Chapter Summaries

Nimrod tested the Simian Field alongside the Geller Field, organized a new offensive against the Orks, and received Hannibal, who wanted to join the fighting. After Joffre reported that the Faceless Ones had shown unusual interest in Ork corpses, Nimrod gave him an Arbites potion and set out for the embarkation deck.

• Nimrod confirmed that the Simian Field could coexist with the Geller Field and ordered the Tech Sergeants to develop a control device.
• Nimrod assigned Legion forces to attack Planets Eight and Four, sent other troops to the Wheel of Fire, and led the Honor Guard to Planet Four.
• Nimrod received Hannibal at a banquet and noticed that Hannibal's sons Suarez and Erlin showed signs of having eaten xenos.
• Hannibal told Nimrod that he wanted to see the Orks, and Nimrod agreed to set out with him.
• Joffre told Nimrod that the Faceless Ones had shown unusual eagerness to speak with him and the others after battles, apparently around Ork corpses.
• Nimrod gave Joffre an Arbites potion and taught him how to become a Beyonder before heading to the embarkation deck.

Nimrod explained his plan to purge the Ork strongholds on the fourth planet and assigned the Second Legion one of its largest fortresses. Hannibal led his sons in a hunt, teaching them to kill Orks carefully and prepare them as a feast.

• Nimrod showed Hannibal the fourth planet’s sixteen major Ork strongholds and explained how his forces would draw the tribes into infighting before attacking the survivors.
• Nimrod assigned the Second Legion an offensive against the Number Two stronghold, and Hannibal rejoined his Legion after its landing craft arrived.
• Hannibal led the Faceless Ones in an assault on the Ork perimeter, then taught them how to select and kill their prey with Bear-Hunting Knives.
• Hannibal’s chefs cooked the Orks, and he invited more than three hundred of his best-performing sons to share the meal.
• Suarez and Erlin enjoyed the feast and decided they should follow Hannibal’s example and become gourmets.

Sanchez led the 7th Legion of the Eleventh Legion to Catachan, where he negotiated with Lucas and won the Catachans' loyalty to Nimrod. The Shadows of Order began arriving in force, and the Chief Apothecary led an expedition into Catachan's dangerous forest.

• Sanchez scanned Catachan and found a jungle world with no defenses, then flew with his honor guard to a settlement.
• Mesut translated for Sanchez as he told the armed Catachans that the Shadow of Order had come to recover their human kin.
• Lucas pledged loyalty to Nimrod, and Sanchez welcomed him into the ranks.
• Lucas hosted a feast, where the Shadows of Order ate Catachan delicacies and injected medicine to counter the snakes' venom.
• Lucas persuaded other tribes to swear loyalty to Nimrod, and Sanchez returned to the Shadow of the Throne to pray to the Black Emperor.
• The 7th Legion began entering Catachan in force as the Chief Apothecary led his men into the forest.

Sanchez established a prayer connection between Catachan and Nimrod, who heard his report and replied with a faint “I know.” Meanwhile, Mikel’s team ventured into Catachan’s jungle to capture a brainleaf, where a Hunter survived a plant attack and learned to adapt to the planet’s dangers.

• Sanchez performed a ritual and prayed to Nimrod, reporting that the Catachan tribes had pledged loyalty to Lord Nimrod.
• Nimrod detected Sanchez’s weakened prayer on the shadowed side of the Kingdom of Disorder and sent back the words, “I know.”
• Mikel led a team through the jungle without power armor, tracking a large creature he identified as a Catachan Daemon.
• Mikel recognized a brainleaf from Nimrod’s information, captured it in a medicated net, and hung it on his pack.
• A Hunter cut down a Mirel Catcher after it poisoned him, then realized he had to learn Catachan’s environment to become a true hunter.

Mikel and the Shadows of Order crossed Catachan’s jungle, where he tamed a Catachan Daemon and used it to carry the squad past a deadly group of Barking Toads. They emerged at a Catachan camp, stunning the tribes and spreading news of their extraordinary pet.

