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{{ChaosPortal}}The '''Thousand Sons''' were '''Legion XVNight Lords''' are one of the original twenty nine [[Space Marine LegionLegions]]s. Their which betrayed the [[PrimarchEmperor]] is [[Magnus]], oft called '''Magnus the Red'''. The Legion turned traitor during the [[Horus Heresy]], after which it relocated to the [[Planet of Sorcerors]] in the [[Eye of Terror]] and dedicated itself to the becoming [[Chaos God]] of change, sorcery and magic, [[TzeentchSpace Marine]]s. For a time it appeared that Tzeentch protected the Thousand Sons from the corruption and fragmentation that most They do not worship any of the other [[Traitor LegionsChaos]] underwent after gods (some among the Heresylegion are not even corrupted), but eventually acknowledge them equally as they ruthlessly spread terror amongst the Legion went through a crisis of [[mutation]] and devolution, seemingly at the wish of their patron-God. Aghast at this development, their chief [[sorceror]] cast a powerful spell designed to render the Thousand Sons immune to the warping effects of [[Chaos]]; the [[Rubric of Ahriman]]. While the spell succeeded in this goal, it had an unforseen consequence of transforming the mutated Thousand Sons into little more than mystically animated suits of [[Power Armour|Armour]] barely capable of being termed as anything more sentient that automatagalaxy's inhabitants.^1a

==SummaryBasic Information==

|Marine=ThousandSonsPost-HeresyNightLordsMarine.jpg|Marine Px=200250|Name=Thousand SonsNight Lords|Legion Number=VIII|Current Banner=Thousand_Sons_symNightlordslogo.jpg|Legion Number=XVgif|Primarch=[[MagnusKonrad Curze]]aka '''Night Haunter'''|Homeworld Pre-Heresy=[[ProsperoNostramo]](Destroyed)|Homeworld Current=[[Planet of the Sorcerers]] Somewhere in the [[Eye of Terror]]|Chaos God=[[TzeentchChaos Undivided]]|Colours=blue, yellow/goldBlue-black with imagery of death|Pre-Heresy Banner=UnknownNightLordsPad.jpg|Pre-Heresy Banner Px=125|Specialty=Psychic powersStealth, spreading terror across the galaxy|Battle Cry="All is DustWe have come for you!" or "Ave Dominus Nox" or "We stand in midnight clad"

===The Great Crusade=======Formation=Pre-Heresy===[[Image:Pre Heresy Thousand Sons MarineNightLordPreHer.jpg|thumb|right|Pre-A marine of the Night Lords before the Horus Heresy Thousand Sons]]The Fifteenth Legion was formed Night Lords originated on the planet [[TerraNostramo]], their a world which was trapped in a perpetual night and ruled by the [[Primarch]] [[gene-seedKonrad Curze]] being created and implanted in , who used '''Night Haunter''' as an alias while ruling the world as a merciless vigilante. He later re-adopted the first legionaires title during a brief resurgence of the [[warp-stormsHorus Heresy]] within the boundaries of . The Night Lords were utilized as a force that reinstated the [[SolImperium]] 's rule after the planets had been pacified by the other [[systemSpace Marine Legion]] itself. This brief warp-storm was said to have generated psychic flashpoints all across Terra's globe, resulting in outbreaks of madness, suicide and random violencebut had ceased sending tithes or outright rebelled. Whether it had any effect As this sort of endeavor mirrored what Curze did as the Night Haunter on Nostramo, the legionNight Lords excelled at reinforcing the [[Emperor]]'s genewill through fear. The Night Lords decorated their power armour with symbols of death, very similar to the post-seed is doubtful, but upon learning Heresy behavior of it years later Magnus himself considered it to be a poor omenmany fallen [[Space Marines]].^3a1

