AfroCampbell Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 SPOILERS - only warning.... Alpharius ANOTHER PRIMARCH BITES THE DUST!?! This I really did not expect, in fact even up until I actually closed the book, I was waiting for the typical Alpha Legion trick of it not being Alpharius that died, but I like that they definitively confirmed it with the closing chapter with Omegon which is quite interesting, as all the talk of an Alpha Legion civil war is quite clearly wrong now. I always feel legitimately sad when a major character dies in this series as the potential for more background and mysteries to be unraveled in future stories is lost with each death (as cheesy as that sounds), and perhaps no death so far exemplifies this so much as with Alpharius. Still I am very happy that it was not a typical Primach punch up and walk away to fight again. I liked as well that there was a good reason as to why nobody in the 40k background would know about Alpharius' death also. So Dorn also joins the hallowed ranks of Primarch-killers. Factions I loved it, particularly because it was such an in depth exploration of both the Imperial Fists, and the Alpha Legion, but also the factions still found around Terra and Sol from the leftovers of the Unity War. Points that really interested me: Imperial Fists I always love hearing about Seneschal Rann and his bromance with Sigismund - I feel like he is the #1 Imperial Fists character that I now hope gets rules and a model from Forgeworld, especially with how he becomes leader of a Third Founding Chapter, the Executioners. I feel this dude is one of the coolest modelling opportunities ever..... Archamus is awesome, and you have to love the somewhat old-man/sensei type relationship he has with all of the comparatively young Imperial Fists around him. Also in the likely event that FW does a model and rules for Archamus, it will be interesting to see if they use this one or the 'next' one meaning Kestros.... who knows. Huscarls - I honestly had to wait until the last chapter of the book to really understand exactly what kind of unit a Huscarl was, and even now I am hazy as at one point they are depicted in Indomitus Terminator armour with Thunder Hammers, and another power armour with bolters? so it will be interesting to see how FW deals with this unit when they get around to eventually doing the Battle of Terra..... personally I hope they choose to retcon a little and use Tartaros just for the visual aesthetics, but that is just me. Either way, it will be cool to see IF-specific Terminators. Also was cool to hear about the Monarch of Fire - a somewhat secondary flagship behind the Phalanx, I really hope that these all get a Battlefleet Gothic style miniatures game at some stage. Alpha Legion I have a very love-hate relationship with how Alpha legion sneakiness always leads to a major character avoiding death (I am looking at you Omegon.... poor Sheed Ranko), and so I was genuinely shocked when I got to the end of this book and Alpharius was genuinely killed. I know there will likely be crazy tin-foil wearing conspiracy theorists who say "IT WASN'T HIM!", but lets just give that argument up before it even begins ok? it totally was, and it is a good thing that there has been some shift and progression in the storyline because of it. It will certainly make Omegon's storyline all the more interesting now that he has to take responsibility of the mantle of Primarch solo.... (cue the Grey Knights conspiracy theorists at any mention of him..) Also cool to hear of Sheed Ranko and Ingo Pech again, I feel one of these would make for a cool opportunity for FW model plus rules.... (I am ever the wargamer at heart when reading these novels) Overall, my only comment was that the actual motivations for the AL were never really explored.... like I get that they are all hush hush, but I wanted to gain an understanding of what they wanted to achieve in poking holes and testing Dorn's defences. Alpharius kept referencing that he could help Dorn in their final fight, and that he was trying to teach him something, but I don't feel like I get it all.... maybe I am just a little tired and it will all click when i reread it. I gotta say, my fav HH novel in a LOOOOOONNNNNGGG time. anyway what are your thoughts on this book? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helterskelter Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 I'm not sure if it's going to affect the entire game or not. There's been a precedent set and now fluff has kinda been affected. it's omegons legion now, so that can only mean he will definitely be traitor. Or things are about to get awfully confusing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlo Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 .........I'm sort of sad I've ruined that for myself now but also, that is AWESOME. Is there audio of this and is there any pre-requisite reads/ must know details before I do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balthamal Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Legion is a must read. Serpent Beneath would be helpful. There ought to be an audio of it at some point And Think you're thinking of Matthias Herzog since Sheek Ranko is dead. Very cool to introduce another Harrowmaster though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xin Ceithan Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 I just finished this over the Weekend. Along with Path of Heaven, It feels great to have a well written book in this series and some new developments in the HH. Good read. Plus, I ended up with Omegon during the last BL Minigame for AL... So ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandlemad Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Is there audio of this and is there any pre-requisite reads/ must know details before I do? What Balthamal said. The Crimson Fist novella would also give some useful background on why Sigismund is where he is but it's not essential. Nice little detail that just occurred to me is Kye and then later Kestros taking the oath name Archamus. Gave cause to another little identity fakeout in the flashback and makes a good parallel with the AL constant identity switches. The IF might change their names but they know who they are. RE: the Huscarls, I