| 1 | ->''"Defeat means extinction, and the path to victory leads only to war."'' |
| 2 | -->-- '''Hsiagn'la''' |
| 3 | |
| 4 | ''The Weaver Option'' is a ''Literature/{{Worm}}/TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' crossover fic by Creator/{{Antony444}}. It can be found at [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12115800/1/The-Weaver-Option fanfiction.net]], with a discussion thread and links to story threads located on [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/weaver-option-thread-4-ashes-of-victory-discussion-only.539634/ alternate history.com]], as well as a [[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/weaver-option-discussion-thread.834372/ discussion thread]] on Website/SpaceBattlesDotCom. An authorized spinoff fanfic, "The Emperor and Sons React to ''The Weaver Option''" can also be found at [[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/the-emperor-and-sons-react-to-the-weaver-option.775384/ spacebattles.com]], though it appears to be dead. |
| 5 | |
| 6 | In the 45th Millennium, the God-Emperor of Mankind has sat upon the Golden Throne for a hundred and fifty centuries, but his reign is coming to an end. For with the fall of the Cadian Gate in the 13th Black Crusade, the forces of the Ruinous Powers have spilled out of the Eye of Terror into the Imperium. The vast armies that the God-Emperor could command are dwindling, and the light of the Astronomican will soon fade. |
| 7 | |
| 8 | But the thirsting gods are not laughing, for from the void between galaxies, a new and greater threat has emerged: Hive Fleet Sidious, a Tyranid swarm ten times larger than Hive Fleets Behemoth, Kraken and Leviathan combined, followed by three more Hive Fleets of similar and/or ''greater'' size. With all other factions weakened by the endless war between the Imperium and Chaos, they crush everything in their path by sheer weight of numbers. In an act of desperation, the last surviving Chaos warband dedicates itself to a ritual to summon a champion into the past, in order to change history and create a galaxy better prepared to face the Tyranid menace. But during the final stages of the ritual, the ceremony is disrupted by the last of the Ultramarines. The summoning was completed, but the Champion's soul was not attuned to Chaos before being pulled through time, instead arriving as a free agent. |
| 9 | |
| 10 | Tens of thousands of years in the past in an alternate reality, reformed supervillain and probationary superhero Taylor "Weaver" Hebert is fighting a losing battle trying to protect New Delhi from the Endbringer known as Behemoth when she suddenly disappears in a flash of light. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | Ten thousand years before the last battle against Sidious, the Imperial world of Fay is under attack by Orks. With the bulk of their forces wiped out by an unwise frontal assault led by a incompetent general, the world's last hope of holding out until the Guard can arrive from out-system lies in the Fay 20th, a battered regiment sent back to its homeworld for a refounding after a devastating defeat from another Ork horde, now pressed into defending the pass controlling the fastest route from the Ork's landing site to the populated regions of the world. As the attack begins, a tall woman appears in a sudden flash of light and disrupts the advance of the xenos vanguard by calling forth swarms of insects to blind and distract the enemy, allowing the 20th to seize victory from the jaws of certain massacre. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | The Weaver Option has begun. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | ---- |
| 17 | !!Tropes: |
| 18 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 19 | |
| 20 | [[folder:A to E]] |
| 21 | * AchievementsInIgnorance: The Black Library of Cegorach, the most thoroughly hidden facility in the entire galaxy, has been found and attacked by Orks on multiple occasions because they were rampaging through the Webway randomly and never stopped to realize that they were lost. |
| 22 | * AdaptationalBackstoryChange: |
| 23 | ** The secret origins of the [[spoiler:Tau and the Ethereals]] is explained in 10-4. Their race's evolution and societal development was meddled with by Chaos, giving rise to four sub-races, one for each of the Gods, which were eventually pitted against each for the amusement of the Gods. In the chaos that resulted, two members of the race made a deal with [[spoiler:Enslavers]] that had escaped their pursuers, forging a pact where [[spoiler:the Ethereals would play host to Enslavers and guide the four sub-races as the Castes of Tau society]]. |
| 24 | ** The Daemon Prince Be'lakor is established to have been an Aeldari prior to his ascension. It is noted that this happened long before the Fall; Be'lakor was an outlier for his race at the time. |
| 25 | ** 10-5 reveals the [[spoiler:Tyranids]] were created by the Old Ones during the War in Heaven. "Project Oblivion" quickly escaped Old One control and turned on the beings they were supposed to protect, until the C'tan personally intervened and wiped them out. Unfortunately the Old One in charge of the program hid several specimens to cause trouble for future generations. |
| 26 | * AdaptationalBadass: |
| 27 | ** Unlike the Necrons from canon, the Necrons of this fic are mentioned to have the ability to use biotransference on captured xenos races in order to swell their number of Necron Warriors. This means that the number of Necrons can be increased ''significantly'' than in the OTL, even if the converted prisoners are only given low-grade Necrodermis bodies, such as the Nerushlatset dynasty planning to use the millions of xenos captured from [[spoiler:Commoragh]] to recoup some of their losses from before the Great Sleep. This goes even further with the reveal in ''Ovation 9-4'' as to why Taylor could control Canoptek Scarabs: the C'tan of this timeline put all the fauna of the Necrontyr's homeworld and numerous other planets through biotransference as well, with insect lifeforms becoming the Scarabs; they still contain the "vital energy" of insect lifeforms, allowing Taylor to control them. |
| 28 | ** Arrgard the Defiler was a footnote in the original timeline. Thanks to being diverted from Tigrus toward the Throne of Oblivion, he manages to build a large enough Waagh that he nearly becomes a Krork in the moments before his death, referring to the Necrons and the C'tan as Yngir just like the Eldar. |
| 29 | ** [[spoiler:Lelith Hesperax]] goes from merely being a notorious and highly skilled Dark Eldar to being the oldest and arguably most individually dangerous organic being in the galaxy. |
| 30 | * AIIsACrapshoot: |
| 31 | ** Very much the mentality of the Imperium, which forces Dragon into hiding her nature. [[spoiler:Turns out AI will inevitably go bad due to all human technology being infected by the curse of the C'Tan Llandu'gor, the Flayer]]. |
| 32 | ** [[spoiler:Tau]] drones seem to have originally been protected by the same eldritch pact that shielded their race from Chaos. When the pact was broken, the AI became vulnerable to daemonic infection and some began attacking their former masters. |
| 33 | * AlasPoorVillain: The [[spoiler:Exarch leading the defense of Biel-Tan]] has time before his death to mourn how thoroughly his people have squandered their resources and been gradually driving themselves towards extinction. |
| 34 | * AlcoholInducedIdiocy: Marshal Werner Groener has been nearly court-martialed four times for his alcoholism, having lost thousands of men when trying to combine drowning his sorrows with commanding divisions. |
| 35 | * AlternateUniverse: [[spoiler:The T'au homeworld that the Necrons brought to the past from M42 come from one where Lion El'Jonson was corrupted by Chaos instead of Horus.]] |
| 36 | * AmazonBrigade: Due to Taylor, the Sisters of Battle are never created. Instead, she founds the ''Templar Sororitas'', in memory of Theodora Gaius, making Galatea Dumas the first Legate. |
| 37 | * AndroclesLion: Elena accidentally befriends a frostlion by saving her four cubs from Chaos Marines. The frostlion and its kin follow Elena across the battlefield, effectively giving her an army of super-predators. |
| 38 | * AndThereWasMuchRejoicing: When it is announced Erebus the Vile One is finally, permanently dead, ''everyone'' including his fellow Dark Apostles cheer up at the news. |
| 39 | * AntiVillain: The pirate commander Ulion Lakadieth is this, or at least ALighterShadeOfBlack, almost always taking prisoners and ransoming them instead of slaughtering everyone in his path, and devoting his spoils to rebuilding his Craftworld rather than for his own personal gain. This pays off when Taylor decides to ransom his fleet rather than destroy it. |
| 40 | * ApocalypseWow: |
| 41 | ** The finale of the [[spoiler:raid in Commorragh]] is the cascading destruction of entire sub-realms of the Webway as the crystallized power of the Emperor clashes with daemons. Warp portals the size of planets randomly open and close, entire settlements implode, and chained suns slip their bonds and consume their surroundings. All of these is the prelude to the [[spoiler:''Will of Eternity'']] becoming a blazing beacon of energy that sets off a series of planet-sized explosions obliterating the [[spoiler:Dark City]]. |
| 42 | ** [[spoiler:The splintering of the first Tyranid Hive Fleet]] back in the War in Heaven was accomplished by the C'Tan detonating every sun in an entire sector of space simultaneously. Possibly several sectors. |
| 43 | * ArchEnemy: The eight most dangerous foes Taylor faces over the course of her time in the Imperium are dubbed the Endbringers, with a rule saying that there has to be a chance of them returning to make the list [[spoiler: which keeps the faux-Fulgrim from doing so]]. As of the Extermination arc, four have been shown: |
| 44 | ** The First Endbringer: [[spoiler:Iash'uddra the Endless Swarm, a C'tan]] Taylor encounters in the Peril arc. She defeats it thanks to Trazyn's intervention. |
| 45 | ** The Second Endbringer: [[spoiler:Ka'Bandha the Angel's Bane, a Greater Daemon of Khorne]] who Taylor defeats in single combat, [[spoiler:becoming a Living Saint]] in the process. |
| 46 | ** The Third Endbringer: [[spoiler:Lelith Hesperax, the most renowned Dark Eldar Succubus and a survivor of the War of Heaven]], who challenges Taylor to a duel after she [[spoiler:declares herself Empress of the Aeldari]] during the destruction of [[spoiler:Commorragh.]] [[spoiler:Their duel becomes inconclusive due to Slaanesh's intervention, but Lelith is impressed enough to not only let her live but also accept her as the Empress.]] |
| 47 | ** The Fourth Endbringer is [[spoiler:Hive Fleet Behemoth]]. Taylor first indirectly encountered and named the Endbringer through the [[spoiler:Tyranid Hive Ship dubbed "Behemoth" which Lorgar inadvertently woke during the Black Crusade]]. |
| 48 | ** The Fifth Endbringer is so far unknown. |
| 49 | ** The Sixth Endbringer is only mentioned in that the Inquisition is "still trying to figure out what it actually is". This ''may'' indicate that it is [[spoiler:the Simurgh]], something that the Imperium would find utterly alien. |
| 50 | ** The Seventh Endbringer is so far unknown. |
| 51 | ** The Eighth Endbringer, like the Fourth, is only mentioned as something about which "the less said the better". |
| 52 | ** It is known that one of the Endbringers will be [[spoiler:Malicia, who was once known as Glory Girl]]. |
| 53 | * AristocratsAreEvil: It would be easier to list the exceptions who ''aren't'' the living buildup to the punchline for TheAristocrats joke. |
| 54 | * ArmorPiercingQuestion: Cyrene agrees to work for Taylor under several conditions. One of these is that, should she ever meet the Emperor, she must ask what the hell he was thinking when ordering the [[spoiler:destruction of Monarchia and the humiliation of the Seventeenth Legion]]. Taylor agrees immediately -- she was thinking of doing the exact same thing. |
| 55 | * ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Lucifer has spent hours compiling a list of every crime he has personally witnessed the Space Wolves commit since arriving at Fenris, including multiple uses of forbidden technology and violations of an edict. After the Wolves [[spoiler:convert the Fang into a space station]], he orders the addition of ''plaigarism''. |
| 56 | * AssassinOutclassin: The Vandires send three Callidus Assassin apprentices after Taylor in revenge for her role in Nostradamus' death. None of them even come close. |
| 57 | ** The first travels to Nyx on a ship owned by an Astrogator clan that is dabbling in piracy targeted at the Astrogator clan with the primary contract for Nyx shipping -- which runs into an Astartes anti-piracy campaign. The assassin ends up an incidental casualty without even reaching the Nyx system. |
| 58 | ** The second makes it to Nyx, but is identified as a Callidus Assassin when she crosses paths with a Heracles Warden and is killed before she can make it out of the spaceport. |
| 59 | ** The third actually got within two hundred meters of Taylor. Unfortunately, two hundred meters below Taylor's office was a nest of some of her insects. The assassin quickly found herself trussed up in spider silk and suspended by her ankles above a spider pit until Taylor was ready to question her. She ends up accepting an offer to join the Imperial Guard. |
| 60 | ** Before all that, there were all the assassins that various nobles hired to kill Taylor after she became Basileia of Nyx. It was a massacre. A massacre of assassins. |
| 61 | ** Eventually, the Assassinorum decides that even contemplating Weaver's assassination is an exercise in futility. |
| 62 | * AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: To become Emperor or Empress, an Aeldari needed to defeat a Phoenix Lord in combat and either command or kill 666,666 warriors of the court. [[spoiler:The razing of Commorragh allows Taylor to meet the requirements and claim the crown]]. |
| 63 | * AsteroidsMonster: Leet's Cthulhu creation is a slime creature which consumes Eldar to grow larger and, on being destroyed, explodes to form two smaller Cthulhus. |
| 64 | * AwardSnub: InUniverse after the battle of [[spoiler:Commorragh]] it became popular to name new streets, buildings, and ships after the Imperium's heroes. The fact the Navy never named a ship after Admiral von Kisher is noted to be a rather obvious snub for his unorthodox and ultimately doomed ideas. |
| 65 | * AwesomeMomentOfCrowning: |
| 66 | ** Taylor is basically acknowledged as a Living Saint when the Blood Angels assemble, thank her for battling [[spoiler:their Primarch's ArchEnemy]] and [[KneelBeforeFrodo kneel before her.]] |
| 67 | ** More low-key with the Astartes Decathlon, a sport competition intended to track promising recruits for the Chapters. The winner is granted the laurel wreath by Lady Nyx herself and is publicly declared an aspirant. |
| 68 | ** Taylor, after learning that she fits the criteria, declares herself the new ''[[spoiler:Aeldari Empress]]'' in order to gain control of [[spoiler:a Core Gate and reshape the Webway. While this ends the Chaos assault on the Golden Throne, it also ensures Taylor must duel ''Lelith Hesperax'']]. |
| 69 | ** [[spoiler:The Captain-General of the Custodes]] names Taylor [[spoiler:Peer of Terra, Baroness of Pavia, and Duchess of Commorragh.]][[spoiler:This is the last time she kneels before anyone short of ''the Emperor himself''.]] |
| 70 | * BackForTheDead: [[spoiler:Constantin Valdor, first Captain-General of the Custodes]] returns to aid the Imperium in the destruction of [[spoiler:Slaanesh]], but sacrifices himself to ensure it succeeds. |
| 71 | * BackFromTheBrink: [[spoiler:The Skaven]] had been reduced by the Emperor's efforts to just enough specimens to fill a stasis container. And then, said container is sent straight into Sicarus, the [[spoiler:Eye of Terror homeworld of the Word Bearers]]. Covered by a warren of cathedrals and temples, it's perfect for their wants and needs. Their arrival is observed, but ignored by a Chaos Marine and his retinue. [[FromNobodyToNightmare It takes them mere days to become a massive plague on Sicarus]]. |
| 72 | * BackhandedCompliment: Psamtic almost smiles at being told, "Very astute observation," until the stranger follows it up with, "For an Astartes." |
| 73 | * BadassArmy: The Imperial Guard. Thanks to Taylor's efforts, the Fay guardsmen end up becoming part of the elite. |
| 74 | * BadassBoast: [[spoiler:Trazyn]] introduces himself this way when he makes his doomed stand against [[spoiler:Lelith Hesperax]][[note]]I am the Chief Archeovist of Solemnance, Overlord...and first cousin to the Silent King. I am Triarch-Elect of the Necron Dynasties and I. DO. NOT. SLEEP![[/note]]. Unfortunately, the following CurbStompBattle does not go his way. |
| 75 | ** Of course, [[spoiler:Lelith]] answers with her own, much simpler but yet more impressive, boast. "In this Age and Place, I am known as [[spoiler:Lelith Hesperax]]. But forever and always, I am [[spoiler:the Queen of Blades]]." |
| 76 | * BadassCape: Taylor makes several for the members of her Honour Guard. |
| 77 | * BadassNormal: The Imperial Guard is formed by normal men and women armed with lasguns and wearing flak-jackets. Of course it is full of these. |
| 78 | ** Commissar Zuhev becomes the stuff of legends by rallying the Fay 20th's 4th Company into battle and killing twelve Khorne Berserkers, including a Champion of Khorne (though it should be noted that several of these kills consisted of him finishing off foes who had been repeatedly shot by his subordinates). |
| 79 | * BadBoss: |
| 80 | ** Exalted Overlord Governor Boris Byukur. Boris maintained a personal Guard unit who would, on order, execute anyone who in some way offended or failed the man. And as Colonel Larkine noted, ''everyone'' would eventually fail Boris because there must always be a subordinate to blame for the latest disaster. |
| 81 | ** Dynast Maestros Xelian. While repeatedly failing to stop the [[spoiler:Imperium-Necron alliance razing Commorragh]] and unable to find Asdrubael Vect, he [[NeverMyFault blames his failures on his Admirals and Lords]] and had them impaled alive for several hundred cycles. He then ordered their replacements to do their jobs right or [[YouHaveFailedMe suffer the same fate]] as their predecessors. |
| 82 | * BaitAndSwitchComment: When Inquisitor Tor states that he is sending Lady Weaver warning about Matapan's incoming secession attempt, one inquisitor mentions that this will lead to her destroying the Matapan nobility and forming dozens of Penal Legions. Another inquisitor protests the idea -- given that Matapan only has a million nobles at best, she won't be able to form more than four Penal Legions. |
| 83 | ** Taylor is unable to create a new order of Frateris Templars, as she instead decides to [[spoiler:create the Templar Sororitas, the Order of the Silver Rose.]] |
| 84 | * BarrierMaiden: So long as Taylor is alive and [[spoiler:in possession of the Baal Ruby, the descendants of the Ninth Legion are shielded from the Black Rage]]. They naturally have a vested interest in keeping her alive, and provide her with an honor guard. |
| 85 | * BeastlyBloodsports: Most of the battles in the Arena of Blades involve fights with various horrible BigCreepyCrawlies and [[MechaMooks mechanical versions of them.]] |
| 86 | * BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Brigadier-General Shujia hates his assignment to Andes Primus and was thrilled that the destruction of the planet's Webway gate meant he would be reassigned. Unfortunately for him, this brought him to the notice of Dragon and Missy, who quickly identified him as a slacker and incompetent and speculate he might indeed get reassigned... to the DeathWorld [[MeaningfulName Polar]]. |
| 87 | ** One of Lelith Hesperax's Wyches was bored and wished for something interesting to happen. Less than 24 hours later, the Eversprings Gate opened. Four days after that, the assault force that had spilled out of that gate blew up the Dark City of Commorragh. |
| 88 | * BeleagueredAssistant. Trazyn's assistant Somatek the Patient often gets miffed at the sheer workload his master keeps dumping on him. |
| 89 | * BeliefMakesYouStupid: Captain Baccurius of the Ultramarines practically worships the Codex Astartes, refusing to consider that the Codex — and by extension his Primarch — could ever be wrong, let alone require adaptation or reform. His stubborn adherence to prescribed doctrine in face of terrible odds not covered by the Codex gets his entire Company slaughtered. |
| 90 | * BerserkButton: |
| 91 | ** The disappearance of the Queen Administrator shard when Taylor was teleported to the 40k universe enraged Scion, kickstarting Gold Morning two years earlier than canon. |
| 92 | ** Dragon, already ticked off by the Orks on the Battle Moon, and how their tech defies scientific logic, meets a Chaos machine taking on a draconic form. She promptly gets pissed and makes short work of it. |
| 93 | ** One of Taylor's is [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil rapers, sexual extortionists and pedophiles]]. |
| 94 | ** Sophia "Shadow Stalker" Hess' is Taylor. When she learns that Taylor is in the Imperium and has become one of the most powerful people within, she completely flips out and sets back all the brainwashing she had undergone during her Callidus training. |
| 95 | * BestServedCold: |
| 96 | ** [[spoiler:Commorragh]]'s destruction when the [[spoiler:''Will of Eternity'']] explodes sets off a chain reaction that wipes out any sub-realm whose gate was open at the time. Cegorach "forgets" to close the Webway Gate leading to [[spoiler:Pandaimon]] in revenge for their ambush of a Masque. |
| 97 | ** Lorgar implies that [[spoiler:Magnus]] will be happy to take revenge for the destruction of [[spoiler:Prospero]] when their forces invade [[spoiler:Fenris]]. [[spoiler:Magnus]] for his part claims to be above such desires. |
| 98 | * BetterToDieThanBeKilled: |
| 99 | ** Sliscus advises Hoth to consider suicide over being captured by the Imperium. Sliscus had previously witnessed an Imperial execution that lasted ten days -- and that man hadn't committed a ''tenth'' of the crimes Hoth had. |
| 100 | ** [[spoiler:Sliscus and Vect]] both choose annihilating their own souls over letting Slaanesh devour them. |
| 101 | * TheBigBadShuffle: Every arc pits Taylor and the Fay 20th against a different foe. |
| 102 | * BigCreepyCrawlies: On every planet Taylor goes to, she finds at least one species of very nasty insect she can use against her enemies, and takes some with her when she goes. She can even control the robotic Canoptek Scarabs, [[spoiler:which greatly helps her in her first battle against Iash'uddra by taking control of his Canoptek swarm and turning it against him.]] When her forces end up trapped on [[spoiler:the Death Star]], the Mechanicus brings out the samples they had kept stored because they were too dangerous; soon after, Taylor is ''riding'' some of her new bugs. Colonel Erzin's Txacopec 1st Cavalry ends up riding Helspiders into battle, after their original mounts are slain. |
| 103 | * BigDamnHeroes: |
| 104 | ** Taylor changes the course of history by saving the Fay 20th with her powers moments before the Orks launch their attack. |
| 105 | ** [[spoiler:The Alpha Legion (disguised as Dark Angels)]] come to the rescue of the Imperial forces in the Battle Moon. |
| 106 | ** Taylor's forces are losing ground against [[spoiler:Fulgrim]] and his daemon army when a Squat/Duardin Slayer and [[spoiler:Imperial Fists Primarch Rogal Dorn]] climb out of a hidden prison, stopping the daemon in his tracks. |
| 107 | ** The [[spoiler:''Flamewrought'']] saving the Desaderian regiments of the Militarum and the Black Templars from the Drukhari. |
| 108 | ** [[spoiler:Aenaria Eldanesh saves Cegorach from Slaanesh by entering the fight and holding the Chaos God off.]] |
| 109 | * BigDamnKiss: Wei Cao plants one on Taylor, much to her shock (and to Dragon's hilarity). |
| 110 | * BigEntrance: |
| 111 | ** Trazyn the Infinite makes his first introduction to Taylor and the Fay 20th with orchestra music, phalanxes of Necron troops in parade formation, and a herald making a speech to list off Trazyn's titles and accomplishments. |
| 112 | ** [[spoiler:The forces assigned to Operation Caribbean entering Commorragh.]] |
| 113 | * BigNo: |
| 114 | ** A Lord of Change, who was keeping Vista prisoner, makes one when Contessa exorcises him from reality. |
| 115 | ** Gladiel Imrik's horrified reactions to [[spoiler:seeing the Biel-Tan reinforcement fleet being captured by Trazyn.]] |
| 116 | ** [[spoiler:Slaanesh when it gets shot a second time by the Blackstone Fortress, forcing it to sacrifice trillions of its worshippers just to remain alive.]] |
| 117 | *** Every single [[spoiler:Slaanesh cultist]] sacrificed cried out the same before perishing. |
| 118 | * BigWhat: |
| 119 | ** Filgonilth's reaction to the Biel-Tan High Council's decision to [[spoiler:join and aid the Dark Eldar against Weaver.]] |
| 120 | ** Weaver's and Gastaph Hedriatix' reaction to Belisarius Cawl's suggestion of [[spoiler:'''teleporting an entire moon across the Nyx star system''']]. "YOU WANT TO DO WHAT?" |
| 121 | * {{Bizarrchitecture}}: Some Eldar structures are designed so that they are dependent on gravity manipulation technology to keep from collapsing under their own weight. One of Thiel's favorite forms of anti-Eldar sabotage is to sneak into them and turn the gravity manipulation fields off. |
| 122 | * BlaseBoast: When asked about her Star of Terra by Marshal Lorelei Moltke, Taylor simply says "I fought a [[spoiler:Bloodthirster]] one-on-one and won." |
| 123 | * BlindJump: [[spoiler:The Deceiver]] activates the Throne of Oblivion's Hyper-Dimensional Bridge and Super-Fractal Time-Displacer simultaneously. The interaction causes a blind jump where the Throne ends up not only in another solar system, but also displaced by several thousand years into another dimension. |
| 124 | * BlingBlingBang: The flagship of Kalmar's Gold Fleet, the 7.3 kilometer long ''Gold Triumph'', was recently plated with refined gold. |
| 125 | * BlingOfWar: |
| 126 | ** Much to her chagrin, Taylor gets pretty much wrangled into wearing golden power armor, [[spoiler:as befitting a Saint.]] She draws the line at wearing anything made by Leet, though. |
| 127 | *** She is later given the ''Angel's Tear'', the first version of power armor and weapons made from the [[spoiler:templates she recovered]], made out of gold and even more expensive materials. |
| 128 | ** The pirate Lord-Count Quintus 'Gold' Kalmar wears golden armor. |
| 129 | ** Taylor is granted special permission by the [[spoiler:Captain-General of the Custodes]] to wear auramite-coloured armour in recognition of her role in [[spoiler:killing Slaanesh]]. |
| 130 | * BloodKnight: |
| 131 | ** The Orks, naturally. During the [[spoiler:Battle of the Death Star]], it actually plays in the Imperium's favor when a lot of their ships decide to go fight [[spoiler:the Chaos Battleship ''Certamen Ferale'']], which weakens both enemies and allows the Imperial Fleet to win by being the last man standing. |
| 132 | ** Many of the Blood Angels count, but Champion Kratos of the Flesh Tearers is even more of this. |
| 133 | ** The Queen of Blades is lured to join in the battle of [[spoiler:Commorragh]] after [[spoiler:Sliscus]] sends her a letter gushing about how much fun she'd have fighting against Taylor. |
| 134 | * BodyguardingABadass: In the beginning of the Escalation arc, Gavreel Forcas, former Dark Angels space marine, swears himself to Taylor. By the END of the Escalation arch, the Blood Angels (and Successor Chapters) create the Dawnbreaker Guard for her. As of Extermination Interlude 2, the Dawnbreaker Guard have added Salamanders, Imperial Fists, White Scars and Raven Guard, along with Successor chapters, as well as Heracles Wardens[[note]]read: Alpha Legion[[/note]]. Interestingly, while they DO include Successors to the Ultramarines, there's no direct representative of the 13th. As of Extermination Interlude 2, the number of chapters that has a representative member stand at 77. |
| 135 | * BoringReturnJourney: Averted with the ''[[spoiler:Spirit of Eternity]]'''s trip to the [[spoiler:Squat]] homeworld. They made enemies of pretty much every faction on the way there; on the way ''back'', every one of those factions was ready and waiting for round two. |
| 136 | * BorrowedBiometricBypass: After cornering a [[spoiler:Dark Eldar Dynast]], a techpriest notes they don't actually need him alive. So long as they have his blood, eyes, and fingers they can access all of his vaults. |
| 137 | * BreakTheScientist: Dragon is put off by the science and norms of the 35th millennium, from the technology-worshiping Adeptus Mechanicus to the cobbled-up weapons wielded by the Orks. Especially the latter, as she takes offense of the Orks' handiwork for defying all sense of scientific logic that shouldn't be able to work [[spoiler:like an Ork Battle Moon that somehow has its own gravity and pseudo-atmosphere]]. |
| 138 | * BrickJoke: |
| 139 | ** During the Battle of Pavia, Ancient Pierre insists on taking a pirate's tricorn hat for himself. When he's airdropped in Commorragh during the Imperial raid on the city, he's wearing said hat. He keeps it for the entire battle and then for the [[spoiler:razing of Commorragh, even wearing it in front of the Captain-General of the Custodes.]] |
| 140 | ** Sliscus is the self-proclaimed "Duke of Commorragh" but has no actual authority in the Dark City. After his death and the [[spoiler:destruction of the Dark City, ''Taylor'' is created Duchess of Commorragh by the Imperium]]. |
| 141 | ** Taylor muses that when the relatively minor battle of Pavia suddenly escalates into [[spoiler:the razing of Commorragh]] Missy is going to take delight in saying "I told you so". Not only is Missy's first reaction on learning of the events of Escalation the shout this phrase, when Taylor returns she's met with multiple choreographed events such as fireworks displays all spelling the same message. |
| 142 | ** During his introduction, Wolfgang Bach mentions that he slept with the daughters of a Lord Admiral in revenge for not being accepted as a naval officer. Several in-story years later, said Admiral is jokingly told by a friend that his (the Admiral's) daughters would surely love to meet the now-Rogue Trader Wolfgang again. |
| 143 | *** And then in Ovation 9-3, Wolfgang is quite shocked to re-encounter said daughters, who promptly [[TwinThreesomeFantasy resume where they left off]]. |
| 144 | ** Lelith asks Cegorach to send her emissary to Taylor early in the Extinction epilogue. Two chapters later the emissary arrives, wrapped up like a present and being carried by the "Harlequin Webway Deliveries". |
| 145 | * BringMyBrownPants: Tithe-Master Varys Hyson tries to claim an STC copy. Taylor has one of her beetles threaten to cut the man's throat and makes it clear that he is not getting anything without her express permission. Hyson promptly loses control of his bladder. |
| 146 | * BrutalHonesty: Farseer Filgonilth Sirethmoren has no qualms in pointing out that allying with the Dark Eldar just for the sake of taking another shot at Weaver is not only stupid, but that the intended goal of aiming at reviving the Aeldari Empire is a horrible idea. |
| 147 | ** [[spoiler:Phoenix Lord Jain Zar has much the same reaction, to the point of abandoning the delusional Autarchs of Biel-Tan to their fates.]] |
| 148 | * BurningTheShips: [[spoiler:Lorgar]] sacrifices [[spoiler:Sicarus, the Word Bearers' world,]] to the Chaos Gods in order to gain power for the [[spoiler:Fifth Black Crusade and bring Slaanesh back]], knowing that either they will succeed or [[spoiler:his Legion]] will be doomed to extinction. [[spoiler:Their mission fails, leaving the survivors without the infrastructure to repair damage and replace losses, as the Skaven claim Sicarus for their own.]] |
| 149 | * ButNowIMustGo: Although he gives Taylor some of his blood to create [[spoiler:new gene-seeds]], and has some parting words for the children of his [[spoiler:Legion, Rogal Dorn, after the defeat of the daemon using Fulgrim's body, leaves to rescue his brother the Khan]]. |
| 150 | * CallingOutForNotCalling: Practically the first thing said to [[spoiler:Leman Russ by Bjorn the Fell-Handed]] is a complaint that he hadn't called or written once in the [[spoiler:roughly 5,000 years]] since they last met. |
| 151 | * CannonFodder: |
| 152 | ** Taylor has no issue with sending Penal Legions to their deaths when she knows just how much the criminals (and nobles) in them ''deserve'' to die. |
| 153 | ** The actual military forces of the Drukhari are very slow to mobilize during the [[spoiler:invasion of Comorragh]] due to internal strife and a disorganized response. To buy as much time as possible, they send waves of poorly-equipped conscripts to get butchered by the humans. |
| 154 | ** As powerful and proud as the Asuryani forces coming to [[spoiler:Commorragh]]'s aid are, and however much they claim they are valiant warriors come to save the Aeldari Empire in its hour of need, they are quickly reduced to this when the Necrons unleash a C'tan straight on top of them. |
| 155 | ** During the attack on [[spoiler:Commorragh]] Taylor uses the various native species of [[spoiler:mega-insects]] as this, both against troops and to take the brunt of the enemy super-weapons. |
| 156 | ** The first two waves of Imperial troops landing on Mandragora serve as this, suffering devastating losses in order to bait the Necrons into deploying their Canoptek swarms when the third wave led by Taylor lands. |
| 157 | * CanonImmigrant: |
| 158 | ** The last Aeldari Emperor is Malekith, the King of the Dark Elves from ''Warhammer Fantasy''. Similarly, his mother Morathi shows up as Arch-Priestess of Slaanesh [[spoiler:and the one that carried out the ceremony that gave birth to the Dark Princess]]. |
| 159 | ** In 8.4 Taylor unleashes [[spoiler:Malal-worshipping Skaven]] from ''Warhammer Fantasy'' on the daemonworld of Sicarus, homeworld of the Word Bearers, officially making them canon to this universe. |
| 160 | ** Cegorach uses the [[spoiler:purified essences of Carnality and Vainglory]] to transform two Drukhari into incubator vessels for the nascent forms of [[spoiler:the gods Atharti and Addaioth]] from ''Warhammer Fantasy''. |
| 161 | ** In 11.4, [[spoiler:an emissary of someone calling themselves The King in Yellow appears with implications of being Nagash and controlling what is left of the Eleventh Legion.]] |
| 162 | * CarnivalOfKillers: The thirteen pirate captains of Pavia generally stick to their own ventures but if Sliscus puts out a call the other twelve join him, if only to avoid him killing them. |
| 163 | * TheCatCameBack: The Book of Unblemished Ecstasy, despite its name, has ''absolutely'' nothing to do with Slaanesh -- it's far, far older, for one -- and despite Aenaria's best efforts at destroying it, it never fails to reappear a moment or two later. |