• Mikel used drugged shots and Animal Taming to subdue a Catachan Daemon as other Daemons closed in on the squad.
• Vampire lured the pursuing Daemons away with a red dose, and Mikel drove the tamed creature deeper through the jungle.
• Mikel stopped the squad before a group of Greater and Lesser Catachan Barking Toads, then waited two hours for them to leave.
• The Shadows of Order rode the Catachan Daemon out of the forest, where a Catachan announced that it was their pet.
• Lucas and the Catachans were stunned by the tamed Daemon, and news of the feat quickly spread among the tribes.

Mikel and Sanchez organized forest expeditions across Catachan while the Shadow of Order recruited from local tribes and trained Beast Tamers. After a month of dangerous exploration and heavy losses, the chapter reviewed its lessons and prepared to adapt the Thunderwolves to the jungle.

• Mikel and Sanchez divided the forest into three exploration zones and assigned teams of Hunters, Provocateurs, Apothecaries, Shadow of Order, and Catachan warriors.
• Mikel taught the Beast Tamers to choose safe targets and gave them a month to tame pets, while the Shadow of Order recruited children and adults among the tribes.
• Squad Fifty-Four’s Apothecary was nearly suffocated by a Catachan catcher, and the squad captain led the rescue and ordered the team back to the Void Hunter.
• The Beast Tamers presented their captured creatures to Mikel, who declared them qualified and tasked them with acclimating the Thunderwolves to Catachan.
• Thibault reported that the chapter had lost 274 men in a month, including 54 interred in Dreadnoughts, and Sanchez ordered the captains to repeat the lessons learned.

The Reaper Lord and Hunter discussed recruiting Catachans for the 7th Legion while preserving the world’s population, and the Chief Apothecary described efforts to increase it. On Triken, Malena handed responsibility for the system’s food supply and environmental oversight to Keri before departing for Catachan to study its dangerous plants.

• Hunter praised Catachans as natural hunters suited to the 7th Legion and reported that about 150,000 boys were eligible for recruitment.
• The Chief Apothecary warned Sanchez not to recruit every eligible boy, and the Reaper Lord ordered the Legion to select only the best candidates and require auxiliary soldiers to have children before leaving Catachan.
• The Chief Apothecary said medicine was being supplied and local plants were being studied to develop treatments for Catachan’s toxins and support population growth.
• Malena showed Keri the developed farms and ranches of Triken and explained that she would entrust Keri with grain supplies and oversight of the system’s environmental impact.
• Malena arranged for Keri to train as a Physician by treating candidates whose modifications had failed, then left for Catachan three days later.

Nimrod killed Warboss Taylor Leg-Breaker and reviewed Triken's growing industrial and natural resources while preparing for negotiations with Graia. The Crown of Graia arrived in the Wheel of Fire System five standard days later.

• Nimrod used a vision from John to anticipate Leg-Breaker's aerial attack, then destroyed the Warboss's legs and killed him with the Sword of Vaul.
• Arsena Dunn told Nimrod that the Crown of Graia was expected in five stellar days, and Nimrod left the outpost cleanup to the Fourth and 11th Chapters and Hannibal's Second Legion.
• Rosicky Czech reported that the Simian Field control device was complete and that he had mastered construction of Bastion-class Energy Shields for Hive Cities; Nimrod ordered him to deploy Warp Gates and shields in seven systems after the Graia negotiations.
• Arsena reported Triken's shipyards, Foundries, mining bases, and Tarawa Tribe Artisans, and Nimrod ordered the Artisans to equip the Royal Court Acolytes first and ranch the system's domesticated Dinosaurs.
• Arsena described Triken's Ceramite production, Aeldari Psyker cultivation crystals, volcanic Mandrake plants, and luminous black crystal; Nimrod ordered research on Mandrake and welcomed the system's resources.
• The Crown of Graia arrived in the Wheel of Fire System five standard days later.

