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{{cite}}The '''Thousand Sons''' were the '''XV Legion''' of the original twenty [[Space Marine Legion]]s. Their [[Primarch]] is [[Magnus]], oft called '''Magnus the Red'''. The Legion turned traitor during the [[Horus Heresy]], after which it relocated to [[Sortiarius]], the '''Planet of Sorcerers''', in the [[Eye of Terror]], and dedicated itself to the [[Chaos God]] of change, sorcery and magic, [[Tzeentch]]. For a time it appeared that Tzeentch protected the Thousand Sons from the corruption and fragmentation that most of the other [[Traitor Legions]] underwent, but eventually the Legion went through a crisis of [[mutation]] and de-evolution, seemingly at the wish of their patron-God. Aghast at this development, their chief [[sorcerer]], [[Ahriman]], cast [[Rubric of Ahriman|a powerful spell]] designed to render the Thousand Sons immune to the warping effects of [[Chaos]]. 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 than automata.{{Fn|1a1}}

The [[Adeptus Astartes Homeworld|homeworld]] of the Thousand Sons was [[Prospero]], a world populated by a small commune of outcast [[psykers]].{{Fn|1a1}} Once a world of great beauty, it was attacked by [[Imperial]] forces utilising planet-busting weapons during the [[Battle of Prospero]]{{Fn|2a}}, with the result that it became a blasted ruin, declared [[Purgatus]] by the [[Inquisition]].{{Fn|1a1}} Prospero would ultimately suffer the indignity of [[Exterminatus|Imperial planetary bombardment]] a second time, ordered by the Inquisition in response to a large-scale gathering of Thousand Sons forces upon the planet as part of a sorcerous ritual. While the first bombardment (the one that took place during the first Battle of Prospero) ruined the planet's eco-system and tumbled all the works of both man and nature, it still left Prospero more-or-less recognisable. The second scoured the world with firestorms so intense that the surface of Prospero was turned into featureless black glass.{{Fn|11}}

Stunned, the Thousand Sons effectively withdrew from the Crusade, returning to Prospero. It was during the period that followed that Magnus discerned the approach of the [[Horus Heresy]] and employed both his own powers and that of his senior legionaires to try to save [[Horus|his brother's]] soul. Failing, he once again marshalled the powers available to him and attempted to psychically warn the Emperor of his favourite son's betrayal. News of this sanction fleet, meanwhile, had previously reached the ears of the now-corrupted [[Horus]] himself. Sensing an opportunity, the [[Warmaster]] contacted Leman Russ, commander of the fleet, during the trip to Prospero. Speaking with his brother, he was able to convince him that "to return Magnus to Terra would be a waste of time and effort". Horus confirmed to his traitorous council of war that he believed this interjection of his into the Emperor's own decree would result in Magnus never leaving Prospero alive.{{Fn|31}} This action, which went so catastrophically wrong, would doom the Thousand Sons as, in accord with the Judgement of Nikea, the Emperor visited destruction upon Magnus and the Thousand Sons in the form of Leman Russ and his [[Space Wolves]].{{Fn|1a1}}

After their escape from Prospero, the Thousand Sons discovered that - once again - they had been reduced to only around ''one thousand'' living members.{{Fn|23j}} Their actions during the bulk of the Heresy are not currently known, though a portion of the Legion did engage the Space Wolves at the [[Battle of Yarant]].{{Fn|34}} When Horus's forces fell on Terra itself some years later, Magnus and the Thousand Sons were with him. Noted to be a very small contingent of the Chaos forces, the Thousand Sons contented themselves with summoning [[daemons|daemonic reinforcements]] and casting supporting spells rather than engaging in pitched battle for most of the [[Siege of Terra]]. However, once the outer walls of the [[Imperial Palace]] had been breached, the Thousand Sons found themselves required to break down the final wards and fortifications of the inner palace itself. Advancing to the [[Ultimate Gate]], part of the legion held off Imperial counter-attacks while the senior sorcerers attempted to destroy the defences with psychic power and sorcerous ritual. This assault came to naught however, as a contingent of [[Imperial Fists]] led by Rogal Dorn arrived in the combat zone and drove the Thousand Sons off at much the same time as the Emperor himself directed the surviving Librarians of the [[Blood Angels]] and Imperial Fists to block the attacks of the Thousand Sons sorcerers.{{Fn|1a1}}