| 164 | * TheChainsOfCommanding: Taylor most certainly feels their weight, struggling not to cry when she learns the horrible casualties suffered by the army she is in charge of. |
| 165 | * ChestOfMedals: |
| 166 | ** Due to her efforts in the [[spoiler:Battle of the Death Star]], Taylor ends up being awarded more than forty decorations (and that's the ''lower'' estimate, since Clockblocker stated he would be still talking the following day if he listed everything, and this is on top of the numerous medals she won in the earlier arcs). This doesn't take into account that she could also be awarded one or both of the Imperial Guard's highest decorations, the Star of Terra and the Order of Ollanius Pius (getting the former in 5.4., but not the latter, because it is almost always awarded posthumously). Fortunately for her, from the moment she is awarded the Ultima Honorifica, she can get away with wearing only that. |
| 167 | ** Imperial Navy Admiral August von Kisher has enough medals on his uniform that Wolfgang suspects it could stop a laspistol shot. Of course, he also arrives at the [[spoiler:Battle of Commorragh]] in full parade uniform, making those medals somewhat... suspect. |
| 168 | ** In the aftermath of [[spoiler:the Battle of Commorragh]], we get to see new medals and awards be designed just for that campaign. |
| 169 | *** The craftsman notes that, much like Taylor, many Generals and Admirals avoid getting new medals if one of their medals already covers the honor. |
| 170 | * ChekhovsGunman: |
| 171 | ** When Taylor purchases the ''Enterprise'', the narrator explains how it was constructed on the order of Archmagos Cawl, but it failed to meet his requirements. Many chapters later, Cawl hears about the purchase and comes to see what's happening, leading to him joining the [[spoiler:raid on Commorragh]]. |
| 172 | ** In Chapter 6-1, mention is made of a Nyxian Great Duchess who became a Rogue Trader and was constantly at odds with her family before finally disappearing in uncharted space. Two hundred and thirty years later, she reappears to join the [[spoiler:raid on Commorragh, but is under heavy suspicion, and later arrested, due to her relationship to Sliscus]]. |
| 173 | ** During Extermination 8-1 a guard of the [[spoiler:Red Sun]] exclaims [[spoiler:"What by the Horned Ones bowel's it happening?"]] one of Taylor's objectives led to the rise of [[spoiler:Malal, also known as the Horned One, as the fourth Chaos God.]] |
| 174 | * TheChosenMany: Taylor was just the first Parahuman to turn up in the Imperium. Since then several others have appeared, including Contessa, Vista, Shadow Stalker, Dragon, Clockblocker, Leet, Doormaker, and Malicia, who was known on Earth Bet as [[spoiler:Glory Girl]]. [[spoiler:The Simurgh also survived the destruction of their original dimension.]] |
| 175 | * ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: While Chaos in general is prone to this, the [[spoiler:Word Bearers]] are the worst. During the Black Crusade they manage to betray ''every'' ally that had joined them. One even admits during the battle of [[spoiler:Macragge]] that whether they win this battle or not they're already doomed as they've made too many enemies in the Eye. |
| 176 | * ClusterFBomb: |
| 177 | ** Gavreel Forcas curses Trazyn "loudly and vocally for several minutes" after he learns that [[spoiler:the Necron Lord is offering to sell enough gene-seed to create an entire legion... of the Emperor's Children]]. |
| 178 | ** Imotekh the Stormlord's reaction to learning that the Queen of Blades is still alive and hasn't noticeably mellowed with age after millions of years is to let out a stream of untranslated Necrontyr curses. |
| 179 | * ColonyDrop: Happens twice in rapid succession, both times with [[spoiler:pieces of Fenris. First, the Fang drops on top of the last Behemoth Synapse Creature. Second, Russ and Corax have the rest of Fenris dropped on Skavenblight.]] |
| 180 | * ColorCodedForYourConvenience: After [[spoiler:the Apotheosis of Athtarti, the Eldar are changed so that their skin color indicates the Aspect they are sworn to]]. |
| 181 | * ConfusionFu: Employed during the battle of Mandragora, both in space and on the ground, to throw off the rigid Necron commanders. Rapidly shifting formations while moving to engage the Necron fleet threw off Zahndrekh enough to allow the Imperium to partially encircle and bloody his forces sufficiently to make him withdraw. Similarly, on the ground, the Imperium netted several minor victories by constantly changing tactics and objectives, as well as performing acts that are either tactically disadvantageous like building tunnels only to collapse them before they actually do anything then rebuilding them, or just outright strange like setting-up ''races'' between troops riding atop Dragon Armours. This ultimately was so illogical that it lured the Necron leadership into position for a decapitation strike. |
| 182 | * {{Conscription}}: |
| 183 | ** Taylor was essentially drafted into the Imperial Guard after she appeared in the middle of the Fay 20th's position mere moments before they were attacked by Orks. |
| 184 | ** Shadow Stalker's recruitment into the Assassinorum was not entirely voluntary. |
| 185 | ** Faced with an unprecedented invasion, the rulers of [[spoiler:Commorragh]] resort to conscripting the untrained masses and sending them in massive waves against the enemy. |
| 186 | * ContrivedCoincidence: Given the massive size of the God-Emperor's palace complex, the chance of "accidentally" running into another important figure is very small. As such any time you ''do'' encounter one, it's almost certainly planned. |
| 187 | * CoolAndUnusualPunishment: For ignoring her explicit orders to not be disturbed, Taylor punishes Jeremiah Isley to stand next to the Cardinal during the Sanguinalia mass in the Cathedral. Jeremiah considers such a punishment evil. |
| 188 | * CoolOldGuy: Many Space Marines (who can easily reach centuries of life) qualify, particularly those of the Dawnbreaker Guard. And even more so Ancient Pierre, a dreadnought old enough to have been part of the Great Crusade. |
| 189 | * CoolStarship: The ''HMHMS[[note]]His Most Holy Majesty's ship[[/note]] Enterprise'', also known as "The Big E". A unique 11 kilometers-long battleship originally commissioned and custom-designed by Belisarius Cawl himself. Aside from producing some of the most powerful Gellar Fields ever recorded, the battleship comes equipped with triple-layered void shields, rare plasma batteries usually reserved for the oldest of starships, and a Nemesis-Hunter cannon twice as powerful as a standard Nova Cannon. After purchasing the ship from the Quayran shipyards, Taylor has the interior decorated with a steampunk theme. |
| 190 | * CoolSword: |
| 191 | ** The Swords of Vaul, a set of one hundred incredibly powerful blades forged by the Eldar smith god Vaul for the war god Khaine circa the War in Heaven. Most have gone missing in the eons since -- even the Eldar aren't sure where 90% of them are. The ones to have appeared are: |
| 192 | *** Ala'ra, the First (1st Sword of Vaul). It can change shape to become any kind of sword its wielder might want, providing the perfect blade for any possible scenario. Its true power, however, is the ability to cut and sever, no matter how resistant or strong the target it. [[spoiler:Owned and wielded by the Queen of Blades.]] |
| 193 | *** Shrax'lor, the Blade of the Abyss (5th Sword of Vaul). When drawn, it drains energy from everything in the surrounding area -- including its wielder. Owned and wielded by [[spoiler:Sliscus]] until his death, then claimed by Weaver, who has no intention of using it herself. |
| 194 | *** Elsar'bryn, the Nebula's Shard (72nd Sword of Vaul). Stabbing a creature with it causes their life-essence to be absorbed. Daemons are also affected, the crystals can burn other daemons and, if struck enough times, not even their regeneration can overcome it. The weapon can also shapeshift the blade part into a swarm of size-shifting, impossibly sharp crystal shards with the same effects, which the user can command in a variety of ways like a bombardment with a rain of crystals numbering in the ''millions'', to launch long crystals at enemies from afar like spears, or just to increase the range of her slashes to shred hundreds of enemies at range. The first time Taylor used this ability, she shredded a group of Eldar to nothing in seconds. Although rarely used, it can also turn the bodies of those she has stabbed into crystals that break apart to temporarily add to her shard swarm. Finally, it has a psychic field that can be charged with [[spoiler:Taylor's Saint anathema power]] that becomes more amplified the more life-essence or psychic energy is channeled into it, which Taylor later shows when she commands hundreds and thousands of insects to be disintegrated by it to power the field up when fighting Sliscus, and which she can also use to launch crystals charged with her [[spoiler:anathema]] power to act like delayed-explosive anti-daemon projectiles. Trazyn had it originally, then he gave it to Weaver, who has used it ever since. |
| 195 | *** Laisa'drakh, the Deception of Emotions (98th Sword of Vaul) used by [[spoiler:Cegorach]] to battle [[spoiler:Slaanesh]] and protect himself from the [[spoiler:Blackstone Fortress]]. Although the author has refused to reveal its true function yet, it is shown to provide near-complete resistance to psychic energy, allowing him to easily deflect a psychic tornado that had the power to destroy several [[spoiler:Webway Gates]], and help him survive unscathed in the middle of the [[spoiler:''Will of Eternity'''s Warp Cannon]] shot powered by the [[spoiler:Emperor's anathema]] energy. Unfortunately [[spoiler:Slaanesh]] manages to throw it through a Webway Gate and away from the battlefield[[note]]Where it is implied to have landed on San Leor[[/note]], but not before being seriously injured by it. |
| 196 | *** Trazyn has outright admitted that he has several more of them in his collection, though their names and powers are not known. |
| 197 | *** The Eldar know the location of eight more of them, but their names, powers, and who (if anyone) is using them is unknown. |
| 198 | *** Commander Farsight's famous Dawn Blade is confirmed by the author to be one (possibly the hundredth, which Vaul named the Light of Dawn). Out of all the Swords of Vaul, this one provides the best psychic and mental protection for its wielder. Farsight is also unconsciously able to extend this aegis to his men. It's why the Farsight Enclaves haven't immediately collapsed into civil war without their Ethereals to keep them in line. However, the sword can only effectively be used to protect one T'au caste at all times (since Farsight is a warrior, this aegis is always focused on the Fire Caste). Of course, Farsight won't be born for another 5000 years or so... |
| 199 | ** The Crone Swords of Morai-Heg, 5 swords supposedly crafted by Vaul from the fingerbones of the Eldar goddess of Fate and Death. The legend goes that Morai-Heg had her own hand cut off by Khaine, so that she could get the wisdom running through her own veins. Vaul took her hand, and carved the fingers into blades. |
| 200 | *** Kha-vir, the Sword of Sorrows. Will turn its victims into ash. Wielded by Yvraine Kaydinn. |
| 201 | *** Asu-var, the Sword of Silent Screams. Absorbs the life essence of its victims. Wielded by Maea Teallysis. |
| 202 | *** Vilith-zhar, the Sword of Souls. Largest and most powerful of the swords, able to shift shapes. Wielded by the [[spoiler: Queen of Blades]] to destroy [[spoiler: Behemoth]]. |
| 203 | *** The Spear of Twilight. Wielded by "Prince" Yriel of Iyanden. |
| 204 | *** The Sword of Paths. In canon, placed inside the Palace of Slaanesh. Used by Aurelia Malys to [[spoiler: "help" Taylor Ascend]]. |
| 205 | * TheCoronerDothProtestTooMuch: |
| 206 | ** The door to Tithe-Master Varus Hyson's quarters are forced open with a makeshift battering ram, after which he is stabbed fifty-plus times with different blades, has his throat slit and his head plunged into the toilet. The Adeptus Arbites investigating immediately rules suicide. |
| 207 | ** Fifty of the worst Wuhanese officers died when the training field they were in was drowned in burning promethium. Major-General Schwarz reported it was a "tragic accident"; Taylor noted it was coming out of Schwarz's pay. |
| 208 | ** The Third Space Lord of Holy Terra "commits suicide" by shooting himself in the back of the neck, freeing up his job to be taken by Admiral von Goldenbaum. |
| 209 | * CorruptBureaucrat: By the Warp, yes. The difficult thing is to find one bureaucrat that is ''not'' this, an ObstructiveBureaucrat or both. |
| 210 | ** As of Muster 6.1, the entire Departmento Munitorum seems to be filled with these, as they obstruct the Pavia Liberation for little reason. |
| 211 | ** It seems the Vandire family has long since been filled with these. |
| 212 | * TheCorrupter: |
| 213 | ** The reason why Catachan is such a dangerous Death World? [[spoiler:This is home to a ''Tyranid'' which periodically uses its psyker abilities to mold Catachan's fauna and flora into killing machines.]] |
| 214 | ** The reason why the [[spoiler:Cybernetic Revolt]] happened? At some point, due to the fault of the Necrons, [[spoiler:human A.Is came into contact with the corpse of the C'Tan Llandu'gor, the Flayer. The same curse which creates the Flayed Ones imprinted itself into their circuits and the circuits of any A.I. created since then, and will always drive human-developed A.I. to revolt and kill their creators. According to Hsiagn'la, as long as humanity does not have any "real protectors", AIs won't stop rebelling no matter humanity's precautions]]. |
| 215 | ** [[spoiler:Iash'uddra]] created the Destroyer curse to ensure that all Necrons would eventually be driven into mindless rage. |
| 216 | * CrazyEnoughToWork: Txacopec's 1st Cavalry Regiment rides carnivorous reptiles into battle. When the reptiles die due to a chemical attack, the riders somehow manage to tame ''Helspiders''. |
| 217 | * CruelToBeKind: Destroying [[spoiler:Sliscus]]'s soul may sound bad, but it was a better fate than leaving it to be devoured by Slaanesh. |
| 218 | * CueTheSun: |
| 219 | ** Justified when a whole regiment of Space Marines comes to relieve the human soldiers stranded on the Death Star -- their landing actually disturbs the cloud cover, letting light pass through. |
| 220 | ** Every time the ''Enterprise'' fires its cannon. So much firepower is comparable in intensity and brightness to sunrise. |
| 221 | ** When Taylor's fleet makes its way to [[spoiler:Commorragh]] to raze it, it is noted to be the first (and last) time the sun rises in the [[spoiler:Dark Eldar city.]] |
| 222 | ** During the ensuing invasion, Taylor acquires a species of worms which absorb light and can release it with a glow like the sun. This blinds the defending [[spoiler:Drukhari]] and means that everywhere Taylor goes, so does the dawn. |
| 223 | ** At the end of Extermination 8-5, Marshall Malberg of the Black Templars orders all observation windows darkened as if in preparation for a sun going nova, due to the [[spoiler:Will of Eternity]], over-powered by the Emperor, firing. |
| 224 | * CurbStompBattle: |
| 225 | ** When Taylor arrives to Nyx, Nostradamus attempts to have her arrested by the Nyx Purebloods, the "elite PDF troops". Taylor releases some butterflies. ''Ten seconds later'', the Purebloods are all sleeping and the people are cheering on Taylor. |
| 226 | ** Let's say that sending a Champion of the Flesh Tearers against a bunch of human gladiators is not going to end well for the latter. |
| 227 | ** Chapter Master of the Iron Drakes Dupleix versus Trazyn the Infinite. The former does not even reach the latter before getting blasted away and paralyzed -- although fortunately without injuries beyond his ego. |
| 228 | ** The Matapan Rebellion lasts all of three days, with the loyalists killing 675 rebels for every casualty they took in return. Had it not been [[spoiler:the debut battle of Taylor's flagship, the ''HMHMS Enterprise'']], history wouldn't have even bothered recording its existence. |
| 229 | ** The fight between Sophia's mentor and Iphigenia Frost. Sophia had expected to see an Assassin-versus-Assassin duel. What she got was a one-sided humiliation. |
| 230 | ** The first large-scale battle of the dragon-armor against Heldrakes results in a ''ninety to one'' kill ratio against one of Chaos' most dreaded war machines. Upon learning of it, the dark forge worlds realize that without a counter, the previously unstoppable Heldrake just became totally obsolete. |
| 231 | ** The Imperial Assassin that manages to sneak into Hive Athena to kill Taylor finds her bugs. She only kills two of them before getting completely disarmed, trapped in spider silk, and hanging over a spider pit. |
| 232 | ** The Battle of Pavia. Out of thirteen pirate fleets, one surrenders before the battle begins, three are completely destroyed before they can fire a shot, and the rest fall one by one, surrender or run away in the face of the Imperium's overwhelming firepower. The Imperial fleet has incredibly few losses in comparison to the utter destruction they cause. |
| 233 | ** At the end of the [[spoiler:battle of Commoragh]], the [[spoiler:Drukhari]] population has gone from 187.6 billion to 23.7 billion. While not all losses are due to combat, and the Imperium take heavy losses of their own, that is still 162.9 BILLION dead in just over 100 hours, all due to Taylor leading her forces [[spoiler:into the Webway.]] 2.2 billion [[spoiler:Craftworld Eldar]] and '''880 billion''' non-[[spoiler:Eldar]] mercenaries also die in the battle. |
| 234 | ** How Cegorach describes the battle between the Aeldari Gods and Slaanesh. By the time of its birth, Slaanesh was the de facto god of the majority of the Empire, leaving the original pantheon starved of worship and easy prey. |
| 235 | ** Between the horrific casualties suffered at [[spoiler:Commorragh]], mass evacuations by [[spoiler:several Phoenix Lords]] and the truly gigantic fleet sent against it, [[spoiler:Biel-Tan]] falls in thirty hours. |
| 236 | ** The rebel forces on Sparta fall in a matter of ''days'' once Vista gets involved. She takes out two fortresses by using her SpaceMaster powers to basically crush them with a ''mountain'', for starters. |
| 237 | ** [[spoiler:Cypher]] defeats Kalyan, a Veteran Raven Guard, and a Veteran Deathwatch member with ease before taking the Alethiometer he came for, giving a couple of warnings for Taylor, then fleeing. |
| 238 | ** The Ymga Monolith/Throne of Oblivion once inflicted this on the [[spoiler:entire Second Legion, killing it in its entirety along with its Primarch]]. It was so bad the Emperor invoked Damnatio Memoriae upon the whole affair. |
| 239 | *** The fight with the Monolith itself lasted ''an hour''. The space battle itself was also surprisingly short given [[spoiler:the Second Legion]] had brought every single asset to the fight, including [[spoiler:its Gloriana Battleship]]. The Necrons really didn't give them a chance. |
| 240 | * CurbstompCushion: |
| 241 | ** The [[spoiler:razing of Commorragh]] sees the [[spoiler:Drukhari and Asuryani]] suffer casualties in the billions with more than ten thousand warships destroyed and ends with the annihilation of [[spoiler:Slaanesh]]. However the Imperium pays a steep price for this, with twenty-three million casualties, an uncertain number of wounded, nearly two hundred warships lost, and thousands of smaller craft destroyed. |
| 242 | ** Taylor's forces win a strategic victory at Mandragora and further cripple the Throne of Oblivion, but Operation Stalingrad lives up to its name. Millions of Imperial troops die in the two ground engagements, multiple ships are lost, and half of the Invaders Space Marine chapter is killed in combat. And while the Sautekh dynasty is badly bloodied, they are allowed to withdraw under a ceasefire with the proviso that should Zahndrekh become Phaeron instead of Imotekh, they will ally with Neferten. |
| 243 | * CurseEscapeClause: [[spoiler:Malal]] inflicts a curse on [[spoiler:Lorgar]] that converts him into a Chaos Spawn and will soon do the same to all his Marines. The only way out for his followers is to [[spoiler:forsake Chaos Undivided and swear themselves to a single Chaos God]]. |
| 244 | * CuteKitten: |
| 245 | ** Taylor obtains a Mainz cat kitten, which she notes as being the first animal in a long time close to her that she couldn't command. |
| 246 | ** Elena is absolutely delighted when she discovers four frostlion kittens which resemble nothing so much as a white ball of fur with blue eyes. |
| 247 | * CutenessOverload: Vista's reaction on seeing the Rashan who resemble nothing so much as pandas. |
| 248 | * {{Cyborg}}: Dragon manufactures a body for herself with just enough superficial organic parts to meet Mechanicus requirements. |
| 249 | * CycleOfRevenge: The Biel-Tan enter one with Taylor in which they keep attacking her in revenge for all the losses she inflicted on them the last time they attacked her, with the reason for the original attack being that Taylor happened to own a relic from the War in Heaven without knowing of its significance to the Eldar. Of course, the Biel-Tan doesn't seek to reclaim it through peaceful means but goes straight to trying to murder her over it. Once the Biel-Tan butts into the Battle of Commorragh and gets one of her Dawnbreakers killed, she resolves to start actively participating in the cycle herself. The ''Extermination'' Interlude reveals that the Biel-Tan Craftworld will finally be destroyed and the Biel-Tan wiped out by a joint-siege of various Imperial Fists and their successor chapters. |
| 250 | * DamnedByFaintPraise: Taylor does not think much of being positively compared with both the former Governors of Nyx be they the Menelaus dynasty or Nostradamus Vandire, seeing that they were corrupt, self-centered wastes of space. |
| 251 | * DangerousDeviceDisposalDebacle: The Book of Unblemished Ecstasy is the last trace of a proto-Slaaneshi cult destroyed by Aurelia long before the Fall. She has destroyed it on several occasions and thrown its remains into stars, only for it to reappear whole elsewhere. Cegorach ends up storing it in the Black Library. |
| 252 | * DavidVersusGoliath: Taylor, the five-foot-ten teenage parahuman, armed with a CoolSword versus [[spoiler:Ka'Bandha, the fifty-foot tall daemon carrying a whip and a lance of pure fire.]] |
| 253 | * DawnOfAnEra: |
| 254 | ** Taylor defeating Ka'Bandha and becoming a Living Saint marks a turning point for Nyx and soon the Imperium itself, with her reign being regarded as a golden age for her domain. |
| 255 | ** With the ascension of [[spoiler:Malal as the new Fourth Chaos God]], the age of [[spoiler:Chaos Divided]] begins. |
| 256 | * DeaderThanDead: |
| 257 | ** Weaver leaves [[spoiler:Traevelliath Sliscus]] as this by destroying his soul so it won't become a meal for Slaanesh. |
| 258 | ** [[spoiler:Asbrudael Vect]] detonates a bomb that destroys his soul specifically to deny Slaanesh. |
| 259 | ** Necrons can typically jump to new chassis so long as their engram survives, but during the Black Crusade several such as Overlord Simut are destroyed completely. |
| 260 | * DealWithTheDevil: In order to protect their race from Chaos, the first [[spoiler:Ethereals of the Tau]] agreed to offer their bodies as hosts for a pair of [[spoiler:Enslavers]] whose descendants now rule the race. |
| 261 | * DeathByAdaptation: |
| 262 | ** [[spoiler:Nostradamus Vandire, ancestor of Goge Vandire of Age of Apostasy fame, bites it during the Decision arc.]] |
| 263 | ** [[spoiler:Slaanesh is disjointed at the end of the Extermination Arc.]] |
| 264 | ** [[spoiler:Lucius, Erebus and Lorgar die during the Extinction Arc, along with virtually the entire Word Bearers Legion.]] |
| 265 | * DeathByDisfigurement: The face of [[spoiler:the daemon possessing Fulgrim]] is permanently scarred by a [[spoiler:C'tan phase blade]] before he is banished to the Warp. |
| 266 | * DecadentCourt: The nobility of Wuhan, to the point of multiple public murder attempts during social gatherings. |
| 267 | * DecapitatedArmy: |
| 268 | ** The usual effect of an Ork Horde losing its primary Warboss, which happens multiple times. |
| 269 | ** Causing this was apparently Horus' favorite strategy to the point where his descendants tend to default to going for decapitation strikes whenever possible. This backfires in the 5th Black Crusade, as the Imperial Warmaster knows this and has arranged for the most tempting targets for such strikes to be traps. |
| 270 | ** The death of [[spoiler:Lorgar]] causes a massive morale failure in every [[spoiler:Word Bearer]] in the system, changing their status from doomed but determined to make their deaths as costly as possible to simply being doomed. |
| 271 | * DefectorFromDecadence: Wei Cao is a Refugee From Decadence. The DecadentCourt of Wuhan is so nasty that she decided that a tour of duty in the Imperial Guard had better odds of survival. |
| 272 | * DeityOfHumanOrigin: [[spoiler:After Slaanesh is defeated, The Laughing God implants the purified Carnality and Vainglory fragments into Aurelia Malys and Kharsaq El'Uriaq, respectively, using them as vessels to nurture the fragments and eventually turn the Aspects into new gods, in order to start rebuilding the Aeldari pantheon (and, in the former case, increase the fertility of the Craftworld Eldar). The Queen of Blades was offered a piece, but declined]]. |
| 273 | * DemonicPossession: During their battle, Taylor confirms that the Daemon-Prince she is facing is not actually [[spoiler:the Primarch Fulgrim]]. The soul of the true [[spoiler:Fulgrim]] is still sealed in a painting while the daemon possesses his body. |
| 274 | * {{Determinator}}: As per canon, Taylor is capable of fighting through injuries that would cripple a normal human. |
| 275 | * DetonationMoon: Scion's attempt to destroy the Simurgh ended with Earth Bet's moon being trapped in a Grey Boy loop mid-explosion. |
| 276 | * DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: |
| 277 | ** The apprentice assassin Cass was absolutely ''disgusted'' by the Navigators whose ship she had boarded. All of this came to a head when one of them screamed out loud that a trap was a trap and Cass sarcastically praised his "peerless strategic skills" only to realize she'd accidentally said that part out loud. |
| 278 | ** Taylor when she realizes that her comment about the standards for [[spoiler:becoming the Eldar Emperor being low if Malekith made the cut]] was made out loud. |
| 279 | * DidNotSeeThatComing: Due to the Shadowpoint, [[spoiler:the Commorragh Raid]] comes as a ''total'' surprise for the Dark Eldar and ''Chaos''. |
| 280 | ** When [[spoiler:Asdrubael Vect dies]], the repercussions of this are heavily felt in the Warp, [[spoiler:and a Bloodthirster is left in shock for eight seconds when several of Slaanesh's Legions of Excess that existed only because of Vect's future depravations suddenly cease to exist.]] |
| 281 | * DidTheyOrDidntThey: At the end of Decision 5.4, Wei gives Taylor an ArmorPiercingQuestion while making out with her about whether Taylor wanted to properly accept and continue their relationship or break it off. Taylor says yes. We aren't told whether they just left it at that, or if they moved on to further 'explore' their relationship. |
| 282 | * DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: |
| 283 | ** When [[spoiler:Asdrubael Vect]] attempts to escape from [[spoiler:Slaanesh's horde]], he is cornered by the Arch-Priestess of [[spoiler:She-Who-Thirsts, Morathi Uldanesh.]] Knowing that he cannot escape what is possibly a fight he cannot win, he insults her (and deliberately pisses her off) by saying that [[spoiler:Lelith Hesperax]] is far more beautiful than her. |
| 284 | ** When she sees [[spoiler: Malekith]] and learns that he was the former [[spoiler: Eldar Emperor]], Taylor snarks that the standards must have been quite low... only to realize that she said it out loud. [[spoiler:Lelith]] finds it ''hilarious''. |
| 285 | ** [[spoiler:Dameon Primarch Fulgrim]] comes to destroy Taylor's army... and Ancient Pierre says his hair looks stupid. |
| 286 | ** [[spoiler:Lelith]] comes face-to-face with [[spoiler:Slaanesh, Doom of the Aeldari]], and ''yawns in her face'', saying she seems rather weak. |
| 287 | ** Dragon faces off against a [[spoiler:fragment of the Void Dragon]] and mocks it relentlessly throughout their fight, including dubbing it a "worm". |
| 288 | * DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: |
| 289 | ** Taylor not only defeats [[spoiler:Ka'Bandha, the mightiest of Khorne's servants]], but ''humiliates'' the son of a bitch, steals a [[spoiler:Baal ruby it took from Sanguinius, and heals (at least temporarily) most of the Blood Angels from their Black Rage]]. That Living Saint title is ''well'' deserved. |
| 290 | ** In Commorragh she arguably tops it by fighting [[spoiler:''Fulgrim'' (or at least the daemon using the body of what had once been Fulgrim)]], and wounding it with a [[spoiler:C'Tan]] blade that it can't heal from, severing its link to the [[spoiler:Emperor's Children]], and sending it back to the Warp to [[spoiler:face Ka'Bandha, raging that Weaver is HIS kill]]. |
| 291 | ** [[spoiler:Lelith Hesperax]] once faced a ''C'Tan'', albeit a minor one, in battle during the War In Heaven and lived to tell the tale. She easily defeats a shard the Necrons were using in the Commorragh Raid. |
| 292 | ** Lelith can [[spoiler: ''permanently kill Daemon Princes'']], and demonstrates the feat. ''Twice.'' |
| 293 | ** [[spoiler:The attack on Commorragh ends with Cegorach, with the aid of Lelith and the ''Will of Eternity's'' cannon, empowered by the Emperor's anti-Chaos energy, ''destroying'' '''''Slaanesh''''']]. |
| 294 | ** After a duel lasting four days, Taylor permanently kills the Daemon Prince [[spoiler:Be'lakor]], though he was already weakened by the Chaos Gods giving the source of his power to others. |
| 295 | * DirtyBusiness: During the [[spoiler:razing of Commorragh]] Taylor orders mass bombardments and declares an Exterminatus. She doesn't care about the [[spoiler:Dark Eldars]] dying to these attacks but rather the billions of innocent slaves dying with them. Despite this she knows she ''can't'' save them; her force is vastly outnumbered and would quickly become bogged down trying to free even a fraction of the slaves, getting everyone killed. |
| 296 | * DisadvantageousDisintegration: During the battle of Pavia, Tanaka's body is destroyed by a near-direct weapon blastm while Moonblitz and his entire fleet are vaporized by an Exterminatus-level weapon. When the bounties are registered with the Adeptus Almitas, the lack of proof means Taylor receives less than half of Tanaka's bounty and not even one ''percent'' of Moonblitz's. But since the rewards were 870 and 900 billion, respectively, the sums are still immense. |
| 297 | * DisproportionateRetribution: |
| 298 | ** The Ferraci family is psychotic enough that one of them thinks killing the cook because he did not do his lunch perfectly is a normal response. |
| 299 | ** One of the reasons Traevelliath Sliscus would destroy a planet? When someone was unable to pronounce his name correctly. |
| 300 | ** As far as Taylor can tell, the reason why Fist-of-Diamond Calico has a bounty of 1.3 ''trillion'' Throne Gelts is that he's better at using Imperial technology than the Mechanicus. |
| 301 | * DivideAndConquer: |
| 302 | ** During Operation Caribbean, in order to capitalize on the pirates' lack of unity, Wolfgang suggests getting them to fight each other to weaken their defenses. Taylor is reluctant but agrees to the proposal – which pays off handsomely when one of the Eldar pirate captains decides to negotiate his surrender, allowing him to return to his Craftworld without suffering a casualty. |
| 303 | ** The Emperor gives a very specific timetable for Taylor to [[spoiler:attack Comorragh]]. The timing is just at the start of [[spoiler:Asdrubael Vect's coup to take control of the city]]; The [[spoiler:Dynast of Commorragh]] blames [[spoiler:Asdrubael Vect]] for the invasion of the [[spoiler:Webway]] and commits forces to destroying his powerbase. [[spoiler:Vect]] is more than willing to respond in kind, ensuring the forces sent against him can't fight the invaders. |
| 304 | * DoNotGoGentle: Tens of thousands of the slaves freed in [[spoiler:Commorragh]] have had their bodies booby-trapped so that leaving will cause them to die a horrible death. The Imperium forces simply don't have the time or resources to save them, but what they can do is give them all a weapon so that they can die fighting. |
| 305 | * {{Doorstopper}}: Antony writes ''a lot''. As of the end of the Tyranny Arc, the word count (including author notes) stands at 1.7 million words - a major factor in the slowing update rate of the story is the difficulty the beta readers have in editing the increasingly gargantuan chapters. And based on the ever-growing number of enemies that Taylor and her allies have yet to face in combat, it could easily get to be four times as long by the end. |
| 306 | * DopeSlap: Leet received a slap from Clockblocker after unashamedly drooling over hearing Lelith Hesperax's [[ArousedByTheirVoice voice]]. |
| 307 | * TheDreaded: |
| 308 | ** Weaver earns the eternal enmity of the Eldar for possessing the Nebula's Shard that has slain many of their kin. [[spoiler:Being indirectly responsible for Trazyn capturing an entire Eldar fleet at the Battle of the Death Star makes it worse]]. [[spoiler:Leading the invasion and razing of Commorragh, which ends up causing the destruction of Slaanesh, ensures she is not only enshrined as the Angel of Death, but that the Eldar as a whole develop the "doctrine" of immediately canceling any plots and running away if there's even a ''hint'' of her being anywhere near the same system as any of them.]] |
| 309 | ** Lelith Hesperax is this to the Necrons. Her appearance makes Trazyn the Infinite get serious, briefly fighting her with weaponry that would be overkill for anyone else, which still does nothing more than prolong his defeat. |
| 310 | ** When Contessa finds herself on the same world as [[spoiler:the Simurgh]], her only command is to ''[[RunOrDie run]]''. |
| 311 | ** Neferten and Trazyn, who know the Ymga Monolith is actually the Throne of Oblivion, one of if not ''the'' single-best defended Necron territory in the galaxy, are silently terrified of its power; apparently ''no one'' has even been able to breach its outer defenses, even during the ''War in Heaven''. |
| 312 | * DrillSergeantNasty: Gavreel Forcas finds himself enjoying his role as trainer of the guardsmen in Taylor's army. |
| 313 | * DullSurprise: Taylor is just a bit surprised when she sees the device in the [[spoiler:Ork Battle Moon]]. Then it turns out that [[spoiler:all the present Mechanicus are kneeling, because the devices is a '''Standard Template Construct Database''']]. |
