Don't Be a Saint in Warhammer 40K

Cornelila von Valancius, the rightful heir of the Rogue Trader Theodora, ruler of a dynasty, sanctioned by the Imperium, blessed by the God-Emperor.

The wheels of power roll relentlessly onward, crushing the most worthless thing in this age: human lives.

He was placed at the wheels' helm, yet he was a complete anomaly.

He wanted to protect these cheap, expendable things.

Until the extermination order he issued with his own hand destroyed Little Lycard, killing tens of billions of people on the planet.

Some questioned why Cornelila had the right to let tens of billions die. The truth, however, was that he had no right to let them live.

He could kill conspiracies, purge Chaos, and repel powerful foes. But he could not save the people untouched by the God-Emperor's light.

Don't be a bleeding heart in Warhammer 40K. It won't end well.

But so what?

"I forgive every betrayal, doubt, and conspiracy I have endured."

"I accept every wicked deed and accusation directed at me."

"I will take those willing to travel alongside me and pursue a dream of wandering across the galaxy."

"Until we all die at the edge of the galaxy."

1. A Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader fanfic. Not a power fantasy.

2. The protagonist is a massive bleeding heart. He forgives backstabbing, understands his enemies, and is so good he's practically evil, so good it seems insane. He'll get more and more unhinged. After all, it takes a special kind of madman to be a bleeding heart in the Warhammer setting.

3. He doesn't go mad from the start. He goes through a process of self-doubt and mental collapse before finally taking things to an extreme.

4. The protagonist is a formidable fighter, a top-tier build with fire magic, blade dancing, and executioner skills. The Emperor's Chosen, he can unleash AoE spells at range and dive into the fray to reap enemies up close. And yet he still leads a very hard life.

5. Some familiarity with Warhammer 40K's values and moral outlook is recommended before reading, to make sure you can handle it. The main story ends with a perfect happy ending, while the extra chapters include an unhappy TE ending, because this is the Warhammer setting. There is a tremendous amount of original content.

6. A G-rated love story. The pairing is Dom Malice. There are unhealthy relationships, mind control, and explicit content. Malice appears quite late. Cornelila will initially develop a vague fondness for Heinrix, but the two are destined for a bad ending and have no chance together. This is still a one-on-one romance between Malice and Cornelila.

7. There are probably plenty of landmines, so watch your step as you read. Romance is very important, but it doesn't take up that much of the story. This book is about Cornelila's life as a Rogue Trader, not just romance.

Theme: The truth is, he had no right to let them live.