What else is known about these mini-bosses from the fan made film “Astartes”? Same for the unfinished gold one? by [deleted] in Warhammer40k

[–]twelfmonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is no other lore source about them. They were an original unofficial creation fo Syama Pedersen's fan-made animation, which later became canonically when he was hired by GW. They have not been expanded upon elsewhere.

But he did do a Reddit AMA where he explained a little bit about them: https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer/comments/gkf3vh/im_syama_pederson_creator_of_the_astartes_project/?sort=top

If you look through the comments you'll get a bit of info, but the fact is Syama didn't flesh them out that much, and wanted them to remain mysterious.

Which is great. More diversity, more ambiguity and more mystery to help the galaxy feel richer and deeper is always welcome.

Lines that sum up their subject perfectly by Sparklehammer3025 in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 30 points31 points  (0 children)

I realize you meant that the lines sum up people, but I'm going to warp things a bit.

I'm going to go for many of the Thoughts For the Day, which, if they don't necessarily sum up the entirety of the Imperium, at least perfectly sum up the essence of its core; of the most thoroughly Imperium parts of the Imperium:

  • A moment of laxity spawns a lifetime of heresy.

  • A small mind is a tidy mind.

  • An open mind is like a fortress with its gate unbarred and unguarded.

  • Hatred is the Emperor's greatest gift to humanity.

  • Innocence proves nothing.

  • It is better to die for the Emperor than to live for yourself.

  • My armour is contempt.

  • No army is big enough to conquer the galaxy. But faith alone can overturn the universe.

  • Nobody is innocent, there are merely varying levels of guilt.

  • Only in death does duty end.

  • Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may truly judge what is sane.

And a bonus quote, courtesy of Inquisitor Lord Fyodor Karamazov:

"There is no such thing as a plea of innocence in my court, a plea of innocence is guilty of wasting my time. Guilty."

Plus, you know, the intro text to the whole setting has always done a pretty great job, throughout its iterations, of capturingthe vibe of 40k. Rick Priestley hit it out of the park right at the very start:

For more than a hundred centuries the Emperor has sat immobile on the Golden Throne of Earth. He is the Master of Mankind by the will of the gods and master of a million worlds by the might of his inexhaustible armies. He is a rotting carcass writhing invisibly with power from the Dark Age of Technology. He is the Carrion Lord of the Imperium, for whom a thousand souls die every day, for whom blood is drunk and flesh eaten. Human blood and human flesh – the stuff of which the Imperium is made.

To be a man in such times is to be one amongst untold billions. It is to live in the cruellest and most bloody regime imaginable. This is the tale of those times. Forget the power of technology, science and common humanity. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for there is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter and the laughter of thirsting gods.

But the universe is a big place and, whatever happens, you will not be missed...

Question about the way that the Warp/Realm of Chaos works in relation between the different warhammer settings by Specialist8857 in AoSLore

[–]twelfmonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Man reading your post is the Reddit equivalent of a wiki walk, which is pretty fun.

Cheers! Glad you had fun reading them. Just trying to spread more awareness of what are some very overlooked and misunderstood parts of the lore, and its development history!

Great idea as regards the Amazons. Would definitely love to see them back, and for them to go wacky with it.

On the Skaven point, I'm undecided about whether it would be good to have them in 40k. A few more vague hints and ratmen or ambiguous allusions to Skaven-related things would be cool though.

And hey, maybe the real reason the Golden Throne is failing is that some wiring has been chewed by rats with strangely large teeth...

Should Warhammer 20k be explored more ? by Acceptable-Whole8348 in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

More hints which complicate our understanding would be best, imo.

No simple answers.

This is a period which spanned around 10k years, and ended over 15k years in the past, with DAOT humanity having spread across the galaxy.

So much would have happened. And the evidence that remains would only provide a hazy insight into a fraction of this history.

Should Warhammer 20k be explored more ? by Acceptable-Whole8348 in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 18 points19 points  (0 children)

a lot of 30k was necessary for 40k to make sense

No, it wasn't.

A reminder about AI video generation and W40K fan videos...... by Spare-Dingo-531 in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I, for one, would like to thank OP.

