Has she had this rune this entire time?
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The Lost Primarch Quest
- Thread starter Daemon Hunter
- Start date
Going to try to be more active in quest again, to put it mildly, i had to pull away from here and elsewhere in no small part because of some truly heinous family stuff going on...like the FBI and the cops of a different state were involved level bad.
Had to leave the discord as well because i had NOT handled the stress well and it lead to very easily preventable drama on my part so will see if I go back there too but hope everyone has been well and that the galaxy is not anymore onfire while i was away.
Had to leave the discord as well because i had NOT handled the stress well and it lead to very easily preventable drama on my part so will see if I go back there too but hope everyone has been well and that the galaxy is not anymore onfire while i was away.
- Location
- USA
Hey man hope everything okay. Merry Christmas from USA.
Not too much thankfully, more along the lines of needing to ensure they could dot their is and cross their ts but there was a lot of legal property drama as well so that didn't help.
tyvm merry yule and merry christmas to you too
- Location
- USA
Oh, sorry. I meant how caught up with this quest.
You were hoping the galaxy wasn't anymore on fire than usual.
And... well...
i just read through the thread from the meeting with horus which is where I stopped.
And looks like we are at least using the standard 'dig trench burn the fuel around the trench so the fire is contain' methods of countering it
Years 41 - 45 Part 2 Daemonsbane
- Location
- Elsewhere
[X] Guilliman
[X] Corvus and Magnus
[X] The Masked Stagehand
[X] Corvus and Magnus
[X] The Masked Stagehand
Kesar took in the room, then glanced at the two people that had motioned to him. The person he thought was a Callidus received an informative nod. He knew they were there, and would meet with them later. Then he turned to Guilliman and began to approach his beckoning brother. A part of Kesar did consider listening in on Magnus and Corvus' lecture, but based on the intensity of said discussion, it was certain to go on for longer.
It only took Kesar a few seconds to reach Guilliman, but in those few seconds, several things surprised him. The one he thought was a Callidus took a few steps towards Guilliman so that their back was to Kesar. It was unfortunate the XIth Primarch couldn't see what had transpired, but considering the expression of absolute surprise on Guilliman's face, it made Kesar think they had worked together before. But it also raised several questions. Mainly, why would Guilliman act like that if they had met previously?
"I didn't realize you worked with Callidus before?" Kesar decided to cut to the heart of the matter, he was curious and wanted to know. Asking directly was the best way to get said answers.
"I don't and haven't. I don't like assassins." Kesar's brow furrowed at Guilliman's instant response. That seemed rather at odds with his initial reaction.
"Really? That one seemed rather familiar to you."
The Master of Macragge let out a weary sigh, "that's because they unfortunately are." The Primarch brought a hand to his face, rubbing his temple in frustration.
Kesar looked on, looking back at the person he thought was a Callidus, who was now listening to Magnus and Corvus' discussion with rapt attention. He had some ideas of how Guilliman was introduced to the Callidus, but not quite fit. "Malcador probably met with you after the Maelstrom," he began hesitantly, "but I suspect there's more to the story than this."
Guilliman dragged a hand across his face, "I was really hoping to never share this." The Primarch shook his head, "it's a very long story Kesar. And involves mercenaries, clowns, and sex."
"What?"
"In fairness, I could blame most of it on Magnus."
Kesar blinked. "That's an incredibly odd assortment of words you just used to explain a situation, Roboute." He blinked again. "And by explain, I mean not explain at all."
"We should talk privately for the rest of the explanation…" Guilliman began before trailing off, "it's … a very complicated situation." Kesar followed his brother's face, following it to the person he thought was a Callidus. It painted a rather interesting picture.
"Oh my," Kesar began, only somewhat in jest, "that sex thing, and the assassin. Did you have sex with him?"
"What?!" Guilliman exclaimed, "No, I didn't have sex with that assassin, first off it was a woman, and … fuck, I'm not describing my sex life to you Kesar."
