@Daemon Hunter Question, but did Kesar infer anything from Emps talking about the Webway to think that Emps is trying to take it over or something? Considering how much emphasis Emps put on it.
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The Lost Primarch Quest
- Thread starter Daemon Hunter
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At the moment it's a possibility to Kesar, but it's by no means a sure thing. What he is pretty sure is that Emps isn't going to take no for an answer, and the Eldar seem unwilling to say yes. Which is likely going to result in some kind of conflict between the two.
The Second Venusian Heist
The Second Venusian Heist
Footsteps could be heard inside the private meditative chambers of Eldrad Ulthran. It was a rhythmic pattern. One could even hear the sounds of counting under his breath. His eyes were focused but elsewhere.
"32,339…32,340…32,341…" On and on, Eldrad counted, an automatic impulse for his body while his mind and soul focused on more important things. He had a lot on his mind at the moment.
Less than 30 hours ago, the Second Heist concluded. It was a success, but barely, and not without vast complications. Eldrad had spent the last twenty-five hours addressing his seers and assessing the situation with Cegorach. The Laughing God merely chortled over how exciting things were going but admitted that this situation was dragging on his patience.
After everything had been said and done, Eldrad waited for the team to return and discuss what had happened.
Thus the Great Seer continued his movement. Sixteen steps to one side of the room, then another nineteen to the other side before repeating. This had gone on for five hours as the Great Seer was pacing and thinking.
Recent events on Venus involving the heist had undone decades of work and had irreversibly changed several long-term projects. Worse yet, Eldrad didn't know whether this was a failed state. Time and fate were still trying to reorganize themselves while his mind sought answers. Leaving Eldrad with time to nervously think and plan.
Hence the pacing and counting.
Eldrad had materialized this nervous habit of pacing and counting in a familiar location as a young man. Even after all these years and the self-confidence he developed, it never went completely away. Most would call it normal if he had only done it for a few minutes, but it was normal for Eldrad to pace for hours.
Sometimes even days. Aeldari habits were notoriously difficult to break. One need only look at what happened to cause the Fall for that.
But this wasn't like walking in some random direction to clear your head; Eldrad needed to stay in one place, close to where he would need to make an important decision or hold equally vital talks. He hadn't done this in years, but the habit reared its ugly head more often than not.
"43,001…43,002…43,003…" Some part of him wanted to call it a meditative practice, but Eldrad knew better. He hadn't been caught off guard; the Great Seer knew this eventuality could have happened, but he dismissed it as impossible.
How does one attempt to explain how there was a chance of a human godspeed merging with a Shard of Khaine? The fates warned him, though, and thus the fault lies entirely with Eldrad. He told himself it wouldn't happen, and once again, he was mocked for his arrogance. Where did they leave him and his people? Almost to the brink of being discovered by the Imperium of Man and causing an incident.
He didn't need to see into the future to know that the Imperium would have responded to this intrusion harshly. At best, causing their already teetering relations to fall apart completely, and at worst, causing Corvus Corax to go renegade in shame and likely trigger a civil war among the humans.
Thankfully, none of that had come to pass, but this situation with Venus had evolved and grown into a baffling and stressful predicament for all parties involved.
Worse yet, he hadn't warned Corvus Corax before the second attempt. Then again, Eldrad had resolved to keep this information a secret. He didn't need the Primarch or anyone else thinking there was such a thing as a hybrid god. Mainly as Eldrad had no explanation as to how it was even possible. Cegorach also had limited answers, although that might have just been the Laughing God wanting to see how the Great Seer reacted to this challenge.
Far be it for Eldrad to admit openly, but he was at a loss. This was completed unexpectedly, and all ways forward were currently obscured for the time being. His visions could glimpse what was to come, but again, the fates seemingly tried to reorganize in the face of specific circumstances with Venus's return.
Meanwhile, Corvus Corax would be expecting answers or a path forward. Neither of which the Great Seer had at the moment. What did they leave him with?
"59,997…59,998…59,999…" Eldrad paused as he concluded his only option was to be truthful about this failure to provide sufficient warning and planning for unexpected events or escalations.
Lying would get him nowhere. Downplaying the events wouldn't, either. For no other reason, Eldrad needed more details from the Primarch. Which meant both sides needed to be honest with each other.
"60,000." Eldrad finished as his mind started calming down, even as the daunting prospect of both parties needing to be open about what happened now hung heavy on his mind. Because after this meeting, Eldrad would know just where exactly the trust of Corvus Corax lay.
He must ready himself. More importantly, Eldrad needed to take the initiative and meet directly with the team on their return. The Great Seer rallied his forces by gathering the Sword and Armor and his honor guard.
This decision would ultimately prove to be to the benefit of everyone involved.
No matter what his Father or brothers say, a Primarch could develop a headache. Maybe it was mostly psychosomatic, yet the migraine Corvus Corax felt was real enough for him. The last 32 hours certainly hadn't helped the pain in his skull.
Corvus didn't like to linger on what-ifs, but his thoughts turned to what happened on Venus and his concerns and agitations from the event. I.e., they only merely avoided complete disaster and succeeded due to blind luck. Yet all he could think was how could this have happened?
The combined skills and planning of the Aeldari, Raven Guard, Ravenloft, and Polaris. They had all contributed to the effort, in some cases literally scheming and orchestrating dozens of minor events to culminate in this singular moment of shared strength and unity…and it felt like a hollow victory.
His team had succeeded, but Corvus could have nearly ruined his legion and reputation if he had been caught sneaking around like a thief in the night and being in the center of the greatest warp event in recent Sol history. The Aeldari would've been blamed publicly, but Corvus would have been marked for this.
Worse yet was the thought of if things had gone wrong enough to cause a warp storm to appear in the middle of Sol. The damages would've been catastrophic, perhaps so much so that the Imperium would have descended into civil war, fearing that the Throne World had fallen or the Astronomicon had gone out.
His sons and allies could have perished. Shot and killed by some Arbite or Sigillite. Worse, his brothers and their sons, confused by the chaos, might have tried to kill him or someone else. Billions might have died or just descended into madness. No amount of altruistic intentions could justify it.
And even with all that on his mind, his chief worry lay with Sachmis. She was in a coma. It was a shameful thing compared to his previous concerns. Love was distracting him from the bigger picture. The uncertainty of the next few days weighed heavy on the Primarchs mind, but this did nothing to calm his anxiousness over her fate.
Corvus had no idea when she would awaken. Her vitals showed no cause for concern and no lingering warp corruption on her. Not that Corvus could even begin to determine this. He was still trying to understand what happened back at the vault.
The Primarch could see and remember everything perfectly, but his mind still tried to process the unearthly touch upon his mind, sifting through his memories and thoughts. A goddess had touched both his and Sachmis' souls.
Somehow, they survived with their wills and wits intact. Perhaps only thanks to the timely arrival of Eldrad and his honor guard. The Ravenlord knew, on some conceptual level, that Venus had been trying to understand the two lovers. That didn't stop Corvus from shivering whenever he recalled an ephemeral touch.
Unfortunately, Sachmis must have felt something stronger. Try as he might, Corvus hadn't gotten Venus to explain what happened or if his lover would ever awaken. Then again, Corvus wasn't about to try pushing his luck with the reborn goddess.
Not that she had such much to any of them. Venus was as shocked as Corvus and equally confused at how she had become one with the Shard of Khaine. Karandras, the so-called Shadow Hunter and Phoenix Lord, had carefully watched her on their journey to meet with Eldrad and their escort back to the Library.
Karandras had been a last-minute addition to the team. Corvus, Lupin, and Sachmis certainly had no issues with him, especially since the man proved invaluable, but he also put the three of them on edge for different reasons.
Lupin found the man was too regimented and "by the book" for this type of work. While Sachmis claimed that he was there to kill them in case they got corrupted. Karandras didn't disagree with either assessment.
Alcar, on the other hand, refused to even be in the same room as him. He didn't even acknowledge the Phoenix Lord. Corvus had no idea whether it was out of pride or fear, but once again, Karandras merely focused on the mission.
Corvus took issue with the Phoenix Lord because the whispers would not stop giving him an impression of silence with the clanging of blades and the whir of an engine. Something about this man reminded the Ravenlord a bit too much of himself. Worse yet, Karandras seemed to concentrate on staying visible in front of them.
Before the heist, Lupin privately explained to Corvus that he heard that these Phoenix Lords were divine warriors of the aspect shrines of the Craftworlders. Legend has it that Karandras has no history and simply became the Phoenix Lord of the Striking Scorpions on skill and power alone.
"I don't know if you've met many Striking Scorpions, but I have. They aren't pushovers and aren't afraid of anything…except they all give Karandras a wide berth whenever he visits one of the shrines. So yeah, not someone to mess with."
Case in point when everything started going wrong on Venus, Karandras interfered and disrupted the response from local and outside security units. He likely ensured no one found their team during the more hectic moments. The Shadow Hunter seemed disappointed at Corvus's focus on Sachmis' condition rather than making sure Venus didn't suddenly escape or try anything.
But considering that Venus simply waited by Sachmis' bedside was telling enough to Corvus that a link had been forged between the two. Unfortunately, it was rather concerning because he had no idea what it all meant, and asking questions wasn't a good idea.
So Venus watched Sachmis, Karandras watched Venus, and Lupin watched Karandras. It was almost a worthwhile distraction for everyone. Corvus was left trying to determine what could happen next.
First, Malcador would try and stop all ships from leaving Sol until further notice. His brothers would be called into questioning and tasked with aiding the investigation. The Martians and other local elements would throw a fit but obey the High Lord. Meanwhile, an emergency message would be sent to Father, informing him of the development, who would return to Sol as fast as possible.
All things considered, the Imperium's response was fairly predictable. Eldrad would at least appreciate that piece of knowledge. An easy fault to exploit. Corvus must address this later if he wasn't exiled, arrested, or killed.
Getting through the defenses of Sol using Eldar technology and ships had also been laughably easy, which again filled the Primarch with no small amount of anxiety and frustration. While he had to remember that the Harlequins excelled in such subterfuge and trickery, it still meant that the home system was dangerously exposed. If it could be done once, it could be done again and again.
Once in the Webway, they were "home free" from any pursuit. It did not escape Corvus' attention that he was fleeing from Sol. Hopefully, this would be the first and last time he would.
A force of Aeldari arrived to meet with them barely an hour into their journey. Leading this small army of Eldar was, of course, Eldrad Ulthran. For a brief moment, Corvus wondered if they were here to tie up some loose ends, but the Great Seer demanded the Primarch to join him in a private chamber onboard the Night Phoenix.
"Blasted Druhkari ships," Eldrad remarked as he and Corvus situated themselves in the chambers, "Trading style and substance for intimidation and gaudiness." The Great Seer took a seat while the Ravenlord stood.
Eldrad unceremoniously started speaking, "I take it things did not proceed as planned."
"Your visions did not provide such answers?"
To his surprise, the Great Seer shook his head, but what shocked Corvus was watching the man grab a bottle of Skogga, an equally toxic and intoxicating brandy. Eldrad found an empty wraithbone chalice and poured himself a healthy portion of the Skogga.
"They stopped after I watched as the Godseed entered your mind. After that, it became cloudy and impossible to see." Taking a sip from his chalice, Eldrad grimaced at the taste of the Skogga.
Corvus filed that information away, once again confirming there were ways to blind even a powerful seer like Eldrad. "Well, you are right. Things didn't go as planned. We didn't deserve to succeed, but we did. I don't know how or why, which is eating away at me, among other concerns."
Taking another sip of the Skogga, Eldrad sat down on his chalice and looked at the Primarch, "We need to go over everything that happened. From the start to where we are now."
"You saw everything up until Venus entered our minds."
Eldrad nodded, "I did, but I need perspectives on what happened. You, Lupin, and Karandras are the only ones awake to tell me otherwise." Corvus frowned at knowing why Sachmis wasn't included. "So we will spend as long as it takes on this."
Part of Corvus agreed, "I will need to go back to Sol soon. Malcador will notice my absence."
"Then we best get started now." Eldrad got comfortable in his seat before focusing on the Primarch and gesturing with his right hand to Corvus to begin speaking. It took him a moment to consider where to start in this debrief.
Corvus had been in Sol for the better part of six weeks. One of the largest gatherings of marines and Primarchs assembled in orbit of Terra. But rather than feelings of pride, there was a wave of uncertainty amongst those who answered the call.
Their Father, the Emperor of Mankind, had been away on business. Thus, the High Lord performed the necessary ceremonies for such an assembly. Malcador, ever the statesman, explained succinctly why all had been summoned to Sol.
When the High Lord announced the Venusian War Games, Corvus could feel relief from a million souls. Today would not be a call for civil war but rather a chance for glory with the strength of arms and strategy—an otherwise useful distraction for many, but a distraction nonetheless.
Most were unaware of how right they were to think it was just a distraction for a different reason. Corvus had already put things in motion and moved all the pieces into the right place. The war games on Venus would make for an excellent cover for what was about to unfold.
There were, unfortunately, complications even before things began.
As the war games commenced, the first signs of something going wrong came from the most unexpected place: Venus itself. The Imperial Army, under the command of Sol Commander Nigel Vanderberg, had sought to show off the training of his forces against the Astartes by using the Army's defensive capabilities and understanding of the terrain to their advantage.
Commander Vanderbeg also used excessive firepower when it came to fighting Astartes, which, logically and tactically speaking, was the right choice. The issue, though, was that his forces accidentally used live ammunition. By the time anyone discovered this, an incident had already occurred.
Namely against the Raven Guard. An artillery barrage hit three squads of Raven Guard scouts that had just finished moving a group of Venusian war-witches to safety. The entire village was destroyed, believing it a staging ground for a unit of Dark Angel's rhinos. Army scouts must have assumed the dust kicked up from the trucks was from tanks. 45 scouts were killed, and 12 were gravely wounded.
If Corvus had the time to go and seek retribution for this act, he would have. Instead, his brother, the Lion, did it for him. The Lord of Caliban killed most of the officers that made that bad call, and Lord-Commander Vanderbeg faced charges of gross incompetence.
This event unintentionally aided the coming distraction, as everyone was either furious or shocked over such a disaster. That said, this act wouldn't go unpunished. When the time came to unleash the shroud device, Corvus had his Raven Guard reposition the explosive within a strategic ammo dump used by the Imperial Army on Venus.
Corvus and the heist team would be in position when it went off. He had already briefed Lupin and Sachmis on what would happen next, while Lockcraft and Alcar would stand by within the Night Phoenix alongside a Ravenloft detachment, monitoring the heist in relative real time.
Unlike last time, Corvus and Lupin knew the way to the vault, and Alcar and Eldrad already knew of the new security systems. All that mattered was handling any personnel that might have spotted them. When Karandras finally appeared before them, he explained his mission was to eliminate eyewitnesses and erase any evidence.
He warned Corvus that he already started moving about Sol and found that the Sigillites were much more active than they were initially supposed to be. The Primarch didn't question how the Phoenix Lord could move about Sol without issue but took the warning to heart.
Everything was ready. An Eldar shuttle would drop them off and pick them up. Securing the vault was simple, on paper, via a teleporter beacon that would send it over to the Night Phoenix. Lupin, meanwhile, had a container that could carry the shard.
All that mattered was extracting the shard and securing the vault.
Corvus gave the go-ahead to start the second heist on Venus once it became Heart Day and ordered the Shroud Device to go off. The resulting explosion was said to have been detected by monitoring stations on Luna and caused no small amount of panic. Chaos was a useful tool, albeit often uncontrollable.
Deployment to the Haillenarte Estate went smoothly, as did getting inside and navigating its halls. No one saw them, and none of the systems could even hope to spot them. It was beyond effortless. The heist team spent only twenty minutes moving before they ended back in secured holds of the estate.
The path and security measures for the Vault hadn't changed at all. But this time, Corvus needed to perform a complex ritual to "unlock" it for both the Godseed and Shard. As the teleporter beacon was placed on it, the Ravenlord got to work.
Lupin went to secure a few of the more mundane treasures while Karandras set off to ensure no one came to bother the group. This left Corvus and Sachmis alone to handle the unlocking, to which the two got started…
"You are omitting details." Eldrad interrupted as he drank from his chalice. "Explain to me what happened during that moment."
