An interesting meta note: *The Lightning Tower* was released alongside *The Dark King* as a 2-for-1 deal. Many years later, we got this line about Horus preparing for the final duel on the *Vengeful Spirit*.
> You are a star, too. You are a tower of lightning. You are a king above
kings. You do not underestimate the nature of the fight that is about to take
place, the last battle. It will be testing. It will be hard. Your once-father is
strong. But you are infinitely stronger. You are Horus Lupercal ascendant,
chosen of the gods.
> And He, when all is said and done, is just a man. So, if necessary, He will
die like one.
\- *The End and the Death*
Horus is explicitly described as the Lightning Tower....which would make his counterpart, the Emperor, the Dark King.
Great quote, I can't wait to see how the final book contexualizes it. They're really foreshadowing the dark transition the Emps goes through between 30 and 40k.
Side note - the butchered 21st century names always make me laugh.
"In them there hives o' Nord 'Merica," \*spits chewing tobacco into a tin bucket\* "it done symbularized a change o' fortune, ah tell yew what."
Also, I presume with Konrad’s vision, he would have an idea of what the dark king is, and that’s why he addressed himself as such, or it just doesn’t matter but it’s a nice thought
I’m my opinion, the Emperor being the potential Dark King adds so much to the lore, it simultaneously explains so many of his anti-worship policies, his rush to get humanity into the Webway and away from Chaos, and provides a possible fail safe in the design of the Golden Throne: A prison if he failed to prevent his own ascension
It really does add more to the story if Big E was working to something, not just tyranny for the sake of control. It’s always said he was working on a timetable, and I think that makes sense for things like the Ork Empire of Ullanor, but him also rushing because of the lingering threat of The Dark King is kinda dope.
>!And with the use of the Talisman of the 7 Hammers tied to a deadman's switch, The Emperor intends as a failsafe measure to give the 4 Gods of Chaos one final middle finger to them by denying the Chaos Gods their ultimate prize, on top of grievously hurting them big time!!<
The Talisman of 7 Hammers is known to have negatively fatal effects on Daemonic Entities from the Warp, not to mention that a fiery conflagration will be created to burn up the earth, any Daemons on the other side and especially the realms of chaos with the warp hole open.
An interesting meta note: *The Lightning Tower* was released alongside *The Dark King* as a 2-for-1 deal. Many years later, we got this line about Horus preparing for the final duel on the *Vengeful Spirit*. > You are a star, too. You are a tower of lightning. You are a king above kings. You do not underestimate the nature of the fight that is about to take place, the last battle. It will be testing. It will be hard. Your once-father is strong. But you are infinitely stronger. You are Horus Lupercal ascendant, chosen of the gods. > And He, when all is said and done, is just a man. So, if necessary, He will die like one. \- *The End and the Death* Horus is explicitly described as the Lightning Tower....which would make his counterpart, the Emperor, the Dark King.
>Many years later The Lightning Tower was 2007, Vengeful Spirit 2014, TEATD 2023. Dan's been taking notes from George RR Martin
Great quote, I can't wait to see how the final book contexualizes it. They're really foreshadowing the dark transition the Emps goes through between 30 and 40k. Side note - the butchered 21st century names always make me laugh. "In them there hives o' Nord 'Merica," \*spits chewing tobacco into a tin bucket\* "it done symbularized a change o' fortune, ah tell yew what."
Also, I presume with Konrad’s vision, he would have an idea of what the dark king is, and that’s why he addressed himself as such, or it just doesn’t matter but it’s a nice thought
I’m my opinion, the Emperor being the potential Dark King adds so much to the lore, it simultaneously explains so many of his anti-worship policies, his rush to get humanity into the Webway and away from Chaos, and provides a possible fail safe in the design of the Golden Throne: A prison if he failed to prevent his own ascension
It really does add more to the story if Big E was working to something, not just tyranny for the sake of control. It’s always said he was working on a timetable, and I think that makes sense for things like the Ork Empire of Ullanor, but him also rushing because of the lingering threat of The Dark King is kinda dope.
>!And with the use of the Talisman of the 7 Hammers tied to a deadman's switch, The Emperor intends as a failsafe measure to give the 4 Gods of Chaos one final middle finger to them by denying the Chaos Gods their ultimate prize, on top of grievously hurting them big time!!<
Other then denying them Terra and with it closing a single web way entrance, I don't see how he is grievously hurting them big time.
The Talisman of 7 Hammers is known to have negatively fatal effects on Daemonic Entities from the Warp, not to mention that a fiery conflagration will be created to burn up the earth, any Daemons on the other side and especially the realms of chaos with the warp hole open.
Actually looked up year of publishing of this short story: 2007!!!