Lords of Darkness (WHF CK2-Ish Quest)

Omake: The Ebony Steel Legions

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 11:09 PM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

No man save the God Emperor himself can be truly considered perfect. Every soul has the capacity for heresy to some degree. Everyone has some dark corner of their mind. Every man has something that they desire. This is a universal truth for all mankind. No where is this more clear than the heresy of the Dark Dragon. The lure of immortality and power appeals to all men to some degree.

The priests of Mars are no exception to this rule. They claim that they are immune to the fallacies of emotion. That they are beyond temptation of any kind. That they are beyond the touch of madness in all it's forms. That they operate purely on a sense of logic. They like to believe that by implanting metal into themselves that they are better than human. And as such possess none of the flaws of being human.

This is of course utter nonsense. The Horus heresy millennia ago proved that. The continued existence of the Dark Mechanicus proves otherwise. As have other instances that portray selfishness or cowardice. The War of the Beast comes to mind. The fact that tech priests across the galaxy continue to fall proves so.

Now more recently priests fall to the touch of the dark dragon. Drawn in for one reason or another. Perhaps it is the promise of study unhindered by Mechanicus dogma. Perhaps it is the promise of being able to study the warp without the usual risks. Or maybe it is the offer of immortality. An eternity of being able to achieve their greatest wish. To truly become one with their beloved technology.

Now these fallen priests work to serve the Grave Lord. Their mastery of technology in a number of fields greatly aiding the dark legions. All manner of heretical devices both material and arcane coming forth from fallen forge worlds. Ranging from single person laser weapons to massive star ships rivaling Astartes battle barges. All manner of evil tools being produced by heretical methods within dark workshops. The works of the mad and the depraved being brought to life.

Nowhere is that more clear than the Ebony Steel Legions. These are the most concerning work of the fallen priests. An effort to create undead versions of the proud legio cybernetica of the Mechanicus. To create a twisted reflection of the proud automata. Unfortunately these fallen ones have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. And the greatest fears of the Imperium.

Now these mechanical legions rise. An imitation of the ancient menace known as the Men of Iron. One that has full access to a wide variety of methods to deal death. Not being limited to purely material methods. Dark metal infused with wicked magic to create terrible war machines. All marching under the command of the transformed priests. And through them the Dragon itself.

@Alucard Vampiry

Omake: The Ebony Steel Legions 2

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 11:14 PM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

Ebony Legion Control Unit: This is perhaps the most essential unit of the Ebony Steel Legion. It is the helm by which the undead heretics control their legions of blasphemous machines. The core intelligence of the dark legion of metal. From this device runs the countless threads of sorcery and data to the legions it directs. It's master uses these strings to directly control the forces available. A primary target for our forces to take out.

The device resembles a large mechanical brain of sorts. One that rivals an Ork in terms of size. Pale chrome and black metal covering its form. It's form smooth and almost organic in shape despite being clearly mechanical in nature. In it's sides are special ports that allow the device to link up with larger pieces of technology. Typically a large scale control spire with advanced computation ability. Or a large scale Undead ship to allow control over a contested battlefield. In both case the device uses this link to gather extra energy and processing power.

The outer case is just covered in a large amount of rune work. Dark runes inscribed at an extremely small scale running over the surface. Combining to form a number of powerful effects on the device. One of which is the durability of the device. The Undead are unfortunately keenly aware of the fact we will target these. So they have made them extremely difficult to destroy. The case and it's internals being comparable to high end adamantium in terms of strength. The second one is a cooling method. Allowing the device to remain always cold to the touch and preventing any heat build up. The third is to enhance the magical connection it shares with it's troops. Making it that much harder to disrupt.

Within the case is a number of sorcerous and technological bits. Highly compact high power computation units. Elsewhere yet more runes and sorcerous workings to aid it. At the center a glowing green gem that acts as its core. Surrounding it are several smaller gems that help to bolster it's computation ability. Below that is a highly compact and efficient hextech generator. Supplying all the energy the device needs to function.

