Warhammer: Four Sacrifices on the Path from Mortal to Astartes

“They said I was just a string of numbers, ‘117-Kalion’ on the casualty list.

Until I opened the three blood-red diaries buried alongside me

A fanatical Sister, a mad Tech-Adept, and a Lamenter despised by the entire universe...

It turned out this doomed war held a secret even the Emperor dared not speak of.”

Four diaries, four final testimonies, one ultimate sacrifice concealed by the Imperium.

I am Kalion, a conscript from the agricultural world of Balthasar. They told me this was a glorious expedition.

Then 90% of my company died in the first drop, and I discovered the truth: the higher-ups had always known this was a sacrifice.

I peeked at the classified logs of three “important figures”:

Matilda, squad leader of the Order of the Bloody Rose. She discovered that faith could not explain the time loops and phantoms on the battlefield. When the God-Emperor fell silent during the most important prayer, she began to wonder... Was the holy relic we protected a blessing or a curse?

Galta-7X, an Archmagos of the Adeptus Mechanicus. He came in search of ancient technology, only to be infected by a data-virus in the ruins. As his team members turned into mechanical monstrosities one by one, he made a mad choice: “If knowledge must be bought with souls, then let the trade be made.”

Saphaniel, an Astartes of the Lamenters Chapter. They were children of a genetic curse, rejected by every faction of the Imperium. But when we all retreated, only these “Cursed Ones” chose to stay behind, giving their lives to buy the civilians seven final minutes: “Our shame began with a great sacrifice that no one ever knew about.”

And I was just the mortal Kalion.