Warp Cults of the Horus Heresy (Warhammer 40,000 Lore)

Being a discussion of the Chaos-worshipping cults of the Age of Darkness, with discussions upon their structure, proliferation, and tendencies, the Imperial counterinsurgent agencies, such as the Order Elucidatum, and examples of several cults present during the Betrayal at Calth.
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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.

[@Duppyman695]

Warp Worshipers be like 'this Horus guy seems very cool and collected, and what lies within this other realm of nightmares seems like a place I might be comfortable'.

[@PoolNoodleGundam]

Hell yeah on all counts. I don't got 8k points of Chaos for nothing 🤘

[@_crowbones]

Love it or hate it they do be saying that

[@QuestionableObject]

Compared to the crushing, hopeless, cruelty of many imperial worlds, even during the great crusade... At least the dark gods give the illusion of the possibility of change, ascension, freedom, strength...

[@Adrian-vd6ji]

yeah i want demons crawling around inside my kiester

[@Adrian-vd6ji]

papa nurgle says i dont even have to wipe my ass...in fact he encourages me not too

[@LackofFaithify]

When Occulus says, "lurid," you know to turn down the lights and get ready for a good time.

[@Adrian-vd6ji]

thats when i grab the lube and call in sick the next day

[@Adrian-vd6ji]

thats when i get ready for HERESY

[@HTWW]

​​@@Adrian-vd6ji And since when are those mutually exclusive? Ffffffack this, I'm joining Choas!

[@Adrian-vd6ji]

@@HTWW only joking. i bask in the emperors light. the only thing warp about about me is my sense of humor

[@notinspectorgadget]

Yuck

[@Key_highway]

Last time I was this early the men of Iron were helping mankind, to ever greater heights of exploration and achievement.

[@PsychoticFruitfly]

and then..... the most epic faceplant in known history.

[@theghostofsabertache9049]

You speak of lot of heresy for somone in flamer range.

[@Sephiroth36977]

Best part of the day is finding a new Oculus Imperia data stack. (45 minutes later) Gloria in Excelsis Terra. The Emperor protects....

[@Bluecho4]

At the end there, you could almost hear the barely concealed realization, on the Oculus's part, of how terribly similar those Heresy-era Chaos cults were to the present era's Emperor-worshipers. Deceived, intimidated, or simply exploited at their lowest point (so often the victims of the Imperium's ceaseless, systemic cruelty) into becoming fanatical cannon fodder in the armies of their masters. Often twisted into horrible new shapes, and hollowed out in mind and spirit. Ready to give their lives for the most meager of implied rewards, or none at all. Folk who had everything taken from them, and molded into participants in a deplorable death cult, their god(s) giving little and demanding everything.

[@ikenosis8160]

I like to produce my own "memetically hazardous information."

[@alexthehopeless3778]

Bro be writing grimoires in his free time

[@TOUGHEYES]

Willem Dafoe in Spiderman vibes.

[@ArchAngel119]

I’m a simple man. I see a new Oculus video, I click play. Easiest choice all day.

[@patricksharpe1148]

Then you have good taste for a simple man.

[@trimeerious4349]

Be careful sir, a simple mind is a playground for the despicable and manipulative

[@rayplays1443]

Same

[@bradcallahan3546]

Cringe comment

[@glue6143]

I wonder if people are ever going to stop commenting this

[@ravager2-636]

Rejoice Brothers, Sisters and Servitors of all kinds.. The Oculus has returned.

[@MLaak86]

“Brothers of the Imperium Rejoice!”

[@ArchArturo]

Occulus Imperia: *no to subtle shade at the Inquisition* Inquisition: *adds another notch to the list*

[@PsychoticFruitfly]

the inquisition calls it "letting you make our case for us"

[@theghostofsabertache9049]

@@PsychoticFruitfly oculus: oh yeah? Well I have rowboat girlyman……. Your move.

[@SC_3]

Aw sweet, horrors beyond my mortal comprehension!

[@dangregoire]

I needed something to listen to during the monotonous labor of an imperial citizen's daily work. What better than the word of our favorite historitor! Know then, that this will have made my day bearable.

[@laresilience5829]

I would love to have more one shot episodes on little details like that Or defense of cadia Or inquisitors investigation

[@Lazarus1095]

Always nice to see oculus's long, gradual slide into Heresy.😂

[@inthefade]

The 100th video was the ultimate heresy. If he survived that, I don't know what can stop him.