At least part of As the initial crop of legionaires - termed '''student-aspirants''' - were found amongst the population of the once geo-political entity known as the [[Achaemid Empire]]. This area of Terra had been under the rule of the [[Emperor]] for at least a century at this pointNight Lords began to slowly receive replacement Marines from Nostramo, and as a result which had suffered little during the justfallen back to its pre-completed [[Wars of Unification]]. The Emperor himselfCurze ways, thugs, accompanied by a retinue of scientistsmurderers, visited the region and had each and every family tested for compatibility with rapists began to fill the Legion XV gene-seedranks¹. Those that were found suitable were taken This, in addition to the gene-laboratories underneath the Himalayas to begin their transformation into [[Astartes]]. Present as one of these first student-aspirants was [[Ahzek Ahriman]] and his twin brotherCurze's probable insanity, [[Ohrmuzd]].^3a3 began a downward spiral for the Legion. Upon completion The Legion began to make more excessive examples of this process planets and populations starting from merely purging the Fifteenth Legion was used small group of rebellious or heathen occupants to virus-bombing an entire planet due to quell what few pockets the existence of isolated resistance a single cult. This gave them a tremendously terror inspiring reputation causing many planetary governors to the Emperor's rule remained upon Terra, before being named the Thousand Sons by the Emperor himself immediately make good any outstanding tithes and sent out into sometimes entirely stop a rebellion at the [[galaxy]] as part mere rumour of his [[Great Crusade]].Night Lord retaliation^3a1.

=== Combat Disposition and Record ===The combat disposition of While it may be possible that the Thousand Sons during [[Emperor]] secretly authorized these excessive examples to be made,² the Great Crusade is notable Night Lords were eventually brought to task for being able to be considered as two distinct partstheir predations upon Imperial citizenry. ====The Early Crusade====At the beginning During a meeting of the Crusade[[Primarch]]s, they fought as tenacious and energetic expanders of the Konrad Curze confided in [[ImperiumFulgrim]], and were not considered particularly distinct from the main body [[Primarch]] of the [[Legiones AstartesEmperor's Children]]. Five years into the Crusade however, of the warriors visions he had of the legion - much to their delight - all began to spontaeneously develop [[psychic abilitiesEmperor]]...which were followed by a wave of horrific, unwilling degenerative mutationskilling him and that the Legions would endlessly battle each other. This mutant process became referred to as the [[flesh-changeFulgrim]], and was much feared by the Thousand Sons. Most of those afflicted were secured in turn, informed his brother [[stasisRogal Dorn]] chambers in of these visions. Dorn then confronted Curze, where Curze mercilessly beat him when the hope that some future cure would be found for themconversation inevitably turned to blows. Upon this event, and the numbers of active Thousand Sons began other [[Primarch]]s met amongst themselves to dwindle determine Curze's fate, as a resultwell as that of his Legion.^3a1

Several of the then-discovered primarchs The decision reached was never found the notion of psychic mutants being allowed to exist out, as part of Konrad Curze attacked and killed the Emperor's Crusade distasteful at best Children and downright impossible at worst and began Imperial Fists guarding his detention cell.³ Curze then took his fleet to variously move for their censure or spread rumours and condemnations about them. Chief amongst these detractors were [[Mortarion]]Nostramo, [[Rogal Dorn]] and [[Corax]]. As where all the years passed, more and more of ships in his fleet fired upon the Thousand Sons devolved into mutantcy, while those that survived grew stronger and stronger single weakness in the use of their powers. Meanwhileplanet's adamantium crust, causing the detractors had managed planet to raise enough voices to empower a proposal that the Fifteenth Legion be dispanded destroyed before Rogal Dorn and expunged from [[Imperial]] records altogetherhis pursuit fleet could stop him.^3a1,3

