Chapter Summaries

Inquisitor Grendel confessed that she had ordered the Planetary Governor’s assassination and pledged to help Rorschach suppress the rebellion. Rorschach’s forces retook the Mid Hive and entered the Lower Hive, where a locomotive trailing green mist appeared as he fought the rebels.

• Inquisitor Grendel told Rorschach that the Governor had exploited the Morbius 6th Regiment and sold tank components, then admitted she ordered his assassination out of sympathy for the regiment.
• Rorschach rejected Grendel’s justification for rebellion, and she knelt and offered to help him restore order.
• Rorschach’s forces retook the Mid Hive in three days, and the rebels retreated into the Lower Hive after destroying the elevators.
• Rorschach ordered Iron Man David to repair the elevators, then descended alone in the Six-armed Iron Cavalry to secure an area for the advancing troops.
• Bishop Khalifa barred the Holy Army from entering the Lower Hive, but Rorschach told David to ignore him for the moment.
• Rorschach spotted a locomotive spewing green mist near the elevators and ordered everyone to scatter and concentrate heavy fire on it.

Rorschach and the local Defense Force fought to hold the passage to the Mid Hive against Nurgle Zombies and rebel forces. After learning Bishop Khalifa had betrayed the hive, Rorschach ordered the Inquisition to take command and continued leading the assault against the rebels.

• Rorschach and the zealots forced the burning Locomotive Head off its tracks, but Nurgle Zombies and rebels emerged from the lower hive buildings.
• Rorschach urged the defenders to protect the passage to the Mid Hive, then charged the Nurgle horde as zealots and Defense Force soldiers joined the fight.
• Rorschach cut through the Zombies and used his weapons to destroy rebels, while the zealots suffered heavy casualties and the Defense Force held its firing line.
• Rorschach ordered David to tell Inquisitor Grendel to take command of the hive city and send reinforcements; David revealed that Bishop Khalifa was dead and had supplied intelligence to the rebels.
• Rorschach ordered resistance to be treated as heresy, fought through the Zombies to aid the zealots, and regrouped them before leading another charge at the rebels.

Rorschach and his zealots attacked the rebels and their Chaos Spawn while reinforcements arrived to turn the battle. After the rebels withdrew into the lower hive, Rorschach prepared to lead a decapitation strike to stop them from opening a Chaos Portal.

• Rorschach led the remaining zealots through the Nurgle zombies, suppressing rebel weapons and urging his followers to stop the sacrificial ritual.
• Rorschach and the zealots broke into the rebel position, while he killed several Chaos Spawn and fought the remaining ones.
• Leman Russ Tanks arrived with reinforcements, and David told Rorschach that Inquisitor Grendel had taken command of the hive city.
• Rorschach learned that the rebel remnants had retreated into the lower hive and ordered David to advance the Defense Force lines.
• Rorschach invited Hassan and Lucy to join him in a decapitation strike against the rebels.

Rorschach led a decapitation squad through the underhive, rescued a soldier from a giant Scrap-Grey Mussel, and followed psyker Lucy’s psychic lead toward the rebels. They discovered the rebels fighting Nurgle forces, while Genestealers attacked the encampment in the name of the Four-Armed God-Emperor.

• Rorschach’s squad entered the toxic underhive, where a giant Scrap-Grey Mussel trapped a Defense Force soldier.
• Rorschach gave the soldier Panacea Capsules and cut the mussel apart with the Scythe of Blood, saving him.
• The squad found a rebel corpse inside an underhive creature, and Lucy sensed a large flow of psychic energy that could lead them to the rebel encampment.
• Rorschach led the squad toward the fighting and heard weapons fire and battle cries ahead.
• From a cliff, Rorschach saw Hybrid Neophytes and aberrants fighting Nurgle Zombies, Chaos Spawn, and a Nurgle Beast.
• Genestealers attacked the rebel encampment, shouting that the Four-Armed God-Emperor would prevail and Chaos must die.

Rorschach led a decapitation squad into the battle between the Genestealers and the Chaos-corrupted rebels, helping break the rebel stronghold and destroy its command center. With the Chaos threat nearly eliminated, he turned on the Genestealers and charged their remaining vehicles.

• Rorschach ordered the Defense Force to bombard the rebel stronghold and gave thirteen zealots Melta Bombs to disrupt the rebels’ sacrificial ritual.
• Rorschach charged into the stronghold as the Genestealers and human vehicles attacked, throwing a Melta Bomb and cutting down rebels and Genestealers in his path.
• The zealots detonated the rebel Armoury, destroying the command center and crippling the Morbius 6th Regiment.
• Rorschach destroyed the Genestealer driving the Goliath Truck, then charged at two disabled Leman Russ Tanks, declaring that the Genestealers were next.