These devices are only found in two places. Safely hidden within great fortresses on Undead controlled worlds. Being used to direct and command the defending armies. Elsewhere aboard great warships aiding in conquest operations. The Undead never leave these devices unguarded. They are protected at all times by high power combat units and the controllers themselves. Other than that high power Crafted Undead are also commonly used.

These devices are essential to the function of the Ebony Steel Legions. They are what allow the fallen priests to control so many of their puppets at once. If we can destroy them we can cripple their advance in the field.

@Alucard Vampiry

Omake: The Ebony Steel Legions 3

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 11:19 PM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

The Builder: Not all of the devices of the Black Steel Legion are dedicated to warfare. Or at least not combat oriented. Like all armies the steel legions require a support base to back them. They need a method to rapidly expand their industry. To rapidly enable them to construct new machines and recycle the old ones that can no longer fight. That is where this machine comes in.

The machines is roughly human sized. With a bulbous head that extends up into the air. Meanwhile components with no clear purpose extend to the sides of it. A forward jutting piece contains it's glowing green optics and sensors. It's body slims down below the head with two more spread out parts. In front of that jut a series of small mechanical arms ending with tools. The rest of it's body consists of eight separate tentacles ending with more tools.

The machine has the capacity to freely float regardless of environment. We suspect it is a form of anti gravity and sorcery. Within it's frame it stores a wide variety of modular equipment letting them assemble almost any tools they could need. They operate with extreme precision being able to rapidly manufacture almost any mechanical part with high precision. Even constructing highly sensitive and fine detail technology. Though it is incapable of the sorcerous applications of the technology. It is also environment proofed to a fine degree. Even capable of operating in the vacuum of space and deep underwater.

The chassis is lined with a number of runes. One effect is to negate it's weight and increase it's speed. A second is to increase durability on all fronts. A third to manage temperature and ensure there is no heat build up. Finally a sequence to prevent the environment from interfering with it. Such as high wind and moisture.

This machine forms the back bone of the Black Steel Legion. It possesses construction capabilities far beyond anything in the Imperium. It resembles the drones used by the Tau to a degree. Being capable of rapid construction of the basic frame work of new structures in less than a few hours depending on the scale and numbers. Everything from welding metal to laying down rockcrete to carving runes is possible for these machines. The swarms of these machines allow the enemy to rapidly assemble new factory complexes and other industry in newly claimed territory. Enabling rapid replenishment of their forces in the field.

Worse they have the capacity to learn over times. Being able to improvise designs and repurpose materials along with other tasks. Sharing and transmitting information between themselves through the sorcerous network between them. Allowing them to coordinate and rapidly revise designs to suit the current environment and needs of the Undead forces.

These machines must be destroyed on sight. So long as a single one remains there is a possibility of the legion rebuilding itself on a world.

@Alucard Vampiry

Omake: The Ebony Steel Legions 4

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 11:26 PM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

The Artillery: There is an old saying in the military and indeed humanity itself across history. Artillery is king of the battlefield. A fairly accurate statement all told. Sufficient firepower will break any enemy in the field barring some truly esoteric works. The Imperial Guard makes heavy use of artillery to even the playing field against their more dangerous enemies. As do the legions of the Adeptus Mechanicus at times. Sadly the Undead heretics are also familiar with this fact. So they create a dedicated artillery unit for their mechanical legions.

The machine is largely built around a single large scale weapon. A long barrel of dark metal inscribed with green runes. At its end a large container holding computation units and arcane crystals. Dedicated to helping it aim and fuel it's ingrained sorcery. It is mounted upon an almost organic mount that can rapidly lower and raise it as needed. In a moment it can target long range or aim straight at walls to bring them down. Beneath the weapon are a quartet of long multi jointed legs. These resemble those of an arachnid creature in their eerie design. Built into these is a system of stabilizers and more rune work to support the weapon. A rotating triple barrel work to increase rate of fire. Finally they are heavily reinforced to withstand environmental hazards.

