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A Mother Goo in a Grimdark World (Grey Goo SI X Warhammer 40k)

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Interlude: Farseer's Horror
  • Threadmarks
    • This interlude isn't a true one, the next interlude will have a lot more. But my muse decided to give me this, so enjoy :3

    So with that, hope this little interlude also gives a 'horror' vibe.


    Farseer Zalava was meditating within his chambers, provided by the courteous Matriarch of the Goo, the Life Reaper and Life Bringer that roams the stars. A new name given by the warlock that had nearly been 'reaped' was spread throughout his ranks, even the Aspect Warriors were antsy at the title.

    Ishara Orlosa, or translated to Low Gothic. Mother of Soul Stars.

    Whatever Warlock Alune saw, she has locked her mind down to the point where even he cannot get a good look. The most Zalava saw was simply a glimpse, even then it was horribly blurred, bright blue lights, above, around, and below, with a faint shadowy figure of feminine shape seemingly holding another smaller light.

    Regardless, the name has sparked what would most likely be curiosity from the other asuryani, especially at the word 'Soul' being part of the matriarch's title. In fact, some rather... extreme members of the path of the seer were looking at the morphlings that bear the identical ever shifting form that was one of the life reaper's servants. As if they were weighing the risk of falling into oblivion to get a glimpse of what the warlock saw, considering that only I know anything about the Life Bringer/Reaper? I am concerned that they might try something rather idiotic.

    There are many things Zalava believed he did not know about the Matriarch Eien, and he is inclined to think that he is right. She is an enigma, truly a mechanical being, and yet she has the power of gods, to breathe life, and to take life's breath away in such a way that it makes her seem like... an otherworldly being. Yet, she does not act belligerently, and offers respect if the other offers it back.

    If the stories of their old pantheon were to be believed, and had he not 'seen' that Eien was in fact made by the monkeigh, then Zalava would have most definitely thought that Eien was a personally made wraithlord or wraithknight of Isha, the Aeldari Goddess of Life, the Gardener.

    But alas, 'knowing' of Eien's origins simply made understanding the Life Bringer/Reaper more complicated than even the best of the farseer's plans.

    Zalava couldn't help but heave a sigh as he then thought of submerging himself into his mind, eyes searching the winds of the empyrean as he sought to peer into the future. The farseer sought to look at the countless strands of the future, 'their' future, hoping to the aeldari pantheon of old that he made the right choice.


    Something changed however. His sight sunk into darkness, Zalava could feel nothing and he nearly panicked as he thought that he went too far, that he went too deep.

    Then... He remembered.

    It was this very feeling that came before he saw the story of the Life Bringer/Reaper, before he saw the Goo Mother and the Silent Ones' War in Heave- no. War of Silence.

    Farseer Zalava was many things, but he is no fool. He saw the matriarch's story and her war for life and creation, what he might see now may hopefully shed light on what may happen in the future with the Ishara Orlosa.

    He sees... darkness, and suddenly the farseer looks down at the galaxy, the galaxy he knows today. The Eye of Terror splitting the galaxy in twain, the Astronomican of the Monkeigh on their world of Terra shining its golden light, and the horrid shadows dogging at the edges of the galaxy.

    Yet something... else... by the gods... Zalava watched transfixed as all of a sudden the galaxy shone brightly to the point he had to shield his eyes... and beheld in silent horror as he saw many things wrong with the galaxy.

    The Eye of Terror, expanded to abhorrent proportions and yet it looks as if it is trying to struggle. The monkeigh's Astronomican, gone, and in its place were two lights fighting each other, one a burning gold, and the other a baleful green. The shadows dogging at the galaxy revealed themselves to be ethereal tentacles that simply burned his eyes whenever he looked at it, the tyranid's shadow in the warp was disgusting and he could not fathom how such creatures existed.

    What he saw next made his eyes grow wide as he beheld what should have been an impossibility, a towering figure appeared in front of him, what made Zalava so shocked in the first place was due to WHAT it was. A Krork, an honest to Khaine Krork was there, armored in black and... NO! Another shadow! Zalava hurriedly looked away, instead looking at the galaxy that seemed to be 'fine' the first time and 'everything gone to shit' as the monkeigh like to say the next.

    His eyes couldn't help but see one thing... one thing that shouldn't be possible. The Empyrean was bleeding, not just bleeding into the material world, but BLEEDING. Surrounded by a grey and blue light.

    Something compelled the farseer to blink, and so he did. When his eyes opened, he was met with several figures, these figures caused Zalava's throat to dry up as he stood still. The primal emotion of fear seeping into his very being the longer he looks at them.

    A Man clad in Gold, his eyes orbs of pure light as his surroundings were overtaken by the gold color that burns the materium with its radiance.

    The Figures of the Four, all together, their emblems no longer different but combined as if to show that they are working together. Each of their colors, and aspects working as one yet still separate.

    A Mechanical Monstrosity, silver in color, black in heart, and emerald power left in its wake. The abomination's baleful green eye was looking at the Gold clad Man with barely concealed contempt.

    A Massive Creature horrid in appearance, its razor sharp teeth etched in a permanent smile as barren husks float around the abomination, numerous tentacles, claws, and orifices leaking acid and other disgusting substance.

    The Black clad Krork, eyes closed and two ethereal faces floating behind it were grinning with power. Yet as he continued looking, those two faces were shifting into the other, as if to say they were one and the same. When the krork's eyes opened, Zalava's mind nearly crashed as a shadow similarly made by the Tyranids threatened to consume his inner being.

    What he saw next was chilling, behind all of the figures was another. Shrouded by the void, yet the silhouette is there all the same. Feminine, and monotone grey in color, Zalava looked up and saw no features but a wide crescent moon for a smile, the silhouette's hand was underneath the eight figures he saw.

    Zalava could not help but feel his sanity slipping as the eight vanished and what was in the silhouette's hand was a bright blue star. When he looked back up at the face, the farseer's breath was lost as his fear overtook him.

    The silhouette of grey was given color, a bluish gray woman, one he now recognizes. But what he sees shook him to the core, black and white was part of this imitation. Wide crescent smile still in place, two white voids with a blue star in each serve as eyes, a crown of stars formed around her head. A combination of black, white, grey, and blue. A fire burned above her head and within it was a wailing and grinning face that was half black and half white.




    C̶̨̡̢̧̛̰̥͓͉͈̯̝̲̗̫̺̝̔̒͑̀̋̔̃̄́̓̆̑͋͝ ̸̘̹̭̪̦̻̐̇̈́́̈́́̀̽̅̾͋̚͜͝ơ̶̢̜̙̻͚̑͗̌͑͊̀͆̉̆͛̌͒̿̎̕͘͜ ̴̧͙̆m̸͚̤͇̹̄̓̈́̀͆̅̑̓̔̇͝ ̸̗͎̿̓͌̀̉̀̄͗e̵̢̳̣̘̼̙̽͐̓̀̏͜ ̸̛͓̥̯̥̝̭͖̄̇̎͛̅̌̓͋͐͠͠ ̶͚̫̮̹̞͖͐̅̑̂́͊̉̑͂͘ ̸̡̛͈̺̰̭̠̖͕͕͕͇͚͓̺͇̀̑̋͂͋̾͂̂̑̽͂̈̓̊͘͠ţ̵̡͔͙̪̖͎̗͍̥͖̬̪͔͎͚͙̽̍͗̿̐̈͒͂̓̋̔̈́͘͝͝ͅ ̷̮̮̒̌ơ̶̢̙̟̠̰͕̺̘̞̌͐̐͑̌͌ ̴̢̢̧͎͔̦̱̪̣̙̻̅͗͊̀̓͝ ̴̨̹͆͆́͌͒̑̚͝ ̵̨̗͚̠͈̜̮̳͕̗̝̤̀̿̾͒͒̈́̈̿͗̄̆͘͝͠ͅͅm̵̢̦͉̮̪͈̗̘̞̰̹̺͇̫͕̏̌̓̄̍̐̏͜ ̷̡̧̼̇͛͌e̴̙̯͋͂͋͑͂̄̌̓̉̏̆͘͝͠




    Farseer Zalava let out a cry of horror as he fell backwards frantically moving away from the sight in front of him... but it was no longer there.

    The eldar breathed heavily as his eyes darted around, intending to make sure that he is perfectly safe. When he confirmed that, he hunched over and placed a hand on his face and the other on the ground steadying himself as he stared.

    What...

    What... was that?

    Farseer Zalava couldn't help but freeze as he could have sworn... he could have sworn...

    That he felt HER touch at that moment. As if he was being cradled.

    It almost made him want to take off his spiritstone and throw himself to his death in order to take his chances with She Who Thirsts.

    This vision... was it of the future? Why did the empyreal winds show him this?!

    This was no vision. This was a horror.

    A Nightmare to Come.
     
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    • Knowing that timeline, things are going to be extremely fucked.

    On the other hand, Eien being the mother for mankind, Necrons and Eldar might be the only chance for survival.
     
    I wanted to inform you that I created a page about TV tropes for this fanfic. If anyone wants help contributing here it is.

    tvtropes.org

    A Mother Goo in a Grimdark World (Fanfic) - TV Tropes

    A Mother Goo in a Grimdark World is a fanfic by TheKitchenCalamity. It is a crossover between Grey Goo (2015) and Warhammer 40,000. A random human lived and died, and was then reincarnated into the universe of Warhammer 40K as a Mother Goo from …
    tvtropes.org tvtropes.org
     
    Interlude: Little Meets
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    • -=-=-=-=-=-
    Interlude: Little Meets
    -=-=-=-=-=-    ​

    Back in Castle Krakengar, a loud groan echoed throughout the office of one General Maiori Zisarn. The brunette was currently out of her armor and sitting at her desk, fingers rubbing her temple as she looked at the latest tally of all guard assets that are currently active and not within use. The scarred general's chocolate brown eyes looked up from the papers and stared at one of her most trusted officers that was left on the planet.

    "Colonel Miller. Please don't tell me this is all that we have left?" Maiori pleaded.

    "I'm sorry General, I've ran the numbers multiple times. Including repairing units and the detachment that left for the blackstone fortress, I'm afraid that is indeed all we have left."

    Colonel Korr Miller, one of Maiori's closest friends in the Astra Militarum and someone who made sure her hotheadedness didn't get herself killed. The colonel was a man who looked and is younger than Maiori by two years yet acts a lot more calmly and more mature than the general herself, dark brown hair and black eyes along with a more average build, the colonel is about a head or two shorter than the woman.

    Hearing his words, the general took a deep breath before she stood up and violently grabbed her combat knife embedded on the desk and threw it at the increasingly scarred wall. Miller watched on with a neutral face but in all their years serving together the woman could tell that he was also displeased at the current state of their forces.

    "FRAK! Damn these frakking orks, damn these frakking heretics, and FRAK THESE FRAKKING KNIFE EARS!" Maiori crashed back down on her chair leaning back and letting out a long huff as her hands ran through her hair and massaged her head.

    Korr Miller looked at his stressed general and turned slightly to see the recaf pretty much ready, the colonel looked back at Maiori who was rubbing her face tiredly before he walked over to the machine and pulled up her favorite mug and poured it until it's full. Turning back, the colonel carried the mug over along with a coaster and gently placed it on the desk drawing the woman's attention.

    "Figured you might want it now ma'am." Korr's words elicit an appreciative but tired smirk from the general.

    "You always did make a mean recaf, same blend?"

    "It has that basilisk kick you like."

    "Ah you are a life-saver Ko." Maiori said as she took an experimental sip of her coffee and visibly felt a lot less stressed than she was previously.

    "I don't envy your job right now ma'am." The colonel's words elicited a snort from the woman who was about to take another drink.

    "I'm trying to drink here you know, and I envy you for not having to deal with the current state of our forces, our resident abominable intelligence and he-ITS little knife eared vermin."

    Maiori groaned as she took another big gulp of her recaf and looked out the window towards the rest of Castle Krakengar, her eyes however weren't focused on the numerous imperial personnel and citizens roaming the grounds, no it was the grey goo's ferromorphs and combat frames in the distance she was eyeing as well as the eldar roaming... 'their district', the general let out a huff of disgust as she turned her chair back, hands barely holding the mug in her hands without cracking or breaking it.

    "Really wished the abominable intelligence simply just allowed us to execute all those eldar."

    "You do know that she wouldn't have allowed you to do that right ma'am?"

    "IT, Ko. That is not a she, it is an IT. Also I told you many times already, you can call me Mai-mai like you used to when we are alone. No one's watching." Maiori felt slight amusement when the colonel coughed into his fist, she remembered that tell, he's embarrassed.

    "I don't believe that, and regardless ma'am, you are my superior. Rules have to be followed." The man said with that ever neutral air around him.

    "Fair enough, so how 'bout this? I order you to call me Mai-mai when we are alone, starting now."

    The general couldn't help but snicker behind her mug as her colonel let out a long sigh before he nodded at that. "Very well Mai-mai."

    "Excellent, now tell me what do you mean by you don't believe that? The thing is an abominable intelligence, a Silica Animus if I remember what the metalhead techpriests call them."

    "This Eien entity, her actions are far too life-like to be called a machine. It is as if she is a human behind all that grey goo."

    Maiori had to nod at that, most of the time interactions with the metal matriarch was slightly disturbing to her as the longer she was listening to the thing, the more 'human' it looked in her eyes. But to her that was just proof that this was an abominable intelligence, it was already changing the opinions of the others, damn it Tiki. The general still hadn't found a reliable way to get rid of that frakking animal combat frame, Tiki even gave the thing a name! At least it's something cool like Bladewolf, Emperor forbid she called the thing Fluffy or some other weird name.

