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The '''Night Lords''' were '''Legion VIII''' of the original twenty [[Space Marine Legion]]s. Their [[Primarch]] is [[Konrad Curze]], also called the '''Night Haunter'''. The Legion turned traitor during the [[Horus Heresy]], after which it fought its way across [[Imperial]] space in a bloody campaign that culminated with the death of the Konrad Curzeat the hands of an Imperial [[Assassin]]. Since the loss of their primarch the Night Lords have based themselves in the [[Eye of Terror]] and operated operate as a somewhat fragmented terror force who seem to go to war only to slaughter or acquire material possessions.^1a

The [[Adeptus Astartes Homeworld|homeworld]] of the Night Lords was [[Nostramo]], a world of perpetual night.^1a Plagued by both systematic corruption and endemic violence, Nostraman society was radically altered and pacified by the actions of the Night Haunter, at least for a time. Eventually however, conditions on the planet backslid to the point that the VII VIII legion primarch ordered its destruction.^1a Nostramo has not existed as a world for ten thousand years, although traces of its once presence can still be found by those who know where to look.^22a

====The Lord of the Night====Konrad Curze underwent a period of training under the tutelage of [[Fulgrim]], primarch of the [[Emperor's Children]], who introduced him to not only wider military strategems, but also Imperial culture, specifically that of [[Terra]] itself. Following this period, Curze was placed at the head of his legion, who are known to have adapted to his philosophies quickly and with diligence, as well as intelligently transforming the primarch's beliefs into military tactics. Curze's experiences upon Nostramo in his self-appointed role as the '''Night Lord''' had instilled in him the philosophy of terror, whereby he had inspired obedience to the law by fear; fear of his punishment. This societal philosophy translated into the military tactics of swift, sudden and decisive strikes using any means necessary, often carried out to excess and in plain view of others. As a result, the Night Lords developed a practice of regularly using excessive force to defeat their enemies, as well as publicising these actions so that other potential transgressors against Imperial law would be well aware of what could happen to them should they break faith with the [[Imperium]].^1a

The This approach made the Night Lords well-suited for dealing with worlds brought into the Imperium during the Crusade who were subsequently lax in achieving full compliance, or who even threatened to rebel. They were heavily utilized as a force that reinstated solidifed the [[Imperium]]'s rule grip after the planets had been pacified by the other [[Space Marine Legion]]s, but had ceased sending tithes or outright rebelled. As initial pacification was achieved; as this sort of endeavor mirrored what Curze did as the Night Haunter on Nostramo, the Night Lords excelled at reinforcing the [[Emperor]]'s will - through fear. The To increase their effectiveness in this regard, Curze encourage the Night Lords decorated to decorate their [[power armour ]] with symbols of death. This gave them a tremendously terrifying reputation, very similar causing many planetary rulers to immediately make good any outstanding tithes, make sure Imperial laws were being followed and sometimes entirely stopped a incipient rebellion at the post-Heresy behavior mere rumour of many fallen [[Space Marines]]Night Lord retaliation.^11a .

As the Great Crusade wore on and the Night Lords began to slowly receive replacement Marines from Nostramo (which had meantime fallen back to its pre-Night Haunter ways), thugs, murderers, and rapists began to fill the ranks^1a. This, in addition to Curze's probable insanity,³ began a downward spiral for the Legion. The Legion began to make more ====Descent====While it may be possible that the [[Emperor]] tacitly or even secretly authorized these excessive examples to be made,² the Night Lords were eventually questioned over their increasingly extreme sanctioning of Imperial citizenry, especially by some of planets and populations starting from merely purging the small group other primarchs, a brotherhood that Curze never felt a part of rebellious or heathen occupants . There was however, one brother in whom Curze felt able to virus-bombing an entire planet due place his trust, and he eventually chose to confide in Fulgrim. A sufferer of prophetic visions apparently all of his life, Curze told Fulgrim of his own great fear; that he had forseen the [[Emperor]] killing him and that the existence Legiones Astartes would endlessly battle each other. Fulgrim, in turn, informed his brother [[Rogal Dorn]] of these visions. Dorn then confronted Curze over what he saw as this dishonourable besmirchment of a single cultthe Emperor's name; the conversation came to blows, with Curze beating his brother bloody. This gave them a tremendously terror inspiring reputation causing many planetary governors Subsequently accepting being placed under arrest for this action, Curze entered confinement to immediately make good any outstanding tithes and sometimes entirely stop a rebellion at await the mere rumour judgement of Night Lord retaliationthe other [[Primarch]]s.^1a.