Corvus tried to play off the demand, "Nothing that bears repeating if you already know what happened."
"I disagree. The two of you caused everything that set this incident in motion. While my vision saw what you did, it didn't provide much context or sound." Placing down the chalice, Eldrad gave another expectant look to the Primarch. "Whatever you said will stay between the two of us. You have my word."
It was difficult to tell what made this conversation all the more awkward. That Corvus had to explain this romantic life again to Eldrad Ulthran, or that next to his Roboute, the only other individual he felt comfortable talking to about this was Eldrad.
"Fine…"
Just as Eldrad prophecized and Ravenloft researched, the Skeleton Key gained significant power thanks to the expression of love shared between Corvus and Sachmis. What would require the strength and will of an Alpha-level psyker was instead accomplished by a simple but powerful declaration of their devotion to one another.
All but prayer to a Goddess of Love like Venus, but enough to hopefully awaken her from inside the Vault and Shell.
Sachmis, ever amused by such acts by Corvus, eagerly rejoiced in the kiss they shared, unaware of the Skeleton Key appearing and unleashing a beam of red and purple toward the Vault, setting in motion what was to follow.
Ravenloft had scant theories on what could or was supposed to happen during this moment. In their attempts to quantify the possibility, Lockcraft believed that a "Resonance Activation" would hint at the response from the Godseed. A weak response meant it was either still "asleep" or "inactive," while if stronger, the Godseed would react accordingly to the outside stimulus.
Lockcraft cautioned that they only needed a "healthy" activation. Anything more could result in a thousand different scenarios, most likely not to the benefit of anyone present. Unfortunately, there was never any means to control the activation.
So as Corvus watched the Skeleton Key unfold, he knew something had gone wrong when the whispers of the warp started to scream within his mind. Not in pain or fear, but almost as if they began rejoicing.
When he noticed the Vault started to change, he barely had time to process that the warp was beginning to shift around him and the others. Then the music started to play. Corvus heard what sounded like a musical ensemble beginning their set as if to herald the return of Venus.
Remembering the reports of Dawnstar and Morningstar's return, this was a good and bad sign. Good, because it meant Venus was awakening. Bad because their group was now at ground zero.
Stranger still was when he noticed other changes around. The smell of sea salt grew, and Corvus could hear waves crashing. Corvus yelled out for Lupin to stop whatever he was doing and get ready to obtain the shard once it appeared.
As if on queue, there was another shift in the environment as Corvus felt the air growing unnaturally hot. He tasted iron on his tongue, and his hearts rapidly beat. Was this the influence of Khaine? This shouldn't have been possible. At least, not this early into the ritual.
Corvus had to focus if they had any hope of succeeding. Turning his attention back to the Skeleton Key, the Ravenlord concentrated on trying to do anything. Anything at all to stop the Resonance from going haywire or becoming destructive.
Suddenly, Karandras appeared back into the room. Once more, no one noticed him. To their surprise, he sounded relieved as he spoke, claiming that the Shard of Khaine had not activated yet, ensuring one crisis was resolved, but then explaining that security was moving towards their position.
Then he disappeared once more. That was good news, but Corvus still had no idea what was happening here. The Shell and Vault were starting to morph as well as the crescendo of the ensemble picked up.
Corvus watched as the walls started to shimmer, the ground beneath his feet began to fill with seawater, and the air became increasingly humid. It was like they were all in some ocean or perhaps just a beach.
His focus shifted when he heard Sachmis fall to her knees beside him. Turning to look at her, Sachmis seemed to hyperventilate and shiver, muttering something about "her fury is too much." Corvus took that as another bad sign.
Not that he had the chance to ask Sachmis, as the Ravenlord suddenly felt an overpowering and intoxicating presence intrude upon his very being. Never in his life and after countless encounters with all manner of foes had Corvus felt such a weight upon him. It was like being submerged in seawater and foam and a fleeting feeling of drowning, even though he wasn't. This morphed into a bitter taste of blood and iron, seemingly hot, like eating charred marrow from bone.
He heard a pair of voices then speak out. One whose fury and anger felt alien and cruel, while the other, equally furious, sounded almost Sachmis's own but missing the playfully dangerous musical inclination.
"You will not absorb my power!"
"Give it to me, or we both fade away!"
Something was happening within the local warp—a battle of gods. Yet Corvus couldn't linger on such a thing as his memories and soul were being crossed examined in their entirety. He heard humans talk about their "lives flashing before their eyes" during their supposed final moments, and right now, the Primarch was going through exactly that.
In less than a second, Corvus recalled every moment of his life. The good, bad, and ugly. All those moments. His life was laid out before such divinity as a service record or prison sentencing was reviewed. To his horror and regret, so much of his life was a blur. So much isn't even there. So much more isn't even a blur.
Corvus had had enough. "No more! BEGONE." He shouts in his mind, instantly creating barriers and blocks within his mind and soul. There was much he was willing to endure or allow. But his thoughts, memories, ambitions, hopes, and fears were not for any god to see. If nothing else, Sachmis might have been the only one in his life that might ever have the chance to learn of them.
For some reason, that last thought caused a feeling of amusement and joy from the alien mind.
And then? It stopped. Less than a second, but what felt like an eternity passed. The drowning feeling left his thoughts, and Corvus could breathe once more. To his credit, he still never broke contact with the Skeleton Key, which continued its work upon the Vault and Shell of Venus.
Said Vault/Shell was melting before their eyes and pulsating like a heart as blood-tainted seawater poured out from its crevasses. Then…the music stopped, and the waves crashing was replaced by a stillness found only by a retreated tide as a tsunami swelled in the distance.
Still reeling from the intrusion, Corvus looked at Sachmis and saw she was barely conscious. The former Archon was still forcing herself to stay awake and desperately trying to stand. Lupin runs to Corvus and tells him this is their chance, as the Vault seems to have strained itself.
Now was the time to get to the Shard of Khaine. Corvus knew it was now or never. Kneeling down before Sachmis, he helped her up. For once in his life, the Primarch saw the look of defeat in her eyes, but then the same fire that once infuriated but now only enticed the Ravenlord returned.
Uttering a series of swears under her breath, Sachmis glared at the Vault. "Worthless gods," She breathed, "Can't even be reborn without someone helping them." She leans against Corvus while the three of them move to enter the vault.
In hindsight, they should've known better. Whether or not it was the right thing to do or a mistake would only be determined after entering the vault.
The interior of the Vault defied all physics and designs. No longer masquerading as the treasure vault for House Haillenarte but instead now revealed itself to be a chaotic pocket dimension. Inside, the three stepped into a person's idea of a lonely island in the middle of the ocean.
Corvus saw that the sea was blood red and angry. Up above were storm clouds that glowed an ominous purple. The smell of the crimson tide reminded the Primarch of rotten fish, seashells, and driftwood.
None of that mattered, for in the center of this island were two things. Well, one if you took it at face value. The first was a beautifully crafted statue of a faceless woman. It was made not of marble or stone but of Venerianite. It was glowing an otherwise soft purple color.
Unfortunately, the beauty was ruined by what was fused into it. A pulsating red shard.
All three of them felt the murderous fury it emitted. It reminded Corvus of a parasite slithering into the flesh of its unlucky host. This was the Shard of Khaine. How fitting after everything the Primarch heard of the Bloody-Handed God.
Lupin remarked that he probably couldn't remove the Shard, but the Skeleton Key might be able to. Realizing that might be the only option available, Corvus summons the holy relic again and tries to remove the Shard for capture.
Yet something unexpected happened. The Skeleton Key instead hovered in the air. The whispers of the warp returned, and he heard fear this time. A moment later, the metaphysical island beneath their feet started to shake. The air swelled, and the purple clouds above began to suddenly and violently churn and groan.
The statue and shard pulsed, causing Corvus to shout as pain flooded his mind momentarily, and Sachmis started screaming. He watched as his lover's body glowed strange purple and red, as if two fires were consuming her before passing out. A stab of fear reached his hearts, but Corvus had only a moment to go and check to see if she was still alive before more madness descended upon them.
Lupin, deciding whether this was now or never, tried to secure the Shard of Khaine using a special device of Eldar design. He was unsuccessful… particularly as the Skeleton Key stopped him by "locking" the device, causing the wraithbone design to shatter into warp dust.
It didn't take much longer for them to realize that the sea itself was starting to swallow the island, but it was more startling when they noticed that the Shard of Khaine was starting to break apart. Venerianite was beginning to fill into the cracks, and Corvus understood what the hell was going on here.
And just like that…the musical ensemble resumed like a musical sting in a play. The story's hero witnesses the plot twist unfolding before his very eyes.
Because it wasn't the Shard that was trying to absorb the Statue, it was the other way around.
Venus was becoming one with the Shard of Khaine.
"I see…" Eldrad paused the story to finish his second bottle of Skogga. "That explains what happened and so much more."
Corvus had started his own bottle of Skogga. He definitely needed a drink right now. "We are getting ahead of ourselves, but you know what happened. Venus absorbed the Shard of Khaine. It's gone, Eldrad."
"Indeed." He didn't seem all that bothered. "A significant setback, but not exactly a complete loss."
The Primarch was confused at the response, "You aren't concerned that Venus took power from your god? More importantly, you don't seem surprised at this outcome."
"No, I'm not." While idly moving a finger around the rim of his chalice, the Great Seer admitted, "I saw the prospect of this happening but dismissed it as being completely impossible. An oversight on my part."
"An oversight?!" Corvus exclaimed at hearing Eldrad's reply, "Sachmis is in a coma, and we have no idea what will happen to either of us when my Father personally investigates this situation!" He angrily took a sip from his bottle of Skogga, "You were supposed to tell me if something like this could happen."
"You're right; I made that promise and failed you." Eldrad admits with a frown, "I assumed the possibility of a hybrid god was impossible, but more importantly, I did not want you to know such a thing could happen."
It took Corvus a moment before responding, "For what possible reason? If you were concerned about that information getting out, I can assure you that I can keep a secret."
"Because no one with any reason should seek to combine two different gods into one being, even if it is just their domains or aspects. There has never been a recorded success of such a thing."
"Until now." Corvus wondered how significant this might have been, "Sounds like I witnessed a once in a millennia event."
"More like once in an eon. But that is beside the point. What about this issue with Skeleton Key?" Oh yes, Corvus knew that was a problem that needed addressing.
"It clearly has a mind of its own. Although it might be more akin to a machine spirit than a thinking creature." Corvus drinks deeply from his chalice, already aware of how Lockcraft would respond upon learning this particular piece of info, when he notices the pensive look on Eldrad's face.
In a very human gesture, Eldrad started rubbing his eyes in exhaustion, "It might not be as straightforward as that. One of the other visions I also deemed impossible was of the Skeleton Key evolving from a conceptualization into a godseed during your securement of Venus and the shard."
Corvus was rarely stunned by anything these days, but hearing that made him nervous, "It can turn into a godseed?" On the one hand, what a windfall of information. This once again changed the rules involving the properties of divinity and godhood. Suddenly, the line looked more clearly defined.
"What did you see exactly?"
Eldrad was looking for an unopened bottle of Skogga but came up short, "Three different instances. Names like Portunus, Errorum, and Cordis. Each had different aspects and personalities, as far as I can tell. Not all of them necessarily good."
Portunus, Errorum, and Cordis. The Ravenlord would need to investigate this further. To know that such a thing was even possible. Perhaps he should've known better. Corvus felt a combination of pride and anxiety. His first divine relic had a spark of godhood within it.
"Oh, this reminds me." Eldrad remarked as he kept looking for an unopened bottle of liquor, "There was another possible scenario that could have occurred involving Venus that my visions saw. A different being appears; the warp calls them Ferretrix."
Eldrad just kept stacking more revelations upon the Primarch. "It also absorbed the Shell and became the God of Storms, Iron, and Murder. At least as far as I could tell from the brief vision."
"Ominous." A strange assortment of titles and domains for a god. It almost sounded like neither Venus nor Khaine survived the merge and were replaced by this Ferretrix. Corvus briefly entertained the idea this god was the child of the two. "Your visions continue to fill me with mounting dread. Is this what you go through all the time?"
Eldrad chuckled dryly, "If I don't put up the walls within my mind? Every minute of every day. I don't much care for explaining these things to you, Corvus Corax. These are personal matters to me. You don't like me asking me about your relationship with Sachmis."
"And yet it feels like you still do." Corvus crossed his arms. Sometimes it felt like Eldrad did these things just to manipulate the Primarch. The odds were good; that was exactly the reason.
Finally, finding an unopened bottle of some green liquid, the Great Seer merely nodded, "Such is the price of precognition. Can you tell me that if you saw a possible outcome, for good or ill, you would ignore it?"
"No." Corvus admitted, "But you are the sort of individual that wouldn't always use it primarily for altruistic purposes."
Uncorking the bottle, Eldrad poured the green liquid into his chalice, "You have me pegged as such. But we both know that advantage must be used, especially if readily available. You know that much from the whispers the warp sends you."
Corvus tensed at Eldrad, knowing such a thing. No one else knew this, not even his Father. "How the hells did you…?" The Primarch growled under his breath, "Forget it. I know better than to ask."
Taking a large gulp from his chalice, Eldrad continued, "Your secret is safe with me. I trust you to do the same to the topics already uttered and those yet to come?"
Rather than respond, the Primarch reached out and took the bottle of whatever swill Eldrad had found and started to pour himself some, "Give me a little godsdamn credit, Ulthran."
It was beautiful to witness the resurrection or perhaps the rebirth of a god. The Venusians and Deorums claimed that Venus had been born from sea and foam, from a sea shell that opened itself and revealed onto the galaxy one of the most exquisite creatures of humanity.
An otherwise pleasant and placid affair, given the tone of the tale. Yet what Corvus and Lupin witnessed was anything but. It was a violent rebirth, like standing amid a raging hurricane while fire rained from the skies. The air and water churned and swelled while the ensemble played a symphony of glory and victory.
The statue of Venus pulsed every second while the Shard of Khaine cracked and died before their very eyes. Although, perhaps Corvus was wrong to think it was dying. Rather, it was like watching something shift into a new form. The end and the beginning.
Yet Corvus pulled away when he saw the unconscious form of Sachmis beginning to convulse and shudder. It took the Ravenlord only a nanosecond to realize that she had what appeared to be a stroke or seizure. Something was happening once more.
Corvus would only learn later what had happened because of the results of a ritual that Lockcraft and Ravenloft enacted upon the Night Phoenix. By some miracle, Suraia realized that while Venus was attempting to enter the Shell, it resulted in a violent reaction from the godseed.
Only once Lockcraft realized that the warp connection had become dangerously unstable, he ordered the ritual to close it off. It cost them the chance of the godspeed entering the Shell, but it ultimately saved Sachmis's life.
Upon further analysis, Lockcract concluded that Venus had fully committed to finding a different means of reviving herself. In short, she used the Shard of Khaine. Considering what happened next, Corvus agreed with the assessment upon hearing it.
Karandras once more appeared before the group as if to add to the tension. He seemed mildly surprised at what was happening here, but the Phoenix Lord remarked that they were running out of time. It took all Corvus's strength to not yell, "Are you not seeing what is happening here?!"
Instead, Corvus focused as Karandras remarked that the Sigillite was here. Not the Sigillites, plural, but Malcador himself had arrived on Venus, somehow. No doubt, he was using his own considerable psychic powers to simply teleport to the Haillenarte Estate.
Corvus would have called this the point of no return, but he realized that had happened almost twenty minutes ago. He and the others were no longer in control of this situation. Perhaps they never had been.
At that moment, all seemed lost. The Sigillite himself would soon arrive, the vault was destroying itself, and a goddess was to return any moment, with none knowing who or what they would be upon returning to life.
Yet in that instance of uncertainty and chaos, Corvus Corax focused only on Sachmis. Was she dying? Had the Godseed killed her? Had he killed her in his hubris? If she died at this moment, unaware and in pain, unable to say goodbye or perhaps even curse him, the Ravenlord wondered if he could forgive himself.
Strangely enough, Corvus had a moment of clarity and realized that Sachmis would say neither and instead would have told him to make her death "count for something" and to take the power of the god for himself. A feeling of hope bloomed in his hearts.