    "Fair enough, but it could also simply be emulating human behavior in an effort to get us to lower our guard and stab us in the back when we least expect it." Her counterargument made Ko nod his head at her as well.

    "That is understandable, I still remember those Tau talking about allying with us during the battle for Jost III only to backstab us later in the name of their so-called Greater Good. But there is one thing I know from my gut-feeling and you know how much I trust it with how many times it has saved my life."

    "Yeah, I know how much you trust it. Hell, I actually trust it myself considering you saved my own ass more than once with your weird instincts. You never did tell me what you felt?" She was right, Korr never did tell the general what he felt from the abominable intelligence as they were quite busy at the time.

    "I felt NO hostile intentions. Specifically, towards US, she has hostile intentions for the orks, chaos heretics, and the dark eldar, but she doesn't have a lot if at all hostile demeanor towards us and the eldar... well, aside from that commissar and the farseer but I think that might be understandable...ish"

    Ko's words caused Maiori to blink a few times as she took another sip from her mug, she put it down on the coaster and placed a hand to her chin. She wasn't lying when she said earlier that she trusts the colonel's instincts, the man rarely had gut feelings and the few times he did Ko would either dodge out of an attack that would have killed him, tackled her to the ground to save her from a fatal blow, or finding something that would later on be important. Frankly it is quite freaky, and if she didn't already knew that the man didn't have psyker abilities she would have called him a psyker.

    "The farseer I understand 'cause frak the convoluted bastard. The commissar eh, debatable. But then again the guy was not very much a happy camper whenever the intelligence was around, same with those Black Templar space marines. So you are saying you trust the abominable intelligence?"

    "To an extent, I trust her not to not want to kill us, and I trust that she will keep her word. Lady Eien has kept her word so far in aiding us in protecting Castle Krakengar... unless well, one of us decides to try and betray her which I am hoping none of the officers in this fortress are that stupid." The colonel said this confidently, and Maiori bit her lip and leaned back into her chair. She doesn't want to trust the abominable intelligence Eien... but she trusts Korr Miller.

    Maiori chuckled softly as she grabbed her mug and took another drink of her hot recaf, after a sip she raised her eyebrows at him from behind the mug. "You are lucky I trust you with my life Ko."

    "I'm touched. Truly, I am."

    "Heh, cheeky bugger. Someday you're gonna wind up leading this sorry group of misfits."

    This actually got Miller to let out a soft bark of laughter. "Ooooh no, that's why I keep you around Mai-mai."

    "Pfft, and I keep you around just for your coffee."

    "Of course you do ma'am." The colonel's drawl caused Maiori to flip him the bird with her free hand while she took another swig of her recaf.

    That being said, Maiori swiftly finished her drink and set the mug aside, her demeanor hardening and upon seeing it Korr straightened his back. The general of castle Krakengar picked up the papers and visibly winced at how utterly frakked the numbers are, no wonder many of her officers were reluctant to send any companies along for the expedition.

    Astra Militarum Report (Number Left/Original Number)
    11th "Black Tortoise" Armor Battalion     = 4/4 Companies 2/2 Squadrons
    1st Company "Hullbasher" = 7/10 Leman Russ Tanks
    2nd Company "Iron Service" = 5/8 Demolisher Tanks
    3rd Company "Graceless Fury" = 6/12 Chimera Transports [Departed on Expedition]
    4th Company "Tough Tanker's" = 6/10 Leman Russ Tanks
    Recon Squadron "Foul Play" = 4/6 Sentinel Walkers
    Anti-Aircraft Squadron "Birdwatchers" 3/5 Hydra AA Vehicles

    13th "Black Tortoise" Armor Battalion = 3/4 Companies 1/2 Squadrons
    1st Company "Warmongers" = 9/12 Leman Russ Tanks [Departed on Expedition]
    2nd Company "Bangers and Smash" = 0/10 Leman Russ Tanks
    3rd Company "The Wall" = 7/12 Leman Russ Tanks
    1st Heavy Company "The Judge" = 1 Baneblade (Note: Just finished Repairs)
    Recon Squadron "Sightseekers" = 0/6 Sentinel Walkers
    Artillery Squadron "Firestarters" = 3/8 Basilisk SP Artillery

    1st "Shock Warriors" Power Armor Battalion = 3/3 Companies
    1st Company "Crush and Bash" = 3/3 Platoons
    2nd Company "Castle Crashers" = 3/3 Platoons [Departed on Expedition]
    3rd Company "Fierce Juggernauts" = 2/3 Platoons

    150th "Longblade Crusaders" Infantry Battalion = 3/5 Companies
    1st Company = 2/4 Platoons
    2nd Company = 0/4 Platoons
    3rd Company = 2/4 Platoons
    4th Company = 3/4 Platoons
    5th Company = 0/3 Platoons

    155th "Imperial Rifles" Infantry Battalion = 3/5 Companies
    1st Company = 2/4 Platoons
    2nd Company = 0/4 Platoons
    3rd Company = 0/4 Platoons
    4th Company = 3/4 Platoons
    5th Company = 2/4 Platoons

    121th "Emperor's Pace" Mechanized Infantry Battalion = 4/5 Companies
    1st Company = 0/4 Platoons
    2nd Company = 3/4 Platoons
    3rd Company = 2/4 Platoons
    1st Armor Company "Iron Horses" = 4/8 Chimera Transports
    2nd Armor Company "Fast Tracks" = 6/8 Chimera Transports

    The general couldn't help but sigh as she couldn't read anymore, so many dead and so many equipment destroyed. The 1st Shock Warriors PA Battalion was formed from like four battalions that had only like one company left to their name, with General John 'Gentleman' Jenkins being the only highest commanding officer left from those four battalions. "This is really not good..."

    "It isn't your fault general, they caught us by surprise. There is no way you or I could have predicted that Chaos and the Dark Eldar would coincidentally attack close together in such a short timeframe."

    Maiori sighed tiredly and with a little bit of frustration as she put the report down and ran a hand through her hair. "I KNOW that Ko damn it, but I still feel like I could have done more. Saved more at least. As it stands the other imperial guard armies over at Fort Joy and Delta City are either dead, corrupted, captured, or hopefully still out there fighting but I doubt it."

    "It does not help that this warp storm decided to cover this system, now we have no way of requesting reinforcements from the rest of the Imperium."

    "Yeah. That is why I am begrudgingly following the inquisitor's 'suggestion' and accepting the aid of the abominable intelligence known as Eien." The general grumbled as she leaned back against her chair and rolled her shoulders a bit, looking every bit as tired as she is of the situation they are in.

    Before colonel Miller could say anything, the door burst open and a familiar white haired girl pranced inside followed by a black painted hunter with a few add-ons to the chassis. Maiori stared at Bladewolf for a few seconds before turning to Tiki with a deadpanned gaze.

    Unaware or simply uncaring of the look she is getting from general Maiori, Tiki waved her hand at the general and then at the colonel. "Hi hiiiiii big sis Mai-mai and big bro Ko!"

    Maiori's eyes drifted off to look at Korr and she could see the little upturn at the corners of his mouth, he opened his mouth to speak. "Hello to you too little Tiki, what brings you here? I thought you would be still in the workshop 'cooking up insanity like a mad genius' like you usually do?"

    "Ok rood, I am not 'cooking up insanity like a mad genius' and I came here to not only take a break, but also to tell you that the LasStorm Gun is ready, or at least as ready as I can make it. Oh, and I gave Bladewolf a little bit of a refit as you can clearly see."

    To the two highest officers of Castle Krakengar that was an understatement, where Bladewolf initially looked like a one eyed gray quadruped with more rounded curves to it, now Bladewolf was black colored and had a far more angular and sharp aesthetic to it. The thing actually looked more like a wolf they remember reading about and seeing in pictures, although they couldn't help but notice something about it.

    "Why does this thing have an anti-tank gun on top of its front forelegs?"

    "Because with it Bladewolf can be a fast flanker! He'll charge at the enemy, dodging left and right before running circles around them in order to fire high yield rounds straight up the enemy armor's butt!" Tiki closed her eyes and rubbed her nose proud of herself, unknown to her that Korr and Maiori looked at each other from the corner of their eyes before looking back at Tiki and Bladewolf.

    "Tiki failed in mounting them eight times." Bladewolf's echoing voice caused Tiki to start coughing, she rounded on him with a betrayed look in her eyes.

    "Bladewolf you traitor!"

    "Yeah that sounds like something little Tiki would do alright." Korr's words and Maiori's little snicker behind her mug caused the silver haired mechanic to turn to them with an embarrassed flush on her face.

    Maiori Zisarn waved her free hand with an amused smirk on her face, although her eyes would periodically shift to Bladewolf every now and then, she then placed her mug back on the coaster before she clasped her hands in front of her face, elbows on the table. "Sorry sorry Tiki, anyway. Where is the gatling laser now?"

    Temporary Eldar Detainment District

    On the outside, Warlock Alune has been giving off the air that she wasn't bothered at all about what happened to her. But to any other eldar, especially those who can pick up surface level thoughts are more than capable of noticing how iron-clad her mind has become. In fact she has been so thorough with her mind shielding that the leader of their force, Farseer Zalava cannot read her mind on what she experienced and saw, at least unless he forcefully breaks into her mind but he has not done so.

    The warlock sat cross legged in the center of her room, her eyes closed as she delved into the memory of the pain where her soul was being siphoned. Externally, her eyes were moving erratically beneath her eyelids, her head jerking in very minute movements as she re-experienced the threat of oblivion.

    In Alune's mind, her eyes opened to a sea of darkness. Looking down her form was hazy and translucent, almost as if she were a spirit, then she was suddenly blinded as her vision was filled with blue and white light, covering her eyes with her arms the aeldari warlock waited for a short few seconds.

    When the light died down, Alune beheld her surroundings and her breath was taken away every time she looked within the memory. A soft glowing blue lit world, feet on calm waters, lights underneath the water deep in the depths, a beautiful aurora as well as stars above and around, two prominent features of this beautiful world was a massive bright 'cloud' and a female in the appearance of a human with glowing blue starlit eyes staring at her.

    As she attempted to take a step forward, the memory always ended and her mind snapped back to the material world. Eyes opened wide as she hunched over slightly, wheezing and breathing heavily as her body wracked from phantom soul pain.

    Looking around, Alune sighed as she placed her hands back and leaned backwards now looking up at the ceiling. Ever since her very close brush with that oblivion, the asuryani woman couldn't stop thinking about what she saw as her soul was being pulled out of her body. Ishara Orlosa, a title she blurted as she first saw that aethereal humanoid female and the warlock had to wonder how close she is actually when she gave the grey matriarch that name.

    She was so distracted that she didn't hear the knocking noise coming from the door to the halls, it was when the noise grew louder that Alune noticed there was someone at her door. "Come in."

    The door opened and in came... that pair of twin abhuman girls, Alune blinked as she remembered what they were called, Felinids if she remembered right. "How... surprising, why is it that you have come to me?"

    Ka-Le and Ka-Li looked at each other for a brief moment, their forms covered by cloaks before they both lowered their hoods, to a psychic like Alune it was easy to determine who is who.

    "We need to talk." Ka-Le whispers.

    "About what? I cannot be of any service if I do not know what is it you wish to talk about." Warlock Alune replied with raising a fine eyebrow.

    "Dangerous ferromorph. You touched one, our instincts do not like them. What do they do?" Ka-Li whispers just as faintly as her sister did, and her words caused the warlock to blink a few times, huh their instincts guide them well.

    "... Why do you need to know specifically?"

    "We feel very cold and unnerved around one. Something about them makes us instinctively feel on edge." As Ka-Le speaks, Alune noticed Ka-Li sniffing the air, pupils sharpening as she stared at her.

    "You smell... loose." Her words caused the asuryani woman to blink rapidly before she looked at the felinid with impugnity.

    "I am no-"

    "Your smell feels as if something pulled on you." Her next words caused Alune to cease her speech as she realized that these felinid twins seem to somewhat 'detect' the scars on her empyreal makeup.

    "Well... about that 'loose' bit to my... 'smell', that is a... scar."

    "We figured. The dangerous ferromorph?

    "Yes, and well... I believe you might want to sit down for this." Alune's words caused each of the felinid twins to go to a different wall and sit down back pressed against the wall.

    Ka-Le Arran and Ka-Li Arran would look at the warlock from different angles while making sure they would be able to see the door and the window, just in case they get some unwanted visitors. To the twins, they would see warlock Alune begin pacing around in a circle and a hand to her chin thinking of something.

    Warlock Alune finally stopped before she turned to face the twins, her eyes darting to the side.

    "I do not know of its name, but what it does? Well..."
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • Can't help but wonder if Alune will be joining Eien's network in some way. Like, sure she's afraid of it but there's seemingly some desire on her part to see more. If she's reaching out for Eien in her near-death vision, the interest in seeing more seemingly outweighs the fear of losing herself to the soul siphons.

    Likewise, we've seen Sinatra around in the interludes but how's she still doing now? Is she up to something while Eien is off trying to capture the Fortress? Perhaps she'll be the one to interact with the questioning Warlock and the Felinids, a sort of soft sell that may be simultaneously creepy. Sinatra is something wholly created by Eien after all so her opinions on Eien and how being a part of the network feels may help the Warlock and Felinids figure out what Eien and her network mean to them.

    Regardless, thank you for the continued writing, LunchKing.
     
    Chapter 24: Back to Back
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    Chapter 24: Back to Back
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    If Ronus was any less disciplined, he would be sighing right now. But he is more dignified than that considering his former background long before the Star War, he was a serf-bot, essentially a mechanical servant outfitted with work specialized chassis and despite the fact he was programmed with patience in mind, he did 'learn it naturally'.