Nimrod and Degoes-12 finalized an alliance between the Shadow of Order and Graia, covering research, supplies, and military support. After visiting the Crown of Graia as it deployed forces to the Attack Moon, Nimrod returned to learn that the Eleventh and Sixth Legions had cleared more planets and were preparing to attack the Wheel of Fire’s primary world.

• Nimrod and Degoes-12 negotiated Graia’s research, supply, and military commitments, including one-third of the Morning Star Titan Legion and Graia’s Skitarii.
• After eleven days of talks, the Lord of the Forge and Graia finalized the treaty, which Nimrod and Degoes-12 signed before attending witnesses.
• Degoes-12 welcomed Nimrod, Rosicky, and Arsena aboard the Crown of Graia, where its forces began boarding the Attack Moon and building defensive strongpoints.
• Nimrod returned to the Shadow of the Throne after watching the Crown of Graia land on the Attack Moon.
• By the end of 821, the Eleventh Legion had cleansed the fourth and eighth planets, while the Space Wolves Legion had cleansed the third and sixth.
• In 822.M30, the Eleventh, Second, and Sixth Legions launched an offensive against the Wheel of Fire’s primary world.

Nimrod coordinated the Legions’ assault on the Wheel of Fire and assigned the Morning Star Titan Legion to fight alongside the 8th Legion. After orbital bombardment, the Primarchs landed, and Alex prepared his Titan for battle as Orks charged toward it.

• Nimrod assigned Hannibal’s Second Legion to cleanse the southern continent and arranged for the Morning Star Titan Legion to join the 8th Legion in attacking fortress T.
• Alex confirmed that Graia would commit thirty-five Titans and returned to the Lagos to prepare its crew and systems for combat.
• Nimrod ordered forces from the Legions to take part in the final battle, while the three Legions began orbital bombardment of the Wheel of Fire’s primary world.
• Leman Russ led the Space Wolves into battle on the western northern continent, charging ahead of his warriors and attacking the Orks.
• Alex’s Warlord-class Titan landed on the planet, completed its systems checks, and locked onto the advancing Orks.

Alex’s Titans and the Shadow of Order attacked the Ork fortress, where Thierry led the assault against the Ork Warboss. Thierry killed the Warboss with a sword strike after Robin was cleaved in two, and he revealed that he had awakened Warp Insight.

• Alex ordered the Titans to bombard the Orks while Skitarii Rangers supported their advance with Arc Rifles.
• Thierry led the Shadow of Order through a breached fortress wall, and Robin followed with the First Company.
• Thierry and his guard fought their way through the fortress as the Lagos and other Titans advanced inside.
• The Ork Warboss attacked Thierry, but Thierry countered with Osberh-Vaya techniques and damaged the Warboss’s armor.
• Robin rushed toward the Warboss, who cleaved him in two with his golden Choppa.
• Thierry pierced the Warboss’s head with his Power Sword, then said he had awakened Warp Insight and noted that Robin was dead.

Two months into the campaign, James and the Second Legion attacked Ork fortress C, where he hoped to kill the warlord and earn his gene-father’s trust. Wilshire’s company broke through the fortress defenses, and James charged toward the Waaagh! Banner amid a battle between Dreadnoughts and Deff Dreads.

• James led the assault on fortress C with House Vicstrix, seeking the Ork warlord as a chance to prove himself to his gene-father.
• Wilshire rallied the 4th Company and led its warriors over the walls, destroying seven Ork cannons and opening a breach for other companies.
• Wilshire spotted Deathskulls Deff Dreads overwhelming the Second Legion’s Dreadnoughts and recalled his gene-father’s warning about the Ork warlord’s walkers.
• Wilshire leaped down from the wall, reasoning that killing the warlord could free the Orks bound inside the walkers from their restraint.
• James identified the warlord’s trophy-laden Waaagh! Banner and led his guard into the melee toward it.