While it may be possible that The decision reached was never found out, as Konrad Curze decided to refuse the entire process and attacked and killed the Emperor's Children and [[EmperorImperial Fists]] secretly authorized these excessive examples to be made,guarding his detention cell and rejoined his legion.²⁴ the Night Lords were eventually brought Curze then took his fleet to task for their predations upon Imperial citizenry. During a meeting of the [[Primarch]]sNostramo, Konrad Curze confided in [[Fulgrim]], [[Primarch]] of the [[Emperor's Children]], of the visions he planet that had of the [[Emperor]] killing betrayed him and that , where all the Legions would endlessly battle each other. [[Fulgrim]], ships in turn, informed his brother fleet fired upon the single weakness in the planet's [[Rogal Dornadamantium]] of these visions. Dorn then confronted Curzecrust, where Curze mercilessly beat him when causing the conversation inevitably turned it to blows. Upon this event, the other [[Primarch]]s met amongst themselves to determine Curze's fate, as well as that of be destroyed before Rogal Dorn and his Legionpursuit fleet could stop him.^11a,4

The decision reached was never found outAlthough the Night Lords had gone rogue, the [[Horus Heresy]] erupted before anything could be done about it.===Horus Heresy===Despite having gone rogue, the Night Lords were one of the seven Legions dispatched to destroy the gathered [[Sons of Horus]], [[World Eaters]], [[Death Guard]], as Konrad Curze attacked and killed the [[Emperor's Children and Imperial Fists guarding his detention cell]] at the [[Isstvan]] [[system]].³¹ Curze then took his fleet While records do not clearly explain why an apparent rogue legion was tasked to Nostramojoin the loyalist Astartes force charged with exterminating the traitors, where all at least one account puts forth the ships in his fleet fired upon view that the Imperial justice system was both so slow and so unsure of how to deal with the Night Lords that the single weakness in Imperial military commanders issued the planet's adamantium crustorder anyway, causing the planet in their hurry to assemble a powerful force with which to be destroyed before Rogal Dorn and his pursuit fleet could stop himcrush Horus' forces.^1,31a

Although Upon [[Isstvan V]], the Night Lords , alongside the [[Word Bearers]], [[Iron Warriors]], and the [[Alpha Legion]], turned on the loyalist Legions who had gone roguearrived earlier and took part in the [[Dropsite Massacre]].^1a Upon 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]].^1a ===Horus HeresyAftermath===Upon [[Horus]]'s defeat, the Night Lords continued their bloody pogrom upon the Galactic East. While nearly every other Legion had been decimated in the fighting and all the other traitor Legions had begun retreating to the [[Eye of Terror]], the Night Lords remained unified and retained their pre-Heresy numbers. This heavily concerned the [[High Lords of Terra]] erupted before anything , whom debated what could be done about to cease their predations.^1a  This lead to eventually led to Konrad Curze being assassinated by a [[Callidus Temple|Callidus Assassin]]. Curze had visions of this event all his life and allowed the assassin to kill him on the world of [[Tsagualsa]], where the Night Lords had built a fortress of living flesh. Curze felt that this assassination vindicated his philosphy of life and every action he had taken in enacting it.^1a Before his death, Curze left strict orders that the assassin was to be allowed to carry out her mission and escape, as well as apparently passing leadership to the [[Talonmaster]] [[Zso Sahaal]], [[First Captain]] of the legion. These orders were not fully carried out.²

===Horus Heresy===Despite having gone rogueRefusing to allow the assassin to escape, the Night Lords were one of the seven Legions dispatched to destroy Lord named the gathered [[Sons of HorusSoul Hunter]], an [[World Eatersapothecary]], of the 10th [[Death GuardCompany]], and [[Emperorpursued her with intent to kill; a solo pursuit that was joined by a significant portion of the legion led by their senior officers when it transpired that the assassin had also looted several of Curze's possessions believed bequeathed by him to legion's Children]] at the Isstvan systemcommand cadre.¹² This is most likely due to Imperial leaders Chief amongst these officers was the heir-apparent Zso Sahaal, who succeeded in boarding the assassin's vessel and possibly even retrieving the [[EmperorCorona Nox]] himself, being unaware ; a symbol of the events that transpired shortly before the HeresyCurze's authority he believed was now to be his. Upon this world However, the Night Lords, alongside the Sahaal's own ship was attacked by [[Word BearersEldar]], [[Iron Warriors]], raiders almost immediately he returned to it and vanished into the [[Alpha LegionWarp]], turned on the loyalist Legions who had arrived earlier in the "Dropsite Massacres" on [[Isstvan V]]not to be seen again for almost ten thousand years.¹³ Upon decimating As for the [[Raven Guard]]Soul Hunter, [[Iron Hands]], and he slew the assassin in the [[Salamanders]], manner of the Night Lords and returned to the galactic east and began a genocidal campaign most likely to stop any support from this area from reaching [[Terra]]his legion.²