    But Sinatra, Mother Eien's latest child is a... handful.

    "Ronus. I wish to depart from this chamber." Sinatra softly said from her seat in the makeshift room made by Eien in an effort to give her Firstborn a few things to keep her distracted until her focus returns.

    "You know you cannot do so Sinatra, Mother Eien requested me to watch over you and Castle Krakengar in her conscious absence."

    "But I want to go see the Humans and Aeldari."

    "You do realize that is an extremely bad idea at this moment? They do not know of your existence thanks to these chambers, and if you do meet them then what will most likely happen is that the majority of this stronghold's occupants, which are the humans, will shoot you first thinking that you are a hostile." The former Man of Iron placed his digi-avatar's fingers on his temple mimicking the humans he once served as he shook his head at Sinatra's insistence on leaving her temporary safe haven with her actual body.

    Ronus had a myrmidon frame in the same chamber as Sinatra and it didn't have its weapon on it, Sinatra stared at the frame with an emotionless face while leaning on the table with her clothed arms. Mother Eien gave her some hastily made clothing and armor, she was currently wearing a simple blue dress with soft sleeves, she wanted to wear the armor instead as logically that offered the most protection to Sinatra, but mother Eien said that the dress offered the most comfortability. With her newfound senses, the firstborn would have to concede to her mother.

    The digital creature that is Ronus recalled something and wondered if it would be fine with mother Eien. "If I remember right, why don't you take control of a morph or puppeteered frame? Previous tests you did with mother Eien showed that you are capable of moving your consciousness to a morph or a frame and back again to your actual body. So why don't you use that instead if you want to go out and explore?"

    At that statement Sinatra would look down at the table, hands idly playing as she thought about the offer. She supposes she could do so, it is not like she absolutely needs to use her body. Frankly as long as her body is safe then she can just hop on a free morph or frame and keep the body protected, but at the same time she wants to experience the outside world with said body.

    "Ok. I will use a puppeteered frame." Her curiosity won out however, Sinatra will have her body in semi-stasis and transfer her consciousness temporarily to a puppeteer and pilot a frame. Besides, mother Eien did promise her that when her focus returns to castle Krakengar she will begin preparations of her leaving the 'nest' with her actual body.

    "Very good young Sinatra, have you chosen what frame you wish to pilot?"

    "Hmm... Hobgoblin Spotter variant." Her choice of frame slightly surprised Ronus, but he took it in stride and sent a digital request to one of the Great Machine Mother's extensions, specifically the mother goo within the same chamber they were in.

    The two watched as the mother goo constructed the spotter variant of the hobgoblin, pulses and sparks of blue light and lightning 'printed', for lack of a better word, the frame into existence. Ronus and Sinatra were patient as the hobgoblin finished its construction and a puppeteer protean was split off from the mother goo before it flowed into the hobgoblin frame's core.

    At that point, Sinatra sat upright and closed her eyes before a light flowed out the back of her head and down the length of her nerve cords, causing said appendage to begin levitating slightly. When Sinatra's being left her body, she flowed right into the puppeteer protean, activating the hobgoblin with little to no difficulties, meanwhile her actual body just stayed in place.

    Looking down at her currently mechanical limbs, the hobgoblin Sinatra was piloting 'flexed' open and close her hands a few times before looking up at Ronus' myrmidon, her blue lit optic with a faint light blue and purple core peering into Ronus' blue lit optic with an orange core. The myrmidon then turned away as Ronus began walking towards the exit, Sinatra would stare at the myrmidon's back for a few moments before she jogged to catch up with Ronus.

    "If you do not mind me asking young Sinatra, but why is it that you wish to view humanity and the aeldari? You could simply request the information from the Yggdrasil Network and you would get all of the compiled information we currently have on them?"

    "Simple... I want to see them myself."

    "A rather... well, simple reason. Are you aiming to look for something within them?"

    "Mother Eien created my body using the combination of human and aeldari biology. I am curious... So I wish to observe them."

    "Fair enough young Sinatra, I will escort you while you observe to your heart's content." Ronus finished his sentence with an idiom that he remembers humanity use quite a bit, the two combat frames traveled through the bowels of Castle Krakengar before they came out of an access point that led to the Temporary Eldar Detainment District.

    When they did however, the spotter optics of Sinatra's platform detected something rather unusual. She has been perusing at least some of the files on the Imperium and the Asuryani Eldar factions, primarily their relations, so what she is seeing right now is rather strange. "The Imperium and the Eldar do not... like each other right Ronus?"

    "That would be an understatement, but yes. Why do you ask?"

    "I have... spotted two felinids with an eldar in a building."

    "Hmm, strange. I will have some radiants watch over them."

    "No time. Why don't we... watch them ourselves."

    Sinatra's flat response caused Ronus to turn his myrmidon's helm slightly to look down and stare at the hobgoblin frame in slight confusion. But then again, he supposes that would be the most logical course of action at the current moment, and he DID say he would escort young Sinatra in her little observation quest, it would simply be quite coincidental that this observation is most likely going to be rather informative and possibly be beneficial to mother Eien when her focus inevitably returns to the stronghold.

    Ronus turned to look at the building the aeldari and imperial felinids were in, immediately his puppeteer protean generated a stealth module that cloaked the myrmidon. Sinatra, understanding the signal, created her own stealth module and now the myrmidon and hobgoblin began approaching the building that was converted into a temporary habitation center.

    The two would later hear that they were discussing about one of the creations of the Great Machine Mother.

    Abandoned Necron Stronghold
    3rd Person POV

    Within the makeshift workshop of the cryptek. Anckm'rab and Eien stared off into the distance towards the direction of where the blackstone fortress was, after what seems like forever, Anckm'rab tilted his head and looked at the entity known as Eien, her form mimics those of the humans if the information extracted from their 'cogitators' by his wraith is accurate.

    He was fascinated by her, those of the Mattermancer Discipline would be just as interested in her like he is. He refuses to believe that the humans, ancient humans at that would have anything to do with creating this marvelous piece of work, if that was the case then this Imperium of Man should have become a far more dangerous contender in the great game. But as they are now, they wouldn't survive an actual Necron Starkiller Force, they would lose far too many before defeating them.

    Noticing the matriarch's movement, Anckm'rab watched as Eien turned her head towards him. "My apologies, my focus is split on many fronts. So you will have to forgive me if my responses to you are slightly, delayed."

    Most interesting, the cryptek would believe that this Eien primarily controls every single unit with secondary intelligences supporting her control. A gestalt consciousness if that term is correct. "It is of no consequence to me my dear lady, I do apologize myself as I wish to have some of my own questions answered. I have waited millennia, surely a few minutes won't hurt."

    "Thank you lord Anckm'rab. Please, ask your questions."

    Oh there are so many things the cryptek wants to ask about the matriarch, but perhaps a simple few questions should suffice first and foremost.

    "Who made you?"

    "The humans."

    "I find that quite hard to believe considering their current state."

    "Actually I was made by the humans long before they reached they began their Stellar Exodus."

    "Now you are simply making a joke."

    "I am not actually. Originally we were called the Pathfinder Probe, our job was to explore the galaxy through microscopic wormholes called keyholes in order to map out star systems with the goals of finding habitable worlds, terraforming candidates to change into habitable worlds and ultimately finding other sentient life."

    "That is... fascinating. You are an explorer, yet you have so much potential for war and combat, enough to even pose a reasonable threat to the necrons. Why is that?"

    "The Pathfinder Probe was outfitted with several exploration morph forms that could be changed into more combat oriented ones should the need arise, that need being encountering very hostile lifeforms or if need be conducting a species-wide purge. It was only until the War of Silence that the Pathfinder Probes evolved into the Grey Goo you see now."

    That confused Anckm'rab, a War of Silence? Species-wide Purging? Those sound most interesting, and yet these sound awfully dreadful. But he could ask those questions later, for now he had more important questions to ask.

    "I see. Then... I would like to ask about what you meant earlier by private domain?"

    His question caused Eien to go silent for a few minutes, he was about to skip to the next question when she responded. "The private domain is named the Yggdrasil Network, it is where all my children's minds reside and where I create more of my children. It is also where mass resource is stored and shared throughout the entirety of the goo like a keyhole network."

    Hearing it, the cryptek's line light glowed brighter as he was invested in her explanation. "Fascinating, indeed most fascinating."

    "Do you have any more questions?"

    "Just one more for now."

    "Go ahead then."

    "If I do convince you to make me a new body I can transfer my engram into. What kind of body would you give me?"

    Anckm'rab's last question caused Eien to 'raise an eyebrow' at him before she began chuckling softly. "You are quite confident that I will be convinced to give you a body."

    "Nonsense my dear lady, I am merely speaking hypothetically here."

    "Riiiight. Well, hypothetically. I would ask you what kind of body first." That sentence threw the cryptek for a loop, what did she mean exactly by what kind? What body type and shape? What will be part of this body?

    "Would you please explain what did you mean by that?"

    "I meant if you wanted a mechanical body like you have right now or if you wanted a biological one." Eien's short but concise explanation caused Anckm'rab's reply to die within his voice speaker, the necron cryptek could only replay that phrase over and over in his mind.

    If you wanted a biological one. Those very words made Anckm'rab's mind go a light year a minute, this one is capable of creating a biological body that can interface with mechanical beings?! But wait, that should not be possible. The harbingers of creation have attempted many times to try and recreate their old bodies and yet they fail as the biotransferrence robbed them of one vital aspect of their being.

    Their soul. Not a single necron in their immortal mechanical lives have restored their souls and without it simply transferring their engrams into a flesh and blood body will simply cause the necron in question to go insane like the maniacs of the destroyer cults and the unfortunate infected of the flayer virus.

    Anckm'rab is one among the many necrons who wish to regain their flesh, while still keeping their immortality and durability. But he did not want to get his hopes up in the event that this would be another dead end for him and his race. Despite that, there is this small part of him that dares to hope that against all odds a being created by a much younger civilization than the necrons would actually inadvertently provide a way for the necrons to gain their flesh and blood bodies back.

    Looking at Eien, the cryptek couldn't help but focus intently on the matriarch trying to read the mechanical being to see if she was lying. Her 'facial expression' was flat and neutral, yet to Anckm'rab it doesn't feel like she is lying.

    Ever since the biotransferrence, the necrons may have thrived in their newfound immortal and nigh indestructible body, especially against the Old Ones and their Aeldari and Krork scions, but they had to pay a price to gain their mechanical strength. A price that the few necrons that have retained their personality agreed was too high.

    Few necrons like the ever annoying Trazyn modified their skulls to be able to create facial expressions, a modification that is agreed to look rather disturbing, and when the Flayer was obliterated he set the flayer curse upon the necrons, a horrific virus that made the necron's longing for flesh so great it goes above and beyond obsession.

    Those of the mattermancer discipline, harbingers of creation tried ever since the shattering of the C'tan to recreate their former bodies. Especially with the help of a C'tan shard belonging to the one they remembered as the Formseeker. But every promising solution met an unfortunate end, all leading to 'revived' necrons losing control and becoming fleshy versions of flayers that ripped their own insides out.

    It is the main reason why the necron race as a whole can only dream of returning to their former bodies, their immortality caused them to develop certain quirks, Anckm'rab could only deduce it was a form of coping mechanism or some way to distract themselves from their immortal mechanical existence.

    Yet... there is a chance. A very, VERY SMALL chance that this nanomechanical woman named Eien would be able to give them flesh and blood bodies. However Anckm'rab stomped on that hope, it would not do well to get one's hopes up only to dash them like all the others. Shaking his head, the cryptek realized he had been staring at Eien for quite a while and it was only due to the fact that she was most likely commanding the fronts against the awakening necrons that she stayed silent while staring at himself.

    "We could... negotiate, yes?"

    At his words, the Eien morph blinked a few times before her now glowing blue optics narrowed at him. "Yes... we can negotiate."

    Despite the suspicion from her, Anckm'rab couldn't help but be a little excited. His skull tilted upwards in a slight gesture towards the Eien.

    "Then let us play the game shall we?"

    Now, Anckm'rab can see if his negotiating skills have gone rusty.

    The Caverns (of El-Dorado)
    Captain Titus POV

    I fire a few fusion charges over at the necrons, specifically at the group of immortals supporting one of the six smaller necron hover tanks. Detonating them all at once I was rewarded with seeing the some of the immortals get knocked down if not get damaged enough to 'die' right then and there.

    Getting back behind the cover of the bastion, I turned my head to look at my team. Sister Maria was darting around shooting her bolter at the necrons whenever she dashed out of the protective cover in order to basically patrol along the battle line for any imperial trooper that would need the help of a hospitaller.

    Sister Judith and Sergeant Rico were side by side ducking behind one of the bastion's shield arms, hmm Judith just gothic signaled Rico for a grenade and received one with a light toss from him.

    Looking around with a bit more focus, I noticed magos Aronna was firing shots from two of her mechadendrites while she maintained the combat effectiveness of a few tanks that got hit by a stray blast. Oleg was wielding his storm bolter behind cover taking potshots at any of the mechanical horrors not on our side, inquisitor Thrax was nowhere near them however. When I turned to the command chimera I saw that he was beside Eien overlooking the somewhat cramped battlefield.

    Narrowing my eyes I see Thrax turn to Eien as if he was listening to it/her, when the ferromorph woman waved a hand at Thrax, I saw him take a few steps away from the grey mother. The strange weapon emplacements on the matriarch's 'shoulders' grew larger just as the humanoid form lost shape before flowing forwards for lack of a better word. Whatever Eien was doing, it had better be good as we will need to clear through these necrons quickly if we want to reach the blackstone fortress.

