Colchis - 831.M30
You gather your companions, Lorgar, Dharok, and Thalassa, each step resonating with purpose as you prepare to enter the Path of the Forgotten Ancestors. The air is heavy with an ancient, almost tangible weight, as if the memories and souls of those long gone still linger here, watching your every move.
The entrance to the Path is a vast, crumbling archway, its surface etched with hieroglyphs that flicker in and out of existence, a testament to the reality-bending nature of this place. Beyond the archway lies a realm unlike any other, a labyrinthine expanse where the very laws of physics seem to bend and twist.
As you step through, the world shifts around you. The ground is no longer solid but a mosaic of floating platforms, each one a different shape and size, hovering in a void of shifting colors and patterns. The sky, if it can be called that, is a swirling mass of hues that defy description, a constant dance of light and shadow. Structures rise and fall, their architecture defying conventional geometry, with angles that should not exist and dimensions that stretch into infinity.
Your goal is clear: find a suitable place to dream up the terraformer machine, a device that could reshape entire worlds. But first, you must navigate this surreal landscape and confront whatever challenges lie in wait.
As you delve deeper into the Path of the Forgotten Ancestors, the alien landscape shifts once more. The vibrant, ever-changing colors give way to a vast, desolate plain, its surface cracked and dry, as if drained of all life. The air grows heavier, laden with an oppressive stillness that sends a shiver down your spine. In the distance, you see it: a grand, imposing structure rising from the barren earth, its walls adorned with intricate carvings and symbols of power.
The structure looms ominously, a testament to the ancient power it houses. As you approach, you notice an array of figures standing at its entrance. Regal and imperious, a figure clad in ancient armor gleams with an otherworldly light. Surrounding him is an army of skeletons, Ushabti, and mummified warriors, their empty eye sockets glowing with an eerie blue light. Their silent vigilance sends a clear message: none may pass without confronting the one who commands them.
Before you can react, the skeletal warriors close in, their weapons drawn. You and your companions are quickly surrounded, their ranks forming an impenetrable wall. The tension in the air is palpable, each moment stretching into an eternity. You know that a single misstep could spell your doom.
A booming voice echoes across the plain, resonant and filled with ancient authority. "Kneel before Settra the Imperishable, King of Kings! Kneel and accept your fate, kneel and face annihilation!"
The command is absolute, brooking no defiance. You exchange glances with Lorgar, Dharok, and Thalassa, your determination mirrored in their eyes. Kneeling and accepting death is not an option; your mission is too important. With a steely resolve, you straighten your back, refusing to bow to tyranny.
Settra's eyes narrow, his gaze piercing through you. "So, you choose defiance. Very well. Let the sands of this desolate land witness your end."
He raises his scepter, and the mummified warriors step forward, their weapons glinting menacingly. The skeletal archers nock their arrows, ready to release a volley that would surely overwhelm you.
In that moment, you draw upon the deepest reserves of your power, your anima flaring brightly. The aura around you blazes with intense light, a display of your unyielding spirit. The ground beneath your feet trembles, the air crackling with energy. The skeletal warriors hesitate, their advance halted by the sheer force of your presence.
Settra watches, his expression shifting from anger to curiosity. He lowers his scepter, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Interesting. You possess a spark, a defiance that few dare to show in my presence. Tell me, what drives you to challenge the will of Settra the Imperishable?"
You take a step forward, your voice steady and resolute. "We seek to reshape a world for the better, to bring life where there is none. Our mission is one of hope and renewal, not conquest."
Settra regards you with a mixture of amusement and contempt. "Hope? Renewal? These are fleeting dreams in the face of eternity. I have ruled for millennia, my power unchallenged, my will unbroken. What you offer is but a whisper in the sands of time."
Lorgar steps forward, his voice unwavering. "We do not seek to challenge your rule, oh Mighty Settra, King of Kings. We seek only passage through your realm to fulfill our destiny. Surely a ruler as wise and powerful as yourself can see the value in allowing us to proceed."
Settra's eyes blaze with ancient fire, his gaze fixed on Lorgar. "You speak of wisdom and power, yet you do not understand their true nature. Very well. I will make you an offer. Serve me. Pledge your loyalty to Settra, the King of Kings and I shall grant you passage. Swear fealty to me, and you shall become part of my eternal empire, your powers put to use in the service of a true king."
The offer hangs in the air, a chilling proposition that sends a shiver down your spine. You exchange glances with Lorgar, Dharok, and Thalassa, weighing the gravity of Settra's demand. To serve him would mean forsaking your mission, your freedom, and your very souls.
You step forward, your voice firm. "We cannot accept your offer, oh mighty King of Kings. Our mission is too important, and our loyalty lies with a greater purpose."
Settra's eyes blaze with anger, his voice a thunderous roar. "You dare refuse me? You dare defy Settra the Imperishable? Very well. If you will not serve, then you shall perish. I will not allow my realm to be sullied by your insolence."
He raises his scepter, and the ground trembles beneath your feet. The skeletal warriors surrounding him stir, their ancient, desiccated forms once more coming to life with a chilling creak. Settra's gaze locks onto you, a promise of doom in his eyes.
"Settra the Imperishable, what if we offered you something else? Something that only we can?" You suggest. "A fitting tithe for one such as yourself."
Settra's eyes narrow slightly, his gaze piercing. "And what do you offer in return for such a favor? What could you possibly give that would be of value to Settra, King of Kings?"
Lorgar steps forward, his voice steady. "We can offer knowledge, alliances, and the power of our combined abilities. Our journey has been one of great purpose, and we seek not to disturb your reign but to fulfill a destiny that could benefit many."
Settra's lips curl into a faint, humorless smile. "Knowledge? Alliances? Power? These are the trappings of the living, fleeting and inconsequential. I have ruled for millennia, my will unbroken, my power absolute. What you offer is meaningless in the grand tapestry of my eternal reign."
THE SETTRA?
Yes, that is actually Settra from the End of times. He walked into the Warp to fight the Chaos Gods and ended up here, which is entirely possible as Kaldor Draigo of the Grey Knights made his way to the Warhammer Fantasy universe.
I put him in the Encounter table with Kaldor Draigo as a joke but you rolled him. I am honestly not sure if I should make this non-canon or not. If you guys do not want him, I can rewrite this update so no worries. I did not actually intend him to be rolled but can work with this.
He represents a POWERFUL ally but getting him on your side is the challenge.
CHOICE 1:
[] Write in plan (What can you offer him - to be dome immediately)
Or
[] Write in plan (Battle plan)
CHOICE 2:
[] Thalassa's Loadout (Write in)
CHOICE 3:
[] Power Armor Gift
-[] Fan Morgal
-[] Lorgar
-[] Dharok
