Older-than-Time
[Eating My Muse]
- Location
- Somewhere in the Sol System
- Pronouns
- He/Him/ThatIdiot
There won't even be any confusion. The EoM will have a plethora of powers that would easily let him identify me as a foreign entity.
Creating an Empire (Multicross God SI)
- Thread starter Older-than-Time
- Start date
- Location
- India
why he not creating a weapon for himself? what is the current tech level of his followers?
does assassination, espionage and subterfuge ok in your religion?
does assassination, espionage and subterfuge ok in your religion?
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Older-than-Time
[Eating My Muse]
- Location
- Somewhere in the Sol System
- Pronouns
- He/Him/ThatIdiot
Trapped upon his throne, so little point in having a weapon.
Let's say it's in a comparable, if not higher tier to the tech level of Warhammer Fantasy Battles.
Kadmon does not approve of such things.
Let's say it's in a comparable, if not higher tier to the tech level of Warhammer Fantasy Battles.
Kadmon does not approve of such things.
- Location
- India
you mean to say subtly killing any opponents of humanity not permitted? i am thinking something similar to assassination temples of 40k.
Older-than-Time
[Eating My Muse]
- Location
- Somewhere in the Sol System
- Pronouns
- He/Him/ThatIdiot
I don't like assassins.
Kadmon does not like assassins.
If he has a problem with someone, he has an army of fanatics lead by a divine battle-loli to handle them.
Kadmon does not like assassins.
If he has a problem with someone, he has an army of fanatics lead by a divine battle-loli to handle them.
I wonder how the Hands feel. They urged other order to help them and join their Crusade to purge Parth, and they all refused so the Hands went at it alone, and now 200 years later they finally completed their mission and eliminated the blighted lands. But now at the final battle they joined them.
It would suck if the Hands don't get most of the credit since they essentially purified the majority of the blighted lands.
It would suck if the Hands don't get most of the credit since they essentially purified the majority of the blighted lands.
Older-than-Time
[Eating My Muse]
- Location
- Somewhere in the Sol System
- Pronouns
- He/Him/ThatIdiot
Oh, the resentment has mostly faded since of all the orders that existed around that time, only two or three still exist, not counting the Hands themselves.
Huh. So how much acclaim do the Hands now have? After all they might have been away from the public eye for centuries, but when it comes out that they have been spending all of that time on a ceaseless crusade to purge Parth and actually succeeded, I would expect their star to rise by an incredible amount, especially considering that those who live on Parth should be thankful for the Hands rather than any other order.
- Location
- Somewhere on the flat earth
Waifu Goddess when?
- Location
- Vancouver
Asking the important questions. We need some more options then just harvest goddes.
Older-than-Time
[Eating My Muse]
- Location
- Somewhere in the Sol System
- Pronouns
- He/Him/ThatIdiot
No time. There's a Crusade to finish and a World to take for The Plan.
Options are Duty and another few Crusades.
Interlude 1 - The Disaster of Ellis
Older-than-Time
[Eating My Muse]
- Location
- Somewhere in the Sol System
- Pronouns
- He/Him/ThatIdiot
It is the year 1637. The Hands of Kadmon have all but vanished from the lands and the minor priesthoods lose more followers each year. The miracles of their god have never faltered, but the absence of the Hands and their immortal Champion has eroded the faith the common populace have in the so-called Master of Man.
Little do the peaceful countries and provinces know, a great crusade has begun in the ancient lands of Parth…
----------------------------
Sergeant Laconus, faithful soldier of the Hands of Kadmon, entered what appeared to be a old temple. The icons of faith had long been destroyed and the great works upon the walls long faded, but there was still a faint aura of power here…
"Everyone, pair up, spread out and search for anything hidden. Mikalus, follow me to the altar. Whatever god that was worshipped here might still exist. Let us give some entreatment to this ancient one."
The men, clad in heavy leather armor and a single metal chest plate emblazoned with the shining hand of Kadmon, spread out. They began poking through the nooks and crannies of the old temple, searching for anything left of the ancient worshippers.
Mikalus, the group's chaplain-cadet, joined Laconus at the altar. The icons, thought gone, were actually hidden under centuries of dust and plant growth. Clearing the obstructions, the two men found the visage of a winged woman bearing a lance.
