They are written now to almost openly deride him for charging forwards into battle, all the while blaming the other legions for his death.

However, recent lore has continually retconned the Iron Hands into blaming Ferrus for failing and dying. It influenced the future of each force involved, sparked up rivalries and even led to fractures forming among the loyalist forces. In a grim reflection of the Ullanor campaign, Horus proved his strategic genius, routing the Imperial forces, decimating two entire legions and taking the life of a primarch.Įven in M41 the effects of this are still being felt, as a number of legions regard that event with bitter distaste. Unbeknownst to all however, almost the entirety of the legions backing them up had turned traitor, ready to join Horus in one moment. With a spearhead force of Raven Guard, Salamanders and the Iron Hands' Morlock elite initiating the first strike, the others were sent in to back their strike. Now forewarned that his legion and four others had turned, botching their initial strike by being dragged into a bloody and costly conflict with loyalist elements of their own legions, he sought to end it with a hammer blow.Īfter a substantial number of Imperial Fists were sent to try and assist the loyalists at Isstvan III in any way they could, forces from seven legions were sent to end the rebellion in a single battle.

The outcome of each was critical to the overall victory of one side or the other, but the point where it all could have been ended has always remained the same - Isstvan V.īetter known as the Drop Site Massacre, the campaign was the Emperor's response to learning of Horus' betrayal. While the novels expand the campaign into a sprawling network of skirmishes and conflicts, the core of the actual war can be put down to the two Isstvan battles, Prospero, Calth, Signus Prime, and then Terra. As a whole the Horus Heresy can be boiled down to a few key battles.

Legion ammunition for clear the skies