The Thousand Sons are the XV Legion of the original twenty Space Marine Legions, turned traitor during the Horus Heresy and now dedicated to Tzeentch, the Chaos God of change and sorcery. They’re the archetypal psychic legion, a brotherhood of sorcerers and dust-filled automata led by the damned.
Origins and the fall to chaos
Their Primarch is Magnus the Red, a being of immense psychic power. The Legion’s homeworld was Prospero, a world of scholars and sorcerers. During the Great Crusade, they were known for psychic warfare and lore-culling.
Their fall began when Magnus tried to warn the Emperor of Horus’s betrayal using sorcery, which broke the Emperor’s webway project. The Emperor sent Leman Russ and the Space Wolves to bring Magnus to Terra, but Horus altered the orders to destroy the Thousand Sons. The Burning of Prospero forced Magnus and his Legion into the arms of Tzeentch.
The rubric of Ahriman and the dust legion
After the Heresy, the Thousand Sons settled on Sortiarius, the Planet of Sorcerers, in the Eye of Terror. Tzeentch’s favor protected them for a time, but eventually mutation threatened to destroy the Legion.
Ahriman, the chief sorcerer, cast a powerful spell called the Rubric of Ahriman to stop the mutations. It succeeded, but turned most of the Legion into animated suits of armour, little more than automatons. Only the strongest psykers retained their minds, becoming the Sorcerers who lead the Rubric Marines.
Organization and warbands
The Thousand Sons are now a collection of warbands, each led by a Sorcerer. They’re specialists in psychic warfare, using sorcery and Rubric Marines in battle. Their battle cry is ‘All is dust!’
Notable warbands include Ahriman’s Prodigal Sons, the Blades of Magnus, and the Kha’Sherhan. They operate from Sortiarius and the wider Eye of Terror, sometimes venturing into realspace to pursue their own goals.
Appearance and colors
Pre-Heresy, the Thousand Sons wore dark red and brass. After turning to Tzeentch, their armor became blue with yellow and gold trim. The Rubric Marines are often seen in these colors, their armour filled with dust.
Key facts
- The Thousand Sons are the XV Legion, led by Magnus the Red.
- They are dedicated to Tzeentch, the Chaos God of change and sorcery.
- Their homeworld was Prospero, now they live on Sortiarius in the Eye of Terror.
- The Rubric of Ahriman turned most of the Legion into Rubric Marines.
- Their battle cry is ‘All is dust!’
- They specialize in psychic warfare and sorcery.
FAQ
Who is the Primarch of the Thousand Sons?
Magnus the Red, a powerful psyker who was one of the Emperor’s sons. He’s now a Daemon Primarch of Tzeentch.
What is the Rubric of Ahriman?
It’s a spell cast by Ahriman to save the Legion from mutation. It turned most Thousand Sons into Rubric Marines, animated suits of armour, while the strongest became Sorcerers.
Why did the Thousand Sons turn to Chaos?
They were pushed into Tzeentch’s embrace after the Burning of Prospero, when the Space Wolves attacked them on Horus’s orders. Their psychic nature made them vulnerable to Tzeentch’s influence.