    Turning back around to the fight I fire my bolter pistol at a nearby necron warrior before I spotted that strange wraith-like necron earlier. It was slithering behind their hover tank line wielding a sort of large halberd that had a rather strange looking pommel.

    !!!

    It vanished!

    Quickly activating my vox-caster I relayed what I saw to the rest of the convoy. "All units this is Captain Titus. Be advised, an anomalous necron has vanished from their lines, be on the look out for this necron and keep your distance from it."

    With that said, I then continued firing my bolter pistol and vengeance launcher at the necrons.

    "Lord Ultramarine."

    Turning my head I spotted sister Maria slide into cover beside me firing her own bolter gun at the necrons. "Anything to report sister?"

    "No my lord, thankfully I did not need to give any of the guardsmen the 'Emperor's Peace'. The goo matriarch's forces are diving in front of guardsmen that were not protected by the bastions, so any stray blast from the necrons were rendered ineffe-"

    Her words were cut short as three massive wave-like beams cut through the air and impacted one of the small hover tanks, a shield flickered into existence around it for a brief moment before it shattered and the triple wave cored the hover tank to the point it fell to the floor completely inactive.

    When the wave beam dissipated I turned back around to see Eien's form had changed into something larger with a battery of three weapons that looked identical if not a quite bit larger than the one it-she used earlier against the canoptek wraith.

    Beside the gun itself, Eien reformed her torso and she looked displeased with herself for some reason, I wonder why as that weapon knocked out one of the necron's armored units in one shot.

    "By the Emperor what monstrous power..." I heard hospitaller Maria whisper beside me and turned to give her a comment when my breath caught in all three of my lungs.

    A faint shimmering beside the hospitaller alerted me to the presence of something, when I saw the faint traces of green and the fact that some of the ferromorphs and frames turned towards us, I then knew this was no ally. With my reflexes, I dropped my bolter and reached out for the hospitaller's arm, uttering a quick apology I yank her hard towards me while firing my vengeance launcher and flamer at once while shielding Maria.

    The necron wraith-like horror phased into existence and had JUST missed beheading sister Maria by a hair's breadth, just as the fusion charge and flame reached the necron I could feel its gaze on me while I detonated the charge. Throwing me and the shielded sister hospitaller backwards while ferromorphs darted around us in order to engage the necron.

    Not taking my eyes off the necron I shake sister Maria. "Are you injured?"

    "N-no lord Ultramarine. You have my thanks. By the Emperor that was very close."

    "Indeed. I gave your captain my word that you will be returned to her in one piece, and do so I shall."

    "We will not burden you my lord."

    "I know you won't. Follow my lead, I have a feeling this necron won't be so easily defeated." I was right about that, the necron wraith-like creature was as large as a dreadnought but it was remarkably agile.

    Standing up, I watch as mechanical horror battled mechanical horror. The necron was bobbing and weaving while swinging its halberd and enlarged claw around inflicting damage on the ferromorphs and frames attacking it. Whatever this necron was, it seems to be a powerful unit among the necron arsenal. My eyes couldn't help but narrow as I saw it twirl and slash one ferromorph, only to fire a gauss blast out the pommel at another of those drovers behind it, a combi-weapon of some sort. The claws seem to also be similar to the blade of the necron's halberd, which means that melee will be a tough prospect against it, and with how fast it is then it will be most difficult to keep at a distance.

    "It looks like you will need some assistance captain Titus." My eyesight flickered to the side for a brief moment, noticing magos Aronna was now beside me.

    "Perhaps. Though the assistance would not be unwelcome."

    "Quite. Here is your bolter, you must take care of it captain. Lest you anger the machine spirit underneath."

    "I will keep your counsel." I quipped back as I aim both my weapons at the necron.

    The necron dashed backwards from being surrounded by the ferromorphs and looked straight at us, I slightly tightened my grip on my weapons and I could hear sister Maria's weapons click and magos Aronna's power fists began letting out a low hum indicating that it is charging up. It just as quickly began dashing along the ground, form looking hazy as if it was fading in and out of existence while it approached us rapidly.

    Ferromorphs, combat frames, and the few imperial forces looking their way fired at the dashing necron. It had then suddenly veered off course and came up to a now panicking power armored guardsman backing away from the necron.

    But unfortunately for the guardsman the necron was far faster than him, and the claw came from above and split the poor man into five. I heard a faint cry from one of the other guardsman, he must have been a dear friend. I grit my teeth in anger before cooling myself down and charged at the necron while firing my bolter.

    It must have noticed me as its head jerked in my direction and twirled its halberd until the pommel was now facing me, looking around I kicked up a cloud of dust and darted to the side, the gauss beam blasted through where I was just a second before I continued firing my weapon and vengeance launcher. The necron was taking several bolter rounds but it was dodging around the fusion charges and ignoring the following explosions.

    When it reached my position I had to quickly duck and weave into a slide behind it as the necron swiped at me with its claw and attempted to slash me with its halberd. Firing my fusion charge into its back, I was treated to the sight of one of the necron skulls on its shoulders turn towards me and a free arm reached out and closed its fist around the charge, when it detonated the hand didn't look that damaged.

    "That is going to be a problem." I muttered quietly as I stood back up and charged at the necron who was now receiving fire from the two sororitas, the sergeant and the magos. Despite that, the necron simply ignored them as it slammed its tail into the ground kicking up dust around us causing the four of them to cease their fire lest they hit me on accident.

    I watch with trepidation in my eyes as the necron began shimmering before it began to 'fade' out of existence. With no hesitation I fired my bolter and vengeance launcher as well as my flamer at the necron before it fades out. The necron simply took those hits without flinching before it faded and the faint shimmer of light began darting around. This was not good.

    Back tracking, I did my best to follow the faint shimmer while periodically letting out bursts of my flamer in order to shroud the necron's form in order to better see it. I hate fighting invisible targets.

    With my back to my four allies, I stared at the shimmering reflective form of the invisible necron as it moved a tiny bit. Just as it began dashing towards me, I dodged it but I realized it wasn't targeting me. It was targeting one of my allies!

    "Watch yourselves!" I call out as I began running towards them firing my bolter at the shimmering form.

    The necron phased into existence just as it swung its halberd at them, the magos with her mechadendrites and her power fists managed to stop the halberd via gripping the haft, although this put her within swiping range. Just as the large claw was about to cleave her in twain, a familiar spear blade locked with the metallic palm of the claw.

    Inquisitor Thrax came in with Iron Blessing and his plasma pistol as well as a few reinforcements in the form of those animal-like hunter frames. The necron looked at the inquisitor before the other less fatal arms darted out and ripped the magos' mechadendrites just as Aronna pushed suddenly in order to gain distance.

    Hunters came in and began running around the necron, their chainswords swinging on their tails as the necron bobbed and weaved like it did earlier. The necron wrapped its own tail around several hunters and even grabbed two using its free arms before it threw them at us, I sidestepped the improvised projectile as I ran up beside the inquisitor.

    "Anything of note captain?"

    "Its smaller arms are capable of suppressing explosives somehow, and it is far too fast for me to land a fusion charge on it."

    "I noticed its speed. Those hunters are having a hard time matching it together."

    Meanwhile the main battle around us raged on, Eien's massive gun had only fired a second time and this time at one of the three walkers' legs which caused it to fall over crippled.

    The wraith-like necron didn't seem to bothered that slowly each of their armored units were getting taken out, my eyes narrowed on the necron who was now idly watching all of us and its surrounding area with its three heads. Hunters were circling the necron along with some of the more wild looking ferromorphs. How is it that we are struggling against just this one necron?!

    Just as I was about to take aim with my bolter once more, the necron decided to continue its onslaught by quickly slithering on the ground towards us. Imperial and Goo nearby fired at the necron, but with its ability to phase in and out of existence, the necron took little to no damage. The scratches on it made by the hunters and the slight dents made by the wild ferromorphs were some of the few 'injuries' we have dealt to it.

    It then phased into the ground. My eyes widen as instincts honed from a century of service called for me to turn around, just as the necron leaped out of the earth preparing to stab the sister hospitaller who was attempting to back away. I will NOT be made a liar.

    With my choice made, I pushed sister Maria out of the way and took the stab to my right shoulder. I grunted as I felt the blade easily bypass my armor and sink into astartes flesh and out the back, ignoring the pain my left hand grabbed the haft of the necron's weapon tightly. I would like to think that my action gave the necron pause as it just stared at me before it was knocked aside by the magos' fist and the inquisitor's spear, the necron's weapon had left its hand as I was keeping it stuck in my body.

    Almost immediately the battle seem to pick up, as the magos and inquisitor danced with the necron along with some of Eien's hunters and myrmidons. The two sororitas Maria and Judith along with sergeant Rico supported me as I ripped the weapon out of my shoulder and snapped it in two with my gauntlet and boot.

    "It appears that I have simply burdened you lord ultramarine." I did not need to turn my head to know who said that sullenly.

    "Not now sister! Sulk later AFTER the battle is finished!" Surprisingly it was sergeant Rico who yelled that.

    "I agree with the idiot, come sister. You can make it up to the sir Titus by patching up his wounds." Followed by the other sororitas Judith.

    "I will live. For now the battle continues and we must keep our focus." Astartes regeneration kicking in and clotting my impalement to the point where I am at least still combat capable with a slight decrease in performance. Even now I feel my wound sealing up.

    However I know that I can't let my shoulder take another hit like that, lest I want to lose said limb. But I can still fight. Waving off the three members of White Squad, I got up on my feet bolter still in my right hand before I began firing at the necron.

    "You three. Provide cover fire." On my command, the two sororitas and one guardsman fired their weapons with me at the necron whenever we saw Thrax and Aronna were clear of their line of sight.

    Taking a quick cursory look around the battlefield, some imperial forces have been unlucky and were struck by the baleful green energy of the necrons despite Eien's forces doing their utmost to protect them. Casualties would most likely be very light, but I highly doubt the matriarch would like that there were any casualties at all.

    Plus side is that whatever weapon Eien was using at the current moment, it was powerful. As the third shot completely knocked out one of the larger hover tanks of the necrons.

    When I turned back to fighting the necron, it was just in time for the necron to make a mistake that cost it. Neither the inquisitor nor the magos were the ones to take advantage of it, it was a wild ferromorph that came in from underneath and wrapped itself around the necron before numerous spikes were impaled into it. The ferromorph seemed to have done something as the light of the necron's eye flickered, with that the ferromorph detached itself and Eien's forces opened fire on the necron.

    We followed their lead, bolter, plasma, lasgun, and the occasional tank shell impacted where the necron was at. A cloud of dust and smoke was kicked up at the point of impact, and when it cleared, I could not help but look slightly troubled at seeing the necron while heavily damaged was still mostly intact.

    All of its arms were hanging and the necron was slouching instead of maintaining its straight stance, as it looked up at us. I can't help but think that it is looking specifically at me, the necron then slowly raised its two shortest front arms and made a strange hand sign, before its entire body glowed green and teleported.

    Finally out of the most danger, the fight against the necron armored column continued in earnest. I sighed and was about to head to the front when a hand on my torso stopped me, looking down I saw it was sister Maria who had done so.

    "I can not in good consciousness let you go back into the fight after receiving such a wound."

    "Not to worry, Astartes physiology and regeneration provides sufficient measures upon taking wounds like these."

    "I know lord ultramarine, but I would request to check all the same." At that, I couldn't fault the hospitaller for her worry. Considering I did save her from an untimely demise.

    Turning my head to look at sister Judith and sergeant Rico who was waiting for my orders, I waved them off to head towards the bastion line. "Get back to the battle line, we will catch up."

    I watch as they nod their heads at me and saluted before they jogged back to the line, a chimera rolled up before it stopped in between us and the necrons acting like a form of cover. Turning back to the hospitaller, I allowed her to look around my injury, out of the corner of my eye I saw the inquisitor and magos speak to each other before the Aronna returned to the front line. Thrax took a glance at me before he began jogging back to Eien, who just fired another three wave-like beams.

    Idly flexing my right hand around my bolter, it feels like I will still be able to keep it.

    Blackstone Fortress Core
    Eien POV

    Scattering into a cloud of nanomachines, I reformed a few meters away from the amalgamation, looking at the necron lord and aeldari knight I see them dodge the amalgamates simple but fiercely brutal physical attacks.

    The floor no longer enshrouded in baleful green and corrupt warpfire, the three of us landed in relative safety. The amalgamate roared pitifully as its back burst open and the countless souls of the fallen aeldari coalesced into something that kind of looks like a centipede with the monstrous torso attached to the front like a demented demonic centaur analogue.

    Taking to the air, I watched the amalgamate form several aeldari into macabre blades made out of bone and sinew. Fucking hell, this thing looks like something that would come out of resident evil. I saw the knight and lord jump and warp away respectively, looking back at the abomination I flowed into a cloud of nanomachines before forming on top of the amalgamate.

    Turning one arm into a blade I try to one hit subdue the amalgamate, I quickly learn that it can't be that easy. Because why the fuck not. This isn't really a physical body, it is the combination of the empyreal energy of 6,666,666 aeldari souls into one amalgam of soul energy. If anything it feels more like the daemons in which they are comprised of warp energy with no actual biological form underneath, which makes it all the more difficult for me.

    Removing my blade arm, I detached myself and flew back while opening my khalkotauroi's head to fire the inferno core, causing the massive amalgam to let out a piercing wail as it tried to swat me out of the sky.