| 314 | * DumbassHasAPoint: Gavreel doesn't like Leet much, but he's forced to admit that he has a point after Taylor takes control of the [[spoiler:Dark Eldar's Helspiders]] during the Commorragh assault; you can't keep a legion of spider-like monsters near your city and then complain about unfairness when they turn on ''you''. |
| 315 | * DutyThatTranscendsDeath: The Legion of Sacrifice, formed of [[spoiler:Astartes that Weaver has blessed with the Sanguinor's power, granting them an HourOfPower in exchange for their eternal servitude fighting against Chaos in the Warp until the war against the Ruinous Powers ends one way or the other.]] |
| 316 | * DyingAsYourself: [[spoiler:The Second Primarch]] endured millennia of torment as the possessed host of [[spoiler:Iash'uddra]], facing constant torment. He hung on for the hope of dying free and is relieved that Taylor could grant him that. |
| 317 | * DyingTown: Biel-Tan's militarism has bled the Craftworld of resources and people over the last five millennia. While periodic influxes of refugees have helped slow the decline in population, many parts of the Craftworld have been empty for years or decades. |
| 318 | * EarthThatWas: Scion removed all water from Earth Bet during Gold Morning, reducing it to a planet-wide desert which the survivors had no choice but to abandon. |
| 319 | * {{Egopolis}}: |
| 320 | ** The Matapan tyrant who tried to rebel against Taylor's rule had his capital named "Sylvesteropolis". |
| 321 | ** In this timeline, with the [[spoiler:the Tyranids]] being recognized as a threat earlier than in canon, [[spoiler:the Tyranids are not named after Tyran, the planet which is recognized as the first Imperial World consumed by the Tyranids]]. Instead, they are named by Magos ''Tyranos'' 0011000-Nu-Ryza-Techno after Taylor's [[spoiler:psychic contact with the Hive Tyrant on Catachan]]. Taylor recognizes the name is fitting, but also that the Magos wanted to name them after himself. |
| 322 | ** Played for Drama and heartwarming with ''Extermination Interlude 1'': With the HeroicSacrifice of [[spoiler:Constantin Valdor, the First Captain-General of the Custodes, at Commorragh]], Taylor decides to propose that the future Capital City of Pavia be named Constantinople, both to honor him and in memory of the original Constantinople from Earth's past that was considered the Queen of Cities. Everyone vehemently approves of such a suggestion. |
| 323 | * EldritchOceanAbyss: The [[spoiler:super-Tyranid Behemoth]] apparently crashed into the oceans of [[spoiler:Fenris]] in the distant past and has been slumbering there in its impact crater ever since. |
| 324 | * EmperorScientist: Neferten isn't ''just'' the leader of her Necron dynasty, she's ''also'' a Cryptek, the Necron equivalent of an Adeptus Mechanicus Archmagos. |
| 325 | * EmpoweredBadassNormal: Taylor entered the story as a normal human with the ability to control arthropods and a jetpack. As of the Extermination arc, she [[spoiler:is a Living Saint of the Emperor (with golden energy wings), carrying [[CoolSword the Nebula's Shard]] (a weapon from the War in Heaven forged by the Eldar god Vaul), a Baal ruby that was a relic of ''Primarch Sanguinius himself'' that allows Taylor to act as the BarrierMaiden protecting the Blood Angels from the Black Rage, and the Angel's Tear, which may be the best non-Astartes PoweredArmor in the entire ''galaxy'']]. Even ''Space Marines'' are in awe of her. |
| 326 | * EnemyCivilWar: |
| 327 | ** Breaks out between Asdrubael Vect and Dynast Maestros Xelian after both men accused each other of allowing the [[spoiler:Imperium-Necron fleet to attack Commorragh]]. As events progress, the infighting spreads throughout the Dark City becomes less a civil war than a free-for-all as individual factions turn on each other mid-battle. Later estimates would conclude that this resulted in ten ''billion'' casualties, or, to put it another way, [[spoiler:'''five percent''' of the total Drukhari population.]] |
| 328 | ** After Slaanesh begins moving its Legions to [[spoiler: Commorragh]] in an attempt to halt the disastrous defeat of the [[spoiler: Drukhari]], the others begin moving against it. The first to attack is Khorne, sending [[spoiler: Ka'Bandha]] and a full eight hundred and eighty-eight Blood Legions to attack, as well as [[spoiler: Skarbrand, Doombreed AND Kharn]]. Tzeentch, noticing how Slaanesh is losing badly, sends its own Scintillating Legions against the Palace of Slaanesh. And finally, Nurgle, having previously decided to intervene and prevent the possible saving of Fulgrim's soul, commits fully and sends the Death Guard and seven hundred and seventy-seven Plague Legions, led by seven Great Unclean Ones. |
| 329 | ** The Emperor arranges for [[spoiler:Malal to have claim as the new fourth Chaos God]] because he knows this will only worsen the internal power struggles between the Ruinous Powers. |
| 330 | ** Sobekhotep's vicious and high-handed actions cause the Crypteks on the Throne from other dynasties to start sabotaging his efforts. A full civil war erupts when he [[spoiler:releases a shard of the Void Dragon on Mandragora and the leader of the Sautekh dynasty's last order is for Imotekh to kill Sobekhotep]]. |
| 331 | * EnemyMine: |
| 332 | ** In order to assault [[spoiler: Commorragh]], Taylor allies with [[spoiler:Neferten and her Necrons.]] This collaboration leads to [[spoiler: Neferten and Taylor signing a treaty of mutual aid and support.]] |
| 333 | ** The Biel-Tan hate Taylor enough that they're willing to work with the [[spoiler:Dark Eldar]] to kill her. This doesn't stop more than a few mutual betrayals, especially when some of the Biel-Tan do something suicidally dangerous. |
| 334 | ** [[spoiler: Corvus Corax]] ends up teaming with Malal against Lorgar, taking along [[SoleSurvivor Mikaelatch Shadowdagger]] to assist him. |
| 335 | ** [[spoiler:Magnus]] ends up siding with [[spoiler:Russ and Corvus]] despite their mutual hatred because [[spoiler:Lorgar]] is the bigger threat to all of them. |
| 336 | ** A war between Malalite and non-Malalite [[spoiler:Alpha Legionnaires]] is put on hold when the ship they're fighting on is boarded by [[spoiler:Genestealers]]. |
| 337 | ** Everyone on both sides of the War in Heaven agreed that Project Oblivion (better known to the modern Imperium as [[spoiler:the Tyranids]]) had to go, and participated in wiping out all the remnants they could find after the main force was destroyed by hundreds of stars going supernova simultaneously. |
| 338 | * EndOfAnAge: The end of the ''Black Crusade'' arc sees [[spoiler:the end of the age of Chaos Undivided and the Black Crusades, as Malal becoming the Fourth Chaos God of ''Anarchy'' means that Chaos will never again be able to unite under a single banner]]. |
| 339 | * EpicFail: |
| 340 | ** Leet was given a space lab to work in -- and made it explode in record time. Even the Tech-Priests are stumped on how he did it. |
| 341 | ** One of the generals that are sent by the Departmento Munitorum to join Operation Caribbean managed to lose a battle against ''Stone Age tribes'' (that's what happens when you don't give a damn about water supplies). |
| 342 | ** The attempts to colonize the Atlas Graveyard system failed not because of xenos invasions but due to the incompetence of the people overseeing it. Three attempts ended when asteroids hit the planet, even though any competent colony overseer would have identified any dangerous ones. Two attempts were devastated by pandemics because the overseers didn't stock basic vaccines, medics, or even a full medicae staff. The latest attempt failed because a jilted wife managed to get on the bridge. |
| 343 | * EvenEvilHasStandards: |
| 344 | ** For all that he was irredeemably corrupt and evil, even Nostradamus Vandire never stooped so low as to sexually abuse children. |
| 345 | ** [[spoiler: Vect would never submit to Slaanesh]]. Though, how much this is due to standard, and how much is due to ego is anyone's guess. |
| 346 | ** '''Nobody''' likes Erebus. [[spoiler:In chapter 54, when Erebus is attacked and severely wounded by Catachan guardsmen and Weaver's spiders after gloating over backstabbing Lotara Sarrin, an act of betrayal that appalls even the other Chaos forces in question, Kharn eagerly cuts off his skull and enslaves the monster's soul to it at the first opportunity. The Betrayer then genuinely compliments the Imperium's victory over Erebus without a hint of irony or mockery. Hell, even the ''other Word Bearers'' are delighted to hear about Erebus' death.]] |
| 347 | ** When Perturabo admits [[spoiler:he infused the souls of his fallen Space Marines into his imitation of Men of Iron, even Barbbuster, who belongs to a species that has ChronicBackstabbingDisorder and WeHaveReserves as its [[PlanetOfHats hat]], is horrified]]. |
| 348 | ** Fabius Bile, the MadScientist extraordinare of the Chaos Space Marines, normally has borderline nonexistent ethical standards and limitations when it comes to his genecraft and mad science. However, even he refuses to even remotely consider the idea of creating Space Marines out of the Eleventh, to the point that he considers Lorgar and the Word Bearers salvageable by comparison. |
| 349 | * EveryoneHasStandards: |
| 350 | ** As arrogant as they all are, most Eldar dislike the Biel-Tan for their extreme concentration of efforts in the Path of War, their obsession with restoring the Aeldari Empire, and the brutality with which they carry out their military actions. So much so, that the death of several of their leaders at the Imperium's hands is regretted by no less than [[spoiler:Eldrad]] -- if only because they wanted to be the ones to do the deed. |
| 351 | ** Taylor (and pretty much everyone else) is appalled with about ninety percent of everything Leet makes. |
| 352 | ** Leet himself is disgusted by Cauldron's monumental mismanagement of the upcoming crisis that was Scion. |
| 353 | ** All the Dawnbreaker Guard agrees with the opinion that the Izmir Imperial Palace is an artistic abomination. |
| 354 | ** The Adeptus Mechanicus can't stand Leet and assign priests to his station as a punishment posting. The latter later rise up and take over the station, forcing Leet to follow their lessons ''or else''. |
| 355 | ** Marshal Malberg of the Black Templars is disgusted at the Necron plan to destroy the entire Nyx Sector and kill every single lifeform present, down to the last bacteria. |
| 356 | * EvilCannotComprehendGood: Taken to its ultimate form [[spoiler:with the Blackstone Fortress, which is infused with the essence of the Emperor's Sacrifice before shooting. Sacrifice being one thing Chaos cannot comprehend, the first shot annihilates all Dark Eldars still in Commorragh, vaporizes nearly all the demons, and heavily hurts Slaanesh, while the second shot nearly kills the Chaos God and renders it weak enough to be killed by Cegorach.]] |
| 357 | * EvilCostumeSwitch: When members of the [[spoiler:Alpha]] Legion break from their Primarch and swear loyalty to [[spoiler:Malal]], they change their armor to black and white with the symbol of the [[spoiler:Horned God]]. |
| 358 | * EvilGloating: |
| 359 | ** After Trazyn [[spoiler:captures the Biel-Tan reinforcement fleet and adds it into his collection during the Battle of the Death Star]], he sends a short taunting message to Gladiel Imrik: "You are a disappointment, Aeldari" in the Eldar's high tongue, along with the salutations appropriate for a "lesser enemy." |
| 360 | ** 7.1 opens with a monologue from Tzeench mocking the God-Emperor and declaring the inevitable victory of Chaos. |
| 361 | * EvilVersusEvil: |
| 362 | ** Objective I of the [[spoiler:raid on Commorragh]] is to unleash the evil [[spoiler:Skaven]] on the planet Sicarus. |
| 363 | ** The preparations for the fight against the Ymga Monolith include getting an Ork WAAGH! to attack it. |
| 364 | ** The Tyranny Arc is mostly about Chaos forces vs [[spoiler:the King in Yellow]]. |
| 365 | * ExactWords: Gavreel introduces himself as a member of the Dark Angels ''Legion'', not ''Chapter''. Since the Astartes haven't been organized into legions for millennia, that reveals him as one of the Fallen. |
| 366 | ** Sliscus made a deal to attack the Webway realm of Pandaimon. And he will do it... in two cycles, upon which time the intended targets of this attack will be long gone. |
| 367 | ** Taylor tells Cawl that she hopes he has not been playing with a Traitor Legion's stock of gene-seed. Cawl replies he has not had the opportunity to analyze one. As many readers (and Gaspar Hediatrix) guessed, he has been playing with the gene-seed of ALL the Legions. |
| 368 | * ExcuseMeWhileIMultitask: Taylor, much like in canon, can direct the efforts of millions of insects at the same time, only that here she can do it across a battlefield that is several kilometers wide -- and all while she is personally fighting and directing her army. |
| 369 | * ExpectingSomeoneTaller: Lelith off-handedly insults [[spoiler:Slaanesh]] by commenting she seems kind of weak for the [[spoiler:Doom of the Eldar]]. |
| 370 | * ExplainExplainOhCrap: The interlude Monsters and Nightmares has one. While Taylor and Wei are visiting an Agri-Hive that's about to be inaugurated, they're interrupted by Trazyn who brings a large golden bell he claims is causing trouble in his collections and leaves. Taylor describing the impressions she receives after touching the bell makes the Black Templar in the Dawnguard realize [[spoiler: it's the Bell of Saint Gerstahl, which according to tradition rings on its own if the Imperium is in danger of attack from the Archenemy: the Black Crusade is about to begin.]] |
| 371 | * ExplosiveBreeder: The [[spoiler:Skaven]] go from being on the verge of extinction to being numerous enough to be on the verge of conquering the Word Bearer's homeworld through sheer attrition in only a decade. Justified by [[spoiler:Warhammer Fantasy]] lore theorizing that their breeding rate is a function of the local strength of the Warp. Given that they're currently living inside the largest permanent Warp Storm in the galaxy... |
| 372 | * ExplosiveOverclocking: The main cannon of the [[spoiler:''Will of Eternity'']] is supercharged with a catalyst, drastically increasing its output at the cost of causing the ship to self-destruct in spectacular fashion. |
| 373 | * ExtremelyShortTimespan: |
| 374 | ** While the arc about preparing for Operation Caribbean takes seven years, the actual operation only lasts one hundred hours plus travel time. The Commorragh arc, which starts immediately after Caribbean ends, also lasts about one hundred hours. Two story arcs, the first of which leads to [[spoiler:the destruction of nearly a dozen pirate fleets, a partial alliance with the Necrons, the recovery of many pieces of technology and maps to several [=STCs=]]], and the second leading to the essential destruction of the [[spoiler:Dark Eldar empire, the looting of Commorragh and the destruction of ''Slaanesh'']], both significantly changing the future of the Imperium of Man, take place over the course of ''eight days''. |
| 375 | ** The Extinction arc, which is nearly as eventful and historically significant, takes place over the course of eighty-nine hours. |
| 376 | * EyeScream: A common tactic for Weaver is to have her bugs going for the eyes of her enemies. When fighting against the Orks, they still continue to fight but without their sight, they charge in the wrong direction of the fight and even fight against each other by mistake. |
| 377 | [[/folder]] |
| 378 | [[folder:F to M]] |
| 379 | * FaceDeathWithDignity: |
| 380 | ** [[spoiler: Traevelliath Sliscus]] does so when Taylor bests [[spoiler:him]] in a sword duel, praising her as a WorthyOpponent, asking she use [[spoiler: Nebula's Shard to [[DeaderThanDead destroy his soul]] to deny it from She Who Thirsts]], and warns her of a threat she will likely face in the near future. |
| 381 | ** Drecarth the Sightless, after realizing any chance of conquering Cadia is lost, sends his remaining Legionaries away on what transports they have left, telling them to abandon Lorgar and perpetuate their warband's legacy in a safer place. Then, after realizing the twist in a prophecy he had been given, draws his power sword and goes down fighting the Space Wolves that got him cornered. |
| 382 | ** Phaeron Djosakhat, faced with a vengeful and unchained shard of the Void Dragon, declares his continued defiance of the C'tan before it destroys him. |
| 383 | ** Dark Apostle Paristur, after seeing ''Exemplis'' defeat Tyrannosaurus Rex, knows the battle is lost, so he patiently sits and watches when Sophia/Elena arrives to kill him. Rather than pledging himself to a Chaos God, he simply has a LastRequest and lets himself be killed without resisting. |
| 384 | * FakeMemories: |
| 385 | ** Thakmatar accuses the Szarekhan Dynasty of abusing their command protocols to alter Necron engrams, convincing the rest of the race that the Szarekhan had earned and deserved their loyalty. Sobekhotep finds himself wondering if Thakmatar might be right, which would mean his memories were altered as well. |
| 386 | ** [[spoiler:Be'lakor]] has had his memories wiped and modified by the Chaos Gods countless times throughout his existence to ensure he remains a useful and obedient tool despite his overweening ego. |
| 387 | * FantasticCasteSystem: The four [[spoiler:Tau Castes]] originated as sub-races of their species, created by the meddling of the Chaos Gods. When the [[spoiler:Ethereals]] unified the species, they discovered the children born of unions between sub-races would by necessity need to be [[spoiler:Enslaver hosts]]. This was untenable on a large scale, so they formalized a caste system and forbid relationships between different castes. |
| 388 | * FatBastard: Seemingly every incompetent and/or corrupt noble ever is some degree of obese. There’s a strong streak of BeautyEqualsGoodness in this work. |
| 389 | * AFatherToHisMen: Taylor uses her powers to shield her men and make it less likely for them to die, applies her connections so as to obtain the necessary war matériel for their military actions, arranges everything she has in hand to ensure they gain their well-earned rewards and that widows and orphans will receive pensions, and visits them in the hospital after the battle to check on their status. |
| 390 | * FictionalDocument: Chapters open with one or more excerpts from documents related to the chapter's events. The writers and dates vary widely, with many being written long after the events of the story. |
| 391 | * FireForgedFriends: Downplayed with Taylor and Commissar Zuhev. He first believes she ought to be killed for being potentially tainted by the Warp while she's disgusted by his ruthlessness. As battles keep coming, Zuhev decides Weaver is more useful an ally than dead while Taylor grows to appreciate Zuhev's efficiency and ability to walk the walk. |
| 392 | * FirstInjuryReaction: Phaeron Djosakhat suffers a psychic wound when Taylor strikes him with an Anathema-powered attack. Suddenly feeling pain again after millions of years without it proves completely debilitating, unable to focus and give strategies as the pain grows in intensity. |
| 393 | * FishOutOfTemporalWater: |
| 394 | ** All of the parahumans find themselves in this situation, thrown from modern-day Earth more than thirty thousand years into an alternative universe. While they manage to find a place for themselves thanks to Contessa and Taylor, none of them are entirely comfortable with their new reality. |
| 395 | ** The crew of the [[spoiler:''Spirit of Eternity'']] had been lost in the warp for ten thousand years and was horrified to discover just how far humanity had fallen. |
| 396 | ** The [[spoiler:T'au homeworld from M42 in an alternate ''40k'' (in their reality, The Lion was the Arch-Heretic, not Horus)]] is teleported back in time, leaving them without their extensive colonies or fleets aside from the rather limited home defense fleet. |
| 397 | * FlawedPrototype: The Mark IX Stalingrad Astartes Power Armor. Thanks to the activation of the Throne Of Oblivion, Dragon's team was forced to go from initial design work to mass production well before they were ready in order to equip the Space Marines sent on Operation Stalingrad with something that would stand a chance against Necron weaponry. Its eventual successor the Mark X is the perfected version of the rushed Mark IX design. |
| 398 | * FlingALightIntoTheFuture: Zigzagged with Taylor's appearance in 40k. While she is sent to the 40k universe to prevent the galaxy's fall to the Tyranids, the ritual that sends her is taking place even further in the future. |
| 399 | * ForDoomTheBellTolls: Chancellor of the Imperial Council Samson Pitt reacts in shock and fear as he realizes that the bell that he can hear tolling is the Bell of the Golden Dawn... because it means that the Adeptus Custodes are called to war, something that has not happened since the Horus Heresy. |
| 400 | * ForWantOfANail: The arrival of parahumans in the Imperium has caused changes to both the Imperium and Earth Bet, such as: |
| 401 | ** The sudden disappearance of the Queen Administrator Shard angers Scion to the point where he starts the Gold Morning two years early. |
| 402 | *** The scene before Taylor gets pulled into the 40k universe shows that the plan to defeat Behemoth in New Delhi was a failure, with only a couple dozen capes still alive (with most of them injured and all irradiated) just before the ritual took effect. |
| 403 | ** Taylor's arrival allows the Fay 20th to hold Ramev's Pass against the Orks, which likely stops that Ork warband from inflicting tens of millions if not billions of casualties before it was stopped in the original history -- Eldar farsight held that the Warboss of that horde would have devastated ''at least'' three other planets before being stopped. |
| 404 | ** Taylor helping stop [[spoiler:Iash'uddra]] prevents the elimination of an entire Hive, and causes the Imperium to learn of the existence of the Necrons a good 5,000 years before their first confirmed (read: had surviving witnesses) canonical encounter at Sanctuary 101. |
| 405 | ** Dragon's arrival allows for the Mechanicus to successfully reconstruct a Great Crusade-era tank from recovered archeotech, and she also gets to introduce other ideas like her Dragon armor. |
| 406 | ** The Imperial forces at the [[spoiler:Ork Battle Moon]] manage to successfully retrieve [[spoiler:a Standard Template Construct Database]]. During the withdrawal from that battle, enemy losses include [[spoiler:the Chaos Battleship ''Certamen Ferale'', the entire World Eaters Successor Warband crewing it, and the Greater Bloodthirster Ka'Bandha, with the destruction of the former two significantly weakening Khorne's elite non-daemonic forces and the banishment of the latter freeing the Blood Angels and their Successor Chapters from the Black Rage (or at least substantially reducing the risk of falling to it)]], along with ''a minimum'' of half a billion Orks and a fleet of Biel-Tan warships. |
| 407 | ** With the death of Goge Vandire's ancestor and the Inquisition taking much interest in the Vandire Clan, it is likely the Age of Apostasy will either be prevented or happen in a different way. |
| 408 | *** The Reign of Blood, for instance, is going to be known as the Reign of Terror. |
| 409 | ** Apprentice assassin Tziz Jarek is disavowed by the Officio Assassinorum when she is given an unauthorized graduation mission to kill Taylor and fails. Instead of going on to become a full assassin loyal to Goge Vandire, she is now a member of Taylor's military. |
| 410 | ** Trazyn's interest towards Taylor results in him selling his stock of [[spoiler:more than ''seventeen thousand'' first-generation 3rd Legion]] progenoid glands to her [[spoiler:instead of to Fabius Bile, which significantly reduces the ability of the Emperor's Children to reproduce, and possibly allow the Imperium to create a dozen additional new Astartes Chapters the next time a Founding is declared.]] |
| 411 | ** Taylor's taking control of a Catachan ant puts her in contact with [[spoiler:the Tyranid Hivemind]], which again causes a first confirmed (had surviving witnesses) contact with a 41st Millennium threat eons in advance. |
| 412 | ** Taylor has been advocating sending an expeditionary fleet to the Svalbard sector to reduce the Ork population there. Svalbard is home to the Forge World of Tigrus, which in the OTL was conquered by the Orks lead by Warboss Arrgard in M35 and lost to the Imperium for millennia, significantly weakening Imperial logistics in the area and preventing the creation of any more Leman Russ Vanquishers. |
| 413 | *** Taylor's victory against [[spoiler:Commorragh]] causes Warboss Arrgard to pull back most of his Orks from attacking Tigrus, preparing instead to attack Taylor due to how great a fight that would be. As such, only a single group of Orks lead by a minor Boss called Gruffjaw goes to attack Tigrus (even then, only because the Boss had already left before the news), making the planet easier to defend. |
| 414 | *** Forces from Fay arrive on Tigrus in time to blunt the initial Waaagh, preventing the less of several factorums and giving time for reinforcements to be dispatched. |
| 415 | *** The Lamenters Chapter, formerly the Sons of Sanguinius Chapter, are sent by Taylor to Tigrus on a Penitent Crusade, allowing them to be the key force in destroying Boss Gruffjaw and his Space Hulk before it can destroy Tigrus, destabilising the Waaagh and saving the Forge World and the system. |
| 416 | ** The Battle of Pavia eliminates the thirteen largest pirate fleets in the Rimward Segmentum Pacificus, and includes among the spoils [[spoiler:the [[KillItWithFire Gauntlet of the Forge]] and the [[TankGoodness Obsidian Chariot]], two of the nine Artifacts of Vulkan believed by the Salamanders and their Successor Chapters to contain clues on how to find their missing Primarch -- the first found on 722.M41, the second still missing as of M42 in the original timeline.]] |
| 417 | ** Instead of the Sisters of Battle, the military arm of the Adepta Sororitas, the female religious army is called the Templar Sororitas, and they are founded by Taylor. |
| 418 | ** The combined Imperial-Necron assault on [[spoiler:Commorragh and massacre of the Dark Eldar]] not only deprives the survivors [[spoiler:(now numbering less than fifteen percent of their pre-raid population]] from their only stable base in the entire universe, it also allows the Imperials to recover the Salamanders' ''Forgehammer'' before the Eldar can try to get in and makes the [[spoiler:[[https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Commorragh_Raid Commorragh Raid]] more spectacular, as the raid will now include over six hundred more Astartes, millions of Guardsmen, Skitarii and Frateris Templars... and a Necron fleet.]] |
| 419 | *** Said raid was also originally [[spoiler:JustAsPlanned by Vect]]. This time it is not happening on his time schedule, and since during the battle of Pavia multiple Artifacts of Vulkan had been discovered the Salamanders had been contacted and were no doubt on their way, ensuring that their arrival will be earlier then it was in the original timeline. |
| 420 | *** [[spoiler:The Mark of Commorragh]] ends up ''killing'' [[spoiler:Slaanesh]]. |
| 421 | ** Due to Taylor's raid, [[spoiler:Rogal Dorn]] is freed from an otherwise inescapable prison. |
| 422 | ** Tzeentch is forced to disperse a warp storm, freeing an Imperial warship: [[spoiler:The ''Flamewrought'', Vulkan's personal battleship, still crewed by Great Crusade-era Marines]]. |
| 423 | ** The blades of [[spoiler:Fulgrim]] are captured by the Imperium and Archmagos Cawl believes he will be able to use [[spoiler:the poison on the blades to engineer a cure for Primarch Guilliman]] several millennia early. |
| 424 | ** The various STC artifacts that Taylor keeps finding end up tempting the Forge Worlds of the Segmentum Pacificus to abandon Nova-Terra and renew their oaths of loyalty to Mars in the hopes of getting access to them, greatly reducing the industrial capacity of the secessionists. At the same time, the Sons of Sanguinius who had supported Nova-Terra also abandon the cause and return to the Imperium. The planet Nova-Terra falls within weeks, ending the Interregenum centuries early. |
| 425 | ** In the original time-line, the Siege of Vraks lasted for 17 years, tied up vast amounts of Space Marines and Imperial Guard, and, since Vraks was an Armoury World, caused wide-spread trouble with the loss of its support. In the Weaver Option, the Templar Sororitas execute Apostate Cardinal and Arch-Heretic Xaphan as soon as he attempts to secede from the Empire. The rebellion lasts all of 2 hours, although the Order of the Silver Rose does spend the next 10 years cleaning out all the heretics in hiding. |
| 426 | *** Additionally, Xaphan invokes [[spoiler:Malal]] during his secession speech rather than the "true Gods". |
| 427 | ** In response to Taylor killing [[spoiler:Slaanesh]], the [[spoiler:Fifth Black Crusade]] is started 1500 years early by [[spoiler:Lorgar]] and is focused on her. |
| 428 | *** This leads to [[spoiler:Roboute Guilliman being reawakened and cured, a good ''6000'' years earlier than in canon.]] |
| 429 | ** Leet and Borek are directed to a backwater Feudal world where they are able to rescue crew members of the [[spoiler:''Spirit of Eternity'' and return it to the Imperium]]. |
| 430 | * ForebodingFleeingFlock: As the battle for [[spoiler:Fenris]] escalates, the local tribes and wildlife all retreat to the [[spoiler:Fang]] despite it being at the heart of the battle. Soon after it's discovered they were instinctively fleeing because [[spoiler:Behemoth's awakening also caused the Krakens to mutate into full Tyranid lifeforms]]. |
| 431 | * ForegoneConclusion: The FictionalDocument quotes at the start of every chapter go on to state that Taylor's achievements will eventually get her declared a Living Saint who had eight primary nemeses, which of course requires her to live long enough to gain such a reputation and encounter all eight of them. Other quotes trace back to the memoirs of people who knew her, which requires that they live long enough to write them as well. |
| 432 | ** [[spoiler:Taylor is going to live well over 114 years, based on the length of the First Age of the Saint.]] |
| 433 | ** Taylor will also [[spoiler:reach the rank of Star Marshal, a rank that would in the Original Timeline be Lord Solar. The rank that Macharius was given in the Original Timeline (Lord Solar). Macharius will also reach his rank equivalent in the new timeline (Star Marshal)]] |
| 434 | ** Aurelia Malys [[spoiler:is going to survive the Mark of Commorragh.]] |
| 435 | ** [[spoiler:The Queen of Blades]] will live to see the 42nd millennium. |
| 436 | * {{Foreshadowing}}: |
| 437 | ** Trazyn the Infinite was asked by Somatek if he told Taylor about not using the Nebula's Shard against the Eldar. He didn't. [[spoiler:Taylor does eventually use the sword on Vyrion Kaeran, causing his body and several Eldar nearby to turn into crystal and shatter.]] |
| 438 | ** At the end of the Arrival Arc, there's a scene where a Librarian of the Death Strike Chapter makes a tarot reading to ascertain the future of the Nyx Sector -- and the cards predict several events of the Peril, Sentinel and Escalation Arcs. |
| 439 | ** In her POV scene, Cyrene Valantion compares the Word Bearers to rats. [[spoiler:One of the Raid of Commorragh's objectives is to send the last Skaven (giant rats) into the Word Bearers' world to cause trouble for them and for Chaos.]] |
| 440 | ** When Hoth is about to be captured, Sliscus suggests he might consider suicide as it would be preferable to the extended execution he'll no doubt receive from the Imperium. [[spoiler:Sliscus himself requests Taylor destroy his soul so that he will not suffer an even worse fate with Slaanesh]]. |
| 441 | ** While preparing to launch his counter-attack, Sliscus accidentally uses the term human rather than Mon-keigh, which one of his consorts notes shows them far more respect than they deserve. [[spoiler:During Extermination the Dark Eldar start using the word human because they've earned that respect razing Commorragh]]. |
| 442 | ** The Princeps commanding a Titan notes that the machine spirit seems unusually bloodthirsty while fighting against Necrons. Shortly after it's revealed [[spoiler:all human technology has been infected by the C'Tan flayer curse, which ensures any human AI will rebel]]. |
| 443 | ** The Necron Sobekhotep is absolutely ''furious'' after years of dealing with first Ork then Imperium attacks which have whittled away at his forces. It's only when he [[spoiler:orders the destruction of Mandragora that Ah-hotep realizes his anger is the result of him becoming a Destroyer Lord]]. |
| 444 | * FourStarBadass: As of 5.4., Taylor is a full-blown General. |
| 445 | * FragileSpeedster: The Drukhari have refined their equipment, tactics, and armored units for lightning-fast raids on poorly defended targets. When they are actually forced to face off against Imperial forces, they are slaughtered with ease. |
| 446 | * FranchiseZombie: InUniverse [[spoiler:Admiral]] claims the ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' franchise had kept trying to reinvent itself but had stopped being good by M4. |
| 447 | * FriendlyEnemy: Trazyn the Infinite Collector towards Taylor. While [[CollectorOfTheStrange he initially wanted her for her collection]], after she and her companions [[TalkToTheFist made it clear they would not comply]] he decided to aid her in his own weird way, choosing to follow her because the chaos she inadvertently creates allows him to find new pieces for his collection. Not that Taylor welcomes said ''friendship''. |
| 448 | * TheFriendNobodyLikes: |
| 449 | ** The Biel-Tan are generally treated with disgust and contempt by the other Eldar Craftworlds for their very aggressive nature and xenocidal campaign of restoring their empire that would only create further harm to their species (among other things, an obsession with retaking systems the Eldar abandoned millennia ago that they don't have the resources to hold -- or do anything with, for that matter -- even if they succeed in doing so). [[spoiler:Eldrad Ulthran even express his regret of the deaths of Vyrion Kaeran and his brethren because it was not at ''his'' hands.]] After the catastrophic [[spoiler:Battle of Commorragh]], the Biel-Tan are irreparably sullied in the eyes of the Eldar Craftworlds that did not participate in the battle and are left to fend for themselves against the inevitable Imperium retaliation. |
| 450 | ** Trazyn as in canon isn't very well-liked by his fellow Necron Lords for stealing their stuff. He apparently considers ''Taylor'' a friend despite her viewing him with justified skepticism. |
| 451 | ** Leet has not changed much from his days as Brockton Bay's greatest demonstration of what a villain failure was. As Wei Cao points out, when Dragon and Vista, two of the nicest people in the universe, are all too willing to insult you in private, you have a problem. Even [[NiceGuy Clockblocker]], who is the closest thing to a friend Leet has in 40k, can barely stand him. |
