Chapter Summaries

Gabriel and Nimrod won the first duel when the Shield of Daxos failed during the trials, proving Gabriel’s repairs superior. Campbell then proposed a team confrontation for the second round, and Nimrod assigned Bukayo to choose two fighters.

• Saul contacted Bowen and ordered him to pilot the Shield of Daxos in the duel against Gabriel’s Sacred Mars.
• Campbell began the tests, and both mechs destroyed three turquoise-stone targets with their thermal cannons.
• The mechs used their Reaper Chainswords on the next targets, but the Shield of Daxos overheated and crashed after Bowen pressed on despite the warnings.
• Campbell conceded the first duel, and Nimrod praised Gabriel for his victory.
• Campbell proposed a team confrontation between one House Hitler knight with two squires and Nimrod’s sons, and Nimrod ordered Bukayo to choose two others.

Nightmare used Dream Manipulation to trap Ward Hitler in a dream, leaving his Knight Mech motionless while the Shadows of Order knocked it down. Campbell accepted defeat but challenged Nimrod to a direct duel, questioning whether he was truly as powerful as his warriors claimed.

• Nightmare ordered his Sleepless adjutants to attack Ward’s attendants and Knight Mech, then dragged Ward into a dream with Dream Manipulation.
• Ward fought Ratlings in the dream while the duel began, and the Shadows of Order knocked down his attendants and toppled his unmoving Knight Mech.
• Campbell admitted defeat to Nimrod and angrily struck Ward unconscious after he woke from the dream.
• Campbell told Nimrod he would submit but still wanted to duel him personally.

Nimrod defeated Knight King Campbell Vicstrix in a duel, securing Daxos’s fealty to the Imperium. After arranging repairs and propaganda, he learned that Howard Fender had conquered two systems and found Aeldari, so Nimrod ordered the fleet to Brener.

• Campbell fired Daxos Glory’s autocannon at Nimrod, but the Primarch evaded the barrage and disabled the Knight Mech with a single blow.
• Campbell swore fealty to Nimrod, and the other knights knelt and pledged their service.
• Nimrod ordered Gabriel to help repair the Knight Mechs, sent news to the Bucephalus, and directed his subordinates to record propaganda materials about Daxos.
• Howard Fender reported that the First Chapter had conquered the Terrano System and Brener System, discovered Aeldari activity, and captured a squad for interrogation.
• Nimrod decided to reinforce the First Chapter and make Howard a Sequence 7 Inquisitor, then ordered the fleet to the Brener System.

Nimrod assigned Mikel and Malena responsibilities for the Legion’s expansion and the development of the Triken System, then advanced Malena’s attendants and Tierney as Beyonders. After the Space Ape infant was born, Nimrod sent it into the Kingdom of Disorder, and his fleet reached the Trainer System.

• Mikel reported that the Vostonian transformation surgeries had produced 41,523 Shadow of Order, while the surviving failures had joined the Auxilia.
• Nimrod ordered the returning Vostonian regiments to go to the Triken System, where Mikel would oversee transformation work and Malena would manage matters outside industry and protect the environment.
• Nimrod advanced Malena’s sixteen attendants as Beyonders, and Malena reported that the Space Ape was due to give birth within ten stellar days.
• Nimrod gave Tierney the Marauder potion and tasked him with infiltrating ruins and retrieving treasures, including those held by xenos.
• Malena reported that the Space Ape infant had been born healthy, and Nimrod sent it into the Third Layer Space of the Kingdom of Disorder.
• After a twelve-week voyage, Nimrod’s fleet arrived in the Trainer System.

Nimrod discovered that the Aeldari prisoners were from Saim-Hann and learned through their minds that they had come to investigate changes to the Threads of Fate and the importance of Vigilant Star. He ordered Howard to seize Vigilant Star and study the Aeldari bikes, then received a message from The Emperor aboard the Bucephalus.

• Nimrod learned that the captured Aeldari were from Saim-Hann and used his psychic powers to break through their mental defenses.
• Nimrod saw the Aeldari Seer order an investigation into changed Threads of Fate and learned that the Aeldari had traveled to Vigilant Star before investigating the Trainer System.
• Nimrod had the Space Ape prepare an Inquisitor potion and gave it to Howard, who drank it and accepted the task of interrogating the prisoners.
• Nimrod ordered Howard to take control of Vigilant Star and told him to have the Tech Sergeant study and improve their bikes.
• Nimrod received an Astropath report that The Emperor had sent an order aboard the Bucephalus.