    Noticing the glow of green and yellow, I saw gauss lightning and fire assault the amalgam from one side, and yellow ribbons of crystalline empyreal energy whipping on the other carving trenches into the pitiful beast's fleshy hide.

    The amalgamate screeched as it thrashed and with its millions of legs skittered around the chamber with a speed that betrayed its size, it was unfathomably fast for its size. I kept focusing my infernal beam on the amalgamate, and likewise I saw the necron lord lob emerald fire balls and the knight shoot his rifle at it even though it was climbing up the walls and the ceiling.

    Landing beside the necron lord and the aeldari knight, we watched as the amalgamate hanged from the ceiling looking at us, it let out another wailing shriek as the numerous eyes on the creature opened wide. Oh, right. Psychic, yeah.

    Numerous balls made of warp energy swirled into existence in the form of colorful balls of light hanging from the ceiling, the necron lord shifted his stance and the aeldari knight tensed up before they fled through darkness and air dashed away respectively.

    I on the other hand just stayed there as the balls of warp energy flew towards me. Blue optics turned white as I bent backwards slightly and the khalko nanites around my jaw flowed as if like a mouth opening and a blue vortex swirled into existence within it. In no time, the vortex created by my siphon expanded and all of the warp energy bombs flew into the sapphire swirl quickly being unraveled and converted into mass.

    The amalgamate actually seemed a little intimidated at my action, but it quickly recovered and let out an anguished roar. Dropping from the ceiling and forcing me to scatter into a cloud of nanites that flowed around the amalgamate and reformed on the other side.

    I watch as the necron lord continued sending storms of gauss lightning and the aeldari knight attempted to fillet the amalgamate with his warp sword. Idly sending inferno blasts, my mind went a mile a minute as I thought of a way to try and contain the beast without resorting to my siphon.

    Since I haven't done more tests on how my siphons interact with souls of the empyrean, I can't risk using them lest I want to give all these aeldari a truly permanent death. But then again, that oblivion would be magnitudes better than sending them into the waiting arms of the fucking whore where they will be murderboned slaves for all eternity.

    Glancing at my two temporary allies, I had to also take into account that those two probably have no idea what changed with the Empyrean. So they might just 'banish' the amalgamate thinking that they will just be recycled and sent to their Aethyr gods, and I highly doubt the knight knows what happened to them due to the fact he has been fighting for who knows how long.

    But he is also fighting inside a non-chaos blackstone fortress, this place prevents connections to the empyrean and it is why the Keeper of Secrets hauled ass in order to get away from me before I could succ the KoS into oblivion.

    I don't WANT to send those aeldari souls to oblivion, but I also don't want them to suffer under Slaanesh. No one should be. Which is why I want to find a way to contain them for a while until I can find a way to find another solution. It is blindly optimistic and naive of me, but we are talking about over 6 million innocents.

    I don't WANT to just write them off as a hopeless cause. But... if I had to. I will give them the soft embrace of true death if it meant preventing their suffering under the dark prince.

    After all, the universe of Warhammer is a place where even in death one cannot rest.

    Returning my focus to the battle, it is quite interesting to see the Aeldari Knight and Necron Lord fight side by side. Frankly it is quite disturbing how well their synergy is, the knight just created another set of crystalline ribbons that carved trenches all over the amalgamate while the necron lord blasted gauss lightning at the ribbons causing the empyreal structure to destabilize and shatter like a long frag grenade followed by the energy of said gauss lightning.

    Even if I wasn't here, they probably would have taken care of it together... that is if they even teamed up together in the first place, as far as I know this might be the first and only time the two races might work together. Anyway, the amalgamate was being steadily damaged since pretty much all three of us were using energy-based attacks and it won't be long until we shatter the beast's cohesion.

    However this puts me on a rather stressful time limit, as I have to quickly figure out a way to contain the amalgamate without shattering them and without giving them a true case of death.

    I need something that can restrain the amalgamate, something that can hold it in place without any risk of damaging it further. Within my private domain, my eyes widen as an idea resurfaced, I may not be able to subdue from within, but I CAN subdue from outside. Shattering into the cloud, I darted over to where the radiant was and gently but quickly 'plucked a piece' of goo from the invisible scout.

    In the eyes of every occupant of the chamber, they would see my khalkotauroi form cradle a small grey goo before it began expanding rapidly as I fed the protean body more and more mass from the network. My consciousness controlling it as my khalkotauroi flew towards the amalgamate with the goo protean in its right hand.

    The necron lord and aeldari knight were wary of my 'attack' and so cleared ground zero, it was not needed but I applaud their caution. The amalgamate glided across the floor while launching numerous warp-energy bombs, with the siphon however those were rendered nil.

    Reaching the 'head' of the amalgamate, I gently whispered to the numerous aeldari souls. "This is for your own good."

    Slamming the protean mass onto the amalgamate's body, I then let loose while controlling the protean mass turning it into a mother goo while I continued rapidly using up mass to expand the goo to the point I was able to wrap the amalgamate within my embrace. All the while the amalgamate was struggling and letting out pitiful wails and mournful shrieks.

    The necron lord and aeldari knight were off to the side a bit of a distance away from each other while they watched the grey goo rapidly expand and wrap itself around the amalgamate, forcing it to stay still before the slime-like mass morphed into a feminine figure near the head of the massive amalgamate.

    Looking through the eyes of the morph, I reach out and gently touch the pitiful creature's exposed muscle and sinew, the numerous eyes I could see were looking directly at my hand and then at my morphed form. I don't know what possessed me to do what I did next, but it felt like the right thing.

    "Don't worry little ones... everything is going to be alright. Your suffering will not be for long." In a way it was morbidly correct, either I free them from their suffering without damning them to Slaanesh... or I free them from their suffering by consigning them to oblivion.

    Numerous eyes of the aeldari souls blinked as the amalgamate began ceasing its struggles to the point it simply began making a sort of token effort. Whether what I did actually worked, or it simply knew through some kind of instinct that I have it in its most vulnerable state and it had no way of escaping. Whichever it is, the amalgamate no longer poses a threat, now it is time for the two biggest elephants in the room.

    Releasing control of the khalkotauroi, I gave the order to go to his siblings to hunt down that Keeper of Secrets as it was still in the fortress.

    Meanwhile, I split off another mother goo from the large mass and transmorphed into my edged Eien-shape. I began my slow trek to the necron lord and the aeldari knight, the two were not only watching each other now that the threat of the amalgamate has passed, but they were now watching me with caution and curiosity.

    It was clear to the both of them earlier that I was NOT something they were familiar with, and I really hope that I can speak and understand the both of them. Otherwise this might take quite a while.

    "Hello there."

    When I spoke, my fears were realized as I saw the two mortal enemies look at each other before looking at me.

    Ok, yeah. This is going to take a while.


    Totally important thing I forgot to mention before. Anckm'rab's voice sounds like an echoing suave british man. (Yes totally important)
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • Definitely believable reaction from the Necron where it is somewhat wary but hopefull at the organic body thing but in somewhat disbelief because it doesn't know that Humanities tech base had a sledgehammer applied to it and the hours heresy made sure it was stuck there for the most part
     
    TheLunchKing said:
    It was clear to the both of them earlier that I was NOT something they were familiar with, and I really hope that I can speak and understand the both of them. Otherwise this might take quite a while.

    "Hello there."

    When I spoke, my fears were realized as I saw the two mortal enemies look at each other before looking at me.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...



    But seriously I can't wait to see their reactions and the Eldar's reaction to a Knight of Vaul from the WiH.
     
    Chapter 25: Of Thots and Robots
  • Threadmarks
    • -=-=-=-=-=-
    Chapter 25: Of Thots and Robots
    -=-=-=-=-=-    ​

    With the battle at the convoy, I hiss at seeing the casualties the imperium sustained. Deep down I knew that even if I outnumber the convoy by a good bit, I still wouldn't be able to protect all of them. Even when harpies and my faster goo morphs dash in front of the imperial guard to take hits, there are always the unlucky ones. Like that one power armor wearing guardsman that got sliced like a turkey at thanksgiving dinner by that weird but powerful serpentine necron.

    I felt rather annoyed and angry at the fact I was doing my best protecting them, yet I still have casualties. Two of their leman russ tanks have been rendered useless with gauss blasts disintegrating the hull and the gun, and one other leman russ had the unfortunate luck to receive a tesla blast that slipped through my defense and ENTERED the barrel of the tank. If the tesla blast didn't outright kill the occupants of the tank, then the following explosion did.

    That is just the VEHICLES, the 2nd Power Armor Company 'Castle Crashers' has lost a third of a platoon of their armored boys and gals through unlucky gauss fire, and don't get me started on the regulars that were part of every company, the regulars who just wore their flak armor and had lasguns and the occasional stubber autogun for their weapons.

    Throughout all the imperial guard companies, they were hit the worst with losing about 59 guard regulars to errant necron fire. The imperial convoy was losing so much and they weren't even in the fucking blackstone fortress yet!

    Even with my forces supporting and protecting them, it seems like each guardsman has a d20 above their heads and they are all rolling 1s in how unlucky they get. My experimental tri-wave force gun IS knocking out the necron armor, but it is NOT fast enough and the weapon isn't perfect as I had to constantly replace parts every time I fire max-charges.

    Then we have the weird necron situation, Titus had to take a rather debilitating hit to his right shoulder in order to protect the hospitaller from dying via the serpent necron. On another note, holy shit that thing was fast, I spotted it earlier behind necron lines and as SOON as it vanished, I scattered frames and morphs along imperial guard forces but it wasn't quick enough.

    The necron had already turned 10 of those 'Castle Crashers' into pieces and an unfortunate guardsman got blasted in the stomach by its gauss gun pommel, the unlucky guardsman looked dumbly as she turned to iron dust and was swept by the wind the necron kicked up with its movement.

    I would have to say whatever higher power was watching over captain Titus, inquisitor Thrax and their retinue, they are smiling down upon them since they were VERY lucky that the necron didn't fillet one of their numbers. Hell, I didn't think that the MAGOS of all people would dare to get into CQC with that necron, but nah she did and those powerfists of hers were unique in that they actually deflected physical blows with its field from what I saw.

    When the serpent necron teleported out, presumably for repairs because of the combination of a hecatoncheires popping out of the ground and stabbing it in numerous different places as well as the multiple weapons fire battering its location. I was surprised that it actually stayed to be damaged instead of immediately teleporting out when my goo morph grabbed a hold of it. Then it gave Titus that strange hand sign right before it left.

    I'm pretty sure that necron was some kind of lychguard equivalent, those guys are bloody dangerous, even more so than astartes and I think it takes a full squad of space marines to reliably down one. A major difference between this serpent and the lychguard is that unlike the lychguard this thing is a lot faster.

    Anyway, enough about that. It has fucked off and I don't sense any similar signatures among the necron battle line, so that is good. What is not good is that guardsman luck is dictating it wants to bleed these imperials before reaching the blackstone fortress and I do not like that.

    So while I overcharge and fire the tri-wave force gun at another tank, I puppet a bastion that was in reserve.

    It's time for some unorthodox tactics, let's play some bowling.

    I watch as the bastion curled itself into a ball and began rolling forwards and up the wall in order to go around our battle line taking care not to squish any imperials. With but a mental nudge, the bastion's shield emitters activated and causing the wrecking bastion to shimmer as the shield covered a good majority of its body.

    As expected, some of the necrons began aiming at the bastion due to it rapidly closing the gap between them, those walkers were now aiming at the rolling bastion and those are my bowling pins. That said, with the necrons now turning some of their guns away from our battle line, hopefully the imperial guard will be a bit luckier and not get their head taken off by a stray gauss blast.

    Throughout the battle line, I had the siphons plug in the bigger holes left by my bastions with siphon vortexes, hopefully this should lessen the chance of the imperials losing their heads.

    On the plus side, the necrons had far less units in total as a previous headcount showed that more or less the imperials by themselves outnumber them 3 to 1. Supported by my units, their current casualties are more than likely light compared to what they would have if I wasn't here. Which is kind of depressing to be honest.

    Oh, the bastion crashed into one of the walkers and has unfolded to begin kaiju fighting it, that looks awesome. No wait, focus Eien you still have a battle to win with the imperials, you also have a siege in the blackstone fortress and have to negotiate with the cryptek and try to prevent the necron lord and aeldari knight from murking each other by keeping them interested in me.

    Firing the gun again, I cored out the last active walker and was pleasantly surprised to see a change in their tactics. Previously they were slowly advancing on our position, but now after I pretty much blasted four of their armored units, the necrons were beginning to slowly backing up. My bastion was about to crush the walker it was manhandling when it disappeared a burst of green light.

    Looking at the area where the walker used to be, I quickly had the bastion roll up and retreat from the necron lines, it has already lost quite a bit of nanomachines. The few necrons it ran over phased out and teleported away, if I am right then there is probably a repair bay somewhere inside the blackstone fortress and that is where all the damaged necrons are going.

    This is rough for the imperials, even if a necron is destroyed, it will only be phased out and returned to an active repair station unless the necrons are actively invading. But of course since these are war in heaven necrons and this world is a planet they have been sieging, it is no surprise that there is a repair station somewhere.

    "They seem to be retreating inquisitor."

    "Yes I can see that magos."

    Hearing that from one of the hobgoblins I had firing at the necrons, I fired the experimental tri-wave force gun one more time coring out another small hover tank before I receded it into my morphed form. I then took control of the hobgoblin and turned to the inquisitor and the magos who were watching the necron force retreat from the battle. Why did they leave? Did they have a commanding unit? Did the necron lord Aizaun notice the similarities with the one it was fighting with and the morphs I have in the blackstone fortress?

