Cults of the Thousand Sons - Warhammer 40k (2024)

The Cults of the Thousand Sons were non-standard organisational divisions within the (relatively) conventional structure of the Thousand Sons Space Marine Legion.

Pre-Heresy

During the Great Crusade the Thousand Sons legion was highly unusual in that it could be described as almost a legion of psykers. While some marines of the 9 Fellowships (Companies) that made up the legion by the close of the Crusade had little or no psychic ability, many possessed immense power. This power was harnessed and developed by the legion cults^[1x].

There were five cults in total, their membership being irrespective of Fellowship or other organisational distinction and based solely upon an individual's chief psychic talent. Each Fellowship was therefore made up of marines from all the cults, although some cults did tend to dominate certain Fellowships. Each cult had a pyramidal headquarters in Tizca, where knowledge specific to the cult's area of expertise was kept and relevant training was carried out, as well as their own insignia, displayed upon their armour on the shoulder guards, within the centre area formed by the nature of the Legion's 'serpentine/starred circle' symbol^[1x].

The five cults represented the different aspects of psychic powers employed by the Thousand Sons, and each specialised in one particular area of psychic mastery. They were founded by the nine original members of Magnus the Red's innermost cabal, who between them had variously spontaneously developed the five distinct abilities of psychic power that would form the basis of the cult system. Each cult developed a hierarchy, with the cult leader being known as the Magister Templi. Two ranks are placed higher than this, that of Magus and Ipissimus. The Magus, master of all the cults, was Magnus the Red. And while not actually a member of the Thousand Sons cult system, the position of Ipissimus was created to represent the Emperor, the perfect being. ^[1j].

It is currently unknown what happened to the Cults of the Thousand Sons in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy. It should be noted that Ahriman (very powerful in Corvidae abilities but severely lacking in all others) instinctively drew on the powers of the Pyrae and Pavoni to great effect within moments of arriving on the Planet of Sorcerers^[1p], much to his surprise. The implication being, organisational changes forced on them by circ*mstance aside, that the Thousand Sons would discard their cult system as no longer relevant.

Cult of the Corvidae

The Corvidae's specialty was precognition; the ability to see into the future. Their purpose was guide the Legion along its path in conflict and overall philosophical development. Specific battlefield applications of this power included not only foreknowledge of enemy strategy, but direct knowledge of events just about to happen; this would allow a member of the Corvidae to move safely though an incoming barrage^[1e] or execute precision gunfire in the most complex of circ*mstances^[1g].

The symbol of the Corvidae was that of a black raven's head^[1b].

Notable Corvidae Members

• Ahzek Ahriman - Magister Templi of the Corvidae, Chief Librarian and 1st Fellowship Captain of the Thousand Sons.
• Amon - Equerry to Magnus the Red and 9th Fellowship Captain. Founder of the cult and first Magister Templi.
• Ankhu Anen - Guardian of the Great Library of Prospero.
• Sobek - Practicus to Ahriman.
• Menkaura
• Revuel Arvida

Cult of the Pyrae

The Pyrae are pyrokinetic, able to both generate and control fire. Their powers can also be used to make them effectively immune to pain or injury caused by fire. They can project the fire they generate in many ways, principally as variations of shields or projectiles^[1o]. The temperature and lethality of flame can be controlled; as it is warp-powered, Pyrae fire can become exceedingly lethal to not only anything it alights to, but also anything in the immediate vicinity of the flames. Pyrae teachings also seemed to include the ability to control and manipulate automata, such as Robots^[1f] and even Titans^[1n].

Their pyramid on Tizca was topped by an constantly burning finial. The front gate of the pyramid was not surmounted by a golden statue of their cult symbol, like the other cult pyramids, but by Canis Vertex, a powered-down Warlord Titan of Legio Astorum that had been brought back to the city by Captain Khalophis after a particularly notable campaign. The Titan would eventually be deployed in the Battle of Prospero, and perish there.

The symbol of the Pyrae was that of a scarlet phoenix^[1d].