Kesar giggled, "should I bring Fulgrim over? He would love this."
"No!" Guilliman almost screamed, "no," he spoke in a far quieter voice, "you cannot tell people about this, especially Fulgrim."
"Give me little credit," Kesar said, only minorly offended, "I'm not going to tell anyone, this is between brothers. Besides, what are you worried about?"
"This is a lot more complicated than you think Kesar."
"You keep saying that, but it seems relatively straightforward to me," Kesar responded with genuine confusion.
"She's a xeno."
"...This is a lot more complicated than I thought."
"I was rather expecting this conversation to be boring," Kesar thought out loud as Guilliman and himself traversed the halls of Arx Conventus. "I intended to discuss the politics of my recent actions, rather than your relationship with an … Eldar?" The last word was spoken with a hint of inquisitiveness, Kesar may have suspected the species, but he certainly wasn't sure.
"You're more perceptive than most give you credit for," Guilliman responded, confirming Kesar's suspicions. "How do you know?"
"Honestly, process of elimination," Kesar shrugged, "Unless it's a Slaugth in human form, it can't be anything else that I know of."
Guilliman glanced at him disgusted, "I did not need that mental image."
"I've fought stranger," the Second Anathema said truthfully, "but regardless, how did this happen? Why? Who??"
"Let me start from the beginning," Guilliman started what he clearly intended to be a rather lengthy tale, "I was working on a project, and needed assistance. So I went to visit Magnus who was unexpectedly not present on Prospero. And so I began to talk with Amon when an Eldar appeared."
"And you got along with this Eldar?" Kesar asked suspiciously, "just like that?"
"No, I drew a sword on her." Guilliman bluntly responded.
"And then you had sex with her?" Kesar asked only mostly confused.
"...there's a fair bit of context missing, but that sums it up fairly well."
Shaking his head, the Second Anathema tried to make sense of the situation, "so you've hidden this for a while, why are you so forthcoming about this now?"
Guilliman clearly had prepared for this part of the explanation based on how quickly he responded. "If the figure we were previously discussing is the individual in question I'm thinking of, they were most likely about to explain this particular aspect of my private life and intentionally leaving critical pieces explaining it...for the sake of humor."
"Is this where the clowns come into the story?"
"This is where the clowns enter the story."
"So we're following an Eldar clown? Is this a regular practice with the Eldar?" Kesar asked, now moderately confused
"Harlequins do engage in this nonsense, yes."
"...so, is she a 'Harlequin'? You prefer romance with humor?" Kesar really wanted to see what Fulgrim thought of this, but also really wanted to avoid seeing the Phoenician have a stroke.
Guilliman on the other hand looked downright fearful at his brother's wording. "Kesar, I beg of you to not talk like that in front of the clown. I sincerely beg you to not think about doing this."
"I think I understand most of the story now," the Primarch began. "And it does explain how Magnus got that information on the daemonworlds. He looked into the Eldar gods at my suggestion and as he is prone to do, got far more involved than any reasonable person would and for reasons unknown to me invited Eldar onto Prospero. When you visited, one of them was arrogant enough to reveal themselves to you, and things … escalated."
"That sums it up pretty well," Guilliman said with a hint of relief, "Magnus … he's like that."
"He's surprisingly predictable." Kesar agreed. "Regardless, is there anything else I should know?"
"You'll want to talk with Magnus about this," Guilliman began, "and Corvus. But for now, we should visit the theater."
"Why the theater?" Kesar curiously asked.
"I thought to myself what would be the most eccentric way to explain certain events to you," Guilliman bluntly stated, "and realized that would be through a one-man play."
"Are you seriously expecting an Eldar to convey information through song and dance?" Kesar asked with significant amounts of confusion. "Do they do this often?"
"Fulgrim would call their desire to perform excessive."
The theatre was strangely dark and silent, even for the senses that Primarchs possessed as they entered.