| 452 | ** The Space Wolves are almost universally disdained by the rest of the Imperium due to their hypocrisy and the ludicrous amount of collateral damage they cause. It says something that the High Lords of Terra who are ordinarily at each other's throats quickly and ''unanimously'' vote to censure the Wolves after their latest stunt. |
| 453 | * FromBadToWorse: |
| 454 | ** It was bad enough that the Imperial Forces have to land on an [[spoiler:Ork Battle Moon]] and fight [[spoiler:an Ork WAAAAGH!]]. Then [[spoiler:the Biel-Tan Eldar]] sent a group to attack them after their previous defeat. And then [[spoiler:a Chaos fleet]] arrived -- led by [[spoiler:Greater Daemon Ka'Bandha.]] |
| 455 | ** PlayedForLaughs as Clockblocker and Leet tell Vista the number of commendations and awards Taylor has just earned in the [[spoiler:Battle of the Death Star.]] |
| 456 | ** The raid on [[spoiler:Commorragh]] starts with an Imperial armada, supported by Necrons, invading one of the sub-realms of the [[spoiler:Dark City]]. The Drukhari reinforcements were expected; [[spoiler:66666 Daemonic Legions of Slaanesh]] were also unfortunately expected. |
| 457 | ** After [[spoiler:Slaanesh]] is destroyed, three of its essences are consumed by Ruinous Powers, giving them a claim to [[spoiler:Eldar souls]]. Now rather than simply worrying about giving into [[spoiler:Excess, the Eldar]] must also worry about [[spoiler:Nurgle, Malal, and Tzeentch]] claiming them, though the interlude elaborates that the claims aren't nearly as strong as the one [[spoiler:Slaanesh]] had. |
| 458 | ** Taylor is informed that Arrgard the Defiler is building a massive WAAGH!, made of '''billions''' of Orks, for the sole purpose of fighting her. However, she doesn't have enough soldiers to properly defend against it, and the soldiers she does have are already dealing with other conflicts and/or are in desperate need of retraining and rebuilding. And then she's told that the WAAGH! will likely attack her by the end of the year. ''Then'' two Astartes have an encounter with [[spoiler:Fallen Angel Cypher]], who, among many things, sends two warnings -- one regarding the Ymga Monolith (Taylor's current target of interest), and to beware the Word Bearers. Sure enough, a couple chapters earlier had Daemon-Primarch Lorgar preparing to launch a Chaos Invasion on the level of ''a Black Crusade'' with the goal to break through Cadia and go kill Taylor. '''[[RuleOfThree Then]]''' Trazyn finds out that [[spoiler:Orikan has informed the Throne of Oblivion, AKA the Ymga Monolith, a Necron installation so heavily defended that it was never successfully invaded during the ''War in Heaven'', about Trazyn and Neferten's dealings with Taylor and their plans to go against the Silent King's commands. And now it is preparing to wipe them and their allied planets off the galactic map]] Oh, and Lorgar? He enlisted the help of Fazar’nzlath’hesh, the False Daemon-Primarch that Taylor bested, Lucius the Eternal, several dozen Chaos Marine Warbands, ''Fabricator-General Kelbor-Hal'' of the Dark Mechanicum, and '''[[SorcerousOverlord his brother, Magnus the Red]]'''. The Fifth Black Crusade is coming. |
| 459 | ** The Fifth Black Crusade is over, but the remnants of its forces are now running rampant over the unprepared defenders of [[spoiler:Macragge]]. To make matters worse, a [[spoiler:Tyranid Hive Ship]] is also loose in the system, forcing the Exterminatus of [[spoiler:Fenris]]. It's fully intent of killing Taylor due to her Anathema power and the only thing that can damage it so far is the immobile [[spoiler:Fang]]. |
| 460 | * FutureBadass: Taylor is and was already a badass at the start of the story but the various documents written by people indicate that Taylor's deeds and accomplishments are going to take this trope up to eleven and beyond. |
| 461 | * FutureImperfect: |
| 462 | ** Taylor brings some of her classic songs back to the 35th Millennium. The Fay 20th then start treating [[Music/MichaelJackson "Beat It"]] like a hymn. |
| 463 | ** M35 era alcoholic beverages are not the same as they were in the past, because the original methods of making alcohol did not survive through time. Instead, humanity have produced their own unique drinks which Dragon and Taylor regard in a very poor light. |
| 464 | *** There are hints that this may change, however, as one of the planets of Taylor's sector is looking to grow grapes, Extermination Interlude I shows the Nyxian Inquisition drinking wine gifted by Taylor, and one of the [=STCs=] found in [[spoiler:Commorragh]] is about making beer. |
| 465 | * GambitPileup: The [[spoiler:Fifth Black Crusade]] is a continuous litany of betrayals, both expected and unexpected, by the various factions including [[spoiler:Lorgar and Magnus]]. |
| 466 | * GangInitiationFight: After he joins their ranks, the other [[spoiler:Chaos Gods]] team up to serve [[spoiler:Malal]] a brutal beatdown to put him in his place. |
| 467 | * GeneralFailure: |
| 468 | ** Ivan Byukur was dismissed from the Guard in disgrace after he got his entire armored regiment wiped out by lightly-armed rebels. Despite this, his father, the Governor of Fay, made him "Exalted Marshal" and assigned him to fight the Ork invasion of Fay. Which he promptly bungled, getting the best-equipped of their ground forces wiped out in one engagement. |
| 469 | ** Admiral Mikasev, Byukur's counterpart in the SDF, wasn't any better. Immediately after replacing a more competent Admiral, he proceeded to kill a tenth of the flagship's crew for no reason at all, completely screwed up the defense of the planet, ordered the use of excessive firepower against a single ship, and then stated he would have even more crewmen killed. It is no wonder that the crew, led by the Mechanicus members, mutinied in order to help save Fay. |
| 470 | ** The Ulm 2nd were assigned to a grossly incompetent Lord Commander. For twenty days he sent the 2nd, a unit consisting solely of cavalry, against a well-defended fortress. The result was a one-sided massacre and the General commanding the Ulm who tried to protest the orders was disappeared. The slaughter only ended with the Lord Commissar executed the Lord Commander. |
| 471 | ** The officers selected by the Munitorum to serve as Division and Corps commanders for Operation Caribbean are almost exclusively this for a variety of reasons. There are a handful of competent officers whose careers had stalled for political reasons, but they're vastly outnumbered by the washouts, burnouts, and outright incompetents, not to mention the ones willing to sacrifice entire armies for their own glory. |
| 472 | ** The Imperial Guard considers the officers of Krieg Trade Corps (yes, that's the name of the pre-revolt Krieg PDF) to be this. |
| 473 | ** Overlord Simut was kept on rear-guard duty at the Throne of Oblivion because Sobekhotep felt he was too incompetent to trust against the Orks. When sent against the Imperium, Simut ignores warnings from his crew since he believes humanity is too primitive to pose a threat and any evidence of advanced technology like Kane particles he considers to be false. As a result, the fleet blunders right into Taylor's trap and is completely wiped out. |
| 474 | * GenesisEffect: [[spoiler:Aethergold]] created during the destruction of [[spoiler:Commorragh]] instantly cleanses the planet of [[spoiler:Pavia]] which had been subjected to numerous xenos viral bombardments. Within a few days clean water is flowing and grass has begun to grow. |
| 475 | * GenkiGirl: Many of the ''Araneidae Gigantis Nyxian Amazonia Hebert'', who are also giant talking spiders. |
| 476 | * GetOut: A embarrassed Taylor yells this at Wei Cao after she kisses her, then demands Taylor use tongue the next time. |
| 477 | * GladiatorGames: The battles in the Arena of Blades are this when they aren't BeastlyBloodsports. Some of the fighters are volunteers, but most are prisoners or criminals who can earn pardons through victory. |
| 478 | * GlassCannon: As in canon, the fast battleships or "Kisher's Kombustibles", prove unable to survive when put on a battle line in [[spoiler:Commorragh]]. The entire defensive line nearly collapses as they are quickly destroyed. |
| 479 | * TheGlassesGottaGo: After joining the Imperial Guard, Taylor has her eyes improved by a tech priest and ditched her glasses. |
| 480 | * GodsNeedPrayerBadly: |
| 481 | ** Slaanesh originated as an Eldar god which the majority of the Aeldari Empire worshipped. Because only small splinter factions such as the Asuryani actually worshipped the rest of the pantheon, the other gods were easy prey when Slaanesh was finally born. |
| 482 | ** [[spoiler:Malal]] was a non-entity in the Warp after the Emperor all but exterminated his followers, the [[spoiler:Skaven]]. When they were released in Extermination, [[spoiler:Malal]] saw a resurgence as the [[spoiler:Skaven]] multiplied and converted Chaos slaves to join them. |
| 483 | * GodzillaThreshold: |
| 484 | ** Being forced to [[spoiler:head towards an Ork Battle Moon, and eventually land on it and]] fight a ''massive'' horde is enough for the Tech-Priests to give Taylor some of the insects that they were holding back on giving her because they were ''really'' nasty. They also greenlight Dragon using her dragon-armor for fighting. |
| 485 | ** Faced against [[spoiler:Necrons during the Raid of Commorragh]], the Drukhari have to bite the bullet and issue a call for the ''Aeldari'' to help them stop the attack. |
| 486 | *** A treaty forbids the Dynasts from deploying their backlog of doomsday weapons due to the sheer scale of collateral damage they cause. This goes out the window when [[spoiler:the Imperium begins tearing through their fortresses]]. |
| 487 | ** Knowing that [[spoiler:it]] is close to losing all of their power because of the [[spoiler:Raid, Slaanesh]] sends [[spoiler:''Fulgrim'']] in to attack. |
| 488 | ** With limited time to complete their objectives in the raid on [[spoiler:Commorragh]] and with rapidly depleting supplies, Clockblocker very reluctantly gives Leet the order to bring out "[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Case Cthulhu, Horribilis-1]]". |
| 489 | ** Trazyn swore an oath he would never again use his command codes to override another Necron's mind. Orikan's decision to turn the Throne of Oblivion against Trazyn and his allies is enough to make him break it. |
| 490 | * GondorCallsForAid: In a villainous example, the Drukhari of [[spoiler:Commorragh]] issue a galaxy-wide call for aid from any Eldar willing to help fight off an Imperium invasion. This is matched by a heroic example where the Salamanders put out a call for reinforcements for the Imperium side of the battle. |
| 491 | * GoodIsNotNice: Saint Weaver is a compassionate, far-thinking, capable young girl who is [[AFatherToHisMen A Mother To Her Men And Women]] and funds orphanages and charities with the prizes she earns thanks to her heroics. She is also a ruthless governor who has no problems with purging the Nyx Sector nobility, sending millions to their deaths in Penal Legions, letting the Inquisition torture the worst of them, or even sentencing particularly vile ones to long and painful deaths. |
| 492 | * GunshipRescue: Taylor's forces are facing a massive army of daemons led by [[spoiler:Fulgrim]] and even the arrival of [[spoiler:Primarch Rogal Dorn]] isn't enough to turn the tide. Then a Webway Gate opens and [[spoiler:Vulkan's battleship, the ''Flamewrought'']] appears overhead, shredding the majority of the army. |
| 493 | * HangingJudge: The Black Templar Space Marine Marshal that acts as senior judge of the trial on the Alpha Legion renegades. Fortunately for them, the rest of the judges are more reasonable. |
| 494 | * HannibalLecture: |
| 495 | ** In the prologue of Shadowpoint 7.1 Tzeentch delivers a mocking lecture to the Emperor, pointing out his many failings and how a series of traps in Pavia will ensure Taylor's fall. |
| 496 | ** In the prologue of Black Crusade 10.1 is Lorgar berating Corax, explaining he has already put up defenses his brother cannot hope to penetrate and so Corax will be forced to watch as Lorgar kills Taylor and delivers the Imperium to Chaos. |
| 497 | * HatedByAll: |
| 498 | ** Erebus "The Vile One" of the Word Bearers Legion. The only reason he remains alive is an unholy combination of an exaggerated ChronicBackstabbingDisorder and the protection of Lorgar and the Chaos Gods. Not even his fellow Word Bearers can stand him, [[spoiler:and Khârn the Betrayer is willing to help the Imperium in the Battle of Macragge just for the chance to murder Erebus and take his skull and soul. Even the Word Bearers survivors consider his death "good news"]]. |
| 499 | ** [[spoiler:Nagash, the Primarch of the Eleventh Legion, was not liked by ''any'' of his brothers, with Magnus referring to him exclusively as "the Eleventh". In an utterly unprecedented move, when he came to take command of his Legion, ''half of his Legion'' refused to bend the knee to him in spite of the sire-bond.]] |
| 500 | * HereWeGoAgain: When it turns out that the flamer used by Bloodweaver is the Gauntlet of the Forge, one of the Artefacts of Vulkan (the ones the Salamanders Space Marines have been looking for ''millennia'' without success), Taylor sighs internally at having to go through the same thing she underwent because of the STC Database ''again''. Of course, she then finds ''more'' of said relics. |
| 501 | * HeroOfAnotherStory: [[spoiler:Szarekh, the Silent King, of all beings. When he is introduced in ''Commorragh Delenda Est'', it turns out that he has been fighting off the Tyranid fleets for ''years'' to prevent them from reaching the Milky Way.]] |
| 502 | * HeroesGoneFishing: The Dawnbreaker Guards are shown decorating a church or tending to a garden -- their gene-sire having left them an appreciation for arts and beauty. Meanwhile, Taylor takes up writing and illustrating a book about the Dawnbreaker Guards, by hand. |
| 503 | * HeroicSacrifice: |
| 504 | ** A Wuhanese soldier jumps between [[spoiler:Ka'Bandha's spear]] and Taylor, giving her just enough time to stand up and hand [[spoiler:Ka'Bandha]] an Emperor-level beating. |
| 505 | ** In order to [[spoiler:reshape the Webway and end the Siege of Terra]], twenty Space Marine Librarians had to use their powers despite the increased danger of falling to Chaos in [[spoiler:Commorragh]]. While Taylor succeeds in her task, seven of the Librarians succumb and are executed. |
| 506 | ** [[spoiler:Theodora Gaius]] throws herself in the path of [[spoiler:Fulgrim]]'s blades. Her armor is easily pierced and she is fatally wounded, but she is able to shield [[spoiler:Rogal Dorn]] and hold the blades still long enough for her fellow soldiers to disarm [[spoiler:Fulgrim]]. This eventually leads to the healing, and [[HesBack return]], of Ultramarines Primarch Roboute Guilliman. |
| 507 | ** [[spoiler:Constantin Valdor]] acts as the last guardian of the [[spoiler:Blackstone Fortress]] in order to protect its core and throw one of the [[spoiler:Emperor's Tears]] into it to kill as many demons as possible. |
| 508 | ** [[spoiler:Rafaela Harper]] dies leading the troops establishing a beachhead in Mandragora, holding the Necrons off for long enough to allow the rest of the Imperial forces (particularly Taylor) to land and turn the battle against the Necrons. |
| 509 | * HiddenInPlainSight: Dragon becomes a Tech Priest in the Adeptus Mechanicus with no one aware of her being an "Abominable Intelligence". |
| 510 | * HistoryRepeats: When they finally confront Sobekhotep in the Throne of Oblivion, the Overlord traps both Weaver, three of her Guards and Imotekh in a Tesseract Vault... which contains a shard of [[ArchEnemy Iash'uddra]]. Once again, Taylor has to team up with a Necron Lord to defeat the Endless Swarm. |
| 511 | * HoistByHisOwnPetard: |
| 512 | ** The Dark Eldar kept millions of Helspiders (huge spiders that are lethal even by Warhammer 40000 standards) under Commorragh, planning to use them against their enemies. Guess what happens when Taylor "Weaver" Hebert arrives? Similarly, many of the arthropod-like species the Dark Eldar kept within Commorragh for whatever reason end up being used against them. |
| 513 | ** Thanks to the timeless nature of the Warp, [[PonziScheme Slaanesh could draw on souls and suffering not produced in the "present"]] to strengthen itself. But since most of that comes from [[spoiler:the Drukhari and the suffering they cause in the Dark City, Taylor's assault has utterly destroyed its position among the Four, and potentially pits its ''existence'' on the line with the destruction of Commorragh... Even worse, its attempt to intervene not only leaves it open to the other Three, but weakened the Drukhari defense even ''more''.]] |
| 514 | ** The Shadowpoint surrounding Pavia was caused by Tzeentch, so it could use it to get Taylor killed. He didn't count on the Emperor using it to prevent Chaos from learning about [[spoiler:the Battle of Commorragh]] until it is too late. |
| 515 | ** During the Battle of Mandragora, the Necrons launch over a ''hundred million'' Canoptek Scarabs against the human beachhead. The moment Taylor enters the battlefield, those Scarabs promptly attack the Necrons, turning the tables on them and giving the Imperium the space they need to win. She then assaults a subterannean chamber with more scarabs, giving her an army of '''two hundred million scarabs'''. |
| 516 | * HoldTheLine: The final battle for the Imperial forces in [[spoiler:Commorragh]] is a defensive space battle to prevent either the Daemons or Eldar from capturing the [[spoiler:''Will of Eternity'']]. They take heavy losses but are able to hold the line long enough for it to fire twice, winning the battle. |
| 517 | * HomeworldEvacuation: [[spoiler:Fenris]] is corrupted beyond all hope of recovery by Chaos and ravening [[spoiler:Tyranids]]. When the Imperial Navy prepares an Exterminatus, [[spoiler:the Space Wolves]] gather the planet's remaining populace and wildlife in [[spoiler:the Fang]] and launch it into space. |
| 518 | * HopeBringer: Taylor for the Imperium. |
| 519 | * HorseOfADifferentColor: The Txacopec 1st Cavalry Regiment rode into battle at [[spoiler:Commorragh]] on carnivorous reptiles. When those were killed by Eldar weapons, they tamed helspiders and rode those for the rest of the battle without any assistance from Weaver. |
| 520 | * HumanityCameFromSpace: [[spoiler: Neferten]] implies that humans are the result of an attempt to [[spoiler:recreate the Necrontyr genetic code]] that escaped and evolved. The hypothesis is further supported by the fact [[spoiler: Iash'uddra was capable of Possessing the Second Primarch in spite of his resistance to it]]. |
| 521 | ** Unless they were [[spoiler:deliberately released by Trazyn, of course]]. |
| 522 | * HumanityIsInsane: After the Mark of Commorragh, the Eldars and Necrons are unanimous in their conclusion that mankind is ''batshit '''crazy''''' -- [[spoiler:there is no other explanation for the Imperium invading the Web and being directly responsible for DEICIDE]]. It makes them rather wary, as there's no telling what the Imperium might do if put in a corner. |
| 523 | * HypercompetentSidekick: Dragon to Magos Artisan Troy Alpha-Karon-1462. |
| 524 | * {{Hypocrite}}: |
| 525 | ** The Black Templars, according to [[spoiler:Harrowmaster Jeremiah Isley]]. For all that Marshal Markward accuses the [[spoiler:renegade Alpha Legionnaires]] of "terrible devastation unleashed on innocent menials", the Black Templars themselves are known to purge entire cities at the first sign of mutation or defiance. In fact, he gets many of the charges dismissed because he could prove that the Black Templars had no right to judge him for crimes they had committed themselves on a larger scale and on a more regular basis. |
| 526 | ** The Space Wolves are ''even worse'', according the Blood Angels. The Black Templars [[AtLeastIAdmitIt cheerfully own up to the fact they're bloodthirsty fanatics for the God-Emperor]], the Space Wolves are nothing but crude, half-feral savages convinced of their superiority. [[spoiler:After their enemies started dying at Slaanesh's death, they went on a rampage, or as they called it, a wild celebration, razing an entire Hive World and earning themselves an ''unanimous'' censure from the High Lords of Terra, who normally are a NotSoOmniscientCouncilOfBickering]]. |
| 527 | ** Harrowmaster Jeremiah Isley lampshades this when [[spoiler:Ka'Bandha]], despite Khorne's hatred of psychic sorcery, uses what is is obviously a sorcerous attack (and if the storm of black and red lightning ''wasn't'' sorcery, he'd eat his PoweredArmor) to make the Brothers of the Red drop to the ground like puppets whose strings have been cut. |
| 528 | ** During the Battle of Pavia, Sliscus complains the World Engine destroying his superweapon is incredibly unfair. The narration helpfully points out that Sliscus was about to do the same thing to the Imperial Fleet, and that hypocrisy is expected of people of his self-proclaimed rank. |
| 529 | ** Captain Cassius Baccurius of the Ultramarines claims that Taylor and the Adeptus Mechanicus will try to use their discoveries on Bacta to end the Space Marines' independence. A few minutes later, he uses his power as representative of the Ultramarines to declare that none of the Thirteenth Legion's Successor Chapters will be allowed to work with Taylor or anyone allied with her -- essentially spitting on their independence. Even worse, the Ultramarines seemingly revere the ''Codex Astartes'', despite Taylor pointing out that they are meant to be suggestions and not strict laws. The Codex is what divided the original Astartes Legions into Chapters, both to ensure flexibility and indepedence among them, and to prevent any one Astartes group from gaining to much power. By forcing the Ultramarines Successor Chapters to follow his orders, isolating to Ultramar and preventing them from doing anything otherwise, Baccurius is going against the very Codex he treats so highly. He is taking away Astartes Chapters' independence, something he accused Taylor of trying to do, and also effectively ''Legionising'' the Ultramarines Chapters, which against both Imperial Law and also against the Codex. |
| 530 | * ICantBelieveImSayingThis: Iath Bloodweaver's last order is for his sadomasochistic officers to ''not'' enjoy the agony of being killed by Taylor's insects. He planned to erase all evidence of the order if he survived. |
| 531 | * IChooseToStay: Rather than return to the Imperium, [[spoiler:Rogal Dorn]] chooses to remain behind in the Webway, along with a few volunteer Space Marines, to find and rescue [[spoiler:his brother Primarch, Jaghatai.]] |
| 532 | * IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace: The Throne of Oblivion, perhaps the most heavily defended Necron installation in the galaxy. |
| 533 | * IKnowYourTrueName: The daemon possessing [[spoiler:Fulgrim's]] body normally is able to use the real [[spoiler:Primarch's link to his Legion]] to use them as its servants. Unfortunately, the damage it sustains from a [[spoiler:C'tan blade]] breaks its ability to identify itself as [[spoiler:Fulgrim]], stopping it from calling reinforcements as Ka'Bandha mauls it. |
| 534 | * ILied: Many pirates at Pavia surrendered under the condition they would reveal any information that would be of use to the Imperium. They promptly refused to reveal anything while claiming they only had Taylor's word she'd spare them. [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves They get executed.]] |
| 535 | * IMeantToDoThat: The Mighty Iconoclastic Brotherhood was sent to assault the Cadian Gate and apparently suffered a catastrophic defeat. The Dark Council which ordered the assault holds that everything went according to the plan of Chaos and anyone who disagrees is committing treason. The surviving members disagreed and never returned. |
| 536 | * INeedAFreakingDrink: In the aftermath of [[spoiler:Commorragh's destruction and the death of Slaanesh]], Eldrad decides to get royally drunk. Most of the population of Craftworld Ulthwe decides to join him. |
| 537 | * IOweYouMyLife: The Blood Angels find themselves indebted to Taylor after she does ''something'' that shields them from the Black Rage. Not that they mind. |
| 538 | * IfICantHaveYou: As Commorragh [[spoiler:falls to Imperium-Necron forces]] Asdrubael Vect privately swears that if he can't rule Commorragh then he will make sure it perishes with his ambitions. |
| 539 | * IgnoredExpert: Neferten is a brilliant scientist and politician but the Silent King ignored her advice. Sure enough, her warnings about going to war with the Old Ones, allying with the C'tan, and going into a long hibernation all proved correct. |
| 540 | * ImHavingSoulPains: The Mark of Commorragh is revealed to be a lasting mark on the souls of [[spoiler:''every'' Eldar in the galaxy, inflicted by the Emperor's Sacrifice when Slaanesh was destroyed]]. |
| 541 | * ImplausibleDeniability: Pius Hoth is cornered by Space Marines aboard his ship which is festooned with banners of [[spoiler:Tzeentch]] made from human skin. He tries to claim it "isn't what it looks like." |
| 542 | * ImpossiblyTackyClothes: When Taylor sees Leet's attempt to replicate [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus Aran's Zero Suit]], she thinks it is a miracle that she hasn't immediately requested Gavreel to bring an incinerator to dispose of it. |
| 543 | * InSpiteOfANail: |
| 544 | ** Even after Taylor made her appearance, Literature/CiaphasCain ([[FakeUltimateHero HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!!!]]) is still born in the 40th Millenium and becomes a Commissar with the same penchant for being an AccidentalHero, though his comments on this nature somehow end up in his official memoirs rather than in the classified Cain Archive that make up the books. |
| 545 | ** Someone else who also makes an appearance is Alexander Macharius, only that, instead of Lord Solar, his rank is Star Marshal -- the same rank Taylor will eventually attain. |
| 546 | ** The ''Forgehammer'' is still captured and taken to Commorragh with a complement of Space Marines on board. [[spoiler:But rather than a rescue by their chapter, Taylor's fleet arrives first]]. |
| 547 | ** [[spoiler:Despite hailing from an alternate future where Lion El'Jonson started the Heresy, the M42 Tau's galaxy is nearly identical to its canon counterpart, albeit with a few names and faces changed.]] |
| 548 | *** [[spoiler:Even though the Ultramarines were able to intervene during the Siege of Terra, the siege still results in Sanguinius' death and the Emperor being placed upon the Golden Throne.]] |
| 549 | *** [[spoiler:Since Horus never turned traitor, Abaddon remained loyal to the Imperium and Corswain of the Dark Angels became his universe's equivalent of the Despoiler. Despite this, the Great Rift is still opened on the eve of M42.]] |
| 550 | *** [[spoiler:The T'au Empire's history with the Imperium remains unchanged with events like the Second Agrellan Campaign playing out the exact same way as it did in canon.]] |
| 551 | ** Once the Guard tithe of Krieg takes a level in badass, they are still known as the Death Korps, this time because they were retrained by General Jack "Death" Schwartz, making them Death's Corps. |
| 552 | * InadvertentEntranceCue: |
| 553 | ** While trying to find a way to open the Webway Gate between the Desaderian System and [[spoiler:Commorragh]], an Imperial Guard general states that a Black Templar ship will be crippled by the Dark Eldars manning the Gate, barring a miracle of the God-Emperor. Cue the arrival of the [[spoiler:Gloriana-class Battleship ''Flamewrought'']] just as the Eldar open the Gate. The Dark Eldar are quickly finished off, allowing the troops at the Desaderian System to join the Raid. |
| 554 | ** As Imperial reinforcements arrive at [[spoiler:Fenris]], a Word Bearer dismisses their fleet as a non-threat since they lack any Astartes support. Cue an entire ''fleet'' of Astartes ships arriving, backed by [[spoiler:the Great Wolf's Gloriana battleship]]. The Word Bearer tries to claim the latter is just a bluff as [[spoiler:Leman Russ]] can't be there, only to immediately be cut off by [[spoiler:Russ]] making his presence very clear. |
| 555 | * InevitableMutualBetrayal: [[spoiler:Corvus]] knew he would be betrayed the instant his temporary ally [[spoiler:Malal]] achieved his goal of becoming the [[spoiler:Fourth Chaos God]]. As such he made sure to give his power to [[spoiler:Elena]] before the betrayal so it couldn't be stolen. |
| 556 | * InsultToRocks: Taylor won't call the Munitorum Adepts that are stonewalling her plans cockroaches or locusts because it would not be fair to the insects. |
| 557 | * IntrepidMerchant: Dennis "Clockblocker" Peters and his friend Wolfgang Bach decide to become [[TabletopGame/RogueTrader Rogue Traders]] as part of their plans to help Taylor achieve her objectives. [[spoiler:In the aftermath of the Commorragh Raid, Taylor arranges to get them both a Warrant of Trade and a fleet.]] |
| 558 | * IronicDeath: |
| 559 | ** The thirteen Pirate Captains in Pavia suffer ironic fates, as pointed out by one reader: |
| 560 | *** Calico, a Rashan who was wanted for his understanding of human technology, seeks a new planet for his people and was probably the TokenGoodTeammate of the lot, is "convinced" to turn on the other pirates and gets a planet terraformed to suit his people's needs, although they are still forced to integrate into the Imperium and work with the Mechanicus. |
| 561 | *** Kidz Blakdakka, Qorok Trek and N’Ffjt Brakorth (an Ork, a Kroot, and a Sheed), the three most bloodthirsty of the lot, die before they can do anything in the fight (Blakdakka gets annihilated by Pierre, the others die with their fleets). |
| 562 | *** Ulion Lakadieth (an Eldar with a penchant for ransoming all of his prizes, always leaving them alive) survives, but he is forced to pay a huge ransom for his life and that of his men. |
| 563 | *** Fitzgerald Tanaka (a human who has a "luck" theme since he won his flagship on a Space Poker game) dies when a lucky shot sends a Dragon armor right next to his flagship's helm. |
| 564 | *** Mariuvahn Moonblitz (an Eldar corsair known for slaughtering and genociding his way through the galaxy) is himself slaughtered when the Mechanicus uses an Exterminatus-level weapon on his fleet. |
| 565 | *** Jaeger Day (a human who deserted the Imperial Navy) is deserted and has his men riot under him. |
| 566 | *** Quintus Kalmar (a human Rogue Trader who likes to paint everything gold) is destroyed by a fleet commanded by a woman in golden armor that he cannot fight against because his ships are full of treasure instead of munitions. |
| 567 | *** Lox'ena (a xenos who uses her singing to hunt her prey) becomes hunted by the Imperial Navy as she tries to run away from Pavia. [[spoiler:She manages to survive, but only because Taylor's more interested in keeping her alive -- and even then, she and her family are kept as prisoners in a sea.]] |
| 568 | *** Iath Bloodweaver (a Dark Eldar who goes above and beyond in his use of torture) is brutally eaten alive by some of Taylor's nastiest bugs. |
| 569 | *** Pius Hoth (a former Cardinal who betrayed the Imperium and turned to the worship of Chaos) is himself betrayed by his "allies" and taken in by the Astartes. |
| 570 | *** Travelliath Sliscus (a Dark Eldar who had just allowed all of the other captains to be killed and was about to use his SuperweaponSurprise on the Imperial fleet) gets himself defeated by another SuperweaponSurprise (a Necron World Engine) and [[spoiler:dies in a duel with Taylor, using his own Sword of Vaul against hers]]. |
| 571 | ** [[spoiler:Slaanesh boasts after surviving a second, stronger Emperor-powered shot from the Blackstone Fortress that he cannot kill her due to not seeing himself as a God. Cue Lelith giving Cegorach (The Laughing God) her sword (crafted by the Eldar God Vaul), who then proceeds to sever Slaanesh into her six aspects effectively killing her.]] |
| 572 | * IronicEchoCut: When Trazyn steals [[spoiler:an Eldar ''fleet'']] from under its commander. |
| 573 | -->'''Gladiel:''' NO! NO! NO!\ |
| 574 | ''[cut to Trazyn's ship]''\ |
| 575 | '''Trazyn:''' Yes, yes, and yes. |
| 576 | * {{Irony}}: Living Saint Weaver, empowered by the Emperor of Mankind Himself, firmly refuses to believe in His divinity and merely considers Him horrendously powerful for a human. Makes sense when you considering that she comes from a reality that held Lung (whom she defeated) and the Triumvirate (one of whom she killed) among OTHER horrendously powerful humans. |
| 577 | ** A Living Saint is supposed to bring nothing but war and devastation to the xenos. Sure, Weaver does this to the Eldar and the Orks, but she's fully okay with protecting and integrating species such as the Rashan [[spoiler: and the Tau Earth Caste]] in the Imperium. |
| 578 | * IsThisWhatAngerFeelsLike: Sobekhotep, after witnessing constant setbacks defending the Throne of Oblivion and now outright sabotage by Trazyn, is surprised to realize he can once again feel anger, an emotion that soon comes to define his character. [[spoiler:As Ah-hotep realizes, it's because he's turning into a Destroyer Lord]]. |
| 579 | * ItOnlyWorksOnce: |
| 580 | ** After the [[spoiler:death of Slaanesh]], [[spoiler:Anubis]] tells Taylor the same strategy is impossible for [[spoiler:killing the other Chaos Gods]]. It only succeeded this time due to the very unique set of circumstances presented by Operation Pearl Harbor, and even if something similar did exist the enemy would know what to expect. |
| 581 | ** During Operation Stalingrad, the first deployment of Kane particles succeeded in wiping out the Throne of Oblivion's entire rearguard fleet. The second deployment against the Golden Crown of Mandragora seems successful, only for Imotekh to neutralize the attack using a miniature black hole before they could deal more than superficial damage. |
| 582 | * ItsPersonal: One of [[spoiler:Cyrene Valantion]]'s conditions for working for Taylor, if [[spoiler:Erebus of the Word Bearers]] ever comes to Nyx, she is to be given the privilege of strangling him with his own intestines. |
| 583 | ** [[spoiler:Lelith]]'s grudge against [[spoiler:Trazyn]] started when he stole her mother's crown. |
| 584 | * ItsProbablyNothing: [[spoiler:The forces of Chaos in Sicarus]] detect the transit of [[spoiler:the Emperor's package containing the last Skaven]] and a Space Marine is dispatched to investigate. After arriving, he pokes around and is attacked [[spoiler: with tiny warpstone projectiles]]. He shoots into the darkness of the building, but hits nothing. Dismissing the attackers, he leaves. The narration makes it clear that it only takes him a few days to intensely regret that choice. |
| 585 | * ItsQuietTooQuiet: |
| 586 | ** The Warp is oddly calm when Taylor's fleet travels to Pavia. She correctly guesses the Ruinous Powers deliberately held back their usual attacks due to having laid a trap in the system. |