"Do you recognize this image from your studies, Mikalus?" The sergeant's inquiry was answered with a negative.
"My apologies, sergeant. Much of the lore of Parth was lost; the few tomes we have of this land tell only of the Cataclysm and the daemons found here. The faith of the ancient gods is all but lost…" The two men searched for more signs of this ancient god upon the altar, finding scenes of women bound in chains being freed by this goddess. "It appears that this is a goddess of women and freedom? Perhaps...sergeant, I suggest we allow our comrade Katarine to make the entreatments. The few depictions of men are...gruesome…"
They called forth the lone woman of the group and told her of the plan. She agreed and began the most neutral prayers of appeasement any of them knew, hoping to not offend the weakened-goddess of antiquity.
"Oh glorious lady of ancient Parth, we enter your temple in search of knowledge and shelter. Please grant us passage through this place. We offer you the blood of a freshly-killed lamb and the burning of its flesh in homage to your divinity."
They placed a simple bowl filled with the lifeblood of a lamb and burnt the choicest parts of the animal upon the altar while the rest of the group knelt in prayer. If anything did happen, they hoped that whatever power that still existed here was peaceful.
…
…
A waft of fresh air and glittering dust began to float around the offerings. Katarine froze in place while the men began their own fervent prayers of peace and mercy. The goddess could still exist…
A prayer after so long? What mortals come to these blighted lands…?
The whisper was only heard by Katarine, who answered in her most subservient voice.
"Divine lady, we are followers of the our glorious god, Kadmon. We have come to Parth in search of an ancient artifact that would restore our lord of the wounds inflicted upon him by the dark god Horis. We ask for your blessing in searching this temple and the ruined city around us."
The temple began to light up. The sconces set in the wall flickered to life and the shadows were chased away by the fledgling flames.
Those are names I know not. Names of gods young in a world more ancient than any can imagine. You and your comrades have leave to your search but none may sleep within the walls of this city. A darkness awaits to grasp at the minds of those who slumber. It will devour their souls and wear their bodies like a puppet. Beware the Dreamwalker...
Shocked by the information, Katarine thanked the goddess profusely and relayed what she was told to Sergeant Gaius. He in turn cursed.
"We need to send a message to every officer of this Dreamwalker."
He sent his men out as messengers while Katarine began more offerings for this essential information.
----------------------------------------
The Disaster of Ellis nearly destroyed the Hands of Kadmon; the first of many tragedies to befall the ever-faithful of the Lord of Mankind. Over three hundred of their militant worshippers were slaughtered by unknown daemons and their own possessed brethren. Fell beings never seen outside the blighted lands beset the crusaders and their followers from all sides.
Cruel wyrms fell from the skies, mutated beasts stalked the forests and oozing monstrosities rose from the very earth. Food was scarce, crops fought to grow and any herd beasts brought with them fell ill or went mad. Desertion was spoken of and some vanished in the night, whether by their own legs or carried off by the monsters of ancient Parth.
-----------------------------------------
Little do the peaceful countries and provinces know, a great crusade has begun in the ancient lands of Parth…
----------------------------
Sergeant Laconus, faithful soldier of the Hands of Kadmon, entered what appeared to be a old temple. The icons of faith had long been destroyed and the great works upon the walls long faded, but there was still a faint aura of power here…
"Everyone, pair up, spread out and search for anything hidden. Mikalus, follow me to the altar. Whatever god that was worshipped here might still exist. Let us give some entreatment to this ancient one."
The men, clad in heavy leather armor and a single metal chest plate emblazoned with the shining hand of Kadmon, spread out. They began poking through the nooks and crannies of the old temple, searching for anything left of the ancient worshippers.
Mikalus, the group's chaplain-cadet, joined Laconus at the altar. The icons, thought gone, were actually hidden under centuries of dust and plant growth. Clearing the obstructions, the two men found the visage of a winged woman bearing a lance.
"Do you recognize this image from your studies, Mikalus?" The sergeant's inquiry was answered with a negative.
