#chris wraight

[alwayscryingoverdannyb]

you know this meme, right?

well, the ending of Leman Russ: The Great Wolf made me understand that meme and just how correct it is.

Lion had an honor dispute with Leman over something extremely trivial in the context/big picture of the events of Horus Heresy... and even after Terra fell, the unfinished duel bugged him //so much// that he hunted down and stabbed one of the few surviving loyal brothers (who did not defend himself at all) to be able to close this mental chapter in his stubborn head. that's how it read to me initially.

BUT upon further thought (and reading other novels/short stories), I know it was more than that. Lion was mad at Leman for being late again to defend Terra and the Emperor. he was mad at himself for not being able to stop it. so a very potent mixture of frustration, grief, helplessness and the itch of an unsettled score on top of that?

proved a little too much for Lion.

Leman being Leman took it in stride:

by "Leman being Leman" I mean mainly the following:

this is how the Wolves solve conflict - they beat each other up to clear the air and then let it go

Leman was in a place where he definitely felt like he deserved that "punishment"

I think as proud as he is, he can also admit when he's wrong or when he fucked up. even those "defeats" he faces with his head held high

he genuinely loves all his brothers. I don't think it would have gone down the same if he hated Lion.

so, in conclusion, although the situation had many layers and was way deeper than a meme, I feel like Lion being described as autistically aggressive is fitting to the situation, seeing as Lion's ~spectrumness~ was part of the complex puzzle.

thank u for coming to my ted talk.

[cursed-40k-thoughts]

Ashes of the Imperium is really good. Chris Wraight has set a high standard for other Scouring series authors. Wholly recommend for people interested in the Scouring/Horus Heresy aftermath and Imperium politics. Also a big recommend for Iron Warrior fans. The viewpoint Iron Warrior character, Theokon, steals every chapter he’s present in.

[warhammersnippets]

He drew closer to Morarg, towering over him, shedding new and fouler stenches with every movement. ‘I am become what I hated. I am become without end, without beginning. I am become unnatural. I cannot cross His boundary. I offend against His sense of… hygiene.’

The next word came to Morarg’s lips too easily, as if summoned by a spell. ‘Daemon.’

‘It brings gifts with it,’ Mortarion agreed. ‘I see where His mind walks, now. I see His nature, burning like a flame in the void. I even understand some of the things He did.’ A hoarse laugh. ‘Too late, now, of course.’

‘And yet… is it?’ Morarg’s voice was edged with desperation. ‘You could take us back, could you not? If you willed it?’

The primarch didn’t seem to hear the question. Or perhaps it did not deserve an answer.

‘I spent my life looking for the ends of things,’ he said, softly, speaking to himself. ‘I wished for an end to suffering. I wished for an end to the desires that plagued me. Then I wished for an end to this rotten empire, and thought that was my last challenge. Whenever I got what I wished for, I saw another end ahead of me, something else to accomplish. But then, on Calas’ damned ship, I made the final choice, and erased the very idea. There is the paradox – I spoke the word, and from that moment, I had always done it. I had always been like this. I have memories from a time before I was born. I have memories from events that have yet to take place. I see the world of the senses like a rumpled cloak spread out before me, and I struggle to hold on to its hem.’

And then Morarg understood. There was no going back. It was not just impossible – it made no sense now. There was no back. From: Terminus, Chris Wraight (in blood of the emperor)

[bats-and-birds-24]

Valerian's character growth in the Watchers of the throne books is amazing. He goes from being your average naive bookworm Custodes to loving battle and talking back to Trajann fucking Valoris.

[fourgods-nobrakes]

I've found myself re-reading Lords of Silence this week and I don't think I appreciated, the first time, how much of this book is just lavish poetry about the ships of the Thirteenth Black Crusade. It's not the majority by any means but man, the tone of love and admiration for all these warships and what they can do (I just got to the part where Vorx commands Solace at the battle of Agripinaa) is so good.

[lastpositivist]

Chris Wraight's Ashes of the Imperium from the traitor pov:

[stainlesssteellocust]

Watchers of the Throne is like a wolf-killing dog. It grips you and never lets go

[e3n-ethan]

So reading The Lords of Silence: annotated edition

The fact that this Wraight has to write “this is not meant as an absolutely truthful statement but just the conjecture and interpretation of the character talking” because some wanker on r/grimdank went viral claiming that “Chris Wraight confirmed that x will happen! Warhammer is deaaaaaaad!” In the annotations is depressing