Rorschach destroyed two Leman Russ Tanks and cut down the Genestealers’ commanders, throwing their forces into chaos as he searched for their Patriarch. After the Patriarch ambushed him and shattered his helmet, Rorschach prepared to fight it and activated Shadow Step as it pounced.

• Rorschach used Shadow Step to drop Melta Bombs onto two Leman Russ Tanks, destroying them and their Genestealer crews.
• Rorschach asked David to have Lucy locate the Patriarch’s psychic presence, then used his invisibility to kill Genestealer guards and commanders, disrupting their battlefield coordination.
• The Genestealer Patriarch burst from underground and pierced Rorschach’s Shield Generator field, nearly tearing apart his helmet before his Servo-arms carried him out of reach.
• Rorschach inhaled the toxic air after removing his damaged helmet, told David to assess whether the underhive could withstand a miniature Nuclear Bomb, and challenged the Patriarch.
• As the Patriarch pounced, Rorschach grinned and activated Shadow Step against it.

Rorschach defeated the Genestealer Patriarch with the Scythe of Blood and a Melta Bomb, then joined Iron Man David and the surviving squad to escape the underhive before David detonated a buried miniature Nuclear Bomb. The blast produced a far larger mushroom cloud than expected, forcing everyone to flee as Rorschach realized the underhive’s buried industrial waste had intensified the explosion.

• Rorschach severed the Genestealer Patriarch’s claws, drained its blood with the Scythe of Blood, and struck it with his last Melta Bomb.
• Iron Man David reached Rorschach and explained the miniature Nuclear Bomb’s blast and radiation zones, revealing that he had already buried it underground.
• Rorschach and Iron Man David reunited with the survivors led by Lucy and Hassan, and David detonated the bomb once the squad reached a safer distance.
• The nuclear blast formed an enormous mushroom cloud, and Rorschach ordered everyone to run for the underhive exit.
• Rorschach realized that industrial waste buried beneath the underhive had caused an additional reaction with the nuclear blast.

After stopping the rebellion in Tethym Hive City, Rorschach took control of the city’s reconstruction and installed Hassan as Planetary Governor. On the thirtieth day, Rorschach and Iron Man David entered a spatial rift to return home.

• A psychic force dispersed the toxic fog and calmed the Bottom Hive after the nuclear blast, and Rorschach rejoined the surviving reinforcements.
• Rorschach passed the Ecclesiarchy Priests’ corruption screening, then added Panacea to holy water so the soldiers could recover and be checked for Nurgle corruption.
• Inquisitor Grendel sought Rorschach’s guidance, and he became Tethym Hive City’s temporary ruler, executing nobles from the Planetary Governor’s faction and improving conditions for civilian workers.
• Rorschach ended the wounded Planetary Governor’s life and placed Cadian veteran Hassan in charge, warning him to protect civilians and remain loyal to the Imperium.
• Rorschach gave vials of Emperor’s Blood to Hassan, Lucy, and Inquisitor Grendel before he and Iron Man David entered a spatial rift at the end of the thirtieth day.

Rorschach returned to Eldest Son Island Base after a month in the Warhammer Universe and discovered that the Simulator had recognized Tethym Hive City as a diplomatic faction. After disinfecting himself and restoring his usual appearance, he headed to his quarters to sleep.

• Rorschach and Iron Man David returned to the base, where Rorschach received a Throne Gelt reward and sent David to deliver Leman Russ Tank blueprints to Raditus.
• Rorschach checked the Simulator and noticed that only three days had passed at home during his month away, while the Chaos Gods’ sacred numbers had not changed.
• Rorschach found Tethym Hive City listed on the Diplomacy page with Revered reputation and a Loyal attitude toward him.
• Rorschach washed off his armor and tried, unsuccessfully, to transform his appearance into Governor Hassan’s.
• Exhausted from the support mission, Rorschach left the disinfection room and went to his private quarters to sleep.

Rorschach met Raditus at the Forge Hall, where they discussed installing repaired Void Shields, developing Xenos teleportation technology, and researching Vibranium equipment. He agreed to have David collect original Vibranium samples for Raditus, who returned excitedly to work.

• Rorschach finished his morning routine and went to the Gang dogs' kitchen for food before heading to Second Son Island.
• Raditus told Rorschach that the Leman Russ Tank production could wait while the Thunderhawk Gunship production line was assembled.
• Raditus reported that it and Doom had linked several repaired Void Shields and asked where the shields' displaced damage went in a universe without the Warp.
• Rorschach explained that the Homeworld likely had a similar spatial dimension and approved installing the Void Shields on Eldest Son Island.
• Rorschach told Raditus to continue researching Xenos teleportation while maintaining absolute control over the technology for connecting bases.
• Raditus asked for original Vibranium samples, and Rorschach agreed to have David collect some from items that had leaked out around the world.

