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{{Traitor Founding Legions

|Name=Thousand Sons

|Marine=TizcanHost.jpg

|Miniature=RubricMini7th.jpg

|Current Banner=TSicon.png

|Marine Image=ThousandSonsPost-Heresy.jpg

|Warbands=

*[[Ahriman's Razor]],{{Fn|40e}} [[Apophitar's Ghosts]]{{Fn|69}}

*[[Illogisticarae]]{{Fn|93}}

*[[Keepers of As'trakh]]{{Fn|95a}}, [[Kha'Sherhan]] — the warband of [[Iskandar Khayon]],{{Fn|23}} [[Kindled Spirits]]{{Fn|40c}}

*[[Lorehost of Apoketh]]{{Fn|45}}

*[[Warband of Sektoth]] — the warband of Sektoth{{Fn|15}}

}}

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|1}}

===Combat Disposition and Record===

====Early Crusade====

At the beginning of the Crusade, they fought as tenacious and energetic expanders of the [[Imperium]], and were not considered particularly distinct from the main body of the [[Legiones Astartes]]. Five years into the Crusade however, the warriors of the legion—much to their delight—all began to spontaneously develop [[Psyker|psychic abilities]]. This development however, was followed by a wave of horrific, unwilling degenerative mutations. This mutative process became referred to as the [[flesh-change]], and was much feared by the Thousand Sons after it first appeared during the Compliance of [[Bezant]]. Most of those afflicted were secured in [[Stasis field|stasis]] chambers in the hope that some future cure would be found for them, and the numbers of active Thousand Sons began to dwindle as a result.{{Fn|3a}}

Over the next several decades some of the then-discovered primarchs found the notion of psychic mutants being allowed to exist as part of the Emperor's Crusade distasteful at best and downright impossible at worst and began to variously move for their censure or spread rumours and condemnations about them. Chief amongst these detractors were [[Mortarion]], [[Rogal Dorn]] and [[Corax]]. As the years passed, more and more of the Thousand Sons devolved into mutantcy, while those that survived grew stronger and stronger in the use of their powers. Meanwhile, the detractors had managed to raise enough voices to empower a proposal that the Fifteenth Legion be disbanded and expunged from [[Imperial]] records altogether.{{Fn|3a}}

It was shortly after this that 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 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-affected legionaries. The procedure turned out to involve agreeing to an open ended bargain with a Warp creature called [[Choronzon]], the Dweller in the Abyss and the Daemon of Dispersion.{{Fn|3s}} At the end of the procedure, barely a ''thousand'' of the ''Thousand'' Sons lived.{{Fn|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.

====Vendetta====

After 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 [[Battle of the Fang|full-scale invasion of the Space Wolves' homeworld]] of [[Fenris]]{{Fn|12x}}to plots such as those spearheaded by the sorcerer [[Madox]].{{Fn|4}}{{Fn|10}}

This vendetta would have an irrevocable effect upon the legion. The Thousand Sons had largely retained their legion organisation and structure after the Heresy, even raising and maintaining a large body of mortal troops they referred to as [[Spireguard]] in an echo of the Crusade-era [[Imperial Army]] regiments of Prospero. However, the last known act of the Thousand Sons as a legion was the [[Battle of the Fang]], in which Magnus committed almost all of their remaining assets. At that time, there were approximately 700 members of the Thousand Sons left (not including the coven of Ahriman).{{Fn|12a}} Their defeat resulted in the loss of several of the remaining senior legion members, several squads of Rubric Marines, much of their fleet, and nearly all of their mortal minions.{{Fn|12c}}

*'''823.[[M30]]''' — [[Bezant]] — The [[Flesh Change]] manifests for the first time.{{Fn|38c}}

*'''866.[[M30]]''' — [[Riohbia]] — The Thousand Sons secure the world and the Grael Library.{{Fn|82}}

*'''???.[[M30]]''' — [[Valnum]] — Compliance Action. Captain Ohrmuzd leads only sixty legionaries to the plains of Valnum. They defeat the entire [[House Cratax]] in a battle lasted for five hundred seconds, losing only three warriors. The planet is renamed 72-9.{{Fn|38h}}

