Difference between revisions of "Council of Nikaea"
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| − | ''' | + | The '''Council of Nikaea''' was a great convocation called by the [[Emperor of Mankind]] shortly before the [[Horus Heresy]], to discuss the use of psychic powers in the [[Imperium]], particularly within the [[Adeptus Astartes|Legions Astartes]]. |
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{{Spoiler|source=A Thousand Sons (Novel)}} | {{Spoiler|source=A Thousand Sons (Novel)}} | ||
| + | ==Origins== | ||
| + | There was an increasing concern as the Great Crusade progressed as to the specific use of the physic powers that were manifesting in the human population. Many individuals with psychic powers were put to use as [[Astropaths]] and [[Navigators]]. Some time after the start of the [[Great Crusade]], three [[Primarch]]s - [[Magnus|Magnus the Red]] of the [[Thousand Sons]], [[Sanguinius]] of the [[Blood Angels]], and [[Jaghatai Khan]] of the [[White Scars]] - proposed that Librarius Departments should be formed in the Legions to harness the latent psychic powers that were beginning to manifest in some Astartes. Initially, the Emperor sanctioned the experiments; however, as he withdrew from the fighting of the crusade, many called for him to pass judgment on whether the experiment should continue. More and more often the [[Imperial Guard|Imperial Army]] and [[Space Marines]] would make planetfall only to find that the populace thralls to [[Ruinous Powers|mysterious powers]]. These people were essentially slave cults who would resist the forces of the Emperor with sorcerous powers granted them by [[Daemons|daemonic beings]] from across the [[Warp]] - powers that were very similar to those used by Magnus and his Thousand Sons. | ||
| − | + | Eventually, the Emperor was forced to call a conclave to determine the specific uses psykers would play in the Imperium. And so, the great council convened on a world called Nikaea... | |
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| − | + | ==Location== | |
| + | :{{main|Nikaea}} | ||
| + | Nikaea was a world that, during the time of the Great Crusade, was in its geological infancy. Clouds obscured the surface while tectonic movement created constant pyroclastic eruptions and storms across the planet, rendering navigation in the system and on the planet's surface next to impossible. The only way to navigate to the Nikaea system and the planet below was through the use of a beacon of incandescent light visible only to those with "aether-sight"<sup>1</sup>. The council chambers were created on Nikaea within a hollowed out volcano.<sup>2</sup> | ||
| − | + | ==The Council Convenes== | |
| + | The Council was presided over by [[Malcador the Sigillite]], Regent Lord of Terra and personal confidant of the Emperor. He carried the Emperor's golden scepter as a sign that he held authority over the assembled. | ||
| − | + | The primary objective of the Council of Nikaea was to determine what to do about the "Librarian Crisis" that described the division between the Legions over the continued use of Librarians on the battlefield. However, due to one specific Legion's use of warp powers in combat, the [[Thousand Sons]], it is speculated by some that the Council was as much to determine the fate of [[Librarian]]s as it was to condemn Magnus the Red and censure his entire Legion's research into the warp. The Council was comprised of thousands of high ranking Adepts of the Imperium and warriors of the Astartes. The Emperor himself was in attendance although he did not take part, acting as arbiter as the two opposing sides made their cases. There were some who believed that Librarians should be banned in the Legions, primarily [[Mortarion]] of the [[Death Guard]], who had seen his world ravaged by evil sorcerers. Ohthere Wyrdmake, of the [[Space Wolves]] Legion, argued to have the Thousand Sons censured because of what he described as impure sorcery. It was for this reason that many came to understand the Council of Nikaea as "the Trial of Magnus the Red".<sup>3</sup> | |
| − | + | There were those however that felt the Librarian Departments of the Legions should remain intact. Both sides cited the use of Astropaths and Navigators as necessary for the Imperium to rule the galaxy. Magnus had spoken passionately with great power and the Council became even more divided. While effective, the Witch Hunters could not match Magnus' persuasiveness. The tension could easily have been cut with a knife when a group of Space Marine Librarians approached the Dais. Malcador the Sigillite acknowledged them with a nod, and all fell silent. Among the group were some of the greatest Librarians of the Space Marine Legions. They formed a semi-circle around the Dais to indicate that they spoke as one voice. It was then that Targutai Yesugui of the [[White Scars]] spoke. He said a Librarian was much like a [[Bolter]] or [[Land Raider]] tank that should be used as a weapon and that there is nothing inherently dangerous about the use of Librarians. | |