It was shortly after this that Although the Great Crusade arrived at Prospero and found Magnus, primarch of the Thousand Sons. The entire legion was transported to Prospero to meet their gene-sire, and there was much rejoicing even though the flesh-change Night Lords had become a pandemic within their ranks. After the initial celebrations the Emperor and the main body of his fleet left Prospero, but the Thousand Sons remained behind, the numbers of them degenerating into mutantcy seeming to go completely out of control within a day of the Emperor's departure. Soon, the entire legion was afflicted. It was at this time that Magnus stepped in to save his gene-sons, enacting a mysterious procedure that was able to stabilise the genetic structure of the least-effected legionaires. At the end of the procedure, barely a ''thousand'' of the ''Thousand'' Sons lived.^3a====Prosperine====With this stabilisation of the gene-seed, the Fifteenth Legion got its second chance. Recruiting from Prospero, they were able to rebuild their numbers - though would never become numerous - and return to the Great Crusade, this time led by their primarch. They brought their fair share of worlds into compliance with the Imperium of Man, and as such their main method of victory (diplomatic guile and trickery) was not questioned by the body Imperial. However, as the Crusade entered wilder regions of space, more and more hostile forces were encountered that deployed powers similar to those that the psychic warriors of the Thousand Sons wielded. This eventgone rogue, alongwith the ever-present rumours of 'withcraft' and 'sorcery' surroundng the legion, resulted in Mortarion once more raising his voice in condemnation of the Thousand Sons.^1a This time he was joined by [[Leman RussHorus Heresy]], whose long-held dislike of the legion came to a head after he witnessed the return of the flesh-change in the Thousand Sons during a joint action on the world of [[Shrike (planet)|Shrike]].^3b It was decided that Magnus and his legion would erupted before anything could be called to account, and the whole matter of Astartes employing psychic powers at all would be ruled upon. This event was known as the [[Council of Nikea]], and at done about it - after much deliberation - the Emperor announced that no Astartes must ever again employ the use of psychic powers, upon pain of destruction visited upon them by the Emperor himself.^3c

Stunned===Horus Heresy===Despite having gone rogue, the Thousand Sons effectively withdrew from Night Lords were one of the Crusade, returning seven Legions dispatched to Prospero. It was during destroy the period that followed that Magnus discerned the approach gathered [[Sons of the Horus]], [[World Eaters]], [[Horus HeresyDeath Guard]] , and employed both his own powers and that of his senior legionaires to try to save [[Horus|his brotherEmperor'sChildren]] soulat the Isstvan system. Failing¹ This is most likely due to Imperial leaders, he once again marshalled the powers available to him and attempted to psychically warn possibly even the [[Emperor ]] himself, being unaware of his favourite son's betrayalthe events that transpired shortly before the Heresy. This actionUpon this world, which went so catastrophically wrongthe Night Lords, would doom alongside the Thousand Sons as[[Word Bearers]], [[Iron Warriors]], in accord with and the Judgement of Nikea[[Alpha Legion]], turned on the Emperor visited destruction upon Magnus and the Thousand Sons loyalist Legions who had arrived earlier in the form of Leman Russ and his "Dropsite Massacres" on [[Space WolvesIsstvan V]].^1a1Upon decimating the [[Raven Guard]], [[Iron Hands]], and the [[Salamanders]], the Night Lords returned to the galactic east and began a genocidal campaign most likely to stop any support from this area from reaching [[Terra]].