The weapon can fire a wide variety of ammunition. Many of them esoteric in nature. Ranging from the purely scientific to the truly arcane. Sometimes they use potent acids or bursts of magic that dissolve walls to dust. Other times it a self contained minor fusion devices to cause massive damage. Other times it is a burst of sorcerous flame that melts through rockcrete and flesh alike. Maybe a burst of intense gold to create great spikes of ice and freeze flesh to brittleness. Sometimes it is even a burst of amethyst magic to leave all it reaches dead in a single move without damaging the surroundings. Followed by necrotic energies surging forth to animate the fallen. Many fortresses have fallen to this method already.

It even possess the ability to act as anti-air fire. Lashing out into the skies with greater precision and speed than a human crew. Exotic effects bringing down even heavy aircraft at times.

The chassis is lined with a number of runes. One effect is to negate it's weight and increase it's speed. Allowing it to move faster across terrain such as sand. A second is to increase durability on all fronts. A third to manage temperature and ensure there is little heat build up. Finally a fourth to increase the range and raw destructive power of their attacks.

This weapon has been devastating in the hands of the Undead. The undoing of many fortresses across several sectors. Fire will need to be focused to bring them down quickly.

@Alucard Vampiry

Omake: Black Magics

Sorcery. It is one of the most vile forces in the known galaxy. A force that corrupts and twists all it touches. Coming in many monstrous forms across the stars. Whether in the hands of vile Xenos or treacherous heretics. The power of psykers is a truly heinous thing.

Ranging from the divination of the Eldar to the weird boys of the orks. To the the vile scheming of chaos and the mad science of the Dark Eldar.

Sadly for the sake of the Imperium psykers are needed. They are an essential resource for us. Whether from the astropaths to enable communication between words. Or the navigators to allow efficient ftl travel and keep our realm together. To still the sanctioned psykers who serve in our armies.

It is well know to us of the dangers of sorcery. Great risk for great rewards is the name of the game. The danger of a single sorcerer even one not aligned with chaos. It grows even more so when the ruinous powers are involved. Especially those of the Changer of Ways. Within their reach sorcery grows to be more powerful and even more stable in a way. Though there is ever present risk that grows with scale and energy. Power and versatile at the cost of stability.

The followers of the Dark Dragon do it a little differently than most. They consolidate their sorcery into distinct sects. Each sect focused around a specific way of wielding psychic power. Each psyker largely focusing on a single type of working. At least outside of those gifted with immortality. Sacrificing raw versatility and power for far greater stability. Though the loss of the former is less than you might think.

Necromancy: The capstone of the Ascendancy. This is the most widely used of all the forms of magic at their disposal. The driving force behind much of the armies. It is the force that allows them to create and shape their legions of the undead. It can be felt across the entirety of their empire.

This heinous art allows for the raising of the dead. Causing corpses to rise forth and strike at their foes. Ranging from the freshly dead to years old corpses who are nothing, but bones. And it can do this endlessly. So long as there is energy the dead will continue to rise time and again. Dead flesh knitting back together and bone recombining together.

It allows the shaping of biological material. Allowing all manner of monstrosities to be created. It is this power that allows the creation of the Shaped Undead.

The very soul is vulnerable to this power. Allowing the creation of the vile specters that haunt the battlefield.

Even metal and circuits are not immune to this power. As the Ebony Steel Legions are proof of. Machines are sadly within the dark power's reach. Every damaged warmachines in danger of being remade into a puppet. Their own machines self repairing and rising again to fight. The slightest jolt of Necrotic energy corrupting and twisting technology to their service.

@Alucard Vampiry

War rolls.