Rorschach prepared to train pilots for Twin Islands Base’s newly completed Thunderhawk Gunship production line, but Natasha Romanoff unexpectedly volunteered. She explained that she wanted to become a hero and free other Red Room sisters, leaving Rorschach to consider her motives and offer.

• Raditus informed Rorschach that the first Homeworld-produced Thunderhawk Gunship was ready, so Rorschach began selecting pilots from the gang dogs.
• Only nine candidates signed up, including Doom and Jessica, prompting Rorschach to consider recruiting pilots from Latveria’s Homeland Defense Force.
• Natasha Romanoff asked Rorschach to let her pilot, citing her extensive experience with aircraft and combat flying.
• Rorschach questioned whether Natasha could be trusted because she was a S.H.I.E.L.D. captive who knew the base’s location.
• Natasha said she would accept brainwashing or an explosive collar, then explained that she no longer trusted S.H.I.E.L.D. and wanted to become a hero who freed Red Room sisters.

After Natasha pledged loyalty to Rorschach, she revealed information about S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Red Room, and Rorschach sent her to lead a raid on the Red Room as a test. As the Thunderhawk Gunship departed, Rorschach began another Golden Throne simulation, which started with the sound of a spinning coin.

• Natasha gave Rorschach intelligence about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s bases, personnel, and dangerous technology, leading him to consider taking over the organization.
• Rorschach welcomed Natasha onto his team but had Raditus make her wear a remotely detonated bracelet monitored by Iron Man David.
• Natasha explained the Red Room's Black Widow program and asked Rorschach to help rescue the remaining agents and trainees.
• Rorschach ordered Natasha to lead the Stormtrooper squad in a raid to capture the other Black Widows alive, while secretly authorizing the squad to kill her if she betrayed them.
• Three days later, Natasha led the squad aboard the Thunderhawk Gunship, and Rorschach stayed behind to begin a Golden Throne simulation.

The narrator was deployed as a Dark Angels recruit in a battle against Dark Eldar and helped defeat the raiding party. Afterward, he clashed with Interrogator Chaplain Asmodeus, who was rebuked by another Dark Angel and left behind as the narrator went to inspect captured civilians.

• The narrator arrived behind a rocky barricade and killed a Dark Eldar attacking on a Raider Motorcycle.
• The narrator recognized the Dark Angels and charged into the fight, helping his squad slaughter the Dark Eldar raiding party.
• Asmodeus berated the narrator for risking encirclement, and the narrator challenged his authority and conduct.
• A Dark Angel intervened, warned Asmodeus, praised the narrator, and sent him to inspect the captured civilians.

The recruit rescued three dying civilians from a Dark Eldar vessel but ended their suffering when no way to transport them for treatment was available. After confronting Asmodeus over his cruel remarks, the recruit continued the journey with the Dark Angels to hunt the Dark Eldar across the harsh planet.

• The recruit and a Dark Angels warrior found more than fifty civilians impaled on a Reaver Anti-Gravity Sailboat and rescued only three survivors.
• A veteran Sergeant told the recruit that the squad could not take the survivors to a settlement, so the recruit killed and buried them at their request.
• The recruit pointed a bloodied Power Sword at Asmodeus after he mocked the civilians, but the veteran Sergeant ordered them both to stop.
• A Dark Angels veteran warned the recruit that Asmodeus was jealous and urged him to focus on avenging the dead by killing the Dark Eldar.
• The Tactical Squad spent most of its first month crossing the planet, where extreme temperatures and Dark Eldar raids endangered human settlements.

The narrator fought Dark Eldar attacking a human settlement, but the Dark Angels withdrew after receiving intelligence that Fallen Angels might be nearby. After condemning the Chapter for abandoning the civilians, the narrator was accused of heresy and surrounded by armed Dark Angels.

• The narrator and the Tactical Squad attacked a Dark Eldar raiding party, and the narrator killed a pleasure-seeker despite suffering a shoulder wound.
• A command ordered the Dark Angels to assemble, and the narrator reluctantly withdrew with a veteran to the Land Raider.
• The narrator confronted the Sergeant over abandoning the civilians, and the Sergeant explained that intelligence about possible Fallen Angels took priority.
• The narrator denounced the Dark Angels and threatened to confront Lion El'Jonson, prompting Asmodeus to accuse him of being a heretic or Fallen Angel.
• The Dark Angels drew their Power Swords and targeted the narrator as Asmodeus declared that the narrator would die the next day.

