#Imperium valiant

[jarhara]

Incoming Valiant ramble

I am currently re-reading Rai (Valiant Entertainment edition) and I've noticed something....

I've always given Izak and Lord Vine 99 from Imperium and Life and death of Toyo Harada the same voice in my head and they act kinda similar in a lot of things.

Izak's backstory says that his people were created on New Japan using the genetic base of a creature that was caught floating in space. There's only one panel showing this ancestor but it kinda looks like a Vine to me.

Now, your average Vine isn't normally filled with rage and as bloodthirsty as Izak and they also have their telepathy. But if you look at LV99, he was especially designed to be a killer who can't stop until his target is no more, and he didn't have access to the Vine telepathy anymore.

And finally... Where was LV99 last seen in L&DoTH? He was climbing up the wire of the space elevator and then floating free above earth.

What are the chances he floated around earth in hybernation for hundreds of years before Father eventually caught him?

Wouldn't it be possible that Izak's ancestor is Lord Vine 99?

[felassan]

New BioWare journal entry:

"Journal #8 Exploration Across Thedas A look into how Rook will discover the world Hello everyone, Today, we’re back to share more about the world of Dragon Age: The Veilguard (minor spoilers below). While the game is a crafted experience telling a rich narrative, there are many areas to explore. The Lighthouse, for example, is a central place for Rook to rest, spend time with Companions, and learn more about the world through conversation. The Crossroads allow the Veilguard to traverse Thedas in seconds, connecting the Lighthouse to more of the world than ever before.  Throughout the story, you will go through many diverse areas, from the beauty of the lush Arlathan Forests to the busy streets of Minrathous. Veterans of the series have heard whispers in the past about each of these places in Thedas, but now you will actually be able to explore and experience them in-game. Each area has its own unique feel and style. There are several areas for exploration; each inviting you to delve deeper into the narrative and uncover the many mysteries Thedas holds. Check out a few of them here: Arlathan Forest – Ancient magic and powerful artifacts re-awaken and reality thins across the woodlands that once held the heart of the Elvhen empire. The Veil Jumpers, masters of ancient elven magic, seek to stabilize the region and keep reality from crumbling. Hossberg Wetlands – Much of this once-peaceful marshland has been consumed by the Blight. Darkspawn roam the swamps with impunity, but the Grey Wardens mount a valiant defense of the last safe haven – Lavendel. Minrathous – Capital of the Tevinter Imperium, the Venatori wield corruption as they try to turn the Empire’s heart to their own dark purposes. Yet the people resist, with the rebel Shadow Dragons leading the charge. Rivain – An ancient Grey Warden fortress sits among sparkling waters and lush greenery of the Rivain Coast; the Lords of Fortune call this paradise home. The servants of the gods have their own plans, however, and threaten to turn this sanctuary into a battlefield. Treviso – A merchant city known for the beauty of its canals – and the deadliness of its assassins – Treviso is under Antaam occupation, a state of affairs that sits poorly with the Antivan Crows.

WHAT'S THERE TO FIND? While exploring the world, the Veilguard will come across many things to do and people to talk to. Of course, there will be loot to upgrade your equipment but there will also be puzzles and lore! There will be ancient statues, letters, and artifacts left behind to read and collect those Codex Entries. There are also new modes of transportation to find throughout the world, including fast travel.  There will be new ways for your Companions to interact with the world as well, with specific exploration abilities. For example, you may come across some ancient Elven artifacts for Bellara to Tinker with while you wander through Arlathan. Even when the Companions are back at the Lighthouse, Rook can use the Lyrium Dagger to take advantage of their Exploration Abilities. You may also spot Companions out and about, interacting with the world on their own. When heading to Treviso, we recommend finding Lucanis and enjoying a cup of coffee together.

THE LIGHTHOUSE The Lighthouse will serve as your new home during Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Each companion will have their own room, for them to decorate to their own taste. Their rooms will progress over the course of the story, and it will also be the main location for one-on-one chats with them. Rook will have a room of their own, as well! Lastly, you will find the Caretaker’s Workshop here, where items can be upgraded and enchanted.

THE CROSSROADS From the home base of the Lighthouse, you will be able to access The Crossroads, a meeting place of many Eluvians. This area will serve as the main connection from the Lighthouse to the rest of Thedas, as well as lead to a lot of side content. The Caretaker will act as a guide throughout this area, ferrying the party to different islands in the Fade. Additionally, there will be more puzzles to solve in this area and even some extra missions, but we’ll leave those shrouded in mystery to discover on your own. We recently held our in-person Preview Event with Content Creators and Press, so keep your eyes out for interviews and coverage in the coming weeks. While you’re waiting, don’t forget to check out our podcast Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance. Chat soon!             — The Dragon Age Community Team"

[source]

[therightrighthand]

Delgoth - Psyker of the Imperium

𝐈 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮…

...𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐦

A Psyker born into a life of toxicity and pollution, who's ambition and power brought her too close to the sun, and caused her to fall far from grace and into the claws of darker powers.

