History FanFic / TheShapeOfTheNightmareToCome

* {{Egopolis}}: Cato Sicarius renaming Ultramar into Grand Sicarum, just in case his bloody takeover of the Ultramarines and JosephStalin-like purging of dissenters didn't make it clear enough that [[TheCaligula he's gone WAY off the deep end]].

What's worse than ''Warhammer 40k''? Warhammer 50k. The Orks and Tyranids accidentally spawn a hybrid species, The God Emperor has finally perished, the Imperium is shattered, the Necrons reawaken, Chaos reigns supreme, and that's just the beginning. The sheer amount of despair and horror can be unnerving at times, and the often Lovecraftian style of writing amplifies these elements. Basically, this is to ''40k'' as ''40k'' is to ''StarWars'' or ''Franchise/StarTrek''. The story can be found [[http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/showthread.php?t=51806&page=1 here]]. Note that since it is posted on a forum, there will inevitably be some posts between the updates (but you can avoid them reading it [[http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Story:The_Shape_Of_The_Nightmare_To_Come_50k here]]). There is now a sequel, TheAgeOfDusk, which can be found [[http://www.thebolthole.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=231 here]] (parts 2-5 are [[http://www.thebolthole.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2890 here]]).

--> It is the 51st Millennium and I cannot wake up from this nightmare! I cannot wake up!

What's worse than ''Warhammer 40k''? Warhammer 50k. The Orks and Tyranids accidentally spawn a hybrid species, The God Emperor has finally perished, the Imperium is shattered, the Necrons reawaken, Chaos reigns supreme, and that's just the beginning. The sheer amount of despair and horror can be unnerving at times, and the often Lovecraftian style of writing amplifies these elements. Basically, this is to ''40k'' as ''40k'' is to ''StarWars'' or ''Franchise/StarTrek''. The story can be found [[http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/showthread.php?t=51806&page=1 here]]. Note that since it is posted on a forum, there will inevitably be some posts between the updates (but you can avoid them reading it [[http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Story:The_Shape_Of_The_Nightmare_To_Come_50k here]]. There is now a sequel, TheAgeOfDusk, which can be found [[http://www.thebolthole.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=231 here]] (parts 2-5 are [[http://www.thebolthole.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2890 here]]).

What's worse than ''Warhammer 40k''? Warhammer 50k. The Orks and Tyranids accidentally spawn a hybrid species, The God Emperor has finally perished, the Imperium is shattered, the Necrons reawaken, Chaos reigns supreme, and that's just the beginning. The sheer amount of despair and horror can be unnerving at times, and the often Lovecraftian style of writing amplifies these elements. Basically, this is to ''40k'' as ''40k'' is to ''StarWars'' or ''Franchise/StarTrek''. The story can be found [[http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/showthread.php?t=51806&page=1 here]]. Note that since it is posted on a forum, there will inevitably be some posts between the updates. There is now a sequel, TheAgeOfDusk, which can be found [[http://www.thebolthole.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=231 here]] (parts 2-5 are [[http://www.thebolthole.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2890 here]]).

What's worse than ''Warhammer 40k''? Warhammer 50k. The Orks and Tyranids become a hybrid, The God Emperor has perished, the Imperium is shattered, the Necrons reawaken, Chaos reigns supreme, and that's just the beginning. The sheer amount of despair and horror can be unnerving at times, and the often Lovecraftian style of writing amplifies these elements. Basically, this is to ''40k'' as ''40k'' is to ''StarWars'' or ''Franchise/StarTrek''. The story can be found [[http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/showthread.php?t=51806&page=1 here]]. Note that since it is posted on a forum, there will inevitably be some posts between the updates. There is now a sequel, TheAgeOfDusk, which can be found [[http://www.thebolthole.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=231 here]] (parts 2-5 are [[http://www.thebolthole.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2890 here]]).