[@ParameterGrenze]

Yes. The subtle hints about his own demise here woven into the narrative. I really like his style ! 🙂

[@aaronbabinicz]

The fact that the ending paragraph can be used to describe armies of chaos and imperium both is terrifying

[@nyx7694]

That's been the point from day one.

[@MLaak86]

It’s the whole story really - “and now we see but through a mirror darkly”

[@Baconomics1]

i love all the shade being thrown at the Inquisition

[@Adrian-vd6ji]

Our brother knows not the consequences of such unclean words. Guide him to our God Emperors glorious light.

[@brianknapp6215]

Glad to know that the SCP Foundation is alive and well in the Grim Darkness of the Far Future...

[@yourbuddyunit]

Yes lord inquisitor, this video right here.

[@qigonglungz]

Yep, been a fan for years, I see Oculus stuff, I click on it and vanish into the world of Warhammer 40k... Top notch narration!!!! Definitely a tie between Oculus, Amber King, and Baldermort on re-creating a Grimdark ambiance and vibe.

[@user-sp1xu1il5v]

Inquisitor A.B. Prince should be on that list

[@dragonsword2253]

New Oculus upload; time to drop everything and listen closely to a detailed telling of horrors beyond my mortal comprehension

[@luckiller019]

>reaction of proto Inquisiros when the rough track millitia of canibals and mutants with sense for rutialistic symbolism turns into chaos whorshipping cults "They had played us like a fidller"

[@maxxray3665]

Sweet fuck. Got a surprise call off of work, got the new shadows of change dlc, now new oculus video? Great fucking day

[@barrythompson7336]

The Oculus wishes to elucidate. Be still my children.

[@PsychoticFruitfly]

::turns on inquisitorial tape recorder strapped to underside of the desk::

[@UncleMikeDrop]

You REALLY sold the weariness at the end, there.👍

[@rayplays1443]

YESSSSSS we are on to new lore finally! Back to chaos

[@chrisroberts7000]

I still have faith in Oculus' resistance to corruption... but, damn does he sound drained at the end of the video. I'm torn between rooting for Oculus and morbid curiosity for what Baldermort's Word Bearer has planned.

[@crusadingtemplar]

I cang get enough of oculus and his works.... Ive listened to each of his videos at least 2 or 3 times. God i love it when he releases something new

[@Adrian-vd6ji]

yes, in between releases i break into cold sweats and fever dreams. I sense the warp in such times, brother. Bless me, oh God Emperor!!! Ive failed you!!

[@owenparris7490]

There are a lot of similarities between the cultists of the Imperial Creed and those of Chaos. It's pretty fascinating!

[@firehazardentertainment8381]

[Squints Inquisitorally]

[@youngimperialistmkii]

I thought the same. Swap out "Blood for the Blood God!" With "The Emperor protects!" And heretics, turn into martyrs.

[@saucemandela]

i’ve always enjoyed how the true beauty of 40k comes from its “gray areas”. There are no absolute truths in anyone’s reality, only their interpretation. “The difference between gods and demons largely depends upon where one is standing at the time”

[@questorincompetus8841]

Kind of a stretch honestly

[@roryokane5907]

I mean… I felt the bit where he talked about someone armed with just a spear going up against a space marine was deliberately tonally ambiguous. And that’s without getting into the fact that the closest thing the Imperium has to the Gospels was literally written by Lorgar himself.

[@SeatedSkeleton]

Your writing has really leveled up lately historitor. This one was particularly excellent.

[@Mjolknirn]

13:00 very evocative of a current great injustice, touche Occulus ♥💚🖤🤍

[@trajanfidelis1532]

Hydra Dominatus

[@CrimsonTemplar2]

A disquieting, but unfortunately necessary record. Excellent work Historator.

[@therealnoodledog6660]

How come you're soo good at your job, Oculus. I truly wanna learn from you how to write such amazing sentences.

[@PsychoticFruitfly]

this cat REALLY DOES have a way with words, no?

[@jasoncrowell8863]

The bit about what the Inquisition had determined about the structure of Warp Cults...they had absolutely no clue what they were describing, did they?

[@eldoriath1]

As always love your content and hearing the characters own unsaid opinions, thoughts and feelings on different matters. Careful in phrasing, but not always in tone. You really do 40k lore a justice in your delivery of it ❤

[@sweden4thewin]

A new Oculus Imperia video always brightens my day

[@unatco6554]

As if this Friday couldn't get any better.