---

Darktide Arc.

0-7 Child: Born on the factory planet Arkwright, Delgoth was put to work at a filtration plant, helping move grime and pollution.

8-18 Worker: It took 12 long years of hand-scrubbing toxic pollution out of industrial equipment before her Psyker powers started to show. As soon as they did, she was ratted out and quickly shipped away. Unlike many others, Delgoth was fortunate to be found by an Inquisitor who saw potential in personal training rather than sending her to a Black Ship to try and outlast her kin.

19-30 Inquisition: Showing natural promise and Psyker talent, Delgoth was taken to the Inquisition to undergo intense training under the watchful of the Inquisition and to one day join them as a weapon against heresy.

31-33 Prisoner: After a mission turned sour, leading to most of her team being slaughtered by a Demonhost, Delgoth was spared and left to run, going AWOL from her duty in an act of survival. In the end, she outed herself and returned to the Inquisition to face her guilt, only to spend three years under intense interrogation and 'purification' before being sentenced to death on the golden throne of the Emperor.

34 Reject: After her transport ship was attacked by Nurgle cultists, a set of unusual circumstances led her to The Morningstar. After her valiant aid, she was offered a choice: face her execution with honour or live in shame on the Morningstar, cleaning up Atoma Prime's underbelly. She chooses shame.

35 Reinstated: After earning the trust of the ship's inquisitor, it was revealed to her that her imprisonment and time on the Morningstar had all been planned. It was a deception to push her abilities and skills further, 'tough her up', and earn her Inquisitive position on the ship—a new role ripe with fresh seeds of anger...

---

Chaos Arc.

35 Betrayal: Anger and frustration began to fester. She felt like a fool being played and toyed with by the Inquisition, but what fueled her anger most was the insight she got from her time on Atoma Prime.

She saw how citizens were demonised and threatened for simply wanting to survive in a cruel world. Her anger allowed the taint of chaos to seep into the back of her mind. This led to a sudden outburst of violence and the unprovoked murder of an inquisitor during a private meeting as it all came to a head. All Delogth could do was flee to the Underhive of Atoma Prime and hope she would not be found.

36 Metamorphosis: After her fall from grace Delogth struggled in the Underhive. Without food, shelter or safety, she withered, but it was only at her lowest that she was granted a gift... Approached in a catatonic hallucination by a mysterious figure, Delgoth was offered the opportunity to play host to a new god, The Fathomless, The Son of Nurgle and the parasite god of decay, pollution and new life. How could she refuse?

By the chaos gods' graces, Delgoth awoke the following night in the generous care of the Benevolent Hand, a cult of chaos worshipers who'd found her starving to death in the filtration tunnels. Discovered by Jeremechy, a cultist whom she'd helped not long ago Delgoth was offered a sanctuary and home out of the kindness of their hearts, asking nothing in return, the truest nobility she'd once believed to be something the Imperium once stood for.

Over time, as her Psyker powers became more apparent, Delgoth was worshipped as a religious figure due to her connections to the Warp. Esepcially as her body began to physically change and mutate beyond her control, as the parasite started to grow ... and rebuild her her body, like a moth evolving in a cacoon.

37 Rebirth: After a year of incubation and growth, the parasite infecting Delgoth's body had completed its work and rebuilt what was broken; she and it were now one, and the power of the warp flowed through it, and her, like water through a stream. Her body wasn't just physically stronger, but her Pysker abilities had become fearsome to behold.

Among cultist groups, she had begun to embrace the role of a messiah, protecting the weak, spreading the good word of Nurgle, and tainting the lower levels with a toxic substance known as 'Blight'. Those who embraced Chaos and the Fathomless learned to live with Blight by growing immune, whilst non-believers suffered toxic poisoning or starvation of what little organic material wasn't tainted.

41-45 The Fathomless Blight: While becoming a religious figure appeased Nurgle and their offspring, voices from distant futures beckoned Delgoth to widen her ambition and share her gifts with the stars. During this period, Delgoth's body began to produce more parasites and use them to connect the minds of willing participants in a hive mind level of control. This became the beginning of her new army, The Fathomless Blight.

Piecing together fragments of the Imperium's tech and a few rotting corpses from fallen Astartes, Delgoth used her vast power to lead an army off of Atoma, and into the wider galaxy. They did not travel through ships but rather through oceans and seas, wading into the water on one side of the galaxy and out into another where chaos was most prominent. They were small, but they were formidable.

46 Eldritch Lord: The gods had truly smiled upon Delgoth, as each victor in her crusade brought her more power and allies to her hive-mind army. They infected oceans, corrupted landscapes, and attacked from the murky depths where the Imperium could not defend itself quick enough. For every planet that drowned in blight, millions would fall under her sway and become part of her infested trawl as the Fathomless Blight rose to power. With it, so did she as her body became to the Parasite's changes, as an Alpha level Psyker and an equivalent to some sort of Edlrtich Demon Prince.