The Thousand Sons retreated from Terra after the death of [[Horus]] alongside the other Chaos forces,{{Fn|1a1}} before using their sorcerous powers to open a warp route that would transport their fleet directly to the Planet of Sorcerers.{{Fn|7}}

The dedication to the Chaos God Tzeentch resulted in several changes to the organisation of the legion, but had little direct effect on their combat doctrine. Previously known to avoid close combat in favour of psychic trickery and the use of ranged weaponry, their development into a legion of [[Chaos Sorcerers]] and the effect of the Rubric of Ahriman only increased reliance on this approach. Those marines affected by the Rubric are used to anchor an attack's firepower, while the sorcerers deploy their psychic powers, the whole event orchestrated in accordance with a previously constructed plan of deceit or guile.{{Fn|1a1}} While showing no overt favouring of vehicles or heavy armour, the loyalist Thousand Sons did appear to deploy significant [[Legio Cybernetica]] assets in battle, although, in a fore-echo of what would come to pass with the use of [[Rubric Marines]], they psychically controlled the [[robots]] to act as a mobile bulwark, rather than letting them operate as normal.{{Fn|3h}} The transition into a [[Traitor Legion|Chaos Legion]] did little to change the Thousand Sons' lack of interest in vehicular or heavy armour support; the discipline of machinery is one that most Sorcerers apparently care little for...although now and again one will take enough of an interest to produce [[Defiler#Deciever|something unusual]]. The existing Legion stock of vehicles and equipment has rarely been remarked upon since the end of the Thousand Sons' Imperial loyalty (indeed, it is not actually known if the Legion managed to retain anything other than those Legionaries who were transported from Prospero to the Planet of Sorcerers), but it is known that they sometimes scavenge or steal such items during raids. However, as the Thousand Sons show markedly little interest in properly maintaining their traditional armoury, these repurposed goods never last long and certainly do not appear in large numbers.{{Fn|7}}

While they avoided dissolution as a legion for some time, the Thousand Sons now only seem to operate abroad as small warbands.{{Fn|1a1}} These warbands are said to seek out conglomerations of psykers, or traces of sorcerous techniques using artefacts known as [[Seer Stones]]. Whilst the plans of the Thousand Sons are never easy to discern, being chosen as Tzeentch's favoured agents results in the actions of their warbands being varied and often curious; by raiding a particular planet, location or killing even a single, specific individual, the manipulations of Tzeentch are furthered.{{Fn|7}} The most well-known of these warbands is the [[Prodigal Sons]] warband led by Ahriman.{{Fn|9a}}

With the embrace of Chaos, comes mutation. Once the Thousand Sons had retreated back to the Planet of Sorcerers within the Eye of Terror members of the legion began to suffer the flesh-change; horrendous physical mutations, their bodies and minds twisted in ways only Chaos can achieve. Although some dedicated Tzeentch worshippers saw these changes as a sign 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 suffer. Ahriman, once [[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 with them none the less. The Thousand Sons were now safe from the taint of chaos, but at a terrible price. Those untouched by the flesh change had their psychic powers greatly strengthened, but those who had already mutated had their physical bodies reduced to dust and their animate spirits damned to live inside their armour forever. Most of the legion were therfore changed into [[Rubric Marines]]; 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 and beyond, still pursuing magical knowledge and seeking arcane artefacts. Ahriman’s current goal is to enter the [[Black Library of Chaos|Black Library]] of the Eldar, and rumour has it that if he succeeds in his quest, his power will grow beyond imagination.{{Fn|1a1}}

*'''???.[[M30]]''' - The [[Kamenka Troika]] - Extermination of [[Orks|Greenskin]] infestation. Loss of 873 Astartes; Legion reorganised as a result. {{Fn|33h}}

*'''???.[[M31]]''' - The [[Battle of Yarant]]; Legion elements ally with Traitor forces in an attempt to exterminate the Space Wolves; defeated.{{Fn|34}}*'''014.[[M31]]''' - The [[Siege of the Emperor's Palace]]. Took part in the Chaos grand assault; defeated.{{Fn|1a1}}

