The Timeline of The Empress Returns · 4:37am Nov 27th, 2018
Updated as of 8/22/2021
Some of you have asked for a timeline of events within the story, to make sense of everything. Well, for your sake and mine, here it is:
The Grand Timeline of The Empress Returns, starting from where I first defiled canon until now
Be warned, there will be spoilers ahead, some major, some not.
M42
- 098.M42- The Second Battle of Terra: Following the first successful breach of the Cadian Gate, Abaddon’s Black Legion falls upon Terra. The Defense holds for a time, but the attack stalls when Abaddon is consumed by the Emperor, the Lord of Mankind using the Despoiler’s lifeforce to hasten His resurrection. The Black Legion is routed and leaderless, fragmenting into small warbands as the Imperial forces easily retake all that had fallen. After the Emperor’s ascendancy into the Warp, Imperial Scholars question why none of the other Traitor Legions took advantage of the Black Legion’s march...
- 099.M42- Dark Alliance: While ruminating on the nature of Chaos, Lorgar Aurelian of the Word Bearers first comes in contact with a being calling itself “The Dark God”. This creature claims to be the purest being of Chaos, and plants a vision in the mind of Lorgar of five Gates to increase its power.
- 100.M42- The “Death” of Ghazghkull: High Marshal Helbrecht and Commissar Yarrick corner the infamous Warboss Ghazghkull Thraka on an ice world near the Maelstrom. The Warboss manages to slay the High Marshal in single combat before battling Yarrick, the two falling into a chasm never to be seen again. The Black Templars include Yarrick upon their honour roll for the Crusade, moving to Galactic East following the extermination of all remaining Greenskin forces.
- 103.M42- The Hunt Begins: Fearing how events have become more destructive in recent years, senior members of the Space Wolves declare a new mission: find Leman Russ and bring him back to lead the Imperium. Five hundred veterans led by Bjorn the Fell-Handed and Ulrik the Slayer, along with scores of Imperial Guard volunteers, make for the Eye of Terror in search of the lost Primarch, disappearing beyond the Cadian Gate later that year.
- 105.M42- the Collapse of the Fourth Sphere: with Imperial forces directed elsewhere, the Tau Empire declares the beginning of its Fourth Sphere Expansion, with goals to finally breach the realm of Ultramar. Initial campaigns go well, but disaster strikes when a neglected Chaos Cult summons the Great Unclean One Ulkair upon a Tau Sept World. The resulting chaos sees Commanders Longstrike and Shadowsun slain, and gives the Ultramarines and Black templars ample excuse to storm into Tau occupied space on a quest for vengeance. By the time Chapter Master Titus and Emperor’s Champion Josephus slay the daemon, all Tau gains have been lost and the frontier even rolled back by a system or two. This disaster causes a rise in defections to the Farsight Enclaves while the Ethereals choose to focus their attention to Galactic East and North, lest the Ultramarines decide to finish the job.
- 400.M42- The Schism of Ultramar: Following the Battle for Terra, exiled Captain Titus was reintroduced into the ranks of the Ultramarines, helping to rebuild the Chapter following the losses it suffered on Terra. As part of his efforts to revitalize the Chapter from what he saw as stagnant traditionalism, Titus relaxed some of the restrictions of the Codex Astartes, primarily in Chapter strength and tactical approach. When Titus was slain in efforts to contain the Fifth Sphere Expansion of the Tau Empire, a traditionalist wing of the Ultramarines and their successors arose to challenge if not undo Titus’ reforms, seeing them as too radical and destabilising. Words were exchanged, and while no blood was shed the Ultramarines split into two competing factions, the Traditionalists holding the original name while the Reformists renamed themselves “The Scions of Guilliman”, and each one claims to be the true exemplar of the Codex and Roboute Guilliman’s teachings. An uneasy peace has lasted in Ultramar since then.
- 420.M42- The First Gate Opens: Led by his visions from the Dark God, Lorgar arrives on the old homeworld of the Eldar, where he encounters six Keepers of Secrets hunting for remaining souls of the xenos. Lorgar defeats the six and sacrifices them upon a stone altar, renouncing the Four in swearing allegiance to the Dark God Ascendant.
M43
- 777.M43- Odd Portents: Lorgar opens the Fifth Gate of the Dark God upon the dead world of Eclypsa, decapitating champions from each of the Traitor Legions in ritual sacrifice (including his foster father Kor Phaeron, who had the misfortune of speaking out against Lorgar’s new line of worship). Upon completion, Lorgar sees the image of a dragon-like figure laughing at him from the shadows, but upon approaching the figure all he finds is a glass of chocolate milk.