And then he heard the voice, like an ethereal symphony weaving through the air. It carried the harmonious blend of a thousand melodic notes, each resonating with the raw intensity of love and war. It was a voice that whispered enchantments of desire and devotion, a voice that commanded armies and ignited hearts.
It painted vivid tapestries of passion with every word and ignited the flames of inspiration. The voice echoed with the passion found in battle, resonating with the triumphant cries of victory and the somber whispers of defeat. It carried the weight of countless battles, each word a testament to the weary but victorious smiles of warriors, champions, and killers.
It was a voice that intimately knew the beauty and brutality of war, intertwining the fierce spirit of conquest with the tender embrace of compassion. In its echoes, one could hear the eternal dance between love and war, entwined in a symphony of passion and resilience.
It was the voice of a goddess, a voice that embraced the depths of emotion and wove them into a mesmerizing crescendo of love, desire, and unyielding strength.
This was the voice of Venus—the Goddess of Love and War.
"Such devotion!" Venus cried in his mind, clear as day. "If you desire power and love, then I shall give it freely to such."
Finally, the Statue of Venus began to solidify and become alive. The Venerianite shattered and splintered, revealing the flawless radiance of alabaster skin beneath. As the fragments fell away, strands of hair materialized upon her head, cascading down in vibrant hues of purple, like ethereal threads drenched in the crimson downpour of blood-rain.
The Shard of Khaine emitted one last pulsating baleful light, a flicker of its former malevolent power before surrendering completely to Venus' authority. Rather than shattering or fragmenting, it underwent a mesmerizing transformation, collapsing inward upon itself like a turbulent tide, transmuting into a primordial essence of liquid and foam.
As Venus absorbed the primordial essence of Khaine, the remaining Venerianite shattered into fragments. No longer a mere statue, the goddess emerged in her true form—a resplendent figure, unclad and radiating a celestial aura of ethereal purple light that draped around her with graceful modesty. The remnants of Venerianite clung to her visage, forming a hauntingly beautiful "mask" that hinted at the ancient power of Khaine that she now possessed. Even if just a sliver of a sliver, it was a power that belonged to her.
Corvus's gaze fell upon Venus, and he discerned something peculiar about her visage. Though her overall appearance seemed human, her ears bore the distinct shape and elegance of the Aeldari. Despite the subtlety of the transformation, Corvus could unmistakably detect the Aeldari attributes infused into Venus's form, a testament to the intermingling of her divine essence with the echoes of the ancient race via the Shard of Khaine.
She defied categorization, for she was not solely human nor purely Eldar. Instead, she emerged as a synthesis of both worlds, a testament to the unpredictable nature of meddling with the schemes of gods. Corvus realized that his original intentions, and even the expectations of Eldrad and Cegorach, had not foreseen this outcome. It was a stark reminder that the plans crafted by mortals and the whims of deities rarely align, echoing the age-old truth that the best-laid plans of mice and men often meet with unforeseen consequences.
"I have returned once more," Venus spoke with her ethereal and alluring voice, each word laced with a captivating power. As she gracefully lifted the Venerianite mask from her visage, the true face of Venus was unveiled—a countenance of unparalleled beauty. Yet, amidst the flawless features, her crimson-red eyes seized Corvus's attention. In those eyes, he saw a playful demeanor tinged with a perilous allure, a glimpse into her insatiable thirst for power and boundless ambitions. It was a sight that both enthralled and unsettled him, a testament to the complex nature of this goddess of love and war. A stark reminder of how powerful and captivating a deity was to any mortal.
Amidst the raging storm and the symphony of ethereal elements, Venus advanced with an air of effortless grace, paying no heed to the tempest surrounding her. Her approach bore the unmistakable smile of a roguish heroine, gaining the attention of the Phoenix Lord, the Primarch, and the Thief. As she drew closer, their eyes beheld a transformation—a delicate, revealing chainmail dress materialized upon her form. Though intended to provide modesty, it seemed to defy its purpose, only enhancing her allure and rendering her all the more mesmerizing to behold.
Corvus anticipated Venus to inquire about the unfolding events, but her attention was fixated on the motionless figure of Sachmis. "Ah, my conduit still breathes," Venus remarked with affection.
"Only if she survives," Corvus muttered wryly, aware of the precariousness of their situation. The once-stalwart shell that bore Venus's name began to crumble, and he doubted the vault would endure much longer.
Karandras harbored a different course of action and materialized behind Venus, his blade poised at her throat. Before Lupin or Corvus could interject, he whispered into her ear, his voice laden with urgency, "This is a necessary precaution for all our sakes. Please cooperate, for I would lament further bloodshed."
Venus's smile broadened to their astonishment, finding amusement in the unfolding scene. "Oh, don't deceive yourself. I know you wouldn't lament at all. If anything, you'd relish the opportunity to test your mettle against me."
The tempestuous storm held its breath in that fleeting moment, but then a slow, grinding laughter escaped Karandras's lips. "You speak the truth; I yearn to see if I can end a goddess, if only for honing my skills. But I have my orders."
"Mhmm..." Venus turned her gaze towards Corvus. "I quite enjoy your companion." The Primarch couldn't help but suspect that the goddess had absorbed some of Sachmis's traits, perhaps delving into her mind as she had done with his.
"He's not exactly a friend," Corvus responded, with Karandras nodding in agreement. "But we're wasting time here; we must find a way out."
Venus gave a slight nod, her eyes fixed on the blade at her throat. "Then lead the way." With a subtle motion of her hands, she gestured towards the collapsing pocket dimension, and with a snap of her fingers, everything froze in place. The storm, the sea, the wind—everything ceased its motion, creating an eerie stillness in the suspended moment.
And then, in a brief moment of darkness, they found themselves back inside the vault. Aside from the blaring warning alarms, everything appeared to have returned to normal. Venus let out a sigh of relief. "Finally free from that place," she remarked, the tension in her voice dissipating.
"Err, Corvus." Lupin interjected, tearing his eyes away from the Goddess, "We are getting a clear signal from the Night Phoenix, and I think we needed to leave this place like ten minutes ago. Imperial Navy ships are everywhere, and it won't be long before they get discovered."
"Oh, for the love…" Corvus remembered their escape window was closing fast and looked at the Phoenix Lord, "Karandras, run interference while we escort the goddess out."
"No can do." Karandras said, "I have my orders to keep an eye on and kill her if she tries anything." Again, Venus didn't seem concerned about this declaration and instead seemed amused. "Besides, you underestimate my ability to get someone I need out of a location undetected."
"Lot good that does the rest of us." Lupin remarked and rolled his eyes, "Look, we can't teleport out, so we need to get moving and exfiltrate this estate without getting seen. Once we are outside, we can see about reaching the shuttle."
"It took us twenty minutes to reach the vault," Corvus remarked as he briefly retraced steps and plans in his mind, "We have all manner of security bearing down on us, including an approached Sigillite. Alcar is likely keeping us from getting caught via divination, but we will still need to start moving right now."
In any other situation, this might have been doable. Hot extracts were something every member of the Raven Guard was capable of doing. But considering one member required medical support, and another was on prisoner duty, this was asking for trouble. One slip-up by any of them, and it would be all over.
But what choice did they have? It was do-or-die. Corvus wasn't about to let them get captured or killed by staying here, and surrender wasn't an option. If they were caught…well, the Primarch didn't want to think about that. He had his contingencies in place.
"Let's go," Corvus ordered the others. The escape was on; if the gods were merciful, they would succeed in this last challenge. Considering he had one in his party, the Ravenlord wanted to believe it.
And to his surprise…it seemed to be the case.
Everything went right. Everything that Corvus needed to happen happened. His impromptu plan somehow survived contact with the enemy when it had no right. He was suspicious, expecting the other shoe to eventually drop. Even when they finally made it to the outside. By the time they were a few kilometers away from the estate, Lupin couldn't help but speak up.
"How the hells did we get away without any screw-ups?" He asked, even if he was slightly out of breath. "I know my luck is good, but even most Polaris ops encounter a problem." Lupin had a point. Not even the Raven Guard had this much luck, especially when the entire mission seemed to have been FUBAR.
Nevertheless, they made it out. They could easily blend into the local environment even if someone spotted them. Corvus's micro-bead picked up the vox transmission from the shuttle, hinting that their ride out of here was still good, if nothing else. The whispers were quiet, and he didn't have a bad feeling, either.
And just as they thought their ordeal was over, their eyes widened with relief and apprehension as their shuttle materialized out of thin air, touching down mere meters away. Perhaps in a more climatic, storybook fashion, this was when the shuttle would get destroyed, or something or someone unexpected appeared, putting the mission back into jeopardy.
To their astonishment, a figure emerged from the shuttle, none other than Eldrad Ulthran himself. Clad in the formidable Armor of Vaul and brandishing both the Staff of Ulthamar and the Sword of Vaul, the legendary Seer had come to personally usher them to safety, at least from all appearances. The enigma of how and why Eldrad found himself in this dire situation could wait for another time. With little time for explanations, Corvus and the rest swiftly seized the opportunity, boarding the shuttle.
Nothing else happened as they made their way back to the Night Phoenix. Karandras and now Eldrad watched over the still-smiling Venus while Lupin practically slumped over in his seat, leaving Corvus to check on the comatose form of Sachmis. Their mission had succeeded and failed in some capacity, but they had survived.
The second heist concluded.
And that was it. Corvus finished reviewing everything he had witnessed during the mission, concluding up to this meeting. Although, some caught his attention.
"You did something to help us along, didn't you?" Corvus asked Eldrad after thinking about their exfiltration from the Haillenarte Estate. "That's why everything we needed to go right did."
Eldrad merely shrugged, "Perhaps I simply provided the stage, and your skills and resilience guided you to victory. Or perhaps forces are at play beyond our understanding, weaving the threads of fate in our favor. I have powers beyond most creatures but cannot orchestrate everything simultaneously."
Taking another sip of his drink, Eldrad continued, "Sometimes the line between coincidence and intervention can blur. What one man calls a miracle could be serendipity. But if it makes you feel better, I perhaps nudged a few things in your favor at considerable strain. You may also thank my sword and armor for giving me the necessary boost to pull this intervention off."
"Hmm, maybe next time we should bring you along," Corvus remarked, concentrating on the potential of his direct aid next time. "Your foresight could prove invaluable in later endeavors."
Eldrad's expression softened, a faint smile gracing his features. "Much as I would enjoy stretching my legs and challenging myself, there are limits to my abilities. There is a reason I assigned someone like Alcar to render you aid."
"Indeed, Alcar did an exceptional job," he acknowledged. "Not many psykers can outwit someone like the Sigillite." Then again, Corvus doubted Alcar would even care.
Eldrad's demeanor shifted slightly, a hint of concern flickering in his eyes. "There are matters I must discuss with Alcar, if only for his own good," he said, his tone carrying a mix of gravity and determination. "He shall have a greater role to play in due time, but only once I deem him ready. His place in the threads of destiny and fate remain undefined."
"Speaking of undefined, this Karandras you sent on the mission proved invaluable and troublesome," Corvus began, his voice tinged with appreciation and annoyance. "You gave him orders to kill Venus if she tried anything."
Eldrad met Corvus's gaze, his expression calm but unapologetic. "I did," he confirmed, his voice holding a note of conviction.
"And without telling me," Corvus stated firmly, his frustration becoming more evident.
"Yes," Eldrad replied simply, not attempting to justify his decision.
Corvus's brows furrowed as he absorbed Eldrad's response. He had expected a more elaborate explanation, some reasoning for keeping such crucial information from him. It left him with a lingering sense of doubt and a desire for transparency.
"Was it necessary to withhold this information from me?" Corvus pressed, his tone firm yet measured.
Eldrad's admission was swift and honest. "No," he conceded. "But it would have complicated matters further, introducing unnecessary tension and potential conflict. I believed that if everything went according to plan, Karandras would never have to unsheathe his blade."
Corvus's skepticism lingered as he recounted Karandras's admission of wanting to fight with Venus to Eldrad. The Primarch couldn't help but feel a mix of concern and frustration, wondering if even the renowned Farseer had limited control over the enigmatic Phoenix Lords.
"He did, though," Corvus stated, his voice laced with skepticism. "Karandras readily admitted that he wanted to dual her."
Eldrad's expression soured, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. "It seems I will have to address this matter with Karandras once our current affairs are settled," he remarked, his tone betraying a hint of frustration.
Corvus couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease at the thought that even Eldrad, the most powerful seer in the galaxy, might not have absolute control over such powerful entities as these Phoenix Lords. It raised questions about the limits of their loyalty and the potential complications they could introduce into future operations.
But that was a problem for another time. As far as Corvus was concerned, this debrief had concluded. He also had more important matters to attend to. "If there is nothing else to go over, I will be needed back in Sol before my absence arouses further suspicions."
"Then I shall offer one more warning: You and your legion are already on suspicion but for different reasons." Eldrad spoke cautiously, "The Sigillite will conclude that someone might have been trying to frame the Raven Guard for what happened at the Haillenarte Estate, albeit not publicly. When confronted by the Sigillite, you must comply with whatever is required of you."
Corvus didn't like the idea of doing that, "That will put me in an awkward position. There is just too much evidence to paint me as the instigator of this whole mess."
"I will handle that. Just cooperate with the Sigillite, even if it puts you in an ugly position among your brothers." Corvus was putting quite a bit of trust in the Great Seer, but then again, what other choice did the Primarch have? There was no chance he'd be able to tamper or clear up any evidence that was or might have been left behind. Besides, Eldrad proved that he had a knack for getting things to fall in place that were favorable to him.
"Very well," Corvus acquiesced to Eldrad's suggestion. "I put my fate my fate in your hands, then."
Eldrad's gaze held a glimmer of amusement, a knowing smirk on his lips. "By this point, such acts of trust should no longer surprise you," he replied, his voice laced with a hint of wryness.
Corvus hated how right he was now. He was perhaps a bit too entangled with the Aeldari at this point. He winced upon realizing his choice of words would be ammo for Cegorach over how he was certainly "entangled" with Sachmis quite a bit. Was Cegorach starting to influence him in some way? A question for later.
"Then I will take my leave." Corvus stood up and prepared to leave, "This conversation and debrief has been…enlightening in more ways than one. But if you'll excuse me, I need to take care of something vital before I head back to potentially face my arrest or execution."
Rather than respond, the Great Seer waved him off and resumed drinking the rest of the Skogga. If for no other reason, Eldrad was quite finished with this conversation and likely had a very long and complicated few days ahead of him.
The same could be said for Corvus. Once he arrived back at Sol. The looming inquisition, the barrage of inquiries and accusations, all of it would test his resolve to its limits. He couldn't deny his guilt in the matter at hand, and the consequences he faced were dire. Still, Corvus would make it through this, one way or another.
But if his return might result in trouble, Corvus decided he might as well say goodbye to the person who mattered most.
As Eldrad observed Corvus' departure, a sense of contemplation settled upon the Great Seer. He couldn't help but question if his efforts had been sufficient if he had truly done enough to alter the course of events. Yet, in foresight, there were limits to what even a seer of his caliber could perceive. He understood that, ultimately, fate would guide Corvus Corax toward his destined path, regardless of the warnings he had imparted.
"Such is the price of precognition," Eldrad murmured softly, the words barely audible to anyone but himself. With a sigh, he finished off the last bottle of Skogga, the empty vessel finding its resting place on the seat Corvus had previously occupied. The act seemed symbolic, a gesture of acknowledgment for the complexities and uncertainties of the future.
"Ten different answers for one question," Eldrad mused, his voice revealing resignation. "None of them entirely right, and none entirely wrong." In foresight, possibilities intertwined and diverged, forming a web of intricate outcomes. The Great Seer understood the inherent challenges of deciphering the enigmatic threads of destiny and the weight of responsibility that came with attempting to guide them.
Eldrad prepared himself for the days ahead with a weary yet determined expression. The path of a seer was often treacherous, and the choices he would be forced to make were far from easy. However, he would remain steadfast, seeking wisdom and guidance within the ever-shifting tapestry of fate.
For the galaxy's sake and for the survival of all that he held dear, Eldrad Ulthran would continue to navigate the currents of prophecy, trusting in his intuition as he ventured into the unknown. If nothing else, his allies had started to place more trust in his abilities and the mission—a small bit of comfort.
