The Blood Wars

"What I remember most about the Blood Wars is... how catastrophic it was. Cities, regiments, even whole worlds reduced to nothing. The sector hasn't seen anything like this since the days of the Crusade. At least the dead have seen the end of it."
- Guardsmen survivor of the 42nd Malum, shortly before being given the Emperor's Peace

The Conflict

Prelude

The Blood Wars began as a secessionist movement led by Luther Malax, under the name of the Malaxian Dominate, following their own interpretation of the God-Emperor's teachings. They petitioned to leave peacefully, however those calls were only responded with the arrival of several Imperial Guard regiments in the sub-sector.
The war turned violent after the increased militarization, and 17 years into the war, turned heretical. With the destruction of Drelograd by Chaos forces, the Malaxian Dominate revealed their true allegiances.

Outcome

The war annihilated the worlds that was fought over, with two being destroyed outright. The economy of the sub-sector was crippled, except for the factories of Gothica. The Blood Cult worlds are under the occupation of Imperial Guard forces, as they stamp out all resistance left after the death of the Warmaster. Millions of soldiers were left dead, and billions of civilians as well.

Aftermath

Since the ending of the war five years ago, the sub-sector has been slowly recovering. The scars are still very evident, but normal life is returning. On the core Blood Cult worlds, resistance and underground movements still exist, but are less than a shadow of their former selves. 
The deaths of two of the best Inquisitors in the Conclave has severely weakened their presence in the Roma sector, and they have been forced to only focus on one area at once. The other sub-sectors outside the boundaries of the Blood Wars have been neglected, with heresy on the rise.

Included Conflicts

• Scouring of Kolisk
• War for Last Hope

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Space

Start Date

287.972.M41

Ending Date

20.990.M41

Conflict Result

Imperial Pyrrhic Victory, Death of Segeric Gaut

Belligerents

Imperium of Man

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• Roma Conclave of Inquisitors

Led by

• Arch-Countess Ada Dellwig
• High Priest Kage Krivanec
• Inquisitor Gale Herrion
• Knight-Captain Corax Stern
• Lord Inquisitor Julianus Cassis

Blood Cult / Malaxian Dominate

Led by

• Warlord Luther Malax
• Warmaster Segeric Gaut

Strength

127 Imperial Guard Regiments
1 Space Marine Chapter

Several hundred Guard Regiments and militia forces

Casualties

155 million

178 million

Objectives

Destroy the Blood Cult

Secede from the Imperium