[@ashleycarvell7221]

Thank you for continuing to make these! You are very much appreciated

[@vampireforhire18]

class is gonna be lit * footage of burning heretics *

[@peaceturtleinfinity]

Dude, this is like the coolest college lecture ever. Like..I feel like I’m sitting in a well-furnished study with ancient books listening to this on my archeotech radio.

[@LGMUFO]

Perfect timing - I was stuck needing something to listen to at work!

[@ralach]

Your work continues to be top notch, Oculus :) Cheers for making your videos

[@leopoldjenkins]

This was terrific and as a bonus I fell 14 percent more righteous having viewed it. Ave Imperator.

[@austinevans6312]

This one was great. Well done as always

[@UGNAvalon]

Ok, now I’m curious: if elucidators were planted among expeditionary fleets for the sole purpose of rooting out religiosity (including Emperor worship), how then were the Wordbearers able to go so long in their conversion efforts without even a Few elucidators sending reports home about their activities?? 🤔

[@Blashmack]

The few elucidators were in on it.

[@tyletwoodworth3145]

I am always impressed with your writing, keep up the exhalant work

[@shakazulu301]

One of the absolute best channels on KZbin 💜 can’t wait for Siege of Terra videos 😍😍

[@wallman9585]

man this Horus guy really sounds like a piece of work, let me talk to his father. I want him to know that his son is not very nice.

[@ethanduncan1646]

Jimmy Space doesn't care so long as his pets keep up their genocide numbers he is happy.

[@nataliecarrington2550]

A lovely way to start my weekend! Thank you, Oculus! May His light shine upon you now and always

[@eatbolt42]

The best thing about these videos is the meta narrative of the narrator himself. Like you can really tell he's trying to break out of the dogma that they are all indoctrinated with but struggles with it. He somehow balances the tone of someone who is very interested in knowing these things but equally disgusted with himself for being interested. It's brilliantly done.

[@sojh17]

Holy shit yes, I've been hoping for a video like this from anyone, did not expect Oculus to be the one to do it!

[@jamesnurgle6368]

finally, I saw this video hours ago but had to wait until I could finally sleep to give it my first watch.

[@mikekenney7855]

You've heard this before. Your videos and presentation are eagerly anticipated. Thank you.

[@dillybar722]

I absolutely love your stuff. Keep up the great work

[@rolandosada8077]

I had thought our friends at the inquisition had you “chatting”. Good to see you about.

[@bongodrumzz]

Oculus opens the door to more deeply buried knowledge, which in turns begs the question, what did the Brothers Grimm know?

[@nosferatuzod4991]

I have waited years for your video on this, thank you. And Death to the False Emperor!

[@hendrix8602]

This intro is so good I can't say "never change" because I know whatever you change into would be so fitting too But right now this intro is simply perfect to me While I still may prefer audiobooks or even the animation sometimes, your lore videos are still the main way I consume 40k content and that really impacted how I work on my illustrations so thank you Oculus

[@otiswhitt1129]

These guys hear eldritch horror & just sign up. The soul shakes

[@jonasmoody5750]

Oh praise be to the Throne, new Oculus day!

[@nyx7694]

That ending, though... I have a feeling we're going to see a video from Oculus Hydra one of these days

[@Chet2378]

Great video, as always!

[@adamprior8744]

I was sure he was going to mention a certain similarity between the cultists and the imperium's own faithful at the end there but I think that would be the straw that set the camel being burnt alive by the inquisition. Also maybe a little of the pot calling the ketal black where he speaks of the poor fools keeping records of the various pre imperium cultures alive.

[@dansmith4077]

Great video thanks oculus

[@baubau1584]

Oculos, thank you as always for the inspirational content.

[@tresteg77]

The Great investigatus has blessed us today with yet another telling of the foul deeds that the heroes of humanity had to fight to defend the imperium of mankind

[@JERKIMBALL1]

This record is best reviewed under the strict supervision of an Inquisitor to monitor for signs memetic corruption, review at your own risk. 🤯

[@BigMakBattleBlog]

Nice. New occulus

[@RocketKiss]

Best one yet. Love ya occy

[@firehazardentertainment8381]

I'm definitely a normal Emperor loving citizen and can be trusted with the proscribed texts.

[@zico739]

Great stuff as usual.

[@sleithsaerish7954]

" Theirs was a fervour born of utter devotion" ? "Suffering, Martyrdom, it was the point" ? "chanting and howling, tears upon their faces, to the end of their lives" ? I don't think your talking about the cultists anymore, occulus...