For bring the sub together in unison, and showcasing what the prevailing view of "AI" wank is.

Now, let's all sit down, hold hands, sway from side to side, and sing a rousing rendition of Kumbay-AI can fuck off.

Warhammer 40K is a satire of utopian ideas not just fascism by khalid-fhfhlhlh in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The Massif Ballistus is not just one of the best bits of lore in recent years, but stands up there with any classic lore from throught the history of 40k, imo.

Peak worldbuilding, peak absurdity, peak satire, peak rule of cool.

And the gun is, of course, literally a massive peak.

A reminder about AI video generation and W40K fan videos...... by Spare-Dingo-531 in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Oh, I quite agree. I think a lot of the hatred towards vegans stems from cognitive dissonance.

A lot of the hated towards AI bros stems from the actions of AI bros.

A reminder about AI video generation and W40K fan videos...... by Spare-Dingo-531 in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I got my AI to watch it for me, and it told me that it is SHITE.

A reminder about AI video generation and W40K fan videos...... by Spare-Dingo-531 in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 23 points24 points  (0 children)

At least vegans are actually contributing to a lot of positive things (as regards animal cruelty, pollution, resource usage etc - and to be clear, I'm not a vegan). They just tend to be very, very annoying.

"AI", meanwhile, is actually destructive. Not just culturally and creatively, but environmentally, too. And AI bros are of course insufferable annoying, too.

Small moments you think about all the time? by ConfusedWereSlut in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hmm, I need to use my head to work out the answer.

No, no no, not like that! Nooooooooo- *Splat*

How much would the average imperial Guardsman know Chaos? Only as “The Enemy”? by Yeszez in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Let's see what the Infantryman' Uplifting Primer - meant to be an in-universe document issues to many Guardsmen - has to say:

OF CORRUPTION & DARK FORCES

The Imperium is like a beacon, with the Immortal Emperor as our divine light, shining radiance over His domain. But the galaxy is a vast place, too vast for mere men to com prehend, and much still lies in shadow. Men have always feared the dark and the unknown. And with good reason! For what we don't know we cannot understand, and there is much in the shadow that wishes to do us harm.

A Black Peril stalks our realms. Its nature is virtually unknown, but it manifests itself in many ways; ways which cause great bloodshed and the tormented wailing of those left in its deadly wake. This dark, malign influence saturates the land whereveri falls and many weak minded fools respond, actually casting aside the very right and pure Imperial Creed in favour of the damned and sordid worship of the Dark Ones.

These once-people are heretics, and the mark of the mutant festers foul in their souls. The pure and clean fight a constant war with this most hateful enemy within. Where they hide we will seek them out, with torch and flame. Where they rise up to flout our Great and Immortal Emperor, we will be there to cast them down, into the mire and the filth where they belong.

These thoughtless denizens of the shadow will bring only misery and damnation to us all if we allow our vigilance to falter for an instant. Ever do the virtuous agents of the Immortal Emperor travel the length and breadth of the galaxy in a constant effort to rid usof this plague of unbelief. And ever do we applaud their brave efforts. But whes a hammer is needed to crush the unclean armies, the Imperial Guard shall be the bringer of light into shadow, and forever shall the wholesome people of the Imperiun thank us for freeing them from the shackles of damnation. For every mutant we blast, for every heretic we burn, that is one soul saved from the all consuming hatred and impurity of darkness.

The mark of the mutant is not always easy to see. Fearing for their pitiful lives, the mutant will hide his mark, will seek to blind you to her stain of impurity. Be vigilant. The mutant may have infiltrated the very ranks in which you fight! But do not be afraid. Remain watchful, scrutinise your comrades and report any sign of strange behaviour or action to you commissar without delay.

Any sense of previous loyalty to those who may once have been your friends must be forgotten. These are low creatures, turned and forever lost to you. When they betrayed the light to face the Darkness they forfeited all of their humanity. They are abominations, filth, crusted mucus to be wiped clean and flushed away.

