The Inquisitor-Farseer
Continued from here
Seventy years left. Seven decades before The Emperor of Mankind died, releasing the Tyrant and then the Void Dragon both upon the galaxy at large. Seventh of a century before the Imperium fell apart, and the Eldar would need alternative arrangements. Her kin had been preparing for so very long, now. Exodite Worlds had long arranged for Imperial colonization of their planets, as Agriworlds or as Civilized ones. Already, they charted out the petty polities they would form out of the remains of the sector, with which they would once again use humanity as their shield.
The Craftworlds were gathering, Eldrad weaving the threads of fate on behalf of the Eldar as a whole. Orks rampaged across sectors, smashing down upon Shrine and Hive worlds alike, the better to weaken the Great Enemy when he lay claim to both. Orks. Brutal and problematic, but just barely manageable. In a galaxy where the Imperium was dead, they would exist as Chaos' counterpart. The Ancient Enemy, Necrons were awakening, ready to reap a bloody harvest. The Great Devourer arrived from the beyond. In the council of Farseers, it had been agreed that the galactic disasters could only be held in check by the other galactic disasters.
Except.
Except.
The Drukhari's only foes were ever the True Eldar. They held the Webway. Foreseen was a great conflict between the light and dark of the Eldar, an unavoidable one. Therein lied the objectives of the Eldar Farseers who still acted - Create allies for the Rhana Dandra to come. Weaken their many enemies as far as possible. Preserve the Eldar for their final gambit. The first was important, but difficult, for the Emperor's death and the Tyrant's birth both made the future after that point increasingly hazy - Any they created could fall prey to Chaos God that was born, along with much of the human race. The second was difficult, but ultimately rather simple in nature. The third task was a constant one that restrained the previous two.
Lloyth's overall objectives as an inquisitor was relatively understandable. Commandeer as many of the xenophobic Humans and their Astartes, and send them striking against the Dark Eldar. Concentrate as much of the Imperium's forces and resources in pockets that might survive the death of the Emperor. Ensure neither the Eldar nor Imperium wasted resources slaughtering each other. The Eldar had not the effort to spare for such waste of life, not when those forces could be used fighting the enemies of the Eldar.
To that end, she had been cultivating a relationship with the incredibly xenophobic Nova Marines as well as the Deathwatch. Further ahead, there were Sisters of Battle and the Ministorum.. a single step at a time. But of course, as in all plans, there were complications.
---
"Master Ezekiel. It's an honor." Lolyth spoke, head bowed as any human would to their genetic warriors. Who existed far more in the warp than any human would ever admit.
"The honor is mine, Inquisitor Tloyhl." The Chapter Master of the Nova Marines spoke. One of the space marine chapters she planned to eliminate.
"I have foreseen numerous Eldar raids within this sector, and I need the assistance of the Nova Marines to terminate them." With the Eldar-hating, one did not specify Drukhari or Dark - As with speech, one played to the biases of who one spoke to.
"Of course, Tloyhl. Give the word, and the Nova Marines will be there to cleanse the wretches xenos from the galaxy." It was a hard-earned respect, but earn it she did. By directing fleets and assets against the Dark Eldar again and again. Such things quite naturally earned the respect of those who hated the Dark Eldar.
"On other matters, how goes your work with Inquisitor Raevan? I've only heard tales of his efficiency in these matters." She largely knew of him as a threat, for though his scope of targets were by and large the Drukhari, Raevan made no distinction between the three major Eldar factions - To him, all were to be exterminated.
"It goes well. We thwarted the plots of one of their Farseers on Pezitov.
They fought worse than guardsmen. Inferior to humanity, as all Xenos are." It was naturally only a matter of time before Raevan stumbled into something truly important.
---
Her divination - And that of the Seer Council - ensured victory as one would expect. She watched as the Drukhari fleets struck mines, the brutal weapons of the Imperium strike past the Shadowfields and Mimic Engines that protected their fragile hulls. Incubi and Kabalite Warriors met Imperial Guard and Astartes, a scene that Lloyth ensured repeated again and again with every system they intervened against. For most Inquisitors, this would be a job done enough, extraordinary really.
Lloyth had far more tasks than a normal Inquisitor. In each system, there was much to do beyond the mere protecting of that world. On behalf of the other Seers, she found herself making constant interventions in each world. A cultist who would become a dangerous Chaos Lord. Corrupt Governors who send the world to ruin and debauchery. A citizen who would, with the proper intervention, become a famed Admiral with ties to the Eldar. So much more besides.
And with every intervention, she knew she pushed up against the limits of belief. The Inquisitor Raeven was increasingly suspicious of her with every triumph over the Eldar, even as Chapter Master Ezekiel's belief in her grew further and deeper with the same. Eliminating the Eldarphobic Inquisitor was a priority. A confrontation was coming, and she felt disconcertingly unsure as to what the outcome would be. The Inquisitor seemed rather resilient to Divination, which was concerning in of itself.
---
Culexeus.
Soulless abominations trained into becoming assassins, the name struck fear even into the Eldar. A single touch was as lethal as the Harlequin's Kiss, and far more horrifying than the mere dissolution of one's organs. One's very soul, very being and existence would be erased, the end result not truly different from a necron.
One of the monstrosities was after her.
---
Inquisitor Tloyhl ran, biomancy keeping her just beyond the reach of the enveloping horror that approached. Her retinue desperately tried and failed to stop the Culexeus. A single touch, and an elite Cadian bodyguard dropped dead. Another, and a surprised sanctioned had but moments to realize the soullessness that befell him. Some part of Tloyhl's mind wished that she had recruited more, more diversified retinue for just this very attack. The one with the most success so far was the Enginseer and Servitor, horror not quite overcoming dispassion as mechanical tendrils dueled soulless flesh.
She fought to maintain composure as she activated doors aboard the ship, providing a physical barrier between herself and the all-consuming void clad in human flesh. Then a muffled grunt, as the Culexeus attempted to enter the vent. For a moment, she allowed herself a moment of relief. Unlike nearly all imperial ships and cities, she had done the impossible, something that only her own 'alien and incomprehensible' mind had allowed: The vent was only six inches wide.
Take that, you fucking abomination.
Then a thunk as the nameless Culexeus dropped down, and the doors burned open to show the Inquisitor Raevan with the Culexeus. There was some distance now between them, enough for her to call upon the warp. Not enough that she did not see the Inquisitor Raeven with the Culexeus.
"Eldar Witch. You really thought you could infiltrate the Inquisition, did you?"
Lloyth didn't answer in words, bolts of psychic flame and lightning burning through the ship's corridors to be defeated by the Culexeus' warp-void.
"My family was captured by your depraved kind."
The Culexeus advanced slowly, held back by Raevan's desperate need to monologue. Certain in it's invincibility. Certain that a psyker without their powers was nothing.
"Tortured for fun."
A Farseer's powers do not define her.
"And now, you will pay. Like every blasted, wretched spawn of your kind!"
She called upon flames again, ionized air flooding through the corridor as the Culexeus charged with graceless speed. Certain in it's victory, it failed to contemplate the possibility of an enemy who had means beyond psychic powers; Plasma cut through the void of the Culexeus, well concealed by witchfire and the Force-Staff her Engineer had designed her plasmagun into. Splattered parts of the abominable creature adorned the walls, it's existence as a harrowing void in the warp no more.
Unfortunately, the Inquisitor Raevan was absent, understanding the folly of facing a Farseer in single combat.
No matter.
There was an inquisitorial tribunal to be held.
---
@Durin
AN: Nobody expects the
inquisition six-inch vents.
I hate it when I'm left not even knowing for sure if my memory failed me or.....
