ARKS OF OMEN: THE LION - The Lore | Warhammer 40,000 

It's funny how every time abaddon succeeds in something, a primarch returns

*With his new tool, Vashtorr begins madly tunnelling into different dimensions, promising new troops for Abbadon* *Vashtorr suddenly rips his skinmask off and reveals himself to be the Great Horned Rat in disguise* *Space Skaven invasion of Abbadon's fleets* *Vasthorr Lawls*

I have to be honest, having the Lion's epic return be him just chilling on the Blood Angel's ship made me laugh so hard.

you didn't tell one of the best part, when Blood Angels initially come, the Dark angles replied them coldly, this mission is supposed to be secret and they didn't expect outside reinforcement, but when Dante said that the Lion is with him, temporary shock silence appear followed by immediate overwhelming response from Dark Angels Communication, , lmao, it's really hyping to see Dark Angels broke their cold secretive demeanour when they heard their father return

I like the fact that vashtorr got what he wanted and didn't got banished like every daemon ever

"Somehow Palpatine returned"

Imagine Asmodai's reaction when a Fallen walks up to him, slaps him in the back casually and says "you're pretty good!" While giving Asmodai's the finger guns before moving towards rear guard positions. Edit: lmao this actually happened, but to Azrael instead. A Fallen walks past him but not before giving him a pat on the shoulder, and calling him 'brother'. Azrael was absolutely seething.

It feels nice to have Vashtorr not get completely wrecked by a named Imperial character and actually achieve his goal somewhat

The idea of some of the fallen angels wanting to redeem themselves upon seeing the lion is actually kinda cool. Like they're regaining hope and faith in the imperium

My personal take on the lion waking up is that he wasnt sleeping the entire time, that he would be woken by the watchers and sent via some esoteric means to remote worlds to kill horrific beasts, the great rift cutting off his means of transporting back thus he would have to reveal himself to any nearby imperial forces to get back to the rock, revealing himself to be revived for the first time.

It was pretty neat how a chaos character completed their Plan with A W, And not some new imperial character shoving their shit in

I might have detected a hint of sarcasm more than once in this video.

"Surprise would be their greatest weapon... And overwhelming firepower... Surprise and overwhelming firepower would be their greatest weapon... And a fervent belief in the Emperor.... Surprise and overwhelming firepower and a fervent belief in the Emperor would be their greatest weapon...." Thanks for another great video.

I am hoping that the device tunnels through parts of the webway where Jaghatai Khan is supposedly lost in and accidentally frees him, thereby perpetuating the meme that is "Failbaddon".

The most crucial thing I think is the whole "the engine just opens a portal to another dimension entirely" because we can assume from hints across the lore that theres more than just the warp and chaos in weird higher dimensions

I've always found the Dork Angels unintentionally comical. Delivering the Rock, a known ennemy objective, to a known ennemy ambush was truly one of the best tactical decision in the history of tactical decisions, maybe ever.

I think the significance of an element of Chaos having access to the webway is that they didn't have it before. While the warp is the domain of Chaos, the webway was a safe passage through it. Chaos have attacked the webway when others have let them in, but now they have their own way of entering and even creating new sections for themselves. The Eldar are going to be in serious trouble.

Also, Inquisitors have been noted on what have happen after the battle. It is a tease where all Inquisitors are being "Awakened". Probably fancy word for a urgent meeting for all members and associates across the galaxy to discuss on what to do next.

With regards to Abaddon I believe he doesn't want to fully give in to Chaos like Horus, so would likely want to maneuver in the warp without need of Chaos god benefactors. Especially if he acts in spite of them to some degree.

In the jungle, the might jungle the Lion sleep tonight.

Always love your presentation on the latest lore Ian. looking forward to more!

Thanks Ian a lot for making these! They've been a delight and very helpful.