*'''???.[[M30]]''' — [[Mih'savoh]] — Compliance Action. Part of the [[Priosa Campaign]]. Battle happened a decade before the re-unification with the Primarch Magnus.{{Fn|38l}}

*'''???.[[M30]]''' — [[Aghoru|28-16/Aghoru]] — Compliance Action. Compliance achieved by diplomacy; [[Battle of the Mountain|secondary combat]] against [[Tzeentch|apparent warp corruption]].{{Fn|3k}}

*'''999.[[M30]]''' — [[Ark Reach Cluster]] — Compliance Action. [[Battle of Shrike|Compliance achieved]] in concert with forces of the [[Space Wolves]] and the [[Word Bearers]]. The return of the flesh-change occurred at the conclusion of this campaign.{{Fn|3l}}{{Fn|38b}}

[[Image:TSCoverFull.jpg|thumb|right|350px|The Thousand Sons battle the [[Space Wolves]]{{Fn|68a}}]]

*'''004-005.[[M31]]''' — The [[Burning of Prospero]]; defence of the legion homeworld against the Space Wolves; defeated.{{Fn|3e}}

*'''004.[[M31]]''' — [[Maktor VIII]]. Even before news of Prospero's destruction, 300 veterans of the Seventh Fellowship are abandoned to their deaths during the assault on Maktor VIII by the [[Imperial Fists]].{{Fn|38e}}

*'''013-014.[[M31]]''' - [[Siege of Cthonia]]. Remnants of the Fifth Fellowship still loyal to the Emperor under the command of [[Sul Kontep]] support the [[Imperial Fists]] against the forces of the [[Sons of Horus]].{{Fn|79a}}

*'''014.[[M31]]''' — The [[Solar War]] & [[Siege of the Emperor's Palace]]. Took part in the Chaos grand assault; defeated.{{Fn|1}}

[[Image:TSMaps.jpg|thumb|right|Current deployments of the Thousand Sons{{Fn|40b}}]]

*'''???.[[M31]]''' — [[Kha'Sherhan]] warband allies with [[Ezekyle Abaddon]] to [[Battle of Harmony|destroy the clone of Horus]].{{Fn|22c}}

*'''???.[[M31]]''' — [[Garm]] — Fought the Space Wolves in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy; driven off.{{Fn|10a}}

*'''???.[[M32]]''' — The [[Battle of the Fang]]. Full scale planetary invasion of the Space Wolves' homeworld; defeated.{{Fn|12c}}

*'''112.[[M33]]''' — The [[Feral War]]; [[Rubric Marine]]s left by [[Ahriman]] destroy an [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] and [[Relictors]] force on the [[Feral World]] [[Aggaros]].{{Fn|18}}

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

*'''???.[[M41]]''' — [[Calliope]] — The harvesting of the planets souls, overseen by [[Ahriman]]{{Fn|27}}

*'''999.[[M41]]''' — [[13th Black Crusade]] — Thousand Sons fighting alongside [[Abaddon the Despoiler]] invade territory near [[Prospero]]. Ahriman and the Prodigal Sons also attempt to raid the [[Eldar]] [[Black Library]].{{Fn|13}}

*'''999.[[M41]]''' — In the aftermath of the 13th Black Crusade Thousand Sons forces assist the [[World Eaters]]-led armada under [[Kossolax]] in invading [[Agripinaa]].{{Fn|42}}

*'''???.[[M42]]''' - Raids on [[Monai Landing]]{{Fn|44}}

*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Prosperan Rift War]]. The Thousand Sons expand their holdings in Imperial space from [[Sortiarius]].{{Fn|45}}

*'''???.[[M42]]''' - Battle for [[Pluus-Kambor]] against the [[Space Wolves]]{{Fn|46}}

The Thousand Sons by the [[Battle of Prospero]] consisted of roughly 89,000-90,000 Space Marines{{Fn|Conflicting sources}}, with approximately 62,000 legionaries present on Prospero with representatives from all of the nine Fellowships, as well as the commanders of all except the [[Fourth Fellowship]]:{{Fn|38p}}