Kesar Dorlin was briefly suspicious, having been experienced in tricks of the Warp and the machinations of daemons to not feel a certain caution at such situations. But after a few moments he couldn't sense a hint of Chaos, and instead privately applauded his brother's craftsmanship for such an atmosphere.
With how quiet and shadowed this place was, it was little wonder why an Eldar would choose to meet here.
And then, suddenly, the lights flared on. A ripple of presence flowed through, a strange pull to attention, and on the stage was the masked figure. Not dressed as an assassin, or an ordinary human who would be on this planet.
Illuminated now was a colorful presenter, wearing now a different mask, ready to put on a show.
An Eldar.
"Welcome gentlemen, to a display of artistry only shown once before to non-Eldar eyes, soon to be twice." The Eldar bowed deeply, almost twisting their spine in what would be a painful motion to a human, "let me tell you the tale of the Daemonsbane."
The Eldar, or Harlequin, as Guilliman mentioned, clapped twice, and the holo-emitters that Perturabo intended to be used for a group of holographic actors instead were used for mere special effects. An aura of red mist filled the stage, followed by the clinking of chain on brass, "there once was a warrior, so dangerous and powerful, that even battles with Khaine left them unsatisfied, and so they journeyed to a more dangerous locale, and a far more dangerous god."
Kesar thumbed Epitaph, causing the Eldar to tilt their head, turning their mask in a way that almost felt as if they were frowning. Then there was a snap, the sound of fingertips echoed as the Eldar chuckled, "but of course, who else can play the Daemonsbane, but another Daemonsbane!" The Harlequin pointed to Kesar, then beckoned him forward, "come forth Second Anathema, and demonstrate how you eclipsed all Daemonsbanes of the past!"
Kesar glanced over at Roboute, asking the unspoken question "Is this normal?" To which the Lord of Ultramar rolled his eyes and nodded. Such a strange individual then, this Eldar.
Then he lightly gestured to the stage, asking yet another unspoken question "Should I go up there?" To which the Lord of Ultramar closed his eyes and sighed, "Magnus would, I wouldn't."
"The Daemonsbane was shy, hesitant to trust," Kesar narrowed his eyes, "rather than seek battle through Kurnous, or battle through Hoeth, the Daemonsbane walked in the realm of unreality," howls began to echo through the room, along with snarls and roars of berserkers, "and so they ventured forth, into the domain of blood."
Kesar glanced at Roboute, then to the Eldar, "question, can we skip the theatrics? A summary would take far less time than this."
"Well, it seems my talents aren't appreciated," the Harlequin cried with exaggerated sorrow, "ah woe is me, to find the newest Anathema prefers such petty things as logic and efficiency."
Kesar glanced at Roboute, utterly deadpan as if asking a third unspoken question "What?" To which the Lord of Ultramar looked back at him with similar eyes,
"I'll have you know I love good art. Even stage plays and theatre, occasionally. I've just got a lot on my schedule. Politics and poetry don't often mix." Kesar responded to the Harlequin, once he noticed the Eldar had curled into a ball. While he did not wish to play to the Eldar's tune, he also was genuinely curious as to where this story was going. Even if he thought this was excessive.
"Really?" The Harlequin immediately lept up from the ground in an acrobatic display. "Truly? You mean it?" Like a child, the Eldar's temperament immediately flipped, "oh how lucky I am, to see the grandest Daemonsbane understands the wonders of art."
Kesar immediately regretted his statement, and glanced at Roboute, hoping he knew what to do. Instead, he just saw his brother trying to do his best impression of Rogal.
"Perhaps a play on the end of the dominion, no, far too Aeldari-centric, the War in Heaven? No, far too grand for this limited stage. The Cyclops' Journey? No, that's Magnus' tale to tell."
"Wait, Magnus'?" Kesar interjected, "you have a play on him?"
"I have a play on every one of note. I just don't tend to talk about them." The Harlequin explained with surprising intensity, then they switched to a far more gleeful tone. "One doesn't reveal all their works until they have a most captive audience."