| − | + | After both sides had an opportunity to speak on the topic of using the aether, the Emperor stood and made his decree. | |
| − | Ultimately, the | + | ==The Emperor's Decision== |
| + | Ultimately, in what would become known as the Edict of Nikaea, the Emperor decreed that the Legions would disband their Librarius Departments, and all Librarians would return to the battle companies and never employ their psychic powers. He believed that men were incapable of using the warp while not succumbing to its "darker temptations". He did however sanction the use of Astropaths and Navigators as without them the Imperium would be impossible to rule over. He also gave one final warning: | ||
| − | + | ''"Woe betide he who ignores my warning or breaks faith with me. He shall be my enemy, and I will visit such destruction upon him and all his followers that, until the end of all things, he shall rue the day he turned from my light."'' <sup>4</sup> | |
==Attendees== | ==Attendees== | ||
*<sup></sup> ''denotes individuals who gave testimony at the Council'' | *<sup></sup> ''denotes individuals who gave testimony at the Council'' | ||
| − | It should be noted that there were several individuals in attendance whose identity remains hidden. This is due to the use of | + | It should be noted that there were several individuals in attendance whose identity remains hidden. This is due to the use of "falsehoods" that hid the identities of the person, or persons concealed behind them. The Emperor ordered that falsehoods be used so that no individuals' testimony would "be corrupted by fear of those who's eyes are upon him."<sup>5</sup> It is implied by [[Ahzek Ahriman]] of the Thousand Sons that these individuals behind the falsehoods are in fact, Primarchs from other Legions; this is due to his ability to feel the power emanating from behind the falsehoods. |
===Astartes=== | ===Astartes=== | ||
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[[fr:Concile de Nikaea]] | [[fr:Concile de Nikaea]] | ||
| − | + | [[Category:The Great Crusade]] | |
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:The Horus Heresy]] |
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Imperium]] |
Revision as of 05:15, 17 May 2011
The Council of Nikaea was a great convocation called by the Emperor of Mankind shortly before the Horus Heresy, to discuss the use of psychic powers in the Imperium, particularly within the Legions Astartes.
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The following paragraphs contain spoilers for: | A Thousand Sons (Novel) |
Contents
Origins
There was an increasing concern as the Great Crusade progressed as to the specific use of the physic powers that were manifesting in the human population. Many individuals with psychic powers were put to use as Astropaths and Navigators. Some time after the start of the Great Crusade, three Primarchs - Magnus the Red of the Thousand Sons, Sanguinius of the Blood Angels, and Jaghatai Khan of the White Scars - proposed that Librarius Departments should be formed in the Legions to harness the latent psychic powers that were beginning to manifest in some Astartes. Initially, the Emperor sanctioned the experiments; however, as he withdrew from the fighting of the crusade, many called for him to pass judgment on whether the experiment should continue. More and more often the Imperial Army and Space Marines would make planetfall only to find that the populace thralls to mysterious powers. These people were essentially slave cults who would resist the forces of the Emperor with sorcerous powers granted them by daemonic beings from across the Warp - powers that were very similar to those used by Magnus and his Thousand Sons.
Eventually, the Emperor was forced to call a conclave to determine the specific uses psykers would play in the Imperium. And so, the great council convened on a world called Nikaea...
Location
Nikaea was a world that, during the time of the Great Crusade, was in its geological infancy. Clouds obscured the surface while tectonic movement created constant pyroclastic eruptions and storms across the planet, rendering navigation in the system and on the planet's surface next to impossible. The only way to navigate to the Nikaea system and the planet below was through the use of a beacon of incandescent light visible only to those with "aether-sight"1. The council chambers were created on Nikaea within a hollowed out volcano.2
The Council Convenes
The Council was presided over by Malcador the Sigillite, Regent Lord of Terra and personal confidant of the Emperor. He carried the Emperor's golden scepter as a sign that he held authority over the assembled.
