Konrad Curze: A Lesson in Darkness

Black Library Advent Calendar 2017 #22

by Ian St. Martin

A Primarchs audio drama

A world refuses unity, preferring to remain free of mankind's Imperium. But that cannot be tolerated. And so the Night Lords arrive to take the peaceful planet by force…

THE STORY
Piamen is a tranquil world in the far reaches of the galaxy. Since throwing off the yoke of alien invaders, they have remained free and peaceful… until the coming of the Imperium. When they refuse to join mankind's star-spanning empire, a force of Legiones Astartes is despatched to bring the planet to compliance. And when the Night Lords come, darkness falls. Piamen will never be the same…

Written by Ian St Martin
Running time: 27 minutes. Performed by John Banks, Beth Chalmers, Matthew Hunt, Jonathan Keeble and Toby Longworth.

Genres: 40k, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fantasy

MP3 CD

Published December 22, 2017

Reviews

[Veronica Anrathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consider this piece a personal Christmas gift from Black Library. And I give it 5 stars because I am absolutely, completely biased. Even though this story is pretty much "Konrad Curze 101", just like the one of Perturabo, it still fascinated me with this sweet, sweet darkness for which I love the 8th legion more than any other. The only issue I had is that I haven't heard Konrad's true name, the Night Haunter, even once. I feel like this name is an important part of who he is. Overall it is a fantastic audio drama, amazing voice acting as always. Night Lords' terror tactics and horror at it's finest. Loved it.

[RatGrrrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW: Extra Blood and Gore


May 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order (https://www.heresyomnibus.com) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras - Now in Immaterium of everything outside the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project working on the Primarchs and other stories, beige the Siege of Terra.

This is a bloody little amuse bouche that serves a perfect sliver of Night Haunter and his Legion's hearts you can eat in one bite.

The people of a planet have rejected Compliance and celebrate their freedom in the streets, while above them Curze and the Night Lords massacre tbe flagship of the planets defence. Night Haunter has a particularly grizzly and effective method to sow absolute terror...

(Something you might be somewhat familiar with if you are a fan of Game Changer. Am I comparing Sam Reich to Konrad Curze? *Insert unhinged Brenan Lee Mulligan rant here*)

I think it is easy to dismiss this story as gore porn or whatever, and I totally get it if this isn't your cup of tea, but I truly admire the way St Martin presents a biopsy of the black hearts of the Night Haunter and his Legion, distilling their core essence and presenting it in such an effective and efficient way.

It's funny, at the same time I've been getting frustrated with some stories being smoothed down into generic Marvel tone, this and The Fields of Abundance by David Annandale are released. That story is phenomenal, but, gee, is it uncomfortably gross and confronting about disease and death--which is perfect for what it is, but I get why somone wouldn't want to read it and I don't think I'll read it again.

The most important line in this story is: "[The Emperor] sent me"

The writing and the performance are both wonderful.

***

Wild thing to listen to before bed.

Proper review and catch up tomorrow, but for now I bumped it from three from before I started the whole completing the series thing to full marks now, as this is the most perfect and succinct distillation of the main things you need to know about the Night Lords, Night Haunter, and they're place in the Imperium and the Dark Millennia.

Through the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project and my own additions, I have currently read* all 54 Horus Heresy main series novels (+1 repeat), 25 novellas (+2 repeats), Cthonia's Reckoning, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, all 17 Primarchs novels 1 Primarchs anthology, 3 Characters novels, and 178 short stories/ audio dramas across the Horus Heresy (inc. 11+ repeats). Plus, 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself.

I couldn't be more appreciative of the phenomenal work of the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project, which has made this ridiculous endeavour all the better and has inspired me to create and collate a collection of Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 documents and checklists (http://tiny.cc/im00yz). There are now too many items to list here, but there is a contents and explainer document here (http://tiny.cc/nj00yz).

*My tracking consistently proves shoddy, but I'm doing my best.

***

Initial Review: 3/5

This is a Black Library Advent Calendar short Primarchs audio drama all about how Konrad Curze and his Night Lords Legion make war/ murder.

A planet defying Compliance who once threw off the yolk of the Dark Eldar meets the unstoppable, horrifying force that is the VIII Legion. A Night Lord questions his genesire who pontificates on his perspective on the Imperium and how they are already in the end, the only war.

This definitely wasn't my favourite audio drama, but it did a good job of building on McNeil's The Dark King, showing in even greater detail the atrocities Nighthaunter and his Legion commit in the Emperor's name. It also makes the point that the Emperor has ultimate say over the actions and deployment of the Legions. There's no way he doesn't know how the Night Lords operate and he specifically allows them to do so, sending them to worlds that resist Compliance.

It also makes an important point about fear being the power of the Imperium, which only becomes more true with the utter extremity of life in 41st Millennium.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Horus Heresy short audio drama and it was great! The Night Lords assault a planet in defiance of the Emperor and they start by attacking the planet's main war frigate in space. They make war as the Night Lords do, by decimating and torturing the crew and in an act of sheer belligerence, assemble the other 100,000+ crew after they make room for them in the cargo holds, and skin and kill them all. To make sure the will of the Emperor is enforced and the planet knows what is landing to deliver justice upon its face, the Night Lords rain the corpses of the ship's crew down upon its capital city, causing panic and mind numbing fear on the populace.
This gives a brief and murderous glimpse into how the Night Lords were damaged and barely controlled even before the events of the Horus Heresy. They are the Emperor's justice, raw and fear inducing, just as the Space Wolves are the executioners. Each Legion has its place and role and the Night Lords lend their energies to this task with relish.
Great story! Glad I got to it this morning!