    "I do not trust the fact they are performing a fighting retreat. Why do so now of all times? Why not do so when that serpentine necron phased out of active combat?"

    "I agree with the matriarch inquisitor, if these necrons were truly from the War in Heaven era. Why did they decide to attack us only to begin retreating after taking a few most likely temporary losses?"

    "We will most likely never know. But if I had to guess, then these necrons were probing us." Hearing that little theory from Thrax gave me a rather uncomfortable thought.

    These are War in Heaven Necrons, who knows what kind of fancy crap they got stored away, and if they were 'testing the waters' against us or more likely MY forces. Then these necrons do not belong to the necron lord Aizaun who is chilling inside the talisman, but then again this might not be the case and this is just a hopeful case of over paranoia.

    Then again, the necrons my forces were steadily overpowering within the three corridors of the talisman, that should mean they already have enough info on fighting me. If the necrons were testing my forces, then they should have brought out some of those heavier units like the tanks and walkers within the blackstone fortress. If that won't stop me, then at the very least it would slow down my forces' clearing speed.

    But, that theory might make sense. There is still that unexplored blizzardy hellscape up in the north, if this world was a major shipyard constructing Talismans of Vaul for the War in Heaven. Then it would make perfect sense for such a world to be subject to MULTIPLE necron invasions from two entirely different locations, if that were the case then the behavior of these necrons would make a rather disturbing amount of sense.

    If there is another necron lord on this planet, then I have to hurry up and either render Aizaun's necrons a neutral non-harmful faction, or have the negotiation with Anckm'rab deal with information pertaining to this mysterious necron lord and maybe get him to be essentially a translator between me and the lord and knight within the fortress... either that or he tells me how to package a language and send it to Aizaun to instantly teach him the language.

    Is it a good plan? Maybe. Is it a viable plan? Not really. Is it my only plan aside from having the convoy retreat or complete its journey? Yes, absolutely, which is going to be a rather awkward affair knowing that the greater daemon of the bitch is actively running away because I tried to eat it.

    "If that is the case inquisitor, then I might need to step up production of my forces just in case. It is after all better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

    "That is a very understandable view."

    "Hmph. You would be surprised at how very few choose to follow it."

    After I made my quip, I see the last of the necron force disappear, phasing out of existence. Now, it is somewhat a waiting game, if those armored units start showing up inside the blackstone fortress, then they might be 'retreating' to reinforce it since my three fronts were steadily advancing. If they don't? Well, like I told the inquisitor. I'll be preparing.

    Abandoned Necron Stronghold
    Anckm'rab POV

    "Am I to assume that was your doing?"

    When the matriarch all of a sudden spoke, I was slightly confused as to what she meant.

    "Whatever do you mean by that my lady?"

    "There was a necron armored force that attacked the imperial convoy I was escorting to the blackstone fortress, yet they backed off after I cored out at least five of their vehicles."

    An armored necron force with vehicles? These sound like some of Aizaun's small patrols, they must have reactivated a bit late. "Ah, you must have run into one of Aizaun's patrols, they should have been active before the necrons within the talisman awakened."

    "A patrol? Then that wraith-like necron seems out of place in such a formation."

    Wraith-like Necron? The Wraith Sentinels? That is most peculiar, those are some of the most decorated combatants among the retinue of any necron noble worth their salt, comparing to the Lychguards in terms of quality. Where the Lychguards primarily focus on power and durability, which made them excellent bodyguards, the Wraith Sentinels were all about speed and reaction, this also made them just as good in a bodyguard role. That they can both function as shock troopers is simply an added bonus.

    What is a Wraith Sentinel doing within a patrol group? There were very few reasons for warriors like Lychguards and Wraith Sentinels to be attached to patrol groups, one them being if there was a sighting of a Wytcher or a Hunter-Killer nearby, those were some of the more problematic units of the Aeldari and the Krorks respectively.

    Then again, Aizaun must have just awakened, and if that is the case then it may not be too farfetched if he sent one of his retinue to inspect the area. But if that were the case, then the lady Eien would have encountered more sentinels, were the phase matrixes inactive? Did the spyders fail to maintain the matrixes with the scarabs? Did the sentinel awaken separate from Aizaun and simply took initiative at the moment?

    Hmm, that actually seems the most likely. Lychguards and Wraith Sentinels are capable of independent thought, and awakening from the Great Sleep can be slightly disorienting, even for a mechanical mind. So it would be more than understandable if said Lychguard or Wraith Sentinel were to be wary and seek out other nearby necrons to awaken and wander the area before returning to their noble lord.

    Looking at the lady Eien, who now seems to be focusing her gaze towards him expectantly. "The 'wraith-like' necron you encountered, it is most likely a Wraith Sentinel a sort of rival creation to the Lychguard."

    "That would make them pseudo-commanders should the necron lord they are serving be absent." Eien quipped with surprising amount of insight to how Lychguard and Wraith Sentinels work.

    "Well, yes. The armored force of necrons were most likely necrons that the sentinel awoke personally before they would return back to the necron lord."

    "Hmm... quick question."

    Whatever this question was, it might be important for him to answer considering the goo matriarch is his only way out without waiting or putting himself in debt to Aizaun. "By all means, ask your question my dear lady."

    "I will give you a window of opportunity in our negotiations as a gesture of goodwill, I have a body right now facing off against your necron lord and a heavily armored aeldari. I need to make sure that they don't try to murder each other at the moment as well as know if I need you to translate or if I can possibly send a language package to this Aizaun so that we could speak to each other."

    How surprising, to already have established another meeting with the necron lord and what seems to be a Knight of Vaul if that comment on heavily armored aeldari was any indicator. But to also give myself an advantage in the negotiations like this, it is unprecedented but not unheard of, this just means that the matriarch is confident that I have nothing else to offer her.

    It is a gesture of goodwill disguising a thinly veiled challenge and I believe she knows this, the lady Eien is most likely being truthful with her gesture while simultaneously challenging my position in the negotiation. From my observations of the matriarch using my wraith, I have determined several attributes. Honorable, Confident, and Ruthless, a very strange combination, and one I will enjoy bouncing off of in the future, it will be interesting to decipher any hidden meanings behind her words.

    "I thank you for your magnanimous decision, for your gesture, I return it with my own."

    Two can play at that game my dear, my optical strip flashed as I created an open connection, and sent a crypt cypher, waiting for the goo matriarch to take it. "This cypher is a code that Aizaun will recognize as mine, one that I don't give out freely and easily. Transmit it to him, and he should adhere to a temporary ceasefire."

    Her sapphire blue optics flashed as they stared deeply into my emerald optic, before I felt something 'connect' and pull the cypher after a brief moment. I was not lying, and I would dare not risk my only form of escaping this degrading purgatory by tricking her now. Besides, doing so would be uncivilized. Outright killing the one you are negotiating with before the talks end? I would become a laughing stock among the higher necron echelons.

    With that 'advantage' thrown away, my action would challenge the lady Eien in return. Some would say I foolishly threw away an advantage without shamelessly milking more from it, but I find that distasteful. Unlike some of the more common crypteks, I see negotiation as a form of art, a battle of words, and a duel of the minds. Not some toy to just simply increase your standing.

    I saw the lady Eien's sapphire optics flash before 'blinking' once, the grey female morph's stance seemed to loosen. "Interesting. The cypher was shown to the necron lord Aizaun, he seemed mollified and has informed the armored aeldari. Even more interesting is that the aeldari actually stood down from his combat stance, only tensing in preparation."

    "Not surprising, if I am right. That is most likely El'dathar, the First Link of the Exalt Chain, of the Knights of Vaul."

    The matriarch slowly blinked at me, understandable as those terms were most likely lost to time. "Nevermind that, while that is interesting our negotiation does not encompass such a topic."

    "Very well, I will save that for another date then."

    "With the... 'advantage' given away with your freely given cypher, I must ask you know. Lord Anckm'rab, what can you offer me in exchange for the creation of a body?"

    As she made that question, I let out a mental hum and thought to myself that there could be plenty of things that I could offer, especially as a cryptek and of the mattermancer discipline at that. I could offer her knowledge, whether it be technical or fundamental, plans for some of necron constructs, solutions for different energy substitutes, and plenty more.

    Yet, for the matriarch, I had to be careful as the lady Eien most likely has technology that can match the necrons or render them inert. So I will have to tread carefully, and think of several offers, for now let us start with the easiest one.

    "I would like to offer you, the lexicanum of Necron Crypt and Aeldari Tongue."

    "Interesting, but not enough. I will have to spend some time deciphering what does each character mean, as I highly doubt these languages would follow an alphabet pattern." She was quick to decide on that. Which is fair, frankly if the matriarch had accepted that alone I would have lost a good deal of respect for her.

    "Then, perhaps... a material equation."

    "Material equation?"

    "Yes, of adamantium."

    "I am already familiar with that material equation."

    "But are you familiar with its digitade on the Techno Arca scale?" I could tell that the matriarch's interest was beginning to grow, but her 'facial expression' was still incredibly flat and neutral.

    "... No, I can't say I do. However, as interesting as that is. I would not be able to make use of it, especially since I have no information on this Techno Arca scale you speak of." Again, fair and very understandable. But that is not all my dear lady.

    "Of course, which is why I offer you this next. The sequence for an initial Circum Realika, in layman's terms. The equation for one of our 'spells' if you will, belonging to the Techno Arca." There we go, the good lady's head actually tilted and I could tell her interest has risen quite drastically.

    "How... interesting." Oh? That was a rather subdued respo-

    "You have Control Authority." If I had organic eyes, they would widen uncontrollably. Control Authority?! Does the matriarch know of the fundamental laws of the universe as well in a different manner? Can she manipulate it?! This is bad, no wonder she is confident, it is highly likely then that she already knows this and is simply humoring me.

    No, calm yourself. There is no possible way that would be the case, the lady Eien will simply refuse and we can go back to our little dan-

    "I will take it into consideration. However, it is still not enough."

    That is the same as saying you will accept it. My my, it appears I have underestimated my opponent. Despite my earlier observations, the matriarch is still quite the unknown variable. Who knows exactly what is the extent of her knowledge. It would appear I don't have as much of an advantage as I thought, thinking very carefully, I ponder to myself on what exactly could I offer the matriarch that wouldn't put me at a disadvantage in the future.

    "Then, I don't suppose my research on aeldari and krork physiology would interest you in any way?" Hold on, the matriarch's head actually turned to face me fully. I watch as the lady Eien held up a hand to her chin as her optics narrow on my form.

    "Hmm..." Why would she want the research of those species? Is this tied with her quip on biological bodies earlier? No, that can't be right... could it?

    I watch as the grey machine woman's form lower herself down, grey nano-goo forming into a large protean shape that she seats herself upon.

    "... Is that all?"

    "No... I have one more thing to offer to you matriarch." Perhaps this might interest her enough. All that I have promised to give were small and acceptable losses. If the mother of the grey goo knows of the fundamental laws and aspects of the universe, then I have not given anything away that she doesn't already know.

    "And that is?"

    "Aid." When I saw the lady Eien incline her head at me, I continued.

    "My aid in negotiating with lord Aizaun."

    Before my optic, I saw the matriarch's sapphire eyes flash once. "For all that you have offered, in return I will give you a body for you to transfer yourself to."

    Now, I do believe that it is the matriarch's turn to make her offer. It could simply be that and that alone as I would not be able to convince her otherwise.

    "It is only fair, that since you have made rather interesting offers. I give you my own." When the lady Eien spoke that last phrase, I was more than a little wary.

    "Your selection matters, as it is going to be your new body for the foreseeable future after all. Would you simply go with a mechanical body, or perhaps you would want a more biological form?" I... don't want to believe that, there has to be a catch. Some form of detriment that will only reveal itself once I am transferred into it.

    No, there is too much to risk. I am already desperate with risking myself in the creation of a body not of necron origin just so I could have my full locomotion returned to me. Which is why I am choosing the arguably safer option.

    "I would simply like a mechanical body." I can't help but wonder if I am making the right choice, but once I obtain a mechanical form I can simply 'update' it using a realika sequence.

    When Eien 'raised an eyebrow' at me, she tilted her head. "Are you certain lord Anckm'rab?"

    No, I am not. But I do not wish to risk it. "Yes, I am."

    The optics which remind me of large blue stars close as the nanomechanical lady nodded to herself before she opened them again and stared at my form as if looking through me. "What else do you wish to be added onto it then?"

    How... unprecedented, perhaps the lady Eien is a believer of fair exchange? I suppose there is no harm in making a request or two... but just in case. "What would you recommend my dear?"

    Chuckling slightly, the matriarch then seemed to look interested in him. The both of them knew that he was weighing how far he can choose his options while phrasing it in a way that it wouldn't sound demanding of him.

    "Well... I can add an anti-grav core, maybe some plasma edged blades, maybe a cloaking device, and more. Would you like to make some suggestions of your own?"

    No mention about nanomachines, a shame but very understandable. However, for some reason this feels like a trick question. Best not provoke the matriarch then, I will simply choose one object. "Well, if you are offering. I would not mind the core, and a... question as to how I may look."

    Watching Eien, I saw that she stared at me for a brief moment before she nodded. Movement on her form caught my eye and I saw a stalk sprout up from one of her shoulders, a blue light emanating from one end before a hologram was projected. This hologram was shaped into something that had the same two arm, two leg configuration, although its appearance was rather unique, and my slight interest into its appearance prompted the matriarch to explain it.

    "Based off my plans of the Valiant, I modified its chassis and altered a few aspects of the base design in an attempt to make it closer to your current body... or rather what is left of it. Thicker torso, more armored limbs, and that rather unique helm of yours."