Corvus's disdain for the interior of the Night Phoenix was palpable. The Primarch had never been fond of the aesthetic designs commonly found on Drukhari ships, and this vessel was no exception. Its layout seemed intentionally bewildering, with convoluted passages that twisted and turned, their opaque surfaces adding to the disorienting effect. It felt like the ship sought to confuse and confound its occupants.
Everywhere Corvus looked, the pervasive darkness seemed to swallow any hint of illumination. The jet-black material that composed the ship's walls absorbed light rather than reflected it, lending an eerie and foreboding atmosphere to every corridor and chamber. It was as if the very essence of shadow had been harnessed and woven into the vessel's structure.
Navigating through the Night Phoenix proved to be a challenge in itself. Corvus had to rely on his instinct and memory to find his way, as there were no obvious markers or signs to guide him. His love likened it to learning the intricacies of a jungle or forest. Predators were most at home in places like this.
While Corvus respected the prowess and capabilities of the Drukhari, their taste in ship design was an acquired taste that he had yet to develop. The experience within the Night Phoenix only reaffirmed his preference for more familiar and comprehensible environments.
Corvus proceeded towards the medical deck aboard the Night Phoenix, where the Dark Eldar's "wondrous" medical technologies were housed. It was a peculiar juxtaposition, as these technologies were capable of incredible feats of healing and rejuvenation, yet their origins seemed rooted in minds that reveled in inflicting pain. For the Drukhari, pain was an essential component of their existence, a means to feel alive, and it didn't necessarily have to be their own pain but rather that of others.
As the Primarch made his way through the medical deck, he couldn't help but notice how the crew members of the Night Phoenix gave him a wide berth. The hired Levithian group, while undoubtedly skilled and efficient, unnerved Corvus with their unnaturally subdued mannerisms. Sachmis had mentioned that they were administered a special drug cocktail that "numbed" their emotions, a measure designed to enhance their focus and discipline.
Corvus couldn't help but contemplate how such a drug could find use in the Imperium. But such thoughts were fleeting, for the Primarch knew that the Dark Eldar's methods and technologies were rooted in a dark, twisted path that the Imperium could never condone.
Pushing aside his contemplations, Corvus focused on his immediate objective: tending to Sachmis. Gods willing, someone had gotten a prognosis of her condition. Upon stepping inside the medical deck, he saw a detachment of Drukhari guarding the parameter. None of them tried to stop the Primarch as he made his way towards the most likely med-chamber holding Sachmis.
To his surprise, rather than Dark Eldar guarding the entrance, it was instead a pair of Death Jesters. The two servants of the Laughing God only nodded to the Primarch. Their focus was instead on the assembly of Levithan guards, probably for the best. Someone could have been an assassin looking to kill Sachmis while she was comatose.
Passing through the protective perimeter, Corvus entered the med-chamber where Sachmis lay upon a bed, surrounded by a myriad of mysterious machines. Their intricate functions and purpose eluded the Primarch, emphasizing the esoteric nature of Drukhari medical technology. The devices hummed softly as they scanned and monitored Sachmis, their efforts aimed at unraveling the enigma of her condition.
Sachmis merely looked asleep, but Corvus knew a coma wasn't a peaceful rest. It was difficult to tell what might have happened to her while within the Shell. Which made it all the more frustrating to the Primarch. Could this have been prevented? Was there something he could have done differently?
Amidst his contemplation, the whispers of the warp reached Corvus, alerting him to the presence of another in the room. Laced with amusement, an ethereal voice broke the silence, "My, my. Prince Charming comes to see his Sleeping Beauty." Turning towards the sound, Corvus's gaze met Venus, who stood at the other side of the bed.
However, what greeted Corvus was a sight that bewildered him. Venus had transformed, shedding her previous form entirely. Her once radiant purple locks were replaced by snowy-white hair, cascading elegantly around her shoulders. The blood-crimson eyes that had held a dangerous allure were now piercing sea-blue orbs, captivating in their intensity. Wrapped in a flowing white robe adorned with provocative embroidery, Venus exuded an air of mystique and seduction, much to the Primarch's annoyance.
This new visage of Venus only deepened the enigma surrounding her, leaving him uncertain of her true nature and intentions. With caution masking his words, Corvus addressed the transformed goddess, "What brings about this change in appearance?"
Venus chuckled lightly, her amusement mirroring that of the Laughing God himself. Corvus couldn't help but feel annoyed at the gods' penchant for provoking and toying with mortal emotions. It was as if they reveled in the varied responses; they could elicit anger, appreciation, confusion, or skepticism.
"Do you like what you see?" The goddess asked with a teasing smile.
The Primarch's blunt response cut through the air, devoid of pretense. "No," he stated firmly, not giving an inch to Venus's playful demeanor. "Not in the sense that it appeals to me. You are well aware, perhaps more than you should be, that I have a specific type." Corvus deliberately avoided looking toward Sachmis's unconscious form, not wanting to add any more awkwardness to an already delicate situation. "And I'm not in the mood for whatever you call games."
There was a flicker of something in Venus's eyes, a brief moment where her playful façade faltered. It was as if she understood the weight and complexity of the situation, despite her enigmatic nature. With a touch of solemnity, she responded, "Now, now. Don't fall into despair over this. My little conduit will awaken in good time."
For a moment, Corvus felt the sting of hope blossom in his chest, "What do you mean? Sachmis will be alright?"
"Of course she is," Venus gave Corvus a disappointed look, "You'd think I'd be playing around if my little conduit and your wife were in danger? Give me some credit, Ravenlord. I might be playful, but I can read a room." She sniffed in disdain, "Besides, I want her awake to truly enjoy our time together."
His relief was smothered at hearing Venus describe Sachmis as his wife so brazenly, "She isn't…Sachmis isn't my wife." He was trying not to show his embarrassment on his face.
Venus appeared momentarily perplexed, then realization dawned on her. "Ah, that explains the disconnect between the two of you," she admitted, slightly embarrassed. She chuckled, lighting the mood, "Oh dear, I seem to have spoken out of turn. Let's focus on the positive aspects and leave that particular matter aside, shall we?"
Corvus couldn't help but wonder how this topic had even arisen until he realized the reason behind it. "You're calling her my wife because Sachmis believes it to be true," he surmised, sensing the awkward conversation that would inevitably follow.
Recognizing her misstep, the goddess gave Corvus a disapproving look. "I am still processing your residual thoughts and emotions and everything else that has found a place in my mind. So, please grant me the courtesy of not making it seem like I'm being scatterbrained," she implored, clearly wanting to be taken seriously despite her playful nature.
Corvus quirked a single eyebrow at that, "Right." He shifted focus toward what mattered, "Then Sachmis will awaken soon?"
"If I had to estimate, it will take about a week for her to fully recover. Her mind and soul grapple with the profound experiences she witnessed as she became my conduit," Venus explained, acknowledging her influence over Sachmis. Corvus preferred not to use the word "corrupted" in this context, as it carried negative implications.
Curiosity brimming within him, Corvus inquired further, seeking to understand the intricacies of the process. "What exactly did you do to her to make her your conduit?" He desired more information, not only to comprehend Sachmis's current state but also for the sake of knowledge.
Venus pondered his question before responding, her voice conveying closeness and intimacy. "For a fleeting moment, we shared a single mind and soul, much like I did with you. However, your Sachmis required power, and I willingly bestowed it upon her," the goddess explained. She leaned closer to observe the comatose Sachmis, a touch of admiration in her voice. "Such fiery passion and ambition... and she even dared to hurl a few choice words my way for all the trouble she endured.."
Corvus couldn't help but feel a sense of concern. "Sachmis's ambition will be her downfall one day. It nearly cost her life just a few hours ago," he lamented, aware of the dangers her relentless pursuit of power posed.
Venus smiled at him. "That's why you need to keep her on the straight path. The love you two share is a strong bedrock toward preventing Sachmis from falling to her worse vices and desires."
"I'm keenly aware of that." Corvus heard this warning far too many times now, "And I still think people give Sachmis too little credit."
"Or maybe you give her too much." The Goddess gently touched Sachmis's forehead with her index finger as if drawing a small pattern, "So much anger and resentment, fear and uncertainty. Her ambitions and desires keep them in check, but your love keeps her from drowning."
Much as Corvus wanted to argue in defense of Sachmis, he had to recognize that he speaks with the one person that had gained intimate knowledge of her, "Is she truly that lost without me?"
The question caused Venus to pause, her eyes closing momentarily as she sought the right words to convey her response. "Lost? No, she is not lost. Her path is immutable, destined from the beginning. Sachmis's story will unfold as it was meant to. However, the choices she makes and the triumphs and tribulations she encounters can shape the quality of her journey. Without them, her soul would burn brightly but ultimately fade away."
Venus's tone had a melancholic tinge as if she had witnessed the tragedy of countless souls before. Corvus couldn't help but feel annoyed, weary of the poetic narrative being spun around someone he cared deeply about and was lying in a coma now.
While Venus could have captivated an audience of Harlequins with her words, the Primarch had grown tired of the intricate dance of fate and its grand design on this particular day. Then again, maybe he should have known better than to try and go against it. Today has proven what happens when you try to push back against such machinations.
Corvus's frustration was palpable as he expressed his weariness with discussions of fate and destiny. "Look, I have matters to attend to, including facing whatever judgment awaits me upon my return to Sol. But before I leave, I want to bid farewell to Sachmis." Despite her comatose state, Corvus felt it necessary to speak his parting words.
Venus maintained her smile. "Go ahead then," she replied.
"No, I would prefer to do it privately," Corvus insisted.
The goddess's frown deepened as she emphasized her connection to Sachmis. "As a god connected to my conduit, I will hear everything regardless."
"Even so, I would still prefer to have this conversation without you in the room," Corvus firmly stated, determined to have a private moment with his beloved. Venus simply shrugged and disappeared from the room briefly, leaving him alone with Sachmis.
As Corvus stood there, his gaze fixated on Sachmis, a mix of conflicting emotions washed over him. He couldn't deny the profound effect she had on him. Her presence had seeped into his very being, leaving an indelible mark. The touch of her hand and the warmth of her smile was a poison he couldn't resist, a weakness he couldn't escape.
His mind wandered to the question of vulnerability and exploitation. Were his feelings for Sachmis a weakness that his enemies could exploit? Perhaps, in the eyes of others, it seemed so.
Corvus couldn't help but ponder the irony of it all. Out of all the women in the vast expanse of the galaxy, he had chosen Sachmis, a Drukhari pirate and slaver with ambitions of becoming an empress and, now, possibly a goddess.
It defied logic and reason, yet love seldom abides by such constraints. She had captivated his heart, and he had chosen to love her despite all odds. And likewise, Sachmis seemed to depend on him. Thought of herself as his wife yet dared not voice such things.
As Corvus kneeled before Sachmis, he couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness. The weight of unspoken words hung heavy in the air, a frustrating barrier between them. It was a recurring pattern, an inability to fully express their thoughts and feelings.
He recognized the situation's futility, and it frustrated him to no end. How often must they sing this sad song and dance this wretched dance? With a mix of self-deprecation and affection, Corvus reached out and clasped Sachmis's hand in his own. The touch offered a small comfort amidst the uncertainty that loomed over them.
He contemplated their future, the possibility of their paths crossing again if he returned unscathed.
"Perhaps," he mused softly, his voice filled with longing and amusement, "we should strive to change that. Stop playing games with each other. Wouldn't that be nice?"
There was no response from Sachmis, and Corvus couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. He imagined her scolding him for fussing and worrying, reminding him that caring for her wasn't a waste of time. Even in this state, the Ravenlord only ever thought of her as being one that could only ever maintain their fiery spirit and decorum.
Leaning forward, Corvus pressed a tender kiss against Sachmis's forehead. "Rest well, love. If you are still like this when I return, I promise to be the first person you see when you open your eyes. Otherwise, do me a favor and watch that goddess we just rescued."
As he stood by Sachmis's side one final time, Corvus squeezed her hand gently as if silently conveying his love and determination. It was a bittersweet farewell, knowing that their paths may diverge for some time, but he held onto the hope that they would reunite again, stronger and wiser.
Exiting the med-chamber, Corvus took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenges that awaited him. He couldn't help but recall the words of a Harlequin, who spoke of "facing the music" in moments like these. It resonated with him, a reminder that he had to confront the consequences of his actions and make amends where possible.
As he walked, his thoughts remained with Sachmis, their unfinished conversations, and the unspoken words between them. But for now, duty called, and he would answer. And so, with each step, Corvus set forth on the path that awaited him, ready to face the music and navigate the challenges ahead.
Venus watched silently as Corvus left the chamber, allowing her presence to become known again. A sense of tranquility filled the air as she approached Sachmis's bedside. The new goddess of love and war couldn't help but let out a wistful sigh at the display of affection she had just witnessed.
"You lucked out, my little conduit," Venus murmured softly, her voice carrying a mix of fondness and melancholy. She knew the depth of the connection between Sachmis and Corvus and understood the complexities that bound them together.
With a gentle touch, Venus channeled her divine powers, not to heal Sachmis physically but to tend to her spiritual and emotional well-being. Some wounds ran deeper than the surface, and it was in those realms that the goddess sought to provide solace and support.
Venus couldn't help but reflect on her conversation with Corvus as she worked. There were questions left unasked, details left unexplored. But she believed, perhaps for the best, that certain things were better left unsaid. Corvus had burdens to bear, and she didn't want to add to his worries.
"Perhaps for the best," Venus whispered to the comatose Druhkari, her voice filled with regret and understanding. "Less for him to worry about. He needs not know the nightmares that plague both of us."
The Shard of Khaine had revealed the darkest secrets and memories to Venus, things only the God of Murder and Iron would know. It had exposed her to the depths of the gods' hatred and the vilest desires. Since her rebirth, the goddess had cursed Khaine's name every second, burdened by the weight of such knowledge. Mortals could never truly comprehend the trauma that circled through her mind, but Sachmis, unfortunately, shared that understanding.
Continuing her ministrations, Venus offered whatever solace and healing she could provide, hoping that in time, Sachmis would awaken, her spirit renewed and ready to face the challenges ahead. At that moment, all Venus could do was be there for her conduit, nurturing the connection they shared and guarding the secrets that haunted them both.
Nevertheless, Sachmis had a proverbial rock in the form of the Primarch. She would recover in due time. Venus might have little memories of her past life, but the goddess had seen enough from both their minds to know that even in this blood-soaked galaxy, there were still flickers of passion and love within even the darkest souls.
It gave her hope. And if a goddess could find hope in the most unlikely places, so too shall other mortals. They need only someone to guide them…
---
@Daemon Hunter Okay, done with this omake. 13,000 words in 4 days is probably one of my best.
Footsteps could be heard inside the private meditative chambers of Eldrad Ulthran. It was a rhythmic pattern. One could even hear the sounds of counting under his breath. His eyes were focused but elsewhere.
"32,339…32,340…32,341…" On and on, Eldrad counted, an automatic impulse for his body while his mind and soul focused on more important things. He had a lot on his mind at the moment.
Less than 30 hours ago, the Second Heist concluded. It was a success, but barely, and not without vast complications. Eldrad had spent the last twenty-five hours addressing his seers and assessing the situation with Cegorach. The Laughing God merely chortled over how exciting things were going but admitted that this situation was dragging on his patience.
After everything had been said and done, Eldrad waited for the team to return and discuss what had happened.
Thus the Great Seer continued his movement. Sixteen steps to one side of the room, then another nineteen to the other side before repeating. This had gone on for five hours as the Great Seer was pacing and thinking.
Recent events on Venus involving the heist had undone decades of work and had irreversibly changed several long-term projects. Worse yet, Eldrad didn't know whether this was a failed state. Time and fate were still trying to reorganize themselves while his mind sought answers. Leaving Eldrad with time to nervously think and plan.
Hence the pacing and counting.
Eldrad had materialized this nervous habit of pacing and counting in a familiar location as a young man. Even after all these years and the self-confidence he developed, it never went completely away. Most would call it normal if he had only done it for a few minutes, but it was normal for Eldrad to pace for hours.
Sometimes even days. Aeldari habits were notoriously difficult to break. One need only look at what happened to cause the Fall for that.