"My apologies, sergeant. Much of the lore of Parth was lost; the few tomes we have of this land tell only of the Cataclysm and the daemons found here. The faith of the ancient gods is all but lost…" The two men searched for more signs of this ancient god upon the altar, finding scenes of women bound in chains being freed by this goddess. "It appears that this is a goddess of women and freedom? Perhaps...sergeant, I suggest we allow our comrade Katarine to make the entreatments. The few depictions of men are...gruesome…"
They called forth the lone woman of the group and told her of the plan. She agreed and began the most neutral prayers of appeasement any of them knew, hoping to not offend the weakened-goddess of antiquity.
"Oh glorious lady of ancient Parth, we enter your temple in search of knowledge and shelter. Please grant us passage through this place. We offer you the blood of a freshly-killed lamb and the burning of its flesh in homage to your divinity."
They placed a simple bowl filled with the lifeblood of a lamb and burnt the choicest parts of the animal upon the altar while the rest of the group knelt in prayer. If anything did happen, they hoped that whatever power that still existed here was peaceful.
…
…
A waft of fresh air and glittering dust began to float around the offerings. Katarine froze in place while the men began their own fervent prayers of peace and mercy. The goddess could still exist…
A prayer after so long? What mortals come to these blighted lands…?
The whisper was only heard by Katarine, who answered in her most subservient voice.
"Divine lady, we are followers of the our glorious god, Kadmon. We have come to Parth in search of an ancient artifact that would restore our lord of the wounds inflicted upon him by the dark god Horis. We ask for your blessing in searching this temple and the ruined city around us."
The temple began to light up. The sconces set in the wall flickered to life and the shadows were chased away by the fledgling flames.
Those are names I know not. Names of gods young in a world more ancient than any can imagine. You and your comrades have leave to your search but none may sleep within the walls of this city. A darkness awaits to grasp at the minds of those who slumber. It will devour their souls and wear their bodies like a puppet. Beware the Dreamwalker...
Shocked by the information, Katarine thanked the goddess profusely and relayed what she was told to Sergeant Gaius. He in turn cursed.
"We need to send a message to every officer of this Dreamwalker."
He sent his men out as messengers while Katarine began more offerings for this essential information.
----------------------------------------
The Disaster of Ellis nearly destroyed the Hands of Kadmon; the first of many tragedies to befall the ever-faithful of the Lord of Mankind. Over three hundred of their militant worshippers were slaughtered by unknown daemons and their own possessed brethren. Fell beings never seen outside the blighted lands beset the crusaders and their followers from all sides.
Cruel wyrms fell from the skies, mutated beasts stalked the forests and oozing monstrosities rose from the very earth. Food was scarce, crops fought to grow and any herd beasts brought with them fell ill or went mad. Desertion was spoken of and some vanished in the night, whether by their own legs or carried off by the monsters of ancient Parth.
-----------------------------------------
- Location
- Somewhere on the flat earth
God of Man and Stars x Goddess of Women and Freedom?
Just kidding, she wouldn't go for someone so young.
Just kidding, she wouldn't go for someone so young.
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Older-than-Time
[Eating My Muse]
- Location
- Somewhere in the Sol System
- Pronouns
- He/Him/ThatIdiot
This incident was around 400 years prior to the end of the Parth Crusade.
Just some fluff while I'm writing the actual chapter.
Just some fluff while I'm writing the actual chapter.
Older-than-Time
[Eating My Muse]
- Location
- Somewhere in the Sol System
- Pronouns
- He/Him/ThatIdiot
Uh...no clue
Second Rise, Second Fall
Older-than-Time
[Eating My Muse]
- Location
- Somewhere in the Sol System
- Pronouns
- He/Him/ThatIdiot
"Reparations? Castles? You...you bastards dare?!"
The Hands stayed silent as their Champion trembled in outrage at the demands given by the newly arrived leaders of the varied orders militant. These fools, ones who had retreated when the new wave of daemons had appeared during the siege of the last city. They'd pulled back their commanders and left her men and the Volantian legion to bear the brunt of the daemon's assault.
Altria slammed a fist to the stone table, cracking down the middle. The room filled with dust.
"Not a single damned coin will be given to you bastards! Not a single keep! We will pay the families of those lost, yes...but you cowards? You will have nothing but my scorn. Now get out!"
The leaders left the building in hurry; they were strong, yes. But when faced with a true Divine Champion? There were few Champions like Altria left in this new age; Rogal's third son was the only other she was aware of.