Some tell tales that her reach is endless, that she can appear behind you in the death of night, silently lurching out of the water and taking you away in your sleep.

Whilst others tell tales of a small pollution scrubber, who fell from grace.

Now Delgoth lurks on the fridge of Imperium space doing Nurgles bidding, but occasionally, she turns her sights past the walls of reality and the echoes of other worlds, other universes.

... other 'Del's...

-- Find my discord and other sites: linktr.ee/The_red_right_hand Do not use, repost or claim (rp) my art/character  Art © The-Red-Right-Hand

[sallymander40k]

Why The Tau Were Never 'Too Good' For 40k

The Tau were added midway through Warhammer 40,000's 3rd edition, though according to some records the idea had been floating around since Laserburn. In the twenty years since their introduction to the 41st millennium, the Tau have remained one of the most consistently reviled and hated aspect of 40k lore, with all complaints around them boiling down to one core issue: they're too good for 40k. By that, people mean that they are too morally good to fit within the grimdark narrative of the 41st millennium. This has always been the primary complaint levied at them, since they were first introduced in 2001. And GW has seemingly agreed with them, and spent the last 20 years trying to inject grimdarkness into the Tau Empire.

The first attempt to grimdarkify the Tau came very early on, with the Tau campaign in Dawn of War: Dark Crusade

It's explained how in the decade following Tau victory on Kronus the remaining human population was subjugated, oppressed, forced to give up their culture, and eventually simply sterilized and allowed to die off naturally to create a Tau and Kroot ethnostate on Kronus. It explains this over images of prisoners of war being fed to Krootox in prison camps and humans huddling together in slums.

This is obviously a departure from the image of the Tau as it was established in Codex: Tau (3rd Edition), as that codex makes explicit mention of the Tau trading and making alliances with frontier human colonies. This is also a departure from... common sense. Why exactly would the Tau accept Kroot, Vespid, Nicassar, Demiurg, Tarellians and many others into their ranks but then arbitrarily draw the line at humans?

This would become a pattern that I like to call "The Grimderp Tau Cycle." It's not exactly a stretch to say that the Tau are easily the most morally good society in the 41st millennium. Their tolerance toward other species alone makes them head and shoulders above almost any other species in the galaxy. So to remind people that there are no good guys in the 41st millennium and that this is a very serious and grimdark setting that you need to take seriously because there are no good guys or whatever, GW will occasionally have the Tau commit a completely out of character, random, and nonsensical atrocity. This was also seen at the end of In Harmony Restored, the short story that came out alongside 8th edition's Psychic Awakening: The Greater Good.

For context, In Harmony Restored is a short story about a group of Gue'vesa soldiers (human auxiliary troops fighting in the Tau military) performing a desperate defensive rearguard action to halt an Imperial advance long enough for Tau reinforcements to come and smash the delayed invasion force. The Gue'vesa are able to do this, though at great sacrifice to themselves, and then when the reinforcing army does arrive and makes quick work of the Imperial army they then continue on to butcher the Gue'vesa soldiers who performed this valiant holding action for... Seemingly no reason? Assuming the Tau forces thought they were more Astra Militarum soldiers, the Gue'vesa step out of cover pleading for mercy, only to be gunned down. With one of the Gue'vesa at the end noting that the language one of the Battlesuit pilots is using is very reminiscent of the way the Imperium talks about those they've labeled undesirables.

The message here is clear: these humans betrayed the Imperium in order to escape from the Imperium's genocidal regime... Only to end up in the equally merciless clutches of an equally ruthless oppressor. But, from a lore standpoint, that defeats the entire purpose of the Tau. It makes them wholly indistinct and, frankly, boring. But that doesn't even scratch the surface of how stupid this is, because it has clearly been stated in the past that the Tau do not hold bigotries toward client species on the basis of their faiths. And that makes sense.

Not only does this contradict previous lore, not only does it render the Tau a boring palette swapped version of the Imperium, it also just defies practical sense. If you're a race like the Tau, who expand primarily through ingratiating yourself with other races and convincing them to join your collective, you'd naturally want as few barriers between potential client races and joining as possible. No human colony is going to voluntarily join the Greater Good if the Tau's version of the Greater Good happens to require that the human population of that planet lose all sense of their heritage and culture through forced reeducation and the abandonment of their faith, and in the long term for that human population to slowly go extinct through gradual forced sterilization and confinement to ghettos and slums.

It's deeply stupid, lazy writing on the part of GW to repair the image of the Tau in the eyes of a fandom who accused the faction of being "too good." Except, uhm, here's the thing: the Tau were never too good to begin with. Lets rewind back to 3rd Edition's Tau Codex, our first introduction to the Tau in the 40k universe. From the very beginning it was very clear that the Utopian idealism of the Tau Empire held beneath the surface a significantly more sinister and malevolent nature, and it all roots from the mysterious and enigmatic fifth caste of Tau Society: the Ethereals.