But this wasn't like walking in some random direction to clear your head; Eldrad needed to stay in one place, close to where he would need to make an important decision or hold equally vital talks. He hadn't done this in years, but the habit reared its ugly head more often than not.
"43,001…43,002…43,003…" Some part of him wanted to call it a meditative practice, but Eldrad knew better. He hadn't been caught off guard; the Great Seer knew this eventuality could have happened, but he dismissed it as impossible.
How does one attempt to explain how there was a chance of a human godspeed merging with a Shard of Khaine? The fates warned him, though, and thus the fault lies entirely with Eldrad. He told himself it wouldn't happen, and once again, he was mocked for his arrogance. Where did they leave him and his people? Almost to the brink of being discovered by the Imperium of Man and causing an incident.
He didn't need to see into the future to know that the Imperium would have responded to this intrusion harshly. At best, causing their already teetering relations to fall apart completely, and at worst, causing Corvus Corax to go renegade in shame and likely trigger a civil war among the humans.
Thankfully, none of that had come to pass, but this situation with Venus had evolved and grown into a baffling and stressful predicament for all parties involved.
Worse yet, he hadn't warned Corvus Corax before the second attempt. Then again, Eldrad had resolved to keep this information a secret. He didn't need the Primarch or anyone else thinking there was such a thing as a hybrid god. Mainly as Eldrad had no explanation as to how it was even possible. Cegorach also had limited answers, although that might have just been the Laughing God wanting to see how the Great Seer reacted to this challenge.
Far be it for Eldrad to admit openly, but he was at a loss. This was completed unexpectedly, and all ways forward were currently obscured for the time being. His visions could glimpse what was to come, but again, the fates seemingly tried to reorganize in the face of specific circumstances with Venus's return.
Meanwhile, Corvus Corax would be expecting answers or a path forward. Neither of which the Great Seer had at the moment. What did they leave him with?
"59,997…59,998…59,999…" Eldrad paused as he concluded his only option was to be truthful about this failure to provide sufficient warning and planning for unexpected events or escalations.
Lying would get him nowhere. Downplaying the events wouldn't, either. For no other reason, Eldrad needed more details from the Primarch. Which meant both sides needed to be honest with each other.
"60,000." Eldrad finished as his mind started calming down, even as the daunting prospect of both parties needing to be open about what happened now hung heavy on his mind. Because after this meeting, Eldrad would know just where exactly the trust of Corvus Corax lay.
He must ready himself. More importantly, Eldrad needed to take the initiative and meet directly with the team on their return. The Great Seer rallied his forces by gathering the Sword and Armor and his honor guard.
This decision would ultimately prove to be to the benefit of everyone involved.
No matter what his Father or brothers say, a Primarch could develop a headache. Maybe it was mostly psychosomatic, yet the migraine Corvus Corax felt was real enough for him. The last 32 hours certainly hadn't helped the pain in his skull.
Corvus didn't like to linger on what-ifs, but his thoughts turned to what happened on Venus and his concerns and agitations from the event. I.e., they only merely avoided complete disaster and succeeded due to blind luck. Yet all he could think was how could this have happened?
The combined skills and planning of the Aeldari, Raven Guard, Ravenloft, and Polaris. They had all contributed to the effort, in some cases literally scheming and orchestrating dozens of minor events to culminate in this singular moment of shared strength and unity…and it felt like a hollow victory.
His team had succeeded, but Corvus could have nearly ruined his legion and reputation if he had been caught sneaking around like a thief in the night and being in the center of the greatest warp event in recent Sol history. The Aeldari would've been blamed publicly, but Corvus would have been marked for this.
Worse yet was the thought of if things had gone wrong enough to cause a warp storm to appear in the middle of Sol. The damages would've been catastrophic, perhaps so much so that the Imperium would have descended into civil war, fearing that the Throne World had fallen or the Astronomicon had gone out.
His sons and allies could have perished. Shot and killed by some Arbite or Sigillite. Worse, his brothers and their sons, confused by the chaos, might have tried to kill him or someone else. Billions might have died or just descended into madness. No amount of altruistic intentions could justify it.
And even with all that on his mind, his chief worry lay with Sachmis. She was in a coma. It was a shameful thing compared to his previous concerns. Love was distracting him from the bigger picture. The uncertainty of the next few days weighed heavy on the Primarchs mind, but this did nothing to calm his anxiousness over her fate.
Corvus had no idea when she would awaken. Her vitals showed no cause for concern and no lingering warp corruption on her. Not that Corvus could even begin to determine this. He was still trying to understand what happened back at the vault.
The Primarch could see and remember everything perfectly, but his mind still tried to process the unearthly touch upon his mind, sifting through his memories and thoughts. A goddess had touched both his and Sachmis' souls.
Somehow, they survived with their wills and wits intact. Perhaps only thanks to the timely arrival of Eldrad and his honor guard. The Ravenlord knew, on some conceptual level, that Venus had been trying to understand the two lovers. That didn't stop Corvus from shivering whenever he recalled an ephemeral touch.
Unfortunately, Sachmis must have felt something stronger. Try as he might, Corvus hadn't gotten Venus to explain what happened or if his lover would ever awaken. Then again, Corvus wasn't about to try pushing his luck with the reborn goddess.
Not that she had such much to any of them. Venus was as shocked as Corvus and equally confused at how she had become one with the Shard of Khaine. Karandras, the so-called Shadow Hunter and Phoenix Lord, had carefully watched her on their journey to meet with Eldrad and their escort back to the Library.
Karandras had been a last-minute addition to the team. Corvus, Lupin, and Sachmis certainly had no issues with him, especially since the man proved invaluable, but he also put the three of them on edge for different reasons.
Lupin found the man was too regimented and "by the book" for this type of work. While Sachmis claimed that he was there to kill them in case they got corrupted. Karandras didn't disagree with either assessment.
Alcar, on the other hand, refused to even be in the same room as him. He didn't even acknowledge the Phoenix Lord. Corvus had no idea whether it was out of pride or fear, but once again, Karandras merely focused on the mission.
Corvus took issue with the Phoenix Lord because the whispers would not stop giving him an impression of silence with the clanging of blades and the whir of an engine. Something about this man reminded the Ravenlord a bit too much of himself. Worse yet, Karandras seemed to concentrate on staying visible in front of them.
Before the heist, Lupin privately explained to Corvus that he heard that these Phoenix Lords were divine warriors of the aspect shrines of the Craftworlders. Legend has it that Karandras has no history and simply became the Phoenix Lord of the Striking Scorpions on skill and power alone.
"I don't know if you've met many Striking Scorpions, but I have. They aren't pushovers and aren't afraid of anything…except they all give Karandras a wide berth whenever he visits one of the shrines. So yeah, not someone to mess with."
Case in point when everything started going wrong on Venus, Karandras interfered and disrupted the response from local and outside security units. He likely ensured no one found their team during the more hectic moments. The Shadow Hunter seemed disappointed at Corvus's focus on Sachmis' condition rather than making sure Venus didn't suddenly escape or try anything.
But considering that Venus simply waited by Sachmis' bedside was telling enough to Corvus that a link had been forged between the two. Unfortunately, it was rather concerning because he had no idea what it all meant, and asking questions wasn't a good idea.
So Venus watched Sachmis, Karandras watched Venus, and Lupin watched Karandras. It was almost a worthwhile distraction for everyone. Corvus was left trying to determine what could happen next.
First, Malcador would try and stop all ships from leaving Sol until further notice. His brothers would be called into questioning and tasked with aiding the investigation. The Martians and other local elements would throw a fit but obey the High Lord. Meanwhile, an emergency message would be sent to Father, informing him of the development, who would return to Sol as fast as possible.
All things considered, the Imperium's response was fairly predictable. Eldrad would at least appreciate that piece of knowledge. An easy fault to exploit. Corvus must address this later if he wasn't exiled, arrested, or killed.
Getting through the defenses of Sol using Eldar technology and ships had also been laughably easy, which again filled the Primarch with no small amount of anxiety and frustration. While he had to remember that the Harlequins excelled in such subterfuge and trickery, it still meant that the home system was dangerously exposed. If it could be done once, it could be done again and again.
Once in the Webway, they were "home free" from any pursuit. It did not escape Corvus' attention that he was fleeing from Sol. Hopefully, this would be the first and last time he would.
A force of Aeldari arrived to meet with them barely an hour into their journey. Leading this small army of Eldar was, of course, Eldrad Ulthran. For a brief moment, Corvus wondered if they were here to tie up some loose ends, but the Great Seer demanded the Primarch to join him in a private chamber onboard the Night Phoenix.
"Blasted Druhkari ships," Eldrad remarked as he and Corvus situated themselves in the chambers, "Trading style and substance for intimidation and gaudiness." The Great Seer took a seat while the Ravenlord stood.
Eldrad unceremoniously started speaking, "I take it things did not proceed as planned."
"Your visions did not provide such answers?"
To his surprise, the Great Seer shook his head, but what shocked Corvus was watching the man grab a bottle of Skogga, an equally toxic and intoxicating brandy. Eldrad found an empty wraithbone chalice and poured himself a healthy portion of the Skogga.
"They stopped after I watched as the Godseed entered your mind. After that, it became cloudy and impossible to see." Taking a sip from his chalice, Eldrad grimaced at the taste of the Skogga.
Corvus filed that information away, once again confirming there were ways to blind even a powerful seer like Eldrad. "Well, you are right. Things didn't go as planned. We didn't deserve to succeed, but we did. I don't know how or why, which is eating away at me, among other concerns."
Taking another sip of the Skogga, Eldrad sat down on his chalice and looked at the Primarch, "We need to go over everything that happened. From the start to where we are now."
"You saw everything up until Venus entered our minds."
Eldrad nodded, "I did, but I need perspectives on what happened. You, Lupin, and Karandras are the only ones awake to tell me otherwise." Corvus frowned at knowing why Sachmis wasn't included. "So we will spend as long as it takes on this."
Part of Corvus agreed, "I will need to go back to Sol soon. Malcador will notice my absence."
"Then we best get started now." Eldrad got comfortable in his seat before focusing on the Primarch and gesturing with his right hand to Corvus to begin speaking. It took him a moment to consider where to start in this debrief.
Corvus had been in Sol for the better part of six weeks. One of the largest gatherings of marines and Primarchs assembled in orbit of Terra. But rather than feelings of pride, there was a wave of uncertainty amongst those who answered the call.
Their Father, the Emperor of Mankind, had been away on business. Thus, the High Lord performed the necessary ceremonies for such an assembly. Malcador, ever the statesman, explained succinctly why all had been summoned to Sol.
When the High Lord announced the Venusian War Games, Corvus could feel relief from a million souls. Today would not be a call for civil war but rather a chance for glory with the strength of arms and strategy—an otherwise useful distraction for many, but a distraction nonetheless.
Most were unaware of how right they were to think it was just a distraction for a different reason. Corvus had already put things in motion and moved all the pieces into the right place. The war games on Venus would make for an excellent cover for what was about to unfold.
There were, unfortunately, complications even before things began.
As the war games commenced, the first signs of something going wrong came from the most unexpected place: Venus itself. The Imperial Army, under the command of Sol Commander Nigel Vanderberg, had sought to show off the training of his forces against the Astartes by using the Army's defensive capabilities and understanding of the terrain to their advantage.
Commander Vanderbeg also used excessive firepower when it came to fighting Astartes, which, logically and tactically speaking, was the right choice. The issue, though, was that his forces accidentally used live ammunition. By the time anyone discovered this, an incident had already occurred.
Namely against the Raven Guard. An artillery barrage hit three squads of Raven Guard scouts that had just finished moving a group of Venusian war-witches to safety. The entire village was destroyed, believing it a staging ground for a unit of Dark Angel's rhinos. Army scouts must have assumed the dust kicked up from the trucks was from tanks. 45 scouts were killed, and 12 were gravely wounded.
If Corvus had the time to go and seek retribution for this act, he would have. Instead, his brother, the Lion, did it for him. The Lord of Caliban killed most of the officers that made that bad call, and Lord-Commander Vanderbeg faced charges of gross incompetence.
This event unintentionally aided the coming distraction, as everyone was either furious or shocked over such a disaster. That said, this act wouldn't go unpunished. When the time came to unleash the shroud device, Corvus had his Raven Guard reposition the explosive within a strategic ammo dump used by the Imperial Army on Venus.
Corvus and the heist team would be in position when it went off. He had already briefed Lupin and Sachmis on what would happen next, while Lockcraft and Alcar would stand by within the Night Phoenix alongside a Ravenloft detachment, monitoring the heist in relative real time.
Unlike last time, Corvus and Lupin knew the way to the vault, and Alcar and Eldrad already knew of the new security systems. All that mattered was handling any personnel that might have spotted them. When Karandras finally appeared before them, he explained his mission was to eliminate eyewitnesses and erase any evidence.
He warned Corvus that he already started moving about Sol and found that the Sigillites were much more active than they were initially supposed to be. The Primarch didn't question how the Phoenix Lord could move about Sol without issue but took the warning to heart.
Everything was ready. An Eldar shuttle would drop them off and pick them up. Securing the vault was simple, on paper, via a teleporter beacon that would send it over to the Night Phoenix. Lupin, meanwhile, had a container that could carry the shard.
All that mattered was extracting the shard and securing the vault.
Corvus gave the go-ahead to start the second heist on Venus once it became Heart Day and ordered the Shroud Device to go off. The resulting explosion was said to have been detected by monitoring stations on Luna and caused no small amount of panic. Chaos was a useful tool, albeit often uncontrollable.
Deployment to the Haillenarte Estate went smoothly, as did getting inside and navigating its halls. No one saw them, and none of the systems could even hope to spot them. It was beyond effortless. The heist team spent only twenty minutes moving before they ended back in secured holds of the estate.
The path and security measures for the Vault hadn't changed at all. But this time, Corvus needed to perform a complex ritual to "unlock" it for both the Godseed and Shard. As the teleporter beacon was placed on it, the Ravenlord got to work.
Lupin went to secure a few of the more mundane treasures while Karandras set off to ensure no one came to bother the group. This left Corvus and Sachmis alone to handle the unlocking, to which the two got started…
"You are omitting details." Eldrad interrupted as he drank from his chalice. "Explain to me what happened during that moment."
Corvus tried to play off the demand, "Nothing that bears repeating if you already know what happened."
"I disagree. The two of you caused everything that set this incident in motion. While my vision saw what you did, it didn't provide much context or sound." Placing down the chalice, Eldrad gave another expectant look to the Primarch. "Whatever you said will stay between the two of us. You have my word."
It was difficult to tell what made this conversation all the more awkward. That Corvus had to explain this romantic life again to Eldrad Ulthran, or that next to his Roboute, the only other individual he felt comfortable talking to about this was Eldrad.
"Fine…"
Just as Eldrad prophecized and Ravenloft researched, the Skeleton Key gained significant power thanks to the expression of love shared between Corvus and Sachmis. What would require the strength and will of an Alpha-level psyker was instead accomplished by a simple but powerful declaration of their devotion to one another.
All but prayer to a Goddess of Love like Venus, but enough to hopefully awaken her from inside the Vault and Shell.
Sachmis, ever amused by such acts by Corvus, eagerly rejoiced in the kiss they shared, unaware of the Skeleton Key appearing and unleashing a beam of red and purple toward the Vault, setting in motion what was to follow.
Ravenloft had scant theories on what could or was supposed to happen during this moment. In their attempts to quantify the possibility, Lockcraft believed that a "Resonance Activation" would hint at the response from the Godseed. A weak response meant it was either still "asleep" or "inactive," while if stronger, the Godseed would react accordingly to the outside stimulus.
Lockcraft cautioned that they only needed a "healthy" activation. Anything more could result in a thousand different scenarios, most likely not to the benefit of anyone present. Unfortunately, there was never any means to control the activation.
So as Corvus watched the Skeleton Key unfold, he knew something had gone wrong when the whispers of the warp started to scream within his mind. Not in pain or fear, but almost as if they began rejoicing.
When he noticed the Vault started to change, he barely had time to process that the warp was beginning to shift around him and the others. Then the music started to play. Corvus heard what sounded like a musical ensemble beginning their set as if to herald the return of Venus.
Remembering the reports of Dawnstar and Morningstar's return, this was a good and bad sign. Good, because it meant Venus was awakening. Bad because their group was now at ground zero.
