What does it imply that the Emperor can produce such a tainted, twisted son? Delve into the darkish insanity incarnate that’s Night time Haunter, primarch the Night time Lords.

Youth on Nostramo

The kid that may come to be referred to as Konrad Curze was first recorded as crashing by means of the floor and into the core of the night-shrouded world of Nostramo. The crust of Nostramo bore excessive portions of the mineral adamantium, which supplied the premise of the planet’s immense mining and purifying industries. The overwhelming majority of the planet’s inhabitants lived in abject poverty, toiling within the mines whereas the wealthy grew in affluence, exploiting the already downtrodden employees. Crime ran largely unchecked, despair was inescapable, and overpopulation was saved in verify extra by suicide than by every other measure.

Not like lots of the different Primarchs, Konrad Curze was not taken in by any household and was left to boost himself. He spent his youth surviving off his wits and dedication, feeding himself by searching the feral animals that roamed by means of the huge metropolis of Nostramo Quintus. He was regularly affected by visions of the darkest potential future, horrifyingly potent waking goals that may curse him all through his life.

Start of the Night time Haunter

Throughout his quick youth, Curze was pitched right into a harmful cycle of persecution and homicide, specializing in the prison components of Nostramo’s society. His vigilante actions started small, intervening when he witnessed one thing he believed to be mistaken, however quickly escalating into searching down these he believed had dedicated transgressions.

At first, a number of folks outstanding throughout the metropolis’s corrupt hierarchy disappeared. Leaders of probably the most vocal opposition to the established order vanished in related circumstances. Our bodies of recognized criminals started to appear, gutted like fish by some merciless assailant. Officers had been discovered hung from excessive home windows. Physique components blocked storm water drains. Most of the corpses discovered had been so horribly overwhelmed by their assailant that identification was unattainable.

Rule by Concern

Throughout the 12 months, the crime fee of Nostramo Quintus fell to near-zero. Society underwent large modifications, most notable of which was the self-imposed curfew that got here into being. Moms started to threaten kids that in the event that they continued to misbehave, the Night time Haunter would come for them. This time period shortly got here into widespread utilization, describing a darkish creature that stalked the town, able to disembowel anybody it believed to be a prison or heretic with soiled, razor-sharp talons.

Curze noticed hope for the inhabitants of his world. He had turn into the one object of concern and hate throughout the metropolis. Showing earlier than the nobles that had survived his vigilante purge, Night time Haunter grew to become the primary monarch of Nostramo Quintus. He assimilated data virtually greedily, and have become thought-about a good and temperate ruler, till phrase of some injustice reached his ears. He would then hunt the responsible by means of the streets, carrying them down after which killing and mutilating them. The unpredictable sample of benevolent knowledge and hideous vengeance ushered in a brand new stage of effectivity and honesty. Different cities across the planet adopted go well with, in an try to hold the Night time Haunter from their doorways.

The Coming of the Emperor

A short while into the reign of Night time Haunter, the Emperor’s Nice Campaign reached the outskirts of the Nostramo system. The approaching of the Emperor of Man was an occasion that had been prophesied in Nostramo’s historical past: an occasion that may result in the planet’s downfall.

The Emperor landed on Nostramo, and led a delegation to the centre of Nostramo Quintus on foot. The residents of Nostramo, tailored to the near-constant darkness, couldn’t bear to look upon the radiance of the Emperor. Most wept, because the therapeutic gentle he projected mirrored off the rain-slicked streets into their faces. These courageous sufficient to look upon him straight had been blinded. On the finish of the broad highway resulting in Night time Haunter’s palace, the Primarch stood, ready for the delegation to method. As they did, he succumbed to a imaginative and prescient so potent and horrifying that he tried to claw his personal eyes out, however was stopped by the Emperor. Night time Haunter then regarded on the Emperor, and the next dialogue ensued:

“Konrad Curze, be at peace, for I’ve arrived and intend to take you residence.”

“That isn’t my identify, Father. I’m Night time Haunter, and I do know full properly what you plan for me.”

The Nice Campaign

Night time Haunter shortly tailored to the teachings of the Imperium, finding out the complicated doctrines of the Adeptus Astartes beneath Fulgrim‘s tutelage. Night time Haunter was quickly incepted because the chief of the eighth House Marine Legion, which he named the Night time Lords.

Though he and his Legion excelled in lots of theatres of battle, a bent quickly grew to become obvious. It by no means occurred to the Night time Lords to make use of something apart from whole and decisive pressure to attain their targets. Over the primary few years, the Night time Lords had been moulded by their Primarch into an environment friendly, humourless pressure, possessing the fanatical thoroughness of Witch Hunters.

