Malcador The Hero

By CyanAngel, in Dark Heresy Gamemasters

Posted at

Would people in the setting know of Malcador and his exploits?

In my season I ruled no, on the basis that a lot of what Malcador did was acting in The Emperor's absence or highly classified (founding the Inquisition, creating the Grey Knights etc), so the young Ecclesiarchy would remove him from stories because "The Emperor is perfect, he doesn't need any help" and the Inquisition would expunge all records of him for similar reasons. I conceded that some records probably exists in obscure scholastic and forbidden tomes (the character asking has Scholastic Lore (Legends) so I figured if anyone might know anything, it would this character), but even low ranking preachers, those who know the "Good Book" inside and out, would be unlikely to have encountered records of him.

I was wondering if anyone else has some thoughts/sources on the matter?

Edited by CyanAngel
Posted at

Well, he was Regent of Terra, he was the very first of High Lords of Terra (appointed by Emperor himself, so it's kind of legitimisation for them), he was dead heroically in the last hours of Horus Heresy. Legends says hundreds versions of his last heroic deed.

But yeah, it was ten thousand years ago, and you don't really need Malcador for Imperial Creed, so you should really have intresting for ancient history to know about him. Such as... everybody who have a glimpse about history of Middle Ages knows who were William the Conqueror or Urbanus PP. II, but Roger de Montgomerie is another matter.

My opinion and interpretation, of course.

Edited by Aenno
Posted at

Malcador tank was named after him.

I suppose his name is at least a little known.

"The Emperor is perfect, he doesn't need any help"

Then I hope they'll remove the Primarchs from the story too, and stop asking people to do their duty for the Emperor, since he doesn't need help.

Citizen and normal people are encouraged, in the Imperium, to do their part while giving examples of such men that gave all they've got for the Emperor.

Also, there is the case of Saint Pius (if I remember his name correctly) that was a simple guardsman that sacrificed himself to help the Emperor in his fight against Horus. The poor lad was named saint for the help he gave the Emperor that day.

Of course, people doesn't know of the classified stuff Malcador did, but a great part of his official job should be known*

*At least, by those that aren't herding grox 100% of their time and have the luxury of knowledge and education.

Posted at

Well, he was Regent of Terra, he was the very first of High Lords of Terra (appointed by Emperor himself, so it's kind of legitimisation for them), he was dead heroically in the last hours of Horus Heresy. Legends says hundreds versions of his last heroic deed.

But yeah, it was ten thousand years ago, and you don't really need Malcador for Imperial Creed, so you should really have intresting for ancient history to know about him. Such as... everybody who have a glimpse about history of Middle Ages knows who were William the Conqueror or Urbanus PP. II, but Roger de Montgomerie is another matter.

My opinion and interpretation, of course.

I think you're on to something here, mentioned in historical records, but isn't really given wide recognition, hidden in the shadows of The Emperor's angels and saints.

Malcador tank was named after him.

I suppose his name is at least a little known.

Didn't know about the tank, but a name of a vehicle doesn't really give context, why is an F18 called a Hornet? You have to know what a hornet is to understand the reference, otherwise it's just a name.

Then I hope they'll remove the Primarchs from the story too, and stop asking people to do their duty for the Emperor, since he doesn't need help.

Citizen and normal people are encouraged, in the Imperium, to do their part while giving examples of such men that gave all they've got for the Emperor.

Also, there is the case of Saint Pius (if I remember his name correctly) that was a simple guardsman that sacrificed himself to help the Emperor in his fight against Horus. The poor lad was named saint for the help he gave the Emperor that day.

Of course, people doesn't know of the classified stuff Malcador did, but a great part of his official job should be known

I can see where your coming from, I guess my Emperor is perfect thing was a bit to broad. I guess its a matter of, who's stories are interesting and you would be allowed to tell.

The Primarchs and Space Marines are The Emperors angels going out, performing mighty deeds and striking down the foes of Man. The story of Ollanius Pius is also easy to tell without exposing Heresy.