*'''579.[[M37]]''' - The [[War in the Webway]]; A coven of Thousand Sons [[Sorcerer]]s attempt to gain access to [[Commorragh]].{{Fn|35}}

*'''???.[[M41]]''' - [[Arcadia (Eldar)|Arcadia]] - Ahriman and the Prodigal Sons plunder a [[Harlequin]]-guarded library amidst [[Blood Raven]] interference.{{Fn|89b}}

*'''???.[[M41]]''' - [[Garm]] - Attempted mass resurrection of deceased Thousand Sons; plan almost totally foiled by the actions of the Space Wolves.{{Fn|410b}}

Magnus placed great emphasis on ensuring that legion officers could operate independently from him, going to lengths to ensure they were taught all that he believed they would need to succeed at command, including otherworldly skills. Before the Heresy the individual Thousand Sons squads were led not by established veteran warriors, but by those who showed the most psychic potential. These junior officers were also effectively apprenticed to more experienced officers for cult training. As a result of the emphasis on leaders having strong psychic ability, senior officers of the legion typically became considerably experienced in both typical battlefield combat and in the use of their powers.{{Fn|1a1}}.

While Magnus himself remains the ruler of the [[Planet of the Sorcerers]], he is increasingly aloof with the affairs of the [[Materium]] and is spending much of his attention waging the [[Great Game]] of the Ruinous Powers.{{Fn|22a}} Thus since the events of the Heresy the Thousand Sons have largely operated as independent warbands under the control of [[Sorcerer]]s.{{Fn|1a1}}

Regardless, when the Rubric of Ahriman took hold of the legion, most of their geneseed was destroyed. The only viable sources now known of are the surviving sorcerers of the Thousand Sons, powerful [[psykers]] who are so invested of the powers of the [[warp]] that the condition of their geneseed and the effects it would have upon someone implanted with it can only be guessed at.{{Fn|1a1}}

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 to discover a cure for the flesh-change and gain deeper understanding and control of their psychic abilities, these linked beliefs resulted in two major cultural factors developing in the Thousand Sons; veneration of the text and veneration of their Primarch.{{Fn|1a1}}

The legion's desire to learn how to control their powers developed into a hunger for any and all knowledge. Driven from an origin of self-interest, their desire to know as much as possible and master every discipline available to learn caused them to seek shortcuts or explore morally perilous paths, especially once Magnus and his own insatiable hunger for knowledge encouraged them to progress from simple scholarship into the practice of sorcerous techniques. As a result, they have long held every record of information as a valuable item in itself, as well as a resources to be drained. Ahriman in particular has, since the Heresy, dedicated himself to this desire seemingly above loyalty to his primarch and even to Chaos itself.{{Fn|1a1}}

*''[[Silver Towers of Tzeentch]]'' (post-Heresy){{Fn|1a1}}

*[[Ashur-Kai Qezremah]] - Sorcerer ; now part of the [[Black Legion]]{{Fn|22a}}

*[[Brothers of Retaliation]]- the warband of '''Laudren Thalarn'''{{Fn|36}}

{{Trivia}} [[Image:1st Edition Thousand Sons.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Thousand Sons, as depicted in [[Realms of Chaos]]]]

*{{Endn|1}}: [[Index Astartes III]], {{cite this}}**{{Endn|1a}}: pp. 40-47*{{Endn|2}}: [[Prospero Burns (Novel)|Prospero Burns]] by [[Dan Abnett]], {{cite this}}

**{{Endn|3i}}: Chapter threeThree**{{Endn|3j}}: Chapter Thirty-One*{{Endn|4}}:[[Space Wolf (Novel)|Space Wolf]] by [[William King]], {{cite this}}

*{{Endn|8}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Wargear (2nd Edition)]], {{cite this}}

**{{Endn|9b}}: Chapter 10, pp. 718-9*{{Endn|10}}: [[Grey Hunter (Novel)|Grey Hunter]] by William King, {{cite this}}

*{{Endn|12}}: [[Battle of the Fang (Novel)|Battle of the Fang]] by [[Chris Wraight]], {{cite this}}

*{{Endn|27}}: [[Warlords of the Dark Millennium: Ahriman (Background Book)| Ahriman]] - ''Dreams, Wars, and Bloodshed''