Night time Haunter inspired his legion to brighten their armour with pictures designed to encourage concern within the enemy, a tactic that proved extremely efficient. Quickly, rumours of the upcoming presence of the Night time Lords would trigger a system to pay all excellent tithes, stop all unlawful actions and put to demise any mutants and suspected heretics.

Darkish, doomed Nostramo

Dying of Nostramo

Reinforcements to switch the Night time Lords that fell in battle had been chosen from the inhabitants of Nostramo, however in Night time Haunter’s absence, the inhabitants of the planet collapsed again into the corrupt and decadent ways in which had prevailed earlier than his arrival. The ruthless criminals had been the one ones to stay wholesome and robust, so it was these males who had been recruited for the Legion. Night time Haunter started to lose among the management he held over his Legion, and the visions that plagued him elevated in each lucidity and amount.

Studying of the destiny of his homeworld, Night time Haunter tried to open up to his brother Primarchs, however had by no means been near them at first, and their response was lower than beneficial to his claims. He attacked Rogal Dorn of the Imperial Fists earlier than taking the Night time Lords fleet to Nostramo. Just a few Imperial pursuit craft arrived simply in time to see the Night time Lords’ laser batteries firing into the outlet left by Night time Haunter’s arrival a long time earlier. Nostramo’s core overheated and the world exploded.

The Horus Heresy

Night time Haunter’s horrible acts brought about him to turn into inclined to the whispers of Chaos. The campaigns of the Night time Lords grew to become much less justifiable, terror campaigns leaving a path of devastated worlds throughout the galaxy. Night time Haunter not crusaded within the Emperor’s identify, as an alternative preventing solely within the identify of demise and concern. Finally, the Emperor was compelled to order the recall of Night time Haunter to reply costs laid towards him and his males. However earlier than the Night time Lords reached Terra a brand new disaster erupted…

When the Horus Heresy broke out, Night time Haunter was fast to swear his Legion to the forces of Warmaster Horus. Curze revealed his treachery throughout the Drop Website Bloodbath, launching his legion towards the loyalist forces of the Raven Guard, Salamanders, and Iron Palms. Throughout the battle, Curze and Lorgar battled towards Corax. After the bloodbath, Curze captured Vulkan however discovered that the Perpetual Primarch couldn’t be killed regardless of his greatest efforts. After unleashing each torment possible on Vulkan, the Salamanders Primarch was ultimately capable of escape Curze’s clutches.

Vulkan lives

Night time Haunter Towards The Lion

Two years after the Dropsite Bloodbath, Curze engaged the Lion El’Jonson in a collection of hit and run battles all around the Thramas Sector. Finally, Curze would depart a message for his brother to satisfy him (Curze) on the planet Tsagualsa. Right here he would reveal some prophecy to Lion. Afterwards, a struggle would ensue between the 2 Primarchs and their respective troops. Finally, Curze would slash the Lion’s throat and the Darkish Angel Corswain would stab the Night time Haunter within the again. Each Legions retreated. ^{The subsequent encounter between the 2 brothers would start when the Darkish Angels ambushed the Night time Lords and would finish with the Lion dealing Curze eleven identifiable wounds which are immediately deadly to an Astartes. These accidents would put Curze in a comatose state. Whereas recovering, Sevatar would take short-term command of the Legion and divide it into six fleets that may go wherever the respective commander directed it. Throughout this reorganization, the Darkish Angels would assault once more. Throughout this second assault, Curze would reawaken and board the Invincible Cause. He would stay in hiding aboard the Darkish Angels’ flagship for the subsequent sixteen weeks. Curze was capable of evade seize on the huge ship, massacring each search staff and confounding the Lion himself.}

