Ahzek Ahriman is the greatest sorcerer the Thousand Sons ever produced, and the man who doomed his own Legion trying to save it. If you’ve heard of the Rubric of Ahriman, he’s the one who cast it.
Who is Ahriman?
Ahriman is a Chaos Space Marine of the Thousand Sons, Tzeentch’s chosen Legion. He was born on Terra in the late 30th Millennium into the Achaemenid Empire, one of the tribes that sided with the Emperor early, which is why his people mostly escaped the worst of the Unification Wars.
He and his twin brother Ohrmuzd were picked for the Legiones Astartes, and Ahriman climbed all the way to First Captain and Chief Librarian. He was also Magister Templi of the Corvidae, the Legion’s precognition cult, and he was very, very good at it.
The fall of the Thousand Sons
Five years into the Great Crusade, the Thousand Sons started showing psychic gifts, and with those gifts came the flesh-change, a mutation that twisted their bodies without warning. The Legion was dying by inches.
Magnus the Red tried to warn the Emperor about Horus and wrecked the Webway project doing it. The Emperor sent Leman Russ and the Space Wolves to bring Magnus to Terra, but Horus twisted the orders into a kill command. Prospero burned, and the Thousand Sons were dragged into Tzeentch’s orbit whether they wanted it or not.
The Rubric of Ahriman
After the Heresy, the flesh-change was still killing the Legion. Ahriman devised a great spell meant to cure it. Instead, it turned most of the Thousand Sons into dust sealed inside their armour, the Rubricae, while the strongest psykers were spared, and in some cases made more powerful.
It didn’t work the way he wanted, and his brothers have never fully forgiven him for it. Magnus banished him, and Ahriman has been wandering ever since, chasing a true understanding of Tzeentch that he’ll probably never reach.
- Cured the flesh-change but killed most of the Legion, sort of
- Created the Rubricae: dust-filled suits of armour that still fight
- Got Ahriman exiled from the Thousand Sons
What he’s doing now
Ahriman leads the Prodigal Sons, a warband of his own, and he’s still hunting knowledge. No library, vault, or fortress in the galaxy is safe from him, and he’s launched a second Rubric at least once trying to fix the first.
He’s active from M30 right through to the modern setting, including the Thirteenth Black Crusade and the Era Indomitus. For a guy who’s been exiled twice over, he keeps turning up in the middle of everything.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Born | Terra, c. late M30 |
| Homeworld | Prospero (formerly) |
| Titles | The Exile; former First Captain, Chief Librarian |
| Affiliation | Thousand Sons (exiled), Prodigal Sons, Tzeentch |
| Status | Active, M30 to present |
Key facts
- Ahzek Ahriman is the greatest sorcerer of the Thousand Sons and a servant of Tzeentch.
- He was First Captain, Chief Librarian, and Magister Templi of the Corvidae before his exile.
- He cast the Rubric of Ahriman, which turned most of his Legion into dust-filled Rubricae.
- Magnus banished him after the Rubric, and he now leads the Prodigal Sons warband.
- He’s been active since the late 30th Millennium and is still hunting forbidden knowledge in the 41st.
FAQ
What is the Rubric of Ahriman?
It’s a massive spell Ahriman cast to stop the flesh-change killing his Legion. It turned most Thousand Sons into dust inside their armour (the Rubricae) and left the strongest psykers intact. It saved the Legion from extinction but broke it in a different way.
Why was Ahriman exiled?
Magnus banished him for casting the Rubric without permission and for the disaster it caused. Ahriman’s been wandering the galaxy since, chasing knowledge of Tzeentch.
Is Ahriman still alive in current 40k?
Yes. He’s active in the modern setting, leading the Prodigal Sons and still on his endless quest. He’s one of the oldest living Chaos Space Marines.