- 832.M43- The Beast Arrives: Tendrils of Hive Fleet Cetus make their first appearance in the galaxy. The largest Tyranid Fleet on record, Cetus attacks the Imperium on two fronts, one tendril striking Galactic South while a second skirts along the northern frontiers of the Tau Empire.
M44
- 222.M44- The Lunar Heresy: a flare in the Astronomicon sees an outbreak of Tzeentchian cults across the Imperium. Unbeknownst to humanity, this is a result of Tzeentch possessing Princess Luna and waging war against Celestia. His defeat leaves him weakened, but link the two universes on the same time scale for the first time since the Emperor’s departure (with a few slip ups now and then).
- 532.M44- The Eighth Gate is Opened: Following new revelations, Lorgar opens the Eight Gate of the Dark God, seizing the last surviving Blackstone Fortress in existence and binding the Changeling, the Masque, Skulltaker, and Epidemius to his will. This catches the attention of Khorne, who begins to have suspicions that the Gods are about to be betrayed.
M45
- 098.M45- A Relic Recovered: Mir’shen, Champion of the Salamander’s 5th Company, strikes down the Ork Warboss Grok Toofsnatcha on the Forge World of Polyphemus IV. Upon inspecting the kill, the Champion recovers a small dragon headed staff, presenting it to his Captain as a potential trophy. The staff is identified as the Song of Entropy, one of the Nine Relics of Vulkan and one of the last two still missing, and Mir’shen is named the next Forgefather of the Salamanders for his discovery.
- 163.M45- A Healer Rises: Distraught by the carnage around her, a young Sister of the Argent Shroud named Bianca renounces her Oaths of Battle and joins the Sisters Hospitaller.
- 180.M45- Scars Earned: Dark Eldar of the Cabal of the Bladed Lotus strike a sparsely populated Agri World on the Eastern Fringe, slaying and enslaving many of its citizens. Only quick response from the Gracia Convent of the Order of Our Martyred Lady is able to drive off the raiders. During the fighting, leading Canoness Diana rescues a young orphan named Naomi, who is inducted into the Order as an Aspirant following the fighting.
- 190.M45- Looking to the Future: While sojourning with the Tanith First and Only, Lord Inquisitor Markos marks a young girl by the name of Sarai Olivier as a psyker. The girl is taken aboard the Black Ships and sent to Terra for Sanctioning.
- 200.M45- the Game Breaks: Sensing weakness, the Dark God reveals itself and begins to consume the realms of the Four. Slaanesh’s pleasure gardens are the first to fall, countless devotees to the Prince of Pleasure falling dumb for several minutes as the Dark God absorbs their patron. Harlequins begin to appear more frequently among the Eldar Craftwords and the streets of Commoragh, and rumors of the End Times begin to circulate among the xenos
- 200.M45- A Light and the Mare: Twilight Sparkle is born.
- 217.M45- The Battle of Morya: The tech-world of Morya rises in rebellion, traitors praising a warped version of the Machine God believed to have Necron influence. Four regiments of the Death Korps of Krieg and two Legions of Skitarii, supported by Knights from House Hawkshroud and the Gracia Convent of the Order of Our Martyred Lady, are sent to deal with the traitors, leading to bloody siege warfare that sees most of the Gracia Convent's new batch of recruits slaughtered. After the battle, Sister Superior Naomi is placed in command of Sisters Ruth, Judith, Veronica, and Rebecca.
- 220.M45- Friendships Forged in Fire: The Valhallan 79th Mobile Infantry is deployed against Hive Fleet Cetus on the world of Braxas IV, launching a number of quick strikes to destabilize the Hive Fleet’s presence on the world. During that time, stormtroopers Alexis and Nikolai help to rescue an Ordo Xenos strike team stranded behind enemy lines, and are approached afterwards by Mattias Velas with a job offer.
- 222.M45- Victories and Allies: Sister Bianca is recruited by Mattias to tend to his Sanctioned Psyker, Angelique. A universe away, Twilight Sparkle arrives in Ponyville and defeats Nightmare Moon, destroying the last stable bastion of Chaos in Equestria.
- 225.M45- Only Destruction Remains: The Dark God finishes its consumption of the Four, killing Tzeentch within his Maze after a protracted fight with Khorne. Tzeentch’s last message rings through the Warp, alerting Imperial psykers that something terrible in scope has happened. Celestia hears the message in Equestria and makes plans to return to the Imperium.
And thus begins The Empress Returns...
(using months to make things more understandable)
February, 225.M45: Twilight Sparkle and Celestia cross over into the Imperium of Man; Celestia broadcasts her arrival to the Imperium. Magnus, Fulgrim, and Lorgar meet.