In addition to the Fellowships three '''Red Orders''' were also fielded by the Legion before the Heresy. These Orders were more devoted to military matters rather than psychic craft or knowledge. The three orders were the '''[[Order of Ruin]]''', known as the ''Unmakers'', which specialised in siegecraft and logistics. The second was the '''[[Order of the Jackal]]''', known as the ''Measure of Life and Death'', which operated the Legion's [[Dreadnought]]s and [[Khenetai Occult]]. The third was the '''[[Order of Blindness]]''', known as the ''Hidden Ones'', which fell under the command of [[Amon]] and operated the [[Hidden One]]s and [[Ammitara Occult]] of the Legion.{{Fn|38a}}

Every legion venerated their primarch in some regard, but to the Thousand Sons Magnus was their literal saviour. With his arrival they were not only (apparently) saved from the horrors of physical degradation 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 [[Cults of the Thousand Sons|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 rank of ''Magus''. From this position atop a pyramidal teaching structure, Magnus was able to direct and control his legion's psychic and philosophical development; as the most knowledgeable, powerful and as their genetic forefather and saviour, all Thousand Sons looked to him for example and guidance.{{Fn|3f}}

===Post-Heresy===

The modern Thousand Sons are built around Nine '''Cults''', each of which is overseen by a member of the '''Rehati''', a coven of nine [[Exalted Sorcerer]]s and [[Daemon Prince]]s favored by Tzeentch that hold the rank of '''[[Magister Templi]]'''. The nine cults are currently:{{Fn|40a}}

[[Image:TSOrgModern.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Modern Thousand Sons organization{{Fn|95b}}]]

At the core of the war assemblies of the Thousand Sons are the thrallbands. These primarily consist of a champion known as a [[Magister]] and up to nine thralls, each a lesser Sorcerer-champion of Tzeentch. This cabalistic gathering usually manifests as an Exalted Sorcerer and nine Aspiring Sorcerers – or [[Scarab Occult]] Sorcerers – who lead the Rubric Marines and Scarab Occult Terminators into battle. In the rarest thrallbands, the thralls might instead be powerful Sorcerers or Exalted Sorcerers themselves. The Exalted Sorcerers and Daemon Princes who rule the [[Silver Tower]]s each command many of these thrallbands, which may be gathered together into hundreds-strong task forces called Exalted Thrallbands. Their followers comprise the raiding forces through which Tzeentch enacts some of his most violent schemes upon the Galaxy. While the warbands of Tzeentch’s champions manifest in countless ways, the sorcerous thrallbands of the Thousand Sons are the most favoured by the Changer of the Ways. Each thrallband is bolstered by the mutated warrior auxiliaries of the [[Planet of the Sorcerers]], or by Chaos [[Cultist]] forces drawn from the Imperium. In addition, the Legion maintains a small number of tanks and [[Daemon Engines]]. Some Space Marine equipment is captured during their raids, but as very few of these weapons or vehicles are properly maintained, they rarely last for long and so are never numerous.{{Fn|37}}

*[[Helm of the Third Eye]]{{Fn|37}}

*[[Astral Grimoire]]{{Fn|37}}

====Vessels====

{{main|Known Vessels of the Thousand Sons}}

====Known Vehicles====

*''Scarab Prime'' — [[Stormhawk]] Transporter{{Fn|3n}}

*''[[Canis Vertex]]'' — [[Warlord Class Titan]]{{Fn|3a}}

*''[[Czetherrtihor]]'' — [[Warlord Class Titan]]{{Fn|11b}}

*[[T'sathis Vhorr]] — Exalted Sorcerer of the [[Cult of Time]]{{Fn|68b}}

*[[Mordant Hex]] — [[Sorcerer]]{{Fn|1a}}

====Unique Troops====

*[[Khenetai Occult]] (Heresy-era){{Fn|38a}}

*[[Corvidae Initiate]] (Heresy-era){{Fn|75}}

*[[Osiron Dreadnought]]{{Fn|38n}}

*[[Castellax-Achea Class Robot]]{{Fn|38n}}

*[[Thrall Wizard]]{{Fn|7b}}

*[[Tzaangor]]s{{Fn|7b}}