Name: Thedan
Star System: Ultramar Sector
Sub-Sector: Far East Sub-Sector
Star System: Thedan System Population: 30,000,000
Affiliation: Imperium
Type: Forge World
Product Level: Class I
Taxation Level: Special Exemption
Archmagos Will's life as the first Fabricator-General of Thedan Forge World was both brilliant and legendary. Born the youngest scion of a noble family on Macragge, the Ultramarines' homeworld, his life was undeniably smooth sailing until he failed to be selected as a Space Marine. Several of his family members' names were even carved onto the walls of the Ultramarines' Hall of Honor, which made Will quite despondent after his rejection.
However, his parents' substantial financial resources and connections secured his future: a grand-apprenticeship under an Archmagos of the Adeptus Mechanicus. During his studies, Will was exceptionally mediocre, even earning the nickname 'Stubborn Stone' from his classmates.
Yet, after completing his studies in three times the time it took others, and with his parents' financial support, he acquired his own exploration vessel—a modified Razor-class frigate. Everything changed then.
First, he unearthed several fragmented STC templates from ruins on a remote feral world. Realizing his knowledge was insufficient to decipher them, Will—then just an ordinary Tech-Priest—displayed a boldness unlike others who would hoard such findings. He excitedly presented them to his mentor.
The result was support in the form of two more exploration vessels, and he now commanded a small fleet. Through this successful venture, Magos Will discovered his true strength: he wasn't good at learning knowledge, but he was a first-rate speculator and profiteer.
From then on, he operated differently from other Sages. When encountering relic worlds with tough challenges, he didn't conceal the information; instead, he widely issued invitations, calling upon friends while collecting an information fee and pre-arranging profit distribution.
He generously provided aid to Imperial forces without endangering himself, and the rewards from powerful factions—including Space Marine Chapters, the Astra Militarum, Rogue Traders, and planetary nobles—were often quite pleasing. He traveled the galaxy, never forgetting to trade local specialties.
Centuries passed, and Will's title changed repeatedly as his fleet grew: from Priest Will to Magos Will to Archmagos Will. His single exploration vessel became a fleet, and then a mighty Forge Ark.
As the end of the 41st Millennium approached, Archmagos Will was in the Far East of the Imperium, engaged in combat with the rising blue-skinned Titan Empire. He believed their technology was something heretics like the plasma-wielding Ryza and xenos-tech-studying Stygies VIII would appreciate. Just as his plan was about to succeed, Cadia fell, the Great Rift tore open, and the surging Warp storms nearly caused him to become lost.
After enduring immense hardship to emerge, he learned that the Black Legion had surrounded his home, Macragge, vowing to desecrate the corpse of his life idol, Roboute Guilliman. He rushed to Macragge, resting and traveling simultaneously, damaging his ship's hull for maximum speed. He even ordered his crew to bring out the great treasures secretly hidden in his vault, causing younger Tech-Priests to leak oil in their excitement.
Upon reaching Macragge, space was a chaotic mess, and the Black Legion had already landed on the surface. Seated on the mechanical throne of his Forge Ark, Archmagos Will ordered,
"We're not living for tomorrow; blow them to bits!"
He activated his Warp shield, endured enemy fire, and drove his Forge Ark directly into low orbit, fiercely engaging the Black Legion's vessels. Simultaneously, he conducted orbital bombardments, deployed ground forces, and unleashed small vortex torpedoes, neutron beams, gravity bombs, and even sentient machines to board enemy ships. It proved that one should never underestimate a Tech-Priest called an Archmagos, especially one who rose to prominence through shrewd operations.
Fortunately, the Thirteenth Son of the Emperor, Lord of the 500 Worlds of Ultramar, the Primarch, had risen again! The moment he confirmed the truth of the news, Archmagos Will knew one thing: he was about to become rich!
Then he learned that the one who resurrected the Primarch was his mentor's mentor—Belisarius Cawl. "Oh, ho ho… indeed, loyalty is grace!" he thought.
After the battle, the loyal old Macraggean, Tydenis Will, was granted a 5-minute audience with the Primarch. While waiting, Archmagos Will didn't forget to flatter his grand-mentor, Archmagos Cawl, kneeling with remarkable smoothness. This made the other Sages grit their teeth.