After recovering the Daxos Binary System, Nimrod was ordered back to Terra, where Malcador prepared a month-long celebration to welcome him. As Nimrod's fleet traveled toward the Sol System, Arsena Dunn reported progress on researching occult languages, and Terra's preparations culminated in the Void Hunter's arrival on November 11, 816.

• Nimrod received the Old Man in Yellow's order to return to Terra and the promise of another chance to choose a treasure, advancing his Briber potion's digestion.
• Nimrod ordered the fleet to head for the Sol System, while Mitchell and Malena traveled to the Triken System and other Legion Warriors departed for their Chapters.
• Arsena Dunn told Nimrod that he and Thomas had analyzed 51,940 words from the languages of twenty-nine races and planned to continue their research on Terra.
• Malcador organized a month-long celebration, while Terra's citizens heard propaganda about Nimrod's achievements and prepared to welcome him.
• The Void Hunter arrived at Terra's starport on November 11, 816, and the celebration officially began.

Nimrod arrived on Terra and was welcomed with a grand celebration before being honored for his conquests. He entered the Imperial Palace with Malcador for a banquet.

• Nimrod observed Terra, the Astronomican, and the vast Imperial Palace from the shuttle carrying him and Arsena Dunn.
• Malcador personally welcomed Nimrod at Lion's Gate Spaceport as crowds and officials celebrated the Primarch's return.
• Malcador awarded Nimrod the Golden Oath Knight Medal for recovering more than thirty worlds, including the Knight World of the Daxos Twins.
• Nimrod rode through cheering crowds toward the Imperial Palace and resolved that the Eleventh Legion should establish its own medals and honors.
• Nimrod and Malcador entered the golden banquet hall together.

At a banquet, Malcador asked Nimrod to help supply the Great Crusade, and Nimrod agreed in exchange for Malcador’s help locating Necromunda. The next day, Nimrod arrived at the Astropathic Chamber for the promised divination.

• Nimrod listened as Malcador praised Terra’s sacrifices and asked for Vostonia to serve as a supply node for the Great Crusade.
• Nimrod agreed to provide some supplies, while explaining that he would also develop worlds conquered by his Legion.
• Nimrod asked Malcador to divine a route to Necromunda, claiming that his Psyker Malena Scala had linked the world to his destiny.
• Malcador agreed to perform the divination the next day and said they would later settle the supply arrangements.
• Nimrod arrived at the Imperial Palace’s Astropathic Chamber the following day.

Nimrod visited Malcador in the Astropathic Chamber and provided details for a divination of Necromunda. Malcador produced a star map, warned him about the sleeping creature and dangerous faith on the planet, and offered him an item from his collection.

• Nimrod examined the Astropathic Chamber and sensed an ancient creature's shadow in the vault.
• Nimrod told Malcador about the octopus worshiped by fish-men and the spider imagery and fearful whispers he had sensed around Necromunda.
• Malcador used the chamber's psychic array to divine Necromunda and draw a star map.
• Malcador warned Nimrod that the octopus slept beneath the ground and could devastate Necromunda if awakened, while the spider was an illusion sustained by the people's faith.
• Malcador urged Nimrod to break the planet's faith and offered him one item from his collection as a personal gift.
• Nimrod accepted the gift and thanked the Sigillite.

Malcador showed Nimrod his private collection so Nimrod could choose an extraordinary item, and Nimrod selected the Dice of Prophecy. He returned to the courtyard with the die and learned that sculptors would meet him the next day to make his statue.

• Malcador led Nimrod through his collection and showed him the ancient Mona Lisa and Sunflowers, which Nimrod declined to take.
• Nimrod examined the Voynich Manuscript and recognized its possible value, but continued viewing the collection before deciding.
• Nimrod identified a three-sided object as containing the Hermit pathway’s Sequence 3 Prophet and learned that Malcador’s Dice of Prophecy could only be rolled once every three years.
• Nimrod chose the Dice of Prophecy, and Malcador told him it would be usable again in eleven months.
• Malcador told Nimrod that sculptors would meet him the next day to create a statue for the Square of Heroes, and Nimrod agreed to cooperate.

Nimrod prepared an investigation into the Astropathic Chamber’s dark pattern, mobilized several Chapters toward the Solar Segmentum, and examined the Dice of Prophecy. At Trainer, the Aeldari launched a rescue raid, but Howard’s forces repelled them and captured their Seer as the remaining riders charged at him.