"Fine," Kesar sighed, "but I will be asking about this later."
"Not if I raise more questions!" The Eldar exclaimed exuberantly. "Why the more questions I raise, the less you can answer, perhaps you wish to know of the future, or the past, perhaps the future's past, or past's future. Of a Beggar King or Mankind's Fall? The Midnight Prophecy or Rebirth of Khaine? Do you even know what questions would lead to the answers you seek?"
Well, Kesar did in fact have more questions now.
"But that is for another time, another day, another play. Now it is time for the Daemonsbane play!" Then the Eldar spun, and when they turned back to the Primarchs, a new mask covered their face, one that made it hard to tell what they even were. By comparison, the wraithbone dagger in their palm felt almost insignificant.
"Within a fortress of metal, a lazy god sits upon their pilfered throne," sitting on nothing, the Eldar twisted a knee over a leg, letting it rest upon itself. "Now little pup, the lazy god says to their loyal hound, find what entered so I may sit and laze."
The Eldar snapped up, so quickly that Kesar winced at the audible pop in the Eldar's knee, now taking a pose of a stereotypical assassin, the Harlequin mimed a slash. "And here we have the hero of our story," folding backward into an inverted bridge, the Harlequin twisted their head towards the Primarchs. "Locked in battle, the Daemonsbane slaughters, yet none can find them." Then the Eldar vanished, their clothes falling to the ground, with the sound of a mask falling and hitting nothing but air.
The Eldar reappears in the corner of the stage, as Kesar tries to think if that was teleportation, or something far stranger. "Behold, the villain of the hour," the Eldar roars, then gurgles, a trail of red coating their throat. Hacking and heaving, the Harlequin falls to the ground, "Behold, there departs the villain of the hour."
The Eldar stands, now bereft of blood, apart from their wraithbone dagger, now drenched in blood. "We return to our hero, unharmed and untouched."
The Eldar vanishes, reappearing in a front-row seat, clapping furiously for an awkwardly long few seconds. Then the Harlequin twists only their head, facing Kesar and Roboute as they continue to clap for more time.
Kesar glances at Guilliman, who very slowly, starts to clap. The Second Anathema sighs and claps himself.
"Another foe falls," the Eldar, now on stage collapses and vanishes.
"Then another," they collapse on stage once more and vanish once more.
"And another, for days the deaths build. And for days a lazy god sits upon their pilfered throne."
"Until they realize something," the Eldar sits down, cupping their ear, and Kesar realizes that all the background sounds of before have vanished. "Their fortress of metal … is empty."
"They stand!" The Eldar snaps upwards, "angered and infuriated they rage," the Eldar roars, tossing aside imaginary scenery. "But it is an impotent rage, for the Daemonsbane has already left."
The Eldar points towards Kesar, twirling a finger as a gesture to turn around. Kesar twists his head, seeing nothing behind him, then he looks back towards the stage, only barely suppressing his instinct to pull Epitaph from its sheath as the Harlequin stares at Kesar from scarcely a meter away. "Oh Daemonsbane, you have earned a gift from the Aeldari Pantheon, don it, and be rewarded." The Eldar kneels, holding out a mask of … nothing, it's the only thing Kesar can describe it as. A formless mass of ancient wraithbone, which Kesar can sense nothing from. Guilliman leans forward, interested as well. And all the while the Harlequin rests motionless.
"And so I thank your gods for this gift. And let them and its former bearer know that as long as I live, daemons shall die." Perhaps playing to the Eldar's desire for drama was a poor decision, but Kesar knew it was the only way to make the Harlequin provide the knowledge he sought. "But I shall not stay hidden. They shall know me, see me, and fear me as they die by my blade."
Kesar lightly lifted the mask, gently holding it, inspecting it for signs of traps. A compartment opened in his armor, and the Primarch placed it within for safekeeping. "Good," Guilliman said, breaking the silence, "now that that's done with, are you leaving?"