took them as using what was needed for the task as hand. Just like how the EC Phoenix Guard are said to fight as tactical squads or spear-wielding terminators as the mission demands, so too are the huscarls going to don TDA for a teleport boarding mission. These will likely end up being the guys who accompany Dorn and the Emperor in the attack on the Vengeful Spirit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StruManChu Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Huh. Well that's surprising. Other than in Legion, we aren't really shown the inner workings of the relationship between A-dog and O-mizzle. I know that there are many who don't believe that there's much good about seeing the Primarchs up close, but that was definitely something I wanted to see more of. I wanted to know why there was a schism between the two, and what the heck was going on with all the infighting. Now we'll only know if Omegon deigns to tell someone in a later book. To me, if they've really done this (and it's the Alpha Legion, so you can never be sure), there are just too many threads cut short and left unfinished. Ah well. Maybe we'll find out that part of the tech that the XX 'recovered' in Deliverance Lost helped them figure out a bit more about cloning, and we now have a bunch of Alpharius clones running around the place, messing stuff up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Perils Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Oooh, so this is one that looks like it really has something happening? Cool! I was starting to miss the interesting Horus Heresy books :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminus Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 So Dorn was killed and replaced with Alpharius, just like Guilleman was replaced with Omegon? Now we know why Dorn disappeared, he was returning to his Legion, his goal of making the Imperial Fists half-exiled/half-embarrassed pariahs complete. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor's Furor Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 I was utterly shocked at the end, I figured it would be another ships passing in the night sort of thing, then Alpharius got his hands cut off and I thought "wow it's actually happening" it was a total surprise. I figured though after the way Silonicus dealt with the Imperial Fists during the ambush he had to of been a Primarch otherwise it was more Imperial Fists being used as cannon fodder to make others look good which if you've heard about other stories relating to the Fists recently you'd have enough of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Perils Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 I was utterly shocked at the end, I figured it would be another ships passing in the night sort of thing, then Alpharius got his hands cut off and I thought "wow it's actually happening" it was a total surprise. I figured though after the way Silonicus dealt with the Imperial Fists during the ambush he had to of been a Primarch otherwise it was more Imperial Fists being used as cannon fodder to make others look good which if you've heard about other stories relating to the Fists recently you'd have enough of. Imperial Fists being made fun of? The Iron Warriors pooh pooh your Imperial whining. Seriously, if you ever read an Iron Warriors story in 30k where they are victorious on their own, let me know about it - it'll be a change from all the Phall's (where the Primarch is beaten by a mere Astartes) all the Angel Exterminatus's (where they need Fulgrim's sons to beat a handful of eldar) and the Iron Cages (where they are said to be set to mutually destroy and be destroyed by the Imperial Fists during their ambush before the Ultra Deus Ex Machina). At least the Beast Arrises seems to portray them in a slightly better light. Swerving back on topic - does Alpharius's lance seem to work well? Any hints at its origin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor's Furor Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 I was utterly shocked at the end, I figured it would be another ships passing in the night sort of thing, then Alpharius got his hands cut off and I thought "wow it's actually happening" it was a total surprise. I figured though after the way Silonicus dealt with the Imperial Fists during the ambush he had to of been a Primarch otherwise it was more Imperial Fists being used as cannon fodder to make others look good which if you've heard about other stories relating to the Fists recently you'd have enough of. Imperial Fists being made fun of? The Iron Warriors pooh pooh your Imperial whining. Seriously, if you ever read an Iron Warriors story in 30k where they are victorious on their own, let me know about it - it'll be a change from all the Phall's (where the Primarch is beaten by a mere Astartes) all the Angel Exterminatus's (where they need Fulgrim's sons to beat a handful of eldar) and the Iron Cages (where they are said to be set to mutually destroy and be destroyed by the Imperial Fists during their ambush before the Ultra Deus Ex Machina). At least the Beast Arrises seems to portray them in a slightly better light. Swerving back on topic - does Alpharius's lance seem to work well? Any hints at its origin? It can literally be broken down to several pieces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Perils Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 It can literally be broken down to several pieces Huh? Okay, I really need to read this :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLACK BLΠFLY Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 So Dorn was killed and replaced with Alpharius, just like Guilleman was replaced with Omegon? Now we know why Dorn disappeared, he was returning to his Legion, his goal of making the Imperial Fists half-exiled/half-embarrassed pariahs complete. :D Don't you wish ? Now me I don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfroCampbell Posted August 23, 2016 Author Share Posted August 23, 2016 I think it will be interesting to see where the series goes from this point, as the Imperium Secundus storyline has wrapped up, Dark Angels should be heading home to Caliban soonish to start that whole shibang, White Scars have arrived at Terra and are likely going to be assisting in the Solar War, tbh Blood Angels are the only ones out of place.... as soon as they are on their way to Terra all the chess pieces are in place for the grand finale. I wonder how many novels will actually cover the Battle for Terra? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminus Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Didn't Alpharius get his soul swapped with that operative, so it wasn't Alpharius in that body? As a persona, he is dead, but he may still be an actor in this war and the Long War ahead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Loss Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Didn't Alpharius get his soul swapped with that operative, so it wasn't Alpharius in that body? As a persona, he is dead, but he may still be an actor in this war and the Long War ahead I doubt it. It was described several times as a psychic mind wipe - they didn't swap their souls, just made the real Alpharius think that he was Silonius by disassembling his memories and and the real Silonius was put into stasis and only introduced gradually after quite a while, which was the big reveal. And after Alpharius dies, Omegon feels his loss, noting that he's alone in the galaxy for the first time ever. It had the feel of an event that was deliberately built up to be 'momentous' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminus Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Are you sure? Dorn rammed the spear through his brother’s chest. The tip punched through the power plant on the back of Alpharius’ armour. Alpharius’ mouth opened, his eyes wide. A great wash of blood poured from between his teeth. Dorn held him on the spear, the two so close that it seemed almost an embrace. The air around them was blurring like a heat haze as the blood struck the floor. A high wail was rising with a coil of wind, which circled the pair. Alpharius’ mouth moved, forming words. "That color makes you look fat." Dorn was still for a second, his eyes blank and black in the carved stone of his face. Then he pushed Alpharius away. Snakes of light writhed through the air. The primarch of the Alpha Legion staggered, mouth still moving. "Seriously, you look like Big Bird with microcephaly." Rogal Dorn brought Storm’s Teeth around. The blade cut down through Alpharius’ skull, and then tore free in a spray of blood and a detonation of light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Loss Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Are you sure? Dorn rammed the spear through his brother’s chest. The tip punched through the power plant on the back of Alpharius’ armour. Alpharius’ mouth opened, his eyes wide. A great wash of blood poured from between his teeth. Dorn held him on the spear, the two so close that it seemed almost an embrace. The air around them was blurring like a heat haze as the blood struck the floor. A high wail was rising with a coil of wind, which circled the pair. Alpharius’ mouth moved, forming words. "That color makes you look fat." Dorn was still for a second, his eyes blank and black in the carved stone of his face. Then he pushed Alpharius away. Snakes of light writhed through the air. The primarch of the Alpha Legion staggered, mouth still moving. "Seriously, you look like Big Bird with microcephaly." Rogal Dorn brought Storm’s Teeth around. The blade cut down through Alpharius’ skull, and then tore free in a spray of blood and a detonation of light. I opened the book and prepared to type a wall of text, saw 'Big Bird with microcephaly' and promptly choked on my toast :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminus Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 That's how the XXth gets you. Even the toast is Alpharius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saphrael Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 It's going to be a long time before I'm able to read this book, can someone go into detail of the fight and how Alpharius actually dies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLACK BLΠFLY Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 I can't wait to read this novel now !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfroCampbell Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 It's going to be a long time before I'm able to read this book, can someone go into detail of the fight and how Alpharius actually dies? the simplest way to describe it is the Dorn in true Fists style intentionally lets Alpharius stab him in the shoulder, and then traps his spear with one hand, whilst chainsawing his forearms off with the other, and then proceeds to carve a large canyon through his thorax and abdomen in a single strike after that, finally finishing off the dumbstruck Alpharius by chainsawing his head in half.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlo Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 It's going to be a long time before I'm able to read this book, can someone go into detail of the fight and how Alpharius actually dies? the simplest way to describe it is the Dorn in true Fists style intentionally lets Alpharius stab him in the shoulder, and then traps his spear with one hand, whilst chainsawing his forearms off with the other, and then proceeds to carve a large canyon through his thorax and abdomen in a single strike after that, finally finishing off the dumbstruck Alpharius by chainsawing his head in half.... BRUTAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfroCampbell Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 It's going to be a long time before I'm able to read this book, can someone go into detail of the fight and how Alpharius actually dies? the simplest way to describe it is the Dorn in true Fists style intentionally lets Alpharius stab him in the shoulder, and then traps his spear with one hand, whilst chainsawing his forearms off with the other, and then proceeds to carve a large canyon through his thorax and abdomen in a single strike after that, finally finishing off the dumbstruck Alpharius by chainsawing his head in half.... BRUTAL. It actually was, and the most badass part, Dorn didn't say a thing, just grim-faced butcher the whole time.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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