• Nimrod ordered Tierney to investigate the Astropathic Chamber’s dark pattern without endangering himself, then mobilized the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, Eleventh, and Twelfth Chapters to the Solar Segmentum.
• Nimrod considered how to conquer all six systems of the Orb Weaver League without destroying their Warp Gates, then tested the Dice of Prophecy and found it inactive.
• At Trainer, an Aeldari Seer ordered the Windrider riders to attack the Monkeys and rescue their imprisoned kin.
• Howard warned his forces of the invasion, and the Shadows of Order evaded the Aeldari’s attack before shooting down several riders.
• Howard struck the Aeldari Seer with Psychic Piercing, cut through his shoulder and arm, and captured him.
• The enraged Windrider riders turned and charged at Howard.

Howard captured and interrogated the Aeldari Farseer Shokross, learning that the Khaine-Han foresaw Nimrod, his Legion, and the Primarch becoming their enemies. On Terra, Nimrod heard Arsena’s report and considered meeting noble families seeking his support so he could gain allies and representatives.

• Howard defeated the Khaine-Han attackers, captured their Farseer, and killed the other invaders except for six Windrider riders taken alive.
• Howard restrained Shokross with anti-psionic shackles and used the Whip of Agony to make him answer questions.
• Shokross revealed that the Khaine-Han foresaw the Legion and Primarch becoming enemies, then refused to disclose Vigilant Star’s location.
• Arsena reported to Nimrod that he had found ancient Achaemenid Dynasty mural rubbings and received a Revelation from them.
• Nimrod learned that many families wanted his support and considered meeting them to find eyes, ears, and spokesmen on Terra.

Nimrod discussed supplies for the Great Crusade with Malcador, setting conditions for his support while planning to expand the Eleventh Legion’s territory and secure valuable worlds. The chapter ended with Malcador hearing Nimrod’s proposal to taper off supplies as Mars established forge worlds nearby.

• Nimrod posed for Terra’s sculptors, then left after agreeing to let one take a photograph.
• Nimrod met Malcador by the lake and said his supply support could not continue indefinitely because Mars was responsible for providing supplies.
• Malcador explained that Mars was establishing forge worlds and renewing exploration efforts, while Nimrod considered securing Cypra Mundi and other valuable worlds.
• Nimrod proposed that the Eleventh Legion establish a 330-light-year sector centered on Vostonia.
• Nimrod told Malcador that he would reduce his promised supplies by twenty percent for each nearby forge world Mars established and stop supplying other expedition fleets once five existed.

Nimrod and Malcador finalized Vostonia’s supply commitments to the Great Crusade and arranged support for the Eleventh Legion’s equipment production. After their meeting, Nimrod planned his visit to Terra, including the Grand Observatory and the Imperial Palace’s secret passages.

• Malcador agreed to Nimrod’s supply timeline, and Nimrod listed Vostonia’s provisions for the expedition fleet and Auxilia while explaining he could not yet supply Astartes equipment.
• Malcador promised Adeptus Mechanicus technical and equipment support so the Shadow of Order could produce Legion equipment.
• Nimrod asked the fleets to share unusual objects gathered on their expeditions, and Malcador agreed to send them a directive requesting such items for Vostonia.
• Malcador encouraged Nimrod to visit Terra’s museums and observatories, and Nimrod considered meeting the Tarawa Tribe, once allies of The Old Man in Yellow.
• Nimrod left Malcador, set his schedule using Arsena’s documents, and planned to visit the Grand Observatory and explore the Imperial Palace’s secret passages.

Nimrod led Hollis and Bradshaw through a hidden Cold Ones tunnel beneath the lake, testing their will against its mesmerizing crystals and finding Cold Stone along the way. After reaching the Grand Observatory and entering it alone, he searched several observation rooms before inspiration stirred in the fifth.

• Nimrod ordered the Third Legion and the 8th Legion to explore eastward, then brought Hollis and Bradshaw to investigate a hidden passage beside the lakeside courtyard.
• Nimrod explained that the tunnel had been built by the Cold Ones and protected by psychic restrictions placed by The Emperor.
• Hollis and Bradshaw became entranced by the crystals overhead, but regained their senses when they remembered their duty to their gene-father.
• Nimrod led the two Shadows of Order through the confusing tunnel network, where they collected fluorescent green Cold Stone.
• Nimrod emerged near the Grand Observatory, entered without waiting for its director, and found nothing in the first four observation rooms.
• Nimrod entered the fifth observation room, where inspiration suddenly stirred.

Nimrod collected potion ingredients and books during his visits to the Grand Observatory and Cranium Library, then began planning ways to strengthen his Legion’s resistance to Chaos. The chapter ended with him receiving the chieftain of the Tarawa Tribe.