March, 225.M45: Mattias meets Twilight and Celestia for the first time.
December, 225.M45: the Sanguinium Martyres enters the Segmentum Solar ahead of schedule; Inquisitor Markos requests aid, and Sister Naomi and her Battle Sisters are dispatched to Terra.
January, 226.M45: Celestia reveals herself as the Empress; Mattias and Twilight are sent to find the Raven while Celestia consolidates her power. Markos departs Terra.
February, 226.M45: Twilight and Mattias return to Terra with Corvus Corax; after a week of discussion to assure the Primarch she is the Empress, Celestia declares a Second Great Crusade. The Lion is awoken from stasis.
July, 226.M45: The Crusade Fleet departs for Caesaria IV. Lorgar meets with Fulgrim and Magnus again.
December, 226.M45: The Crusade Fleet arrives at Caesaria IV; Markos is killed and Twilight is first contacted by the Harlequins.
May, 227.M45: The Dark Angels arrive on Caesaria IV; Celestia parlays with the Lion to assure him of her identity. Magnus strikes Angelique with visions of Hive Fleet Cetus attacking Rynn’s World and Prometheus, and Alpharius asks Lorgar for troops to secure the Anathame Blade.
November, 227.M45: The Crusade Fleet arrives at Prometheus, the first stage in their journey to Rynn’s World. Twilight meets Vulkan Mir’shen.
May, 228.M45: The Dark Angels and the Imperial Guard attack Rynn’s World. The Dark God reveals itself to Celestia and Mattias learns Twilight is a pony.
June, 228.M45: Using the Blackstone Fortress as a conduit, Lorgar binds the leaders of the four Marked Legions to the Dark God and uses the power surge to destroy Cadia. Twilight and friends depart for Solemnace. Celestia is rerouted to Caesaria IV and encounters Sarai Olivier, instructing her to go to Ultramar and find Twilight. Leman Russ leave the Eye of Terror and follows in pursuit of the advancing Traitor Legions.
December, 229M.45: Sarai Olivier arrives in Ultramar to begin her investigations. The Battle of Agrippina begins with Corax, the Lion, and Leman Russ blunting the advance of the Traitors.
August, 238.M45: The Sanguinium Martyres arrives at Solemnace, followed soon after by a Chaos Fleet led by Magnus the Red and Alpharius. Vulkan Mir'shen is killed, and Sister Judith awakens the Element of Laughter.
September, 238.M45: Primarch Vulkan is awakened from the Unbound Flame, and Sarai Olivier discovers the wreck of the Sanguinium Martyres. Corax attacks Perturabo's fortress on Agrippina, activating an abandoned tomb in the struggle.
November, 238.M45: Twilight and her party arrive on Ultramar.
Okay how can this NOT be Malal?
Oh fuck, Discord's stirring the pot.
Awesome!
4973436
Now... That Discord seems to be the OLD villain Discord... At this point in time Discord should be halfway redeemed [as we diverge from canon cartoon minutes before Magical Mystery Cure]... I'm wondering what is going to be... As up to now the Ascendant Chaos has just been fundamentally helpful [and a troll...]
It could be Malal or it could be Discord. Personally I want it to be Discord, for it would be a great moment when he shows himself to Celestia/Empress and in what the traitor legions think it's their moment of revenge and glory he turns around and summarily beats them by joining Celestia.
Remember, this timeline is post Twilight ascension, so Discord has been reformed.
Also the Dark God did destroy a hive fleet, but in the process saved the Humans on Rynns world. There are a lot of mysteries, but if it is Discord, him helping the Empress in a way that would let her to believe he is evil is perfectly in character.
Only time will tell though
4973464
Not quite. Iowa said elsewhere that Discord was never reformed in his universe
What is the fate of the remaining Gods and C´tan? Are they still active or have they also been dealt with?
4973556 Cegorach and Isha are still active, and Celestia will be meeting with them soon (the Laughing God most definitely). Gork and Mork spend most of their time beating each other up, so their continued existence is of no concern to the Dark God at this time.
The C'tan are still about, and at least one of them will have bearing on the plot.
4973464
One question I have is if the dark good killed the entirety of Cetus or just the splinter attacking Rynn,s World.
4973461
Iowa said elsewhere that Discord was never reformed in this universe
4973612
Hm if that’s the case it’s definitely a pity...
I really like Discord and prefer the “positive” goofball...
On the other hand... the behavior up to now is definitely positive if trollish...
4973573 Yes.
4973621
Lol.. chocolate milk....