Stranger still was when he noticed other changes around. The smell of sea salt grew, and Corvus could hear waves crashing. Corvus yelled out for Lupin to stop whatever he was doing and get ready to obtain the shard once it appeared.
As if on queue, there was another shift in the environment as Corvus felt the air growing unnaturally hot. He tasted iron on his tongue, and his hearts rapidly beat. Was this the influence of Khaine? This shouldn't have been possible. At least, not this early into the ritual.
Corvus had to focus if they had any hope of succeeding. Turning his attention back to the Skeleton Key, the Ravenlord concentrated on trying to do anything. Anything at all to stop the Resonance from going haywire or becoming destructive.
Suddenly, Karandras appeared back into the room. Once more, no one noticed him. To their surprise, he sounded relieved as he spoke, claiming that the Shard of Khaine had not activated yet, ensuring one crisis was resolved, but then explaining that security was moving towards their position.
Then he disappeared once more. That was good news, but Corvus still had no idea what was happening here. The Shell and Vault were starting to morph as well as the crescendo of the ensemble picked up.
Corvus watched as the walls started to shimmer, the ground beneath his feet began to fill with seawater, and the air became increasingly humid. It was like they were all in some ocean or perhaps just a beach.
His focus shifted when he heard Sachmis fall to her knees beside him. Turning to look at her, Sachmis seemed to hyperventilate and shiver, muttering something about "her fury is too much." Corvus took that as another bad sign.
Not that he had the chance to ask Sachmis, as the Ravenlord suddenly felt an overpowering and intoxicating presence intrude upon his very being. Never in his life and after countless encounters with all manner of foes had Corvus felt such a weight upon him. It was like being submerged in seawater and foam and a fleeting feeling of drowning, even though he wasn't. This morphed into a bitter taste of blood and iron, seemingly hot, like eating charred marrow from bone.
He heard a pair of voices then speak out. One whose fury and anger felt alien and cruel, while the other, equally furious, sounded almost Sachmis's own but missing the playfully dangerous musical inclination.
"You will not absorb my power!"
"Give it to me, or we both fade away!"
Something was happening within the local warp—a battle of gods. Yet Corvus couldn't linger on such a thing as his memories and soul were being crossed examined in their entirety. He heard humans talk about their "lives flashing before their eyes" during their supposed final moments, and right now, the Primarch was going through exactly that.
In less than a second, Corvus recalled every moment of his life. The good, bad, and ugly. All those moments. His life was laid out before such divinity as a service record or prison sentencing was reviewed. To his horror and regret, so much of his life was a blur. So much isn't even there. So much more isn't even a blur.
Corvus had had enough. "No more! BEGONE." He shouts in his mind, instantly creating barriers and blocks within his mind and soul. There was much he was willing to endure or allow. But his thoughts, memories, ambitions, hopes, and fears were not for any god to see. If nothing else, Sachmis might have been the only one in his life that might ever have the chance to learn of them.
For some reason, that last thought caused a feeling of amusement and joy from the alien mind.
And then? It stopped. Less than a second, but what felt like an eternity passed. The drowning feeling left his thoughts, and Corvus could breathe once more. To his credit, he still never broke contact with the Skeleton Key, which continued its work upon the Vault and Shell of Venus.
Said Vault/Shell was melting before their eyes and pulsating like a heart as blood-tainted seawater poured out from its crevasses. Then…the music stopped, and the waves crashing was replaced by a stillness found only by a retreated tide as a tsunami swelled in the distance.
Still reeling from the intrusion, Corvus looked at Sachmis and saw she was barely conscious. The former Archon was still forcing herself to stay awake and desperately trying to stand. Lupin runs to Corvus and tells him this is their chance, as the Vault seems to have strained itself.
Now was the time to get to the Shard of Khaine. Corvus knew it was now or never. Kneeling down before Sachmis, he helped her up. For once in his life, the Primarch saw the look of defeat in her eyes, but then the same fire that once infuriated but now only enticed the Ravenlord returned.
Uttering a series of swears under her breath, Sachmis glared at the Vault. "Worthless gods," She breathed, "Can't even be reborn without someone helping them." She leans against Corvus while the three of them move to enter the vault.
In hindsight, they should've known better. Whether or not it was the right thing to do or a mistake would only be determined after entering the vault.
The interior of the Vault defied all physics and designs. No longer masquerading as the treasure vault for House Haillenarte but instead now revealed itself to be a chaotic pocket dimension. Inside, the three stepped into a person's idea of a lonely island in the middle of the ocean.
Corvus saw that the sea was blood red and angry. Up above were storm clouds that glowed an ominous purple. The smell of the crimson tide reminded the Primarch of rotten fish, seashells, and driftwood.
None of that mattered, for in the center of this island were two things. Well, one if you took it at face value. The first was a beautifully crafted statue of a faceless woman. It was made not of marble or stone but of Venerianite. It was glowing an otherwise soft purple color.
Unfortunately, the beauty was ruined by what was fused into it. A pulsating red shard.
All three of them felt the murderous fury it emitted. It reminded Corvus of a parasite slithering into the flesh of its unlucky host. This was the Shard of Khaine. How fitting after everything the Primarch heard of the Bloody-Handed God.
Lupin remarked that he probably couldn't remove the Shard, but the Skeleton Key might be able to. Realizing that might be the only option available, Corvus summons the holy relic again and tries to remove the Shard for capture.
Yet something unexpected happened. The Skeleton Key instead hovered in the air. The whispers of the warp returned, and he heard fear this time. A moment later, the metaphysical island beneath their feet started to shake. The air swelled, and the purple clouds above began to suddenly and violently churn and groan.
The statue and shard pulsed, causing Corvus to shout as pain flooded his mind momentarily, and Sachmis started screaming. He watched as his lover's body glowed strange purple and red, as if two fires were consuming her before passing out. A stab of fear reached his hearts, but Corvus had only a moment to go and check to see if she was still alive before more madness descended upon them.
Lupin, deciding whether this was now or never, tried to secure the Shard of Khaine using a special device of Eldar design. He was unsuccessful… particularly as the Skeleton Key stopped him by "locking" the device, causing the wraithbone design to shatter into warp dust.
It didn't take much longer for them to realize that the sea itself was starting to swallow the island, but it was more startling when they noticed that the Shard of Khaine was starting to break apart. Venerianite was beginning to fill into the cracks, and Corvus understood what the hell was going on here.
And just like that…the musical ensemble resumed like a musical sting in a play. The story's hero witnesses the plot twist unfolding before his very eyes.
Because it wasn't the Shard that was trying to absorb the Statue, it was the other way around.
Venus was becoming one with the Shard of Khaine.
"I see…" Eldrad paused the story to finish his second bottle of Skogga. "That explains what happened and so much more."
Corvus had started his own bottle of Skogga. He definitely needed a drink right now. "We are getting ahead of ourselves, but you know what happened. Venus absorbed the Shard of Khaine. It's gone, Eldrad."
"Indeed." He didn't seem all that bothered. "A significant setback, but not exactly a complete loss."
The Primarch was confused at the response, "You aren't concerned that Venus took power from your god? More importantly, you don't seem surprised at this outcome."
"No, I'm not." While idly moving a finger around the rim of his chalice, the Great Seer admitted, "I saw the prospect of this happening but dismissed it as being completely impossible. An oversight on my part."
"An oversight?!" Corvus exclaimed at hearing Eldrad's reply, "Sachmis is in a coma, and we have no idea what will happen to either of us when my Father personally investigates this situation!" He angrily took a sip from his bottle of Skogga, "You were supposed to tell me if something like this could happen."
"You're right; I made that promise and failed you." Eldrad admits with a frown, "I assumed the possibility of a hybrid god was impossible, but more importantly, I did not want you to know such a thing could happen."
It took Corvus a moment before responding, "For what possible reason? If you were concerned about that information getting out, I can assure you that I can keep a secret."
"Because no one with any reason should seek to combine two different gods into one being, even if it is just their domains or aspects. There has never been a recorded success of such a thing."
"Until now." Corvus wondered how significant this might have been, "Sounds like I witnessed a once in a millennia event."
"More like once in an eon. But that is beside the point. What about this issue with Skeleton Key?" Oh yes, Corvus knew that was a problem that needed addressing.
"It clearly has a mind of its own. Although it might be more akin to a machine spirit than a thinking creature." Corvus drinks deeply from his chalice, already aware of how Lockcraft would respond upon learning this particular piece of info, when he notices the pensive look on Eldrad's face.
In a very human gesture, Eldrad started rubbing his eyes in exhaustion, "It might not be as straightforward as that. One of the other visions I also deemed impossible was of the Skeleton Key evolving from a conceptualization into a godseed during your securement of Venus and the shard."
Corvus was rarely stunned by anything these days, but hearing that made him nervous, "It can turn into a godseed?" On the one hand, what a windfall of information. This once again changed the rules involving the properties of divinity and godhood. Suddenly, the line looked more clearly defined.
"What did you see exactly?"
Eldrad was looking for an unopened bottle of Skogga but came up short, "Three different instances. Names like Portunus, Errorum, and Cordis. Each had different aspects and personalities, as far as I can tell. Not all of them necessarily good."
Portunus, Errorum, and Cordis. The Ravenlord would need to investigate this further. To know that such a thing was even possible. Perhaps he should've known better. Corvus felt a combination of pride and anxiety. His first divine relic had a spark of godhood within it.
"Oh, this reminds me." Eldrad remarked as he kept looking for an unopened bottle of liquor, "There was another possible scenario that could have occurred involving Venus that my visions saw. A different being appears; the warp calls them Ferretrix."
Eldrad just kept stacking more revelations upon the Primarch. "It also absorbed the Shell and became the God of Storms, Iron, and Murder. At least as far as I could tell from the brief vision."
"Ominous." A strange assortment of titles and domains for a god. It almost sounded like neither Venus nor Khaine survived the merge and were replaced by this Ferretrix. Corvus briefly entertained the idea this god was the child of the two. "Your visions continue to fill me with mounting dread. Is this what you go through all the time?"
Eldrad chuckled dryly, "If I don't put up the walls within my mind? Every minute of every day. I don't much care for explaining these things to you, Corvus Corax. These are personal matters to me. You don't like me asking me about your relationship with Sachmis."
"And yet it feels like you still do." Corvus crossed his arms. Sometimes it felt like Eldrad did these things just to manipulate the Primarch. The odds were good; that was exactly the reason.
Finally, finding an unopened bottle of some green liquid, the Great Seer merely nodded, "Such is the price of precognition. Can you tell me that if you saw a possible outcome, for good or ill, you would ignore it?"
"No." Corvus admitted, "But you are the sort of individual that wouldn't always use it primarily for altruistic purposes."
Uncorking the bottle, Eldrad poured the green liquid into his chalice, "You have me pegged as such. But we both know that advantage must be used, especially if readily available. You know that much from the whispers the warp sends you."
Corvus tensed at Eldrad, knowing such a thing. No one else knew this, not even his Father. "How the hells did you…?" The Primarch growled under his breath, "Forget it. I know better than to ask."
Taking a large gulp from his chalice, Eldrad continued, "Your secret is safe with me. I trust you to do the same to the topics already uttered and those yet to come?"
Rather than respond, the Primarch reached out and took the bottle of whatever swill Eldrad had found and started to pour himself some, "Give me a little godsdamn credit, Ulthran."
It was beautiful to witness the resurrection or perhaps the rebirth of a god. The Venusians and Deorums claimed that Venus had been born from sea and foam, from a sea shell that opened itself and revealed onto the galaxy one of the most exquisite creatures of humanity.
An otherwise pleasant and placid affair, given the tone of the tale. Yet what Corvus and Lupin witnessed was anything but. It was a violent rebirth, like standing amid a raging hurricane while fire rained from the skies. The air and water churned and swelled while the ensemble played a symphony of glory and victory.
The statue of Venus pulsed every second while the Shard of Khaine cracked and died before their very eyes. Although, perhaps Corvus was wrong to think it was dying. Rather, it was like watching something shift into a new form. The end and the beginning.
Yet Corvus pulled away when he saw the unconscious form of Sachmis beginning to convulse and shudder. It took the Ravenlord only a nanosecond to realize that she had what appeared to be a stroke or seizure. Something was happening once more.
Corvus would only learn later what had happened because of the results of a ritual that Lockcraft and Ravenloft enacted upon the Night Phoenix. By some miracle, Suraia realized that while Venus was attempting to enter the Shell, it resulted in a violent reaction from the godseed.
Only once Lockcraft realized that the warp connection had become dangerously unstable, he ordered the ritual to close it off. It cost them the chance of the godspeed entering the Shell, but it ultimately saved Sachmis's life.
Upon further analysis, Lockcract concluded that Venus had fully committed to finding a different means of reviving herself. In short, she used the Shard of Khaine. Considering what happened next, Corvus agreed with the assessment upon hearing it.
Karandras once more appeared before the group as if to add to the tension. He seemed mildly surprised at what was happening here, but the Phoenix Lord remarked that they were running out of time. It took all Corvus's strength to not yell, "Are you not seeing what is happening here?!"
Instead, Corvus focused as Karandras remarked that the Sigillite was here. Not the Sigillites, plural, but Malcador himself had arrived on Venus, somehow. No doubt, he was using his own considerable psychic powers to simply teleport to the Haillenarte Estate.
Corvus would have called this the point of no return, but he realized that had happened almost twenty minutes ago. He and the others were no longer in control of this situation. Perhaps they never had been.
At that moment, all seemed lost. The Sigillite himself would soon arrive, the vault was destroying itself, and a goddess was to return any moment, with none knowing who or what they would be upon returning to life.
Yet in that instance of uncertainty and chaos, Corvus Corax focused only on Sachmis. Was she dying? Had the Godseed killed her? Had he killed her in his hubris? If she died at this moment, unaware and in pain, unable to say goodbye or perhaps even curse him, the Ravenlord wondered if he could forgive himself.
Strangely enough, Corvus had a moment of clarity and realized that Sachmis would say neither and instead would have told him to make her death "count for something" and to take the power of the god for himself. A feeling of hope bloomed in his hearts.
And then he heard the voice, like an ethereal symphony weaving through the air. It carried the harmonious blend of a thousand melodic notes, each resonating with the raw intensity of love and war. It was a voice that whispered enchantments of desire and devotion, a voice that commanded armies and ignited hearts.
It painted vivid tapestries of passion with every word and ignited the flames of inspiration. The voice echoed with the passion found in battle, resonating with the triumphant cries of victory and the somber whispers of defeat. It carried the weight of countless battles, each word a testament to the weary but victorious smiles of warriors, champions, and killers.
It was a voice that intimately knew the beauty and brutality of war, intertwining the fierce spirit of conquest with the tender embrace of compassion. In its echoes, one could hear the eternal dance between love and war, entwined in a symphony of passion and resilience.
It was the voice of a goddess, a voice that embraced the depths of emotion and wove them into a mesmerizing crescendo of love, desire, and unyielding strength.
This was the voice of Venus—the Goddess of Love and War.
"Such devotion!" Venus cried in his mind, clear as day. "If you desire power and love, then I shall give it freely to such."
Finally, the Statue of Venus began to solidify and become alive. The Venerianite shattered and splintered, revealing the flawless radiance of alabaster skin beneath. As the fragments fell away, strands of hair materialized upon her head, cascading down in vibrant hues of purple, like ethereal threads drenched in the crimson downpour of blood-rain.
The Shard of Khaine emitted one last pulsating baleful light, a flicker of its former malevolent power before surrendering completely to Venus' authority. Rather than shattering or fragmenting, it underwent a mesmerizing transformation, collapsing inward upon itself like a turbulent tide, transmuting into a primordial essence of liquid and foam.
As Venus absorbed the primordial essence of Khaine, the remaining Venerianite shattered into fragments. No longer a mere statue, the goddess emerged in her true form—a resplendent figure, unclad and radiating a celestial aura of ethereal purple light that draped around her with graceful modesty. The remnants of Venerianite clung to her visage, forming a hauntingly beautiful "mask" that hinted at the ancient power of Khaine that she now possessed. Even if just a sliver of a sliver, it was a power that belonged to her.