In 3rd Edition, the Ethereals are spoken of more like mythological beings than the slightly mundane way they exist in modern 40k. All we know about them out of this book is that they are the autocratic leaders of the Tau Empire who inspire radical devotion among the Tau, though are rarely seen or heard from. They reorganized Tau society with pursuit of the Greater Good in mind first. But the specifics of what that means matters a lot. Tau are born into a caste that roughly determines, from birth, what role in society that person will fulfill. Those born into a caste are not allowed to have children with members of other castes, are not allowed to take up any job or position that contradicts the societal purpose of their caste, and generally lack self-determination in regards to things like career choice.

so, bam, the setup for Tau as a flawed and morally ambiguous faction are already present. They're a faction who fight for a better future, for a galaxy where all can exist in harmony with one another, so long as that harmony is kosher by the standards of the Ethereal caste. In that sense they're somewhat similar to the Dominion from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. A multispecies interstellar collective who seek to create a galaxy harmoniously unified... in service to the Founders. Just taken from this vision of the Tau Empire, they're already an autocratic dictatorship who fight in the name of an ideology that declares itself to be for the greater good of all who ascribe to it while also relying on the assumption that the tyrannical power of the Ethereals must inherently be for the Greater Good. I reject the idea that the Tau were ever "too good" for 40k. Rather that they were written with a realistic level of nuance, with an understanding that dictatorships are built upon cognitive dissonance, not on perfectly consistent virtues.

TL;DR THEY'RE NOT FUCKING COMMUNISTS, THEY LITERALLY HAVE A CASTE SYSTEM, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!

[ask-ciaphas-cain]

Not to mix too much of The Locked Tomb into 40k, but I really think that not leaning more into the fact that the venerated leader of the Imperium is functionally dead is doing the setting a tremendous disservice.

Sure there's skulls and shit everywhere but it feels like there's no acknowledgement that the Emperor is dead. Humanity should be leaning way harder into that. Like Jesus but x1000. The Emperor died to keep Chaos from reaching humanity, he is dead but still Thee Protector of Mankind. There needs to be Venerations of the Holy Corpse, He Who Sits Upon The Throne Eternal. The 9th House in TLT has a locked tomb to pray about, why aren't Navigators praying to the Light That Guides. Where are my pictures of the Emperor with the Astronomican depicted as his heart hanging in every space-abuelas kitchen. Where are the weird cults who argue over whether or not the Astronomican is an aspect of the Emperor or a separate thing entirely.

WHERE IS MY 40K VERSION OF SANTA MUERTE

To die for the Imperium is to follow in the Emperor's footsteps! Why isn't dying for the Imperium a bigger deal!!!! Like, families celebrating that their child who went off to the Imperial Guard has brought upon them the greatest honor, to follow in the Emperor's name? More religious guardsmen should be painting their faces like skulls, to bring fear to their foes by mimicking the Emperor's holy visage.

Where is the veneration of the valiant dead and why aren't there more reliquaries???? To die for the Imperium is to die like the Emperor. Belief gives power, the human skull should burn a daemon the way a cross burns a vampire because of the absolute belief that death is a holy act.

Catacombs should be nigh-on daemon proof because of the protective force of the sacred dead. And there should be catacombs EVERYWHERE because the dead body is a holy thing. The Emperor is a corpse on a throne, his corpse is most holy, each humans' corpse bears a little of his holy power for are we not built in his image.

The Ecclesiarchy should be a million times more unhinged about death and its sacred nature because to die is the holiest act of all.

[titanomancy]

The complex organization of the Adeptus Ministratum, or Administratum, is responsible for the administration of the whole of the Imperium; it manages over a million inhabited worlds. Planetary government buildings, records offices, taxation centers, and many more are controlled by the Administratum; they are usually distinguished by the sign of the Imperial eagle over the main door. Many bloody assaults and valiant defenses have taken place in and around urban and planetary government buildings; they are natural command posts, and the fall of the Administratum normally indicates the fall of the city. This building is often the attacker’s primary target.

[hive-fleet-blight]

Deep in the void of space, a new Hive Fleet has emerged, spreading terror and destruction in its wake. This Hive Fleet, known as Blight, has descended upon the Belos Sector, targeting the Hexis Delta system with its malevolent presence.

Blight's arrival was marked by a cataclysmic storm of psychic energy, unleashing chaos, and distorting the very fabric of reality. Astropathic communications faltered, and the sanity of entire populations hung by a thread. As the tempest subsided, the true magnitude of Blight's fleet revealed itself—a relentless swarm of bio-ships and writhing tendrils, an abomination that struck fear into the hearts of those who bore witness.

The Crimson Fists, stalwart defenders of the Imperium, launched a valiant counter-offensive against Blight's advance. Yet, their initial successes were short-lived, as the Hive Fleet's mastery of psychic warfare became apparent. Blight's creatures exhibited an eerie resilience to conventional weaponry, their psychic assaults leaving the Imperium's forces vulnerable and reeling. Hexis Delta's worlds fell, one by one, to the inexorable tide of the swarm.