James and the Shadow of Order fought Soriano and his Stompa, the Flame, but the costly clash left James dead and Soriano wounded. As Wilshire rallied the scattered Second Chapter, Nimrod, Black Wolf Freddy, and Brainy Cat John arrived to break the stalemate.

• James led his guard toward Soriano, but the Flame’s precise ion-gun fire killed thirteen of them before James reached the Ork warlord.
• James struck the Flame’s ribs and abdomen with his Thunder Hammer, but Soriano shattered James’s shield and split him in two with his mechanical claw.
• Soriano used fragments of a destroyed Dreadnought to patch the Flame’s wound, while the Orks renewed their attacks on the scattered Shadow of Order.
• Wilshire’s song rallied the Shadow of Order, and he led the Fourth Company toward Soriano, but Deff Dreads held them in a fierce firefight.
• Nimrod charged into the Deff Dreads alongside Black Wolf Freddy and Brainy Cat John.

Nimrod killed the Ork warlord Soriano and routed the Orks after Freddy’s dream power incapacitated much of the battlefield. He mourned the fallen Second Legion warriors, appointed Wilshire the new lord of the Legion, and Leman Russ and Hannibal later learned of the victory.

• Freddy used his Black Wolf power to put nearby Orks and Dreadnoughts to sleep, but Soriano resisted with the aid of Gork and Mork, and Freddy’s unleashed mythical form knocked allies and enemies unconscious.
• Arsena Dunn used his Psyker staff to destroy several Deff Dreads, while Nimrod struck through the Flame’s armor and killed Soriano.
• Freddy ended his mythical form, and the Shadows of Order and Honor Guard attacked the demoralized Orks as some fled and others fought among themselves.
• Nimrod preserved Soriano’s head, ordered his sons’ heads buried, and sent the Waaagh! Banner to his trophy vault before destroying fourteen Deff Dreads.
• Nimrod gave James’s Thunder Hammer to Wilshire and named him lord of the Second Legion with the title Lord of Light.
• Two hours later, Leman Russ and Hannibal learned that Nimrod had slain the Ork warlord.

After defeating the Ork warlord in the Wheel of Fire, Nimrod learned that the Fifteenth Legion had discovered Ferrus Manus on Medusa IV. The Emperor praised Nimrod’s victory and summoned him to the Medusa System to help recover the Primarch.

• Hannibal ordered his Legion to stockpile food, while Leman Russ rallied his warriors after Nimrod defeated him and ordered them to keep cleansing the Orks.
• Nimrod withdrew the battered Second Legion, collected the Ork warlord’s teeth and banner, and ordered news of his victory sent to the Emperor, Malcador, and Horus.
• Arsena Dunn reported that the Fifteenth Legion had discovered human clans and a demigod named Ferrus Manus on Medusa IV, formerly called Sthenelus.
• Nimrod ordered the Astropathic Choir to tell the Emperor about Ferrus Manus and his victory over the Ork warlord.
• Ten days later, Arsena told Nimrod that the Emperor had summoned him to the Medusa System to accompany him in recovering Ferrus Manus.

Nimrod accompanied The Emperor to Medusa to recover Ferrus Manus, bringing Gabriel along after advancing him to Sequence 8. Ferrus demanded proof of The Emperor’s strength, and The Emperor named Nimrod to fight in his stead.

• Nimrod ordered the Fourth Legion to prepare for Medusa and had Tech Sergeant Gabriel report on House Vicstrix’s damaged Knight Mechs.
• After confirming Gabriel had digested the “Know-it-all” potion, Nimrod sent him to drink an “Archaeologist” potion, advancing him to Sequence 8.
• The Fourth Legion’s fleet arrived in the Medusa System, and Nimrod traveled with The Emperor and Alpharius to the surface.
• Ferrus Manus sensed their arrival and led the Iron Fathers to meet them, while The Emperor’s psychic power shielded the Stormbird from Medusa’s hazards.
• The Emperor asked Ferrus Manus to return to his side, but Ferrus demanded a test of strength, so The Emperor chose Nimrod to fight him.