Right now, surrounded by the very Guardians of Kadmon, the combined might of those fools would do little but anger her.
----------
"They dare claim right of conquest?! Those cowards ran from the battle. If anyone earned right of conquest, I say the Volantian legions are owed the lion's share." Jaune nodded, letting the girl/woman vent.
It was mere hours after the defeat of the Herald of the Abyss and the men were still cataloguing their dead. To think the ones charged with guiding the faith of thousands of knights and paladins would do such a thing?
The world had truly changed since his death…
"...and did you hear that...that...argh! The so-called Allfather Lloyd demanded that I surrender my sword! 'A girl is not worthy of such a gift!'. I've carried this sword longer than his family has been noble! He...he….!!!"
Still so spirited, even after so long. You'd think a few centuries of war would have cooled that hothead of hers…
Jaune chuckled, just as Altria threw herself upon her bed. She screamed into her pillow… Same old Altria. Walking slowly, he sat beside her and patted her head.
And just like old times, her mood mellowed.
I still got it…
"...why has the world gone so wrong, Jaune? Knighthood used to mean honor and chivalry. Oaths to the gods were held sacrosanct. Yet now…"
His answer was drowned out by a flash of light and the appearance of Gabriel himself.
"Our time draws short. The Great Enemy assaults the Bulwark; should they strike at the keystones before our Lord completes his work, the centuries of effort will be for naught. Gather our Blades, brother. There's a greater war to fight."
With a brief nod at Altria, Gabriel vanished into light.
"..."
"...can I have some cookies before you go?" The muffled request left a smile on his face. His reply was the exact same one he'd given each time before.
"After you've had dinner."
------------------------------
My Bulwark, the massive walls that spanned the entirety of my Domain was under assault. The forces of Horis and his damned allies were pouring everything they had at the metaphysical construction. And though it was meant to take all this and more, it was still incomplete.
It would not hold against such attacks just yet.
'Damn you, Horis. Damn you!'
My curses were purely mental; I was focusing everything I could on maintaining the Bulwark whilst my followers continued their efforts to complete the monolithic walls. It wouldn't be enough. At the pace they were working, it would be three centuries before they finished.
"My Lord, the Blades have returned. We shall sally forth and combat the Enemy directly. Once the assault wavers, please bolster the builders."
"Gabriel. You know what will happen if you die outside my domain…"
The gold-armored warrior bowed; an action repeated by my Blades. "We understand the risk, my Lord. But should the forces of Chaos and the Abyss break through, all the souls here will be damned to the hell dimensions. We are the Custodes; your unfaltering bodyguards and the Blades of your Will. Our Duty is Death itself."
I barely acknowledged the oath as they marched towards their possible destruction.
[Your precious Blades come to fight me? And you are still bound to your so-called Throne, pathetic godling. You followers will die; their souls shattered and your very Domain shall be ground to dust under the boot of my endless legions. You really should have surrendered to me when I was merciful…]
'Merciful? You demanded the souls of all my followers to feed your profane rituals! You would have desecrated and perverted everything that is Humanity!'
[And? Humanity is doomed. Already they fracture, despite your foolish Hands purifying that pit they call the holy land. My predecessors brought that 'beacon of light and order' to destruction with but a single Herald runt and a dozen daemons. I will destroy your Custodes and then your Domain. The world will follow soon after and I will leave you hanging on to the barest glimmers of existence to bear witness to my glories.]
I lashed out with a lance of power, eliciting a scream of pain from the arrogant god. He smashed his whole 'body' against the Bulwark in return.
'Humanity has a greater future than what you see. You, the all-seeing and all-knowing are blind to the vastness of the true existence! You may be powerful in this world, in this universe! But out there, where every thought brings forth a new plane...you are but a minnow to the beings that created me.'
[You still speak of such nonsense? There is NOTHING beyond my sight! I am the greatest there is and ever shall be; your pathetic ramblings are lies to buy your insignificant mortals more time…]
I laughed as my very being strained under the effort of holding the Bulwark together. Outside my Domain, in the void that was between existence, my Blades fought the enemy there. I felt such despair as my Custodes marched, not charged! Marched unfalteringly against a horde that outnumbered my golden companions a hundred thousand to one.