Undeterred by the odds, the Crimson Fists rose to confront Hive Fleet Blight, their resilience unyielding in the face of psychic onslaught. Delving into forbidden knowledge, the Chapter sought to unravel the secrets of the Hive Fleet's psychic abilities. Through their arcane studies, the Crimson Fists discovered hidden lore and ancient rituals. Guided by this newfound knowledge, they wove this knowledge into their psychic rituals, empowering them in their struggle against Blight. The clash between the Crimson Fists and Hive Fleet Blight continues to rage, Hexis Delta serving as the crucible of this cataclysmic confrontation. The fate of the system teeters on a precipice, hanging in the balance between hope and despair. The Crimson Fists, unwavering in their devotion to the Imperium stand resolute, prepared to lay down their lives to protect the innocent and safeguard humanity's future.

[dogmomwrites]

OC Name Meanings

Thank you for the tag, @cljordan-imperium! I'm passing it along with soft tags to @fearofahumanplanet, @wildjuniperjones, and @365runesofwriting, as well as an open tag for anyone who wants to join!

I'm using the characters from my unnamed WIP cuz most of the names from my fantasy WIP are made up and don't actually have meanings.

*these definitions were taken from basic searches; I did not go in-depth with them (I didn't wanna bore anyone afskafgh) but if anyone has any input, feel free to let me know of any lesser known definitions!

Aaron—“Mountain of Strength”; According to other different theories, the name could be derived from various Hebrew roots meaning “high mountain”, “mountain of strength”, “exalted”, “enlightened”, or “bearer of martyrs”. ——I dunno about him being a bearer of martyrs, but “mountain of strength” does suit him fairly well. Aaron is a resolute person. He knows what he can do, knows what he can’t, and knows what he can do with a little determination.

Riley—Valiant. Origin: The name Riley is of Irish and Gaelic origin meaning “valiant” and “rye meadow”. ——I feel like he would be a little offended by the second meaning. After all, he is a person, not a field of grass! Where Aaron is confident, Riley’s own confidence often borders on arrogance. He is valiant, though, and will back up his arrogance with a punch that’ll make most people regret getting on his bad side.

James/Jimmy—Supplanter. Origin: James comes from the Hebrew name Jacob, and means “supplanter”. ——As far as I know, Jimmy doesn’t have any plans to take over any leadership roles…though he’s always getting up to some sort of mischief, so who’s to know?

Danny—God is my judge. Danny is a gender-neutral name of Hebrew origin, meaning “God is my judge”. ——I don’t think Danny particularly cares who’s judging him. Even if it's a deity. He’s not easily bothered, and it takes even more to make him show it.

Avalanche—“Her name’s Avalanche. An avalanche is a bigass storm of snow and ice—we thought it was fitting for her, since she likes to climb on everyone for kisses. It feels pretty close to the real thing.” ~Jimmy, from my unnamed WIP ——Fun fact: the path of an avalanche is sometimes called a “slide path”, which is rather fitting for this girl! She loves her life and lives it to the fullest with boundless energy and energetic bounding—even when there isn’t much traction underpaw, which is where the slide path comes in…

[gamecrag]