Notable Pyrae Members

• Khalophis - Magister Templi of the Pyrae and 6th Fellowship Captain.
• Auramagma - 8th Fellowship Captain.
• Memphia - Founder of the cult.^{[Needs Citation]}
• Cythega - Founder of the cult. It is unclear whether one or both of the founders were considered Magister Templi.^{[Needs Citation]}
• Tolbek - Adept of the Pyrae, a member of Ahriman's Cabal and later killed by Ahriman himself. ^[2]

Cult of the Pavoni

The Pavonae are apparently able to use their psychically-generated powers to manipulate body chemistry, in themselves and others. In skilled practitioners this can be displayed as both the control over one's appearance (being able to - within reason - resculpt one's facial features into a more pleasing cast). Another simple use known of was making oneself immune to dehydration.^[1a]. Direct battlefield demonstration of Pavonae abilities tended to focus on the offensive use of lightning generated from one's own nervous system^[1h] and the ability to boil the blood of their enemies^[1m]. Pavoni are also able to use their abilities in the field of healing^[1k].

Ahriman noted that members of the Pavoni tended to be the most egocentric of the Thousand Sons^[1c].

The symbol of the Pavoni was that of a colourful feather^[1h].

Notable Pavoni Members

• Hathor Maat - Magister Templi of the Pavoni and 3rd Fellowship Captain.
• Hastar - Member of the 1st Fellowship; Hastar is particularly notable for being the first member of the legion to fall victim to the flesh-change since the coming of Magnus. He was shot by Leman Russ in a mercy-killing/execution, one of the first ever recorded Astartes on Astartes acts of violence and the first known time a member of the Thousand Sons was killed by a member of the Space Wolves. The founder of the cult was also called Hastar; it is unclear if this is supposed to be the same person.
• Imhoden - Founder of the cult, along with Hastar. It is unclear whether one or both of the founders were considered Magister Templi.^{[Needs Citation]}

Cult of the Athanaeans

The Athanaeans are telepaths, able to read the thoughts of others as well as transmit their own. Athaneanans complement Corvidae in intelligence operations - while Corvidae interpret what may happen and influence strategy, Athaneans are able to discern current movements and influence immediate tactics. Athaneans also provide secure communication. Battlefield roles involve direct intelligence gathering and transmission^[1i].

Notable Athanaean Members

• Baleq Uthizzar - Magister Templi of the Athaneans and 5th Fellowship Captain.
• Phanek - Founder of the cult.^{[Needs Citation]}
• Thothmes - Founder of the cult. It is unclear whether one or both of the founders were considered Magister Templi.^{[Needs Citation]}
• Sanakht

Cult of the Raptora

The Raptorae are telekines, trained in using their own telekinetic power as a means of both offense and defense. Offensively, Raptorae could direct physical objects at enemies, as well as simply use their powers to directly manipulate enemies; ripping parts of them off, for example^[1o]. Defensively, they generate 'kine shields', barriers of invisible physical force that blocked attacks. Kine shields were not just generated for personal protection; Raptorae could also project this ability to shield others. The largest kine shield known to have been achieved covered the entire city of Tizca, generated from the Raptorae pyramid by a massed group of cult members. Generating such shields can be draining for the marine or marines involved, with damage inflicted on the shield eventually taking a toll: The Raptora group generating the Tizca kine shield suffered fatalities whilst resisting particularly high-yield weaponry^[1l].