    When the matriarch showed the design of the mechanical body she is planning to make for me, I was more than a little bit disturbed at the appearance due to its similarity in appearance to my previous undamaged form, it was so similar that the resemblance is rather uncanny. But I suppose that would just mean that once I update it, then I will look like my previous self with a few slight changes.

    "Is that all my dear lady?"

    "Yes. Shall I begin? It will not take but a few swift moments."

    "Ah, well. Yes, if you would so kindly lady Eien."

    Watching Eien, I saw the grey nanomechanical woman stand up and her lower body 'melt' for lack of a better word into the large protean mass she sat upon before the rest of the grey lady 'fell' into the blob. Fascinated, I watch as blue sparks and lights explode within the slightly opaque mass of nanomachines and my new body began to appear steadily.

    Well, I'll give that to the matriarch. It will take a few moments.

    Blackstone Fortress Core
    El'dathar POV

    After the strange machine contained the empyreal abomination of numerous aeldari souls, I watched as the machine's optics turn from blue to orange before it collapsed into a cloud of black and orange fire and lightning, just as the aforementioned cloud darted off.

    I could not help but share my adversary's wariness as the female shape that formed earlier detached herself from the grey mass, when she landed we were treated to her form 'solidifying into a rather... large female form with a... 'gifted' shape if one wishes to put it like that. When the female morph of grey stopped just a short distance from us, it was when I looked into the shapely female's blue eyes that I realized that this was the female voice earlier when that machine's eyes turned blue.

    "☟︎♏︎●︎●︎□︎ ⧫︎♒︎♏︎❒︎♏︎📬︎" When she spoke, it was in that strange language. Turning to Aizaun, I saw he turned his head to me and I think he was just as confused before we looked back at the female.

    Her form's shoulders slumped as she realized that we could not understand her. "Hmm... interesting."

    Turning back to the necron lord in the vicinity, I couldn't help but tighten my hold on my weapons thinking that he was going to attack, but he was holding a mechanical hand to the chin of his metal skull. "There should be no reason this machine can not have learned Aethounge, Crypt, nor your Eldar tongues or Krok-speech. Yet it is speaking with a language that neither of us know."

    From underneath my helmet, my eyes narrow at my adversary rather wary of his lack of hostility at the moment. Granted I too am more curious at this grey woman, yet I know very well that Aizaun is still going to try and end my life if I show even the slightest sign of relaxing.

    "You say that as if this one is a creation of one of your crypteks."

    "Perhaps, but I don't think that is the case with this one."

    "Why is that?"

    "One is she isn't made out of necrodermis, even a blind child could tell-" Tsk, of course. "- and second, she would have already attacked you had she been made by a necron."

    I had to concede to that. This one isn't attacking myself, but she is also not attacking Aizaun so I do not know if this one will be trustworthy at all. Hmm? Aizaun's eye lights flashed and his gauntlets began flashing emerald flame and lightning.

    "It appears her forces are attacking my own."

    This mechanical female is hostile to the Necrons? This could be good, I could find a temporary ally withi- wait, the necron lord's gauntlets suddenly stopped releasing those baleful technological elements.

    "But it appears the cryptek is negotiating with this one. Tsk. You are lucky for now knight, the only reason why I am not going to slaughter you right now is because of the temporary ceasefire the cryptek requested of me as a favor while they talk."

    Vaul damn it, that means I cannot attack him as well. Since that would most likely cause the female machine to attack me in turn, which would also mean Aizaun will follow her lead and renew our battle, only this time it will not be a free for all but it will be a 2v1, one I cannot win if the reaction of that warp predator was any indicator.

    I suppose the only good thing to come out of this is that I will get a chance to rest and do my best to recharge and re-arm my runes. As well as repair my plate as quickly as I can while also watching the other two mechanical beings within the chamber for sudden movements.

    At least now that the battle is over for now, while I work on my personal effects I can also take a closer look at the newest arrival and the... pitiful abomination. Walking away, I move around until the grey woman was somewhat between myself and Aizaun.

    Speaking of that soulless mechanical menace, he just crossed his arms and used his veil of darkness to reappear a farther distance away. I could tell that the necron lord was taking stock of the current situation like I am, despite his reputation as the Wrathlord, he is a rather cautious individual and gifted in the art of combat.

    As for the grey goo female, I watch Aizaun from the corner of my eye while also watching the lady turn about face and start walking to the horrid amalgamation of countless aeldari souls. Of which I noticed that the massive beast was acting in a more subdued manner instead of that wild hostile flailing, why is it being simply being contained? We should simply shatter them, the Aethyr Gods will be able to help them, the God of Smiths Vaul and the Divine Mother Isha would see what they have become and easily untangle their souls from their fresh hell.

    So why is this grey machine simply keeping the beast like this? Why not send it to the Sea of Souls? As I recharged my runes using my empyreal strength, darker thoughts couldn't help but filter themselves into my mind. What if this machine wants to experiment on souls? I... I can't let this happen, but I can't do anything by myself. Not when there is a necron lord right there who would take his pleasure in making me regret any future hostile action.

    Almost as if sensing my thoughts, I could feel one of the heartstones give off some form of heat, looking down I would notice it was the one that belonged to Taldiir. Despite the situation, I couldn't help but softly smile underneath my helmet. 'This probably would be the time when you'd slap me upside my head and call me an idiot huh?'

    Despite being the Fourth Link, that girl would not hesitate to give me a smack if I start thinking terrible outcomes without considering other ones. Even in death, you still speak your piece like that.

    Shaking my head, I began to carefully think. It is unfair to immediately label the grey woman as a possible enemy, considering she DID send that empyreal predator packing, running for her existence I think, and this one DID aid myself and Aizaun with taking care of the beast.

    So what other reason could there be for this nano-goo woman to restrain the amalgamation instead of scattering it to the empyreal winds for the Aethyr Gods to pick up?

    ...Unless...

    The glimpse I got of the Sea of Souls, it was chaotic, there was no flowing elegance, there was no controlled wildness, its everchanging state was far more pronounced than what I remember it to be.

    Did something happen to the Sea of Souls and the Aethyr Gods?

    Blackstone Fortress Maze Paths
    Ner'isa Ur'ces POV

    Despite having no lungs, and despite not needing to breathe, I leaned back against the wall 'out of breath'. So far, so good, I have not encountered either of those horrid creatures, and the presences of my illusions were still bright and active which is also good. That means that those monstrosities are either still looking, or chasing one of them still.

    It all seemed so easy, fall deep into the immaterium, let the currents take you, and come out into the materium where you would be needed by your patron the most. When I was dropped into the legendary War in Heaven, I believed I would be able to kickstart the birth of my Dark Prince and become his most favored, a herald, or maybe even sit beside the Lord of Excess!

    But no, the God War showed WHY it was called so. Even on Exalt'dorei, the battles I have seen would have perhaps even left those blood-loving idiots that follow their bloody god crying for reprieve. I had to change my tactics, subterfuge would have won me the game.

    6,666,666 delicious Aeldari Souls, pure God War era Aeldari Souls. They would have made me powerful enough to begin the age of the Dark Prince, but those blasted Knights of Vaul ruined everything! I could feel when I awakened from my forced stasis, the time has passed and we were more or less flung far after the God War. All I could do then was prepare the ritual to empower myself permanently, and if I could skullfuck those blasted birds I would, because it was as if the Architect of Fate itself is conspiring against me when it brought those three THINGS.

    Whatever those things are, I can't let them get to me. I will escape, and I will return with a far greater force that would be more than enough to get rid of those horrid monstrosities.

    My thoughts ground to a halt as I heard the sound of skittering and a low howl echo throughout the maze. That cold feeling spread throughout my physical form once more as I stayed as silent as I could hidden within the dark shadows of this dimly lit intersection.

    Turning my head to the side, I couldn't help but freeze up as I see that horrific orange light shine from around the corner, followed by the monstrous nightmare itself, turns out the orange light was being emanated from the 'eyes' and its chest. I did not even twitch as I saw the creature look ahead and begin looking right. 'Don't look at me, don't look at me, don't look at me.' A chant with my own voice echoed throughout my head.

    Its head stayed looking to the right before it began walking that way, carefully I got off the wall and slowly walked away from that monstrosity when I stepped back and could not help but flinch at the loud scraping sound and looked down to see I stepped on a degraded necron body that slid along the floor from my action.

    Quickly looking back at the creature, I saw it stopped and its whole torso twisted in place, that burning orange gaze locked with my own as I immediately turned about and began running. A howl echoed behind me as I heard several thudding footsteps and what sounds like a blade scratching the floor.

    Don't stop running, come on. We can get out of here, ignore the empty feeling where I lost pieces of myself, and ignore the cold feeling spreading throughout my form. Running around the corner, I quickly pulled out a blade and swung it backwards while letting go in an attempt to slow the damn thing down.

    I heard an impact, while running I chanced a look behind me and saw the creature apparently did not anticipate it as it was now stopped and was taking its time with eating my damn blade. Gods damn it, will I have to keep sacrificing parts of my arsenal in order to be able to escape?!

    I felt one of the presences die out, but I don't know where exactly. One downside of this Talisman of Vaul is that the Soul Furnaces spread a sort of ambient field of warp energy, this makes it hard to detect where warp energy is when you can 'see' warp energy is everywhere in the air.

    Turning around a corner, I freeze as I saw the most horrific sight I could ever have seen. One of my corporeal illusions was screaming on the floor, begging as the horrid creature above it stabbed its arms into her legs, the chest opening into some kind of demented eight spined flower as a blue vortex with orange flame-like highlights swirled into existence, the creature began slowly pulling the illusion into its chest.

    I could not turn away from the sight, the first to disappear were the illusion's legs, the energy unraveling and being sucked into the vortex never to return to the empyrean. The screaming corporeal illusion of myself made me gulp as I witnessed my most likely fate should I be caught with no escape.

    When the illusion's head turned to me, it felt haunting as I saw the lips of my own form mouth at me. Run.

    Not disagreeing with those words, I turned away and began dashing down the pathways, the halls, running, running, and running more. Looking behind me, I no longer heard the screams and I could feel the faint connection to my other illusions begin disappearing one by one, until there was only myself left.

    Come on, where is it?! I know there is an exit port to the outer frame of this Talisman within this maze.

    Then all of a sudden, just as I dash past a four-way intersection, an arm rushed around the corner to grab my lower left arm. Looking down, I look into a burning orange gaze and flinched, letting out an echoing scream just as the 'jaw' of the monstrosity unhinged and let out a harrowing howl at me.

    I will NOT go quietly into the night! Bringing out another Witstealer blade, I cleaved my own arm in order to escape from its grasp. Jumping backwards, I look quickly between my stump and the arm in the monstrosity's hands, that open 'maw' on its head, opened even wider just as it raised my arm and I watched as the creature fed on it.

    Shaking my head at the now truly empty feeling where my arm used to be, I turned around and empowered my dashes in order to get away from that frakking thing as fast as I could. Listening, I heard the sound of skittering, thuds, and blade scraping against metal grow louder and more frequent. Chancing a look behind, I only saw one dashing towards me with that expressionless look on its face.

    When I saw we were coming up on another pathway intersection, I prayed to all the Dark Gods that those things would not be near, but I saw not only an orange light coming from the left pathway, but also another set of orange lights come from up ahead.

    There is only one way to go, quickly pulling out my last two witstealer blades I drift off to the right and got down to slide while digging one blade and one free hand into the floor, warp energy empowering my form as I my grip and blade forced my slide to turn into the free hall. I heard two impacts and a collapsing skitter behind me. Turning around, I frantically used my blades to fend off the three monstrosities while my free hand blasted more corrupt warpfire in an attempt to satiate the appetites of these freaks for a moment.

    My frantic defense and their manic assault carried on until we reached a circular chamber filled with rune laden pipes and other contraptions. Chunks of my 'flesh' were completely gone, down the gullet of these abominations, they were circling me like like a bunch of predators and I was their prey, which was more than true as of the moment.

    At first it seems like I will fall here, until I saw something that made me sing praises to the Dark Prince and even the other Dark Gods. A light shining down, idly looking up, through all those pipes I saw my salvation. An open hatch to the outside.

    Looking down at the unmoving creatures, I could not help but grin widely. "This is not my end."

    They must have taken that as a challenge, as I heard the three of them let out that harrowing howl before they leapt at me. Empowering my form, I jumped up and swung myself onto one of the pipes, quickly I decided to forgoe fighting and instead focused on getting out of here. I heard skittering and the sound of a thousand blades snapping as I saw the black and orange clouds go around pipes and head towards me.

    One of them reformed on me and I had to use the pipes to my advantage, climbing upwards while clashing blades, using warpfire and warp blasts to distract them from latching onto me. Chancing a quick glance, I saw that I was almost there. ALMOST...

    THERE!

    Reaching through the hatch, I pull myself up and quickly shut the hatch. Just in time too, I heard banging and howling on the other side, looking around I saw multiple mechanical flyers, they haven't noticed me yet. I quickly got to work pulling warp energy into my blades and started cutting the air in front of me, creating a runic circle of warp energy within the air.

    My actions have not gone unnoticed as I saw the flyers immediately reorient towards me before they began rushing at my location, and the sound of metal sizzling and melting behind me revealed that those monsters were getting through.

    But it was done! I slashed downwards and opened a gate to the empyrean, the sweet sweet chaotic empyrean! Just as I was about to jump in, I felt something grab my leg, not needing to turn around when I am so close. I cut my losses literally and lopped off my leg before diving into the immaterium with the help of my one last leg. Turning around to see my previous location was bombarded with strange long legged flyers and I swear I could feel frustration behind those orange burning eyes.

