On Olde Eyrth,
In the Age of Stryfe
Puppets cut their strings,
To sacrifice the consumption of speculation.
One of my favorite aspects of Warhammer 40k is the narrative surrounding the vague history of man that takes place between the present and the current events of the 41st Millennium. Fans who read the first half of the rulebook(s) know a few of the highlights of how mankind ended up in the far-flung future where there is only war, but there are considerable gaps in knowledge. Canonically, even the citizens of the 41st century don’t know how they got there, and the missing history is very much part of the “fluff” within the game itself. The burning search for knowledge is the motivation for many characters, battles, and wars within the game.
Many of the well-known mysteries are left intentionally nebulous so that game players can create their own story and add to the vast universe of the game’s setting. Plots like the origins and fates of the two missing Primarchs, what’s buried below the surface of Mars, and the true purpose of the Blackstone Fortresses have left fans speculating and craving more of this hidden knowledge. Games Workshop greatly expanded the game’s future-history by expanding the Horus Heresy era with new versions of the game and an excellent series of novels and short stories but these elements have also created more questions and added new layers to the scant information that already exists.
Personally, one of my favorite eras is the so-called Age of Strife that preceded and endured during the Unification Wars on Terra. These are the days when the Emperor of Mankind mustered an army of Thunder Warriors to fought tin-pot warlords and techno barbarians in an effort to bring humanity back together under his rule across the galaxy.
Man, do I love this fluff. I love the ideas for converted models. I love that there’s a lot of room for any hobbyist to make their mark on the game, so I’ve decided to focus the coming months on building a Thunder Warriors killteam (perhaps an army) and making several gangs/squads led by the known characters of the era, like Narthan Dume, and the Nordyc clans.
Playwrights of old would typically praise their muse in the opening passages of a work and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a few of the inspirations for my new project.
First and foremost, John Blanche, artist and designer who may have the most influence on the aesthetic of any version of Warhammer.
Ex Profunis who celebrates #Inq28 and #Inquisimunda.
28Mag and their followers who forge narratives through miniature wargames.
Instagram posters:
@Hieronymus_max and #Turnip28
@therealbrokenfingers
@gdbmakesweirdthings
@Migsula
@Accipiternidum
The Black Library with the novel of, “The Outcast Dead” and short story “Dreams of Unity.”
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