Welcome to Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum! Log in and join the community.

The Crimson King (Novel)

From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Jump to: navigation, search
Targetdrone.gif This article is about the novel; for the Primarch known by that name, see Magnus.
The Crimson King
TheCrimsonKing.jpg
Author Graham McNeill
Performer Jonathan Keeble
Publisher Black Library
Series Horus Heresy
Preceded by Shattered Legions
Followed by Tallarn
Released June 2017
Pages 456
Length 14 hours 46 minutes

The Crimson King by Graham McNeill is book 44 in the Horus Heresy Series. It was released in electronic, hardback, and audio format on 3 June, 2017. The audiobook has a running time 14 hours and 46 minutes, and it is narrated by Jonathan Keeble.

Description

After the razing of Prospero, Magnus the Red spirited the Thousand Sons away to the aptly un-named Planet of the Sorcerers, deep within the Eye of Terror. Removed from the concerns of the galaxy at large and regarding the Warmaster's unfolding Heresy with cold detachment, he has dedicated his hollow existence to the preservation of all the knowledge once held in the great libraries of Tizca, should mankind ever seek such enlightenment again. But his sons can see the change in their primarch — he is a broken soul, whose mind and memories are slipping away into the tumult of the warp. Only by returning to the scenes of his greatest triumphs and tragedies can they hope to restore him, and allow the Crimson King to be crowned anew by the Ruinous Powers.[1]

Dramatis Personae

The Primarchs

The XV Legion, 'Thousand Sons'

The VI Legion, 'Space Wolves'

Imperial Personae

Story

Spoiler!
This page contains spoilers for: The Crimson King (Novel)

A fragment of Magnus the Red contemplates his nature as a fragmentary statement and his morality. He believes himself that he is good, and he recognizes that there are many other fragments created by the shattering of his physical body by Russ. However, he does not know if they realize they are just fragments, but he assumes that they all know that the main aspect dwells on the Planet of Sorcerers. He also contemplates the ignorance of the warp placed upon them by the Emperor and the arrogance of mankind.[2a]

Part One

Sent by Magnus, Ahriman, along with Hathor Maat, Sobek, Menkaura, Sanakht, Tolbek, and Lucius of the Emperor's Children, travel to the Torquetum, massive celestial ship composed of interlocking rings that rotate around a central globe. The ship-sized device monitored the Eye of Trror, and it contained a daemonic oracle known as the Iron Oculus. Once landing, they were met with Yokai automatons, powered by warp entities, who took the party into the structure. There, they met Temelucha, mistress of the Tartaruchi guardians, and she acknowledged that they were awaiting the legionaries coming. She led them into the warp distorted structure, taking the party into a museum of various artifacts, known as the Kyauna ("Silver Pavilion"), before leading Ahriman alone up a warp distorted staircase that led to the Iron Oculus. Ahriman questioned Temelucha about the place, the nature of the Iron Oculus, and her purpose, but he received only vague answers and a warning to change his fate. Instead, he pressed onward, recognizing the nature of the situation when he witnessed the metal bindings keeping the Iron Oculus contained. At the same time, Temelucha recognized that Ahriman wished to take the Iron Oculus, and she used her warp ability to paralyze him as the Yokai were ordered to attack the other legionaries.[2b]

The artifacts of the Silver Pavilion were the possessions once owned by visitors to the Iron Oculus who were murdered by Tartaruchi and the Yokai. However, the legionaries proved more difficult than previous travelers, and they were able to resist the sudden onslaught. Menkaurai was gravely wounded at the beginning, and the rest tried to form a mandala around his prone form to protect him. However, Sobek broke free, turning to the warp powers and summoning the Voydes of Drekhye to defeat the Tartaruchi and end their control over the Yokai. Although this worked, the Voydes soon turned on the legionaries. Ahriman quickly struck a deal with the Iron Oculus, who helped him defeat Temelucha then banish the Voydes back into the warp. Sobek was not so lucky, and the change began to take over. Ahriman ordered that Sobek and Menkaurai be put into stasis, and he determined that he would prevent the change from taking another of his brothers.[2b]