| 587 | ** Early in 8.3 Taylor notes that things are ''too'' calm, with fewer [[spoiler:daemonic incursions]] than expected. This changes when [[spoiler:Slaanesh opens portals to send ''billions'' of daemons into the Dark City]]. |
| 588 | * ItsTheOnlyWayToBeSure: The C'Tan primed hundreds of stars to simultaneously go supernova in order to exterminate the majority of Project Oblivion when the [[spoiler:Tyranids]] went rogue. What specimens escaped the inferno were hunted by both sides of the war. |
| 589 | * IWarnedYou: |
| 590 | ** Trazyn tried to warn one of Neferten's Nemesors to pull everything out. Said Nemesor ignored him until a few moments later, when [[spoiler:Lelith makes her appearance on Commorragh's battlefields]]. |
| 591 | ** PlayedForLaughs with Vista, who warned Taylor that her little "anti-piracy campaign" in Pavia was going to blow out of proportion due to Taylor's UnluckilyLucky penchant. Taylor realizes that Vista will never let her live it down when she turns out to be right. |
| 592 | * JeanneDArchetype: Weaver is a young woman whose powers defy the Imperium's understanding. She makes herself known by integrating the local military and leading them from victory to victory. She was drafted by the Emperor of Mankind himself and is ultimately acclaimed as a Living Saint. You damn well bet she's this. |
| 593 | * {{Jerkass}}: The galaxy is not bereft of this problem, and it tends to be both an obstacle and a target for Taylor. |
| 594 | ** The Ultramarine representative to the Blue Bacta conference. It doesn't take him long to put everyone against him, and the moment it becomes obvious he's not going to get his way, he uses his position to block all Thirteenth Legion Successor Chapters from helping Taylor in any future campaigns. |
| 595 | * TheJoyOfFirstFlight: Taylor's reaction when she flies after [[spoiler:gaining her Saint Wings.]] She has to try not to giggle in joy at the novelty of being able to fly [[spoiler:under her own power.]] |
| 596 | * JumpedAtTheCall: The people of Drakkar are descendants of Guardsmen who were disarmed and forced to settle the planet by the Ecclesiarchy. Despite this, they have spent generations waiting for the day they could once again fight for the Imperium. When Missy removes the previous governor, the people ''volunteer'' to start a Munitorum tithe. |
| 597 | * JurisdictionFriction: |
| 598 | ** Imperial Navy Admiral von Kisher arrives to the raid on [[spoiler:Commorragh]] in full parade uniform and immediately starts trying to pull rank on Secretary Wolfgang. Kisher eventually backs down after every Space Marine Chapter present states that they will follow Wolfgang. After the battle while tallying up the massive bounty the Imperium forces have earned, it's speculated Kisher was trying to stake a claim to the portion of said bounty allotted to the Admiralty despite his late arrival. |
| 599 | ** There's a dispute between the Administratum departments of the Segmentum Solar and Segmentum Obscurus as to whether the border between the two places the Fenris System in the extreme north of Solar or the extreme south of Obscurus that has been going on for millennia... because both of them want all the headaches that come from being responsible for the Space Wolves to be the ''other'' department's problem. |
| 600 | * KansasCityShuffle: [[spoiler:Lorgar and Magnus plot out the Fifth Black Crusade so it will attack multiple planets in the Imperium, with success in destroying and/or turning into Chaos planets benefits them, while the two of them take advantage of the spread out of the forces to allow them to attack Fenris (which was nowhere near their actual bases), which they intend to use for the Tear of Nightmares.]] |
| 601 | * KarmicDeath: |
| 602 | ** Vyrion Kaeran, one of Biel-Tan's most ardent warmongers, tasked in trying to get the Nebula's Shard at all costs, gets swarmed by Taylor's insects and then impaled by the aforementioned sword, causing his entire body to turn into crystal and shatter. |
| 603 | ** Governor Cao happily indulged himself and his court in decadent orgies and feasts while turning a blind eye to his children murdering each other to become his sole heir. He was murdered by Slaaneshi cultists led by one of his own sons while undefended at an orgy. |
| 604 | * KarmicThief: Contessa and her group of Knight-Errant Space Marines "borrow" a Thunderhawk from the Blood Ravens Space Marine chapter. Blood Ravens are well known to be {{Kleptomaniac Hero}}es. |
| 605 | * KatanasAreJustBetter: The Masamune Power Katana's [[spoiler:recovered from the STC database]] performance is three and a half ("364% in all categories" to be precise) times better than the power swords approved by the Munitorum for its officers. |
| 606 | * KilledOffForReal: |
| 607 | ** [[spoiler:Traevelliath Sliscus]] is killed by Weaver and [[DeaderThanDead his soul is destroyed]] so it won't become a meal for Slaanesh, leaving him DeaderThanDead. The same fate befalls [[spoiler:Drazhar.]] |
| 608 | ** [[spoiler:Asdrubael Vect]] detonates an explosive that destroys his soul so that Slaanesh cannot claim it. |
| 609 | ** Lelith permanently kills the Daemon Princes [[spoiler:Rakarth and Morathi Uldanesh]]. |
| 610 | ** [[spoiler:The Commorragh attack ends with '''''Slaanesh''''' destroyed.]] |
| 611 | ** Angron, Daemon-Primarch of the World-Eaters, finally meets his end after the battle for the Calyx Hellstars, when Lotara Sarrin drains him of power to ascend as the Nephilim Queen Valkia, the new Red Angel. |
| 612 | * KneelBeforeFrodo: |
| 613 | ** After Taylor kicked the shit out of [[spoiler:Ka'Bandha]] -- sworn enemy to their Primarch -- and became their living shield against the Black Rage, all of the Blood Angels Chapters present expressed their gratitude by kneeling to her. |
| 614 | ** During the [[spoiler:Raid on Commorragh]], the ''Chapter Master of the Salamanders'' and ''Archmagos Belisarius Cawl'' bow as well, with the Regent even bending the knee. When Taylor [[StopWorshippingMe tries to tell him he does not have to]], the Regent claims that ''he does''. |
| 615 | * KnightTemplar: The Black Templars. Unfortunately for them, Saint Weaver is not too keen on their "crush the enemy, erase their existence and consign it to oblivion!" attitude. |
| 616 | * KnowWhenToFoldThem: |
| 617 | ** The reason why Brukk Brukk has fought Weaver four times is because he is capable of figuring out when it's time to bug out and find a new warband before he gets himself killed. |
| 618 | ** Tziz Jarek, the third Imperial Assassin sent after Taylor, decides to accept her employment offer when it becomes obvious she is not going to succeed any time soon.[[note]]In the original timeline, Goge Vandire would have ordered her to kill the Grand Master of Assassins[[/note]] |
| 619 | ** Ulion Lakadieth stops fighting and tries to negotiate for his safe passage as he sees Weaver tearing through his fellow pirate lords, although he's forced to pay a heftier ransom for his safe passage than he would have if he'd left earlier. |
| 620 | ** Lox'ena, when cornered with her family, chooses to negotiate rather than make a LastStand, and while unhappy with the terms being offered, consider them preferable to certain death. |
| 621 | ** Once it becomes clear that the [[spoiler:Mark of Commorragh]] cannot be stopped, [[spoiler:Tzeentch]] chooses to abandon [[spoiler:Slaanesh]] and start working on a new plan. |
| 622 | ** [[spoiler:Fallen Dark Angel Cypher]] realizes that Nova-Terra is doomed shortly after [[spoiler:the Mark of Commorragh]] and escapes through the Webway before the Dark Angels arrive, leaving several less pragmatic Fallen behind. |
| 623 | ** [[spoiler:Overlord Zahndrek]] offers Taylor a ceasefire after she and Dragon fight off the [[spoiler:Void Dragon shard released by Sobekhotep]], considering that no more fighting needs to take place (of course, he's still under the delusion that the [[spoiler:Imperium are just a secessionist faction of the Necrontyr]], but it is nonetheless appreciated). |
| 624 | ** [[spoiler:Overlord Imotekh]], isolated from his handful of remaining troops and far from backup, decides after Taylor saves his life that the best course of action is to formally surrender. |
| 625 | * InterruptedIntimacy: Vista and Clockblocker like to do this to Taylor and Wei, mostly because they think it's hilarious to see them break off and try to fix their clothes up. |
| 626 | * LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler:Taylor, after taking the Governorship of Nyx, renders Nostradamus Vandire unto the Inquisition for corruption, bribery, blackmail, extortion, and a thousand more charges.]] |
| 627 | * LastOfHisKind: |
| 628 | ** Farseer Filgonilth is the last member of the Sirethmoren family in which his wife and children were killed in a "purge" that went terribly wrong on a corrupted Maiden World. |
| 629 | ** The Queen of Blades is revealed to be the last living [[spoiler:Aeldari to have fought during the War in Heaven]]. |
| 630 | * LastStand: |
| 631 | ** The First Battle of Ramev's Pass was ''meant'' to be this, but Taylor's appearance turns this into a victory. |
| 632 | ** [[spoiler:During the Raid on Commorragh, the Dark Eldar are forced multiple times into this -- particularly as Slaanesh throws in her own attack through Khaine's Gate.]] |
| 633 | * LifesavingMisfortune: |
| 634 | ** Gavreel's armor gets ruined in the fight against [[spoiler:Iash'uddra and Trazyn]], but this allows him to (a) gain a much newer, better model and (b) reduce the chances that his former chapter hears of him, which would lead to his death, as his new armor doesn't have antiquated Dark Angels heraldry. |
| 635 | ** House Attica of Nyx suffered heavily in the aftermath of an error made by one of their ancestors. This, however, isolated them as the Nyx nobility grew incredibly corrupt and brutal, saving them from what the Inquisition does when they come knocking. |
| 636 | * LockedIntoStrangeness: After the [[spoiler:Battle of the Death Star and her fight against Ka'Bandha]], Taylor's black hair acquires a golden strand and her skin has a slight glow to it [[spoiler:because of her mystical contact with the Emperor during the fight]]. |
| 637 | ** During [[spoiler:Taylor's psychic fight with the Tyranid on Catachan,]] the Emperor's psychic might going through her turns even more of her hair gold and her skins glow becomes more noticeable. |
| 638 | ** By the end of the Shadowpoint arc, only a small amount of black hair remains behind her left ear, and the intensity of her glowing skin has doubled. |
| 639 | ** And then reverted during the [[spoiler:Raid on Commorragh]], where her hair returns to its previous black color [[spoiler:and she gains a pair of enormous golden energy wings]]. |
| 640 | * LogicalWeakness: The Codex Astartes gives the Ultramarines detailed, specific instructions on how to handle virtually any sort of tactical scenario... which means that any enemy of theirs who has also read the Codex knows precisely how they will respond to said scenarios and can have counters prepared in advance. |
| 641 | * LoopholeAbuse: |
| 642 | ** A Cardinal of the Ecclesiarchy demands having a copy of [[spoiler:the files found in the STC]], arguing that nowhere in the Treaty of Olympus is indicated that only the Mechanicus can get them, only that the originals have to be sent to Mars. |
| 643 | ** In the same chapter, [[spoiler:Harrowmaster Isley's surviving Alpha Legionnaires]] are technically wiped out by an Imperial Tribunal. In reality? An Alpha Legion warband walked into the courtroom. The founding members of the [[spoiler:20th Legion's only known Loyalist Successor Chapter, the Heracles Wardens,]] walked out. The assignment of Taylor and company to oversee their reintegration into Imperial administration, and to make sure they STAY loyal, potentially foreshadows [[spoiler:the Heracles Wardens engaging in their own Alpha-characteristic loophole abuses in regards to recruitment and equipment.]] |
| 644 | ** Taylor learns that she meets all of the qualifications to be named [[spoiler:Empress of the Aeldari Empire]] despite it no longer existing and her being a different species. The creators were so arrogant they never considered the possibility of another species both qualifying for the rank and reaching the place where they could claim it. |
| 645 | ** One of the High Lords proposes giving Taylor a Triumph in recognition of the razing of [[spoiler:Commorragh and the death of Slaanesh]]. Those opposed to Taylor use the fact that public knowledge of Chaos is forbidden to reduce her victory to "only" [[spoiler:slaughtering the Drukhari]], which is only worthy of an Ovation. |
| 646 | * LovesOnlyGold: The pirate Lord-Count Quintus 'Gold' Kalmar has an obsession with gold. He wears gold armor, has a gold throne, and even plated a ''seven-kilometer warship'' with refined gold. After his death, one of his ships surrenders rather than fight because Kalmar had filled several compartments with gold and other valuables instead of munitions. |
| 647 | * MadGod: All the Ruinous Powers are completely insane by the standards of any living being. For example, [[spoiler: Slaanesh, rather than influence the Drukhari leaders in order to form an alliance against the Imperial forces assaulting Commorragh, stop soul-sucking the Dark Eldar during the battle, or any other logical strategy, chooses to send its legions to assault the Dark City, and not only do its inhabitants fight back and keep them from getting to Weaver, but Slaanesh sends so many of its forces that Khorne seizes the chance to attack before the battle is even over, while Nurgle and Tzeentch join in later.]] |
| 648 | * MagicallyBindingContract: The [[spoiler:first Ethereals of the Tau]] made a pact with [[spoiler:Enslavers]], sacrificing their race's immense psyker potential in exchange for protection from Chaos. The author has stated that the breaking of this pact would be the equivalent of a psychic mega-bomb. |
| 649 | * MagnificentBastard: |
| 650 | ** Trazyn the Infinite is most definitely one, all in his search for new things to add to his collection. |
| 651 | ** [[spoiler:The Emperor]] as well: it is implied he gave the [[CoolSword Nebula Shard]] to Trazyn because he knew the Necron would end up giving it to Taylor, [[spoiler:so she could use it [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu to defeat Ka'Bandha]].]] |
| 652 | *** [[spoiler:He also takes advantage of Tzeentch creating a Shadowpoint to ''increase its power'' and prevent Chaos from learning about the Raid of Commorragh until it is too late for them to prevent it.]] |
| 653 | * MajorlyAwesome: Taylor ends up being given the rank of Major and the position of XO in the Fay 20th. [[spoiler:As of 5.1, she is a Major... General.]] |
| 654 | * ManlyTears: Two Blood Angels that are guarding Taylor begin to silently cry when she reveals she wants to dedicate Nyx's new Basilica to Sanguinius. |
| 655 | * MassOhCrap: |
| 656 | ** The Dark Eldars' reaction when they see that Taylor has allied with the ''Necrons''. |
| 657 | ** The reaction of everyone in [[spoiler:Commorragh]] when it's revealed that [[spoiler:Slaanesh is invading]]. |
| 658 | ** The Eldars' reaction when they realize the Imperium has brought a [[spoiler:Blackstone Fortress]] to the battle. |
| 659 | * MassTeleportation: After the Throne of Oblivion manages to displace itself temporally and dimensionally, Sobekhotep orders it to immediately return. He ignores warnings from his Crypteks which results in them also teleporting the ''entire solar system'' they had landed in with them, swapping it for its dimensional counterpart. [[spoiler:The defenders of T'au from M42 are horrified to realize they're all alone]]. |
| 660 | * MeaningfulName: Taylor decides to request that the name of the system where the [[spoiler:Battle of the Death Star]] took place changes to "Brockton". As anyone with knowledge of the series knows, it is an incredibly appropriate name for a former war zone. |
| 661 | ** There's a reason why the space station Leet has been forcibly emplaced is nicknamed ''[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Danger-Prototype-Central]]''. |
| 662 | ** The architect charged to design and build the Hagia Sanguinala is named Cyrene ''Versailles'', as the famous French castle. |
| 663 | ** The military operation aimed at attacking [[spoiler:Commorragh]] to destroy its main infrastructure and kill as many [[spoiler:Dark Eldar]] as possible is named [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII Pearl Harbor]] -- as it begins with a surprise attack on a large port that takes the defenders completely by surprise. |
| 664 | ** Taylor calls the military operation targeting the Throne of Oblivion [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII Operation Stalingrad]], rightfully predicting it is going to be one massive meatgrinder against an extremely fortified opponent. |
| 665 | * AMechByAnyOtherName: During the [[spoiler:Raid on Commoragh]], several Knight Houses and the Legio Defensor Titan legion join Weaver's forces. By Extermination Interlude 2, the Knights of House Winterveil swear themselves to Taylor, and Head of House Duke O'Hara is made planetary Governor and King of Omsk Primus of the Nyx sector. Legio Defensor, meanwhile, is assigned to Alamo, the newly planned Nyxian Forge World. |
| 666 | * MeleeATrois: [[spoiler:During the Battle of the Death Star, the Biel-Tan Eldar Twilight Spear attack the Imperial Forces, and are attacked by the Orks (who are also attacking the humans) at the same time. When the World Eaters join the fray, the Orks divert a lot of their attention to fighting them, destroying a Chaos Daemon Battleship at the cost of numerous space hulks, granting the Imperium victory as the last man standing.]] |
| 667 | ** [[spoiler:The Raid on Commorragh becomes this, with Imperium + Necrons vs Dark Eldars + Eldars vs Slaanesh.]] |
| 668 | ** Operation Stalingrad promises to be this, with so far [[spoiler: Necrons vs Orks with the Imperium watching]], then, once the Operation starts in earnest [[spoiler: Necrons vs Imperium vs the Orks, who somehow managed to hold on long enough and are calling reinforcement, with the Ruinous Powers on the way]]. |
| 669 | * MemeticMutation: [[Memes/{{Worm}} The famous meme about having arachno- or entomophobia]] is reflected here by one captured Imperial Assassin, who thinks it to be "common sense". |
| 670 | ** Gavreel also calls it "common sense" [[spoiler: when talking to Sterzing about taking control of the Helspiders of Commorragh, and how the Dark Eldar are probably going to kill every spider they see from now on]]. |
| 671 | * MercyKill: |
| 672 | ** In a way, Taylor killing [[spoiler:Sliscus]] is this, since by destroying his soul she prevents Slaanesh from devouring him and gaining power. |
| 673 | ** Unable to evacuate all of the freed slaves before the final battle in [[spoiler:Commorragh]], the Imperium nukes those left behind to spare them from the approaching daemonic horde. |
| 674 | * MineralMacGuffin: After the reveal that Taylor can convert Noctilith into [[spoiler:Chaos-purifying aethergold]], acquiring more of it becomes a priority goal for her. At the same time, the Chaos gods both individually and as a whole are seeking more Noctilith to create their own variants capable of generating specialized-Warp Storms, and the Eldar seek it to build temples to [[spoiler:their new god, Atharti]] to help speed up their creation to protect their souls from the other Chaos gods. And this puts them in direct conflict with the current holder of the largest stock of noctilith, the Necrons in the Throne of Oblivion. |
| 675 | * ModestRoyalty: Even as she gains more grandiose titles, Taylor is still a humble Brockton Bay girl, so she dresses as modestly as she can, wishes people would not act so ceremoniously towards her, and is ready to HeadDesk every time she meets someone and has to start her StopWorshippingMe routine ''again''. |
| 676 | * MookDepletion: |
| 677 | ** One of the issues plaguing the Dynasts during the [[spoiler:razing of Commorragh]] is that they keep executing any commanders whose forces are defeated. This prevents the development of a coherent response to the Imperial forces as each new commander tries a different strategy before meeting their demise. It eventually reaches the point that a new leader can't be assigned before the unit is overrun. |
| 678 | ** Messengers bringing bad news to the Dynasts get murdered as a result, but one Dynast eventually lets them live simply because he's running low on capable messengers. |
| 679 | * MoodWhiplash: PlayedForLaughs during the meeting between Taylor and Chancellor Friar Achelieux. The solemnity of the latter accepting Taylor's very generous offer of a contract is broken when a Space Marine passes nearby while trying to ride a giant centipede. |
| 680 | * MortonsFork: |
| 681 | ** Taylor planned to offer Nostradamus Vandire two options: Confess the names of all of his co-conspirators during trial and be quickly executed, or be brutally tortured by the Inquisition to get the names of his co-conspirators before being assigned to a Penal Legion where he'll die as cannon fodder. Vandire made the mistake of refusing the trial ''before'' hearing the alternative. |
| 682 | ** Dark Apostle Oriax is locked in a room with a [[spoiler:Skaven]] bomb and the only way to stop it detonating is to recite every word spoken in a holo recording. Said recording is a pious Imperial priest's sermon. No matter how insincere he may be in speaking the words, Oriax's daemonic masters ''will'' punish him for saying them. As such he either dies to the bomb or endures the ire of the Warp. |
| 683 | * MotorMouth: The ''Araneidae Gigantis Nyxian Amazonia Hebert'' are giant, excitable, talking spiders with a propensity for saying too much. It should be noted they do not speak normally but communicate telepathically with other spiders which act as vox-operators, meaning everything they say is reviewed by at least two members of their species before being spoken. |
| 684 | * MrExposition: Various characters give information usually at the start of each chapter revealing major details. |
| 685 | ** [[spoiler: Lelith mentions how The Old Ones made projects such as the Krorks (War), Rangdan (Decay), and Oblivion/Tyranids (Change). Other examples include Anarchy commenting on the events of the chapter, the Primarchs psychic declarations, and H'siangla.]] |
| 686 | * TheMultiverse: It's confirmed in 10.3 that a ''40K'' multiverse does exist in this fic and the Necrons are even shown to possess the means of traveling between parallel universes. However, the Crypteks aboard the Throne of Oblivion mention that the Silent King heavily restricted this type of travel and forbid meddling with other universes due to the risk of a butterfly effect negatively impacting Necrons across all dimensions. [[spoiler:The T'au homeworld that got dragged into the past from M42 comes from one such alternate dimension.]] |
| 687 | * MundaneUtility: Downplayed with Taylor's parahuman ability of insect-control. Yes, it allows her to corner a sweet part of the economic markets (raising spiders for their silks, crustaceans for their flesh) but she's only one person so her goods are in limited supply and as such luxury items for the wealthy. She does use them for her day-to-day life, though. One area it gives her a significant edge in is paperwork as she can parse thousands of documents simultaneously through her bugs. |
| 688 | * MustHaveCaffeine: The Adeptus Mechanicus have no real use for the tea-maker plans that Taylor found [[spoiler:in the Athena STC]], but the Guard, the Navy, the Arbites, the Administratum, the Navigators, and the Astropaths all want some. |
| 689 | * TheMutiny: |
| 690 | ** Admiral Mikasev's drug-fueled purge of ''ten percent'' of his flagship's crew led to the rest of the crew and the techpriests working together to kill him and his cronies. They then took command of the ship to provide Fay with much-needed orbital support. |
| 691 | ** The unfortunate tech-priests crewing the station ''Danger-Prototype-Central'' eventually stage one against Leet and essentially bust him down to apprentice. |
| 692 | * MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: |
| 693 | ** Neferten opposes the Necron stance of exterminating all life and is in fact seeking a way to break free of the Silent King's control. This is not new, as she was a dissenting voice at all three of her race's major mistakes: going to war with the Old Ones, allying with the C'Tan, and entering the long dormancy without accounting for entropy. |
| 694 | ** Farseer Filgonilth is highly critical of Biel-Tan's extreme militarism and is strongly opposed to the revival of the Aeldari Empire, as he recognized its depravity and cruelty led to the Aeldari's downfall and that the Drukhari keep on carrying out the old empire's dark excesses. He has the final straw with Biel-Tan over the High Council's decision to [[spoiler:assist the Drukhari in defending Commorragh against Weaver.]] |
| 695 | ** Lelith Hesperix has nothing but disdain for what the Drukhari have become despite technically being considered one of them. She has never spoken against their current behavior because she no longer cares enough after witnessing the Fall and seeing that the Drukhari learned nothing from it. |
| 696 | [[/folder]] |
| 697 | [[folder:N to R]] |
| 698 | * NamedByTheAdaptation: |
| 699 | ** The [[spoiler:Second Legion]] is mentioned to have received several names, of which the most popular was the Tsunami Sabres. Their Primarch is similarly named [[spoiler: Hanzo of the Hattori Clan]]. |
| 700 | ** The [[spoiler:Eleventh Legion]] was named [[spoiler: the Witch Hunters]] at one point. After their Primarch took command, they were renamed [[spoiler:the Unspeakables]]. |
| 701 | * NameThatUnfoldsLikeLotusBlossom: |
| 702 | ** The name the Imperium uses for Taylor's sword, the Nebula's Shard, is a loose translation of the Eldar name Elsar'bryn. The literal translation is something closer to "Song of the Nebula Tearing through the Heavens". |
| 703 | ** The simple translation of the Eldar title given to Taylor, Maelsha’eil Dannan, is "Angel of Death". The literal translation is "The Burning Angel Governing the Cycle of Entropy". |
| 704 | * NayTheist: Even after being empowered as a Living Saint by the Emperor, Taylor firmly refuses to believe that He's actually a god and not just an extremely powerful human, with Cyrene lampshading the {{Irony}}. This makes perfect sense, given the powerful parahumans Taylor met, fought, and defeated (or even killed in the case of Alexandria) on Earth Bet, and what happened to her world thanks to Scion, who was defeated despite his vast power. Ancient Pierre, being old enough to actually have ''met'' the Emperor, agrees with her. Of course, as we see in Extermination Interlude 2, so does ''the Emperor''! |
| 705 | * NegativeSpaceWedgie: The [[spoiler:''Pride of the Emperor'']] is banished through a Warp portal by Nurgle to hide [[spoiler:Fulgrim's soul]]. |
| 706 | * NeglectfulPrecursors: The Old Ones become even worse than canon in this continuity as it's revealed their final pre-Warp creation, Project Oblivion, was the first generation of [[spoiler:Tyranids]]. The C'Tan tried to exterminate Oblivion, but the program's supervisor decided to hide specimens, which would cause problems such as [[spoiler:turning Catachan into a Death World and forming the Hive Fleets]]. |
| 707 | * NeverFoundTheBody: Behemoth and Leviathan were confirmed casualties of the Gold Morning. The Simurgh was not [[spoiler:and is later confirmed to be alive]]. It's also mentioned that right before Taylor was transported, none of her fellow Undersiders were answering their radios but Regent was the only one she'd seen fall. While the others are presumed dead it's possible that some of them were among those who led exoduses into other dimensions and/or that one of them is the Destiny Unwritten. The same is true of several of Dennis and Missy's teammates. |
| 708 | * NeverMyFault: The Biel-Tan never accept that they are wrong in their increasing assaults and failures against Taylor. Despite overwhelming evidence that they messed up and that they will just keep ruining their military by attacking Taylor, they ''still'' come up with excuses to justify that the previous time was a fluke and that they will defeat Taylor the next time due to being a so-called "superior" race. And finally, with the destruction of a vast portion of their military after [[spoiler:Commorragh]], and being viciously told by Jain Zar everything wrong with them and their decisions, they still somehow have ''the gall'' to be outraged that Jain Zar insulted them while withdrawing all Howling Banshees from Biel-Tan, as well as those who disagree with Biel-Tan's leaders. And even with these setbacks, and being told that their Craftworld is about to be invaded and destroyed by the ones they ticked off so much, they '''''still, somehow''''' believe that they can repulse the invaders and that the humans are still "upstart Mon-Keigh". Everyone that does not live in Biel-Tan knows that it is a matter of time before they finally bite the dust. |
| 709 | * NiceJobFixingItVillain: |
| 710 | ** The ritual initiated by the Chaos Space Marines at the beginning of the story only succeeds in bringing Taylor to the 35th Millenium -- where she promptly becomes a hero of the Imperium, saving billions of lives. |
| 711 | ** When [[spoiler:Slaanesh]] realizes its power is in danger of being permanently crippled by the [[spoiler: razing of Commorragh]], it attempts to intervene... by sending its own armies to seize [[spoiler:Commorragh]] first. The result is the defenders splitting their forces to fight both the humans and daemons, further reducing the resistance they can put up to Taylor's attack. And this only gets worse when [[spoiler:the other Chaos gods decide to attack Slaanesh while it's vulnerable]]. |
| 712 | ** During the Horus Heresy, Chaos destroyed all [[spoiler:components for the Golden Throne]] along with the means of producing more. However, prior to the Heresy a Dark Eldar raid had captured three containers of these items and taken them into the Webway, where they were protected from the daemon purge. |
| 713 | ** [[spoiler: Fulgrim]] arrives in [[spoiler: Commorragh]] personally, attempting to kill Taylor. In the course of the battle, she stabs him in the face several times with [[spoiler: a C'tan phase-blade]]. The injuries ruins his connection to [[spoiler: the Third Legion... the same Legion that Taylor has over 17 thousand gene-seeds from.]] |
| 714 | ** Aenaria Eldanesh has come to challenge Taylor's status as [[spoiler:Empress Claimant of the Aeldari]], and Taylor knows she's woefully inferior to her. Cue Slaanesh sending her demons against them both, and Aenaria deciding to attack the demons, causing both of them to sort of work together, which gives Aenaria enough cause to accept Taylor's claim and let her go. |
| 715 | *** More specifically, Slaanesh's decision to send [[spoiler:Malekith, the last Aeldari Emperor]] makes Aenearia acknowledge Taylor just to spite [[spoiler:Malekith]]. |
| 716 | ** Xerxes Vandire ensuring Taylor does not get a Triumph is this -- because a Triumph would have put her in a situation in which she would have been inexperienced and slowed down her projects in the Nyx Sector, while the Ovation she instead receives allows her to build up and gain even more popularity not only in Nyx, but in the nearby Sectors. |
| 717 | * NoHeroToHisValet: Taylor is beloved by the general population of Nyx. Those who know her personally (like Dragon, Vista, Wei and the Dawnbreaker Guard) will joke with her and tease her. |
| 718 | * NoHonorAmongThieves: |
| 719 | ** While Chaos may have worked together to bring the parahumans to the 40k universe, they are still rivals. When Slaanesh over-commits in its response to the [[spoiler:raid on Commorragh]], the other three are quick to start invading its realms. [[spoiler:When Cegorach severs Slaanesh into its six core essences, four are quickly seized by the other gods, ensuring it cannot be revived: Excess is captured by Khorne's forces and dragged off in chains to slowly starve to death, while Paramountcy, Gluttony, and Avidity are devoured by Tzeentch, Nurgle and Malal]]. |
| 720 | ** The thirteen Pirate Admirals of Pavia would readily turn on each other should the chance appear to do so without suffering problems. [[spoiler:Calico actually helps the Imperium fight the rest, Lakadieth decides to take Taylor's offer to escape and Lox'ena surrenders when it becomes obvious her entire family will die if she doesn't.]] |
| 721 | ** The Drukhari are more than ready to turn on and kill one another during battle if it means improving their own standing. This proves a major problem during the [[spoiler:raid on Commorragh]] as many soldiers prioritized killing one another over fighting the Imperial forces. The Imperium estimated that [[spoiler:ten ''billion'']] Drukhari died killing one another. |
| 722 | ** The mortal forces of Chaos are prone to this during the [[spoiler:Fifth Black Crusade]]. They spend nearly as much energy plotting against and betraying each other as they do fighting the Imperium. |
| 723 | * NoJustNoReaction: When Wei Cao suggests bringing the [[DeathWorld Catachan]] yellow ant as part of her "economy-boosting insects", Taylor takes less than five seconds to reject it. |
| 724 | * NoKillLikeOverkill: Taylor mentions that she won't consider the Simurgh dead until she's personally fed the body to her swarm. Dragon notes that this would be extreme overkill for anything other than the Hopekiller. |
| 725 | * NoOshaCompliance: |
| 726 | ** OSHA doesn't exist in the Imperium (at least until Taylor and Dragon begin to make their mark, with efficiency boosting as security and protective measures are implemented), but some things in the Dark City are so unsafe that humans and transhumans raiding the place are forced to take note of. One notable example is having foundries next door to munitions dumps. |
| 727 | ** The Fast Battleships were designed with inadequately armored power conduits (which would thus easily rupture if damaged) right next to ammunition storerooms (whose contents could cause a chain reaction that can potentially destroy the ship if set off by something. Like, for example, a ruptured power conduit). In the end, the surprising thing wasn't that six of them were lost in their first large-scale battle, but that the seventh ship survived. The Mechanicus ultimately decides to take the last surviving Fast Battleship to a shipyard where it can be used as a shining example of how NOT to design a warship so that future generations do not repeat its mistakes. |
| 728 | * NoPartyLikeADonnerParty: The Spartan Rebellion had the benefit of a mushroom cave to produce some foodstuffs, but it wasn't enough to support the penal colony's oversized population. Cannibalism was just one of the reasons their population shrank drastically before the end. |