    When the gate closed and I drifted through the chaotic warp, I let out a small laugh, then another, and another, soft before it began growing into true joy if not a slightly bit deranged.

    I'm free! I'm free! I actually escaped that nightmare! Now, I just need to regene-

    !!!

    With a sinking feeling, I looked down at my missing limbs and the chunks torn out of me with growing horror.

    ...

    I can't regenerate them.


    It has been a while since I did the thing, so here is a thing, and another thing with the report on losses from the Imperial/Necron 'skirmish'.

    Forces at Start of Battle
    Imperial Forces of note
    3rd Armored Company "Graceless Fury"
    - 6/6 Chimera Transports
    - 45/45 Guard Regulars
    1st Armored Company "Warmongers"
    - 9/9 Leman Russ Tanks
    - 55/55 Guard Regulars
    2nd Power Armor Company "Castle Crashers"
    - 3/3 Platoons (1 Platoon = 30 P-Armors & 55 Guard Regulars)

    Total No of Units = 15 Armor and 355 Infantry

    Necron Forces of note
    Small Armor
    - 6/6 Necron Light Hover Tanks
    - 3/3 Necron Walkers
    Heavy Armor
    - 2/2 Necron Hover Tanks
    Infantry
    - 50/50 Necron Warriors
    - 35/35 Necron Immortals
    - 24/24 Canoptek Droidekas
    - 1/1 Wraith Sentinel

    Total No of Units = 11 Armor and 110 Infantry

    Imperial Losses
    -1 Chimera Transports
    -3 Leman Russ Tanks
    -10 P-Armors
    -49 Guard Regulars

    Total Losses = 4 Armor and 69 Infantry

    Necron 'Losses'
    -2 Necron Light Hover Tank
    -1 Necron Walker
    -2 Necron Hover Tanks
    -27 Necron Warriors
    -14 Necron Immortals
    -13 Canoptek Droidekas
    -1 Wraith Sentinel

    Total Losses = 5 Armor and 55 Infantry

    Hope you enjoy this chapter, and it may not be a chapter on what happens to the Amalgamate (I'm still thonking on how to write that bit), but I hope these POVs (Not including Eien at the start) will give you ideas as to what to expect from them.

    Also I don't need to explain that the wingdinging is just the "Hello There" from the last 'chapter'.
     
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    Grimoire of a Cryptek (Bonus Knights of Vaul)
  • Informational
    • I said I'd be writing stuff on what Mattermancers are, and adding onto that. I figure I should make my own explanation on a few things you might be confused on in this fic. Digitades, Techno Arca, Circum Realika Sequence, the Conjuration Equation from a few chapters ago, and the like.

    So with this hopefully I will be able to help you understand the eldritch arcano tech of the Necaroons.

    Let us start then shall we?

    NOTE: These are my explanations and are local to this fic. Just so you know. <:3


    To start this Grimoire, let us talk about the Cryptek.

    Cryptek
    The cryptek is a master technological specialist and engineer of the necron race, even during the age of the necrontyr, crypteks are hailed as one of the smartest and most well learned individuals. They study, test, maintain, and possibly even improve upon the highly advanced arca techna belonging to their race.

    Masters of science and technology, their origins trace back to even before their race's meeting with the C'tan. The debilitating star that gave the necrontyr their short lifespans was the cause that made the crypteks of every conclave or discipline freely share information with each other. This practice has died out as the C'tan came into play, but previously in an effort to find a way for the necrontyr to minimize or outright neuter the hostile radioactive effects on their bodies. Somewhere along the way, they managed to find out about the Fundamentals. These were aspects and laws of reality, of the material universe they inhabit, in the hopes of curing their bodies of their irradiated curse they began the study of the Fundamentals.

    Overtime, they have learned of many different theoretical fields of study, from manipulating the dimensional barrier, to the atomic transmutation and many more. However, they lacked the study at the time to actually put these theoretical fields into effect. That is, until the met the C'tan after their initial loss against the Old Ones.

    Their studies of the Fundamentals were shelved, however their studies also gave rise to many different sciences that they could put to use. The material known to the Necrons as Living Metal was one of the many results of their study into the Fundamentals, along with this was their warp-free if not a bit slow mode of interstellar transport along with the stasis chambers that would be in use even long after their exodus as a way to store important effects and later necrodermis bodies.

    Fundamentals
    The Fundamentals is the title given by the Necron Crypteks to a group of Aspects and Laws that have been determined as an Absolute Constant in the material universe. It is through the study of the Fundamentals that the crypteks were even able to know how to wield the arcane technological power that defies reason, in essence through the Fundamentals, the Cryptek would have begun even unintentionally planting the 'Seeds of Magic'.

    Through the studies of the Fundamentals, the Crypteks were able to create Living Metal, a culmination of all their current knowledge at the time on the Fundamentals. Through transmutation, and the manipulation of atomic bonds using massive machinery, the Necrontyr would lose a massive research complex only to receive an underground 'ocean' of the silvery 'liquid' later designated as Living Metal.

    Later on, when the necrons met the C'tan, when they gave the first Star God Aza'gorod the Night Bringer his necrodermis form. The Crypteks found something revolutionary, the C'tan could manipulate the Fundamentals with impugnity. It is unknown if they were truly PART of the Fundamentals, but regardless their power over the Fundamentals was true, and it was at this point the Crypteks lost the practice of sharing their knowledge with each other. Returning back to their conclaves and disciplines, from then on their worship and study of the respective patrons of their conclaves and disciplines was what gave rise to the Last Act of Sharing Knowledge.

    The Digitade.

    Digitade
    The Digitade would be later recognized as basically a number. But not just any number, it is the Number connected to the study of Fundamentals. Every single element and object in the material universe has a Digitade, it is a constant attribute which the Crypteks would understand and use to create the first Circum Realika Sequence.

    One thing about Digitades, is that the more 'complex' the 'element' the larger the Digitade is. The C'tan had a Digitade that caused those who try to read it to go mad before exploding. Even Crypteks, the ones who could understand the Digitade the best were prone to losing themselves if they try to read the Digitade of a C'tan.

    Through the Digitades, the various conclaves and disciplines of the Crypteks would create many different branches of the Techno Arca, each of these branches would have a lot of identical Circum Realika Sequences as they would revisit the old notes of the Fundamentals before their Exodus, but afterwards they would create sequences Unique to their discipline and by extension their patron.

    Circum Realika Sequence
    For lack of a better term, one could think it as a 'programmable spell', the Circum Realika was an idea formed from the previous study of the Fundamentals. Of how no matter what one does in their reality, the universe will simply move on, a circle if you will. It is one of the reasons why a lot of necron sigils, emblems, and icons have a circle or semi-circle within them.

    Circum Realika is a 'shell' in which the Cryptek would use equations and digitades in an order to create a Sequence that would allow them to affect the material universe they inhabit. It is through these sequences that they are capable of their mystical technological power of transmogrifying a living being into liquid adamantium, creating localized eldritch superstorms, to even limited resurrection before the necrontyr. There was an ancient conclave that did not forget their initial goal, a discipline to find a way to get rid of the necrontyr's death through radiation, they would be known as the Mattermancers with their patron C'tan Meridia the Formseeker.

    The C'tan's version is simply stated as the Fundamental Sequence, their power over the fundamentals is near absolute and try as one might, no Cryptek has ever come close whether alone or together to create a Sequence that could match even the weakest of the C'tan's Fundamental Sequences. C'tan's Fundamental Sequences are the reason how the Star Gods can fart out blackholes, supernovas, and stop time like no one's business, it is every Cryptek's dream to become skilled enough that they can create their own Fundamental Sequence.

    One thing about these Sequences however, is that even though it is essentially a programmable spell. Crypteks have to 'execute' these sequences, and that takes time. That is another reason why the C'tan are so powerful with their Fundamental Sequences, they can execute those complicated and mind shattering sequences REALLY quickly. Where Crypteks have to make gestures and 'execute' the program with their technology, the C'tan's instinctual knowhow allows them to simply snap a finger and 'execute' their sequence far faster than any cryptek ever could.

    Techno Arca
    The Techno Arca is basically the Study of the Fundamentals if you will, initially just named the Fundamental Studies, it was named Techno Arca upon the discovery, test, and experimentation of Digitades and Circum Realika Sequences. Every conclave and every discipline has a Techno Arca, shared within but kept as a closely guarded secret outside of their respective conclaves.

    All conclaves and disciplines' Techno Arca have an identical set of Sequences, named the Common Sequences. However aside from the studies of Digitades, each Techno Arca becomes vastly different. Starting with the Harbinger Sequences, these are Circum Realika Sequences that are unique to each discipline and conclave. Comparing the Harbinger Sequences of two different disciplines would reveal very little if no similarities at all.

    The Conjuration Equation
    This equation was first created as a prototype before the exodus, during the necrontyr's study on the Fundamentals. It is the creation of matter through expense of energy. The prototype equation was an imperfect creation, which is why the Grand Think-Tank imploded into itself during the creation of the Living Metal.

    Mattermancer Discipline (Harbingers of Creation)
    The Mattermancers were masters of the Conjuration Equation, widespread and one of the very VERY few conclaves that is fine with spreading this knowledge. With their Crafter Caste, they were able to create the Shards of Form, the necrontyr permanently connected to arcane technologies created under the guiding hand of arguably the only C'tan to ever command the Necrontyr with kindness instead of cruelty. Meridia the Formseeker.

    The Shards of Form are were the previous melded form of necrontyr and machine, it is through them and them alone that the Necrons were able to create massive tomb complexes after the biotransferrence with the perfected Conjuration Equation. However with the shattering of the C'tan of which even Meridia was not spared, no new Shards of Form were ever created as it required the full might of Meridia to even craft one, thus grinding the construction of new tomb complexes to a halt. In the Silent King's rebellion, he did not make an exception for even the Formseeker. What was left of the Mattermancers would do everything they could to gather all the Shards of the Formseeker in the hopes of restoring the one C'tan that would most likely be the only one capable of undoing their biotransferrence, but with the Great Sleep and aged memories, such an endeavor would prove to be fruitless.

    "Harbingers of Creation", essentially known as builders, artisans, and biomancers, are adepts of rare biomancy and masters of conjuration. A polar opposite of the "Harbingers of Destruction", they instead leave lasting marks on the galaxy through their constructs and creations.

    BONUS
    Knights of Vaul
    The Knights of Vaul, are an order formed during the God War/War in Heaven. True to their patron, they are smiths first and warriors second. Despite their rather profound skill in the art of combat, they despise Khaine and in their teachings they prove themselves as mighty warriors not to Khaine, but to Vaul, Isha, and Kurnous.

    Knights of Vaul can be stationed anywhere, how this comes to be is through their pilgrimage. The Knights of Vaul can be likened to wandering warriors, seeking to find a place where to pledge and place their roots. This is known as the Way of the Chain, where when one chooses a world in where to forge their links. The knight becomes part of that world's chain of knights, should they be the first knight to settle their roots there, they become the First Link. However overtime should more Knights of Vaul forge their links on that same world, they Knights would compete in friendly but serious bouts to become the First Link, known as the strongest Knight of Vaul on that world.

    World Chains can go from a simple four links, to thousands and even millions to billions of links. At that point the world would have multiple chains so that the Knight of Vaul won't have to be called something like 521412309th Link. These World Chains reach up to a simple thousand links. So there could be hundreds of Chains on a single world if there is a great number of Knights.

    Knights of Vaul are master psychosmiths and users of empyreal weave, it is not uncommon for a bonesinger to become a knight or a knight to become a bonesinger. The two ways were notably compatible with each other, Knights of Vaul are trained and upon their graduation are to use all they have learned with their lessons in psychosmithing and empyreal weaving to craft their own Vaulian Wraith Plate (A divine armor bestowed upon the Aeldari by the Smith God Vaul and is one of the most well defended artifacts of the Knights of Vaul) as well as their own personal weapons. Afterwards, their final lesson would be to prove to the Grandsmith of their Order that they are ready, as well as recieve their final blessings from Vaul, Isha, and Kurnous before they begin their pilgrimage in the Way of the Chain.


    And so me muse has thankfully worked with me-ish, I may need to refine some explanations but hopefully ya'll can understand my chicken-scratch. <:3
     
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  • Informational
    • DragonCommander said:
    Drukhari realizing that demons can be tormented/tortured/mutilated with siphons, same demons that are one of the few fears that the Drukhari community has as a whole...

    web portal opened with a lunge* "GIVE ME A THOUSAND!" Throw ancient eldar technology and slaves in Eien's face.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Eien: "You do realize you just put yourself in the arms of death right?"
    Drukhari: "Uhhhhhh, we can make a deaaaal yes?"
    Eien: "Oh of course, I have a deal for you. You don't resist, while I eat you!"
    Drukhari: "Uhhhhhhhhhh" *Sweating* "That isn't a fair deal at a-"
    Eien: "TOO BAD!!! GET IN MAH BELLAY!!!"
    Drukhari: *Confused and Terrified Screaming.*
     
    TheLunchKing said:
    Eien: "You do realize you just put yourself in the arms of death right?"
    Drukhari: "Uhhhhhh, we can make a deaaaal yes?"
    Eien: "Oh of course, I have a deal for you. You don't resist, while I eat you!"
    Drukhari: "Uhhhhhhhhhh" *Sweating* "That isn't a fair deal at a-"
    Eien: "TOO BAD!!! GET IN MAH BELLAY!!!"
    Drukhari: *Confused and Terrified Screaming.*
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    iis it possible to make a artificial soul using warp energy that's not connected to a chaos God f so you can bring the necronter back
     
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