Sources

Related Articles


Horus Heresy Series
Novels I Horus RisingII False GodsIII Galaxy in FlamesIV The Flight of the EisensteinV FulgrimVI Descent of AngelsVII LegionVIII Battle for the AbyssIX MechanicumX Tales of HeresyXI Fallen AngelsXII A Thousand SonsXIII NemesisXIV The First HereticXV Prospero BurnsXVI Age of DarknessXVII The Outcast DeadXVIII Deliverance LostXIX Know No FearXX The PrimarchsXXI Fear to TreadXXII Shadows of TreacheryXXIII Angel ExterminatusXXIV BetrayerXXV Mark of CalthXXVI Vulkan LivesXXVII The Unremembered EmpireXXVIII ScarsXXIX Vengeful SpiritXXX The Damnation of PythosXXXI Legacies of BetrayalXXXII DeathfireXXXIII War Without EndXXXIV PharosXXXV Eye of TerraXXXVI The Path of HeavenXXXVII The Silent WarXXXVIII Angels of CalibanXXXIX Praetorian of DornXL CoraxXLI The Master of MankindXLII GarroXLIII Shattered LegionsXLIV The Crimson KingXLV TallarnXLVI RuinstormXLVII Old EarthXLVIII The Burden of LoyaltyXLIX WolfsbaneL Born of FlameLI Slaves to DarknessLII Heralds of the SiegeLIII TitandeathLIV The Buried Dagger
Siege of Terra I The Solar WarII The Lost and the DamnedIII The First WallSons of the SelenarIV SaturnineFury of MagnusV MortisVI WarhawkVII Echoes of EternityGarro: Knight of GreyVIII The End and the Death (Volume IVolume IIVolume III)
The Primarchs Roboute Guilliman: Lord of UltramarLeman Russ: The Great WolfMagnus the Red: Master of ProsperoPerturabo: The Hammer of OlympiaLorgar: Bearer of the WordFulgrim: The Palatine PhoenixFerrus Manus: Gorgon of MedusaGrandfather's GiftPerturabo: Stone and IronMalcador: First Lord of the ImperiumKonrad Curze: A Lesson in DarknessJaghatai Khan: Warhawk of ChogorisVulkan: Lord of DrakesSons of the EmperorCorax: Lord of ShadowsAngron: Slave of NuceriaScions of the Emperor Konrad Curze: The Night HaunterGhost of NuceriaThe Passing of AngelsThe Abyssal EdgeMercy of the DragonLion El'Jonson: Lord of the FirstIllyriumThe Revelation of the WordMorningstarWill of the LegionEmbers of ExtinctionAlpharius: Head of the HydraBlood of the EmperorLoyal SonsMortarion: The Pale KingRogal Dorn: The Emperor's CrusaderSanguinius: The Great AngelHeirs of The Emperor
Horus Heresy Characters Valdor: Birth of the ImperiumLuther: First of the FallenSigismund: The Eternal CrusaderEidolon: The Auric Hammer
Novellas Promethean SunAurelianBrotherhood of the StormThe Reflection Crack'dFeat of IronThe LionThe Serpent BeneathCorax: SoulforgeScorched EarthTallarn: ExecutionerPrince of CrowsThe Crimson FistThe PurgeRavenlordThe Seventh SerpentTallarn: IroncladCyberneticaWolf KingThe HonouredThe UnburdenedGarro: Vow of FaithSons of the ForgeDreadwingSpear of Ultramar
Collections AngronThe Imperial TruthSedition's GateEchoes of RuinDeath and DefianceBlades of the TraitorMedusonBetrayal at CalthEchoes of the ImperiumVirtues of the Sons/Sins of the FatherEchoes of RevelationLupercal's WarCthonia's Reckoning
Short Stories The Lightning TowerThe Dark KingArmy of OneKryptosDistant Echoes of Old NightLost SonsDeath of a SilversmithThe Divine WordThe Kaban ProjectThe Gates of TerraLord of the Red SandsSerpentLuna MendaxRivenBjorn: Lone WolfThe Wolf of Ash and FireHeart of the ConquerorChild of NightThe ShadowmastersThe Devine AdoratriceDaemonologySins of the FatherThe Final Compliance of Sixty-Three FourteenVoraxThe Value of FearBrotherhood of the MoonVirtues of the SonsImperfectHowl of the HearthworldA Safe and Shadowed PlaceGunsightBlack OculusWolf MotherTwistedChirurgeonTallarn: WitnessIronfireHands of the EmperorBy the Lion's CommandAll That RemainsThe PhoenicianArtefactsGhosts Speak NotPatienceInheritorTallarn: SirenBlackshieldMyriadInto ExileThe Grey RavenThe Painted CountExocytosisThe Last Son of ProsperoOrdo SinisterThe Ember WolvesRestorerThe Laurel of DefianceImmortal DutyDuty WaitsMagisteriumNow Peals MidnightDreams of UnityThe Board is SetThe Atonement of FireA Lesson in IronMassacreTwo Metaphysical BladesPrologue to NikaeaOld Wounds, New ScarsAbyssalThe Last CouncilA Rose Watered with BloodBringer of SorrowLantern's LightThe Serpent's DanceThe Lightning HallEater of DreamsBloodhowlAmor FatiThe Fields of AbundanceThe Shel'tain AffairPrimacyThe NineVisageThe Last Loyalist
Audio Dramas Raven's FlightGarro: Oath of MomentGarro: Legion of OneButcher's NailsGrey AngelBurden of DutyGarro: Sword of TruthWarmasterStrike and FadeVeritas FerrumThe SigilliteHonour to the DeadWolf HuntCensureThief of RevelationsKhârn: The Eightfold PathLucius: The Eternal BlademasterCypher: Guardian of OrderHunter's MoonWolf's ClawTemplarGarro: Shield of LiesMaster of the FirstThe Long NightStratagemHerald of SanguiniusThe WatcherThe Eagle's TalonIron CorpsesGarro: Ashes of FealtyRaptorGrey TalonRed-MarkedThe EitherThe Heart of the PharosThe Thirteenth WolfChildren of SicarusPerpetualThe Soul, SeveredValeriusThe Binary SuccessionDark ComplianceBlackshields: The False WarBlackshields: The Red FiefHubris of MonarchiaNightfaneBlackshields: The Broken Chain
Artbooks Visions of Heresy (2013)Visions of Heresy (2018)Art of the Horus Heresy
Script Books Horus Heresy: The Scripts: Volume IHorus Heresy: The Scripts: Volume II
Graphic Novels Macragge's Honour