New Chaos Space Marines Battleforce Sets (First Look)
Bow down to the Dark Gods of the Warp! We dig our claws into two new Chaos Space Marine Battleforce box sets.
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In the grim dark lore of Warhammmer 40K, there are countless Chapters of Chaos Space Marines, each with their own dark rituals and brutal histories. Yet one of the most unusual legions is undoubtedly the Emperor’s Children. Once the beloved sons of the Emperor himself, they were eventually twisted by the forces of Chaos, retreating into the shadows of the galaxy where they wreak havoc and live only to satisfy their dark urges.
The Emperor’s Children are also no stranger to the world of Warhammer 40K fiction, with their demonic ranks appearing in several Black Library novels and short stories over the years. Now, these Heretic Astartes are the focus of a new novel entitled Renegades: Lord of Excess by Rich McCormick, which is available for pre-order now from both Games Workshop and Amazon.
So just what can you expect to find in this new outing featuring these gluttons for punishment? Below we break out all the details.
What is “Renegades: Lord of Excess” About?
Written by Rich McCormick, Renegades: Lord of Excess follows the exploits of Xantine, the leader of a warband of Emperor’s Children known as the Adored. After carrying out a series of destructive raids in a backwater system, Xantine and his Chaos Space Marines stumble upon Serrine, a wealthy and cruel planet suffering under the yoke of a brutal regime. The world is also cut off from the Imperium by a network of warp storms, making it the perfect place for Xantine to conquer and rule.
Yet, all is not well in paradise as Xantine must deal with scheming factions and his own fellow Adored as he struggled to maintain control. The end result is a deep dive into the twisted and chaotic minds of the Emperor’s Children.
Who are the Emperor’s Children?
The Emperor’s Children are one of the original twenty Legions of Space Marines and were once renowned for their loyalty, martial prowess and dedication to perfection. In fact, they were so esteemed that they were the only Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes to bear both the name and personal heraldry of the Emperor of Mankind.
The Legion was led by their Primarch, Fulgrim, who was discovered by the Emperor on the remote mining planet of Chemos. Fulgrim’s obsession with perfection in all things – including martial skill, aesthetic beauty and the pursuit of knowledge – deeply influenced the culture and values of the Emperor’s Children.
During the Horus Heresy, the Chapter became fully corrupted by the Chaos God Slaanesh, the deity of excess and pleasure, eventually becoming one of the most debauched and morally degenerate of the traitor Legions and engaging in acts of unspeakable atrocity that horrified friend and foe alike.
Today, the Emperor’s Children are a scattered force of Chaos Space Marines who continue to worship Slaanesh, indulging in the excesses and perversions their god represents. The Legion is characterized by their use of sonic weaponry and the range of mutations and surgical alterations designed to make them more “perfect” in the eyes of their twisted god.
Who is Author Rich McCormick?
Rich McCormick is a UK-based author, video game producer and journalist. He is currently the Head of Production at XR Games, an independent video game studio with a focus on VR titles. Prior to that McCormick worked as a journalist, predominantly covering the video game industry for publications including PC Gamer and the Verge.
Notably, Renegades: Lord of Excess is McCormick’s first novel, both as a published author and a contributor to Games Workshop’s Black Library. That being said, McCormick has contributed short stories to a number of Black Library anthologies, including Galaxy of Horrors. His short story A More Perfect Union also focuses on the Emperor’s Children.
When Will “Renegades: Lord of Excess” Be Released?
Renegades: Lord of Excess will be released on April 6th, 2024. At that time the book will available from both Games Workshop, Amazon and other online and brick and mortar retailers.
Notably, the eBook and audio book versions will also be be available at that time. A softcover version will also likely be available several months after the initial launch.
How much is “Renegades: Lord of Excess” Retailing for?
The hardcover copy of Renegades: Lord of Excess retails for $30 USD (although prices may vary depending on where you buy your copy from, and whether it’s online or in person). Notably, a future paperback version should retail for roughly $21 USD.
On the Black Library website, the eBook is retailing for $14.99 USD, while the MP3 format audio book is retailing for $51.99 USD. Notably, on Amazon. the Kindle version is retailing for $13.99 USD.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It’s great to see a Black Library novel with the Emperor’s Children as the protagonists, given that they’re one of the most unusual and often overlooked Chaos Space Marine Chapters. It’s also great to see a new writer like Rich McCormick (whose short stories have been solid) able to make his mark on Warhammer 40K lore.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on Renegades: Lord of Excess in the days ahead and will provide a more detailed review closer to launch. In the meantime, you can pre-order the book now from both Games Workshop and Amazon.
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Daniel Martin is located in Boston, Massachusetts and has been an avid wargamer for as long as he can remember. Black Templars remain his favorite Warhammer 40K army and he enjoys board games, cycling and spending way too much money on miniatures.
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