The Unremembered Empire

When the Darkish Angels ship arrived over Macragge, Curze made his escape and landed on the planet by hacking into the Invincible Cause and initiating a mass Drop Pod touchdown, commandeering one of many vessels. Curze then unleashed havoc upon Macragge’s capital, massacring all he got here throughout and eluding any seize. After killing Phratus Auguston in a Chapel throughout the Fortress of Hera, Curze was confronted by each Roboute Guilliman and Lion El’Jonson. Managing to carry out towards each Primarch’s concurrently, Curze unveiled his lure and detonated the explosives he had rigged across the Chapel. Curze escaped within the chaos whereas Guilliman and the Lion solely survived because of Barabas Dantioch teleporting them to Sotha with the Pharos. Considering each Primarch’s lifeless, Curze swept apart a pack of House Wolves and was about to kill Guilliman’s “mom” Tarasha Euten when he was beset upon by the now-insane Vulkan, who had teleported to Macragge. Curze, in real shock as a result of not having any visions of Vulkan, battled the Salamanders Primarch throughout Macragge. The duel was solely interrupted by the Cabal murderer John Grammaticus, who stabbed and apparently killed Vulkan with the Fulgurite. Curze wished the Fulgurite for himself, and as he attacked Grammaticus his comrade Damon Prytanis used a captured Daemon to banish the Primarch into the Warp. After being trapped contained in the Warp for what appeared to him to be weeks, Curze managed to flee and reemerged into the Materium in entrance of Macragge’s capital.

Haunted by visions of Sanguinius‘ demise aboard the Vengeful Spirit, Curze then infiltrated the “Emperor” of Imperium Secundus‘ throne room on Macragge. Badly wounding Azkaellon and utilizing him as a hostage, Curze revealed to the Angel that he not solely foresaw the demise of Sanguinius, however his personal as properly. Curze had come to consider that the scattering of the Primarchs, his personal life on Nostramo, the Horus Heresy, and his personal eventual demise by the Officio Assassinorum had been all a part of a grand scheme by the Emperor. The Night time Haunter wished to know why Sanguinius selected to be a “slave” to the Emperor and why he had not accepted the supply of Daemons on Signus Prime to turn into their champion. When Sanguinius expressed his continued religion of their father, Curze gave the Angel an opportunity to strike him down, a suggestion Sanguinius refused and as an alternative pleaded to the Night time Haunter that there was nonetheless ultimate likelihood to affix the loyalists and search redemption. Stating that Horus’ rise up was nothing within the grand scheme of issues, the galaxy was doomed to everlasting battle, and solely Chaos existed ultimately, Curze set off an explosive lure and escaped from the throne room.

The Unremembered Empire, primarily based on Macragge

Curze continued to plague Macragge, spreading terror and dealing with anti-Guilliman bandits on the world. Curze even was capable of ship a suicide bomber to destroy a strategically vital bridge on the Imperium Secundus capital. Nonetheless Lion El’Jonson (now Lord Protector of Imperium Secundus) was capable of nook the Night time Haunter within the Alma Mons area of Macragge. After a vicious battle, Curze was defeated by the Lion. Nonetheless The Lion couldn’t deliver himself to slay his demented brother, and as an alternative broke his again over his knee. Curze was introduced into custody and placed on trial earlier than the Emperor of Imperium Secundus Sanguinius.

Throughout the trial, Curze admitted to his motion, however refused to simply accept guilt as a result of he was made to behave that manner, thus they weren’t crimes. Curze then divided Guilliman from the Lion, accusing the Lion of ordering secret orbital assaults and pitting them towards one another. The Lion sought to kill Curze, however Sanguinius prevented him with phrases and Guilliman broke his sword. Later, Guilliman and Sanguinius stood earlier than Curze in judgment and to execute him. Guilliman mentioned that he needs to be the executioner, and Curze mentioned that it was similar to the Emperor. Nonetheless, Sanguinius was stuffed together with his psychic energy and attacked Curze to his cries that it was not how he would die. Instantly, the Lion appeared, asking for Sanguinius to cease. Troops got here into the room, demanding the Lion’s give up however he responded that Curze was capable of see the longer term, and he repeated that Curze’s declare that his demise can be by the hands of an murderer despatched by the Emperor. This, to the Lion, was proof that the Emperor was nonetheless alive. Sanguinius acknowledged that his personal visions of demise would even be true. Guilliman demanded what would come of Curze. The Lion knelt earlier than his brothers and promised that he can be Curze’s gaoler, and Curze laughed on the confusion of the scene.