[@kbennett2587]

Lovely video can't wait for more

[@lordalpharius5928]

The gods of chaos where challenged, they all responded in a eternal war against the Emperor & his anathema to Chaos

[@filteredjc4653]

Great work Mr Imperia

[@QuestionableObject]

The biggest mystery of the great crusade remains: Why the rush? What had the emperor on such a time limit which brought so much ruin to everything, even after he found all his "sons"?

[@b-roaskie7233]

As a fan, I can imagine potential complaints that the character of The Historitor is inconsistent, but I couldnt care less. More than that, I love how the different videos allow for different expressions of a core emotion from the narration! Sometimes they’re deeply devout, sometimes they cling to the atheistic Imperial Truth. Watching this, I kinda hoped they’d reveal that they’d already fallen to Chaos at the end, just to see more facets of the character! I dont want consistency, I just want more Oculus Imperia, in whatever form it comes😊

[@SolvableMattB]

when i play my word bearers i have a couple different squads of humans and 'humans' with each having different lore and cultures

[@servit0r]

A most interesting topic presentd by ours truly we thank you and give praise to the emperor for being really awesome

[@thesagepilgrim4441]

Another fantastic record

[@merci_ann]

Oh wow, I'm excited for this one 😮

[@willogsdon7092]

I love these.

[@Yacovo]

Thanks for the video.

[@Fire0warrior182]

Ah yes, let us delve into 40k, always an Amazing escape as always 🔥

[@Pizza_Pepperoni0]

Ordo Hereticus approves this message.

[@feralprocessor9853]

Right off the bat, a legion of cultists.

[@Laurin1179]

Thank you for the nice video

[@The_Gilded_Hand]

Idk what to comment but good video.

[@sophias4221]

The only downside to a new Oculus video is having to put it off to truly enjoy it.

[@cthulhuhoops7538]

Fun fact the tally men were also in charge of all banana logistics.

[@IcarusRuthven]

The silencing of the music at the words "chanting and howling" - that's what's meant be a silence being deafening. Combined with the many allusions to the Oculus' troubles with the Inquisition, and his growing awareness that the Emperor was not and is not perfect, and you could be tempted to say that the resignation in his voice is the Oculus talking himself out of personal rebellion. A better read, I think, is that he's wondering, without saying it, why the masses follow the Imperial Creed when they can expect the same end. The cultists' beliefs are as important as their bodies, the traitor Astartes are demigods to them. And the Creed demands faith from humanity, and reverence for the Emperor's sons. I would find the irony exhausting too, Oculus. Just remember that Inquisitors aren't dangerous because they lack the intelligence to see your meaning. They're dangerous because they want the Emperor to have a monopoly on it. And they have the technology, the resources, even the psykana to hold power under him. Like a Magister.

[@thecodex0994]

It would be amazing if these could be posted as individual podcasts outside of you tube.

[@mcdoogle_robotman]

Emperor Protects.

[@Pfasma5]

So good….so interesting and creepy!!

[@Marbo12f]

"There are no gods nor an afterlife" sounds fine to a god-like perpetual. No matter the Emperor's intentions, promising humanity that after all the genocide, they could take heart in a temporary material heaven, knowing full well what awaits the mortal masses after death is an unforgivable negligence. One way or the other, by the creation of both the Imperial & Chaos Cult, Lorgar gave the commoner some chance, any chance, that their soul might know something more than annihilation or everlasting torment.

[@jwb_666]

Another blessing from the God Emperor. Only the occulus can make me feel pious in this dark age

[@erwerewolf]

The silence at the end. Oh no. He touched something related to tzeentch

[@ChaseDaOrk3767]

Imagine if some Chaos Cults were to form in modern times, I wonder how that would go?

[@jamescarter8693]

I know not how you can make listening 2. The sickness of warp worshipers show relaxing. But in learning that our human brotherhood sometimes sometimes falls It is sad very sad but damn you make it so relaxing

[@LOBricksAndSecrets]

@07:21 "three year long mariposa campaign" I'm sorry for stupid questions but what do butterflies have to do with the grim darkness of the future?

[@V.B.Squire]

CAN YOU PLEASE DO AN IN CHARACTER IN UNIVERSE INTERVIEW WITH BALDEMORT? THAT WOULD BE HILARIOUS!

[@mattstakeontheancients7594]

Not sure if it’s ever stated but what is the service time for regular guardsmen during the great crusade. Know the crusade itself was roughly 200 years and only SM and other genetically altered humans could serve that long but what about the Terran soldiers. Did they serve for say 20-30 years then get to retire.