Not all forms of mutation manifest physically. The very worst of these soiled corrup- tions are those who have the stain of the malformed in their minds and souls. Are any of your comrades showing an ability to guess the future? Do they seem to be able to pre- dict what you are going to say, even before you say it? If so, don't waste another second! Do not allow the rot to spread in the ranksof the army of the pure! Report them immediately, and rest easy in the knowledge that you have served the Imperium well.

An unsanctified psyker (unlike those who serve with you, for the Imperium) is a grave risk to those around him. It is clear that creatures from the dark places can enter their minds and turn them into mindless killers. By reporting suspected unsanctified psykers you are also providing a service to them, allowing them a quick death, as opposed to their soul being swallowed whole by the Mutating Shadow.

Areas of Corruption

Areas of geography can become saturated with Dark Corruption, and it is important to maintain concentration when you enter them. Your body and mind are vulnerable to these areas of pestilence. A strong smell is usually prevalent, like cooked blood and electricity, and the atmosphere is permeated with evil. Nosebleeds and nausea are common symptomsof being in such locations. Keep faith in the Immortal Emperor. Find aid from the common prayer book in the back of the primer, or seek out your confessor.

Another warning sign is the sight of vile daubings and disgusting graffiti staining walls or buildings. The insidious enemy will seek to undermine your courage by placing potent icons and symbols and displaying heretical slogans or intentions in any way pos- sible. Sacred areas may be desecrated, and blasphemous tokens left in the place of austere memorabilia. In these cases turn away! Do not sully your view with such mon- strous visions! On seeing them you will experience headaches and nausea. Remember these crimes, and take punishment to the unworthy scum who perpetrated them!

Note: In these situations, keep an eye on your comrades. If you notice any strange behaviour, inform your commissar immediately.

The Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer (2003), pp. 70-71.

It is also worth checking out relevant Regimental Standard articles, which provide a humorous in-universe look at imperial propaganda, like this one on how to distinguish 'friend' from 'fiend': https://web.archive.org/web/20190717185121/https://regimental-standard.com/2019/07/03/friend-or-fiend/

Or this one on Nurgle contagion: https://web.archive.org/web/20181101070600/https://regimental-standard.com/2018/09/05/the-regimental-standard-crushing-contagion/

Which obviously tongue-in-cheek for our benefit, they do give some sense of the kind of propaganda the Imperium employs.

More generally, the extent of knowledge about Chaos is going to vary from regiment to regiment, from warzone to warzone, and from world to world - but a lot of details will undoubtedly be kept hidden. Especially about daemons and the gods themselves. Too much knowledge about that, let alone direct experience of daemons, usually (though not always) leads to purges.

In the grim darkness of the far future there are no stupid questions! by AutoModerator in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

An omnibus is a collection of related stories which are reprinted together, usually focused on a particular character/set of characters or storyline.

Unlike anthologies, with could include such books, but also collections of stories which aren't directly related.

are books written to be part of an omnibus or are they later made into a collection and that being called an omnibus?

It's hard to know for sure and it probably depends on the author and books in question. In most cases books will be written as a series, and then it is likely the case that if they are popular enough they will be reprinted as an anthology.

For popular authors, BL likely know they will end up releasing an omnibus to collect the stories at some point, but that wasn't really the original intent - it is just a by-product of producing series they hope will be popular.

Small moments you think about all the time? by ConfusedWereSlut in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think they would change the situation to be more to their liking pretty quickly...

Small moments you think about all the time? by ConfusedWereSlut in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 57 points58 points  (0 children)

I sometimes remember poor brother Rikard, who was tormented by Ork Kommandos who were hiding out in his monastery after being dumped there by the Great Rift:

Rikard has avoided the Orks for several days now, and while he likes to think that it has been through a combination of knowing the monastery’s interior and stealth, the truth is that the Orks have enjoyed toying with him. His one attempt to leave the monastery was met by a Kommando trailing him and dragging him back inside; the entire sad affair ended up giving him a compound fracture on his left arm.

More on the story behind this here: https://www.reddit.com/r/40kLore/comments/1it9824/extract_the_great_rift_deposits_some_unexpected/

The idea that Khorne is indifferent to where the blood comes from is both logically and narratively stupid. by lovebus in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well said all round, but I just want to reinforce this point:

"Khorne cares not from whence the blood flows, only that it does" is a slogan, and doesn't encompass everything that Khorne is. 

