Thousand Sons
The Thousand Sons is a Chaos Space Marine Legion, and descend from Magnus, a red-haired, red-skinned, cyclopean giant with an enormous psychic power. When, like the other Primarchs, he was mysteriously scattered around the galaxy, he landed on Prospero, a world inhabited by psychic outcasts who did their best to seclude themselves.
Contents
Summary
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History
As legend tells, the two recognized each other immediately. The Emperor of course acknowledged the giant to be one of his long-lost sons and thus, granted Magnus primacy of the Thousand Sons. Bearing Magnus’s gene-seed, the legion had a predisposition towards mutation and a considerable number of their ranks inherited their primarch’s psychic capabilities.
Initially, the Thousand Sons’ display of psychic powers was reluctantly tolerated, as it proved to be a powerful weapon during the Great Crusade. Serious suspicion began to surround Magnus as the hate towards mutants and psykers spread through the Imperium. Eventually, a meeting was held to settle the matter, the result: Magnus vowed never to use sorcery again.
Nevertheless, Magnus never stopped. In secrecy, he still pursued dark knowledge and practised sorcery, as he firmly believed it would be for the best of mankind. And certainly, had mankind’s leader not closed his mind, it would have been for the best…
When the Horus Heresy occurred, Magnus at first used his powers to warn the Emperor about the treachery. The primarch knew that by doing so, he would break his promise to his father, but he was willing to suffer the consequences. Angered by his son’s disobedience and unable to believe that his favoured son would betray him, the Emperor ordered Leman Russ of the Space Wolves to bring Magnus back to Terra for questioning. (However, in the Horus Heresy novels Graham McNeill describes it as if Horus tricked Russ to rather battle the Thousand Sons than bringing them back to Terra to answer for their actions as the Emperor had ordered him to)
Magnus realising his grave mistake in warning the Emperor in the method he chose, and having shattered the psychic defenses of the Imperial Palace, caused thousands of deaths and disturbed his father's grand plans for humanity, was willing to accept whatever punishment the Emperor saw fit. Thus, to prevent his legion from defending Prospero he dispersed his fleet from orbit, and wrapped his homeworld in a 'psychic cocoon' which prevented anyone from communicating or using their powers beyond the boundaries of Prospero. Thus the Space Wolves managed to attack Prospero completely by suprise, only Magnus knew of their imminent arrival. The entire planet was bombarded from orbit in what was one of the most horriffic orbital bombardments in Imperial history. The Thousand Sons however didn't share Magnus' acceptance of defeat and punishment, so took up arms against the invaders. The Thousand Sons managed to hold Tizca (the only surviving city on the planet) for a period of time before they were eventually pushed back. Magnus eventually reluctantly took to the battle when Leman Russ and his Wulfen were unleashed on the last standing Pyramid of Tizca. Magnus and Leman Russ took part in a devastating duel in which Russ was ultimately victorious, Magnus invoked ancient sorceries in order to escape Prospero with the remnants of his legion, into the Eye of Terror where a Daemon World had been prepared for them by their new patron.5
After the siege of Prospero the Thousand Sons have been long time arch-enemies with the Space Wolves marines chapter. They have tried several times to uproot and destroy the Wolves, including a Chaos temple in a mountain spire on Fenris known as the Daemonspire led by Madox, a high ranking marine in Magnus' service.
They tried again on Garm by stealing the Spear of Russ to perform a ritual that would bring about a Daemon World. Even though the Spear was lost, the world was saved, and conquered by the Imperial Guard. In this instance, Ragnar Blackmane cast the spear into a warp portal, losing the spear but preventing the summoning of Magnus the Red.
The Rubric of Ahriman
With the embrace of Chaos, comes mutation. Members of the legion began suffering horrendous changes and having their bodies and minds twisted in ways only Chaos can achieve. Although some saw these changes as a sign of their god’s favour, those of higher understanding knew better, and decided that their search for enlightenment and knowledge could not end in the dreaded transformations they would inevitably suffer (Magnus, however, was already a very powerful daemon prince). Ahriman, Chief Librarian of the Legion, and second only to Magnus in power, united a conclave of his most trusted sorcerers, and together they cast a spell, known as the Rubric of Ahriman, of tremendous magnitude that would save the legion from the fate of mutation. The results were not what Ahriman expected, but he was satisfied by the results. The Thousand Sons were now safe from the taint of chaos, but at a terrible price. Those who had psychic powers were greatly strengthened. But those who hadn’t had their physical bodies reduced to dust and their souls were damned to live inside their armour forever, changing most of the legion into Rubric Marine; little more than mindless automatons. When Magnus heard about the terrible failure, he banished Ahriman and his group from the Planet of the Sorcerers, and now they wander through the Eye of Terror, still pursuing magical knowledge and seeking arcane artefacts. Ahriman’s current goal is to enter the Black Library of the Eldar, and rumour has it that if he succeeds in his quest, his power will grow beyond imagination.
Combat Doctrine
Thousand Sons were known to dislike close combat, instead relying on strategy and their psychic abilities. Deceit and guile were their hallmarks, and the legion was commonly criticized for its ways, particularly by Leman Russ, who thought that any battle won by means other than strength and courage was dishonourable. Magnus was confident that he had taught his officers well enough for them to act independently and indeed the legion could function very efficiently without the presence of their Primarch. Post Rubric of Ahriman, the Thousand Sons tactics have changed somewhat to compensate for the effects of the spell, as a result they make extensive use of Sorcerers and Aspiring Sorcerers leading squads of slow yet unrelenting Rubric Marines into battle.4
Notable Members
- Magnus - Primarch of the Thousand Sons1.
- Ahriman - Former Chief Librarian of the Thousand Sons1.
- Madox - Chaos Sorcerer3.
- Mhotep - Fleet Captain of the Strike Cruiser Waning Moon (pre-heresy)2.
Fleet
During the Horus Heresy the Thousand Sons are known to have possessed the following vessels:2
- Waning Moon - Strike Cruiser. Commanded by Fleet Captain Mhotep.
Related Articles
Miniatures and Images
Thousand Sons Marine during the 13th Black Crusade
- Preheresy-TS.JPG
Pre-heresy psyker with Terminators
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Thousand Sons tabards and symbols
- Thousand Sons Sorcerer and Rubric Terminator.jpg
Sorcerer and Rubric Terminator
Rubric Marine
