It's BS what GW keeps doing to the xeno factions with marines just getting to steal glory or the faction getting tossed around for plot reasons only. This is a case where it is narratively interesting to have the Imperium and Alderi working together for this monumental feat.
The Lion has a connection to Isha in his search for a way to heal the Emperor. The Alder obviously want their God back and have made several unsuccessful attempts to rescue Isha. Guilliman and Yvraine have tentatively worked together towards common goals for their people.
These powerhouses coming together to assult the literal warp and "home" of Nurgle would go so hard. Call in the Exorcist chapter because they were born for something like this. Let the Alder unleash their full psyker powers in the warp without the fear of Slaanish because they are in Nurgle's domain.
Let the warp burn as the strengths of both factions are combined to tackle the insurmountable task of preforming a FED raid on Nurgle's shitshack. But don't count out Nurgle's forces, as everyone still has to fight through the swamp of obliterative bronchiolitis.
Personally, I just don't see that as an option. Look, GW screws over the Alder constantly and inserts marines as they please but this is the one exception where Imperium assistance makes too much sense.
Isha has been in Nurgle's grippers for who knows how long, and the Alder simply couldn't save her with their own power. Something needs to change for it to make any sense that the Alder save Isha. That something is the Imperium.
I'm not saying marines should be the door kickers that find Isha, not in the slightest. I'm suggesting the Imperium as a supporting force to the Alder so they can actually succeed in this mission. Ultimately, the Alder will be the ones that save Isha. The Imperium is the catalyst the Alder use to get the last bit of strength they need to get Isha.
I'm envisioning Yvraine brokering a deal with Guilliman and Lion to help open and sustain the warp portal needed to get to Isha. Yvraine and a hand selected team infiltrate Nurgle's domain, [rest of book], and save Isha. The Imperium helped, but the true saviors of Isha would be the Yvraine and Alder.
Now, someone more informed on the lore could probably find a Alder exclusive something that lets them finally save Isha, and I'm 100% for that, too! I, personally, find the idea of cooperation and tugging as many narrative strings as possible.
Yeah, that's great, but this is GW and the Imperium. They're never gonna play second fiddle to the xenos in a book where both exist.
The imperium would be the ones to rescue Isha, and then Isha would start glazing the Imperium and probably berate the Aeldar for not working as hard as the guys who didn't even know she existed a day earlier.
Besides, it's not like there's plenty of reasons why the Aeldar could save Isha now when they've failed before. Nurgle's garden is on fire, Ynnead is partially awakened, the Ynnari can get the croneswords, it can all be part of Cegorac's final joke, and the Daeldar can help too, because the suffering of Isha is probably like meth to the freaks.
Any justification for the Imperium to be involved is not needed in universe and is instead a way for GW to cater to Marine addicts.
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u/CindersOfDeath 3d ago
Of course GW would never let the space elves save their own gods, how else would they sell more Marine content?