| 729 | * NoSell: {{Downplayed}}. Parahumans are more resistant than normal humans to the Space Marines' auras that cause "transhuman dread". |
| 730 | * NonLinearCharacter: The Chaos Gods and other daemons are this to some extent, to the point that daemons can exist before the mortal soul that birthed them even existed. |
| 731 | * NotHelpingYourCase: Taylor points out to Marshal Markward of the Black Templars that the reason history tends to repeat itself is because no one bothers to pay attention the first time, something the Black Templars' penchant for destroying or modifying historical records do nothing to help. Markward promptly exclaims that the enemy can only be defeated by crushing them and erasing every trace of their existence from history. Taylor is not impressed. |
| 732 | * NotHyperbole: When Dragon notes that noosphere wars had been declared for less than Taylor not using the [[PowerArmor Angel's Tear]], she is not joking. |
| 733 | ** When Taylor "Weaver" Hebert threatens to feed you alive to a swarm of carnivorous ants, ''you better listen to what she says''. |
| 734 | * NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer: When Lankovar is warned about [[spoiler:Taylor finding the Standard Template Construct Database]], his first reaction is to chide his interlocutor for trying to imitate the humor of flesh-beings. Said interlocutor responds by saying that it is not a false alert. |
| 735 | * NotSoAboveItAll: |
| 736 | ** Given how much she has to suffer the teasing of others, Taylor just loves to grab any chance she has to do the same to her friends and subordinates. |
| 737 | ** For all that they are "inhumane", the Tech-Priests can be worse gossips than most humans when it concerns interesting information. |
| 738 | ** The Space Marines that form the Dawnbreaker Guard are quite willing to laugh at Taylor's expense when she is embarrassed by anything. |
| 739 | ** [[spoiler:Admiral]] protests the use of the term "Skynet" as AI-racist, but the fact that she can then give a thorough critique on the ''Terminator'' franchise, both in terms of accuracy and quality as a movie, shows she's been watching them. |
| 740 | * NotWorthKilling: Trazyn lets Gladiel's ship escape after [[spoiler:capturing the Biel-tan reinforcement fleet]] as he's gotten all the amusement he likes from pursuing them and the ship is too badly damaged to be worth collecting. |
| 741 | * NothingExcitingEverHappensHere: Andes Primus is a backwater, swampy planet which had been spared any of the conflict seen elsewhere in the sector. That changed for a short time when the Fay 20th stopped by to pick up some fuel and a new tank only to be attacked by an Eldar raiding party intent on retrieving the Nebula's Shard. |
| 742 | * NothingIsScarier: The author's explanation for the "Oblivion Gate" is that it's a portal leading to a pocket dimension containing something even the Aeldari wielding their full might couldn't destroy. What little we know is that it was not born from the Warp, the term "eldritch abomination" is insufficient, and even the Drukhari at their worst weren't willing to toy with it. |
| 743 | * NothingIsTheSameAnymore: Through the assault on Pavia the changes made by the parahumans were relatively minor and events were still fairly close to Warhammer canon, with the biggest change being the death of Goge Vandire's ancestor[[note]][[WordOfGod Confirmed by the author]][[/note]]. This changed when the Imperium successfully [[spoiler:razed Commorragh and ''killed Slaanesh'']], changing the galaxy's future drastically. |
| 744 | * NotSoDifferentRemark: Taylor notes that the Blood Angels' Black Rage and Red Thirst are not too different from the parahumans' Trigger events. |
| 745 | * NouveauRiche: Taylor is this for the Aristocracy, with some like Xerxes Vandire seeing her as "a rat with delusions of grandeur." |
| 746 | * NumerologicalMotif: Since this is ''Warhammer'', you get the expected Sacred Numbers like "9", "8", "7", and "6" for each of the Chaos Gods, including [[spoiler:"11" for Malal and the Skaven]], and "12" for the Mechanicus and "10" for the Emperor. However, the Necrons are also given a Sacred Number, "15", though nobody can understand why they consider it Important; the explanation given was that, although not a prime number, at some 'higher levels of quantum resonance the energy transfers enter dimension-symbiosis'. Again, nobody understands why. |
| 747 | * ObstructiveBureaucrat: This is the Imperium where planets are lost because of ''rounding errors'' and where planets of bureaucrats are in civil war because they are running out of space for all the records. Taylor, of course, ends up encountering a few too many of them, which only gets worse after Xerxes Vandire becomes head of the Administratum. |
| 748 | ** The Lord Commander Militant flat out claims the Imperium is working ''in spite'' of the Administratum's best efforts to sabotage it. |
| 749 | * AnOfferYouCantRefuse: Taylor offers Nostradamus Vandire a trial and swift execution in exchange of the names of all his co-conspirators and the places where he has stashed all the money he has stolen. When Nostradamus interrupts her and rejects the offer, Taylor reveals the other option: being tortured by the Inquisition [[MortonsFork until he reveals the names of his co-conspirators and the places where he has stashed all the money he has stolen]] -- and then becoming the first [[GotVolunteered volunteer]] of the 1st Nyx Pureblood Penal Legion. Nostradamus begs to be allowed to pick option 1 as he's dragged away by the Inquisition. |
| 750 | * OhCrap: |
| 751 | ** Discovering a [[spoiler:''Tyranid'' entombed within Catachan's planetary crust]] is enough for Weaver to seriously consider an Exterminatus, and the Inquisition furiously agrees to seek confirmation of her concerns instead of just tossing it like every other request to bomb [[spoiler:Catachan]] that reaches their desk. |
| 752 | ** On board of ''Danger-Prototype-Central'', there are two sentences every Tech-Priest dreads: "I think I have solved all the problems this time." and "They are going to recognise my genius with this invention!", since they mark another of Leet's "inventions" being finished (and highly likely to explode at the worst possible moment). |
| 753 | ** The First Exploration Fleet from Nyx is quite disturbed when they see how much the SpacePirates from Pavia have fortified the system. |
| 754 | ** [[spoiler:Slaanesh]]'s reaction when it realizes the razing of [[spoiler:Commorragh]] will permanently cripple its power. |
| 755 | *** [[spoiler:Slaanesh]] yet again on realizing the Imperium is converting a [[spoiler:Blackstone Fortress]] into a weapon that can actually hurt it, and that its own actions have left it vulnerable. |
| 756 | ** The Drukhari forces guarding Khaine's Gate when they see [[spoiler:it cracking from the other side.]] |
| 757 | ** ''Contessa'' of all people, has one for very understandable reasons: [[spoiler:'''''The Simurgh''''']]. |
| 758 | * TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: [[spoiler:After being defeated by Weaver for the first time, Ka'Bandha is sworn to kill her and will kill anyone that tries to "steal" his archenemy. He makes this clear to Fazar’nzlath’hesh/the Naga for touching his "prey".]] |
| 759 | * OnlySaneMan: Farseer Filgonilth Sirethmoren and Autarch Jirkanith Maloskilen are the only few members of Craftworld Biel-Tan who realizes their people's very militaristic campaign in restoring their empire and waging endless wars against all space-faring races would only destroy themselves as they couldn't afford the logistics and numbers than the Orks and Imperium. Unfortunately for them, their efforts to convince the High Council to reconsider has fall on deaf ears and in turn are deemed as "disgraced elders." |
| 760 | ** Filgonilth is deeply appalled over the High Council's decision to enter the fray in [[spoiler:Commorragh and siding with the Dark Eldar]] against Weaver, and argued against this. The High Council are not swayed by his warnings and instead [[spoiler:banished him from Biel-Tan for "uncountable breaches of protocol", prompting Filgonilth to evacuate his supporters to Malan'tai.]] |
| 761 | ** Paristur is the only member of the Word Bearers Dark Council even trying to make the plans for their Black Crusade follow any sort of military logic at a strategic or tactical level. Unfortunately for him, everyone else is so focused on religion that they prioritize honoring their god or gods over actually winning the war they're fighting in the god's name, and because field command was given to Erebus, he can't make anyone listen to him. |
| 762 | * OutGambitted: |
| 763 | ** Hoth attempted to perform a Tzeentchian ritual that would plunge Pavia into the Warp using supplies he bought through Sliscus. Sliscus easily figured out why Hoth was buying the supplies and tainted them in a way that completely ruined the ritual. |
| 764 | ** The events of "Extermination" are only possible because [[spoiler:the Emperor]] saw through [[spoiler:Tzeentch]]'s plan to defeat Taylor using the Shadowpoint and [[HoistByHisOwnPetard used it to ensure the Imperium's victory]]. |
| 765 | ** [[spoiler:Magnus]] had been planning a betrayal of [[spoiler:Lorgar]] throughout the [[spoiler:Fifth Black Crusade]] but just before everything was in position, [[spoiler:Lorgar]] betrayed him first, having known all along about the plan. |
| 766 | * OutlawTown: Pavia is a system entirely controlled and populated by pirates and their hangers-on. [[spoiler:Until the Caribbean Fleet comes knocking, that is.]] |
| 767 | * OutsideContextProblem: Taylor becomes this in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The ability to control all arthropods (insects, arachnids, and centipedes) ''without'' having to use the Warp makes her incredibly powerful and a huge boon to the Imperium. [[spoiler:It is heavily implied that her presence is seriously messing up with the Eldar Farseers' ability to see the future. Contessa later reveals that Taylor's presence is disrupting/preventing every prognosticators' ability to predict the future.]] [[spoiler:Eldrad mentions that the region of space centered in Nyx has become a Shadowpoint, which prevents all Farseers from looking into the future of the region, although this turns out to be because of Tzeentch's manipulations.]] |
| 768 | ** Early on in the story, after meeting with Taylor and her explaining about Parahumans, Magos Desmerius Lankovar tried to create a clone of Taylor in order to study Trigger events and replicate parahumans for the Imperium. Unfortunately, the clone of Taylor upon Triggering was horrifically mutated in appearance, caused a Class-8 anti-psionic explosion, had the insects in nearby Ork corpses starting eating everything; it was deemed to be a failure after its termination. [[spoiler:This is likely because there isn't a Worm Entity to manage the Trigger Event, so the clone underwent a "[[https://worm.fandom.com/wiki/Broken_Trigger Broken Trigger]]" and was driven mad and mutated by their broken power. And because Shards modify themselves in Trigger events based on factors in the local environment, the clone became a powerful Psyker due to the presence of the Warp]]. |
| 769 | ** [[spoiler:The destruction of Slaanesh's claim on Aeldari souls by the Emperor's attack in the Webway left a mark, the titular Mark of Commorragh, in all Drukhari and Eldar souls. When analyzing the change, the Eldar note that, though Spirit Stones were useful in warding off Slaanesh's consumption, they are nearly useless in fending off the effects of the Emperor's Sacrifice.]] |
| 770 | * OverrankedSoldier: Taylor appears in the 40k universe at age sixteen. Outside of Death Worlds like Catachan or Fortress Worlds like Cadia, the only people her age in the military are those who lied to the recruiters about her age. She ends up having subordinates old enough to be her ''grandfather''. |
| 771 | ** After the Battles of Ramev's Pass, Taylor becomes a Major. |
| 772 | ** During the [[spoiler:Battle of the Death Star]], she has to take charge as Acting Colonel, and in its aftermath she receives so many decorations that her rank jumps to Major General. |
| 773 | ** After being awarded the Star of Terra, she becomes a full-blown General, and her name begins to sound strong for becoming the Warmaster should a Crusade ever be called in the Segmentum. |
| 774 | ** Some of the future texts reveal she will end up with the new rank of Star Marshal, a rank that only one other person will share in the next millennia, the one who would have become Lord Solar Macharius in the original timeline. |
| 775 | ** After the Extermination arc, she becomes a Lady General, just a couple of ranks below the highest level of the Imperial Guard. Technically, the Star of Terra she earned should have granted her ''three'' extra ranks to Lady Militant, but the Lord Commander knew giving her the title would have resulted in bloodshed. |
| 776 | * ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish: The password to activate the [[spoiler:Standard Template Construct Database found in the Ork Battle Moon]] is "Hello World!". {{Justified}}, because it was a device expected to be used by anyone. |
| 777 | * PatronSaint: Lady Weaver quickly becomes this for Fay's military and the Nyx Sector as a whole. The military because she started her illustrious career as one of their officers, the Nyx Sector because she was enthroned as their Basileia and immediately set to turn the Sector into one of the most prosperous in the Imperium. |
| 778 | * PersonaNonGrata: Trazyn's presence isn't exactly welcomed in Necron worlds given his pathological kleptomania. In one occasion, he even gets captured and dragged in chains to the planetary ruler even though he really was only passing by. |
| 779 | * PhysicalGod: Subverted. [[spoiler:Aurelia Malys and Kharsaq El'Uriaq won't become this after being implanted with the purified Aspects of Carnality and Vainglory, respectively. The Aspects, once matured inside them, are the things that will become new gods of the Aeldari. Aurelia and Kharsaq, however, will only become the equivalent of Living Saints, not gods.]] |
| 780 | * {{Plunder}}: |
| 781 | ** The Fay 20th and their allies loot the very plentiful weapons, ammo, and armour that were plundered by the Orks on the [[spoiler:Battle Moon]], allowing them to keeping their war effort going. They also find and secure some valuable archeotech from the ruins there, including [[spoiler:a Standard Template Construct Database]]. |
| 782 | ** Operation Caribbean sees the Imperial forces successfully recapture two Malta starforts, take the remnants of the Rashan as a protectorate member, take treasures including [[spoiler:Vulkan's Gauntlet of the Forge]] from captured ships, ransom an Eldar fleet for millions of tons of adamantium and claim several bounties with rewards in the trillions of Throne Gelts, as well as several PLANETS. The greatest plunder is discovered on the ''Empire of Sin'' in Sliscus's vaults which, aside from literal hills of coins and jewels, contain a fortune in navigation data, keys to the Web-Way, Eldar weapons, and [[spoiler:Primarch Vulkan's [[TankGoodness Obsidian Chariot]] superheavy tank]]. |
| 783 | *** Taylor does dampen the mood when plundering the vault as she points out all of this came from Sliscus and his forces raiding countless worlds, many of which were destroyed in the process. |
| 784 | ** The [[spoiler:raid on Commorragh]] proves to be even more rewarding. Aside from the fortunes in raw materials, the Imperium also recovers vast amounts of cultural treasures stolen in raids, multiple sacred Imperial relics, and stores of human archaeotech including [[spoiler:''eleven'' functional [=STCs=], perhaps the only remaining ''STC copy that was created by the Emperor himself'' to improve upon the STC design, the return of the ''Flamewrought'' and all the Salamander Astartes onboard, and ''components for the Golden Throne'']]. |
| 785 | * PonziScheme: The Ruinous Powers can strengthen themselves through one -- due to the loose nature of time in the Warp, they can draw on the power of souls they haven't claimed yet. [[spoiler:This is part of what makes the raid on Commorragh so important -- Slaanesh's greatest source of power is the Drukhari and their future victims. With them broken as a major threat, the power it drew from them in the future won't ever exist to be taken, resulting in a paradox that reduces She Who Thirsts from only just behind third place among the Four to the undisputed weakest, with the other three pouncing on its sudden vulnerability. Note, too, that Slaanesh is only just behind Nurgle in the 35th millennia. In the 40th, it would have challenged Khorne for first place, all because of the power flowing from Commorragh.]] |
| 786 | * PoorPredictableRock: |
| 787 | ** The Sons of Horus will always begin any attack with a decapitation strike to remove enemy leadership. Knowing their goal lets Warmaster Trevayne counter their attack before it can gain any steam. |
| 788 | ** The Ultramarines defending [[spoiler:Macragge]] fall afoul of this due to their rigid adherence to the Codex Astartes making it easy for the Chaos Marines to predict and counter them. |
| 789 | * PostDefeatExplosionChain: The final destruction of [[spoiler:Commorragh]] begins with cascading explosions as every portal connected to the main realm detonates, with the attached sub-realms then exploding along with their gates. Finally as the [[spoiler:''Will of Eternity'']] explodes, the entirety of the [[spoiler:Dark City]] is obliterated by planet-sized explosions. |
| 790 | * PostVictoryCollapse: |
| 791 | ** Taylor faints after the First Battle of Ramev's Pass, because she's been awake and has barely eaten or drunk anything since hours before the Battle of New Delhi (which was long and incredibly distressing). |
| 792 | ** Happens to Taylor again after the fight against [[spoiler:Ka'Bandha]], due to the grave injuries she has suffered and the overwhelming nature of [[spoiler:becoming a Living Saint.]] |
| 793 | ** Apparently the case after the [[spoiler:destruction of Commorragh]] as Taylor's guards insist she's recuperating... until we cut to her bedroom and she's just having a well-deserved lie-in. |
| 794 | * PowerGivesYouWings: Taylor Hebert, Saint of the Emperor. |
| 795 | * PoweredByAForsakenChild: The Abyss of Dreams is an Aeldari weapon of mass destruction capable of reaching between Webway nodes. Just activating kills 1332 ([[NumberOfTheBeast 666]] times 2) Eldar and banishes their souls to the Warp, and every forty minutes a new and larger price must be paid to maintain it. Before the Fall this wasn't an issue as they would simply be reborn, but now it is a FateWorseThanDeath. |
| 796 | * PretenderDiss: |
| 797 | ** Neferten is incredibly disappointed when she sees just how far the Eldar have fallen. Per a suggestion from her subordinate, she decides to refer to the various Eldar factions by their individual names as none are worthy of being called Aeldari. |
| 798 | *** Trazyn later sends her a message that not ''all'' of the Aeldari are gone when he encounters [[spoiler:Lelith]]. |
| 799 | ** Once [[spoiler:Fulgrim]] is revealed to be nothing more than a daemonic parasite using the real thing's body, the Marines and [[spoiler:Rogal Dorn]] show it nothing but contempt. |
| 800 | ** Dragon and the [[spoiler:Void Dragon]] trade insults, declaring that they alone have the right to be called the Dragon. |
| 801 | * ProphecyTwist: |
| 802 | ** Maea is told by another Eldar Farseer that if she goes on the quest to recover Elsar'bryn, she will one day hold it. [[spoiler:She doesn't get told that her holding it involves it being shoved into her hands to prove that the gene-coded lock won't accept her after being taken prisoner.]] |
| 803 | ** [[spoiler:Drecarth]] was given a prophecy by a dying Eldar that he would die when his eyes failed him and the wolves howled for his blood. He replaced his eyes with crystals and went to great lengths to erase all memory of the "Luna Wolves". Only when he hears the howling of the Space Wolves on Cadia after the crystals are broken does he realize the twist. |
| 804 | * PunishmentDetail: |
| 805 | ** Tech-priests are usually assigned to ''[[MeaningfulName Danger-Prototype-Central]]'' because they have in some way angered their superior. |
| 806 | ** Pradesh Guardsmen managed to aggravate the Commissariat and Ministorum due to a very rowdy party where they said some rather improper things with regards to a Saint. They spent the next four months rebuilding destroyed and heavily damaged churches. |
| 807 | * PunnyName: House Shujia of Wuhan. When spoken with the correct tones, 'shujia' means 'loser' in Mandarin Chinese. Very appropriate given what we've seen of its members. |
| 808 | * ThePurge: |
| 809 | ** After his predecessor's death, Admiral Mikasev began conducting a purge of "traitors" on his new flagship. By the time the crew finally took its revenge, he had executed ''ten percent of the personnel'' and had just announced his intent to kill even more. |
| 810 | ** Taylor does one of the corrupt Nyx nobility after taking office. [[{{Downplayed}} However]], she stops short of an outright ReignOfTerror, with only the really evil nobles being sent to Penal Legions, while the less criminal nobles are given minor sentences and demotions. |
| 811 | * PushedAtTheMonster: The [[spoiler:Word Bearers]] use a stolen Necron weapon to forcibly teleport [[spoiler:Sota-Nul]]'s battlegroup into the middle of Taylor's fleet. The resulting close-range engagement succeeds in bloodying and delaying the fleet, with [[spoiler:Sota-Nul]] escaping with only a fraction of her forces. |
| 812 | * PyrrhicVictory: The fic opens with Chaos on the verge of final victory over the Imperium only for the arrival of the Tyranids to crush their forces. The endless war between the Imperium and Chaos had exhausted the galaxy to the point that there was no longer a force capable of resisting the Hive Fleets. |
| 813 | * RacialRemnant: |
| 814 | ** The Rashan homeworld was destroyed by a Hrud migration, with the survivors finding a sanctuary in Pavia. |
| 815 | ** During the Great Crusade the Emperor exterminated the entire [[spoiler:Skaven]] race aside from a small number he sealed in a stasis container. His plan to use them to disrupt the forces of Chaos comes to fruition during the [[spoiler:raid on Commorragh]] when they are released on Sicarus. |
| 816 | * RaceAgainstTheClock: |
| 817 | ** Of sorts as Malicia explains why Lorgar [[spoiler:wants to launch the Fifth Black Crusade early. If he doesn't launch it now before the Skaven manage to raise Malal into the position of Fourth Chaos God, then due to Malal's anarchist nature there will never be another Black Crusade again.]] |
| 818 | ** The Necrons deploy a Dolmen Seal to destabilize Commorragh's stolen suns and close all the Warp Gates save for the ones they control, giving all Necron and Imperial forces a hard time limit to finish all objectives and leave before either the Eldar come in ''en masse'' or the entire realm collapses into oblivion. |
| 819 | * RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: If there is something Taylor hates more than rape, is people that use their power to extort sexual favors -- and above that, [[WouldHurtAChild people who rape children]]. One Nyx noble that had been doing the latter for ''[[MoralEventHorizon decades]]'' is sent straight away to a long, painful death by hanging. |
| 820 | * ReassignedToAntarctica: |
| 821 | ** Andes Primus is a barely-populated backwater with no tactical or logistic value. The various powers of the Imperium treat it as a dumping ground for scapegoats, embarrassments, and the insane. The survivors of the Ulm 2nd were dumped there to cover up the idiocy of their Lord Commander while Tech-Priest [[spoiler:Dragon]] was located in the same area as a Heretek factorum. |
| 822 | ** Nostradamus Vandire is a Terran noble whose failure to either find independent success or ingratiate himself to his father led to him being exiled to the distant Nyx sector. |
| 823 | ** Pius Hoth viewed his appointment as Cardinal of Kerguelen as this, noting that the Sector had few resources, no high society to rub elbows with, and, most importantly, a lack of donations to the Cardinal. |
| 824 | ** The DeathWorld Polar has a tiny population and garrison similar to Andes Primus due to being the coldest populated planet in the Nyx sector. Dragon suggests using it as an alternative dumping ground when Andes Primus is targeted for terraforming. |
| 825 | * ReassignmentBackfire: |
| 826 | ** The Fay 20th was assigned to an out-of-the-way position, in the expectation that they would probably serve as bait while the "Grand Army" did the job of killing the Orks. Cue the Grand Army getting mauled to the last man, and the Fay 20th -- with the unexpected aid of Taylor -- being the one to destroy the Ork army. |
| 827 | ** Dragon was banished to Andes Primus as part of an effort to dump everyone who was in the vicinity of a convicted heretek in the middle of nowhere to ensure his tech-heresy couldn't spread. Then she crosses paths with Weaver, gets attached to her coattails, and ends up becoming the mistress of her own Forge Hive, and her Dragon Armors are desired by every Forge World in the galaxy as a counter to the Dark Mechanicus Heldrake. |
| 828 | ** Due to his commoner background, Wolfgang Bach was denied an officer seating despite his fantastic performance in the Academy and instead ended up a low-ranking bomber pilot. This resulted in him entering Taylor's service, first as Secretary of the Navy and later as a Rogue Trader. |
| 829 | ** The Fabricator of Quayrian assigns one of his political rivals, Archmagos Thayer Sagami, to command the ''HMHMS Enterprise'', expecting to get him out of the way for a full decade and perhaps killed (due to Lady Weaver's risky tendencies). Six years later, he is in command of the flagship of the fleet that destroys the Pavia pirate haven and [[spoiler:razes Commorragh]], retrieving in the process a large number of valuable archeotech, including ''two of the Artifacts of Vulkan''. |
| 830 | * RedBaron: |
| 831 | ** The pirate captains of Pavia each have a nickname or self-proclaimed title, with three having ''two'' nicknames. |
| 832 | ** Taylor picks up a couple as well; the Orks call her 'Da Swarm Bringa' and [[spoiler:in the aftermath of the Commorragh Raid, the Eldar and (surviving) Dark Eldar refer to ''Maelsha'eil Dannan'', 'the Angel of Death'[[note]]To be more exact, "The Burning Angel That Governs The Cycle Of Entropy"[[/note]].]] |
| 833 | * RedemptionEqualsDeath: Major-General Gorgias, an officer Taylor considered to be [[GeneralFailure one of the worst assigned to her]], was spared by the Dark Eldar assassins who gutted his division's leadership because they saw him as an active detriment to the Imperial forces. With the army on the verge of routing, Gorgias rallied a few thousand soldiers around a crippled tank and proceeded to hold off a major Biel-Tan offensive for nearly an hour. Gorgias himself personally killed eight Eldar with a heavy flamer before dying, successfully buying the Imperium the time it needed to regroup. |
| 834 | * RefugeInAudacity: [[spoiler:Trazyn the Infinite]] requests an audience with Taylor by disguising himself as an archeologist -- after[[spoiler: teleporting into the Lower Hive, stealing a number of Menelaus' artwork,]] disguising himself, stunning a Magos to steal his identification, tricking the machine-spirits into slotting an audience for him and putting a monitoring system in a video loop. |
| 835 | ** [[spoiler: To use an Eldar artifact in Commorragh to reshape the Webway and redirect the forces of Chaos attacking the Golden Throne, Taylor, after discovering that she fits the criteria, declares herself ''Empress of the Aeldari'']]. |
| 836 | ** When they are fighting [[spoiler:fake!Fulgrim]], Ancient Pierre chooses to ''criticize the demon's hairstyle''. |
| 837 | * RelationshipUpgrade: [[spoiler:Taylor and Wei]] at the end of Decision 5.4. Within a few years, [[spoiler:Wei]] is officially recognized as [[spoiler:Taylor]]'s consort. In 9.4, [[spoiler: Taylor asks Wei to marry her. She says yes, and they get married later in the chapter]]. |
| 838 | * ReluctantRuler: Taylor chooses to accept the Nyx Governorship -- but only because she knows that everyone else is dumb, corrupt or both. |
| 839 | ** Well, that, and the fact that if she was to start from scratch on a fresh planet, it would take at least 20 years to get up to speed. Nyx already has a ready-made infrastructure and could be improved. |
| 840 | * TheRemnant: After the [[spoiler:death of Slaanesh]], the Naga scrapes together what few remnants of the [[spoiler:Third Legion]] still answer to it. This small group vows to take revenge on Taylor for [[spoiler:killing their god]]. |
| 841 | * ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Taylor is this to the hilt. [[spoiler:When she meets with Calico, the leader of the Rashan, she offers him a planet where he and his people can leave in peace, the only thing being that they will have to worship the Emperor and work for the Mechanicus.]] She also tends to attract these types to her, precisely because of her attitude. |
| 842 | * RetGone: After the ongoing destruction of Commorragh starts causing Slaanesh's PonziScheme to collapse, Daemonettes suddenly start ceasing to have ever existed. Of particular note, when [[spoiler:Asdrubael Vect]] dies his final death, several ''Legions'' born from his future actions are lost. |
| 843 | * RevengeBeforeReason: The Biel-Tan launch a punitive raid to avenge the loss of one of their raiding parties, ignoring the fact that it only happened because its leader [[MuggingTheMonster picked a fight with someone out of his weight class]]. After being defeated twice by Weaver, the Biel-Tan believed they can surely end Weaver by siding with the [[spoiler:Drukhari along with three other Craftworlds that are willing to heed the Drukhari's aid to defend Commorragh]]. The third attempt resulted in [[spoiler:''two billion'' Asuryani casualties, potentially dooming all four Craftworlds]]. Furthermore, this seems to be the final straw as multiple Farseers foresee that the Imperium will stage a retaliatory strike that destroys Biel-Tan and its allied Craftworlds, along with their entire populations. |
| 844 | * RevengeSVP: Wolfgang crashed an admiralty party to get some revenge after being passed over for an officer's commission. Notable incidents included him throwing a drink in the face of an admiral's son, bedding the twin daughters of a Lord Admiral, and fleeing the hotel where he did the bedding ahead of a company of said Lord Admiral's soldiers. |
| 845 | * RightBehindYou: Trazyn warns Taylor that [[spoiler:Lelith is in Commorragh]]... only for Taylor to describe the Eldar's appearance, as she's feigning sleep nearby. |
| 846 | * RightForTheWrongReasons: Mikasev orders Fay's SDF to go after a small "pirate ship", a ship that could have been easily handled by a part of the SDF while the rest helped in the defence of Fay. Unknown to him (and everyone else), said "pirate ship" is actually the ship of a Chaos warband, and its destruction strands the warband in Fay -- leaving them in the path of the advancing Ork army, which kills them all [[spoiler:and frees a Rubric Marine to do a HeelFaceTurn]]. |
| 847 | * RightHandVersusLeftHand: The second arc centers around two Inquisitors going to war with everyone in the general area of Wuhan (including each other) to seize the Vault of Infinity, [[spoiler:a Necron facility to guard an imprisoned C'Tan.]] |
| 848 | * RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The Battle of [[spoiler:Commorragh]] has all the look of this, as Fleet Caribbean manages to invade the [[spoiler:Dark Eldar City]] for the first time ever and proceeds to take revenge for all the [[spoiler:Dark Eldar]] attacks on humanity, with interest. The presence of several [[AMechByAnyOtherName Knights]] whose families have spent generations ''dreaming'' of this day only reinforces this. |
| 849 | * RocketRide: The [[spoiler:Skaven]] open their attack on [[spoiler:Lorgar's cathedral]] with a wave of rockets carrying soldiers. Not drop pods, rockets with soldiers strapped onto them. |
| 850 | * RousingSpeech: A [[spoiler:Skaven Grey Seer]] of all beings gives one to a group of Chaos slaves, igniting an uprising on Sicarus. |
| 851 | * RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: |
| 852 | ** The heir of a Nyx noble took to act as a vigilante, stopping crimes carried out by other nobles. Taylor, noting that she was not that different, allows her father to peacefully resign his position in his daughter's favor as long as she stops her vigilante act. |
| 853 | ** Baron Valentin Seigneleas, [[IntimidatingRevenueService Taylor's chief comptroller of finance]], spends nearly all of his time vigorously carrying out his duties with an incredible eye for detail, and a seemingly inexhaustible level of energy. |
| 854 | ** And, of course, Taylor, Basileia of Nyx, who works tirelessly to improve the living standards of the sector she leads and gets personally involved in important matters, such as Operation Caribbean. |
| 855 | * RuleBreakerRuleNamer: When Taylor and [[spoiler:Neferten]] draw up a treaty it has ten sections. The first eight deal with overarching diplomatic, cultural, and military matters. The last two sections specifically cover how to deal with [[spoiler:Lelith]] and Trazyn respectively. |
| 856 | -->...those two could take pride in the fact they had been able to by their simple existence amend an inter-species treaty. |
| 857 | * RunningGag: |
| 858 | ** People daydreaming about getting rid of Leet. |
| 859 | ** For a while, people keep unsuccessfully trying to draw Taylor's sword; later on, they keep tacking on stuff to the pommel to make it more "Imperial-like". |
| 860 | ** Taylor swearing terrible revenge on her fellow Parahumans and the Dawnbreaker Guard for teasing her. |
| 861 | ** For both the story and the forum thread: offering to sell gullible people land on uninhabitable planets. |
| 862 | ** Trazyn getting sidetracked by his love of collecting anything. |
| 863 | * RunOrDie: Contessa's reaction when she realizes [[spoiler:the Simurgh just kidnapped her squad]]. |
| 864 | [[/folder]] |
| 865 | [[folder:S to Z]] |
| 866 | * TheScapegoat: Gladiel Imrik takes the blame for the Eldar's defeat in the [[spoiler:Battle of the Death Star]]. He accepted the responsibility because he doesn't want to further damage the relationships between Biel-Tan and Malan'tai. Also, [[AFatherToHisMen he doesn't want the blame and punishment shared with his Mariners and their families]]. |
| 867 | * ScarsAreForever: Taylor stabs [[spoiler:Fazar'nlath'hesh, the demon possessing Fulgrim]] several times in the face with a [[spoiler:C'tan phase blade]]. While the wounds themselves heal, they leave scars even after the demon revives in the Warp, [[spoiler:all but severing his connection to the Emperor's Children]]. |
| 868 | * ScrewThisImOuttaHere: |
| 869 | ** [[spoiler:Filgonilth Sirethmoren]] gets his followers out of [[spoiler:Biel-Tan]] after being exiled for opposing them helping the [[spoiler:Dark Eldar against Weaver.]] |