• Nimrod selected a historic telescope, potion ingredients, and other items at the Grand Observatory, then identified Erich Baum’s poetry collection as a main ingredient for Midnight Poet.
• Arsena Dunn presented Nimrod with a list of factions seeking an audience, and Nimrod arranged to meet Tarawa’s clan chief the following night.
• Nimrod advanced Hollis and Bradshaw with potions and ordered them to train Terran-born candidates on Luna as Shadow of Order, with lessons in governance and law.
• Nimrod led Arsena, Hollis, and Bradshaw through the underground passages to Cranium Library, where he found one hundred and eleven books, including The Book of Thelema.
• Nimrod decided to study will-strengthening Runes and develop a Mindset technique for his sons, then asked Bradshaw to have three hundred and thirty-three selected books delivered to his courtyard.
• Nimrod returned to his courtyard and received the chieftain of the Tarawa Tribe.

Nimrod recruited Saul and the Tarawa people to develop Triken under the Eleventh Legion’s protection, while planning to conquer Tanith and its valuable resources. After days of searching Terra and receiving noble allegiance, he learned his Gloriana-class flagship was nearly ready and began considering candidates for its captain.

• Saul asked Nimrod to protect Tarawa’s colonization efforts after their fleet suffered heavy losses fighting the Thalesians.
• Nimrod offered Tarawa the chance to develop Triken’s primary world in exchange for obeying his orders, passing project approvals, and sharing technology.
• Saul accepted Nimrod’s conditions while planning to continue exploring other regions of the galaxy, and Nimrod asked for star charts so he could deal with the xenos.
• Nimrod decided to conquer Tanith and spent the following days searching Terra for potion ingredients, receiving nobles, and studying the Book of Thelema.
• On his eleventh day on Terra, Nimrod learned that his Gloriana-class warship had completed construction and entered final inspection, and he began considering Vostonian and Malcador-provided candidates for its captain.

Nimrod appointed Diana Pauline as captain of his flagship after assessing her service record and testing her in Regicide. Meanwhile, Tierney stole a rune-engraved key from Carles and climbed the Reyna House Hive Spire that night.

• Arsena Dunn reviewed the five candidates with Nimrod and praised Diana Pauline’s logistical skill and decisive command.
• Nimrod met Diana ten days later and played Regicide against her, recognizing her ability despite her defeat.
• Nimrod appointed Diana captain of his flagship and advised her to study Go to improve her command.
• Tierney used a guard’s slip to distract Carles’s retinue and stole the lion-shaped key engraved with thirteen Runes from Carles’s inner pocket.
• Carles searched his bedroom and study for the missing key while Tierney silently climbed the Reyna House Hive Spire.

Tierney infiltrated Reyna House’s Hive Spire and stole books that revealed information about the Eight-Legged Black Wolf and ancient tombs. Nimrod studied the findings, ordered scouts to investigate Luna and map their travels, then left Terra for Mars after his Gloriana-class warship passed inspection.

• Tierney climbed into Reyna House’s Hive Spire, evaded its guards, and searched the library for a valuable book.
• Tierney found Monster Compendium’s account of the Eight-Legged Black Wolf and took it along with other valuable books, including Dust-Covered Golden Age.
• Nimrod read the Eight-Legged Black Wolf entry and concluded that it was likely a Sequence 4 mythical creature of the Darkness pathway.
• Nimrod ordered Tierney to send people to Luna to search for the wolf and other discoveries, and to record detailed maps of the terrain.
• Nimrod identified Dust-Covered Golden Age as a main material for the Archaeologist Sequence and learned that his Gloriana-class warship had passed inspection.
• After finishing his affairs on Terra, Nimrod boarded the Void Hunter and set course for Mars.

Nimrod received his completed Gloriana-class flagship, named it the Shadow of the Throne, and appointed Diana as its captain and Rosicky as Lord of the Forge. The Eleventh Legion prepared for its next campaign as six Chapters arrived in the Sol System to discuss conquering the Orb Weaver League.

• Nimrod accepted the completed Gloriana-class Battleship from the Magos of Mars and appointed Rosicky Lord of the Forge.
• Nimrod named the flagship the Shadow of the Throne, and Diana began taking command as its captain.
• Nimrod assigned the Honor Guard responsibility for the skybridge at his palace and told Rosicky to wait outside.
• Nimrod ordered Hollis of the First Chapter and Bradshaw of the 11th Chapter to Luna to train Terran-born recruits, while fifty treasure hunters infiltrated Luna.
• Two months later, the six Chapters arrived in the Sol System, and Nimrod convened a meeting to discuss conquering the Orb Weaver League.