At the forefront was Gabriel and Jaune, both grim-faced and determined.
And what did those daemonic assholes do when faced with my glorious Custodes? They laughed. The cackling of a hundred million daemons and lesser gods echoed throughout nonexistence. And I could do little but watch…
"Brothers and sisters. Our darkest hour is upon us. The Enemy is at the walls; he is already gloating. Their gods watch over them. They outnumber us in a force uncountable. Defeat is all but a certainty. And in defeat, we meet not death, but our utter destruction. Our very souls shall be shattered into the endless eternities, forever lost to the sight of our Lord." They marched ever onward as Gabriel spoke what could be his last words. "Yet, I ask you all to fight by my side; to stand with me against this army of darkness. Brothers, sisters! This is the moment of truth! We will not fear! We will not falter! Not one step shall be given to the Enemy! We, those blessed by his light, each must be a legion unto one…"
The daemon horde had begun their own march, leisurely striding forward. Gabriel took a deep breath and donned his helm. His voice echoed throughout the battlefield.
"Enemy of our Lord, hear me! You have come here to die! Our Immortal Emperor is with us and we are invincible! We, his Blades will strike you down! You dying screams will echo for all eternity. His blessed might shall bring the very fabric of existence crashing down upon you. You cannot win. You will not win! The Emperor of Mankind has gifted us his greatest weapons to wield. So make yourselves ready!
We are the Blades of Kadmon, servants of his Light and protectors of the Throne!"
My Custodes picked up their pace, weapons ready and shields up. Only my Custodes and I heard the last words.
"Our Emperor's eyes are upon us; follow me into the pages of history."
All gave a wordless battlecry as their small shining number clashed with the maddened horde. For a brief moment, their light was covered by the writhing mass of flesh and metal…
...and then there was light.
The horde exploded; bodies flew and shattered. Screams of pain and those unmoved were blinded by the brilliance. Yet I bore witness to what would be the end of so many of my Custodes. Several of those at the edges willingly shattered their souls, releasing the contained energy of both their own reserves and my own blessings. The force killed thousands of the daemons and gave the remaining members the room to truly fight.
Together, they formed a hollow square. Each fought using whatever weapon they used best, slaughtering daemon after daemon. In the center, Gabriel, Jaune and...was that old Max? The three were squaring off against seven lesser gods; not sure what they were gods of…
But those three were fighting on even footing with all seven of those bastards, managing to kill four of them before they got smart.
'Come on, just a little longer!'
Their fighting was just enough to distract the assault on the Bulwark, giving me the energy and time needed to bolster my builders' efforts. What would have taken centuries of work became years...then months...then days of concentrated power focused almost entirely on bringing the Bulwark into true existence.
And yet, my Custodes were dying bit by bit. Some fell to the biting fangs, others fell to blackened blades. Some were devoured whole by mountainous demons.
They still fought on. They fought without fear and somehow, the mere hundreds that stood held back the tide of tens of thousands on their own.
'Just a little more…'
More of my Custodes fell. A woman screamed as she was torn in two, then devoured bit by bit by the ravenous horde. A trio were completely crushed under the foot of a giant.
Max died, taking two lesser gods with him in an explosion of holy light.
"Hold your ground! Our Lord watches over us! He witnesses our sacrifice! He witnesses our victory! I ask not for you to die in his name. I ask you to fight for our fallen brethren! Blades, push forward!"
Jaune, he was at the forefront, clashing with a damned giant. Somehow, he was parrying the titanic blows with Ascalon and tearing the beast down foot by fucking foot.
'Just a little bit longer and I can call you all to safety! Just a little longer'
My words were heard and my Custodes, the mere hundred that remained glowed all the brighter. Beams of light struck the largest daemons while glowing edges cut down the brawlers. For every Blade that fell from that point on, thousands were brought down with them.
'There! Now to just...no!' I only had a single portion of the Bulwark left to finish. I needed to call my Blades through before I completed it, otherwise they'd be trapped. And only seven Blades...only seven Custodes remained.
[You filthy mortals...die!]
