Thursday, April 3, 2014

What is the origin of Konrad Curze' name?

A puzzle for you.

The people of Nostramo gave the name "Night Haunter" to Konrad Curze for the vigilante crimes he committed against the most sinful population of the planet. Konrad adopted this name as his own after time.

But: where did the name Konrad Curze come from in the first place?

Let me explain why I'm puzzled. Many (nearly all?) of the other primarchs in the Warhammer 40k background were named by their adoptive families. Mortarion was the "son of death" - a giant necromancer like being that brought him up gave him said name. Vulkan was taken in and raised by the blacksmith, N'ben. And so forth.

On the surface, Konrad's upbringing was probably closest to Corax. But there was one significant difference: Corax was tutored and loved by his comrades. Konrad on the other hand never had an adoptive family. He never had a roof over his head to hide in other than that he made for himself. He only learnt language by listening to those around him and decrypting newspapers and television like broadcasts for himself.

So my question is this: who first gave the name Konrad Curze to Konrad Curze? Where did it come from? Is this what the Emperor gave him as a name? Or someone else? Or what he simply invented for himself?  A puzzle!

3 comments:

Lunar Camel said...

I think that was his name since he was created.

At the end of the broad road leading to Night Haunter's palace, the Primarch stood, waiting for the delegation to approach. As they did, he succumbed to a vision so potent and horrifying that he tried to claw his own eyes out, but was stopped by the Emperor. Night Haunter then looked at the Emperor, and the following dialogue ensued:[1]

"Konrad Curze, be at peace, for I have arrived and intend to take you home."

"That is not my name, Father. I am Night Haunter, and I know full well what you intend for me."

Its also a combination of the author Joseph Conrad and his character Kurtz from "The Heart of Darkness".

Unknown said...

The Lunar Camel beat me to the punch. :) I have also always thought it referred to Conrad's Kurtz, who is better known for Francis Ford Copella's reinterpretation as Colonel Kurtz in "Apocalpse Now".

jabberjabber said...

cheers guys :)

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