Magnus had realised his grave mistake in warning the Emperor in the method he chose, and has also been confronted with the stark reality that he was not as in control of the ===Post-Heresy===Upon [[warpHorus]] or his powers as he thought. Additionally's defeat, a [[Tzeentch|power of the warp]] had spoken to him, revealing that that Magnus had been his pawn since the time he had helped him save his legion from Night Lords continued their bloody pogrom upon the flesh-change around one hundred years ago...and perhaps even long before thatGalactic East. Distraught, Magnus resolved to accept whatever punishment the Emperor saw fit. Thus, to prevent his legion from defending Prospero he dispersed the Thousand Sons fleet from orbit, shut down the orbital defences and wrapped his homeworld While nearly every Legion had been decimated in a 'psychic cocoon' which prevented anyone from communicating or using their powers beyond its boundaries. Thus the Space Wolves managed to attack Prospero completely by suprise. The Thousand Sons legionaires themselves, however, did not share Magnus' acceptance of defeat and punishment, fighting and so took up arms against all the invaders. The Thousand Sons managed other traitor Legions had begun retreating to hold [[Tizca]] (the only surviving city on the planet) for a period of time before they were eventually pushed back, the assault of the Space Wolves led by their primarch, as well as forces from the [[Sisters Eye of SilenceTerror]] and , the [[Adeptus Custodes]] proving too much. Magnus eventually, Night Lords remained whole and with great reluctance, joined the battle when it appeared that the final moment of extermination for his legion had arrivedretained their Pre-Heresy numbers. Magnus and Leman Russ engaged in a devastating duel in which Russ was ultimately victorious. In response Magnus finally, consciously gave in to [[Tzeentch|the daemonic voice]] that had been tempting him and invoked ancient sorceries in order to escape Prospero with the remnants of his legion. In This heavily concerned the [[Eye High Lords of TerrorTerra]], a [[Daemon World]] had been prepared for them by [[Tzeentch|whom debated what could be done to cease their new patron]]predations.^{^3d1}

=== The Horus Heresy ===This lead to [[Image:1ksons.jpg|thumb|left|Thousand SonsKonrad Curze]]===Horus Heresy Aftemath=======The Rubric of Ahriman====being assassinated by a [[Image:1KSon.jpg|thumbCallidus Temple|right|120px|Thousand Son Chaos Space Marine, post-Rubric of AhrimanCallidus Assassin]]With the embrace of Chaos, comes mutation. Despite avoiding such a fate for some considerable period of time, members Curze had visions of this event all his life and allowed the legion eventually began assassin to suffer kill him on the flesh-change; horrendous physical mutationsworld of Tsagualsa, their bodies and minds twisted in ways only Chaos can achieve. Although some dedicated Tzeentch worshippers saw these changes as where the Night Lords had built a sign fortress of their god’s favour, those of higher understanding knew better, and decided that the Thousand Sons' search for enlightenment and knowledge could not end in the dreaded transformations they would inevitably sufferliving flesh. Ahriman, once [[Chief Librarian]] of the Legion, and second only to Magnus in power, united a conclave of Curze felt that this assassination vindicated everything as 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 visions had psychic powers were greatly strengthened, but those who had already mutated had their physical bodies reduced all come to dust and their animate spirits were damned pass.¹ Curze passed leadership to live inside their armour forever, changing most of the legion into Talonmaster [[Rubric MarinesZso Sahaal]]; little more than mindless automatons. When Magnus heard about who was trapped in the terrible failure, warp when he banished Ahriman and chased down the assassin that murdered 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 Chaos|Black LibraryPrimarch]] of the Eldar, and rumour has it that if he succeeds in his quest, his power will grow beyond imagination.^1a2

====Vendetta====After The Night Lords eventually relocated to the destruction of [[Prospero]] at their hands, the Thousand Sons have been long time arch-enemies with the Space Wolves chapter. They have tried several times to uproot and destroy the Wolves, ranging from a full-scale invasion Eye of the Space Wolves' homeworld of [[Fenris]] and more subtle plots oft spearheaded by [[MadoxTerror]], a senior sorceror who enjoys the favour of Magnus himselfwhere they currently reside.⁴

==Organization=Recent Engagements====Pre-Heresy=Geneseed==As befits Little is known of the genic offspring Pre-Heresy Night Lords organization outside of such a colossal psychic mutant as Magnusextensive use of [[Drop Pod]]s, the [[gene-seedRhino]] of the Thousand Sons appeared to ensure the development of psychic ability. It also appeared to bring with it an unavoidable fate of physical de-evolutiontroop carriers, but it is unknown exactly what influence Tzeentch had on the development of the Thousand Sons and their gene-seed and from what point this influence began. Regardless[[Assault Marine]]s, when the Rubric of Ahriman took hold of the legion, most of their gene-seed was destroyedknown as "[[Chaos Raptor|Raptor]]s. " The only viable sources now known of are the survivng sorcerors of the Thousand Sons, powerful [[psykersAssault Marine]] who are so invested of the powers of the s apparently got their start as Night Lords under Captain [[warpZso Sahaal]] that the condition of their gene-seed and the effects it would have upon someone implanted with it can only be guessed at.^1a==Culture==For the Thousand Sons, knowledge is power, and the most knowledgable the most powerful. Arising from the origins of their first recruits and being driven by the early legion's need due to discover a cure for the flesh-change and gain deeper understanding and control of their psychic abilitiessuccesses, these linked beliefs resulted in two major cultural factors devloping in the Thousand Sons; veneration of the text and veneration of their Primarchother Legions began forming jump infantry squads.^1a2

