Keeping the lost legions unknown: why I hope we don't find out 40k's deepest secrets
This article is inspired by two YouTube videos I have watched (and rewatched) recently. The first is a breezy intro to some of the most intriguing unknowns in 40k courtesy of Tabletop Tactics; the second, a deep-dive into one of the greatest mysteries of 40k from Arbitor Ian. I love content like this, an un-tapped space in which to debate and speculate.
But in an age of returning Primarchs and a seemingly progressing storyline, what role does mystery play in the future of 40k?
Unravelling the future of 40k
In recent times, the story of 40k is being revealed, layer-by-layer. The darkest corners of the galaxy are giving up some of the grimmest secrets as we see a shift from the "always five minutes to midnight" story of prior editions to a fully-fleshed out and moving storyline which began with the fall of Cadia and the return of Guilliman.
"The story of 40k is being revealed, layer-by-layer. The darkest corners of the galaxy are giving up some of the grimmest secrets."
Nor is this reserved for the "modern" setting of 40k: the deepest secrets of the settings foundation myths are also coming to light. There is no better example than the end of the Horus Heresy. We now know, cannonically, what happened on the bridge of the Vengeful Spirit. We know how the Emperor defeated Horus, what their final conversation was, what was the nature of Horus' final fate*. Before, we had well-founded speculation, of course, but we didn't have the nuance. There was space to wonder, to imagine. Now, there is only the truth.
Finding out is always fun. A well-sprung reveal, the kind that makes you splutter and point at the screen, or put your book down in disbelief, is incredible. Legion by Dan Abnett remains, I think, my favourite book in the Heresy series for the amazing secrets it brings to light (as well as some of the best character-work in the series). But revealing the truth also means no longer having the pleasure of speculation, of wondering without knowing. That's a beautiful place to exist in, and I wonder if GW should be cautious of revealing too much; of going too far beyond the veil.
Holding on to the unknown: the lost legions
My favourite, of all of the mysteries of 40k, is the focus of the second of those two videos, and concerns the lost legions. What, exactly, caused to the Second and Eleventh Primarchs and their entire legions to be written out of history...?
It's a fascinating little mystery. We know that 20 legions were created, and that all of their Primachs were scattered to the warp and then subsequently recovered. We know that they all, at least for a while, took part in the Great Crusade. But something, during that period, long before Horus began his own fall, resulted in not only the legions, but their Primarchs, being written out of history.
Now, in the real world, the decision to have two "lost" legions is obviously a reference to the lost legions of Rome, upon whose eponymous military structure much of the early history of the Space Marines is based.
But in world, and in the lore, it's a fascinating idea. What could two of the legions have possibly done not only to be lost, or killed, but systematically purged from history?! After all, even though they are the greatest servants of the great enemy, we still know the names and titles of the nine traitor Primarchs and their followers... so what possible sin could the missing two have committed to face such a singular obliteration?
As to their fate: were one or both of them killed by Russ - often nicknamed "The Emperor's Executioner.."? Did they fall to chaos long before the disastrous fall of Horus? Were they involved in some way in the apocalyptic xenocides against the Rangda, that broke the Dark Angels and nearly brought the fledgling crusade to its knees? Or.... did they defer in ideals and temperament so broadly from the Emperor's principles that their presence could not be tolerated - resulting not only in their annihlation but in history being purged of their influence..?
For all the horror of their betrayal and its impact in making 40k into the hellscape it is in the modern setting, we still know the names of the nine traitor Primarchs. So whatever the lost two did must have been utterly intolerable, anathema to the Emperor and his creed.
"Whatever the lost Primarchs did must have been utterly intolerable, anathema to the Emperor and his creed. "
To put it bluntly, we have no concrete evidence around the missing brothers** lives, their ambitions, their deeds and their fates. We know Sanguinius fears the same fate might befall his own, flawed legion; so too do others suspect a similar fate might await the Night Lords. Russ certainly plays into his role as executioner, but then equally expresses surprise at the death of Ferrus Manus, shocked that his kind could even be killed. There are fleeting references in modern 40k, too. The Custodes are confirmed to harbour "Subject XI" in the Dark Cells, deep beneath the Imperial Palace on Terra: is that the 11th Primarch, sealed away for over ten millenia, or just a red herring, left by a canny marketing team?
Either way, I don't want to know.
Well, I do... Of course I do. But if I ever did hold that knowledge, then the mystery would be lost. It's a dangerous business, revealing a secret; as once out in the world, they can never be coaxed back into their bottle.
In conclusion
As I so often a theme with this little thought pieces it seems unlikely that I will have my way where the future of 40k is concerned. The Primarchs are, likely, mostly all going to return in some form or another. I wouldn't event put it past Sanguinius, the most dead of all the deceased brothers, returning in some form or another, simply because that model would sell, really, really well. And at the end of the day, the ultimate purpose of every story spun from the Black Library has one overarching aim: to sell products.***
I'm sanguine about that fact, in truth, but a part of me does feel that the 40k setting will lose something if too many of its core tenets are brought into the light. There will be new mysteries, of course; new riddles sprinkled through the newer lore. But I worry that those newer revelations will pale in comparison to the secrets upon which the very fabric of 40k as a universe have been built.
To conclude this article, I'd like to give the final word to Rick Priestley. It seems appropriate that, if anyone can, one of the godfathers of GW, and the one responsible for spinning this particular piece of the lore**** in this interview (which can be found on Reddit). When asked about the missing legions, Priestley had this to say:
"I left them (The legions) blank because I wanted to give the story some kind of deep background - unknowable ten thousand year old mysteries - stuff that begs questions for which there could be no answer. Mind you all that got ruined when some bright spark decided to use the Heresy setting - which rather spoiled the unknowable side of things - but there you go!"
It's a sentiment I echo strongly. Mystery is at the heart of what makes 40k such a compelling sandbox to play in - and that seems to have been explicitly the plan, way back in the distant past of its creation.
Things have changed, of course - as Priestley himself notes. But for me, not knowing is at the heart of the fun. Let the lost Primarchs lie, safe from the truth. The story of the world I adore so much is richer for it.
Until next time,
Alex
*I like to imagine this disappearance explains the Rainbow Warriors being present in early 40k lore and then rarely appearing in modern text.
**Or sisters...? It's a fun thought...
***Just wait until Ferrus Manus comes back to life, missing a head and on fire.
****Well... a lot of the lore, really.
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