Age of Darkness (Anthology)
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Age of Darkness, edited by Christian Dunn, is the sixteenth book in the Horus Heresy Series, and the second anthology in that series. A number of authors contribute to the series, but the storyline follows the same characters through Horus' descent into Chaos. It was first published in May 2011.1
The anthology is one of seven volumes in the Horus Heresy series to make the New York Times bestseller list.
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Book Description
After the betrayal at Isstvan, Horus begins his campaign against the Emperor, a galaxy-wide war that can lead only to Terra. But the road to the final confrontation between father and son is a long one – seven years filled with secrecy and silence, plans and foundations being formed across distant stars. An unknown history is about to be unveiled as light is shed on the darkest years of the Horus Heresy, and revelations will surface that will shake the Imperium to its very foundation...1
Rules of Engagement
Synopsis
In the wake of the Battle of Calth, Roboute Guilliman begins conception and execution of both the Codex Astartes and the Imperium Secundus, whilst the Ultramarines, themselves embroiled in battle and undergoing the difficult process of learning and adapting to Guilliman's writings, look to the future.
Setting
Ultramar; Macragge, Talassar, Prandium and Quintarn.
Characters
- Roboute Guilliman - Primarch of the Ultramarines.
- Remus Ventanus - Captain of the 4th Company.
- Evexian - Captain of the 7th Company.
- Honoria - Captain of the 23rd Company.
- Urath - Captain of the 39th Company.
- Archo - Sergeant, 4th Company.
- Barkha - Sergeant, 4th Company.
Liar's Due
Synopsis
The people of agricultural Imperial backwater Virger-Mos II must deal with the devastating news - The Emperor is dead and Horus has the throne. As the people of Town 44 split into pro and anti-Horus sides and violence erupts in the streets, one boy sets out to find the truth.
Setting
Virger-Mos II, Imperial agricultural colony.
Characters
- Mendacs - Remembrancer/Alpha Legion operative.
- Leon Kyyter - youth.
- Ames Kyyter - Leon's father, dormitory owner.
- Silas Cincade - maintenance worker.
- Dallon Prael - senior solarman, vane power orchard.
- Oren Yacio - telegraphist.
Forgotten Sons
by Nick Kyme
Synopsis
Emmissaries of both the Imperium and Horus' forces arrive on the world of Bastion to take part in a diplomatic conclave to settle which side the people of Bastion will take in the spreading Imperial civil war. Sabotage disrupts events from the outset, and two Imperial Astartes have to confront their demons.
Setting
- Bastion - non-aligned human world first made compliant by the Iron Warriors.
- Isstvan V, during the Drop Site Massacre
Characters
- Vulkan - Primarch of the Salamanders Legion.
- Heka'tan - Captain, Salamanders Legion.
- Gravius - Astartes, Salamanders Legion.
- Arcadese - Astartes of the Ultramarines Legion.
- Persephia - Ex-Remembrancer, now artificer.
- Ortane Vorkellen - Horusian iterator.
- Insk - Scrivener.
- Unamed Iron Warrior Astartes.
- Unamed lacrymole assassin.
The Last Remembrancer
by John French
Synopsis
A traitor ship is picked up on the outskirts of the Sol system, and aboard it is found a man claiming to be the legendary remembrancer Solomon Voss, taken prisoner and since released by Horus himself. Rogal Dorn and Iacton Qruze are charged with interviewing Voss in order to discover not only his loyalty and what exactly happened to him, but also to determine his ultimate fate.
Setting
A nameless Imperial fortress built upon and inside Titan, moon of Saturn.
Characters
- Rogal Dorn - Primarch of the Imperial Fists Legion.
- Iacton Qruze - Astartes of the Sigillite.
- Solomon Voss - Remembrancer.
Rebirth
Synopsis
Six months after the Burning of Prospero, a group of Thousand Sons that were ordered to run and hide by their primarch choose instead to return home and attempt to learn what happened there and if there is a chance that some aspect of their legion can rise again.
Setting
The ruins of Tizca, upon blasted Prospero.
Characters
- Menes Kalliston - Captain, 4th Fellowship of the Thousand Sons Legion.
- Revuel Arvida - Sergeant, 4th Fellowship of the Thousand Sons.
- Orphide - Astartes, 4th Fellowsip
- Pharet - Astartes, 4th Fellowship.
- Khârn - Captain of the 8th Assault Company and Equerry to the Primarch, World Eaters Legion.
The Face of Treachery
by Gav Thorpe
Synopsis
Deliverance is on the way for Corax and the remnants of the Raven Guard trapped on Isstvan V in the form of Branne and Valerius' relief effort. However, how can such a small force hope to succeed against the traitors encamped in-system?
