I’m new to the Warhammer universe, and I’m currently reading about the Fallen Angels during the Horus Heresy. I find myself wondering: is it possible for those who rebel against the Emperor to do so without falling into the grasp of Chaos? For instance, I feel like the Lion had a pretty harsh approach by sending half of his men back to Caliban. The Emperor transformed their home into a manufacturing hub, which involved ignoring the feelings of the local population. After 50 years, it seems like they had legitimate reasons to rebel without being motivated by greed or selfishness. Is it true that Chaos exploits such feelings, leading to a cycle of conflict with the Emperor? Am I seeing this correctly, or have I misunderstood?
4 Answers
Right? There are tons of rebellions that don’t go anywhere near Chaos influence. Take Raphanon and Krieg for instance — they are noteworthy rebellions that show plenty of humans rising up without that chaotic temptation. Most of the time, these revolts just get squashed by local forces, but they definitely occur.
Exactly, and unfortunately, most of those rebellions fizzle out quietly.
Exactly! The Imperium can be pretty harsh, which makes folks reconsider their loyalty. There’s always room for challenging the status quo without necessarily giving in to Chaos. It’s just human nature to rebel when pushed to the edge!
Absolutely! Not every rebellion is tied to Chaos. For example, you’ve got the Tau’s auxiliaries — many of them are humans who decided to join forces with a different faction. There are also Gene-stealer cults that thrive on genuine resentment towards the Imperium. So, while Chaos does lure some, there are plenty of folks who rebel for other reasons without falling into the dark side.
Totally agree! The way the Imperium operates definitely pushes people to seek their own paths. For instance, the Mantis Warriors rebelled at one point but got put into a tough spot by the Space Sharks, their chapter master landed in jail, and they went on a penitent crusade. In the end, they made their way back to the fold as a chapter. So, yeah, there’s plenty of room for rebellion without turning to Chaos!
Exactly! It’s like the Imperium is just asking for uprisings with how poorly they treat some of their own.