The primary objective of the Council of Nikaea was to determine what to do about the "Librarian Crisis" that described the division between the Legions over the continued use of Librarians on the battlefield. However, due to one specific Legion's use of warp powers in combat, the Thousand Sons, it is speculated by some that the Council was as much to determine the fate of Librarians as it was to condemn Magnus the Red and censure his entire Legion's research into the warp. The Council was comprised of thousands of high ranking Adepts of the Imperium and warriors of the Astartes. The Emperor himself was in attendance although he did not take part, acting as arbiter as the two opposing sides made their cases. There were some who believed that Librarians should be banned in the Legions, primarily Mortarion of the Death Guard, who had seen his world ravaged by evil sorcerers. Ohthere Wyrdmake, of the Space Wolves Legion, argued to have the Thousand Sons censured because of what he described as impure sorcery. It was for this reason that many came to understand the Council of Nikaea as "the Trial of Magnus the Red".3
There were those however that felt the Librarian Departments of the Legions should remain intact. Both sides cited the use of Astropaths and Navigators as necessary for the Imperium to rule the galaxy. Magnus had spoken passionately with great power and the Council became even more divided. While effective, the Witch Hunters could not match Magnus' persuasiveness. The tension could easily have been cut with a knife when a group of Space Marine Librarians approached the Dais. Malcador the Sigillite acknowledged them with a nod, and all fell silent. Among the group were some of the greatest Librarians of the Space Marine Legions. They formed a semi-circle around the Dais to indicate that they spoke as one voice. It was then that Targutai Yesugui of the White Scars spoke. He said a Librarian was much like a Bolter or Land Raider tank that should be used as a weapon and that there is nothing inherently dangerous about the use of Librarians.
After both sides had an opportunity to speak on the topic of using the aether, the Emperor stood and made his decree.
The Emperor's Decision
Ultimately, in what would become known as the Edict of Nikaea, the Emperor decreed that the Legions would disband their Librarius Departments, and all Librarians would return to the battle companies and never employ their psychic powers. He believed that men were incapable of using the warp while not succumbing to its "darker temptations". He did however sanction the use of Astropaths and Navigators as without them the Imperium would be impossible to rule over. He also gave one final warning:
"Woe betide he who ignores my warning or breaks faith with me. He shall be my enemy, and I will visit such destruction upon him and all his followers that, until the end of all things, he shall rue the day he turned from my light." 4
Attendees
- denotes individuals who gave testimony at the Council
It should be noted that there were several individuals in attendance whose identity remains hidden. This is due to the use of "falsehoods" that hid the identities of the person, or persons concealed behind them. The Emperor ordered that falsehoods be used so that no individuals' testimony would "be corrupted by fear of those who's eyes are upon him."5 It is implied by Ahzek Ahriman of the Thousand Sons that these individuals behind the falsehoods are in fact, Primarchs from other Legions; this is due to his ability to feel the power emanating from behind the falsehoods.
Astartes
- Magnus the Red Primarch of the XV Legion (Thousand Sons)
Ahzek Ahriman, Chief Librarian
Mahavastu Kallimakus, Magnus's personal remembrancer
Sanguinius Primarch of the IX Legion (Blood Angels)
Raldoron, Chapter Master
Thoros, Battle Captain
Fulgrim Primarch of the III Legion (Emperor's Children)
Eidolon, Lord Commander
Vespasian, Lord Commander
- Mortarion Primarch of the XIV Legion (Death Guard)
- Targutai Yesugui, Stormseer
- Ohthere Wyrdmake, Rune Priest
Chief Librarians6
There were 12 Librarians that stood before the Council of Nikaea showing support for continuing Librarian Departments within the Legions, these 4 were specifically named.
Elikas of the I Legion Dark Angels
Zharost of the VIII Legion Night Lords
Promus of the XIII Legion Ultramarines
Umojen of the XVIII Legion Salamanders
Emperor's Retinue
- Malcador the Sigillite, Regent Lord of Terra
Constantin Valdor, Chief Custodes
Choirmaster of Astropaths
Master of Navigators
Lord Militant of the Imperial Army
Sources
- 1:A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeill page 307
- 2:A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeill page 314
- 3:A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeill Page 323
- 4:A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeill page 325
- 5:A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeill page 356
- 6:A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeill page 351 (association with Legions implied but not expressly stated)
- Index Astartes III