Setting
Isstvan V local space.
Characters
- Angron - Primarch of the World Eaters Legion.
- Corax -Primarch of the Raven Guard.
- Branne - Commander of the Raven Guard.
- Marcus Valerius - Praefactor of the Imperial Army.
- Nigh Vash Delerax - Lieutenant-Commander of the World Eaters Legion and Captain of the battle barge Dedicated Wrath.
- Althix Kordassis/Alpharius - Captain of the World Eaters, XO of the Dedicated Wrath/Alpha Legionnaire.
- Skanda Vior - Astartes of the World Eaters, Weapons Officer of the Dedicated Wrath.
- Alpharius - Alpha Legionnaire, Horus' envoy to the World Eaters.
Little Horus
by Dan Abnett
Synopsis
In the midst of war, as the rebellion moves on, Horus Aximand finds his own thoughts drawn backwards to the crucible of Isstvan III, the changes it made - and is still making - to the Sons of Horus, and the effects it had upon himself.
Setting
- Dwell, a world loyal to the Imperium.
- Aboard the Vengeful Spirit.
Characters
- Horus - Warmaster, Primarch of the Sons of Horus legion.
- Horus Aximand - Captain of the 5th Company, Sons of Horus as well as a member of the Mournival.
- Ezekyle Abaddon - First Captain of the Sons of Horus, member of the Mournival.
- Lev Goshen - Captain of the 25th Company, Sons of Horus.
- Grael Noctua - Sergeant, 25th Company, Warlocked Squad.
- Yade Durso - Captain, second of that rank in the 5th Company, Sons of Horus.
- Gaspir Yunkwist - Sergeant, Metallun Reaver Squad.
- Xachery Scipon - Astartes, Metallun Reaver Squad.
- Zeb Zenonius - Unknown rank, Bale Tactical Squad.
- Mir Amindaza - Unknown rank, Tithonius Assault Squad.
- Ger Geraddon - Unknown rank, Tithonius Assault Squad.
- Bion Henricos - Lieutenant, Sorrgol Clan of the Iron Hands legion.
- Hibou Khan - Unknown rank, White Scars legion.
The Iron Within
by Rob Sanders
Synopsis
With the Heresy in full swing, the new Warsmith of the Iron Warriors' 14th Grand Company returns to a legion garrison world in order to recover his troops and materiel. Loyalties are not certain however, and soon the siege-masters of the Iron Warriors have to lay siege...to themselves.
Setting
The Schadenhold, Iron Warriors fortress upon the world of Lesser Damantyne.
Characters
- Barabas Dantioch - Warsmith of the Iron Warriors legion.
- Zygmund Tarrasch - Iron Palantine of the Schadenhold and Iron Warriors Captain.
- Idriss Krendl - Warsmith of the 14th Grand Company, Iron Warriors.
- Zhnev - Chaplain, Iron Warriors.
- Ingoldt - Sergeant, Iron Warriors.
- Baubrista - Astartes, Iron Warriors.
- Toledo - Astartes, Iron Warriors.
- Vastopol - Venerable Dreadnought, Iron Warriors.
- Hasdrubal Serapis - Captain, Sons of Horus legion.
- Tauro Nicodemus - Legion Champion, Tetrarch and Honour Guard to the Primarch, Ultramarines legion.
- Grachuss - Adept of the Mechanicum.
- Kruishank - Colonel of the Ninth-Ward Angeloi Adamantiphracts regiment, Imperial Army.
- Cristofori - Lieutenant of the Adamantiphracts.
- Warsang Gabroon - Lord Commander of the Nadir-Maru 4th Juntarians, Horusian forces.
Savage Weapons
Synopsis
Two years after the Battle of Isstvan V the Dark Angels and Night Lords legions are locked in battle over the Thramas sector, neither side able to break the stalemate. In an audacious attempt to bring a change to the situation, Konrad Curze invites his opposite number, the Lion of the Dark Angels to a parely, in an attempt to break him either mentally, physically, or both.
Setting
- Tsagualsa, at this time a barren world.
- Aboard the Invincible Reason and the Vehemence, ships of the Dark Angel fleet.
Characters
- Lion El'Jonson - Primarch of the Dark Angels legion.
- Konrad Curze - Primarch of the Night Lords legion.
- Alajos - Captain of the 9th Order of the Dark Angels.
- Corswain - Paladin of the 9th Order.
- Tragan - Sergeant, 9th Order.
- Sevatar - First Captain of the Night Lords.
- Sheng - Huscarl to Konrad Curze.
- Kellandra Vray - Captain of the Vehemence.
Sources
- 1: The Black Library product page
- Age of Darkness 408pp ISBN 9781849700368