I have watched every video of your Arks of Omen. I have enjoyed every single one. Thanks for taking the time to read it and then telling us about it 😄

I'm assuming the setup is that with this device, teleportation directly to Terra and even perhaps within the Emperor's Palace is made possible, because otherwise I don't see the point of the device. Another idea that's probably way too far-fetched is: They use this device to MOVE THE GALAXY away from the Tyranid invasion.

I'm getting serious Moss-man vibes from the Lion's reappearance. And I can tell you this, I'm here for it! 😅

I would love to see you have your take on the Necromunda Campaign Books. The Aranthian Succession, while just getting their second book, is an amazing look at Necromunda right during the coming of the Great Rift.

*Poe Dameron Voice* "Somehow, El'Jonson returned!"

"There was a Webway Tunnelling device just lying around this whole fucking time!?" - The God-Emperor

Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to like about this book. The return of the Lion, the rehabilitation of the (non-Chaos) Fallen, the continuation of old plotlines involving cosmic machines, and just a big THING for the Dark Angels to do that _isn't_ just hunting their Legion's ancient traitors. Even Abbadon and Vashtorr winning is pretty neat. But it kind of takes the wind out of the book's sails when that victory...does mean anything yet. Nor is this plot thread likely to be addressed anytime soon, since the start of 10th will be firmly focused on the whole Fourth Tyranic War. A four-part series that turned into a five-part series, that built up into a finale...that wasn't really a finale. It feels more like a prelude to the _actual_ story that _might_ be continued multiple years from now (assuming GW don't just drop that plot like they did with the Y'narri sword gathering quest). At least when Chaos won the last time, it destroyed Cadia and broke the galaxy in half. Here, we were brought to the edge of something significant, and then the story stops. Not ends, just _stops._

And that's how the Khan returns. Thank you for this cause i hadnt gotten to check out Arks of Omen yet.

I get the feeling "the Lion's been asleep all along" is going to be at least partially retconned, and for pacing or length reasons they felt like this wasn't the place to get into it. I'm not saying it was a good choice, but I can at least think of situations where it wasn't a baffling one. As for the webway, I have a couple ideas as to it's significance - the biggest and most obvious is a direct route into the Emperor's throne room - even if the portal has been sealed, breaking that seal is probably less of an ask than battling through sol and terra. The second is more esoteric but strikes me as a better explanation for Vashtorr's interest - there are plenty of hints that there are non-warp dimensions with lots of weird and powerful stuff going on, like the mandrake's realm in commoragh, or the place the Cythor fiends actually live in where they aren't mating, or whatever "The Harrowing" was in Dark Heresy. The webway seems like it exists somewhere between the warp and more physical realms, which might make it a significantly easier route for daemons to access them. The third is related to that last point above, but is a lot more boring - it could be marginally easier for demons to manifest in the materium by breaking in to the webway and leaving through a portal, which doesn't strike me as a particularly big deal post-noctis aeterna but it's something I guess.

Imagine if this is the ultimate heel-toe... Have Vash turn out to be an agent of the Emperor and he uses the device to reinforce the Web way gate on earth. This in turn allows the Emp to safely deactivate the golden throne and "die" to be reborn whole again.

A tunnelling device that can rip through reality itself? This just reinforces my theory that Vashtorr is the Horned Rat in disguise, yes-yes

I was in the bus smiling like an idiot while watching this video, i just can't wait for the new lion's book to comme out. Hope it's at least as good as alpharius head of the hydra

SOMEHOW the Lion returned..... great video!

Sounds like it might be a little like Devastation of Baal - some elements that seem rushed over and possibly even comedic until you see further context in the novels. At the time I remember being annoyed that Guilliman showed up to killsteal at the end of the Devastation, but the novel did a much better job of focusing the narrative back on the Blood Angels. Now it seems like the Blood Angels are doing the same to the Dark Angels, swooping in to complete their story arc for them, but we'll have to wait and see if the same thing happens here.

Chaos wins… I never thought GW would actually let them do that. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Whoever nabbed the old GW can keep them.

Greatest Dark Angels/Blood Angels team up since the 2nd Ed. Codex.