O-only Jaune and Gabriel remain. The rest vanished in a flash of power that wiped out the entire front line of the horde. All that was left were two men, blessed by my light, against a legion uncountable and a dark god of immense power. I needed to-
'Don't.' I stopped at the silent prayer from my remaining Custodes. 'My Lord, complete the Bulwark. Let our sacrifice not be in vain. Close the final entrance and seal it against the darkness forever.'
I sobbed, trapped as I was on this damned seat. 'Once I do...you both will be...'
'Do it, my lord. My purpose is fulfilled. This...this shall be my end. I only ask that you chronicle our deaths for eternity; let those who come after know our sacrifice.' With a heavy heart, I laid the last piece of the construct in place, sealing my domain from the Abyss and Chaos. Sealing my last Custodes from my sight.
'Beware, Horis. Though it may take a thousand millennia, I will avenge my Custodes. Your suffering will be unending, dark one.'
[And I shall be waiting, corpse. You and your dead are safe from my own but the same cannot be said for your precious mortals. Our wars will be waged upon the mortal realm and we shall see who is more powerful, Kadmon. No more shall you preach of eternity and existence beyond existence. I will end your blasphemies.]
-----------------------------
She was crying.
In the waning light of dusk, Altria wept silent tears with each bite of supper. Alone in her chambers, a hearty meal and a delicious dessert before her, Kadmon's immortal champion wept. She wasn't sure why these glistening teardrops fell from her eyes nor why an aching sadness gripped her heart. Altria just...knew a choice had been made.
Something precious had been lost.
The Hands stayed silent as their Champion trembled in outrage at the demands given by the newly arrived leaders of the varied orders militant. These fools, ones who had retreated when the new wave of daemons had appeared during the siege of the last city. They'd pulled back their commanders and left her men and the Volantian legion to bear the brunt of the daemon's assault.
Altria slammed a fist to the stone table, cracking down the middle. The room filled with dust.
"Not a single damned coin will be given to you bastards! Not a single keep! We will pay the families of those lost, yes...but you cowards? You will have nothing but my scorn. Now get out!"
The leaders left the building in hurry; they were strong, yes. But when faced with a true Divine Champion? There were few Champions like Altria left in this new age; Rogal's third son was the only other she was aware of.
Right now, surrounded by the very Guardians of Kadmon, the combined might of those fools would do little but anger her.
----------
"They dare claim right of conquest?! Those cowards ran from the battle. If anyone earned right of conquest, I say the Volantian legions are owed the lion's share." Jaune nodded, letting the girl/woman vent.
It was mere hours after the defeat of the Herald of the Abyss and the men were still cataloguing their dead. To think the ones charged with guiding the faith of thousands of knights and paladins would do such a thing?
The world had truly changed since his death…
"...and did you hear that...that...argh! The so-called Allfather Lloyd demanded that I surrender my sword! 'A girl is not worthy of such a gift!'. I've carried this sword longer than his family has been noble! He...he….!!!"
Still so spirited, even after so long. You'd think a few centuries of war would have cooled that hothead of hers…
Jaune chuckled, just as Altria threw herself upon her bed. She screamed into her pillow… Same old Altria. Walking slowly, he sat beside her and patted her head.
And just like old times, her mood mellowed.
I still got it…
"...why has the world gone so wrong, Jaune? Knighthood used to mean honor and chivalry. Oaths to the gods were held sacrosanct. Yet now…"
His answer was drowned out by a flash of light and the appearance of Gabriel himself.
"Our time draws short. The Great Enemy assaults the Bulwark; should they strike at the keystones before our Lord completes his work, the centuries of effort will be for naught. Gather our Blades, brother. There's a greater war to fight."
With a brief nod at Altria, Gabriel vanished into light.
"..."
"...can I have some cookies before you go?" The muffled request left a smile on his face. His reply was the exact same one he'd given each time before.
"After you've had dinner."
------------------------------
My Bulwark, the massive walls that spanned the entirety of my Domain was under assault. The forces of Horis and his damned allies were pouring everything they had at the metaphysical construction. And though it was meant to take all this and more, it was still incomplete.
It would not hold against such attacks just yet.
'Damn you, Horis. Damn you!'
My curses were purely mental; I was focusing everything I could on maintaining the Bulwark whilst my followers continued their efforts to complete the monolithic walls. It wouldn't be enough. At the pace they were working, it would be three centuries before they finished.