Corvus's gaze fell upon Venus, and he discerned something peculiar about her visage. Though her overall appearance seemed human, her ears bore the distinct shape and elegance of the Aeldari. Despite the subtlety of the transformation, Corvus could unmistakably detect the Aeldari attributes infused into Venus's form, a testament to the intermingling of her divine essence with the echoes of the ancient race via the Shard of Khaine.
She defied categorization, for she was not solely human nor purely Eldar. Instead, she emerged as a synthesis of both worlds, a testament to the unpredictable nature of meddling with the schemes of gods. Corvus realized that his original intentions, and even the expectations of Eldrad and Cegorach, had not foreseen this outcome. It was a stark reminder that the plans crafted by mortals and the whims of deities rarely align, echoing the age-old truth that the best-laid plans of mice and men often meet with unforeseen consequences.
"I have returned once more," Venus spoke with her ethereal and alluring voice, each word laced with a captivating power. As she gracefully lifted the Venerianite mask from her visage, the true face of Venus was unveiled—a countenance of unparalleled beauty. Yet, amidst the flawless features, her crimson-red eyes seized Corvus's attention. In those eyes, he saw a playful demeanor tinged with a perilous allure, a glimpse into her insatiable thirst for power and boundless ambitions. It was a sight that both enthralled and unsettled him, a testament to the complex nature of this goddess of love and war. A stark reminder of how powerful and captivating a deity was to any mortal.
Amidst the raging storm and the symphony of ethereal elements, Venus advanced with an air of effortless grace, paying no heed to the tempest surrounding her. Her approach bore the unmistakable smile of a roguish heroine, gaining the attention of the Phoenix Lord, the Primarch, and the Thief. As she drew closer, their eyes beheld a transformation—a delicate, revealing chainmail dress materialized upon her form. Though intended to provide modesty, it seemed to defy its purpose, only enhancing her allure and rendering her all the more mesmerizing to behold.
Corvus anticipated Venus to inquire about the unfolding events, but her attention was fixated on the motionless figure of Sachmis. "Ah, my conduit still breathes," Venus remarked with affection.
"Only if she survives," Corvus muttered wryly, aware of the precariousness of their situation. The once-stalwart shell that bore Venus's name began to crumble, and he doubted the vault would endure much longer.
Karandras harbored a different course of action and materialized behind Venus, his blade poised at her throat. Before Lupin or Corvus could interject, he whispered into her ear, his voice laden with urgency, "This is a necessary precaution for all our sakes. Please cooperate, for I would lament further bloodshed."
Venus's smile broadened to their astonishment, finding amusement in the unfolding scene. "Oh, don't deceive yourself. I know you wouldn't lament at all. If anything, you'd relish the opportunity to test your mettle against me."
The tempestuous storm held its breath in that fleeting moment, but then a slow, grinding laughter escaped Karandras's lips. "You speak the truth; I yearn to see if I can end a goddess, if only for honing my skills. But I have my orders."
"Mhmm..." Venus turned her gaze towards Corvus. "I quite enjoy your companion." The Primarch couldn't help but suspect that the goddess had absorbed some of Sachmis's traits, perhaps delving into her mind as she had done with his.
"He's not exactly a friend," Corvus responded, with Karandras nodding in agreement. "But we're wasting time here; we must find a way out."
Venus gave a slight nod, her eyes fixed on the blade at her throat. "Then lead the way." With a subtle motion of her hands, she gestured towards the collapsing pocket dimension, and with a snap of her fingers, everything froze in place. The storm, the sea, the wind—everything ceased its motion, creating an eerie stillness in the suspended moment.
And then, in a brief moment of darkness, they found themselves back inside the vault. Aside from the blaring warning alarms, everything appeared to have returned to normal. Venus let out a sigh of relief. "Finally free from that place," she remarked, the tension in her voice dissipating.
"Err, Corvus." Lupin interjected, tearing his eyes away from the Goddess, "We are getting a clear signal from the Night Phoenix, and I think we needed to leave this place like ten minutes ago. Imperial Navy ships are everywhere, and it won't be long before they get discovered."
"Oh, for the love…" Corvus remembered their escape window was closing fast and looked at the Phoenix Lord, "Karandras, run interference while we escort the goddess out."
"No can do." Karandras said, "I have my orders to keep an eye on and kill her if she tries anything." Again, Venus didn't seem concerned about this declaration and instead seemed amused. "Besides, you underestimate my ability to get someone I need out of a location undetected."
"Lot good that does the rest of us." Lupin remarked and rolled his eyes, "Look, we can't teleport out, so we need to get moving and exfiltrate this estate without getting seen. Once we are outside, we can see about reaching the shuttle."
"It took us twenty minutes to reach the vault," Corvus remarked as he briefly retraced steps and plans in his mind, "We have all manner of security bearing down on us, including an approached Sigillite. Alcar is likely keeping us from getting caught via divination, but we will still need to start moving right now."
In any other situation, this might have been doable. Hot extracts were something every member of the Raven Guard was capable of doing. But considering one member required medical support, and another was on prisoner duty, this was asking for trouble. One slip-up by any of them, and it would be all over.
But what choice did they have? It was do-or-die. Corvus wasn't about to let them get captured or killed by staying here, and surrender wasn't an option. If they were caught…well, the Primarch didn't want to think about that. He had his contingencies in place.
"Let's go," Corvus ordered the others. The escape was on; if the gods were merciful, they would succeed in this last challenge. Considering he had one in his party, the Ravenlord wanted to believe it.
And to his surprise…it seemed to be the case.
Everything went right. Everything that Corvus needed to happen happened. His impromptu plan somehow survived contact with the enemy when it had no right. He was suspicious, expecting the other shoe to eventually drop. Even when they finally made it to the outside. By the time they were a few kilometers away from the estate, Lupin couldn't help but speak up.
"How the hells did we get away without any screw-ups?" He asked, even if he was slightly out of breath. "I know my luck is good, but even most Polaris ops encounter a problem." Lupin had a point. Not even the Raven Guard had this much luck, especially when the entire mission seemed to have been FUBAR.
Nevertheless, they made it out. They could easily blend into the local environment even if someone spotted them. Corvus's micro-bead picked up the vox transmission from the shuttle, hinting that their ride out of here was still good, if nothing else. The whispers were quiet, and he didn't have a bad feeling, either.
And just as they thought their ordeal was over, their eyes widened with relief and apprehension as their shuttle materialized out of thin air, touching down mere meters away. Perhaps in a more climatic, storybook fashion, this was when the shuttle would get destroyed, or something or someone unexpected appeared, putting the mission back into jeopardy.
To their astonishment, a figure emerged from the shuttle, none other than Eldrad Ulthran himself. Clad in the formidable Armor of Vaul and brandishing both the Staff of Ulthamar and the Sword of Vaul, the legendary Seer had come to personally usher them to safety, at least from all appearances. The enigma of how and why Eldrad found himself in this dire situation could wait for another time. With little time for explanations, Corvus and the rest swiftly seized the opportunity, boarding the shuttle.
Nothing else happened as they made their way back to the Night Phoenix. Karandras and now Eldrad watched over the still-smiling Venus while Lupin practically slumped over in his seat, leaving Corvus to check on the comatose form of Sachmis. Their mission had succeeded and failed in some capacity, but they had survived.
The second heist concluded.
And that was it. Corvus finished reviewing everything he had witnessed during the mission, concluding up to this meeting. Although, some caught his attention.
"You did something to help us along, didn't you?" Corvus asked Eldrad after thinking about their exfiltration from the Haillenarte Estate. "That's why everything we needed to go right did."
Eldrad merely shrugged, "Perhaps I simply provided the stage, and your skills and resilience guided you to victory. Or perhaps forces are at play beyond our understanding, weaving the threads of fate in our favor. I have powers beyond most creatures but cannot orchestrate everything simultaneously."
Taking another sip of his drink, Eldrad continued, "Sometimes the line between coincidence and intervention can blur. What one man calls a miracle could be serendipity. But if it makes you feel better, I perhaps nudged a few things in your favor at considerable strain. You may also thank my sword and armor for giving me the necessary boost to pull this intervention off."
"Hmm, maybe next time we should bring you along," Corvus remarked, concentrating on the potential of his direct aid next time. "Your foresight could prove invaluable in later endeavors."
Eldrad's expression softened, a faint smile gracing his features. "Much as I would enjoy stretching my legs and challenging myself, there are limits to my abilities. There is a reason I assigned someone like Alcar to render you aid."
"Indeed, Alcar did an exceptional job," he acknowledged. "Not many psykers can outwit someone like the Sigillite." Then again, Corvus doubted Alcar would even care.
Eldrad's demeanor shifted slightly, a hint of concern flickering in his eyes. "There are matters I must discuss with Alcar, if only for his own good," he said, his tone carrying a mix of gravity and determination. "He shall have a greater role to play in due time, but only once I deem him ready. His place in the threads of destiny and fate remain undefined."
"Speaking of undefined, this Karandras you sent on the mission proved invaluable and troublesome," Corvus began, his voice tinged with appreciation and annoyance. "You gave him orders to kill Venus if she tried anything."
Eldrad met Corvus's gaze, his expression calm but unapologetic. "I did," he confirmed, his voice holding a note of conviction.
"And without telling me," Corvus stated firmly, his frustration becoming more evident.
"Yes," Eldrad replied simply, not attempting to justify his decision.
Corvus's brows furrowed as he absorbed Eldrad's response. He had expected a more elaborate explanation, some reasoning for keeping such crucial information from him. It left him with a lingering sense of doubt and a desire for transparency.
"Was it necessary to withhold this information from me?" Corvus pressed, his tone firm yet measured.
Eldrad's admission was swift and honest. "No," he conceded. "But it would have complicated matters further, introducing unnecessary tension and potential conflict. I believed that if everything went according to plan, Karandras would never have to unsheathe his blade."
Corvus's skepticism lingered as he recounted Karandras's admission of wanting to fight with Venus to Eldrad. The Primarch couldn't help but feel a mix of concern and frustration, wondering if even the renowned Farseer had limited control over the enigmatic Phoenix Lords.
"He did, though," Corvus stated, his voice laced with skepticism. "Karandras readily admitted that he wanted to dual her."
Eldrad's expression soured, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. "It seems I will have to address this matter with Karandras once our current affairs are settled," he remarked, his tone betraying a hint of frustration.
Corvus couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease at the thought that even Eldrad, the most powerful seer in the galaxy, might not have absolute control over such powerful entities as these Phoenix Lords. It raised questions about the limits of their loyalty and the potential complications they could introduce into future operations.
But that was a problem for another time. As far as Corvus was concerned, this debrief had concluded. He also had more important matters to attend to. "If there is nothing else to go over, I will be needed back in Sol before my absence arouses further suspicions."
"Then I shall offer one more warning: You and your legion are already on suspicion but for different reasons." Eldrad spoke cautiously, "The Sigillite will conclude that someone might have been trying to frame the Raven Guard for what happened at the Haillenarte Estate, albeit not publicly. When confronted by the Sigillite, you must comply with whatever is required of you."
Corvus didn't like the idea of doing that, "That will put me in an awkward position. There is just too much evidence to paint me as the instigator of this whole mess."
"I will handle that. Just cooperate with the Sigillite, even if it puts you in an ugly position among your brothers." Corvus was putting quite a bit of trust in the Great Seer, but then again, what other choice did the Primarch have? There was no chance he'd be able to tamper or clear up any evidence that was or might have been left behind. Besides, Eldrad proved that he had a knack for getting things to fall in place that were favorable to him.
"Very well," Corvus acquiesced to Eldrad's suggestion. "I put my fate my fate in your hands, then."
Eldrad's gaze held a glimmer of amusement, a knowing smirk on his lips. "By this point, such acts of trust should no longer surprise you," he replied, his voice laced with a hint of wryness.
Corvus hated how right he was now. He was perhaps a bit too entangled with the Aeldari at this point. He winced upon realizing his choice of words would be ammo for Cegorach over how he was certainly "entangled" with Sachmis quite a bit. Was Cegorach starting to influence him in some way? A question for later.
"Then I will take my leave." Corvus stood up and prepared to leave, "This conversation and debrief has been…enlightening in more ways than one. But if you'll excuse me, I need to take care of something vital before I head back to potentially face my arrest or execution."
Rather than respond, the Great Seer waved him off and resumed drinking the rest of the Skogga. If for no other reason, Eldrad was quite finished with this conversation and likely had a very long and complicated few days ahead of him.
The same could be said for Corvus. Once he arrived back at Sol. The looming inquisition, the barrage of inquiries and accusations, all of it would test his resolve to its limits. He couldn't deny his guilt in the matter at hand, and the consequences he faced were dire. Still, Corvus would make it through this, one way or another.
But if his return might result in trouble, Corvus decided he might as well say goodbye to the person who mattered most.
As Eldrad observed Corvus' departure, a sense of contemplation settled upon the Great Seer. He couldn't help but question if his efforts had been sufficient if he had truly done enough to alter the course of events. Yet, in foresight, there were limits to what even a seer of his caliber could perceive. He understood that, ultimately, fate would guide Corvus Corax toward his destined path, regardless of the warnings he had imparted.
"Such is the price of precognition," Eldrad murmured softly, the words barely audible to anyone but himself. With a sigh, he finished off the last bottle of Skogga, the empty vessel finding its resting place on the seat Corvus had previously occupied. The act seemed symbolic, a gesture of acknowledgment for the complexities and uncertainties of the future.
"Ten different answers for one question," Eldrad mused, his voice revealing resignation. "None of them entirely right, and none entirely wrong." In foresight, possibilities intertwined and diverged, forming a web of intricate outcomes. The Great Seer understood the inherent challenges of deciphering the enigmatic threads of destiny and the weight of responsibility that came with attempting to guide them.
Eldrad prepared himself for the days ahead with a weary yet determined expression. The path of a seer was often treacherous, and the choices he would be forced to make were far from easy. However, he would remain steadfast, seeking wisdom and guidance within the ever-shifting tapestry of fate.
For the galaxy's sake and for the survival of all that he held dear, Eldrad Ulthran would continue to navigate the currents of prophecy, trusting in his intuition as he ventured into the unknown. If nothing else, his allies had started to place more trust in his abilities and the mission—a small bit of comfort.
Corvus's disdain for the interior of the Night Phoenix was palpable. The Primarch had never been fond of the aesthetic designs commonly found on Drukhari ships, and this vessel was no exception. Its layout seemed intentionally bewildering, with convoluted passages that twisted and turned, their opaque surfaces adding to the disorienting effect. It felt like the ship sought to confuse and confound its occupants.
Everywhere Corvus looked, the pervasive darkness seemed to swallow any hint of illumination. The jet-black material that composed the ship's walls absorbed light rather than reflected it, lending an eerie and foreboding atmosphere to every corridor and chamber. It was as if the very essence of shadow had been harnessed and woven into the vessel's structure.
Navigating through the Night Phoenix proved to be a challenge in itself. Corvus had to rely on his instinct and memory to find his way, as there were no obvious markers or signs to guide him. His love likened it to learning the intricacies of a jungle or forest. Predators were most at home in places like this.
While Corvus respected the prowess and capabilities of the Drukhari, their taste in ship design was an acquired taste that he had yet to develop. The experience within the Night Phoenix only reaffirmed his preference for more familiar and comprehensible environments.
Corvus proceeded towards the medical deck aboard the Night Phoenix, where the Dark Eldar's "wondrous" medical technologies were housed. It was a peculiar juxtaposition, as these technologies were capable of incredible feats of healing and rejuvenation, yet their origins seemed rooted in minds that reveled in inflicting pain. For the Drukhari, pain was an essential component of their existence, a means to feel alive, and it didn't necessarily have to be their own pain but rather that of others.
As the Primarch made his way through the medical deck, he couldn't help but notice how the crew members of the Night Phoenix gave him a wide berth. The hired Levithian group, while undoubtedly skilled and efficient, unnerved Corvus with their unnaturally subdued mannerisms. Sachmis had mentioned that they were administered a special drug cocktail that "numbed" their emotions, a measure designed to enhance their focus and discipline.
Corvus couldn't help but contemplate how such a drug could find use in the Imperium. But such thoughts were fleeting, for the Primarch knew that the Dark Eldar's methods and technologies were rooted in a dark, twisted path that the Imperium could never condone.