The Army of Death had attained its first victory, having successfully taken the chaos fortress of Ungalya and stopped an Exalted of The Blood God from rampaging across Kislev. They celebrated their victory by reducing the entire fortress alongside anything in it to ash with their combined magic. For leaving a single piece of stone that was infected by chaos could be disastrous in the future. The Kislevites would definitively whine and complain about it, but the Necromancers were sure it was only because they hailed from Wallachia, an empire that had a more open mind to many types of magic, sciences, and people that weren't related to chaos.

They were sure if it was the forces of the Empire of Man or even the token force sent by the Elves of Ulthuan, they would be hailed as heroes. But they were fine with being ignored or hated by the outside forces of their country. After all, when one embarked on the path of magic, they were already prepared for all the hate.

Besides, they already millions back home, already waiting for them to return triumphant, which admit ly was a pleasant feeling.

But not everything was wonderful. No, if the situation was already bad that from now on they wouldn't be able to raise fresh new undead from the bodies of the servants of ruin, then the situation became even worse when they heard the news that Chaos had won the battle of the Crags. According to information relayed to them by the members of the Illuminated, the initial force had splintered and while there was indeed a sizeable force moving towards the territory of the Empire of Man, many other warbands that composed had simply started the raiding the countryside.

They also had given them more information regarding the other key participants of the conflict.

The leader of the imperial forces, the one that they have been calling 'Magnus The Pious', has moved most of his forces towards stopping the chaos forces heading towards the Empire, it is unlikely that he is going to succeed at least not immediately. Even if the Empire has be sending more troops towards Kislev.

The Elven forces, led by the mage known as Teclis, have won many victories already. His magical acumen and the discipline and skill of the High Elves have helped ease the pressure. According to some rumors, he has requested his homeland to send more and soldiers and mages, particularly the latter as daemonical forces have been becoming more common, and mages are more suited to handle them. He has moved to relief Paadeshyshiva.

The dwarves seem to be more focused on their own private missions, as they are hunting down Chaos Warbands that have a high concentration of Chaos Dwarves warriors or machines of war. The fallen brothers of the ancient race have not yet officially joined the war, but they are providing weapons, armor, materials, and whatever else the forces of chaos want in exchange for slaves and gold gained from raids and sacks. While most of them are now aiding the Imperials in stopping the massive chaos horde from descending upon the Empire. A small token force was sent to the Rose Rains as a chaos force has sieged the city.

After receiving this information, the army of the dead went towards...

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The Army of Death
- Undead: 5,354,025 Skeleton Warriors, 5,322,614 Zombies, 14,210,705 Grave Guard, 16,896,673 Black Knights, 153 Undead Giants
- Magical Forces: 90 Necromancers

Locations (You can split your forces if you want to):
- [] Chamon Dharek: A holy ground dedicated to the chaos gods, it holds many artifacts of power through they all are tainted in some way or another, as a sacred ground of chaos it is highly defended by forces of all the chaos gods, be they mortal or otherwise, alongside any suprise that is hidden from normal or magical sight.
- [] Rose Rains: A minor city, it serves as a bastion of the constant incursions on this side of Kislev. Sieged by a large contingent of chaos forces, Dwarfs have sent a relief force.
- [] Paadeshyshiva: Another bastion, it is currently suffering from a siege, and is unknown if the defenders will triumph. A portion of the Imperial forces have arrived as a relief force, but were not enough to turn the tide. Teclis and his forces are on their way to help the defenders.
- [] Crags of Shargun: A set of mountains and hills, this part of Kislev is heavily contested as there is a natural passage between the conquered regions and the parts still held by the forces of order. Chaos has won, and now ravages the pure parts of Kislev, a large force is currently heading towards the Empire. Most of the forces of the Empire, led by Magnus The Pious, alongside the Dwarfs, are attempting to halt their approach. They will not succeed, at least not immediately.

There are many different happenings going on beyond the war that has all the eyes of the world, do you wish to see them?

[] EverChosen

[] First of The Immortals

[] Gilded Tyrants

[] Lost Goddess

[] No! Get to the fight already!