Nimrod challenged Ferrus Manus to a contest excavating Medusa’s ruins instead of testing their strength, and both Primarchs assembled teams to compete. As their teams set off, The Emperor asked Alpharius who would win.

• Nimrod proposed that he and Ferrus Manus lead teams to excavate separate ruins, with the winner taking the loser’s discoveries.
• The Emperor warned that Ferrus Manus had the advantage on Medusa, but Nimrod insisted on the contest and Manus accepted.
• Nimrod used telepathy to summon Arsena Dunn, Adams, Gabriel, and fifty-four Shadow of Order to Medusa IV.
• Arsena’s transport passed through the wreckage and ion storms, finding that the automated defenses had already been disabled by telekinesis.
• Ferrus Manus arrived with the Iron Fathers, and both Primarchs prepared their teams and began the contest.
• The Emperor watched the teams depart and asked Alpharius who would win.

Nimrod sent Adams to question Medusa’s ghosts and identify its oldest, largest, and most valuable ruins. Adams recorded their answers and bound sixteen ghosts into Spirit Crystals before returning to the others.

• Alpharius predicted Ferrus Manus would win the excavation contest, though the Emperor suggested Nimrod might still prevail.
• Nimrod’s Eleventh Legion landed in Medusa’s Shadow Land, where he ordered his Tech Sergeants to study the equipment and sent Adams to consult the ghosts.
• Adams followed whispers into the ruins and summoned the ghosts, then questioned them about Medusa’s earliest settlers and its oldest, largest, and most valuable buildings.
• Adams recorded the locations the ghosts identified and selected sixteen of them to inhabit his Spirit Crystals.
• Adams released the remaining ghosts and retraced his steps toward the Legion.

Ferrus Manus and Gabriel Santor discovered an advanced data system beneath Medusa, while Nimrod’s expedition followed Noble Ghost to an ancient base built over xenos ruins. The chapter ended with Gabriel beginning to crack the base’s dangerous gate while Nimrod went to question Noble Ghost further.

• Ferrus Manus explained that the buried data equipment could connect users to archives and simulate battles, but said they still needed to find the Garuda’s origin to ensure victory over Nimrod.
• Arsena Dunn identified the human ruin described by Noble Ghost as the most valuable destination, and Nimrod ordered Adams to summon the ghost as their guide.
• Noble Ghost led Nimrod’s group to Mount McKenna Blacksnow and explained that ancient colonists fought over xenos ruins there and built a fortified base inside the mountain.
• Gabriel determined that the ten-meter-thick gate could not be forced open without risking the base’s defenses, which were powered by a Punishment-class Reactor and could detonate the installation.
• Gabriel began cracking the gate’s evolving security code while Nimrod ordered guards posted and left with Adams to question Noble Ghost about the xenos ruin.

Nimrod uncovered clues linking an alien ruin to Medusa’s deadly magma, then helped his sons crack the defenses of another relic and discovered a Punisher-class reactor and an automatically recharging Void Shield. As the team inspected the factory-sized ruin, the Death Lord warned that something was approaching.

• The Noble Ghost recalled golden Mechanical Eagles and other details about an alien ruin, and Nimrod connected its heat and light to Medusa’s destructive magma.
• Nimrod decided to investigate that ruin after opening the relic he had just discovered.
• Nimrod, Arsena, Gabriel, and the Tech Sergeants worked together to outpace the gate’s evolving code and open all ten doors.
• Nimrod led the team inside a cruiser-sized factory relic, where Gabriel reported finding a Punisher-class reactor and an automatically recharging Void Shield.
• The Death Lord sensed something approaching.