As a result, ===Post-Heresy===[[Image:NightLordRaptor.jpg|thumb|A [[Chaos Raptor|Raptor]] of the Thousand SonsNight Lords]]The Night Lords tend not to use [[Daemon]]s in their armies, while sworn although they have been known to work alongside [[Furies]], Daemons of Chaos Undivided who are often enslaved by Raptor Cults.⁶ Night Lords do not worship a specific power of [[Chaos]], instead following the Emperor and concept of [[Chaos Undivided]]. This makes them exceptionally versatile in their use of the Imperium in word Ruinous Powers and duty, found that at they are likely to fight alongside followers of any of the moment Chaos Gods. The Night Lords rarely associate themselves with a particular God over a long period of testingtime. In fact, their loyalty they scorn faith in all its forms, be it allied Chaos forces or devotees to their primarch and their desire to preserve their acquired knowledge was enough to lead them down the path of damnationimperial creed.³¹

Additionally, the [[Cults of the Thousand Sons]] and Magnus' belief in numerology would have significant impact upon the pre-Heresy beliefs and structures of the Legion.³===The Pursuit of Knowledge===This desire to know as much as possible and master every discipline available to learn drove the Thousand Sons from their inception and still does to this day. As a result, they have long held every recorded collection knowledge as valuable objects in themselves, as well as resources to be drained of knowledge.^1a===The Magus===Every legion venerated their primarch in some regard, but to the Thousand Sons Magnus was their literal saviour. With his arrival they criminal elements that were not only (apparently) saved from once recruited into the horrors of physical degredation but also presented with the person who could teach them how to master their developing psychic abilities. Drawing from his experiences on Prospero, Magnus instituted his Cult system within his legion, five teaching institutions that would allow his warrior-scholars to expand their knowledge, principally from him, at his position as master of all the cults; the position of Magus. From this position Magnus (literally atop a pyramidal hierarchial structure) was able to direct and control his legionLegion's psychic and philosophical development, teaching ranks have left them the '''enumerations''', bereft of any martial creed or the ritualised process concept of mental control required to wield psychic powers he had createdhonour.^3e1===The Cults===First conceived by Magnus during his sojurn on ProsperoThey are cynical, the Cult system was finalised and incepted into the Thousand Sons upon the primarch's taking control of the legion. Classifiying the types of psychic ability known to the Thousand Sons into five separate fields, the Cults promoted the development and understanding of these abilities. All members of the legion were cult members and outside their military rankings, would most likely associate with their fellow cult members in their own headquarters pyramids in Tizca. These cults, in tandem with Magnus' more direct teachings, promulgated the methods of control the Thousand Sons developed over their powers and came to be an essential factor of the marine's existences. They were presumably discarded as hard-bitten warriors who fight for no longer relevant after the legion's arrival on higher cause than the Planet joy of Sorcers fighting and the discovery that all psychic abilities were now available to themmaterial rewards it can bring.³⁵

