New Horus Heresy audio drama : Grey Angel

[Brother Dimetrius]

From Black Library

"On a distant world of the Imperium, an agent of Rogal Dorn finds himself the prisoner of a Legion whose loyalties may be divided. Shackled and bound, the former Luna Wolf must fight a battle of wits with his captor, lest the course of the Horus Heresy take an unexpected turn. Will his very presence drive his erstwhile allies into the arms of the Warmaster or will maintaining the status quo prevent another Legion from turning traitor? And just who is the mysterious Space Marine aiding him from the shadows?"

http://www.blacklibrary.com/horus-he...angel-mp3.html

This came out of nowhere from me, I assumed it was a preview for a future release but it's already available. I downloaded it and it's what I have come to expect from the Garro series. Short, but enjoyable, with high production values. The ending left me somewhat confused though. It's going to give fresh fuel for one of the internet's favourite 40k debates

Anyone else got it?

[Alan]

Come on give us some spoilers

[Brother Dimetrius]

If you insist

Big spoilers, so don't read if you plan on getting it!

The drama starts in media res with Cerberus and Iacton Qruze being sent by Dorn to Caliban to ascertain wether the First Legion stationed there is aware of Horus' betrayal and to evaluate their loyalty. Cerberus is being interrogated by Luther after being captured, who is himself trying to figure out who this grey armoured Astartes is and wether he is friend of foe.

Most of the drama is Cerberus and Luther trying to gauge one another. Cerberus is under orders to pass on a message from Dorn if he is able to determine that the Dark Angels are indeed loyal. He gets the impression that Luther doesn't know that the Warmaster has risen up against the Emperor, but something is holding him back from passing on Dorn's message. He finds this odd since he is not a psyker, yet he gets glimpses from taint within Luther.

After their conversation Cerberus is freed by a Watcher in Dark, who has been feeding him the extra information. The creature refuses to say why he is helping him, only that he is "showing what needed to be shown". Cerberus makes up his mind that the Angels can not be trusted, yet is insightful enough to realise that Luther's loyalty still hangs in the balance. Because of this, he is reluctant to use force during his escape, in order to avoid 'tipping the scales'.

He links up with Qruze, who is forced to shoot a Dark Angel sentry that is trying to stop Cerberus from escaping. Cerberus is angry at this since he feels that this might cause the very rift they are trying to avoid. They are then led out by a mysterious Dark Angel who knows the truth about the Heresy and they escape. The last part confused me since I wasn't able to make out who this Dark Angels was. They make a point of saying that he has "lost the ability" to forgive. I'm going to give it another listen. EDIT : It seems that it is Cypher that helps them escape.

[Brother Dimetrius]

Some extra stuff (mild spoiler)

Another big theme is Cerberus being made aware of Luther's charisma. He is eerily reminded of Horus before his corruption and realises that whatever Luther will do will be a major pivot for the Heresy. He also feels the conflict in Luther, his sense of abandonment and buried resentment over being sent back to Caliban.

And after listening to the end again

The Dark Angel that helps them escape is "one that watches from the shadows, as have those that came before him have done". He also wears armour adorned with a skeletal angel. It seems to be Cypher.
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__...ack_Armour.jpg

[zerodemon]

How long is this badboy?

[Brother Dimetrius]

Quite short, 35 mins

[Apfeljunge]

So..Is it me or where there serveral major retconns from the DA HH Novels in this story?

1. Afaik Luther learns of the Heresy at the end of Fallen Angels, doesn't he?
2. In Decent Luther is sent for Caliban after the very first campaign the DA have after the Emperor arrived on Caliban. So how can he have fought in the same battles as Loken?

[Brother Dimetrius]

It's been a while since I read the books, but I think you're right. Curious.

[DarkWarrior1981]

Sounds nice overall, thanks for posting!
By the way, if this is of interest, the story will be released as a CD come April 2013 alongside another audio drama (Burden of Duty by Jim Swallow).

[zerodemon]

I wouldn't say it was a retcon. It's entirely likely that

Luther is masking his knowledge of Horus' betrayal and that Cypher helped Qruze and Loken in order to spread the idea that Luther is ignorant. This is really the best result that Luther could expect, since killing them would certainly provoke greater suspicion.

[Londinium]

Not sure that I like the idea of people being suspicious of the Dark Angels during the Heresy. I much prefer it being their secret that they carry along with themselves and any outside knowledge of it, is fragmented information, hushed whispers, the ramblings of an Inquisitor long since disappeared etc. Having Qruze and Cerberus being very doubtful about a chunk of the Dark Angels changes this, especially if their merry band of warriors turns into the Grey Knights as many of us expect. The Grey Knights being what they are, and being as meticulous as they are, it would suggest they have deep doubts about the Dark Angels in 40k.

Also stupid Cerberus, you're dead, stop interacting in the HH series...

[CaptainSenioris]

A quick correction for the original spoiler

It is said the mysterious Dark Angel that helps them has 'lost the chance' for forgiveness which certainly fits Cypher better

I really enjoyed it, seems to have more of the effects that make ADB's work enjoyable.

[Atia]

One Question: Did you mean the old Lord Cypher or the new Cypher? *i didn't remember whats happend with the old cypher at fallen angels ... the book was not so good, i read it verry fast*

[MajorWesJanson]

Not sure that I like the idea of people being suspicious of the Dark Angels during the Heresy. I much prefer it being their secret that they carry along with themselves and any outside knowledge of it, is fragmented information, hushed whispers, the ramblings of an Inquisitor long since disappeared etc. Having Qruze and Cerberus being very doubtful about a chunk of the Dark Angels changes this, especially if their merry band of warriors turns into the Grey Knights as many of us expect. The Grey Knights being what they are, and being as meticulous as they are, it would suggest they have deep doubts about the Dark Angels in 40k.

Also stupid Cerberus, you're dead, stop interacting in the HH series...

It actually makes more sense to me. It isn't just shame over the Fallen that leads the Dark Angels into the corruptive degree of total secrecy that leads to them killing other loyal astartes, but that they are already under suspicion during the Heresy, before the Fallen make their split. If that became public, it would seem to confirm existing suspicion, and the DA as a whole would likely have been disbanded, or declared corrupt and traitors. It makes their actions far more logical than just seeming pride.