Notable Raptora Members

• Phosis T'Kar - Magister Templi of the Raptorae and 2nd Fellowship Captain.
• Phael Toron - 7th Fellowsip Captain.
• Atrahasis - Equerry to Ahriman^[4]
• Ahtep - Founder of the cult.^{[Needs Citation]}
• Luxanhtep - Founder of the cult. It is unclear whether one or both of the founders were considered Magister Templi.^{[Needs Citation]}

Cult of the Aquilae

The sixth Cult, known as the Aquilae, never officially formed. Its self-proclaimed founder Aqhet Hakoris sought permission to have the cult recognized by a council of Magnus the Red and the other key officers of the Thousand Sons. However, this Cult specialized in astral projection and gazing into the Warp in order to gleam truths of the universe, including the cure for the Flesh Change. After a hearing, Magnus deemed the Cult too dangerous to exist and had its members scattered throughout the Legion. ^[5]

Notable Aquilae Cult Members

• Aqhet Hakoris - Magister Templi^[5]
• Djet - Hakoris' practicus^[5]
• Khaleif^[5]
• Nepfithu^[5]

Post Heresy

Post Heresy, the Thousand Sons maintain Nine Cults based on the Planet of the Sorcerers. At the head of each is a memberof the "Rehati" (member of the Legion Inner Circle) who bears the ancient rankof Magister Templi. Beneath each MagisterTempli are nine other Daemon Princesand Sorcerers who, though lesser in rank,still bear much of Tzeentch’s favour. Thesenine steer the cult along the ever-changingpaths of fate. Other Sorcerers hold lowerpositions in the cult, and along with troops,tanks, mutants and Daemon Enginesare capable of claiming vast swathes ofrealspace for their cult masters. Each culthas worlds from which they draw resourcesand magical energy, and populous planetsto provide them with constant streamsof Cultist soldiers, slaves and subjects fortheir arcane experiments.^[3]

Nine Cults^[3]

• The Cult of Prophecy - Prophets and soothsayers
• The Cult of Time - They view the flow of time as an unwrought resource that can be shaped into a weapon. By their victories, ripples are sent both forwards and backwards in time, so that their enemies may be defeated before they are even engaged.
• The Cult of Mutation - Embrace the warping of flesh and transforming planets into Daemon Worlds
• The Cult of Scheming - Consists of master planners. Every action taken by this cult is a perfectly planned maneuver leading to a unseen master stroke.
• The Cult of Magic - Embraces pure sorcery and seek to obtain arcane objects across the Galaxy.
• The Cult of Knowledge - Seeks to uncover hidden knowledge particularly tomes of eldritch learnings, dark secrets, and paradoxical logic.
• The Cult of Change - The great unravellers, launching their armies wherever order, civilization, and reason exist. They seek to impose their will in areas where anarchy exists.
• The Cult of Duplicity - Unique in that they both are and are not unified by a desire. Its Sorcerers are deceivers and it is unknown if they are acting independently or as part of a singular unifying plan.
• The Cult of Manipulation - Operating vast networks of spies, they oversee acts of mass manipulation to destabilize worlds and sway their enemies.

See also

• Scarab Occult
• Order of the Jackal
• Order of Ruin
• Order of Blindness

Sources

• 1: A Thousand Sons (Novel) by Graham McNeill
  • 1a: Chapter One, pg. 16
  • 1b: Chapter One, pg. 26
  • 1c: Chapter Two, pg. 37
  • 1d: Chapter Eight, pg. 134
  • 1e: Chapter Twelve, pg. 207
  • 1f: Chapter Twelve, pgs. 214
  • 1g: Chapter Twelve, pgs. 220-221
  • 1h: Chapter Twelve, pg. 222
  • 1i: Chapter Twelve, pg. 223
  • 1j: Chapter Seventeen, pgs. 300-301
  • 1k: Chapter Twenty-Four, pg. 423
  • 1l: Chapter Twenty-Seven, pg. 474
  • 1m: Chapter Twenty-Seven, pg. 487
  • 1n: Chapter Twenty-Seven, pg. 489
  • 1o: Chapter Twenty-Eight, pg. 493
  • 1p: Chapter Thirty-One, pg. 553
  • 1x: ^{[Needs Citation]}
• 2: Ahriman: Exile (Novel) by John French, ^{[Needs Citation]}
• 3: Codex: Thousand Sons (8th Edition) - Cults of the Thousand Sons
• 4: The Fury of Magnus (Novella) Chapter 5
• 5: Blood of the Emperor (Anthology) - The Sixth Cult of the Denied (Short Story)