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The '''Night Lords''' were '''Legion VIII''' of the original twenty [[Space Marine Legion]]s. Their [[Primarch]] is was [[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 Konrad Curze at the hands of an Imperial [[Assassin]]. Since the loss of their primarch the Night Lords have based themselves in the [[Eye of Terror]] and now 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 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.^22a2a

[[Image:NightLordPreHer.jpg|thumb|A marine of the Great Crusade era Night Lords before the Horus HeresyAstartes]]

After his discovery by the [[Emperor]], 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 extreme 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 well as making sure the enemy knew who had hit them. As a result, the The Night Lords therefore 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

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 solidifed the Imperium's grip after 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. To increase their effectiveness in this regard, Curze encourage encouraged the Night Lords to decorate their [[power armour]] with symbols of deathimagery. This gave them a tremendously terrifying reputation, causing one that would cause many planetary rulers to immediately make good any outstanding tithes, make sure Imperial laws were being followed and sometimes would entirely stopped a stop an incipient rebellion at the mere rumour of Night Lord retaliation.^1a.

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), thugsthe criminal element of Nostraman society, including murderers, and rapists , began to fill the ranks^1a. This, in addition to Curze's probable insanity,³ began initiated a downward spiral for the Legion.

While it may be possible that the [[Emperor]] tacitly or even secretly authorized these the Night Lords' excessive examples to be madetactics,² the Night Lords were legion was eventually questioned over their its increasingly extreme sanctioning of Imperial citizenry, especially by some of the other primarchs, a brotherhood that Curze had never felt a part of. There Apart, that was however, one brother in whom from Fulgrim. When his brothers began to turn on him, Curze felt able turned to place his trust, tutor and supposed friend for counsel and he eventually chose to confide in Fulgrimconfession. 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 Legiones Astartes would endlessly battle each otherin an endless civil war. Fulgrim, in turnshocked and worried by Curze's behaviour and mental state, informed his their brother [[Rogal Dorn]] (who was present in the same warzone as Curze and Fulgrim at the time) of these visionsand claims. Dorn then confronted Curze over what he saw as this dishonourable besmirchment of the Emperor's name; the conversation came to blows, with Curze beating his brother bloody. Subsequently accepting being placed under arrest for this action, Curze entered confinement to await the judgement of the other [[Primarch]]s.^1a

The decision reached Such a verdict was never found outmade, as before a conclave of the primarchs could be made, Konrad Curze decided to refuse the entire process and attacked and killed escaped from detention, slaying members of the Emperor's Children and [[Imperial Fists]] guarding his detention cell and [[Emperor's Children]] in the process. He swiftly rejoined his legion.⁴ Curze then and took his fleet to Nostramo, the planet that had betrayed him, where he ordered all the ships in his fleet fired to fire upon the single weakness in the planet's [[adamantium]] crust, causing the it to be destroyed before Rogal Dorn and his pursuit fleet could stop him.^1a,4

Upon [[Isstvan V]], the Night Lords, alongside the [[Word Bearers]], [[Iron Warriors]], and the [[Alpha Legion]], turned on the loyalist Legions who had arrived 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 an apparently unfocused genocidal campaign ; most likely this was designed to stop any support from this area from reaching [[Terra]].^1a

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 legion remained unified and retained the bulk of their pre-Heresy numbers. This heavily concerned the [[High Lords of Terra]], whom who debated what could be done 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 therefore chose to allow 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 philosophy 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

Refusing to allow the assassin to escape, the Night Lord named the [[Soul Hunter]], an [[apothecary]] of the 10th [[Company]], pursued her with intent to kill; a solo pursuit that was joined by a significant portion of the legion led by their 's senior officers when it transpired that the assassin had also looted several of Curze's possessions believed bequeathed by him to legion's command cadre.² Chief amongst these officers was the heir-apparent Zso Sahaal, who succeeded in boarding the assassin's vessel and retrieving the [[Corona Nox]]; a symbol of Curze's authority he believed was now to be his. However, Sahaal's own ship was attacked by [[Eldar]] raiders almost immediately he returned to it and vanished into the [[Warp]], not to be seen again for almost ten thousand years.³ As for the Soul Hunter, he slew the assassin in the manner of the Night Lords and returned to his legion.²

The Night Lords have operated as raiding force forces ever since, conducting terror raids in much the same style as they did whilst under the Imperial banner, only now fuelled fueled by the hate and desperation brought on by the Long War, as well as the malign influences of Chaos. While the warband of [[Krieg Acerbus]] is noted to be the largest and most chaotic in operation³, many of the other warbands adhere more rigourously to the 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 ever since the death of their primarch at the hands of the assassin [[M'Shen]] has been the recovery of her [[pict]]-log of the assassination. The investigations of the Soul Hunter, now an important member of the [[Exalted]]'s warband, led 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

Little is known of the Pre-Heresy Night Lords organization outside of extensive use of [[Drop Pod]]s, [[Rhino]] troop carriers, and [[Assault Marine]]s, known as "[[Chaos Raptor|Raptor]]s." [[Assault Marine]]s apparently got their start as Night Lords under Captain [[Zso Sahaal]], and due to their successes, other Legions began forming jump infantry squads.²¹

The Night Lords tend not to use [[Daemon]]s in their armies, 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 concept of [[Chaos Undivided]]. This makes them exceptionally versatile in their use of the Ruinous Powers and they are likely to fight alongside followers of any of the Chaos Gods. The Night Lords rarely associate themselves with a particular God over a long period of time. In fact, they most of them scorn faith in all its forms, be it allied Chaos forces or devotees to the imperial creed.¹

The criminal elements that were once recruited into the Legion's ranks have left them bereft of any martial creed or concept of honour.¹ They are cynical, hard-bitten warriors who fight for no higher cause than the joy of fighting and the material rewards it can bring.⁵¹

**[[Vandred]] - Sergeant, 10th Company, [[First Claw]]²***[[Talos (Character)|Talos]] - Apothecary, 10th Company, First Claw

*[[Halasker]] - Warband leader²*[[Talos (Character)|Talos]] - The Exalted's warband, First Claw