* PrivateMilitaryContractor: The Free Companies ([[SpaceMarines Astartes]] for hire), the Kroot (not suprisingly), Janisar's Fremen ([[NamesTheSame no, not]] ''[[{{Dune}} those]]'' [[NamesTheSame Fremen]]), and the Serf-Soldiery of Krieg (formerly the Death Korps of Krieg), among many others.

* EldritchAbomination The Ophilim Kiasoz, which unmakes solar systems just by passing by them. Also the [[GodIsEvil Star Father]] and the [[UltimateEvil Nex]]. The New Devourer ''could'' possibly be this, but it's hard to know since it was PutOnABus (it did eat about half the galaxy beforehand, though).

* CosmicHorrorStory / CrapsackWorld: It manages to make the 40K setting '''''[[UpToEleven even worse than it already is.]]

What's worse than ''Warhammer 40k''? Warhammer 50k. The Orks and Tyranids become a hybrid, The God Emperor has perished, the Imperium is shattered, the Necrons reawaken, Chaos reigns supreme, and that's just the beginning. The sheer amount of despair and horror can be unnerving at times, and the often Lovecraftian style of writing amplifies these elements. Basically, this is to ''40k'' as ''40k'' is to ''StarWars'' or ''Franchise/StarTrek''. The story can be found [[http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/showthread.php?t=51806&page=1 here]]. Note that since it is posted on a forum, there will inevitably be some posts between the updates. There is now a sequel, TheAgeOfDusk, which can be found [[http://www.thebolthole.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=231 here]].

* AGodAmI: [[TheCaligula Cato Sicarius]].

** While the Star Father is technically a chaos god, their are destinctive differences between him and the others- one of the most notable being that Angyl worlds (His version of Daemon worlds) have a weakened connection with the Warp in opposed to stronger one in the case of the other chaos gods. Also his CatchPhrase: "OBEY!"

* ArsonMurderandJaywalking: On Captain Tastando Markus, who used his ship "to terrify isolated worlds into submission, or used his bloodthirsty crew to board ships, or invade particularly primitive worlds, plundering them of anything of value, raping anyone they chose to, and generally being unpleasant."

* FallenHero: Commissar Yarrick, hero of Hades hive, [[TheButcher butcher of Betek]].
* FramingDevice: The story presents itself as a scholar's record to collect and store the history of the Post-Imperial galaxy.
* FromBadToWorse: Constantly. As the former Imperium crumbles, the scattered remnants of mankind grow more and more desperate before dying or falling to madness and brutality. The Tau are forced to grow harsher in order to survive the constant attacks on their worlds, and the Orks and Tyranids are wiped out to a man by the New Devourer save for a few survivors. Only Chaos and the Necrons gain anything: Chaos gets a new God and takes over huge chunks of Imperial space-- including Cadia and ''Terra''-- and the Necrons revive the Void Dragon and go on a rampage throughout the universe.

* KnightInSourArmor: What happened to the Tau in wake of the grimness of the endless destruction rampant throughout the galaxy. Though they don't wipe out any race they encounter like the Imperium, their diplomatic polocy has changed from "negotiate first, then subdue if necessary" to simply subdue.

* FromBadToWorse: Abaddon goes from a terrifying warlord that remains barely contained in the Eye of Terror to [[GalacticConqueror taking over Cadia and a huge part of Imperial space, creating the Chaos Imperium]].

* ItGotWorse: Abaddon goes from a terrifying warlord that remains barely contained in the Eye of Terror to [[GalacticConqueror taking over Cadia and a huge part of Imperial space, creating the Chaos Imperium]].

* TookALevelInBadass: Abaddon goes from [[GeneralFailure failing thirteen Black Crusades]] to [[GalacticConqueror taking over Cadia and a huge part of Imperial space, creating the Chaos Imperium]].

-->-- From the Introduction, and ItGetsWorse from there.