Imprisonment & Exile

Curze remained a chained captive aboard the Invincible Cause, with The Lion sometimes visiting him to try to use his prophetic visions and perception into serving to their effort. Nonetheless, the Night time Haunter, having since regenerated from his spinal harm, hardly ever proved cooperative sufficient and proceed to taunt The Lion. Curze, aboard the Invincible Cause, was a part of the mixed fleet of Guilliman, The Lion, and Sanguinius as they tried to breach the Ruinstorm and attain Terra. Upon having a imaginative and prescient that his future lay at Davin, Sanguinius went aboard the Invincible Cause and took the chained Curze with him, hoping to not solely use his prophetic perception into what he should do but additionally try to present the Night time Haunter that future might be modified. Sanguinius was compelled to defeat a number of Darkish Angels guards by means of non-lethal pressure, enraging The Lion and virtually inflicting him to destroy Davin with Cyclonic Torpedoes. Nonetheless The Lion and Guilliman each ultimately adopted Sanguinius and Curze to the floor, and collectively the 4 Primarch’s journeyed to the temple on Davin the place Horus had fallen. On the temple, Curze fell into anger and despair as he realized he had foreseen none of this and that his view that future was set in stone was being examined. When Sanguinius was swallowed up by the Daemon Madail‘s portal, Curze broke down and appeared genuinely involved for Sanguinius. Guilliman and The Lion tried to get Curze to foretell a approach to save Sanguinius, however the Night time Haunter in his despair declared he no concept what to do, he had foreseen none of this. As Daemons erupted throughout Davin Curze was dragged again aboard the Invincible Cause.

Following the battle, a approach to Terra was clear however blockaded by the fleets of Horus. Guilliman and The Lion agreed to distract the blockade whereas Sanguinius and the Blood Angels raced to Terra, as was their future. Sanguinius took custody of Curze and introduced him aboard the Crimson Tear, declaring that he would face the Emperor’s judgement. Nonetheless as soon as aboard the vessel Sanguinius put Curze in a stasis coffin and mentioned that simply as he was about to satisfy his future on Terra, so should Curze observe his foreseen path. Sanguinius declared that he would freeze Curze within the stasis coffin and jettison him into area. Although it might take millennia for the Imperial Murderer Curze had foreseen killing him to search out the Night time Haunter, sooner or later destiny would catch up. The raging Night time Haunter was frozen within the coffin and shot into the void of area.

Put up-Heresy

After the invasion of Terra, the Night time Lords didn’t splinter and flee like the remainder of the Traitor Legions. As a substitute, they continued to assault the Imperium, nonetheless, their techniques appeared to vary, betraying a self-destructive desperation. The Night time Haunter himself was step by step dropping his sanity and sense of function that had earned the respect of his Legion, and in his final days would steadily erupt into matches of violence, incoherency, and sadism. Many, equivalent to Sevatar, grew to become disheartened at what their Primarch had turn into. The Emperor himself, wishing to disband the Night time Lords without end, dispatched half the Callidus Temple of assassins to terminate the renegade Primarch.

Night time Haunter was ultimately killed, assassinated by the Callidus M’Shen. It’s believed she was allowed to infiltrate his palace on Tsagualsa, as she encountered no guards between herself and his throne room. Confronted together with her, he merely mentioned:

“Your presence doesn’t shock me, Murderer. I’ve recognized of you ever since your craft entered the Japanese Fringes. Why did I not have you ever killed? As a result of your mission and the act you’re about to commit proves the reality of all I’ve ever mentioned or performed. I merely punished those that had wronged, simply as your false Emperor now seeks to punish me. Dying is nothing in comparison with vindication.”

The vid-log then reveals M’Shen leaping ahead, though the kill was by no means confirmed, because the video feed cuts out proper earlier than they struggle. It’s believed that Night time Haunter allowed himself to be killed: he noticed himself as a murderous and corrupt villain, the very factor he sought to destroy. Regardless, his ultimate phrases are thought-about one of many nice enigmas to the Imperium’s historical past.

Lexicanum

Trivia

The character’s final identify is nearly definitely impressed by the novella ‘Coronary heart of Darkness’ by Joseph Conrad, the place a former ivory dealer within the Congo named Kurtz guidelines over the native inhabitants as a charismatic demigod. The guide was later tailored into the Vietnam Struggle film ‘Apocalypse Now’, the place Kurtz’s assassinator is performed by Martin Sheen who M’Shen is probably going a reference to. The primary identify ‘Konrad’ might be impressed by the writer’s final identify.

~ “I’m Batman Night time Haunter”

Subsequent cease is getting Night time Lords military painted as much as go to battle for the Night time Haunter. Right here’s GW exhibiting you precisely how to try this:

Dad, Gamer, Writer, Pilot, Texan. All video games on a regular basis since junior-high.
I began BoLS Interactive in 2006. I’m a lifelong tabletop & RPG gaming fanatic, and web writer working to entertain and inform my readers day-after-day.
I have been enjoying RPGs and Tabletop Video games because the Nineteen Seventies. I am been enjoying and masking Warhammer and Warhammer 40K for over 35 years.

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