Laying Down The Lore: 40K

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Adeptus Astartes Origins Part 3: Thunder Warriors | Warhammer 40K Lore Jun 18, 2025

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In our Warhammer 40K lore dive episode 41, we launch with a look at the context for the Emperor's Unification of Terra and the needs and forces that required the Thunder Warriors. We have a gander at the organisation of their 20 legions, foreshadowing, and the abilities and flaws of their powerful and muscular frames. We then face their end by delving into the battle of Mount Ararat at the supposed close of the Unification. Exposed for the lie it is, we then examine the morality of the creation of the Thunder Warriors and their culling at the hands of their allies (proving the Imperium to be built on a lie). We close out the episode with the final grasp of justice during the Palace Coup and fate of those Thunder Warriors who survived into the Heresy era.

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Adeptus Astartes Origins Part 2: Terra Pre-Unification | Warhammer 40K Lore Jun 04, 2025

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In our Warhammer 40K lore dive episode 40, we open our discussion on the state of Terra during the Age of Strife together with its prime rival, the Technocracy of Mars. We explore the cultural impacts of this dark age and how it informed the base culture of the Imperium of Man. We detail the rise of the Emperor with the help of his BFF Macador the Sigillite and his hidden fortress in the Hymalayzian mountains. We touch on a few of the more notable states that were conquered during the Unification War and highlight that the fate of the Thunder Warriors was not the actual end of the war!

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Adeptus Astartes Origins Part 1: Early Dev & Lore | Warhammer 40K Lore May 21, 2025

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In our Warhammer 40K lore dive episode 39, we dive into the Adeptus Astartes with a brief summary of Episode 13 and 14 defining what a chapter, company and squad look like together with the most common arms and armour they field. We then take a real world turn and look at the early publication of the Space Marines and the setting of the Imperium of Man. This covers the original designers notes from White Dwarf 93 through the order of battle for the Dark Angels Raven Wing in WD 96 to the first full article on the Ultramarines in WD 97. We look at the organisation of the chapter as well as the implications for officers to transfer between chapters highlighting the early stages of lore. We close out with a summation of the in-setting reasons for the creation of the Astartes legions.

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The Badab War Part 6 | Warhammer 40K Lore May 07, 2025

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In our Warhammer 40K lore dive episode 38, we start with the trials of the secessionist chapters, in a special consistorial court, and look at those who vouch for and against the Lamenters, Executioners, and Mantis Warriors. The Astral Claws receive the harshest sentence when their many crimes against the Imperium and the Codex Astartes are laid bare. We discuss how the various loyalist chapters are rewarded for their efforts with both the Star Phantoms and Fire Hawks taking governorships over sectors within the Maelstrom Zone and the Minotaurs retaining the bulk of Lamenters' materiel and vehicles. We close out with the dark fate of the Tranquillity system at the hands of the Carcharodons, the Edict of Obliteration enacted by Inquisitor Legate Frain, and the rise of a new threat within the Maelstrom; the Red Corsairs.

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The Badab War Part 5 | Warhammer 40K Lore Apr 16, 2025

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In our Warhammer 40K lore dive episode 37, we look at the transformation of the Astral Claws from a group of frustrated warriors to heretics. We follow the loyalist forces, beginning their final assault on the Badab sector at Piraeus, fighting a costly battle against a secessionist counter attack. The ring of steel is taken down in typical Fire Hawks style, opening up the path to Badab Primaris, the homeworld of the Astral Claws. We detail the final planetary assault and fall of Huron's Palace of Thorns. We close out with the pursuit of Huron and his bodyguard by the forces of the Star Phantoms.

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The Badab War Part 4 | Warhammer 40K Lore Apr 02, 2025

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In our Warhammer 40K lore dive episode 36, the imperium brings its full weight to bear on the Badab conflict. We look at the initial deployment of four further loyalist space marine chapters to the war under the leadership of the Red Scorpions. The initial probing attacks result in an offer of parlay at the cheerfully named ‘Grief’ system but somewhat predictably it was a trap, though set by whom? We discuss further battle fronts and campaigns opened up by the arrival of a further four loyalist chapters before the sudden combo of Ork WAAAGH and Chaos Raiders brings a brief interlude. We close out the episode with the arrival of the Minotaurs, the destruction of the Lamenters and Cral's inevitable nose bleed. Phew!

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The Badab War Part 3 | Warhammer 40K Lore Mar 19, 2025

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In our Warhammer 40K lore dive episode 35, the imperium brings its full weight to bear on the Badab conflict. We look at the initial deployment of four further loyalist space marine chapters to the war under the leadership of the Red Scorpions. The initial probing attacks result in an offer of parlay at the cheerfully named ‘Grief’ system but somewhat predictably it was a trap, though set by whom? We discuss further battle fronts and campaigns opened up by the arrival of a further four loyalist chapters before the sudden combo of Ork WAAAGH and Chaos Raiders brings a brief interlude. We close out the episode with the arrival of the Minotaurs, the destruction of the Lamenters and Cral's inevitable nose bleed. Phew!

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The Badab War Part 2 | Warhammer 40K Lore Mar 05, 2025

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In our Warhammer 40K lore dive episode 34, we launch into the opening salvos of the Badab War proper. We examine the tactics and temprement of the Fire Hawks and their penchant for genocide, and the expanding ambitions of the Karthan lords. The Marines Errant join the fray for the loyalists and the Executioners reluctantly join for the secessionists. We look at the hit and run tactics of the Mantis Warriors and the ultimately ill-fated battle on and above Bellerophon's Fall. With the space marine chapters engaging each other, the Karthan lords launch a final tithe raiding fleet, which ends in “hilarious consequence”. The failure of the loyalist forces draws attention from the High Lords of Terra itself, which dispatches a Triumvirate of Legates to adjudicate who is at fault and what needs to happen. We close out the episode with the “local issue” being upgraded to an official “rebellion”.

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The Badab War Part 1 | Warhammer 40K Lore Feb 19, 2025

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In our Warhammer 40K lore dive episode 33, we whip the plaster off the general 40K lore journey with a look at the first hot marine-on-marine campaign published a mere 6 months after 40K Rogue trader was published. We start with a generalised look at the Maelstrom zone and the establishment of the Maelstrom Wardens. We look at the many crusades, invasions and Xenos purges in the centuries before the rise of Lufgt Huron and the supremacy of the Astral Claws. We dive into the trade wars with the Karthan lords and the programme of fortification Huron embarks on while withholding the Imperial tithes. Finally someone blows up a fleet and THEN the Badab War starts.

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Leagues of Votann Introduction | Warhammer 40K Lore Feb 05, 2025

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In our Warhammer 40K lore dive episode 32, perhaps the most convoluted faction, at least in their publication history, we dive into the saga of the Squats. We look at their initial formation taken from a direct port of fantasy dwarfs into the Rogue Trader era 40K, touching on their origins as generational colonists sent to the galactic core. We touch on their social structures and methods of warfare. We take a sharp turn as their society is defined again via the Epic gaming system, before their ultimate demise at the claws and teeth of the tyranids… Only to be reborn as the AI loving cloners of the Leagues of Votann, which largely keep to their original lore. Finally we breakdown the tabletop forces of the Leagues of Votann from their commanders to their vehicles. Thus ends our introduction to Warhammer 40K. Cue fireworks!

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