==RecruitmentAppearance==Like all of the Legiones Astartes the Thousand Sons were initially made up of [[Terran]] marines. In the aftermath The Night Lords armour is not only commonly adorned in images of Magnus' deal with Tzeentch to save their livesLegion, only around a thousand and symbols of them were left. For the rest death such as trophy racks/pikes, spiked armour, and numerous skulls of all sizes but the Crusade, the Thousand Sons recruited from Prospero, Nightlords alone have a planet peculiar form of only limited population (although many of them were psychically active)imagery that occurs on each and every legionnaire's armour. As The Night Lords' night blue armour is alive with a result the Thousand Sons were never a large legionmysterious network of lightning bolts that constantly play across their armour.³

How The gene-seed of the Thousand Sons currently maintan Night Lords seems to be surprisingly pure. Of all the Chaos Space Marine Legions, the Night Lords seem to be the least mutated. However, they are prone to paranoia and self-destructive behaviour. Night Lords marines have jet black eyes and pale skin, traits that were common among the citizens of Nostramo. The original legionnaires do not have irises, with the visible part of their eyes consisting entirely of pupils. Their skin, eyes, and even their numbers is unknownsenses of smell and hearing are all adapted for living in complete darkness.¹

==Noted Elements Notable Members ==*[[Konrad Curze]] aka '''Night Haunter''' - Primarch*[[Sevatar]] - Pre-Heresy First Captain⁷*[[Zso Sahaal]] - Captain of the Thousand Sons==1st Company ⁴, "Talonmaster" ²*[[Krieg Acerbus]] - Captain, "Axemaster" ², leader of the largest '''Night Lords''' warband. ⁴====Artifacts====*[[Morgaris]] - [[Chaos Terminator]] [[Chaos Champion|Champion]]*[[Book Talos (Character)|Talos]] - Member of MagnusFirst Claw, 10th Company, "Soul Hunter" ⁴*[[The Exalted]]/'''Vandred''' - Captain of the 10th Company/Warband of the Exalted. ⁴

====Vessels==Fleet==*[[Strike Cruiser]] ''Waning Moon'' (pre-Heresy)⁵  ====Characters=========Heresy Era=====*[[Magnus]] - [[Primarch]] of The Night Lords are known to have possessed the Thousand Sonsfollowing vessels:¹²*''[[Ahzek AhrimanUmbrea Insidior]] '' - [[Chief LibrarianZso Sahaal]], [[Captain]] of the 1st Fellowship and [[Cults of the Thousand Sons|Magister Templi]] of the [[Corvidae]]³'s battle barge.*[[Phosis T'Kar]] - Captain of the 2nd Fellowship and Magister Templi of the '[[Raptora]]³*[[Amon]] - Captain Covenant of the 9th Fellowship and [[Equerry]] to Magnus³*[[Mhotep]] - [[Fleet CaptainBlood]], the ''Waning Moon''³ =====Post-Heresy=====*[[Magnus the RedThe Exalted]] - [[Daemon Prince|Daemon Primarch]] of 's Strike Cruiser. Home to the Thousand Sons10th Company.¹⁴*''[[AhrimanHunter's Premonition]] '' - [[Chaos Lord|Sorceror Lord]], exileCaptain Halasker's battle barge.¹*[[Madox]] - [[Sorceror]]⁴ ==Related Articles==*''[[Cults Echo of the Thousand SonsDamnation]]. == Trivia ==*The Achaemid Empire, the legion's first recruiting ground on Terra, is a corruption of the term [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire Achaemenid Empire], a historical geopolitical entity that covered most of the modern Middle East as well as parts of North Africa and Asia Minor. ==Sources==*¹:[[Index Astartes IV]]**^1a:p40' -47*²:[[Prospero Burns Talos' Cruiser (Novelpost Covenant of Blood)|Prospero Burns]]**^2a:p.384, 404*³⁸:[[A Thousand Sons (Novel)|A Thousand Sons]]**^3a:p.380-88**^3b:p.235-7**^3c:p.355-6**^3d:p.445-555**^3e:p.300-1*⁴:[[Space Wolf (Novel)|Space Wolf]] and [[Grey Hunter (Novel)|Grey Hunter]]*⁵:[[Battle for the Abyss (Novel)|Battle for the Abyss]]

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