"My Lord, the Blades have returned. We shall sally forth and combat the Enemy directly. Once the assault wavers, please bolster the builders."
"Gabriel. You know what will happen if you die outside my domain…"
The gold-armored warrior bowed; an action repeated by my Blades. "We understand the risk, my Lord. But should the forces of Chaos and the Abyss break through, all the souls here will be damned to the hell dimensions. We are the Custodes; your unfaltering bodyguards and the Blades of your Will. Our Duty is Death itself."
I barely acknowledged the oath as they marched towards their possible destruction.
[Your precious Blades come to fight me? And you are still bound to your so-called Throne, pathetic godling. You followers will die; their souls shattered and your very Domain shall be ground to dust under the boot of my endless legions. You really should have surrendered to me when I was merciful…]
'Merciful? You demanded the souls of all my followers to feed your profane rituals! You would have desecrated and perverted everything that is Humanity!'
[And? Humanity is doomed. Already they fracture, despite your foolish Hands purifying that pit they call the holy land. My predecessors brought that 'beacon of light and order' to destruction with but a single Herald runt and a dozen daemons. I will destroy your Custodes and then your Domain. The world will follow soon after and I will leave you hanging on to the barest glimmers of existence to bear witness to my glories.]
I lashed out with a lance of power, eliciting a scream of pain from the arrogant god. He smashed his whole 'body' against the Bulwark in return.
'Humanity has a greater future than what you see. You, the all-seeing and all-knowing are blind to the vastness of the true existence! You may be powerful in this world, in this universe! But out there, where every thought brings forth a new plane...you are but a minnow to the beings that created me.'
[You still speak of such nonsense? There is NOTHING beyond my sight! I am the greatest there is and ever shall be; your pathetic ramblings are lies to buy your insignificant mortals more time…]
I laughed as my very being strained under the effort of holding the Bulwark together. Outside my Domain, in the void that was between existence, my Blades fought the enemy there. I felt such despair as my Custodes marched, not charged! Marched unfalteringly against a horde that outnumbered my golden companions a hundred thousand to one.
At the forefront was Gabriel and Jaune, both grim-faced and determined.
And what did those daemonic assholes do when faced with my glorious Custodes? They laughed. The cackling of a hundred million daemons and lesser gods echoed throughout nonexistence. And I could do little but watch…
"Brothers and sisters. Our darkest hour is upon us. The Enemy is at the walls; he is already gloating. Their gods watch over them. They outnumber us in a force uncountable. Defeat is all but a certainty. And in defeat, we meet not death, but our utter destruction. Our very souls shall be shattered into the endless eternities, forever lost to the sight of our Lord." They marched ever onward as Gabriel spoke what could be his last words. "Yet, I ask you all to fight by my side; to stand with me against this army of darkness. Brothers, sisters! This is the moment of truth! We will not fear! We will not falter! Not one step shall be given to the Enemy! We, those blessed by his light, each must be a legion unto one…"
The daemon horde had begun their own march, leisurely striding forward. Gabriel took a deep breath and donned his helm. His voice echoed throughout the battlefield.
"Enemy of our Lord, hear me! You have come here to die! Our Immortal Emperor is with us and we are invincible! We, his Blades will strike you down! You dying screams will echo for all eternity. His blessed might shall bring the very fabric of existence crashing down upon you. You cannot win. You will not win! The Emperor of Mankind has gifted us his greatest weapons to wield. So make yourselves ready!
We are the Blades of Kadmon, servants of his Light and protectors of the Throne!"
My Custodes picked up their pace, weapons ready and shields up. Only my Custodes and I heard the last words.
"Our Emperor's eyes are upon us; follow me into the pages of history."
All gave a wordless battlecry as their small shining number clashed with the maddened horde. For a brief moment, their light was covered by the writhing mass of flesh and metal…
...and then there was light.
The horde exploded; bodies flew and shattered. Screams of pain and those unmoved were blinded by the brilliance. Yet I bore witness to what would be the end of so many of my Custodes. Several of those at the edges willingly shattered their souls, releasing the contained energy of both their own reserves and my own blessings. The force killed thousands of the daemons and gave the remaining members the room to truly fight.
