God

Biodata

Background

The God-Emperor is humanity’s ruler and one of the universe’s most powerful Psykers. After being grievously wounded by Horus, he became confined to the Golden Throne, where he has remained for ten thousand years guarding humanity. Though he could rise and become a god, doing so would place him in the Warp, strip away his humanity, and devastate the species he seeks to protect. 248

His image and faith are central to Imperial life. Imperial Cult cathedrals maintain golden statues of him, while soldiers, clergy, and civilians invoke his name as a source of courage and legitimacy. 71 121 931

Li Qinwu first comes to the Imperium after viewing an image of the God-Emperor accompanied by a message urging viewers to serve him in Warhammer 40,000. 1

Divine Influence

Emperor Shrines

A devout farmer’s crude wooden icon of the God-Emperor enables Li Qinwu to construct an Emperor Shrine in his Hideout. 6

• A Level 1 shrine blesses the Hideout, prevents Chaos from corrupting it, and gradually removes Chaos Corruption. 8
• Candles combined with water or oil allow the shrine to produce Holy Water and Holy Oil. 8
• Holy Water clears corruption; Holy Oil resists Chaos intrusion and enhances cold weapons against Chaos creatures. 6
• A Level 3 shrine can sanctify psychic items, turning their emitted psychic power golden, increasing anti-Daemon damage, and slightly increasing power. It also functions as a Soul Sanctuary for devout human souls. 330

Blessings and Protection

The God-Emperor notices Li after he completely destroys a Tzeentch Daemon and assigns him a mission to eliminate ten Daemons. 248

The God-Emperor’s power also counters Tzeentch directly: when Li touches the corrupted Book of Truth, golden energy floods into the book instead of allowing Tzeentch’s power to consume him. 565 The Book is later purified into a repository of 9,999 safe Psychic Power spells. 566

Faith-Based Warfare

The God-Emperor’s psychic power strengthens faithful humans and harms Warp entities.

• The Psychic Amplifier, fueled by Holy Oil and ritual chanting, raises the morale and abilities of faithful humans and Psykers, protects Psykers from Daemonic whispers, and painfully affects Warp creatures. 664
• Luca’s Divine Knight projects golden psychic flame through its Holy Torch. The flame improves the morale and physical condition of devout Imperial soldiers while burning Daemons and other evil entities. 979
• Chaplain Leisase’s scripture tattoos amplify Li’s Psychic Power and remove Chaos Corruption while energized by golden psychic power. 452 453

Relationship with Li Qinwu

Li Qinwu’s relationship with the God-Emperor is unusually direct, reverent, and irreverent. He treats the Emperor Shrine as a place of worship, complaint, sacrifice, and negotiation, while repeatedly receiving tangible protection and rewards. 251 662 1002

• Li Qinwu — Chosen agent and recipient of divine favor. The God-Emperor grants him blessings, intervenes against Khorne, purifies dangerous Warp knowledge, and rewards the destruction of Daemonic artifacts. 251 379 566 1002
• Khorne — Rival claimant over Li Qinwu. The God-Emperor prevents Khorne’s attempted Daemonization of Li and continuously purges Khorne’s corruption. 379 380
• Tzeentch — Opposing Warp power whose attempt to corrupt Li through the Book of Truth is reversed by golden psychic power. 565
• Beast God — A lesser Warp god that seeks the God-Emperor’s protection from the Chaos Gods. It offers part of its divine essence through Li and later serves under the Emperor’s protection in the Warp. 851 1064
• Luca — Ancient witness who describes the God-Emperor as an immensely tall, golden-armored, charismatic, and wise ruler. Luca’s soul is sustained within the Divine Knight through Emperor-aligned psychic power and prayer. 381 980

Divine Artifacts

• God-Emperor’s Wood Carving — Devotional icon used to construct the first Emperor Shrine. 6
• Holy Water — Shrine-produced liquid that clears Chaos Corruption. 6 8
• Holy Oil — Shrine-produced oil that resists Chaos influence and strengthens cold weapons against Chaos creatures. 6 8
• Book of Truth — Formerly corrupted Tzeentch-derived tome purified into a collection of 9,999 safe psychic spells. 566
• Emperor’s Bolt Pistol — Master-crafted golden weapon personally made by the God-Emperor. It destroys Daemons, revives with its wielder, and regenerates ammunition by drawing Psychic Power from the Warp. 1002 1094
• True One Armor Shard — A divine relic previously received by Li Qinwu and later traded to the Adeptus Custodes for the warship Fortune. 1002 1093

Notable Events

• The God-Emperor notices Li Qinwu after the death of a Tzeentch Daemon and issues the ten-Daemon mission that establishes direct favorability. 248
• After Li completes the mission, the God-Emperor alters his soul and grants extreme resistance to direct Psychic and Warp attacks. 251
• He intervenes when Khorne attempts to transform Li into a Daemon, creating an ongoing balance in which Divine Expulsion erases Khorne’s corruption. 379 380
• He purifies the Book of Truth and grants Li a stigmata, expanded mental power, and access to its 9,999 safe spells. 566
• He destroys the Daemon souls within Lucius’s weapons after Li sacrifices them, then transfers the Emperor’s Bolt Pistol from Terra’s underground armory to Li’s shrine. 1002
• He protects the Beast God from permanent destruction after it submits, allowing the lesser god to operate in the Warp under his protection. 1064

Trivia

• The God-Emperor’s name is invoked so frequently that combatants may shout “For the God-Emperor!” in situations ranging from fanatic warfare to improvised battlefield orders. 20 1026
• The Emperor’s Bolt Pistol is sized for its creator’s approximately five-meter stature and functions more like a battle rifle in Astartes hands. 1094
• Li Qinwu’s oath in the God-Emperor’s name does not deter him from deceiving the Eldar, who mistakenly assume such an oath guarantees honesty. 905