In this article, we'll be exploring the top 10 most expensive Warhammer 40k models, from rare collector's items to limited edition pieces that are worth their weight in gold. So, grab your dice and let's dive into the world of Warhammer 40k's most expensive models. 10) Tau Manta The Tau Manta is a massive, flying fortress that's designed to be a mobile weapons platform. It's a rare model that can be hard to come by, and it's priced at around $350. The Tau Manta is an incredibly detailed model that includes multiple weapons and a sleek, futuristic design. It is made from high-quality resin and is about 24 inches long. The Tau Manta is a centerpiece of any Tau army and is a must-have for any serious Warhammer 40k collector. It's a formidable force on the tabletop and can strike fear into the hearts of any opponent. 9) Roboute Guilliman $400. The Space Marine Primarch Roboute Guiliman model is a highly detailed and intricate miniature that stands at approximately 8 inches tall. It is a part of the Horus Heresy Character Series and is made from high-quality resin. The model is designed to represent the resurrected form of Roboute Guilliman, who has returned to lead the Imperium of Man in its darkest hour. The model features exquisite detail on the intricate armor and weapons of the Primarch, including the iconic Ultramarine shoulder pauldrons and the legendary sword, the Emperor's Sword. The model is designed to be posed in a variety of positions, allowing collectors and gamers to create unique and dynamic displays for their collections or armies. Additionally, the model comes with a beautifully crafted display base that features the Ultramarines' emblem and allows for easy display. 8)Tyranid Hierophant Bio-Titan $450 The Tyranid Hierophant Bio-Titan is a massive creature that's designed to be a mobile weapons platform. It's a rare model that's priced at around $450. This model is the largest Tyranid model available and is made from high-quality resin. The Hierophant Bio-Titan includes multiple weapons and is about 10 inches long. It is a centerpiece of any Tyranid army and is a favorite among Tyranid players. 7) Imperial Knight Warden $500 The Imperial Knight Warden is a towering war engine that serves as a symbol of the might of the Imperium of Man in the Warhammer 40k universe. It is a highly detailed and intricate model that stands at approximately 9 inches tall and is made from high-quality plastic. The Warden is armed with a range of devastating weapons, including a rapid-fire battle cannon, a thermal cannon, a reaper chainsword, and a heavy stubber. It also features a range of defensive capabilities, including a powerful ion shield and a set of carapace-mounted missile launchers. 6) Eldar phantom Titian $550 The Eldar Phantom Titan is a massive, towering war engine that serves as the ultimate symbol of the might and technology of the Eldar race in the Warhammer 40k universe. It is one of the largest models in the game, standing at an impressive 16 inches tall, and is made from high-quality resin. The Phantom Titan is armed with an array of devastating weaponry, including pulsars, sonic lances, and a phantom missile launcher. It also features a range of defensive capabilities, including a powerful energy shield and a set of holo-fields that make it difficult to hit in combat. 5) The Imperial Knight Valiant $600 The Imperial Knight Valiant is a powerful and heavily armored war machine that serves as one of the most devastating weapons in the arsenal of the Imperium of Man in the Warhammer 40k universe. It is a highly detailed and intricate model that stands at approximately 9 inches tall and is made from high-quality plastic. The Valiant is armed with a range of devastating weapons, including a conflagration cannon, a thundercoil harpoon, and a shieldbreaker missile launcher. It also features a range

of defensive capabilities, including a powerful ion shield and a set of carapace-mounted missile launchers. One of the most striking features of the Imperial Knight Valiant model is its level of customization. It comes with a range of different weapon and equipment options, allowing players to customize their knights to fit their preferred play style. Additionally, the model can be posed in a variety of positions, allowing for dynamic and visually stunning displays on the tabletop. 4)Ork Gargantuan Squiggoth $700. The Ork Gargantuan Squiggoth is a massive and intimidating model that serves as one of the most powerful war machines in the Ork army in the Warhammer 40k universe. It is a highly detailed and intricate model that stands at approximately 10 inches tall and is made from high-quality plastic. The Squiggoth is armed with a range of devastating weapons, including a pair of massive tusks, a powerful cannon, and a set of heavy bolters. It also features a range of defensive capabilities, including a thick layer of armor and a powerful energy shield. One of the most striking features of the Ork Gargantuan Squiggoth model is its level of customization. It comes with a range of different weapon and equipment options, allowing players to customize their Squiggoths to fit their preferred play style. Additionally, the model can be posed in a variety of positions, allowing for dynamic and visually stunning displays on the tabletop. 3) Imperial Knight Castellan $750 The Imperial Knight Castellan is a towering and heavily armed war machine that serves as one of the most formidable weapons in the arsenal of the Imperium of Man in the Warhammer 40k universe. It is a highly detailed and intricate model that stands at approximately 9 inches tall and is made from high-quality plastic. The Castellan is armed with a range of devastating weapons, including a range of rapid-fire guns, a massive volcano cannon, and a set of carapace-mounted missile launchers. It also features a range of defensive capabilities, including a powerful ion shield and a set of carapace-mounted heavy stubbers. One of the most striking features of the Imperial Knight Castellan model is its level of customization. It comes with a range of different weapon and equipment options, allowing players to customize their knights to fit their preferred play style. Additionally, the model can be posed in a variety of positions, allowing for dynamic and visually stunning displays on the tabletop. 2) Eldar Lynx $800. The Eldar Lynx is an ancient war machine that is larger than the more common Falcon grav-tanks but smaller than a true Engine of Vaul, though it shares superficial similarities. It is a swift and elegant vehicle, manned by a single pilot and equipped with potent targeting systems. The Lynx with Pulsar is a deadly tank equipped with a pulsar weapon. When the Lynx is destroyed, it explodes, and each unit within 6" suffers D3 mortal wounds. 1) Horus Lupercal $1000 The Horus Lupercal model is a highly detailed and intricate miniature that represents one of the most iconic characters in the Warhammer 40k universe. Horus Lupercal was once the beloved Warmaster of the Imperium, but was corrupted by the forces of Chaos and led a rebellion against the Emperor himself. The Horus Lupercal model stands at approximately 8 inches tall and is made from high-quality plastic. It is a dynamic and imposing figure, with intricate armor and weapons that are adorned with Chaos iconography. The model features a range of customization options, allowing players to equip Horus with a variety of different weapons and accessories. It also comes with a detailed base that is designed to represent the ruins of the Emperor's Palace on Terra.

[rubric-kolinahr]

I do not know.

