The 41st Millennium has been a tumultuous time for High Marshal Helbrecht. Despite losing his hand in a duel with Imotekh the Stormlord, he still found time to ravage Ghazghkull’s fleet above Armageddon, and then clap back at his necron nemesis by blowing up his personal tomb ship. Now, having crossed the Rubicon Primaris, he seeks to make a good show of the 42nd Millennium in Helbrecht: Knight of the Throne.
A fateful encounter with the reborn Roboute Guilliman – a living (albeit unwilling) symbol of his faith – leaves Helbrecht shamed… yet a striking vision draws him to the ruined world of Hevaran. To learn more about this latest tale in the Black Templars’ annals, we asked author (and new Black Library sensation) Marc Collins and editor Will Moss for their thoughts.
“Helbrecht is amazing to write”, Marc enthuses, “because of his unflinching devotion and zeal, his urge to prove himself worthy of his office, and his willingness to hold his ground – even in the face of Guilliman.”
With the chance to claim a relic that once belonged to his gene-father Rogal Dorn, the fervour that drives Helbrecht – for good or for ill – may be his most powerful weapon against those who would bar the way.
“When you’re as faithful as Helbrecht and find yourself chastised by the God-Emperor’s reborn son, what do you do?”, asks Will. “You do your duty. This is a story filled to the brim with pathos, heart, and the very best Space Marine action, as Helbrecht journeys the penitential path.”
Since the release of all their fantastic new models last year, the Black Templars are more popular than ever.
“When Marc pitched a novel following on from Helbrecht’s first meeting with the Primarch, it’s a moment where faith clashes with reason and the High Marshall comes away ‘shamed’,” adds Will. “We knew we had to explore that pivotal moment.”
“Writing the novel itself wasn’t something I took lightly”, Marc explains. “I had to get to grips with one of the most iconic characters in the setting, and one I’ve loved for over a decade. The Black Templars have always been my Space Marines. Helbrecht is their exemplar.”
Hevaran is a ruined world, reduced to rubble in the days following the Siege of Terra – but relics of those dark times lie just below the surface. The ramifications of Helbrecht’s quest could echo throughout the galaxy…
If you’re itching to join High Marshal Helbrecht on his latest daring adventure, stick with us here at Warhammer Community to find out when Helbrecht: Knight of the Throne is coming to pre-orders. Want to be one of the first to hear all about it? Sign up to the newsletter today and have every fresh reveal delivered right to your inbox.