Awesome video. Concise, entertaining and informative. Thank you for having great pacing and respecting your audiences times. Looking forward to the next video. Keep up the good work.

I am howling at that candle reference. 🤣

Although this book is named "Lion" it really isn't about him. It just gives you the Lion which is lame I agree. But as an Ark of Omen conclusion this seams quite fine. This whole storyline is about Vashtorr as he is a completely new character so unlike someone established like Lion he needs things thrown his way to quickly establish him as someone interesting. It's not like we won't get tons of books and lore about Lion so I don't really care that they are not in this book tbh.

"Hey guys, we know Vashtorr wants the teleporty mcguffin, think we should maybe guard it with like ALL THE DEATHWING or something?" "Nah, there's no way he'd be able to get into The Rock twice, right?" Did anyone else think that these things are just lifted from the Mother Boxes from DC?

ORAC? Someone at games workshop has been rewatching Blake's 7

hmmm the Risen huh sounds like the perfect excuse for me to have some heresy dark angels if i ever get into heresy i could use some of those nice FW minis as Risen with the heresy colors and it would be narrative to have them in and around my 40k Dark Angels when dads around looking at you Deathwing Companions and Knights Cenobium

Loved getting back into 40K lore (played as a kid) through watching all your videos. Please keep up the great work.

I mean, Chaos getting access to the Webway would mean they can get to the Black Library without too much problem. Which I'd assume Vashtorr would want.

In the Imperiums darkest hour, a new expensive miniature arrives.....

I’m so glad Vashtorr won, another chaos loss for the new cool chaos “god” would have just been lame. Also I just really like him as a character.

Great job on this series, love your concise telling of the stories. Keep it up

The point of the key was to turn Vashtor into a new Chaos god. Which means the question to be asked is what could a webway built in the warp could do? Not from real space to real space, but warped space to warped space. Abadon probably will want this to invade Terra, but my guess Vashtor wants to use it to invade the heart of the other god's realms. To tie Slaannesh's sanctum to Khorne's throne to Nurgle's soup pot to the center of Tzneetch's labyrinth. To weaken the other god's through making their seats of power vulnerable

Well.... With the new coming tyranid war I hope the chaos fleets burroing in the webway attach the hive mind or something cause there's not going to be imperium to destroy if they don't do anyting.

"Somehow, the Lion returned" - Dante, probably

Gotta love the fact that Vashtorr pulled out the webway and Emps didn't...well ouch.

"... Vashtor read that book..." LOL

I love your warhammer 40k videos! Keep it coming!

I appreciate that there is all this buildup to the Lion's return and his "return" is literally just Dante showing up at the end of all the events and being like "Hey guys I know we're not like really friends but I found your dad at the fuckin' bus stop he was kinda just stuck there I hope you guys aren't mad."

The ‘A pleasing pine fresh comment’ cracked me up. Nice one Ian

picturing vashtorr reading the unforgiven is very funny for some reason

The GW site just crashed on me preordering this and is now "down for maintenance" very frustrating and so this if the perfect antidote, I will keep my money and enjoy your video instead!

I’m really enjoying this cheeky storyteller facet of your channel and I am keen for which ever campaign/story you decide on next :)

Been waiting for this! Thanks dude!

As a megafan of space marines with over 4 homebrew written loyalist chapters i am glad to see Orkz and Chaos win. A webway tunneling device seems really op in the sense that it could allow travel anywhere SAFELY. The denizens of the warp are most likely dangerous to demons and chaos warbands alike.

So for the last 30 years I have been waiting for my Primark to wake the hell up from whatever secret chamber in the rock the watcher's dragged his comatose arse off to and then he just rocks up on a Blood Angels ship with their chapter master and apparently has been about for a while but we don't get any explanation or exploits? To say I find this all a little confusing and not well conceived would be an understatement.