* CosmicHorrorStory / CrapsackWorld: It manages to make the 40K setting '''''[[UpToEleven even worse than it already is.]]''''' [[BeyondTheImpossible By a few orders of magnitude]].

Because this is a fanfiction of ''{{Warhammer 40000}}'', please consult that page for tropes pertaining to the original universe of which this fanfic is set.

* TheAlliance: The Thexian Trade Empire.

* CorruptChurch: The Ophelian Imperium.
* DarkFic: Of '''''{{Warhammer 40000}}'''''. That should be saying something.

* TheCavalry: A villainous example. Typhus the Traveller and his fleet arrive just in time (although it actually took them two weeks to traverse the Warp) to reinforce Abaddon's fleet during his war with Perturabo and Angron. The Nurglesque vessels besiege the [[CoolShip Goliath Engine]] and heavily damage it, enough for Abaddon's capital ship to finish it off and win the battle.

* EldritchAbomination The Ophilim Kiasoz, which unmakes solar systems just by passing by them. Also the [[GodIsEvil Star Father]] and the [[UltimateEvil Nex]]. The New Devourer ''could'' possibly be this, but it's hard to know since it was PutOnABus (it did eat about half the galaxy beforehand, though).

* EvilVersusEvil: Abbadon's Chaos Imperium versus the Perturabo-Angron alliance (Abaddon wins), and later on Abaddon's Chaos Imperium versus [[SpacePirates Huron Blackheart's Chaos Imperium]] (ends in a draw).
* FallenHero: Commissar Yarrick, hero of Hades hive, butcher of Betek.

* LastStand: The Imperial Fists on Terra, the Orks on Octavius, the Space Wolves on Fenris, the Grey Knights and Custodes on Titan...

* TheReveal: At the end, it is revealed that the (in-universe) author of the FictionalDocument is none other than [[spoiler:Inquisitor Kryptmann, the person who first "discovered" the Tyranids. He joined the Order of the Recollectors in order create a summary of post-Imperial history, which is [[FramingDevice the story itself, as mentioned above]]]]. In addition, the Hermit mentioned [[spoiler:is in fact Vulkan, Primarch of the Salamanders, who is building an empire centered off Armageddon]].

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: In a [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel truly horrifying]] version of the Star Child theory, the Emperor upon death becomes the [[EldritchAbomination Chaos God of]] ''[[LawfulEvil Order]]''.

* EldritchAbomination The Ophilim Kiasoz, which [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel unmakes solar systems]] just by passing by them. Also the [[GodIsEvil Star Father]] and the [[UltimateEvil Nex]]. The New Devourer ''could'' possibly be this, but it's hard to know since it was PutOnABus (it did eat about half the galaxy beforehand, though).

What's worse than ''Warhammer 40k''? Warhammer 50k. The Orks and Tyranids become a hybrid, The God Emperor has perished, the Imperium is shattered, the Necrons reawaken, Chaos reigns supreme, and that's just the beginning. The sheer amount of despair and horror can be unnerving at times, and the often Lovecraftian style of writing amplifies these elements. Basically, this is to ''40k'' as ''40k'' is to ''StarWars'' or ''StarTrek''. The story can be found [[http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/showthread.php?t=51806&page=1 here]]. Note that since it is posted on a forum, there will inevitably be some posts between the updates. There is now a sequel, TheAgeOfDusk, which can be found [[http://www.thebolthole.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=231 here]].

* LastStand: The ImperialFists on Terra, the Orks on Octavius, the SpaceWolves on Fenris, the GreyKnights and Custodes on Titan...

* PrivateMilitaryContractor: The Free Companies ([[SpaceMarines Astartes]] for hire), the Kroot (not suprisingly), Janisar's Fremen ([[NamesTheSame No, not]] ''[[{{Dune}} those]]'' [[NamesTheSame Fremen]]), and the ''[[strike:Death Korps]] Serf Soldiers of Krieg'', among many others.