"Why Guilliman, one might think I'm not welcome here," the Eldar responded as they sat down in one of the many chains in the theater, "after I came all this way at the request of the Laughing God."
Kesar could see a bit of relief on his brother's face for some reason. Kesar figured it was because this Harlequin might not have heard or known just how deep Roboutes relationship with a certain Eldar went. "Is that what meeting with Eldar is usually like?"
"Thankfully no," Guilliman admitted with relief, "Harlequins though are."
"No we're not," the Harlequin proudly disagreed, "we're worse! Why the creatures of the warp truly despise our creative talents."
Kesar was suddenly far more interested in these plays. "Kesar no!"
"Don't entice him with such promises," Guilliman demanded with a hiss.
"Come on, is training your sons to be able to sing and dance if it helps them kill daemons really that much of a cost?"
Kesar was honestly thinking about that. "Is this a genuine offer?"
The Harlequin looked offended, "I would never offer an insincere offer when it comes to the art of showmanship. If you wish to learn the songs and dances that drive the never born into fits of fear and rage, then I, personally, would ensure you are taught."
"Kesar," Guilliman began with genuine fear in his voice, "please don't, I have nothing to argue against this, as it would genuinely help, but please do literally anything else."
"As I said, I love good theatre. Most theatre on Valhalla is against Chaos, either literally or through a poetic lens." This was a far more tempting offer than it should have been. "If I wished to arrange something, where would I go?"
"Many places, Prospero for one, or perhaps you wish for a higher level of instruction? A solitary trip to the Black Library could be arranged, or more mundanely, a troupe aboard a ship of your choice could be arranged."
"And what would these cost?" Kesar asked, his suspicion abating.
"Hmm, a quartet of dead Greater Daemons for the troupe, an octet for the solitary journey, a favor to Magnus for the first." The Harlequin explained, and Kesar found himself very interested in all three.
"You do have to admit, Roboute, training our sons in the arts does help with basic human interactions. It certainly helps Fulgrim and his sons." Kesar observed.
Roboute did consider that for a moment, "Well, I can't really argue with that. Considering some of the things I've gotten up to with Arthron…"
Kesar had another fun thought, "What's the policy on costumes?"
"Oh, I'm so glad you asked."
Roboute rolled his eyes again, "We really should just have Fulgrim here. At the very least he'd be able to offer some actual insight."
"I would prefer to remain in one piece," the Harlequin glibly remarked, "Aeldari on a stick is not a pleasant sight to see."
"He wouldn't-" Kesar began, before realizing Fulgrim probably would, "well, we could stop him from that."
Guilliman blinked "you could, I'm not so sure about myself."
"Arthron perhaps?" Kesar inquired, making Guilliman think for a moment.
"He might be able to, maybe." Roboute shook his head, "look, you can get Arthron involved in this when you help train him."
"Done, when is he free?"
"Whenever you are," Guilliman explained, "he's on a shifting schedule, so he can reallocate time to best fit a Primarch's schedule."
"I'll see when I'm free then," Kesar said.
"Ooh, a training arc, a staple of tales everywhere," the Harlequin interjected, "would he wish to learn song and dance as well?"
"No," Guilliman replied, a little too quickly, "he's a showman, not a dancer."
"Oh my, I know of a place that would love to see him, the Arena of Blood would be quite the learning experience but could end in death," Kesar didn't know what that was, nor did Guilliman based on his expression.
"I'll think about it." The Master of Macragge stated diplomatically.
"Of course of course, and for you Anathema?" The Harlequin turned their attention back to Kesar, "would you wish to commit to learning song and dance?"
[] "I'll ask Magnus" - Commit to asking Magnus the next time you meet him
[] "I'll think about it" - Decide at another point in time
[] "I'll ask my sons" - Commit to a social with Warden heroes this turn
[] "I accept." - Decide what form the instruction will take later on
[] Write-in
Nicholas Brooks
Redeemer and Destroyer
- Location
- United States
Personally in favor of this at first look. After all expanding the Legion culture is pretty good overall and spending time with our sons is itself worthwhile. Though I could certainly see a write-in catching my eye later on.