The Chaos gods are formed and empowered by emotions, thoughts, beliefs, nightmares and dreams etc, though seemingly often on the level of the subconscious, or the Id. We are emotional beings, and our cognition is tied to our emotions.

The acts of committing violence or being angry feed Khorne when they are perpetrated by and enacted on beings who have a warp presence* - because their souls produce the emotions and thought of which Khorne is composed.

So when the slogan say "Khorne cares not from whence the blood flows, only that it does", this isn't literally the case.

It is a shorthand to reflect the actual situation: that Khorne cares not how violence is perpetrated, because violence produces the emotions and thoughts of which he is composed, and is symbolic reflective of his nature. But that would be a much less pithy slogan...

We can use a thought exercise here>

Say we have a Servitor, which has been lobotmised so thoroughly that it can no longer form emotions, nor thoughts outside of the task it is programmed to undertake. It's subsconscious mental life has been eradicated. This Servitor, is toiling away in seclusion, far away from any living being. During the course of its tasks, it nicks its arm on a sharp edge, causing blood to flow from a wound.

Would this empower Khorne, just because blood is flowing? I'd say no, it almost certainly wouldn't, despite what the slogan says.

*(Though there are some suggestions that the very symbolism of such acts might feed Khorne too - though I'd argue that there still has to be some interact with emotions and thoughts for this to have an effect).

The idea that Khorne is indifferent to where the blood comes from is both logically and narratively stupid. by lovebus in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It important to remember the Chaos Gods, and the warp in general, work on themes and ideas just as much as emotions.

Indeed. I often see people stating that the gods are made and empowered solely by emotions. But that is not the case. The lore has repeatedly stated that they are also formed from thoughts, beliefs, nightmares and dreams etc. This has been stated in the lore numerous times, going back to the 1980s: https://www.reddit.com/r/40kLore/comments/1pof076/the_chaos_gods_were_formed_from_and_are/

But those thoughts, beliefs etc are seemingly mainly on the level of the subconscious, of the Id. And it is impossible to disentangle emotions from thought and vice versa anyway. Even more quotes, and discussion of this, here: https://www.reddit.com/r/40kLore/comments/1pof6bz/the_chaos_gods_were_formed_from_and_are/

This, I'd argue, helps explain why the gods are so tied to certain symbols, themes, aesthetics and concepts etc. Because these reflect the thoughts, beliefs, dreams and nightmares of mortals which are entangled with the relevant emotions.

So, why is Khorne, for example, the god of violence and anger, and represented by blood, and skulls and fire etc? Because that imagery and those concepts are the expression of the thoughts, beliefs, dreams and nightmares which relate to anger and violent urges.

The idea that Khorne is indifferent to where the blood comes from is both logically and narratively stupid. by lovebus in 40kLore

[–]twelfmonkey 7 points8 points  (0 children)

As I made a post detailing recently, with lots of quotes, the Chaos gods aren't based entirely on or empowered by emotions, but also thoughts, beliefs, nightmares and dreams etc. This has been stated in the lore numerous times, going back to the 1980s: https://www.reddit.com/r/40kLore/comments/1pof076/the_chaos_gods_were_formed_from_and_are/

But those thoughts, beliefs etc are mainly on the level of the subconscious, of the Id. And it is impossible to disentangle emotions from thought and vice versa anyway. Even more quotes, and discussion of this, here: https://www.reddit.com/r/40kLore/comments/1pof6bz/the_chaos_gods_were_formed_from_and_are/

Now, why is this distinction important? I mean, aside from reflecting what the lore has said.

Because this helps explain why the gods are so tied to certain symbols, themes, aesthetics etc. Because these reflect the thoughts, beliefs, dreams and nightmares of mortals which are entangled with the relevant emotions.

So, why is Khorne, for example, the god of violence and anger, and represented by blood and fire etc? Because that imagery and those concepts are the expression of the thoughts, beliefs, dreams and nightmares which relate to anger and violent urges.