As our Glorious Emperor prepared to strike down the foul, traitorous Horus, Saint Pius bravely stepped forward. Though a humble Guardsman, he fought valiantly against the Arch Traitor, but Horus used his vile cunning to strike him down.

While this is a flagrant manipulation of what actually happened that day, it covers the major points, provides an point of inspiration for the Guard and avoids Heresy.

What can we say about Malcador that doesn't cover some form of Heresy or is, well boring?

He found the Administratum and was the Regent of Terra while the Emperor went out and was a bad ass.

Ok great, good for him, what he did is massively important, but that's not a heroic epic that will keep the masses enthralled.

He founded the Inquisition.

Created the Grey Knights.

Sent the moon Titan into into the Warp and shielded it from that realm to protect it from the traitor legions.

Powered the Astronomicon and kept the Warp Rift sealed while the Emperor fought Horus.

Ravaged by the Warp Rift and drained by the Astronomicon he gave the last of his life energy so that the mortally wounded Emperor could survive long enough to give his final orders and be placed upon the Golden Throne.

Can't talk about any of that. I cant find any way to manipulate these facts that don't obviously raise more questions and the last thing The Imperial Creed needs is more questions that lead to forbidden knowledge.

Edited by CyanAngel
Posted at

He administered the Imperium and founded many of it's institutions, and worked closely with the Emperor.

He was the greatest human psyker ever - the AAT probably still remembers him well enough!

@ CyanAngel. "he gave the last of his life energy so that the mortally wounded Emperor could survive long enough to give his final orders and be placed upon the Golden Throne." Well, that sounds perfectly appropriate. A geat symbol of self-sacrifice! why couldn't we talk about that?

Posted at

He administered the Imperium and founded many of it's institutions, and worked closely with the Emperor.

He was the greatest human psyker ever - the AAT probably still remembers him well enough!

So many of the Imperiums institutions are so bogged down in bureaucracy, I wouldn't be surprised if the the details of their founding wasn't put in a filing cabinet and lost for ten thousand years.

I take your point about Astra Telepatica, they might remember him. But aren't even sanctioned psykers feared by the populous? Would anyone listen if they went around saying "No guys, there was this guy, he was the Emperors BFF and we has the greatest moral psyker around!"

Well, that sounds perfectly appropriate. A geat symbol of self-sacrifice! why couldn't we talk about that?

Acknowledging that the Emperor is mortal? Remember that 40k takes inspiration from real world analogues. Imagine telling a devout Catholic that God and Satan got into a fight and God was mortally wounded but Saint Luke sacrificed himself so that God might not die, how would they react?

Posted at

Acknowledging that the Emperor is mortal? Remember that 40k takes inspiration from real world analogues. Imagine telling a devout Catholic that God and Satan got into a fight and God was mortally wounded but Saint Luke sacrificed himself so that God might not die, how would they react?

Well... problem is in catholicism God died. For three days only, but he died. And decline it IS ARCH-HERESY.
Posted at

Acknowledging that the Emperor is mortal? Remember that 40k takes inspiration from real world analogues. Imagine telling a devout Catholic that God and Satan got into a fight and God was mortally wounded but Saint Luke sacrificed himself so that God might not die, how would they react?

Well... problem is in catholicism God died. For three days only, but he died. And decline it IS ARCH-HERESY.

Unless your a member of one of the sects that believe that Jesus and God are seperate beings, sigh... it going to turn into one of those things 40k hand waves away by saying "oh it varies from place to place" AKA "Common Lore (Ministorum) is redundant"

Edited by CyanAngel
Posted at

So many of the Imperiums institutions are so bogged down in bureaucracy, I wouldn't be surprised if the the details of their founding wasn't put in a filing cabinet and lost for ten thousand years.

Well, why ask a question if all the answers to it are like this?

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Well, why ask a question if all the answers to it are like this?

Because I was hoping to get some interesting points of view and I got them :)