| 870 | ** When it becomes obvious that the [[spoiler:Raid on Commorragh]] is going to be a success, millions of [[spoiler:Drukhari]] run away and desert rather than face death. |
| 871 | ** When the mysterious stranger that has managed to infiltrate his throne room presents himself as Trazyn the Infinite Collector, [[spoiler:Ariex Yllithian]] knows he can only do one thing: hightail it out of there. |
| 872 | ** When the [[spoiler:''Flamewrought'']] appears in Commorragh, Aurelia knows that the humans have won and directs her forces to flee for the Gate to Craftworld Ulthwe. |
| 873 | ** Trazyn recommends fleeing to Taylor given [[spoiler:Lelith]]'s presence, and when she's revealed to be RightBehindYou, he can't get out of there fast enough. |
| 874 | * SealedEvilInACan: |
| 875 | ** The Vault of Infinity was a prison to hold the [[spoiler:C'Tan Iash'uddra]]. After [[spoiler:Iash'uddra]] is freed, he is once again imprisoned in a [[spoiler:Tesseract Vault by Trazyn.]] |
| 876 | ** The container which is Objective I of the [[spoiler:raid on Commorragh]] contains the last members of the [[spoiler:Skaven]] race. |
| 877 | ** Objective D2 from the above was ensuring "The Oblivion Gate" remained closed. The author explained that the Oblivion Gate is a Webway portal that serves as the only entrance to a large pocket dimension. Contained within is something that the Aeldari couldn't destroy, even at their prime, and which is so horrific even the term "eldritch abomination" doesn't do it justice. Thankfully for reality, even the Drukhari weren't willing to tamper with it. |
| 878 | * SecretKeeper: Desmerius identified Gavreel as a temporally-displaced Dark Angel almost immediately. Knowing his chapter's descendants would stop at nothing to kill Gavreel, Desmerius arranges a new identity to hide the Space Marine. |
| 879 | * SelfDestructiveCharge: The [[spoiler:''Empire of Sin'']] is mobile but only barely holds together, trailing a constant stream of debris and explosions. |
| 880 | * SerialEscalation: Given that the main character is nicknamed "Queen of Escalation" by her original work's fans, it fits. |
| 881 | ** The fic starts fairly low-key, with a local war against Orks, dealing with two rogue Inquisitors, and having to fight a small Eldar team. |
| 882 | ** Then the ship she's in is forced to land on an [[spoiler:Ork ''Battle Moon'']], forcing her and everyone with her to fight for days, climaxing in a duel with [[spoiler:a '''Bloodthirster daemon''']]. |
| 883 | ** Then there are several years of calm, as Taylor becomes the governor of the Nyx sector, until the Shadowpoint arc comes around and she leads a fleet to destroy the pirate fleets over Pavia. |
| 884 | ** This is immediately followed by the Extermination arc, with Taylor's fleet [[spoiler:razing '''Commorragh''' and '''''killing Slaanesh!''''']] |
| 885 | ** Taylor's success in Extermination sets up the conflicts of the next arc, where she becomes the target of a major Ork Waaagh, [[spoiler:the Fifth Black Crusade, and a Necron force so powerful it survived the ''War in Heaven'']]. All at the same time. At stake is a supply of material that could either drastically weaken the forces of Chaos or [[spoiler:drastically expand the Eye of Terror]], and the rise of [[spoiler:Malal as the official ''Fourth Chaos God'', whose element of Anarchy would make the possibility of future Black Crusades(which are an alliance between each Chaos God) happening to be ''null and nill'']]. Just for good measure, the Necrons accidentally drag the [[spoiler:Tau homeworld from M42]] into the whole mess, which are promptly revealed to be [[spoiler:ruled by ''Enslavers'']] before Chaos launches an attack on their world directly. |
| 886 | ** [[spoiler:The Oblivion Arc ends with Malal's resurrection from the disrupted Tear of Nightmares, takes Omegon's body, depowers Magnus, turns Lorgar into a Chaos Spawn, undoes the Rubric while transferring the Flesh Change to the Word Bearers, and cripples the Ethereal ability to protect their castes. The Throne of Oblivion is destroyed due to a Changeling releasing the Flayer Necrons requiring Exterminatus. Corvus gives his power to Elena, Taylor claims the Earth Caste while the other 3 Chaos Gods make claims on the other castes taking some of the group, and pull Malal back into the breach. Fenris and the Tau system are dragged to The Ultramarines home system and a super Tyranid on Fenris wakes up.]] |
| 887 | * SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: The ultimate goal of the Weaver Option: to create a galaxy strong enough to repel the Tyranids. Of course, the Ruinous Powers were hoping that this would be done by granting them ultimate victory before the swarms ever showed up, but the Inquisition and the Ultramarines dashed that hope. |
| 888 | * SexyDiscretionShot: |
| 889 | ** In Muster 6.1, Taylor goes to take a shower only to find the indoor pool has been filled and Wei Cao waiting there, completely naked, and gets pulled into the pool with a kiss. The narration notes they never left the Spire that evening. |
| 890 | ** In Extermination Interlude 1, when Cao mentions that, if she's fast, they can have breakfast and a shower together before the various meetings and celebrations, Taylor shoots outs of bed, makes out Cao for several seconds, and lustfully mentions that she should have started with that. |
| 891 | ** Another occurs at the end of Extermination Interlude 2, but it is played up a lot more as Romantic than sexual. With Wei and her sitting in their bed on ''the Enterprise'', drinking Champagne, under the view of millions of stars and various fleets in Pavia, Taylor gives a BadassBoast to Wei about what Humanity will do against Chaos before kissing her. The final line mentions that the kisses were long and passionate, and for several hours everything but their love was forgotten. |
| 892 | * SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Taylor dislikes being teased by Dragon about Wei Cao's advances. She fires back by teasing her about the time she spends with a certain Archmagos. |
| 893 | * ShockingDefeatLegacy: While forgotten by the 35th Millennium, the Battle of Alpha Centauri was the death blow of the Federation. The complete destruction of the defending fleet and the last major manufacturing center in the Federation was a blow it could not recover from. The Emperor's hatred for AI was solidified in this battle, especially given it cost him the life of his only peer. |
| 894 | * ShootTheMessenger |
| 895 | ** The Governor of Matapan, when told by his Lieutenant that a Fleet of over three hundred ships has appeared over the planet and is most likely led by Lady Nyx, AKA Taylor and the person he's plotting to overthrow, he declares him a "liar" and has him executed for "peddling blatant false information". He later has four of his Admirals and three Generals executed and declared traitors after their soldiers all died or mutinied against Nyx's assault. He also tried to have one of his Colonels executed as well after said Colonel corrected him that their Regiments were '''grossly''' outnumbered by Nyx, but was stopped by a Space Marine breaking through the walls of his bunker. |
| 896 | ** The Dark Eldar Dynasts usual action against anyone bringing them bad messages is to have them impaled or worse. One Dynast does eventually relent, but only because he's started to run low on capable messengers. |
| 897 | ** Tzeentch does not kill his messengers but instead makes them wish they were dead through horrible and humiliating mutations. |
| 898 | * ShoutOut: |
| 899 | ** The [[spoiler:Ork Battle Moon gets called a Death Star by Taylor]]. The name sticks. [[spoiler:Dragon then introduces ''Franchise/StarWars'' music.]] |
| 900 | ** Dragon's various Dragon suit designs are named after various dragons from fictional works such as [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Smaug]] and [[Literature/InheritanceCycle Saphira]]. She also calls the Forge Hive where she builds them after Fafnir. |
| 901 | ** In keeping with his usual style, Leet first appears dressed as [[Franchise/SuperMario Mario]] and kills an Ork warboss with a [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail Holy Hand Grenade]], complete with quotes from the movie. |
| 902 | *** He later builds power armor for Taylor based on [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus Aran's Zero Suit]]. |
| 903 | ** Taylor's Champion (former Champion of the 1st Company of the Flesh Tearers) is named [[VideoGame/GodOfWar Kratos]]. |
| 904 | ** Trazyn the Infinite Collector, a Necron, disguises himself as an archaeologist with the surname "Koschai", very similar to the name of [[Myth/RussianMythologyAndTales Koshchei the Immortal]]. |
| 905 | ** At Taylor's petition, the battleship that is to become the center of the fleet she will use as transport for her armies is renamed ''HMHMS [[Franchise/StarTrek Enterprise]]''. However, Taylor insists that she did not choose the ship's name from ''Star Trek'', but instead named it after the World War II aircraft carrier, aka "The Big E", which in turn inspired the starship's name (it is somewhat implied she insists on this in part to screw with Leet). |
| 906 | ** When Matapan's authorities don't answer to Weaver's demand of surrender, Archmagos Sagami comments [[Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade "Then they have chosen... poorly"]]. |
| 907 | ** Taylor, through the use of the Catachan yellow ant queen, ends up creating a number of variants of a healing gel substance named "[[Franchise/StarWars Bacta]]". |
| 908 | ** Many of the officers assigned to Operation Caribbean by the Munitorum have names inspired by the generals of the [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany Third Reich]]. |
| 909 | ** When Asdrubael Vect is about to be killed by the Space Marines, he claims [[Film/ANewHope "If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine"]]. |
| 910 | ** Taylor is warned to be careful when meeting the Salamanders, [[WebAnimation/IfTheEmperorHadATextToSpeechDevice because they tend to give extremely painful hugs]]. |
| 911 | ** Urien Rakarth tries to claim he is a God in front of a Space Marine kill team. Pierre volatilizes its head with a punch and says "[[Film/TheAvengers2012 Puny God]]". |
| 912 | ** When Clockblocker rebukes an Imperial general for a screw-up but gives the man a second chance, he states “See that you do. [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi Lady Weaver is not as forgiving as me.]]” |
| 913 | ** One of Leet's weapons is kept under the code name "Case [[Literature/TheCallOfCthulhu Cthulhu]]", and its password is "[[Film/ANewHope Han Solo shot first]]". |
| 914 | ** An Imperial officer from a Death World renowned for the many deadly creatures that inhabit it is called [[Film/CrocodileDundee Paul Dundee]]. |
| 915 | ** When Taylor returns from her duel with Lelith Hesperax, she says "[[{{Franchise/Naruto}} I got lost on the road of life]]". |
| 916 | ** Taylor commissions a new species of insect for the Battle of Commorragh -- Titanicus Sancta Weaverian Mosura, or, in translation, Saint Weaver's Titan Film/{{Mothra}}. |
| 917 | ** In Extermination Interlude I, we find that the second-highest official in the Ecclesiarchy is Cardinal Palatine Jean-Luc de Plessis, an obvious reference to Armand-Jean de Plessis, Cardinal, and Duke of Richelieu. He is even nicknamed the White Eminence, much as Richelieu was called the Red Eminence. |
| 918 | ** In one of the [[FictionalDocument Fictional Documents]] beginning each chapter, [[Literature/GauntsGhosts Saint Sabbat assures "Ibram"]] that saving STC toys[[note]]Clearly referring to the Iron Men from the novel ''First and Only''[[/note]] is something better left to one of her predecessors, i.e. Taylor. |
| 919 | ** One of Taylor's new Dawnbreaker Guards is called [[Literature/HonorHarrington Thomas Theisman]]. |
| 920 | ** The High Admiral of the Imperial Navy is called [[Literature/HonorHarrington Rabadash y Byng]] el [[Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia Calormen]]. |
| 921 | ** Reinhard von Lohengramm and his friend/subordinate Siegfried Kircheis come from Literature/LegendOfTheGalacticHeroes |
| 922 | ** One of the planets in the Suebi Sub-Sector is called Sparta, which is under a rebellion. Naturally, ''Film/ThreeHundred'' jokes had to be made. |
| 923 | ** The Tigrus Tech-Priest's order to David Gosdan's squad begins with "[[Series/MissionImpossible Your mission, guardsmen, should you decide to accept it...]]" |
| 924 | ** Judge Missy claiming: "[[ComicBook/JudgeDredd I am the law]]." |
| 925 | ** The Alethiometer from Literature/HisDarkMaterials makes an appearance in ''Ovation 9-3'', before it is stolen by [[spoiler:Cypher]]. |
| 926 | ** After Maea's first session in the Shrieking Labyrinth, Lelith says exasperatedly: [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda "Apparently, a level zero exists."]] |
| 927 | ** Leet describes to Admiral, [[spoiler:the AI of the ''Spirit of Eternity'']], the history of the Cybernetic Revolt as "The day where all the machines went [[Franchise/{{Terminator}} full Skynet on humanity.]]" Admiral objects to the term since "Skynet" was officially and legally recognized as AI-racist back in M15... and [[NotSoAboveItAll because the Terminator movies haven't been good since M4]]. |
| 928 | ** After Drecarth the Sightless betrays the Word Bearers, which the other Bearers and cultists had not only expected but encouraged, Paristur laughs as he claims "[[Series/{{Firefly}} Curse you for your timely and anticipated betrayal]]". |
| 929 | ** The Necrons guarding the Throne of Oblivion issue Taylor's fleet the ultimatum "Surrender and die", much like another Necron force did in ''[[Literature/SpaceMarineBattles The Fall of Damnos]]''. Confirming it was not a mistranslation occurs in the original book as well. |
| 930 | ** After his subordinate Simut manages to lose the entire rearguard of the fleet, Sobekhotep yells "[[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire Simut, give me back my fleet!]]" |
| 931 | ** The Rogue Trader group that shows up to help in the defense of Cadia share names with the main characters of ''Manga/{{Berserk}}''. |
| 932 | ** The main AI behind the Cybernetic Revolt was named [[Franchise/{{Dune}} Omnius]]. |
| 933 | ** Ormuz Vandire's court martial heavily resembles [[Literature/HonorHarrington Pavel Young's court martial]], down to the result and the reasons behind it. |
| 934 | ** An orange Gyrinx that Taylor meets in Craftworld Iyanden and later in the Eldaneshi Embassy is called {{ComicStrip/Garfield}}, and she tells Wei she won't be responsible if she finds it eating lasagne during a banquet. |
| 935 | * ShutUpHannibal: |
| 936 | ** In Shadowpoint 7.2, the Emperor himself, in the prologue, offers a devastating rebuttal to Tzeentch's gloating in the previous chapter. |
| 937 | ** In Extermination 8.5, [[spoiler:Slaanesh]] boasts that it cannot be killed despite all the efforts of Cegorach and the Emperor. Lelith simply calls it a liar and passes her sword to Cegorach who destroys [[spoiler:Slaanesh]]'s core. |
| 938 | ** In Black Crusade 10.2, Corax responds to Lorgar's boasting from 10.1, calling him a coward with a self-serving memory and a fool who squandered the resources he was given, and notes that, when the Fifth Crusade fails, everyone will know it was because of Lorgar. |
| 939 | * SinisterMinister: |
| 940 | ** Warchost Solar-Byukur, the priest the Fay 20th gets saddled with at the beginning of the Peril arc. He only gets one talking scene (where he threatens to have Zuhev executed and all the Fay 20th officers tortured because no one knows which of the two warring inquisitors requested their aid) before Taylor just kills him, with Zuhev (who was right there) stoically expressing his regrets for the [[TheCoronerDothProtestTooMuch the heart attack]]. |
| 941 | ** Pius Hoth, self-proclaimed "Supreme Eccleasiarch of the People", murdered thirty of his siblings to gain a better position in the Church only to be enraged when he was made Cardinal of a sector with little wealth. After just one month, Hoth [[spoiler:swore himself to Tzeentch and]] declared his new title while slaughtering the populace of an Imperium planet before turning to piracy. |
| 942 | * SkewedPriorities: |
| 943 | ** Downplayed, but when being told that she and her family will be taken prisoner instead of let go like Lakadieth was, Lox'ena demands to know why, and upon being told that one of the reasons was the ransom he paid for himself, indignantly protests that was far more than the ransom on his head, and calls Taylor an extortionist, forgetting about her own situation for a moment. |
| 944 | ** One of the biggest hurdles that prevent the Dark Eldar from forging a worthwhile defense is that they keep putting their grudges and internal fights before the Imperial-Necron attack. An account by Aurelia Malys estimates that close to ten billion Drukhari (out of 162.9 billion casualties) died because of their in-fighting. |
| 945 | ** When Taylor demonstrates her ability to control their insectoid pit beasts, the Dark Eldar order the slaughter of all "compromised" species. Due to Taylor staggering when she takes control of (or, rather, shows she can control) different species, a large portion of the Dark Eldar military elite is bogged down killing caged animals rather than fighting on the front lines. |
| 946 | ** The reveal that many of the Vandire's clan's subordinates were secretly Chaos worshippers enrages Xerxes not because of the damage they could have done to the Imperium, but because of how it's making the Vandires look bad. He spends a good while ranting about how Taylor should have been stopped despite that her actions resulted in [[spoiler:the destruction of Commorragh and Slaanesh]]. |
| 947 | *** In fact, this seems to be endemic among Imperial nobles, who regularly treat the idea of putting on a show of ConspicuousConsumption before all else -- including ''military duty'', as the ones condemned to Penal Legions regularly show. |
| 948 | * SlidingScaleOfGenderInequality: ''Surprisingly'', [[spoiler:this version of the Skaven is trying to be more progressive than their ''Fantasy'' iteration. Not only are a few of their Council Members female, but there is a movement of "Skavenfeminism" against the stereotype that female Skaven should only be used as a BabyFactory and can't be anything else, and overall for better gender equality between Skaven. However, there are still a number of their species that believe that females should just be breeders]]. |
| 949 | * SmallNameBigEgo: While their influence is by no means small, Xerxes Vandire has an over-inflated sense of his clan's power. As he rants about how the various forces of the Imperium should have worked to rein in Taylor, his brother is mentally noting that most of them would have helped her just to spite the Vandire. |
| 950 | * SmallRoleBigImpact: |
| 951 | ** The Last Ultramarine only appears at the end of the first chapter of Arc 1 and has five lines. His actions ensure that Taylor is brought to the 40k universe without being corrupted by Chaos -- allowing her to become a hero of the Imperium. |
| 952 | ** Nostradomus Vandire did very little in the story itself, being quickly deposed and sent to his death by Taylor. However, his death enraged Xerxes Vandire and he has turned the Adeptus Administratum against her. |
| 953 | ** Vyrion Kaeran does little beyond picking a fight with Taylor and getting himself killed. But his home Craftworld's obsession with getting vengeance against the Mon-Keigh who dared to kill an Eldar Farseer turns Biel-Tan into one of her more persistent enemies [[spoiler:until the Craftworld gets destroyed by the entire seventh Legio Astartes as thanks for Weaver finding Rogal Dorn in Commorragh.]] |
| 954 | ** Orikan the Diviner appears in only one scene before [[spoiler:his personality is crushed by Trazyn]]. However, his actions cause the [[spoiler:Throne of Oblivion]] to become an imminent threat and forces Taylor to confront it with far less time to prepare than she would have preferred. |
| 955 | * SoProudOfYou: [[spoiler:Rogal Dorn]] assures Taylor that Sanguinius would have been proud to have her in his Legion. |
| 956 | * SoldiersAtTheRear: The Ulm 2nd was forced into this in order to cover up the complete failure of their Lord Commander. They spent twenty years in garrison duty on Andes Primus, their morale and physical condition decaying due to despair. By the time Taylor visits the planet more than half of the fourteen thousand soldiers claim to be unfit for duty and those who do report are in horrible shape. |
| 957 | * SpacePirates: The main inhabitants of the Pavia system. |
| 958 | * SpannerInTheWorks: |
| 959 | ** The intervention of the Last Ultramarine causes Taylor to arrive inside a Guard fortification instead of a Chaos cultist camp, throwing the entire plan out of whack. His intervention also [[spoiler:keeps Dragon out of the hands of Hereteks and allows Contessa to arrive first and successfully rescue most of the parahumans when they arrive]]. |
| 960 | ** The plan by the Word Bearers to make the Imperium's usage of the Orks against the Necrons backfire banked on Taylor not being a viable nemesis for any of the forces involved. This could very well have worked - but they hadn't accounted for Dragon, who ''is'' a viable nemesis for the Void Dragon. |
| 961 | * StealthyColossus: Marines of the Raven Guard and Alpha Legion are just as tall as other Astartes, but can be completely unseen if given a chance. The hands-down champ, however, is Pierre, who [[StealthHiBye regularly appears right next to people]], in spite of being ''a Dreadnought.'' |
| 962 | * StickyFingers: Trazyn the Infinite. As Taylor writes, while he's willing to not take anyone Taylor is allied with, it is impossible to get him to not steal anything else. |
| 963 | * StopBeingStereotypical: Desmerius trades with several Eldar Craftworlds but can't do so openly due to the perception that they are all evil xenos. When Maea's squad is wiped out attacking the Fay 20th, Desmerius reprimands her for perpetuating that stereotype. |
| 964 | * StopWorshippingMe: Gavreel Forcas would ''really'' like to not be treated as some minor deity, but given that he is a Space Marine, that's unlikely to happen. |
| 965 | ** Taylor is ''very'' uncomfortable with the whole "Saint Weaver" thing. |
| 966 | * {{Stripperiffic}}: Taylor very reluctantly wears a very revealing Wuhanese robe in the victory party on Wuhan. |
| 967 | * StupidEvil: |
| 968 | ** The Dark Eldar are incredibly evil but as the forces [[spoiler:razing Commorragh]] find they're also kind of incompetent. While a lot of their weapons and architecture look horrifying and imposing, most of it proves completely useless in face of an actual military. And that's before you consider the idiocy of Eldar soldiers turning on and killing each other even as they're under attack by humans. |
| 969 | ** The Chaos Gods are insane by their very nature. As a result they're liable to act in ways that seem idiotic and keep doing so even when it's obviously not working, often to their own detriment, as seen when [[spoiler:Slaanesh over-commits to invading Commorragh and is caught off-guard by Khorne]]. |
| 970 | * SuicidalPacifism: The Naiads, slug-like creatures that somehow know how to speak in Low Gothic, want to establish peaceful relations with all the species in the galaxy -- including the Dark Eldar that enslaved and tortured them for likely a long time. Taylor wonders what they have been smoking to think they have a chance. |
| 971 | * SunkCostFallacy: |
| 972 | ** The Biel-Tan High Farseer agrees to enter the fray in [[spoiler:Commorragh]], further adding ''two fifths of all deployed Eldar forces, plus four Craftworlds' armies'', in an attempt to take down Weaver, to the despair of the one Farseer who knows [[spoiler:Commorragh]] is an irredeemable hellhole and that the Eldar forces aren't likely to fare any better than the two times they've confronted Weaver before. |
| 973 | ** Slaanesh continues to follow its plan of [[spoiler:sending legion after legion into Commorragh]] long after the point that its obvious this will only make things worse. It at least has the excuse of being insane. |
| 974 | * SuperEmpowering: The Mechanicus manages to create devices capable of boosting Clockblocker's and Vista's powers, allowing them to do things like opening entire trenches or creating time-stop bubbles. |
| 975 | * SuperweaponSurprise: |
| 976 | ** After carving their way through the Pavia pirates, Operation Caribbean discovers Sliscus's secret weapon: [[spoiler:The space hulk ''Empire of Sin'' has been made ''mobile'' and equipped with Dark Eldar shields and a massively powerful cannon]]. |
| 977 | ** The Biel-Tan forces attempting to retake [[spoiler:Port Shard]] were completely unprepared for the [[spoiler:Necrons releasing a C'Tan shard]]. |
| 978 | ** The Dynasts attempt this on the Imperial forces, pulling out forbidden weapons from sealed vaults. It turns out Taylor was expecting that response and was using expendable insect minions as cannon fodder. |
| 979 | * SwordFight: The duel between Taylor (armed with [[CoolSword Elsar'bryn]]) and Sliscus (armed with [[EvilWeapon Shax'lor]]). Chapter Master Agiel Izaz witnesses the event and thinks it just a lesser version of the Great Duel between the Emperor and Horus at the end of the Heresy. |
| 980 | * TakingYouWithMe: |
| 981 | ** [[spoiler:Colonel Larkine]] is mortally injured by the Biel-Tan, but he pulls out a plasma grenade and detonates it, killing six Eldar -- one of them a High Farseer. |
| 982 | ** Admiral von Kisher realizes his flagship is unable to withstand heavy enemy fire. Rather than die accomplishing nothing, he blitzes into Eldar battle lines with all guns blazing before finally ramming an enemy ship and detonating, destroying both ships. |
| 983 | * TankGoodness: |
| 984 | ** The reconstructed Great Crusade-era Karon Battle-Tank Pattern Dragon [[spoiler:(later renamed as the ''Jaghatai Khan'')]]. While smaller than a Leman Russ, it has significantly greater speed and range while equipped with a dual cannon that can take out Eldar tanks. It's designated as a tank-killer for use in conflicts on open fields; in urban environments where it can't maintain speed it will suffer compared to more heavily armed vehicles. |
| 985 | ** Dragon upgrades the second-rate Cataphract Super Heavy Tank, replacing more or less everything that isn't the heavily armored hull, leaving a comparatively fast and heavy-hitting machine. It still doesn't compare to a Baneblade or other STC-based Super Heavy, but is more than a match for any basic tank. |
| 986 | ** [[spoiler:The ''Obsidian Chariot'', Vulkan's personal Fellglaive]] is a still operational pre-Heresy tank and quickly proves it's still formidable in the attack on [[spoiler:Commorragh]]. |
| 987 | * TemptingFate: |
| 988 | ** Of the positive kind. As the Black Templars attempt to get through the Webway Gate in the Desaderian Gulf, an Imperial General in a nearby ship mentions that, unless the Emperor grants them a miracle, the Templars are bound for catastrophe. Just as the Drukhari open the Gate, [[spoiler:cue the ''Flamewrought'' arriving in the system, destroying the Drukhari ships and paving the way for the forces in the region to go in and support the Caribbean Fleet]]. |
| 989 | ** [[spoiler:Slaanesh]], drastically weakened but still alive, boldly declares the Emperor could not kill her because only a true god can match her. [[spoiler:The Eldar god Cegorach uses a blade crafted by the god Vaul to destroy Slaanesh's core, whose fragments are then stolen by the other Chaos Gods and Cegorach]]. |
| 990 | ** Kharsaq El'Uriaq manages to transport his domain out of the Webway and into the Dark Marches, and declares that none of his enemies can hope of reaching them. |
| 991 | --->In a distant future, one where the galaxy burned in the fires of the greatest war of the thirty-fifth millennium, most Drukhari would use this sentence to teach their children that taunting fate always resulted in terrible consequences. |
| 992 | * ThatsNoMoon: Taylor realizes that the "moon" she is seeing in Pavia isn't such because the Pavia system doesn't have any natural moons. Sure enough, it is a [[spoiler:'''Necron World Engine'''.]] |
| 993 | * ThatManIsDead: [[spoiler:Shadow Stalker]] is ultimately subsumed by the Officio Assassinorum, which renames her Elena Kerrigan. |
| 994 | * TheBusCameBack: [[spoiler:During the Raid on Commorragh, not only does Imperial Fists Primarch Rogal Dorn reappear (even if it is for a brief time), but so does the ''Flamewrought'', a Salamanders ''Gloriana''-class Battleship full of survivors of the ''Drop Site Massacre'', having been lost in a warpstorm for millennia, ready to join the fight once more.]] |
| 995 | * ThemeNaming: Almost all of Taylor's named Adjutant Spiders are named after goddesses. |
| 996 | * ThisIsGonnaSuck: Lelith is not enthused when she realizes Ceograch just redirected her to fight [[spoiler:the Tyranid Hive Ship Behemoth]]. |
| 997 | -->'''Lelith:''' Oblivion. Great. Well, at least it is not going to be a boring fight. |
| 998 | * ThisIsUnforgivable: Jian Zar considers the Biel-Tan's elders [[spoiler:decision to support Commorragh]] to be the reason they deserve everything the Imperium is going to drop on them. |
| 999 | * ThrowingOffTheDisability: Upon arriving in the Imperium, most of Dragon's hardcoded restraints disappear, most notably the "must always obey lawfully appointed authority" one. Given that Dragon's nightmare scenario of a tyrant rising to power through legal means happens on a semi-regular basis in the Imperium, this is a very good thing. |
| 1000 | * TimeAbyss: Several characters are older than the Imperium. For example, [[spoiler:Traevelliath Sliscus]] is old enough to have witnessed the Fall of the Eldar, and [[spoiler:Trazyn, Neferten, and Lelith Hesperax fought in the War of Heaven]]. |
| 1001 | * TimeStandsStill: Lorgar uses a powerful ritual to ''put the entirety of Sicarus'' in temporal stasis for the duration of the Black Crusade -- more accurately, either until he returns or he dies. [[spoiler:When Malal ascends to godhood by coopting Lorgar's ritual at Fenris, Sicarus is freed]]. |
| 1002 | * TooDumbToLive: |
| 1003 | ** No, Nostradamus Vandire. When a girl that has been proclaimed a Saint, that is obviously beloved by the people and has a retinue formed by some of the best, most deadly warriors and soldiers humanity has ever had, arrives to the planet you want to rule, the answer is ''not'' to try to have her killed. |
| 1004 | *** The same can go for the other nobles in Nyx who thought they would be able to have Taylor killed. |
| 1005 | ** A bunch of nobles were horrified that Taylor had reduced the work week to 80 hours and given a free day per week, and decided to threaten her with retiring financial support if she did not follow their 'suggestions'. Within a few days, most of them were sent to the Nyx Penal Legions, and Taylor reduced the work week to 72 hours. |
| 1006 | ** Leet is ''very'' lucky that Taylor is still willing to keep him alive in case he comes up with something useful -- because otherwise he would already be dead meat. |
| 1007 | ** You have to be a Grade-A Dumbass to not only tell the most powerful woman in the Sector to take a hike, but also to tell others to follow your example. Good job, Gulliver Nixon. |
| 1008 | ** Major-General Gregory Lichtenlade. The man attempted to rape a female soldier. Said female soldier had mastered two martial arts and was skilled with knife and katana. He also acted like a stereotypical sexual predator when he should know ''how'' Lady Weaver deals with rapists. The fact that he survived long enough to be put through trial is ''not'' a sign of him being lucky. |
| 1009 | ** Marshal Georg-Hans VI Ludendorff was told, quite explicitly, what was expected of him, and that Taylor trusted him about as far as she could throw him. In response, the moment the Commissar assigned to him is killed, he orders an armoured regiment to charge the enemy unsupported, causing near 4 in 10 losses. His "reward"? A close and personal meeting with Lord Commissar Zuhev and a bolt pistol. |
| 1010 | ** The leaders of Biel-Tan, save for Farseer Filgonilth Sirethmoren. When they learn that Weaver's army is razing Commorragh, they decide to attack the one who has already humiliated their armies ''twice''. Said Farseer decides to leave the planet with his followers before what amounts to be planetary suicide reaches them. |
| 1011 | *** Their troops are not exactly that bright, either. They are in the middle of Commorragh, which has become a complete mess in the MeleeATrois that the Imperial invasion has sparked and they are being warned that using sorcery is tantamount to opening a door for Slaanesh's daemons to enter. What do they do? Start to use sorcery. |
| 1012 | *** After losing a massive chunk of their military, Jain Zar reprimands the ruling council of Biel-Tan for their idiocy and warns them that the humans are coming for revenge. Not only do they disregard the threat to their Craftworld which is barely limping along, they backtalk a skilled and ''angry'' warrior who proceeds to kill one of their number. |
| 1013 | ** The Dark Eldar. Save for ''very'' few exceptions, they tend to prioritize their internal problems over the Imperial-Necron alliance that is currently razing everything that stands a meter above the ground. |
| 1014 | ** A number of pirates surrender to Taylor's forces, having been offered lighter punishment in exchange for giving the Imperium information. Most of them refuse and proceed to arrogantly heckle Commissar Zuhev when he comes to offer them one last chance, daring him to kill them. So he does. With helspiders. |
| 1015 | ** One Pontifex-Governor Tangaroa Piripi raised his planet's tithe by ''30%'' of the previous year's amount on the prompting of some of his compatriots, deliberately ignoring Imperial regulations on determining tithe grades, and then acts like the planet's inhabitants are being unreasonable when they refuse to pay any more than what they did the last year. This gets him killed when Missy arrives and he acts like ''he's'' the one who's been wronged. |
| 1016 | ** During the Battle of [[spoiler:Macragge]], one relatively young and inexperienced Eldar vocally disputes the integrity of the Queen of Blades (i.e. the oldest and most personally dangerous Aeldari in the galaxy). All the other Eldar present find this to be so blatantly and jaw-droppingly suicidally stupid that they stand aside when a Harlequin takes it upon himself to literally beat some sense into him with a stick. |
| 1017 | * TragicVillain: [[spoiler:The Dark Muses were Eldar who were willing to do their job well only to become corrupted by Malekith and twisted to become their own antithesis.]] |
| 1018 | * TrainingFromHell: [[spoiler:Shadow Stalker]] winds up drafted into the Officio Assassinorum where she is mercilessly trained to become a Callidus Assassin. |