Together, they formed a hollow square. Each fought using whatever weapon they used best, slaughtering daemon after daemon. In the center, Gabriel, Jaune and...was that old Max? The three were squaring off against seven lesser gods; not sure what they were gods of…
But those three were fighting on even footing with all seven of those bastards, managing to kill four of them before they got smart.
'Come on, just a little longer!'
Their fighting was just enough to distract the assault on the Bulwark, giving me the energy and time needed to bolster my builders' efforts. What would have taken centuries of work became years...then months...then days of concentrated power focused almost entirely on bringing the Bulwark into true existence.
And yet, my Custodes were dying bit by bit. Some fell to the biting fangs, others fell to blackened blades. Some were devoured whole by mountainous demons.
They still fought on. They fought without fear and somehow, the mere hundreds that stood held back the tide of tens of thousands on their own.
'Just a little more…'
More of my Custodes fell. A woman screamed as she was torn in two, then devoured bit by bit by the ravenous horde. A trio were completely crushed under the foot of a giant.
Max died, taking two lesser gods with him in an explosion of holy light.
"Hold your ground! Our Lord watches over us! He witnesses our sacrifice! He witnesses our victory! I ask not for you to die in his name. I ask you to fight for our fallen brethren! Blades, push forward!"
Jaune, he was at the forefront, clashing with a damned giant. Somehow, he was parrying the titanic blows with Ascalon and tearing the beast down foot by fucking foot.
'Just a little bit longer and I can call you all to safety! Just a little longer'
My words were heard and my Custodes, the mere hundred that remained glowed all the brighter. Beams of light struck the largest daemons while glowing edges cut down the brawlers. For every Blade that fell from that point on, thousands were brought down with them.
'There! Now to just...no!' I only had a single portion of the Bulwark left to finish. I needed to call my Blades through before I completed it, otherwise they'd be trapped. And only seven Blades...only seven Custodes remained.
[You filthy mortals...die!]
O-only Jaune and Gabriel remain. The rest vanished in a flash of power that wiped out the entire front line of the horde. All that was left were two men, blessed by my light, against a legion uncountable and a dark god of immense power. I needed to-
'Don't.' I stopped at the silent prayer from my remaining Custodes. 'My Lord, complete the Bulwark. Let our sacrifice not be in vain. Close the final entrance and seal it against the darkness forever.'
I sobbed, trapped as I was on this damned seat. 'Once I do...you both will be...'
'Do it, my lord. My purpose is fulfilled. This...this shall be my end. I only ask that you chronicle our deaths for eternity; let those who come after know our sacrifice.' With a heavy heart, I laid the last piece of the construct in place, sealing my domain from the Abyss and Chaos. Sealing my last Custodes from my sight.
'Beware, Horis. Though it may take a thousand millennia, I will avenge my Custodes. Your suffering will be unending, dark one.'
[And I shall be waiting, corpse. You and your dead are safe from my own but the same cannot be said for your precious mortals. Our wars will be waged upon the mortal realm and we shall see who is more powerful, Kadmon. No more shall you preach of eternity and existence beyond existence. I will end your blasphemies.]
-----------------------------
She was crying.
In the waning light of dusk, Altria wept silent tears with each bite of supper. Alone in her chambers, a hearty meal and a delicious dessert before her, Kadmon's immortal champion wept. She wasn't sure why these glistening teardrops fell from her eyes nor why an aching sadness gripped her heart. Altria just...knew a choice had been made.
Something precious had been lost.
RoyalTwinFangs
For The Chancellor!
- Location
- Somwhere not here
It been while but still a good read. I remember that you have the power to open doors to other realms. Will we be seeing establish realms such as WHF or WoW?
Older-than-Time
[Eating My Muse]
- Location
- Somewhere in the Sol System
- Pronouns
- He/Him/ThatIdiot
Once I get around to reaching those worlds. Have to establish a sect of followers in those settings first.
RoyalTwinFangs
For The Chancellor!
- Location
- Somwhere not here
I will take that is a yes then.
Delta Green
Big Boss
- Location
- Classified
... So... You are preparing to become an Imperial Saint, right?
Because you do know that the Emperor can STILL kick your ass?
Because you do know that the Emperor can STILL kick your ass?
RoyalTwinFangs
For The Chancellor!
- Location
- Somwhere not here
Not set in 40K I think.