Danny

[Michael Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the human world of Piamen refuses to join in Imperial unity, the Imperium sends Curze and his legion to bring the Piameni to heel. Newly reunited with his legion, Curze demonstrates his instinctive mastery of terror tactics as he brings compliance to the horrified population of Piamen.

Don’t expect big battles or full-scale actions, this is restricted mostly to Curze and Nivalus in order to highlight the personal impact of Curze’s introduction into the legion, but it’s powerful nonetheless.

Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2017/12/...

[Matthew Faherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love The Night Haunter and he is the only Primarch who actually wants to save lives, The Night Haunter is justice and The Night Haunter is moral. The Night Haunter has never done anything wrong. Every person he has skinned has earned it.

—this review brought to you by a true Nostraman patriot

[Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made for audio short story focusing on Konrad Curze and his Legion. The voice work was done very well, and you get an up close look at how the VIII Legion operated under Curze and his mentality on warfare. For a very short (under 30 minutes) story there’s a lot here to enjoy if you want to see more of Curze and his brutally efficient terror warfare

[Vansh · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the gods, what did I experience??

I'll ignore all the cryptic crap Korny said and focus on the characterization this mini-audiodrama wished to achieve- fear and conviction; Curze is defined by conviction in his use as a tool, the type of tool he is on the other hand, is one to punish, torment, cast fear. Everything from the VA, SFX, how/when certain information was revealed.
You first hear a squelching, pulpy sound, followed by a scream, which the narrator proceeds to describe to be "rip my heart out <3" in the most SFW of terms.

Curze's effectiveness from a strictly 'objective' standpoint is unmatched. His mere name brings worlds into compliance. However, I wonder if that was the 'right' way to go about it. My favourite primarch is Ferrus Manus (THE GOAT YEAGHGHGHGHGHG), I often find myself questioning if the conquerer mentality is really needed in most situations. If we look for competition, we'll find it even if the planet wished to comply. Just because there's one way to go about it doesn't necessitate it to be the best way. Or I am an optimistic fool? Perhaps.

[Oliver Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having only read the first two books in the 50+ HH books a couple of years ago, I decided to give it a go at reading the entire HH series in chronological order. Starting with the "Last Church" audiobook set in 30,800. I am using https://rateyourmusic.com/list/Tymell... as a guide on which books to read in chronological order.

This audiobook takes place around 30,900 and covers the Nightlords compliance of 85-40 and the bloody lengths they go to in order to achieve it. I really really liked this audiobook. I felt after finishing it that I wanted to go straight to other Nightlords books and read\listen to them. But I am resisting and still going though the books in chronologic order. I would highly recommend this audiobook. Whilst it is short in length it was well worth it.

[Hawke Embers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello darkness my old friend, I've come to see how awesome you are again.

Just when you think the grim dark universe couldn't get any more messed up, author Ian St. Martin brings us a short but gripping night lords short. The imagery used, especially in the very first moments of this story are rich in grandiose horror and for the briefest of moments, you can feel the terror that the planetary defense members can feel as the Night lords begin their assault.

This is a must for any fan of 40K/30K fiction, any more description would be a disservice to you, go out there and experience it for yourself

A 5 out of 5

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

It really Gives the reader a look into the life of Konrad and his decent into madness. I had always wanted to know more about the lord of the night lords and this gave me answers and yet more questions at the same time.

[Neil Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Instantly forgettable.

[Nikolas Totiev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I physically cannot get enough of Konrad

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story
A half hour audio drama about the Primarch Konrad Curze in teaching one of his sons about the legion. A world may have previously liberated themselves from the xenos and but make a mistake for daring to reject the Imperium demand of submission. It's up to Curze and his newly reunited Legion on conquering the planet defiant, in fear and terror.

Character
The only focus characters for the audio drama are only Konrad Curze and captain Niphalus.

Curze is the new Primarch that's been reunited. From there, his brutal personality already appeared. His behaviour to his legion seems like what Perturabo do in 'Stone and Iron.' Unlike him, he actually taught them on how the legion purpose and standard operation. It also explain why Curze use fear in fighting his enemies

Niphalus is a veteran within the legion before meeting the primarch. Since most of the interactions are between these two, he become the one who asked and learning the purpose of the legion.

Other character like interator Tercius Gallant and other minor characters somewhat present. But their role was very minor which already cut by the time itself.

Sounds
Environment wise, the background sounds felt somewhat alive with the music and sounds or noises. Overall, most of the sound and music is more heading to terror atmosphere.

The only problem i have to nit pick would be the one at the end. At the end some of the background noises or chatter is mostly on a loop and at the same time not that fitting. For example despite Piamen at the beginning has a different language, but somehow their chatter at the end was using gothic.

Conclusion
The story overall shows on how Curze wage war with his legion. It shows just what Curze will do for the rest of the great crusade, using terror. For a short story, its quite packed and entertaining.

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody and brutal just like the 8th Legion. Konrad and his sons bring a world into the Imperium using terror and torture. Establishes Konrad's philosophy on human nature and the most effective way to carry out war.

The writing is great and the voice-acting is perfect.

[Gică Buştiuc · Rating 4 out of 5]

entertain me more, dark primarch