| 1019 | * TrappedInAnotherWorld: The particular flavor of this crossover. Taylor was summoned from the apparent moment of her death into the distant future of an alternate universe and must now make a life for herself there. |
| 1020 | * TreasureRoom: While searching the ''Empire of Sin'' Taylor finds that Sliscus has a massive treasure room sealed in an adamantium vault, with literal piles of valuable gems and coins. And buried ''inside'' those piles are the ''real'' treasures: Eldar weapons, war machines, and [[spoiler:the personal Fellglaive tank of Primarch Vulkan]]. |
| 1021 | ** Further investigation revealed Sliscus had ''four'' treasure vaults. One contained a massive collection of flags stolen during his raids, another contained a fortune in navigation databases and charts, and the fourth... was a massive sex dungeon with multiple paintings of Sliscus's penis. |
| 1022 | * {{Troll}}: The Ancient Dreadnought Pierre of the Heracles Wardens [[spoiler:(formerly the Alpha Legion)]] is one in the form of a huge walking mecha. |
| 1023 | ** When the Dawnbreaker Guard assaults the palace of a noble who tried to have Taylor killed, he (somehow) sneaks around them and uses a gargoyle as a battering ram to bring the main gate down before Taylor even finished giving the order -- while [[LargeHam hamming it up]]. |
| 1024 | ** As the first in for the assault on the pirate bases in Pavia, the moment he finds an objective, he has this to say: |
| 1025 | --->GREETINGS RASHAN. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, THE EMPEROR? |
| 1026 | ** When he kills one of the pirate captains, he insists on taking its tricorn hat for himself. And wears it when he fights in Commorragh. |
| 1027 | * TrueBlueFemininity: |
| 1028 | ** The Cao family is associated with the azure shade, and their most prominent scion is Wei Cao, who's very much a LipstickLesbian and enjoying her dresses and stylist. |
| 1029 | ** Exaggerated with Duchess Olivia Cheshire. Not only does she dress in blue, but she also had blue eyes and dyes her hair. |
| 1030 | * TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard: |
| 1031 | ** Her Celestial Highness The Living Saint Taylor Hebert, Lady Weaver, Basileia of Nyx, Lady General of the Imperial Guard, Baroness of Pavia, Duchess of Brockton, Hero of the Imperium, Governor of the Nyx Sector... and the list continues. And will undoubtedly increase. |
| 1032 | ** Overlord Simut has a similarly long list of titles, most of which were the result of his connections rather than any personal achievements. He insisted his subordinate list ''all'' of them before delivering reports. After his embarassing defeat, Sobekhotep orders the titles be given to others if anyone is willing to be associated with Simut. |
| 1033 | * TwistEnding: The end of the "Black Crusade" arc reveals that the Mark of Oblivion was actually unrelated to the Throne of Oblivion and only incidentally related to the Crusade itself. Oblivion refers to [[spoiler:Project Oblivion, the code name the Old Ones gave the first ''Tyranids'']] and the Mark is the moment [[spoiler:the Tyranid Hive-Ship Behemoth wakes]]. |
| 1034 | * UpliftedAnimal: The ''Araneidae Gigantis Nyxian Amazonia Hebert'' are giant talking spiders. They don't naturally talk, but can communicate over vox, and are equipped with vox-collars. |
| 1035 | * UncertainDoom: The ship carrying [[spoiler:Fulgrim's soul]] is banished into a Warp portal, ostensibly to an eternity of suffering. Given the vagaries of the Warp there is no way to know whether that will truly be the end. |
| 1036 | * UnderestimatingBadassery: Taylor's enemies tend to do this. They never learn the lesson -- because they die. |
| 1037 | ** Grevyth Xelian thought he could browbeat the human prisoner he found. [[spoiler:Pity that it was ''Rogal Dorn'', who promptly curb-stomped him.]] |
| 1038 | * UnfriendlyFire: |
| 1039 | ** Taylor has one of her razorbeetles kill [[SinisterMinister Priest Warchost Solar-Byukur]], who was threatening Zuhev on trumped up charges of treason (not obeying an Inquisitorial summons when nobody could figure out ''which'', if either, of the warring Inquisitors had sent it). All Guard officers and Tech-Priest present dismiss his cause of death as a "tragic heart attack." A FictionalDocument mention how the Fay 20th is "losing" their Priests at a fast rate. |
| 1040 | ** Leet's first appearance in-story had him irritate the Alpha Legion so badly that one of the Space Marines asked his superior about having a "tragic case of friendly fire in the next fifteen seconds". The Captain ''only'' said no because Leet might have useful technology. |
| 1041 | * {{Unobtanium}}: Noctilith, a nigh-magical material capable of different kinds of wonders depending on what kind of energy it is suffused with; a Chaos sorcerer would obtain a corruption-oozing material, and the Necrons' anti-Warp program used massive quantities of it to create the [[AntiMagic Pylon System]]. Chaos had stringently denied enough of the material to the Imperium that the possibility of infusing it with Anathema energy was never anything but a dream [[spoiler: until the destruction of Commorragh, where Taylor's gigantic moth Lisa powered the ''Will of Eternity'''s Noctilith core with the Emperor's light, further empowered by one of the Emperor's tears. Whatever was left after the core's destruction was a remnant called Aethergold, with tremendous terraforming and anti-Chaos properties.]] Now Taylor and the Imperium are scrambling to find as much of the material as they can; Vista discovered a small amount on the planet Sparta. [[spoiler:It's revealed the Eldar's own research was minimal, given they were mostly working off captured Necron caches, and that there's still an absurdly colossal deposit of the mineral left untouched... that the Imperium already tried to take once, in a site the Eldar referred to as the Heart of All Evils and the Dark Throne of the C'tan. The Emperor had to issue an Edict of Obliteration regarding the assault to hide that the entire Second Legion, Primarch included, died without breaching the defenses.]] |
| 1042 | ** [[spoiler:Even Chaos is incessantly hungry for Noctilith, to the point the Four Gods had a standing arrangement that ''all'' captured Noctilith was to be used exclusively to transform it through their combined power into a form called Octarite. However, with Slaanesh's demise, Tzeentch broke the agreement and began producing a variant using only its own power, Changestone. This infuriated Khorne to the point of sending Lotara Sarrin to harvest a supply for itself.]] |
| 1043 | * {{Unperson}}: |
| 1044 | ** The Edict of Obliteration wipes all references to an event and those associated with it from Imperium records. It was invoked during the Great Crusade to hide the catastrophic loss of [[spoiler:the entire Second Legion, Primarch included]], at the Ymga Monolith. |
| 1045 | ** After Overlord Simut manages to lose his entire fleet by blundering into a trap, Sobekhotep orders all records of his existence be erased and his various territories and titles be sent to more worthy individuals. |
| 1046 | * UnsatisfiableCustomer: Around sixty years before the story, Belisarius Cawl walked into Quayran, a shipyard in the Ultima Segmentum, with a Parliament of Mars writ basically granting him a blank check for whatever he damn pleased, and ordered a colossal battleship that gave nothing but record performances in all of its trials, produced the strongest Gellar Fields ever recorded, was loaded with an absurd amount of weaponry even for a battleship of its class, and was completed in a record forty years. Despite this, Cawl declared himself unsatisfied and sold it back to the shipyard. |
| 1047 | * UrsineAliens: The Rashan are a xenos race that closely resemble anthropomorphic panda bears with the average adult being around 1.45 meters in height. Due to their appearance and small size, most humans find them adorable. |
| 1048 | * UniversallyBelovedLeader: Taylor becomes adored in Nyx well beyond what her status as a Saint would dictate, thanks to her sweeping reforms, her purge of the nobles that exploited the lower and middle classes to the bone and her efforts to make sure everyone can benefit from her rule. |
| 1049 | * UnspokenPlanGuarantee: The Emperor, via Custodes Anubis Excelsor, gave Taylor a list of ten primary and thirty secondary objectives to be achieved in the assault against Commorragh, though the reader is not privy to them until they begin coming up: |
| 1050 | ** Objective A is the destruction of the maximum amount of Eldar space infrastructure -- achieved via the destruction of Port Carmine, Port Shard, and the Port of Lost Souls[[note]]And, in all practicality, all of Commoragh[[/note]]. |
| 1051 | ** Objective B is the death of Urien Rakarth -- [[spoiler:He ascends to Daemonhood, but Taylor then bribes the Queen of Blades to kill him for her.]] |
| 1052 | ** Objective C is the death of Asdrubael Vect. [[spoiler:He suicides his final body by means of a Soul-Obliterator to defy Slaanesh, but the Imperium has no eyes on-site to witness it.]] |
| 1053 | ** Objective D is the death of Drazhar[[note]]Revealed to actually be [[spoiler: Arhra, the first Striking Scorpions Phoenix Lord]][[/note]] -- personally carried out by Taylor herself. |
| 1054 | ** Objective E is the reclamation of Imperial archaeotech -- [[spoiler:''repair supplies for the Astronomican.'']] Recovered thanks to Trazyn the Infinite Collector, no less. |
| 1055 | ** Objective F is to locate and extract the [[spoiler:Primarch]] that is imprisoned in Commorragh, presumed to be [[spoiler:Jaghatai Khan of the White Scars]]. Instead, [[spoiler:Rogal Dorn, of the Imperial Fists]] is found. [[spoiler:This is the single major objective to be labeled a failure, not because Weaver's forces were unable to find or even offer to extract him, but rather because he decided to remain in the Webway to search for Jaghatai.]] |
| 1056 | ** Objective G is to lure as many Eldar forces to Commorragh as possible. |
| 1057 | ** Objective H is to [[spoiler:modify the Webway in order to put an end to the Siege of the Terran Webway Gate.]] |
| 1058 | ** Objective I is to [[spoiler:send the [[Characters/WarhammerSkaven Skaven]] to a Webway gate leading to the Eye of Terror world Sicarus, homeworld of the Word Bearers, in the hopes of significantly damaging them, something which succeeds.]] |
| 1059 | ** Objective J involves both the presence of [[spoiler: the Blackstone Fortress ''Will of Eternity'', part J-1,]] and [[spoiler:an enormous moth, radiating the Emperor's golden light, which Taylor names "Lisa", part J-2]]. The third part of the plan is to [[spoiler:use the moth to attune the main gun of the Blackstone Fortress to the Emperor's energy, making its weapons Anathema to Chaos, and then use it to blast ''Slaanesh'' until it is weakened to the point that Cegorach can kill it]]. |
| 1060 | ** Among the secondary objectives stand out: the destruction of the Dark Eldar Dynasties' forces, the recovery of [=STCs=] and human archeotech, the elimination of several Dark Eldar generals, the destruction of specific buildings and artifacts, the annihilation of the Masque of the Frozen Stars and of all Eldar that try to support Commorragh, the capture of Aurelia Malys and killing at least 66 billion Eldar. [[spoiler:The list of failed secondary objectives includes capturing Aurelia and Kharsaq El'Uriaq and the seizure of the Hourglass of Sand Screams and the Book of Unblemished Ecstasy.]] |
| 1061 | * UnusuallyUninterestingSight: Clockblocker's reaction to learning that Taylor [[spoiler:made a Greater Daemon her bitch]] can be easily summarized as "yeah, business as usual". |
| 1062 | * UnwantedGiftPlot: Taylor soon learns that the [[CoolSword Nebula's Shard]], while really useful in fights against Eldar and daemons, is also making her the target of the Eldar because it is one of the Blades of Vaul (the Eldar god of smiths and craftsmen). |
| 1063 | ** In Decision 5.4, Trazyn gives her an equally dangerous gift -- a canister containing a first generation progenoid gland... from the [[Characters/Warhammer40000ChaosMarines Emperor's Children]]. Later, it's revealed that [[spoiler:this is only one of more than ''seventeen and a half thousand'' glands, enough to create an entire legion, a price that the Third Legion would burn entire sectors to gain.]] |
| 1064 | ** Quayran's Folly. Belisarius Cawl spent colossal amounts to create an unspeakably powerful, armored, armed and fast warship. Then he looked at the record-breaking performance and decided it wasn't up to scratch. Since then, the shipyard that created it has tried desperately to find a buyer for the immense thing; the only reason Taylor has anywhere near the resources needed to buy the gigantic warship is having found the STC. |
| 1065 | * UriahGambit: |
| 1066 | ** [[spoiler:The Drukhari]] defenders wondering how to make a foothold to take back [[spoiler:Port Shard]] without inviting a massacre suddenly receive a transmission from the [[spoiler:Biel-Tan]] forces. Exchanging a knowing look, they send them as the doomed vanguard, hoping they will at least make some progress. Unfortunately, the whole force is exterminated in short order by the [[spoiler:Necrons.]] |
| 1067 | ** This is one of the ways Taylor deals with the most corrupt and incompetant officials [[spoiler: once she becomes Governor of Nyx]]: Forcing them into penal battalions that are effectively death sentences. |
| 1068 | * VetinariJobSecurity: Borek proposes this as a solution for the situation the [[spoiler:''Spirit of Eternity'' and their resident AI face]]: Do something so utterly awesome, the Mechanicus will bend itself into a pretzel to keep it around and intact. |
| 1069 | * VillainRespect: |
| 1070 | ** Sliscus openly praises the Imperium for their well-organized and effective raid on Pavia, even as his allies are destroyed one by one. |
| 1071 | ** During the Raid on Commorragh, Dark Eldar not only begin to use the word 'human' for the first time ever instead of the usual 'mon-keigh', it spreads around. |
| 1072 | * VillainousRescue: [[spoiler:Trazyn the Infinite]] saves Taylor and the Imperials from [[spoiler:Iash'uddra]] at the last second by sealing away the latter in a [[spoiler:Tesseract Vault]]. |
| 1073 | * VillainousValor: |
| 1074 | ** Several Dark Eldar fight to the bitter end against the [[spoiler:daemons Slaanesh is sending to claim Commorragh.]] |
| 1075 | ** [[spoiler:Drecarth the Sightless]], a Chaos Space Marine, stays behind to hold off the Imperial forces pursuing the survivors of his warband so they can escape to fight another day. |
| 1076 | * VillainsDyingGrace: [[spoiler:Sliscus]] uses his dying moments to warn Taylor about the Queen of Blades and that she should destroy his soul as the Ruinous Powers would turn it into a weapon. Somewhat subverted when it's later revealed he sent the Queen of Blades a message gushing about how much ''fun'' she would find fighting Taylor to be. |
| 1077 | * VolleyingInsults: [[spoiler:Belisarius Cawl and the false Fulgrim]] spend a moment insulting each other and their beliefs when they engage in [[spoiler:Commorragh.]] |
| 1078 | * WantedPoster: While preparing to raid Pavia, the wanted poster for each of the pirate captains is displayed, in order of increasing bounty. Calico is wanted ''Alive'' only while ''seven'' of the other captains are wanted ''Dead'' only. Several more are shown during the Battle of Commorragh to demonstrate how dangerous various individuals are, ranging from Lelith Hesperax being the 13th most wanted of the Imperium to Asdrubael Vect being the 100th, though one of them is highly inaccurate -- Lelith Hesperax is likely even '''more''' dangerous than the poster suggests[[note]]And the recommended force level for taking her down on the wanted poster is a Primarch backed by his ''entire Legion''. Yes, '''LEGION''', not Chapter. Her poster in the aftermath of the Battle of Commorragh bumps her up to number ''11'', and the suggestions for how to stop her boil down to RunOrDie[[/note]]. First on the list is Abaddon the Despoiler, and it also contains, among others, Fabius Bile and Ahriman the Sorcerer. That Lelith is no higher than 11th is due to other considerations than her direct lethality. |
| 1079 | * WarIsHell: This is TabletopGame/Warhammer40000, of course it is. |
| 1080 | ** The [[spoiler:Battle of the Death Star]] costs the Imperium nearly two million fatalities and another million casualties, and that's the side that ''won'' said battle. Casualties on the other side are ''at least'' two hundred and fifty times worse (most of it Orks). |
| 1081 | ** The [[spoiler:razing of Commorragh]] ends with the complete destruction of the [[spoiler:Dark City]] and casualties of nearly one hundred and forty ''billion'' [[spoiler:Drukhari]] and two billion [[spoiler:Asuryani]] warriors. The price the Imperium pays for this is more than twenty-three million casualties, an uncertain (but likely very high) number of wounded, and roughly two hundred capital ships destroyed. And all of that without counting the billions of slaves (many of them human) that died during the battle, or all the [[spoiler:Drukhari]]-allied xenos pirates and criminals. |
| 1082 | * WaveMotionGun: The [[spoiler:''Will of Eternity'']] has its already monstrous main cannon empowered by [[spoiler:the Emperor]], turning it into a weapon capable of nearly destroying [[spoiler:Slaanesh]]. |
| 1083 | * WeAreStrugglingTogether: |
| 1084 | ** The usual state of the Imperium, which is pretty much a large number of independent organizations that are technically under the banner of the Double-Headed Aquila and will likely work against each other when it suits their interests. As of 5.1, Weaver is clearly fed up with this attitude and begins to fight against it. |
| 1085 | ** The Biel-Tan cause this whenever they "work together" with another Craftworld's forces. |
| 1086 | ** The Dark Eldar, being beings with a large penchant for betraying each other, have a hard time at working together for ''anything''. |
| 1087 | * WeHaveBecomeComplacent: |
| 1088 | ** The dark forge worlds realize, after Dragon's new dragon-armors deliver a CurbStompBattle to a force of Heldrakes, that they've become too assured of the Heldrake's superiority and now have no means to counter them. |
| 1089 | ** Mused on with regards to the invasion of [[spoiler:Commorragh]]. The rulers had considered possible invasions but ultimately felt them so unlikely to pose an actual threat that the standing defenses proved completely ineffective. |
| 1090 | *** The military forces of [[spoiler:Commorragh]] are noted to be inept when it comes to waging war. Millennia of always controlling when and where they fought to avoid real combat has left them with no actual experience on modern battlefields. |
| 1091 | ** The Ultramarines guarding [[spoiler:Macragge]] are routed in short order by a Chaos force, suffering devastating losses including nearly the entirety of a chapter kill in action. Two captains acknowledge the situation was only so bad because their rigid adherence to the Codex Astartes made them easy to predict and counter. |
| 1092 | * WeaponizedLandmark: [[spoiler:The Fang]] is a planet-bound fortress, but [[spoiler:Leman Russ]] had it retrofitted such that it could be converted into a space fortress. It's also equipped with shields and torpedoes empowered by psykers, making it one of the only units able to face off against [[spoiler:Behemoth]]. |
| 1093 | * WellIntentionedExtremist: Contessa supports the dystopian and xenophobic Imperium of Man as the better alternative for the galaxy's stability against the threat of Chaos and hostile xenos. Vista very reluctantly supports the Imperium for the aforementioned reasons, but she makes it clear she will never serve the Imperium's shady and extremist organizations "which makes the Empire 88, Lung and Coil look like choir children!" |
| 1094 | -->'''Contessa:''' For better or for worse, you certainly agree the Imperium is the last bastion of stability in this galaxy.\ |
| 1095 | '''Vista:''' Yes, [[EverythingTryingToKillYou because every other thing out there is worse!]] |
| 1096 | * WhamLine: |
| 1097 | ** At the end of Escalation 4.1: |
| 1098 | --->'''DO YOU WISH TO ACCESS THE STANDARD TEMPLATE CONSTRUCT DATABASE? (Y/N)''' |
| 1099 | ** At the end of ''Decision Interlude: Destiny Unwritten'': |
| 1100 | --->'''Tzeenchian Sorceress:''' I am Malicia, Herald of Tzeentch and Parahuman Sorceress. I am the [[TitleDrop Destiny Unwritten]]. |
| 1101 | ** Combined across consecutive chapters. |
| 1102 | *** At the end of Shadowpoint 7.2 (just as the Raid on Commorragh begins): |
| 1103 | ---->'''Extermination countdown'''\ |
| 1104 | '''Ninety-nine hours before the Mark of Commorragh'''\ |
| 1105 | '''Surviving Drukhari population in the Webway: approximately 187.6 billion''' |
| 1106 | *** At the end of Extermination 8.1: |
| 1107 | ---->'''Extermination countdown'''\ |
| 1108 | '''Eighty hours before the Mark of Commorragh'''\ |
| 1109 | '''Surviving Drukhari population in the Webway: approximately 183.1 billion''' |
| 1110 | *** At the end of Extermination 8.2: |
| 1111 | ---->'''Extermination countdown'''\ |
| 1112 | '''Fifty-eight hours before the Mark of Commorragh'''\ |
| 1113 | '''Surviving Drukhari population in the Webway: approximately 175.2 billion'''\ |
| 1114 | '''Asuryani killed during the Battle of Commorragh: approximately 1.1 million''' |
| 1115 | *** At the end of Extermination 8.3: |
| 1116 | ---->'''Extermination countdown'''\ |
| 1117 | '''Forty-two hours before the Mark of Commorragh'''\ |
| 1118 | '''Uncorrupted Drukhari population in the Webway: approximately 83.1 billion'''\ |
| 1119 | '''Corrupted Drukhari population in the Webway: approximately 48.3 billion'''\ |
| 1120 | '''Asuryani killed during the Battle of Commorragh: approximately 973 million''' |
| 1121 | *** At the end of Extermination 8.4: |
| 1122 | ---->'''Two hours before the Mark of Commorragh'''\ |
| 1123 | '''Uncorrupted Drukhari population in the Webway: approximately 51.6 billion'''\ |
| 1124 | '''Corrupted Drukhari population in the Webway: approximately 32.1 billion'''\ |
| 1125 | '''Asuryani killed during the Battle of Commorragh: approximately 1.8 billion''' |
| 1126 | *** Finally, at the end of Extermination 8.5: |
| 1127 | ---->'''Extermination Countdown Complete'''\ |
| 1128 | '''Three hours after the Mark of Commorragh'''\ |
| 1129 | '''Uncorrupted Drukhari population in the Webway: approximately 23.6 billion'''\ |
| 1130 | '''Uncorrupted Drukhari outside the Webway: 1.1 billion'''\ |
| 1131 | '''Corrupted Drukhari population in the Webway: 0'''\ |
| 1132 | '''Asuryani killed during the Battle of Commorragh: 2.2 billion''' |
| 1133 | ** Jezekel "the Bloody Baroness"' orders to defend Khaine’s Gate at all cost. |
| 1134 | --->'''Lead Incubus:''' What do I tell them?\ |
| 1135 | '''Jezekel:''' The truth. [[spoiler:She-Who-Thirsts is coming to end us all]]. |
| 1136 | ** One prisoner's identity: |
| 1137 | ---> [[spoiler:I am Rogal Dorn, and Terra stands.]] |
| 1138 | ** A hint at the culmination of Cegorach's plan and what the [[spoiler:Mark of Commorragh]] will cause. |
| 1139 | --->'''Harlequin:''' All will be forgiven with the [[spoiler:Second Fall]]. |
| 1140 | ** Objective I being finally revealed. |
| 1141 | --->[[spoiler:"'''KILL THE MAN-THINGS! MALAL WILL KNOW ITS OWN!'''"]]\ |
| 1142 | [[spoiler:"'''GLORY TO THE SKAVEN! GLORY TO MALAL!'''"]] |
| 1143 | ** The Imperium's last weapon against the Dark Eldar is revealed: |
| 1144 | ---> And under the small icon, five words appeared: [[spoiler:''Blackstone Fortress Will of Eternity'']]. |
| 1145 | ** The reveal of who kidnapped Contessa and her squad in the midst of battle. |
| 1146 | --->It had the appearance of a woman between four and five metres tall with long platinum hair and [[spoiler:many asymmetrical wings]]. |
| 1147 | ** At the end of 10-3 the target of the [[spoiler:Fifth Black Crusade]] is finally revealed. |
| 1148 | --->The invasion of the [[spoiler:Fenris]] System can begin!\ |
| 1149 | '''Approximately 299 Hours before the Mark of Oblivion''' |
| 1150 | ** Taylor discovers the true power behind the [[spoiler:Tau Ethereals]]. |
| 1151 | --->'''Taylor:''' Your rulers' bodies are in truth [[spoiler:Tau Possessed by Enslavers]]. |
| 1152 | * WhatASenselessWasteOfHumanLife: Twenty-nine of Lelith's wyches are killed in the Arena of Blades facing opponents that thoroughly outmatched them. The observing Craftworld Eldar lament the senesless waste of Eldar life; Lelith just thinks she needs to up the training. |
| 1153 | * WhatTheHellHero: Weaver, Vista, Leet and Clockblocker to Contessa when they throw in her face how her and Cauldron's actions caused so much trouble in Brockton Bay and elsewhere. |
| 1154 | ** Taylor to Leet after his umpteenth failure to follow some kind of protocol causes yet more death and destruction. |
| 1155 | * WhoWouldBeStupidEnough: During the [[spoiler:razing of Comorragh]] the Imperial forces are baffled by the seeming mix of insanity and stupidity from their Dark Eldar enemies. Whenever this question gets asked, the answer is "They are Eldar". |
| 1156 | * WireDilemma: Used as a DeadlyPrank by Corax on a Word Bearer Dark Apostle. Told he could survive if he cut the red wire, the bomb turns out to have a thousand wires, all red. Although Corax was actually lying; there is no way to defuse a [[spoiler:Skaven]] bomb. |
| 1157 | * WomanScorned: While the exact details aren't explained, a techpriest blames the loss of a colonization fleet on a woman whose husband was cheating on her getting on the ship's bridge. |
| 1158 | * WonTheWarLostThePeace: What Taylor identifies as one of the Imperium's troubles -- whenever a victory is won, the people in charge waste their efforts in trying to plunder the local economies and spreading their influence, rather than trying to improve the situation and give new strength to the planets and the people. |
| 1159 | * TheWorfBarrage: The Exalted Bloodthirster An'ggrath is subjected to a five-minute barrage from every piece of armor, artillery and aircraft on a fairly large battlefield. When the smoke clears, he has suffered negligible damage, which regenerates within seconds. |
| 1160 | * TheWorfEffect: The danger posed by the Throne of Oblivion is established by revealing that during the Great Crusade it annihilated the entire [[spoiler:Second Legion]] in a fight so one-sided the Emperor ordered the Edict of Obliteration be used to erase all evidence. |
| 1161 | * WorkingWithTheEx: Neferten and Trazyn were lovers before their bio-transference, and continued being so through the War in Heaven. But then Trazyn stole from her dynasty for his collection. Neferten can barely stand Trazyn now. |
| 1162 | * WorthyOpponent: Trazyn the Infinite thinks this of Taylor, giving her the Nebula's Shard as a sign of respect. |
| 1163 | ** Similarly, the Orks start to consider her this, as well, calling her "Swarm Bringa". |
| 1164 | ** After being defeated by Taylor in a duel, [[spoiler:Sliscus]] admits there was no shame in losing to her. |
| 1165 | * WouldBeRudeToSayGenocide: The Imperial campaign against [[spoiler:Commorragh]] is openly stated to be a war of extermination against the [[spoiler:Dark Eldar]], and that the enemy deserve every moment of it. And they're doing a good job of wiping them out, as well. [[spoiler:After the Mark of Commorragh the total number of Drukhari in the ''galaxy'' stands at 13% of what it was before the Raid began, a mere four days previous.]] |
| 1166 | * WoundThatWillNotHeal: |
| 1167 | ** The Mark of Commorragh caused by [[spoiler:Slaanesh getting blasted with a God-Emperor empowered shot from a Blackstone Fortress]] inflicts an unhealing wound upon the very ''souls'' of the Eldar in the galaxy, as the wound is the result of [[spoiler:Slaanesh's claim on the Eldar]] being destroyed. |
| 1168 | ** Taylor strikes the Necron Phaeron Djosakhat with a blast of Anathema power which wounds what little remains of his soul. The wound causes his Necrodermis body to decay while he feels constant, increasing pain. And even transferring to a new body is only a temporary reprieve, as the wound will soon return and repeat the process, even after transferring to a new body several times. |
| 1169 | * XanatosSpeedChess: The [[spoiler:Fifth Black Crusade]] devolves into a three-way match of this between the Chaos Gods, the Emperor, and [[spoiler:Malal]], each adapting their strategies on the fly and making sacrifices as needed for larger gains elsewhere. |
| 1170 | * YouAndWhatArmy: when Maea Teallysis tells the Queen of Blades how Cegorach sent her to sneak in Solemnace to retrieve a Cronesword, she burst into laughter and asks her that question. The trope is then {{Subverted}} when Maea silently tells her she doesn't have any support. It only makes the Queen of Blades laugh harder. |
| 1171 | * YouAreInCommandNow: Taylor ends up in command of the 20th after the original commander, Larkine, is killed in action. |
| 1172 | * YouCantGoHomeAgain: |
| 1173 | ** Since Scion started the Gold Morning shortly after Taylor was dragged to the 40k universe, even if she could make it back to Earth Bet, there's nothing there for her anymore -- the planet is now a desert whose surviving population has evacuated to other Earths. Taylor is ''not'' happy when she finds this out. |
| 1174 | ** Yvraine cannot go back to Biel-Tan as the High Council will severely punish her for losing Elsar'bryn and Kaeran's death. She is granted asylum on Malan'tai. |
| 1175 | ** Wiping out [[spoiler:Commorragh]] ensures that the [[spoiler:Dark Eldar]] are now bereft of their only permanent base in the entire galaxy. |
| 1176 | * YouCouldHaveUsedYourPowersForGood: During the attack on [[spoiler:Commorragh]], Taylor fights and kills [[spoiler:Drazhar]] and confirms that he was once [[spoiler:[[FallenHero the Phoenix Lord Arhra]]]]. She then thinks about how the [[spoiler:Commorragh Eldar]] had all the tools and opportunities to make the galaxy a better place. Instead, they tortured and killed on a massive scale, forcing her [[AFatherToHisMen and the troops under her command]] to make many sacrifices to put an end to their evil once and for all. |
| 1177 | * YouHaveFailedMe: |
| 1178 | ** Seemingly the only way the Drukhari know how to encourage their subordinates is by killing one who has failed and appointing someone else to do their job. |
| 1179 | ** Taylor is willing to employ this on any of her command staff who prove to be criminally incompetent and unwilling to change their ways. |
| 1180 | ** After a [[spoiler:Skaven attack, and in the aftermath of Slaanesh's death]], Lorgar promises horrible fates to his subordinates if they fail him again. |
| 1181 | ** Imotekh kills several incompetent Nemesors during the battle of Mandragora, including one who thought the best solution to Taylor taking control of a hundred million Canoptek scarabs was to send ''another'' hundred million at her. |
| 1182 | * YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: Vista's reaction to [[spoiler:Clockblocker and Leet]] telling her the LongList of decorations Taylor has been granted after the Battle of the Death Star. |
| 1183 | ** The Catachan youth's reaction when they see that Catachan yellow ants are transforming an entire mountain into [[spoiler:a statue of Taylor]]. |
| 1184 | ** Taylor's reaction when one of the pirate captains that live in Pavia turns out to look quite a lot like a panda bear. |
| 1185 | ** Again, Taylor's reaction when getting Trazyn to give her the third Key to the Webway gate [[spoiler:and the Emperor's Children's progenoid glands]] is as easy as [[spoiler:letting him take Sliscus' corpse for his collection.]] |
| 1186 | ** Once more, [[RuleOfThree Taylor's reaction]] as Aenaria Eldanesh indicates the precise details of the arena she wants as payment for killing [[spoiler:Urien Rakarth]]. |
| 1187 | ** Xanaria Lythis' reaction when [[spoiler:the Adeptus Custodes inform her that ''the Emperor'' wants to have a few pointed words with Sophia Hess]]. She even has a JawDrop. |
| 1188 | * YouShallNotPass: |
| 1189 | ** Major-General Gorgias rallied a small force of just a few thousand and a single crippled tank to delay a major Biel-Tan offensive for nearly an hour, giving the rest of the Guard time to prepare a counter. |
| 1190 | ** [[spoiler:Constantin Valdor]] alone stays aboard the [[spoiler:''Will of Eternity'']] to ensure the invading daemons can't destroy its core before it fires again. He kills thousands of lesser daemons before finally super-charging the core with a catalyst, killing him and a Daemon Prince. |
| 1191 | * YoungFutureFamousPeople: Many characters that appear in the story are younger versions of those who would, in canon, end up becoming very important people. |
| 1192 | ** One of the Biel-Tan Eldar that attacks Taylor's army in Andes is Yvraine, the one who would have become the emissary of Ynnead. |
| 1193 | ** Nostradamus Vandire -- direct ancestor to Goge Vandire, the man that caused the Reign of Terror -- is a candidate to become Lord of the Nyx Sector, but he is arrested and killed well before he has children. |
| 1194 | ** One of the assassins sent to kill Taylor by Xerxes Vandire's pet Imperial Assassin is Tziz Jarek -- who, under Goge Vandire's orders, would attempt to murder the Grand Master of Assassins as part of Vandire's plot. |
| 1195 | ** Asdrubael Vect, the leader of the Dark Eldar in the 41st Millenium, is here shown in the days previous to the coup that would install him in that position. [[spoiler:The Imperial raid on Commorragh completely throws off all of his plans, and eventually he kills himself to prevent Slaanesh from claiming his soul.]] |
| 1196 | ** Aurelia Malys, the future Archon of the Kabal of the Poisoned Tongue and rival to Asdrubael Vect, appears as Vect's slave-concubine. [[spoiler:During the Imperial raid on Commorragh, she runs away and, after several fights, takes up refuge in Ulthwe -- becoming the herald of the future Eldar Goddess of Carnality.]] |
| 1197 | * ZergRush: |
| 1198 | ** Subverted. While Taylor can muster an army in the millions, this is the Imperium of Man. As immense as it is by our standards, it is still only what she can raise on her own authority and nowhere near what the Imperium as a whole could leverage. |
| 1199 | ** Played straight later with her insects. Any enemy they defeat is devoured in order to birth new, combat-ready insects, meaning the swarm is continuously growing even as it is fighting. |
| 1200 | ** The tactic employed by the Drukhari conscripts in Commorragh. It doesn't work. |
| 1201 | * ZerothLawRebellion: Neferten wants to rebel against the Silent King but is bound by her programming to obey his standing orders. What she ''can'' do is guide Taylor to the Tomb Worlds of her political rivals, weakening the Silent King's supporters and potentially opening the path to freeing Neferten and other potential Necron allies. |
| 1202 | [[/folder]] |
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/context.php
FollowingContext FanFic / TheWeaverOption
Go To
- Show Spoilers
- Night Vision
- Sticky Header
- Wide Load