There is a moment where in my penance where I see my own face back then, lips pulled back in a snarl, my body positively vibrating with the Light.

Knives sink into hearts, the bodies sagging and letting out a rattle, my plasma shots as quiet as I could make them, a low *twooch* in the darkness after a brief flash of red only to blossom into a darker red. Sometimes it was green, sometimes it was black, but every time my shot was true.

I wonder how Ayliar does it. How she can bear it, how the guilt doesn't curl inside her like an orboros and consume her. Then I remember--she was born for this. I was just plucked from the streets by Her Holiness Herself as an older child, a starving little thing with red glowing eyes full of rage at the world around me that had abandoned me. And She saw that rage and tempered it, said I was to be her Daughter's greatest weapon, said I was to help lead the Imperium become its true self.

Oh, how did it break my heart to tell her after 43 years 7 weeks and 4 days that I could no longer kill, that someone else would have to be Soluk's weapon, that I had failed her in her task. And She just smiled and touched my cheek, my horns sprouting in Empress Kisses for the first and only time in my life and she said the three words I longed to hear with every fiber of my being:

"I forgive you."

I asked then if I could serve as one of Her mouthpieces aboard the 'Valiant Aid' since it had become my home. And since the ship lacked a Chaplin, She would agree. That would close one chapter of my life and start a new one.

But that did not stop the memories. Memories like old blood on silk, unable to be cleaned, marring me and tattooing my soul. Only Soluk and Ayliar knew of my past--the rest of the crew had not been assembled yet when I gave up my duties--and I give no indication of it. After all, who would trust my sermons of non-violence when I myself had committed horrific acts of violence in my past?

Sometimes I go to the First Daughter and tell her my misgivings, ask if I am enough for this position. Every time, she sounds like her Mother and says, "Oh Empyerian, I cannot imagine this ship without you, you must forgive yourself."

But that's the problem: I do not know how to.

---

From my table top game.

[thisiscomics]

The first couple of volumes of Imperium didn’t seem to be my cup of tea, but I quite liked this opening to the third book, where Harada and his Psiots decide to finally play their cards and impose a new order onto things.

There’s something of The Authority here, as they once aimed to become exactly what their name suggested, and it’s interesting to see what are seen as the problems that need addressing at this time compared to previous ‘superhumans try to fix the world’ stories. Tellingly, there probably isn’t much difference between now and, say, Miracleman- the human love for war and profit has to be addressed to discourage the old order from continuing unchanged at the expense of everyone else.

It’s quite striking to note that one of Harada’s key declarations is to address African history- to void any and all claims colonial powers might think they have on the continent’s resources, and restore power and rule to indigenous people. I assume it’s a political statement on the part of the author in terms of historical injustices that should be addressed, as I’m not sure Harada’s personal history would necessarily lead him to see this as his main priority, but it’s a welcome one. It represents a shift away from the more typical West-focused utopias and, to some extent at least, acknowledges the problematic history that has made such visions so dominant (the implicit and/or explicit cultural and social dominance almost unquestioningly accorded to the West).

I’m assuming that, like many before and no doubt more to come, this beneficial dominance of the world is unlikely to be a success (if for no other reason that once a peaceful order is established, there isn’t much drama to be had in a superhero universe, which is not great for sales), but it’s off to an interesting start.

From Imperium 9, by Joshua Dysart, CAFU, Brian Reber & Dave Sharpe

[dragonageconfessions]

Full Confession Under the Cut Due To Length

I really don't understand people saying that by sundering the veil, Solas will save the elves. Based on what we know about the ancient elves,  they are no different  to the human kingdoms with the exception of their magical abilities and being immortal

Firstly they had a Caste system which had the few dominating the many. There was also rampant slavery. The lower classes were horribly treated and were either used  as experiments or forced to build temples for their Gods. I just think it's amusing how so many people portray elves as so much better than humans when they are just flawed as every race.

Not only do we learn that the ancient elves were tyrants and the Dalish are misguided and exclusionary, but we learn how the Tevinter Imperium is essentially the Roman Empire to the Evanuris’ Greece. And at the the end of the day they’re both worshiping an evil megalomaniac.

And Speaking of which, Solas’ grand plan to rip the world apart (again) because he believes that he above all people knows what’s best, isn’t some valiant last ditch effort to save the elves. It’s the incredibly chaotic machinations of an old man who  just wants to go back to “the good old days.”  Fuck him. He literally reminds me of the wealthy racist farts of today.

And Solas  literally refuses to take an Lavellan with him. So immediately his claims of “doing this for the elves” are made moot. You can choose to have a romantic relationship with the man and beg to join him as he goes off again to destroy Thedas, and he still refuses you.  And when you can gain his full approval and he literally says to your face that you’re not like the other uneducated and barbaric members of your race (something he says to every inquisitor) because you have the anchor.  So no he's not going to save the elves. If anything I can see slavery starting again. The way he is painted by some in the fandom as some sort of savior is just weird to me.   Sure people have the right to think what they want but to me he will always be a villain who deserves death.