During the subsequent audience, Will expressed his admiration, the honor of his family, and his longing for Macragge. Guilliman expressed satisfaction that Macragge could produce a talent like Will and hoped he would continue to assist with his plans.
Archmagos Will immediately prostrated himself, presenting a data slate detailing every Throne Gelt in his pocket, all the great treasures in his vault, his Forge Ark's production capacity, and the favors owed to him by Imperial dignitaries. Will simply said, "Loyalty is the best reward!"
Guilliman was very pleased. He personally helped Archmagos Will to his feet and verbally criticized some of the clearly heretical great treasures. He stated that Will was a selfless and unrequited good comrade, but loyalty must be rewarded.
"Roboute always repays his debts," he said.
Later, in private conversations with Archmagos Cawl, Guilliman repeatedly expressed, "You Tech-Priests are truly good at hiding things. Hand over your great treasures; the Imperium's ten-thousand-year reign depends on this battle."
Archmagos Cawl replied that he had survived for ten thousand years as a mortal, had a poor memory, and had forgotten many things. He suggested Guilliman let him think slowly.
From the reconquest of Ultramar, the launch of the Terran Crusade, to the later Indomitus Crusade and the Plague Wars, Archmagos Will unfailingly followed the Regent's lead. It was during these continuous wars that Regent Guilliman, in a High Lords meeting, stated that the 'Titan Empire' was rapidly developing and required a decisive strike. Other High Lords argued that most forces were committed to the Nachmund Gauntlet, and they urged the Regent to reconsider.
The Great Rift had divided the Imperium in half, plunging one side into darkness. The only stable passage, the Nachmund Gauntlet, was constantly besieged by Tyranid, Chaos cults, Greenskins, and other Xenos rebels. Guilliman, as the most excellent commander, knew the importance of the war in the Gauntlet. The 500 Worlds of Ultramar must be safe as the Imperium's last bastion.
During the bickering, Guilliman proposed his solution: establishing a joint command in the Far East Sector, led by the Inquisition, the Departmento Munitorum, and the Administratum to contain all Xenos forces. He also requested the Adeptus Mechanicus on Mars to approve a new Forge World, appointing Archmagos Will as its Fabricator-General.
Terra would not incur new financial deficits, the Inquisition, Departmento Munitorum, and Administratum happily received new 'slices of the pie,' Mars expanded the glory of the Omnissiah, and Archmagos Will gained a Forge World; everyone was happy.
So who paid the price? It didn't matter. Archmagos Will didn't care about these minor issues. He only knew that he was a Fabricator-General in charge of a Forge World. The reward for fawning over the Regent was so generous that it often caused him to suddenly start giggling to himself while working.
This also led to the Sages, who were envious and resentful of Will, to privately refer to him as "Idiot Archmagos," "Regent's Dog," and "Merchant Priest."
If you ask if Archmagos Will knew, the answer is yes. This feeling of "they can't get rid of me and still have to work for me" was very good. There was no other way; his backing was too strong. "If you have time to grumble, you haven't reached your limit," he would say.
Ultimately, the new Forge World was chosen on a geothermally rich planet in the Far East. Archmagos Will personally melted the surface to drive in the first rivet of the Forge World and named the planet: Thedan.
Time flew by, and the Imperium of Man remained plagued by disasters. Had it not been for the Emperor's divine power manifesting to burn the Chaos Great Enemy's Plague Garden, the Regent himself would have nearly perished. The good news was that the Nachmund Gauntlet had been cleared, and the divided Imperium was reconnected. The bad news was that the light of the Astronomican could not reach the Dark Imperium.
The human worlds there became isolated, with loyalty and betrayal, destruction and salvation constantly unfolding. At the same time, another Primarch was confirmed to have returned: Lion El'Jonson, who became the Warmaster of the Imperium.
The story now returns to the present, and to Gamma, the half-step Tech-Priest currently riding a Magos. All the information above was compiled by Gamma from listening to Magos Lauster diss Archmagos Will's rise to power, combined with information that popped into his head like triggered keywords and his memories from his previous life.
Gamma sighed to the sky: "Too late! I'm too late! The Warhammer story is almost at 42K, and all the major events I know are already history. How am I supposed to survive in Warhammer now!"