THE EMPEROR VS DRACH'NYEN

I love that GW borrows from Biblical, even just flat out human, mythos for their universe. Drach'nyen represents something so much greater than Chaos or the Ruinous Powers. He's a fundamental, irremovable aspect of mankind. Just as the Emperor represents man's (futile) quest for perfect Godliness, Drach'nyen is the opposite side of the spectrum... mankind's deepest, darkest, most brutal and sinister desires. The Emperor and Drach'nyen represent both heaven and hell inside of us.

That's why I love this lore so much. The Emperor is playing a game so far abstracted from anything we can even comprehend. He's literally plotting a course through dreams within dreams within nightmares. You'd think his "sons" would have understood that .. and not held him so personally accountable for their own suffering.

STARES INTENSELY AT A CUSTODIES ARMY then sadly at wallet.

I would kill for a novel of the unification era with the emperor and the thunder warriors. The last church was cool but it was just a short story

Im becoming addicted to these videos. You should narrate all the black library in audiobooks.

The whole " maybe some day but not today" thing gives some credence to the Abaddon being the salvation of the Emperor theory.

Drach'nyen later goes on to become the sword of Abaddon the Despoiler, makes one wonder if the Emperor had already glimpsed that far into the future. That is most fervour, and failure, of an adversary would wield the one blade that at one point could do his immortal form serious harm. Hmm, maybe Abaddon is meant to be consumed by the Demon in the sword, perhaps? And is Drach'nyen meant to kill the throne-bound Emperor, or is it just a possible future? One person theorised that when the Emperor dies he'll ascend to join with the Star Child in the warp, the Astronomican will flicker and die, and in the following anarchy the Emperor would essentially "smack" the Chaos Gods over the head to get them to stop messing around. Then he would resurrect once again in the form of a mortal, and begin a new Great Crusade, and reclaim his sons once more.

I think Drach'nyen probably appears differently to every individual who looks on it, for the Emperor that is his uncle, also worth noting... "Drach'nyen" sounds decidedly Eldar. While "Echo of the First Murder" as the Emperor called it would've probably been the Terran name for the Daemon, if he hadn't smothered all religion and warp lore from the record of history. Daemons, especially Greater Daemons are often more idea than being, and I think Big E recognized instantly what that means for a Daemon who represents the concept of "Murder." A concept that's been around since the before the Dawn of Mankind, as long as man, eldar, and every xenos in between are capable of conceptualizing the idea of "Murder" endures so too will Drach'nyen. I think Ra understood this too, once he was one with the Daemon and felt its corruption clawing at his soul, that's why he didn't object and fled without hesitation when commanded to do so. For his Emperor, for his Brother Custodes, for Mankind itself he knew he had to get this thing as far away from the battlefield as possible. Interestingly, by the very definition of his domain this means that arguably the only beings in the galaxy who is exempt from Drach'nyen's influence is the Tyrannids. Why you might ask? Because killing isn't murder to them, ever, there is only hunger, consume. When you kill a cow do you call it murder? No you would call it sustenance, it is much the same for the Tyrannids when they consume entire worlds.

The Emperor even brings forth the fallen from Istvaan including Ferrus Manus to join the fight. Lorgar was right ... God Emperor indeed.

This is before the Emperor can manifest himself in the realms of Chaos as a true god and bestow his power to mortals as we now see in 40k.

"perhaps one day, but not today" I get the feeling the emperor knows that this demon will destroy him and that it is unavoidable, only postponable. It might find its way to him in the hands of Abbadon. The Emperor just seems to be planning for that day so that when he is ultimately killed then mankind can survive without him.

Out of the few books I’ve read this one is still my favorite passage. What is stated earlier on in the book is that this was not the first murder per say. It was stated that humans have been killing each other for thousands of years. What made that one different wasn’t the fact that it was the emperors father that was killed (which is in fact true) , it’s the fact that this was the first murder committed out of bloodlust. It was the first needless murder.

When I read this I thought Drach'nyen was the echo of Cain murdering Able (which is more likely just that particular religion's mythos of the event of the first time man took a life of another man).

Very interesting that the custodes just sees a man when looking at the emperor.

The Emperor battling the innumerable hordes. Cue BFG Division

The Emperor He Protecc He Attacc But most importantly He kill Heretech Plus he's alright with people using outdated/unoriginal memes.

8.1k damn!!! Truly the Emperor looks upon with favor. I love how one of the Custodies are named Diocletian.

Wolf Lord, any thoughts on the implications? Drach'Nyen said the stars would disappear before he could corrupt a "Gold one" Now that Ra and Drach'nyen are one and the same.... (as a sword in Abaddon's hands) Perhaps Ra, is the Emperors absolution. If the great blade were to strike the Emperor (a immortal perpetual) None would dare turn off the golden throne, yet Abbadon would. He even foreshadows all of this in his last sentances to Ra. What do you think?

"Master of Mankind" and "the First Heretic" Are ties for my favourite BL stories, great job bringing forth a unique commentary on this awesome novel!

Keep up the good work! I look forward to your videos, and try to watch asap. Thank you for making such great content