

there has been more than one Cypher

[@TheKlink]

Ok, so Luther is another geronto-astartes. Which bit of the astartes process gives them their longevity? Because rejuvenate treatments would certainly stop working after 10k years

[@udp1073]

I think that the sword is indeed the Lion's sword, I also think that Cypher is not a Chaos's pawn but he is not working with the Emperor, he is workign FOR the Emperor, probably not knowing it. The Emperor, Malcador et all, before being psycher if immense power, before having loved long life, they are manipulator, they are mastermind that moves pawn on a galactic scale chessboard... the Emperor had Plan A, B, C and D in place.. I really feel what we see here is "just" another manipulation from the Emperor... for the reason why he didn't appear as himself to Hikaron, well, I am not really sure he did not: the "presence" that spoke to Hikaron used his full name, probably something that only the emperor knew... this is quite a heavy business card to shows off...

[@davidhannant451]

Cypher is a sharde of the loin

[@willparrish3218]

I actually managed to grab one of the signed copies! 😁

[@TheRealCartman1]

Have we considered that Cypher is aligned with the Watchers and by extension the Cabal? He seems to be able to move around freely, appear where needed and his actions don't seem logical.

[@nicolasberg6828]

The cabal is done and tbh it was stupid from the beginning.

[@Orannis01]

Its possible that Cypher has learnt to Forrest Walk, like the Lion can

[@paul-antonywhatshisface3954]

​@@nicolasberg6828why was it stupid?

[@nicolasberg6828]

@@paul-antonywhatshisface3954 It is a group of "super smart aliens" that should know the uncertainty of predictions about the future but instead decided to follow their two-way-future narrow-minded until the end. It's getting even worse if you think about all the things that happend although they didnt predicted it (most important: Eldrad killing them). The more you think about it the more obvious it is that the cabal was just a grudge club for powerful individuals that didnt want to accept that their species has passed its peak and that were desperately trying to find an excuse to wipe out humanity - and took the laziest and dumbest possible justification available

[@andrebonds4199]

After reading the book I’m not sure what Cypher is, he knows way too much about everything. From Terra and the Inner Sanctum of the palace to all that goes on during the book, it makes no sense for him to know all he does. Plus the Principle was threatened by him, that would mean no matter what the rest of the Custodians were doing at the time they would drop it and head to the Throne room. I won’t give any spoilers but that book brought out way more questions than answers, which may be what it intended to do.

[@codycurtin2295]

Omegon is Cypher is the worst fan theory ever and should be abolished as a concept

[@The_Elite_Emerald]

Imagine if the Terminus Decree just says "Tell Cypher it's time."

[@sakomanlee]

The identity of the sword no longer matters. Flesh is stronger than steel. Thulsa Doom knew it; the Emperor knows it; and, now, Cypher knows it.

[@Spagghetii]

It could be he wants to kill the Emperor with the Lion's sword out of bitterness and revenge to bring the Lion to the same level as themselves. The conflict may be as you say, to seek revenge or redemption and he is conflicted still.

[@CadianColors]

So this is definitely a reach, but I think you were on to something with your wishful thinking about Malcador- what if Malcador has been intertwined w the Golden Throne and the Emperor somehow? I think Cypher would be more likely to be working under Malcador than any other, since a literal cypher is something Malcador was undoubtedly fond of. Perhaps that's why he showed up to the Custodes in the form that he did

[@haroldvonschwartzenstien3581]

Cypher is The Lion going back through the ages using his Forest walk.

[@BM-wf9uf]

Not likely, The Lion is big. One of the taller Primarchs.

[@thalastianjorus]

Eh... 100 credits that he's Zahariel. Also... why can't he beg forgiveness _as_ he plunges the sword into Emperor Bonebags.

[@capn_charlie]

If you fail in your vow, you must: Get a "property of xiii legion" ultramarine logo tramp stamp tattoo.

[@seraphjansin1141]

Any possibility it’s the blade of the primacy for the 2nd or 11th legions? Hence guilliman recognizing it

[@PZY.Studios]

I only have one 40k book legion of the damned i tried to read it a long tine ago and i felt like i was missing sonthing is it a sequal book? Do i need other bools for it

[@thetraitorguardsmen.5321]

Confirmed 2nd edition is the Best. 💯 In the new rule's he doesn't have any fallen with him. He's is down as a loner now. I hope he gets at least a squad in game.

[@DemandAlphabetBeBrokenUp]

What if Luther geeta out through a Fabius Bile wanna be Primaris procedure....Also I still wonder what the Alpha Legion did with the Ravens Gene tech. Did they give it to an over ambitious Tech Priest? One that was convinced the Emperor commanded him to "improve" his Astartes. Wouldn't that be a bitch.

[@falsehero2001]

Maybe the sword is always a key and when you stick it in someone it unlocks their death.

[@johnroxburgh4087]

I love this long video from you

[@Soulessdeeds]

I think the Emperor needs him out there with the sword for a future event. One that will lead him back to the Emperor and use the sword to end the Emperors mortal life. Thus releasing him to his Warp godhood. And once and for all making the Emperor whole again to then guide mankind back from the darkness. Granting man his favors as the Chaos gods have granted their followers their favors and powers. I think someday we might someday see an event similar to this. Just my best guessing here.

[@Besitzt11]

I noticed he does some weird stuff- bows like a harlequin at one point and uses stratagems from the Alpha legion. My name Jeff

[@tauras3108]

The custodians were not immune on the Vengeful spirit during the battle for Terra

[@hobblesofkarth3943]

Redaction ordnance inbound. All custodes battles are victories. Heresy detected.

[@kieranhoward8745]

I was thinking the same, they got turned when they boarded Horus's ship and the Emperor had to murderize them. So they aren't completely immune to corruption.

[@Alf_Hairy-arse]

​@@kieranhoward8745slight misunderstanding there. If you read it again you will see they weren't turned or corrupted. They were being controlled and puppeted. They were trying to stop themselves but couldn't.

[@Blipvertus]

So, the reason the Fallen follow Cypher is the sword? Ok. So what is the ultimate question for the Fallen? They believe they are loyal and we’re attacked. They probably want to question the Emperor and ask them, did you order the attack on Caliban? If yes, they kill him. If no, then they are loyal and will be forgiven. The Fallen that have joined chaos want to kill the Emperor so they follow Cypher so they can kill the Emperor. The loyal Fallen aren’t sure and wan to ask the question. And the Emperor? He might not actually be a perpetual. This is why he has to be put on the Golden Throne. He can’t heal from his injuries and the Golden Throne is preventing his death. He might need to achieve apotheosis before he can be slain and then reborn, so that’s why he says, “Not yet.”

[@slackeratlarge575]

Kill emperor or ask forgiveness? Why not both. Ask for forgiveness and kill the emperor to release the god emperor into the warp

[@danielbob2628]

What was that part from when Guilliman reached Terra? There was a line about what Guilliman thought about the sword, right? Also, we know Caliban itself is an Old Ones artifact. What if the sword has something to do with that, rather than it being Lion's or Luther's?

[@dr.rotwang]

Yes when making his way to Terra with Cypher and agreeing to his terms for rescuing them from chaos through the web way Bobby G specifically recalls the sword and what it could do. Sending a shiver down his spine.

[@simpeldisaster4533]

Regarding the custodes and chaos what about the end and the death? Did I miss interperate that scene?

[@emirhaneksioglu4503]

Afaik Luther's sword was recovered by the dark angels already and should be at the rock.

[@Franpowah]

A "divided" soul and not a single mention of Alpharius/Omegon? Come on Rho!