History (IoL)
Prehumanity
The history of the Imperium Humanum spans millennia of war and destruction into the darkest ages of known history. As a beacon of light and bastion of humanity in the multiverse, the entire construct has served its purpose for more than 50,000 years. But to understand the Imperium, you first need to know its prehistory. In the billions and billions of years before the existence of mankind, before the existence of the planets themselves, there was only darkness. It was called Nyx, and when the light appeared, it became the eternal arch-enemy. Lux, the light, shone into the universe and life began. Envious of a splendor beyond her reach, a first clash ensued, attacking the very foundation of reality and pushing the rifts, the dimensions, into each other. The multiverse was created and both forces retreated to a truce that lasted millions of years. Life sprouted and the first civilizations grew, chaos emerged from these psychic urges and the darkness worked on its terrible creations. The time had come when the gods stepped out of their own dimension on Omnius and created mankind. The age of light, the golden age, had arrived and projected its power into the multiverse. Under the guidance of the gods, humanity blossomed and created impossible inventions of unbounded proportions. Humanity reached for the stars and was destined to rule the multiverse as it was born to do.
War of the Gods
But in those uncounted decades of thousands, the darkest hour fell. In their terrible creations, the tide of chaos poured down upon the human realm, in their shadowy drive, nightmares infiltrated systems and in their endless lust for power and pride, brothers tore themselves apart. The war of the gods had begun, the human realm crumbled and chaos and darkness took over. The sad climax of the story was the fall of Omnius and the great duel between Light and Shadow, between the King of the Gods, incarnation of Lux, and Nyx, Darkness itself. Severely wounded, the King overcame the Shadow and banished Nyx to the farthest dimensions of the multiverse.
The Age of Darkness, Chaos and Heresy
The second generation of gods, born in this shadow, who knew only war and destruction, were left behind by the first generation and now set about a new task.
The Age of Light - Founding of the Imperium and the Long Crusade
The founding of the Imperium - the unity of mankind under the banners of the great ages, to protect the endless horrors of the multiverse and to recolonize the stars as befits the human birthright! In its splendor, in its perfection, the Empire was created amidst the mindless chaos that infested the universe. The age of Imperium began and humanity did not yet give up. In the millennia of history from yesterday to today, humanity re-established itself as the power of the universe, in its trillions and trillions of past lives, humanity immortalized itself as the most glorious race in the universe, in its countless battles and campaigns, in its endless crusades, humanity showed itself to be resilient and dangerous. The long crusade began, reintegrating steadfast bastions and eradicating chaos, illuminating the darkness and eliminating the traitors from the history books brought mankind back. Never again to its former greatness, but the goal has not yet diminished - and never will.
Crusade of the 1,000 Swords: The Great Companies