Once again Ian comes to the rescue to explain silly GW lore. Got to admit even I was a bit shocked that this this book and the Arks of Omen as a whole really was just "and then The Lion came back".

I've been waitng for this. Thanks for these videos Ian.

I was expecting a webway related doohicky ever since the silver key tarot card. I expect Abaddon wants the webway for strategic domination of the galaxy (plus he doesnt like relying on the chaos gods for anything so if he can zip around the galaxy without paying lip service to them for free passage through the warp all the better), and Vashtorr wants it to burrow into the Black Library and bypass the defences of the Harlequins and gain all that juicy juicy knowledge

Legit would have no idea what was going on without ya dude, keep it up 🔥

Love the videos Ian. You explain the lore really well

Thanks, Ian - another great summary. Plenty of threads left dangling, which I’m sure GW will explore in future content. Bring on the Lion novel, and whatever is on the other side of the 4th Tyranic War ( which I’ll guess is when abaddon will pop up again ).

Maybe the new engine is not to travel through the warp but for abandon to travel through the void that the necrons and cawl are creating with the weird pilons things

Loved your honest summaries of the series!

Haaaaaah, the story doesn't feel complete, or even rightly written, but that's always a pleasure to see one of your videos, Ian.

Thanks for doing these! 👍

Yay Chaos for tha win! Yay, more 40K beards! Yay, pine freshness!

Great video as usual Ian!! Very interesting story

Amazing content, thanks again for this 🙏🙏

Your presentation style, always delightful, is in rare form today. It definitely feels like the writers were told to “make it work” narratively & they tried. They really tried.

I just love this - it's a great way to keep up with the lore to have someone summarise it with a healthy does of irony and sarcasm. Thank you 🤣

Thanks I have been waiting for your recap ❤

Great breakdown as always

Thanks for the recaps!

Appreciate you Ian. You and that new Attenborough channel are my go-to''s for Lore because of the professionalism worthy of a Librarian.

Aside from the poorly (un)explained return of the Lion, and some stupid shit (like the Lion coming out of "green mists" because you know, the Dark Angels paint scheme is green lol) this seems like a pretty solid ending for a GW story arc! Always nice to see Chaos achieve something, honestly.

Awesome stuff thanks.

Its a shame that the book is just like "The Lion is here now" without a lot of fanfare, but I guess GW's rulebook team doesn't want to step on Black Library's toes. Aside from that, though, I actually really liked what was presented here. Pushed forward a bit of the story with The Fallen, some Angels of Death action with both the DA and BA, Chaos get a W which I'm sure Chaos fans enjoy after AoO 3 where Belakor did a little trolling, and of course we get a Primarch Fight and I like a good old fashioned Primarch Fight. I hope the Lion novel will cover not just his awakening and immediate return, but also his reunion with his Sons and his reaction to Guilliman splitting all the legions into chapters back in the day.

'Chaos win one' is a nice change

Satisfactory might be good word for the series as a whole. Nothing as monumental or groundbreaking as the fall of Cadia or the indomitus crusade but internally coherent with some teasers for future content and enough call backs and gravitas to spur on some changes in the setting and justify the (re)introduction of some new characters. Angron getting worf'd becoming something of a trend is a bit unfortunate. Overall 7/10.

best 40k lore channel going ! thank you so much !

Yesss the best lore channel is back

great work man

Came straight here after reading the Mike Brooks book deffinetly recommend it Ties into the Lions book nicely

I like how, in essence, Vashtorr completed his "master plan", and then he and the forces of chaos just dip. He's all like "I've completed the device, later losers" and they all just leave through a portal.

I like it It's an interesting direction

Loved this series sorry to see its over

Thanks for you Videos! They are Absolut awesome 👌

Imagine Roubutte and Lion talking "Do you believe that Dante guy? Charging at Angron! How did he live 1500 years actint like that"

Great summary!

Ya know, i'd love it if one day we get to see a chaos primarch returning for once

Really disappointed Ghaz didn't show up to help Krump Angron

Somehow The Lion returned!