You fought Asmodeus and escaped the Dark Angels with help from a sympathetic veteran, then stole an Eldar Jetbike while fleeing through a settlement attacked by Dark Eldar. You renounced the Dark Angels Chapter and declared that your former Battle Brothers would meet you as enemies.

• You defeated Asmodeus in combat but struck him unconscious rather than killing him, then fled toward a Land Raider.
• A Dark Angels veteran covertly warned you about the Land Raider's tracking system and helped you escape into the settlement streets.
• You ran through the settlement, saw civilians massacred by the Dark Eldar, and blamed the Dark Angels' Inner Circle for abandoning the Emperor's ideals.
• You evaded a Dark Eldar on an Eldar Jetbike, killed the rider, and took control of the vehicle as four Dark Angels caught up.
• You told the Dark Angels that you would become a Fallen Angel, renounced the Chapter, and declared that you would fight your former Battle Brothers if they met again.

After fleeing the battle, the poisoned recruit collapsed in the wasteland and was rescued by Lord Cypher. Lord Cypher revealed that he had chosen the recruit to inherit the role of Lord Cypher, leaving the recruit stunned by the responsibility.

• The recruit fled the Dark Eldar and Dark Angels on an Eldar Jetbike, then stopped among boulders as the poison in his body worsened.
• As he neared death, a voice questioned his loyalty, and the recruit declared himself loyal to The Emperor and himself before losing consciousness.
• The recruit woke in a stone chamber with his Power Armor removed and Lord Cypher nearby.
• Lord Cypher explained that he had treated the recruit with stolen Blood Witches' medicine, which cured the poison and strengthened his recovery.
• The recruit offered to repay Lord Cypher by helping him, and Lord Cypher announced that he wanted the recruit to become the next Lord Cypher.

Lord Cypher explained the history of his title, Caliban’s fall, and the mysterious Warp artifact Ouroboros, then trained the narrator in combat, firearms, armor repair, and the factions among the Fallen Angels. The chapter ended with Lord Cypher having taught the narrator how to judge and use the different Fallen factions while warning which ones should be killed.

• Lord Cypher recounted how the ancient title of Lord Cypher entered the First Legion and how Caliban’s destruction, the Primarch’s slumber, and the Dark Angels’ schism were tied to Chaos and Ouroboros.
• Lord Cypher revealed that he had become the current Lord Cypher after killing his predecessor, but withheld the details of his mission until he was near death.
• Lord Cypher trained the narrator in hand-to-hand combat, and the narrator repeatedly fought him before being knocked down and warned about overlooking dangers in battle.
• Lord Cypher gave the narrator a Plasma Pistol and a Bolter Pistol, then ordered him to practice shooting at a crater for twenty-four hours after the narrator teased him about the plasma weapon.
• Lord Cypher taught the narrator to dismantle and repair Power Armor and explained which Fallen Angels were loyal to the Emperor, Lion, Luther, or Chaos, and how to use or eliminate them.

Lord Cypher passed his knowledge, equipment, and the Lion's Sword to his successor, then demanded that he kill him to inherit the title's hidden duty. The new Lord Cypher received fragmented memories suggesting he had already taken part in Caliban's Great Heresy and that his task involved awakening Lion El'Jonson.

• Lord Cypher taught his successor about his hidden resources, the Chrono-crystal, the Webway, and how to deal with alien races.
• Lord Cypher warned his successor never to draw the Lion's Sword except while carrying out the title's arduous duty, then gave it to him.
• Lord Cypher explained that his successor could learn his duty only by killing him and inheriting his memory fragments.
• The successor killed Old Cypher with a ceramite fist and received vivid memories of Lion El'Jonson, Luther, Zahariel, and the Emperor.
• The new Lord Cypher heard Lion El'Jonson ask him to awaken him from the darkness and wondered whether he had already participated in Caliban's Great Heresy.

After burning old Safer’s body and leaving the cave, Lord Cypher set out across the wasteland to begin wandering the galaxy. Three Dark Eldar Nightmare Swordsmen attacked him, and he killed all three with his weapons and the Chrono-crystal’s Bullet Time.

• Lord Cypher burned old Safer’s corpse with Promethium and paid his respects with an Eagle Salute.
• Lord Cypher gathered his weapons, cleared the cave, and rode away on the Eldar Jetbike to begin a new journey.
• Lord Cypher considered wandering the galaxy before three Nightmare Swordsmen pursued him on Raider Motorcycles.
• Lord Cypher shot down one Raider Motorcycle and attacked its rider with the Tormentor Power Scythe and Plasma Pistol.
• Lord Cypher activated Bullet Time, killed two Nightmare Swordsmen with plasma fire, and beheaded the last with the Power Scythe.