===Post-Heresy===Upon [[Horus]]'s defeatNow without a leader, the Night Lords continued eventually fragmented into disparate warbands largely built around their bloody pogrom upon the Galactic East. While nearly every Legion had been decimated in the fighting original legion company structure and all the other traitor Legions had begun retreating relocated to the [[Eye of Terror]], the Night Lords remained whole and retained their Pre-Heresy numbers. This heavily concerned the [[High Lords of Terra]], whom debated what could be done to cease their predations.¹²

This lead to [[Konrad Curze]] being assassinated ====In Midnight Clad====The Night Lords have operated as raiding force ever since, conducting terror raids in much the same style as they did whilst under the Imperial banner, only now fuelled by a [[Callidus Temple|Callidus Assassin]]. Curze had visions of this event all his life the hate and allowed the assassin to kill him desperation brought on by the world of TsagualsaLong War, where as well as the Night Lords had built a fortress malign influences of living fleshChaos. Curze felt that this assassination vindicated everything as his While the warband of [[Krieg Acerbus]] is noted to be the largest and most terrible visions had all come to pass.chaotic in operation¹³ Curze passed leadership , many of the other warbands adhere more rigourously to Talonmaster [[Zso Sahaal]] who was trapped in the warp when he chased down the assassin that murdered his [[Primarch]].example set by their primarch, deploying as organised Legiones Astartes and often with specific military goals².

The actions of the warband led by the commander known as the [[Exalted]] have recently proven full of import for the legion. A particular goal of the Night Lords eventually relocated to ever since the death of their primarch at the hands of the assassin [[Eye M'Shen]] has been the recovery of Terrorher [[pict]]-log of the assassination. The investigations of the Soul Hunter, now an important member of the Exalted's warband, where they currently resideled to the discovery of a copy of this recording, which allowed the Night Lords legion to witness their primarch - to all intents and purposes, their father - for the first time in ten millenia. A copy of it was ordered disseminated throughout the legion.⁵

== Notable Members Noted Elements of the Night Lords =====Artefacts===*The [[Corona Nox]]===Vessels===*[[Konrad CurzeBattle Barge]] aka '''Night Haunter''' - Primarch*[[SevatarUmbrea Insidior]] '' - Pre-Heresy First Captain1st Company ⁷³*[[Zso SahaalBattle Barge]] - Captain of the 1st Company ''Hunter's Premonition''⁴, "Talonmaster" ²*''[[Krieg AcerbusCovenant of Blood]] '' - Captain, "Axemaster" 10th Company.², leader of the largest *'''Night LordsEcho of Damnation''' warband. ⁴⁸===Characters=======Heresy Era====*[[MorgarisKonrad Curze]] (Night Haunter) - Primarch of the Night Lords*[[Chaos TerminatorSevatar]] - First Captain⁷*[[Chaos Champion|ChampionZso Sahaal]](Talonmaster) - First Captain²*[[Talos Krieg Acerbus]] (CharacterAxemaster)|Talos]] - Member of First Claw, 10th Company, "Soul Hunter" Captain⁴²*[[The ExaltedHalasker]]/'''Vandred''' - Captain of the 10th Company/Warband of the Exalted. ⁴² ==Fleet==*[[Malcharion]] (The Night Lords are known to have possessed the following vessels:War-Sage) - 10th Company Captain²*''[[Umbrea InsidiorVandred]]'' - Sergeant, 10th Company, [[First Claw]]²**[Zso Sahaal[Talos (Character)|Talos]]'s battle barge.- Apothecary, 10th Company, First Claw====Post-Heresy====*''[[Covenant of BloodKrieg Acerbus]]'' - Warband leader³*[[The Exalted]]'s Strike Cruiser. Home to the 10th Company.- Warband leader⁴²*''[[Hunter's PremonitionHalasker]]'' - Captain Halasker's battle barge.Warband leader⁴²*[[Talos (Character)|Talos]] - The Exalted''s warband, First Claw*[[Echo of DamnationZso Sahaal]]'' - Talos' Cruiser (post Covenant of Blood).Exile⁸³