[soulsandcash]

In all honesty....

[frostedlemonwriter]

Eithne's Faith Snippet

Eithne sprinted with all her might, heart pounded in her breast. The sight of the Norse warriors as they crushed their defenses stunned her sense. With valiant efforts, she slew many an invader. But the voice of her husband Talorc, the man she had married just a few months prior, echoed in her ears. His once sturdy figure, now felled by arrows and an axe to his chest, haunted her. Yet, his words remained clear, “run, my love. Warn them!” That’s exactly what she did, even if it cursed her. In the heart of the once lively village, where vibrant grass and blooming flowers once thrived, now lay a haunting scene of lifeless bodies, a mix of fallen Pict and Norse warriors. Amidst shattered weapons and tattered bark-skin armor, she made her way towards the weathered wooden docks. Arrows whizzed past her, missed her by a mere breath, as relentless warriors pursued. Their screams pierced the air, their foreign language added to the chaos.

Tag List: @cljordan-imperium @ashirisu @leahnardo-da-veggie @olivescales3 @erraticprocrastinator

[nielsroman-blog]

Valiant #Inktober day 7 : Toyo Harada from Harbinger and Imperium ! @valiantentertainment @blisscomics #toyoharada #harada #harbinger #valiantcomics #imperium #comics #sketchbook #sketch #ink #grey #greyscales #valiant #valiantuniverse (à 3rd arrondissement of Lyon)

[frumfrumfroo]

What do you think about the takes the Fisrt order or imperium represent "nazism" or at least a fascist system? Lindsay ellis once said that maybe Disney didnt put an ideology for the First order because then it would be very obvious it stands for an old fascist system and buying Stormtrooper merchandise as well as Palpatime or anything would be viewed as strange.

Okay, first, the only comment on the Empire relating to a real political system Lucas has ever made was that it represented his disgust with American Imperialism. So.

Second, the idea that anyone should be concerned about people buying merchandise for the fictional evil empire is deeply stupid. This is the Victorian Gentleman of the internet once again raising the spectre of ‘hysteria’ and fundamentally failing to understand how people interact with fiction and what the difference is between fiction and reality.

The First Order (and the Empire, of which the FO is just an expy) has no ideology because it’s not meant to stand in for any actual political system or be a realistic depiction of any real regime. It is not a comment on systems of government and it is not meant to be in any but the most broad imaginable ethical sense. Actual politics are not the point. The point is good vs evil. The iconography invoking various totalitarian regimes is there to tell you that they’re bad guys bent on oppression, it’s a visual shorthand which conveys everything you need to know to grasp the conflict at hand. What’s being reinforced about the Empire/FO in these motifs is its mass conformity and total submission to an authoritarian strong man, the repression of individual agency and responsibility. As ever, this is a metaphor about fear and selfishness. Fear allows the Empire to come to power, fear sustains it; fear and complacency. These are universals meant to provide the external threat to show the impact of our characters’ choices.

Because, again, SW is a story about individuals and their individual journey to ethical adulthood. Everything that happens in the war plot is in service of that interior journey. The world of SW is a metaphor.

If people want to have an adult conversation about fascist symbolism and problematic attitudes towards the history of oppressive regimes in Hollywood cinema, they should consider interrogating how the Nazis have been reduced to a generic, dehumanised bogeyman whose only necessary quality is vaguely defined evilness.

The social Darwinistic values and ‘scientific’ racism of Nazi ideology are not an incidental feature. That is what Nazism is. Blowing up planets with a giant space laser as a show of force because you’re a Saturday morning cartoon villain is not comparable on any level to even the idea of the Holocaust never mind the reality, and people invoking such comparisons ought to be fucking ashamed of themselves. I shouldn’t have to explain why pointing to any and all extremely generic villainy and saying ‘they are literal Nazis, enjoying this action-adventure film makes you a literal Nazi apologist!!!!!’ is far more offensive than cosplaying a Stormtrooper or shitposting to r/EmpireDidNothingWrong will ever be.

And I know this shit is hypocrisy all the way down, because if there were legitimate moral concerns about the people who buy a Darth Vader action figure thinking he’s someone to literally emulate in real life instead of a fun pretend power fantasy, these same people would object just as strongly to merchandise of any given superhero and most of the ‘heroic’ sw characters.

People with genuinely regressive politics who want to read the story to support their worldview do not see themselves as the villains. They see themselves as the heroes. Even the actual literal Nazis painted themselves as valiant underdogs rebelling against an enemy which was both impossibly entrenched and strong, running the world, but also weak because their beliefs and people are inherently inferior. That is scapegoating 101. That is the authoritarian playbook.

Identifying with villains who are presented as villains instead of uncritically accepting the hero as an avatar actually requires the modicum of narrative sophistication and self-awareness necessary to realise you’re being told a story that isn’t real and has a subjective pov in the first place.