"WHY DID I JUST FEEL LIKE IN A DIFFERENT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, THE MOST POMPOUS OF ALL MY SONS WOULD HAVE AGREED WITH ME THAT IT WAS ALL MAGNUS'S FAULT?"
".....Maaaaybe one of your daily psyker rations was spiked with something funny?"
"THAT IS MOST LIKELY IT, WHY MUST I CONTINUE TO SUFFER IN SUCH A DISAPPOINTING REALITY?"
- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska
but yeah, our sons will think "Will this help us kill daemons more?" then if "YES" then they will smash that button like its the only thing that matters in the universe.
we are *that* autistic on killing all of chaos.
but yeah, otherwise which should we pick? magnus? our legion? Or just say yes? Can we do all three?
- Location
- Elsewhere
You can do a write in for all three yes.
[] Write-in: "I am already going to meet Magnus, so I see no reason to rush a decision before speaking with him about it if you will agree, and something like this is not a decision I can make without speaking with my sons first. Will you be willing to wait until after I have done both of these for my decision?" (Speak with sons, magnus, and then yes.)
I take it doing all three is just more personal action intensive?
TinyGladiator
Just another SVer
- Location
- I move alot.
Oh, how long this has been awaited. The anti-Chaos Eldar stealth artefact, belonging to a former Daemonsbane of the Aeldari. The last element needed for Kesar Dorlin to truly be able to strike fear into Chaos, and strike against them in general.
If possible @Daemon Hunter , could you tell us in the thread what this mask really does?
- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska
[] Write-in: "I am already going to meet Magnus, so I see no reason to rush a decision before speaking with him about it if you will agree, and something like this is not a decision I can make without speaking with my sons first. Will you be willing to wait until after I have done both of these for my decision?" (Speak with sons, magnus, and then yes.)
yyyyeeeesssss...the artifact that will allow us to kill-maim-slaughter-destroy all the daemons in the warp. with such a low price that is!
yyyyeeeesssss...the artifact that will allow us to kill-maim-slaughter-destroy all the daemons in the warp. with such a low price that is!
- Location
- Elsewhere
That's a valid write in, it'd just lock in both discussions, although I will say this would be treated as if Kesar was going to say yes, but is being cautious out of care.
Yep, it basically locks in multiple socials to the topic.
It effectively makes Kesar invisible to most daemons, it's effectively a major increase to his stealth vs daemons as well as anti-divination, partly.
that more or less is what i was going for with this, as I was feeling it'd be out of character for kesar to jump right in, temptation of killing daemons or no, as he *does* trust the Emperor's judgement on Eldar iirc as well as just keeping in mind that 'enemies of chaos' does NOT equal 'allies of humanity/best bosom friends'
Themesong to Kesar hunting daemons with this mask
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogTDa-vG2MQ
only with kesar disappearing and reappearing like the goblins in the cartoon
- Location
- USA
This was a fun one.
Kesar suddenly perking up and seriously considering learning this stuff if it helps fight chaos is great.
Kesar suddenly perking up and seriously considering learning this stuff if it helps fight chaos is great.
[] Write-in: "I am already going to meet Magnus, so I see no reason to rush a decision before speaking with him about it if you will agree, and something like this is not a decision I can make without speaking with my sons first. Will you be willing to wait until after I have done both of these for my decision?" (Speak with sons, magnus, and then yes.)
Ave Anathema
Ave Imperator
- Location
- Jacksonville Illinois
Eldar: You know even demons hate our art skills
Kesar: Tell me what can do to learn this
G-Man: Kesar no
K: Kesar YES
Kesar: Tell me what can do to learn this
G-Man: Kesar no
K: Kesar YES
- Location
- Califoirna
So in short, Kesar is now the predator with cloaking to deamons now.......sweet.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[] "I'll ask my sons" - Commit to a social with Warden heroes this turn