Pushing aside his contemplations, Corvus focused on his immediate objective: tending to Sachmis. Gods willing, someone had gotten a prognosis of her condition. Upon stepping inside the medical deck, he saw a detachment of Drukhari guarding the parameter. None of them tried to stop the Primarch as he made his way towards the most likely med-chamber holding Sachmis.
To his surprise, rather than Dark Eldar guarding the entrance, it was instead a pair of Death Jesters. The two servants of the Laughing God only nodded to the Primarch. Their focus was instead on the assembly of Levithan guards, probably for the best. Someone could have been an assassin looking to kill Sachmis while she was comatose.
Passing through the protective perimeter, Corvus entered the med-chamber where Sachmis lay upon a bed, surrounded by a myriad of mysterious machines. Their intricate functions and purpose eluded the Primarch, emphasizing the esoteric nature of Drukhari medical technology. The devices hummed softly as they scanned and monitored Sachmis, their efforts aimed at unraveling the enigma of her condition.
Sachmis merely looked asleep, but Corvus knew a coma wasn't a peaceful rest. It was difficult to tell what might have happened to her while within the Shell. Which made it all the more frustrating to the Primarch. Could this have been prevented? Was there something he could have done differently?
Amidst his contemplation, the whispers of the warp reached Corvus, alerting him to the presence of another in the room. Laced with amusement, an ethereal voice broke the silence, "My, my. Prince Charming comes to see his Sleeping Beauty." Turning towards the sound, Corvus's gaze met Venus, who stood at the other side of the bed.
However, what greeted Corvus was a sight that bewildered him. Venus had transformed, shedding her previous form entirely. Her once radiant purple locks were replaced by snowy-white hair, cascading elegantly around her shoulders. The blood-crimson eyes that had held a dangerous allure were now piercing sea-blue orbs, captivating in their intensity. Wrapped in a flowing white robe adorned with provocative embroidery, Venus exuded an air of mystique and seduction, much to the Primarch's annoyance.
This new visage of Venus only deepened the enigma surrounding her, leaving him uncertain of her true nature and intentions. With caution masking his words, Corvus addressed the transformed goddess, "What brings about this change in appearance?"
Venus chuckled lightly, her amusement mirroring that of the Laughing God himself. Corvus couldn't help but feel annoyed at the gods' penchant for provoking and toying with mortal emotions. It was as if they reveled in the varied responses; they could elicit anger, appreciation, confusion, or skepticism.
"Do you like what you see?" The goddess asked with a teasing smile.
The Primarch's blunt response cut through the air, devoid of pretense. "No," he stated firmly, not giving an inch to Venus's playful demeanor. "Not in the sense that it appeals to me. You are well aware, perhaps more than you should be, that I have a specific type." Corvus deliberately avoided looking toward Sachmis's unconscious form, not wanting to add any more awkwardness to an already delicate situation. "And I'm not in the mood for whatever you call games."
There was a flicker of something in Venus's eyes, a brief moment where her playful façade faltered. It was as if she understood the weight and complexity of the situation, despite her enigmatic nature. With a touch of solemnity, she responded, "Now, now. Don't fall into despair over this. My little conduit will awaken in good time."
For a moment, Corvus felt the sting of hope blossom in his chest, "What do you mean? Sachmis will be alright?"
"Of course she is," Venus gave Corvus a disappointed look, "You'd think I'd be playing around if my little conduit and your wife were in danger? Give me some credit, Ravenlord. I might be playful, but I can read a room." She sniffed in disdain, "Besides, I want her awake to truly enjoy our time together."
His relief was smothered at hearing Venus describe Sachmis as his wife so brazenly, "She isn't…Sachmis isn't my wife." He was trying not to show his embarrassment on his face.
Venus appeared momentarily perplexed, then realization dawned on her. "Ah, that explains the disconnect between the two of you," she admitted, slightly embarrassed. She chuckled, lighting the mood, "Oh dear, I seem to have spoken out of turn. Let's focus on the positive aspects and leave that particular matter aside, shall we?"
Corvus couldn't help but wonder how this topic had even arisen until he realized the reason behind it. "You're calling her my wife because Sachmis believes it to be true," he surmised, sensing the awkward conversation that would inevitably follow.
Recognizing her misstep, the goddess gave Corvus a disapproving look. "I am still processing your residual thoughts and emotions and everything else that has found a place in my mind. So, please grant me the courtesy of not making it seem like I'm being scatterbrained," she implored, clearly wanting to be taken seriously despite her playful nature.
Corvus quirked a single eyebrow at that, "Right." He shifted focus toward what mattered, "Then Sachmis will awaken soon?"
"If I had to estimate, it will take about a week for her to fully recover. Her mind and soul grapple with the profound experiences she witnessed as she became my conduit," Venus explained, acknowledging her influence over Sachmis. Corvus preferred not to use the word "corrupted" in this context, as it carried negative implications.
Curiosity brimming within him, Corvus inquired further, seeking to understand the intricacies of the process. "What exactly did you do to her to make her your conduit?" He desired more information, not only to comprehend Sachmis's current state but also for the sake of knowledge.
Venus pondered his question before responding, her voice conveying closeness and intimacy. "For a fleeting moment, we shared a single mind and soul, much like I did with you. However, your Sachmis required power, and I willingly bestowed it upon her," the goddess explained. She leaned closer to observe the comatose Sachmis, a touch of admiration in her voice. "Such fiery passion and ambition... and she even dared to hurl a few choice words my way for all the trouble she endured.."
Corvus couldn't help but feel a sense of concern. "Sachmis's ambition will be her downfall one day. It nearly cost her life just a few hours ago," he lamented, aware of the dangers her relentless pursuit of power posed.
Venus smiled at him. "That's why you need to keep her on the straight path. The love you two share is a strong bedrock toward preventing Sachmis from falling to her worse vices and desires."
"I'm keenly aware of that." Corvus heard this warning far too many times now, "And I still think people give Sachmis too little credit."
"Or maybe you give her too much." The Goddess gently touched Sachmis's forehead with her index finger as if drawing a small pattern, "So much anger and resentment, fear and uncertainty. Her ambitions and desires keep them in check, but your love keeps her from drowning."
Much as Corvus wanted to argue in defense of Sachmis, he had to recognize that he speaks with the one person that had gained intimate knowledge of her, "Is she truly that lost without me?"
The question caused Venus to pause, her eyes closing momentarily as she sought the right words to convey her response. "Lost? No, she is not lost. Her path is immutable, destined from the beginning. Sachmis's story will unfold as it was meant to. However, the choices she makes and the triumphs and tribulations she encounters can shape the quality of her journey. Without them, her soul would burn brightly but ultimately fade away."
Venus's tone had a melancholic tinge as if she had witnessed the tragedy of countless souls before. Corvus couldn't help but feel annoyed, weary of the poetic narrative being spun around someone he cared deeply about and was lying in a coma now.
While Venus could have captivated an audience of Harlequins with her words, the Primarch had grown tired of the intricate dance of fate and its grand design on this particular day. Then again, maybe he should have known better than to try and go against it. Today has proven what happens when you try to push back against such machinations.
Corvus's frustration was palpable as he expressed his weariness with discussions of fate and destiny. "Look, I have matters to attend to, including facing whatever judgment awaits me upon my return to Sol. But before I leave, I want to bid farewell to Sachmis." Despite her comatose state, Corvus felt it necessary to speak his parting words.
Venus maintained her smile. "Go ahead then," she replied.
"No, I would prefer to do it privately," Corvus insisted.
The goddess's frown deepened as she emphasized her connection to Sachmis. "As a god connected to my conduit, I will hear everything regardless."
"Even so, I would still prefer to have this conversation without you in the room," Corvus firmly stated, determined to have a private moment with his beloved. Venus simply shrugged and disappeared from the room briefly, leaving him alone with Sachmis.
As Corvus stood there, his gaze fixated on Sachmis, a mix of conflicting emotions washed over him. He couldn't deny the profound effect she had on him. Her presence had seeped into his very being, leaving an indelible mark. The touch of her hand and the warmth of her smile was a poison he couldn't resist, a weakness he couldn't escape.
His mind wandered to the question of vulnerability and exploitation. Were his feelings for Sachmis a weakness that his enemies could exploit? Perhaps, in the eyes of others, it seemed so.
Corvus couldn't help but ponder the irony of it all. Out of all the women in the vast expanse of the galaxy, he had chosen Sachmis, a Drukhari pirate and slaver with ambitions of becoming an empress and, now, possibly a goddess.
It defied logic and reason, yet love seldom abides by such constraints. She had captivated his heart, and he had chosen to love her despite all odds. And likewise, Sachmis seemed to depend on him. Thought of herself as his wife yet dared not voice such things.
As Corvus kneeled before Sachmis, he couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness. The weight of unspoken words hung heavy in the air, a frustrating barrier between them. It was a recurring pattern, an inability to fully express their thoughts and feelings.
He recognized the situation's futility, and it frustrated him to no end. How often must they sing this sad song and dance this wretched dance? With a mix of self-deprecation and affection, Corvus reached out and clasped Sachmis's hand in his own. The touch offered a small comfort amidst the uncertainty that loomed over them.
He contemplated their future, the possibility of their paths crossing again if he returned unscathed.
"Perhaps," he mused softly, his voice filled with longing and amusement, "we should strive to change that. Stop playing games with each other. Wouldn't that be nice?"
There was no response from Sachmis, and Corvus couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. He imagined her scolding him for fussing and worrying, reminding him that caring for her wasn't a waste of time. Even in this state, the Ravenlord only ever thought of her as being one that could only ever maintain their fiery spirit and decorum.
Leaning forward, Corvus pressed a tender kiss against Sachmis's forehead. "Rest well, love. If you are still like this when I return, I promise to be the first person you see when you open your eyes. Otherwise, do me a favor and watch that goddess we just rescued."
As he stood by Sachmis's side one final time, Corvus squeezed her hand gently as if silently conveying his love and determination. It was a bittersweet farewell, knowing that their paths may diverge for some time, but he held onto the hope that they would reunite again, stronger and wiser.
Exiting the med-chamber, Corvus took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenges that awaited him. He couldn't help but recall the words of a Harlequin, who spoke of "facing the music" in moments like these. It resonated with him, a reminder that he had to confront the consequences of his actions and make amends where possible.
As he walked, his thoughts remained with Sachmis, their unfinished conversations, and the unspoken words between them. But for now, duty called, and he would answer. And so, with each step, Corvus set forth on the path that awaited him, ready to face the music and navigate the challenges ahead.
Venus watched silently as Corvus left the chamber, allowing her presence to become known again. A sense of tranquility filled the air as she approached Sachmis's bedside. The new goddess of love and war couldn't help but let out a wistful sigh at the display of affection she had just witnessed.
"You lucked out, my little conduit," Venus murmured softly, her voice carrying a mix of fondness and melancholy. She knew the depth of the connection between Sachmis and Corvus and understood the complexities that bound them together.
With a gentle touch, Venus channeled her divine powers, not to heal Sachmis physically but to tend to her spiritual and emotional well-being. Some wounds ran deeper than the surface, and it was in those realms that the goddess sought to provide solace and support.
Venus couldn't help but reflect on her conversation with Corvus as she worked. There were questions left unasked, details left unexplored. But she believed, perhaps for the best, that certain things were better left unsaid. Corvus had burdens to bear, and she didn't want to add to his worries.
"Perhaps for the best," Venus whispered to the comatose Druhkari, her voice filled with regret and understanding. "Less for him to worry about. He needs not know the nightmares that plague both of us."
The Shard of Khaine had revealed the darkest secrets and memories to Venus, things only the God of Murder and Iron would know. It had exposed her to the depths of the gods' hatred and the vilest desires. Since her rebirth, the goddess had cursed Khaine's name every second, burdened by the weight of such knowledge. Mortals could never truly comprehend the trauma that circled through her mind, but Sachmis, unfortunately, shared that understanding.
Continuing her ministrations, Venus offered whatever solace and healing she could provide, hoping that in time, Sachmis would awaken, her spirit renewed and ready to face the challenges ahead. At that moment, all Venus could do was be there for her conduit, nurturing the connection they shared and guarding the secrets that haunted them both.
Nevertheless, Sachmis had a proverbial rock in the form of the Primarch. She would recover in due time. Venus might have little memories of her past life, but the goddess had seen enough from both their minds to know that even in this blood-soaked galaxy, there were still flickers of passion and love within even the darkest souls.
It gave her hope. And if a goddess could find hope in the most unlikely places, so too shall other mortals. They need only someone to guide them…
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@Daemon Hunter Okay, done with this omake. 13,000 words in 4 days is probably one of my best.
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False Reading
So, for context on this omake. Emps flubbed his investigation rolled into what happened. He rolled a 44 and 9 (this was with advantage and after Eldrad and the other seers were fucking with him)
Ravenloft rolled a 99 to counter the investigation. This is the omake that explains how this will happen.
False Reading
There was an uneasy feeling percolating across the Ravenloft contingent. It had been only a few hours since Corvus Corax and the heist team returned to the Night Phoenix with the Goddess Venus. The whole situation, at first, looked to have been a success, even with the failures of the Shell.
Lockcraft, however, knew that something had gone wrong. The Primarch approached the director only after meeting with Eldrad Ulthran and the goddess. He explained that he would be returning to Sol and likely faced some sort of judgment for his actions.
Unfortunately, the second heist had been too messy and chaotic to not have any evidence left behind that would paint the Raven Guard as the ones behind everything. With that in mind, Corvus explained that Lockcraft would engage the Shambhala Protocol if anything happened to the Primarch and his Legion.
Taking a deep breath, Lockcraft activated the holographic display before him. It flickered to life, projecting a comprehensive overview of the Shambhala Protocol, a meticulously crafted endeavor encompassing every facet of their operations and the safety of their personnel. The protocol was a series of plans that would be enacted to cover the tracks of all Ravenloft operations and move command staff and core personnel into the Black Library.
This was a very mild descriptor, though. It would take years to conclude, and the entire organization would be on the run during that time. No one can erase the existence of a whole group in one year, but the Raven Guard and Eldar made it a lot easier. The Shrike Commission would also be vital in moving funding and necessary resources into secured accounts and vaults.
Lockcraft paced back and forth in his private quarters aboard the Night Phoenix, his mind racing with thoughts and concerns. Nor could he ignore the unease within the Ravenloft contingent. Granted, not everyone was worried about the future that awaited them.
The devout followers of their reborn deity, the Venusians, clustered around Venus, their devotion evident in their every gesture and word. Lockcraft watched them with a mix of curiosity and wariness, wondering about the nature of Venus after she had absorbed the Shard of Khaine and the implications her arrival held for future operations.
But it was the Aeldari contingent that intrigued Lockcraft the most. Their keen interest in Venus, their whispered discussions, and their watchful gazes spoke volumes. No doubt, they couldn't help but notice the uncanny resemblance between the goddess's features and the Aeldari's physiology, sparking questions and speculations within his mind.
Naturally, Lockcraft also wondered what had gone wrong with the ritual. The failed attempt to coax the Godseed into the prepared Shell troubled Lockcraft deeply. Once again, proving that mortals could not predict the nature of the divine or the warp.
How this operation almost failed was a stark reminder. Only through his impromptu ritual had Ravenloft salvaged the whole procedure and the Shell. Yet, the fact that the Shell remained in a dormant state raised concerns about its vulnerability to other warp entities seeking to claim it.
Lockcraft knew he had to find answers to understand the intricacies of what had transpired and its implications for their future endeavors. But his hands were tied by Lord Corax's instructions to listen to the Eldar and monitor Venus.
Restless, Lockcraft approached the hololithic display in his quarters, activating it to review the recordings of the events that had unfolded. He analyzed every detail and interaction, hoping to glean some insight and understanding that would clarify their predicament. Not that it would do him any good; he already reviewed the footage at least four times.
Lockcraft studied the recorded data of the ritual, his eyes scanning the intricate patterns and symbols displayed before him. He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that their attempt hadn't resulted in the summoning of a daemon or a Reality Abberation. The potential consequences of such a mishap would have been catastrophic.
The tension that had permeated the air during those ten minutes of the ritual was indescribable. Lockcraft had held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest, as the Venusian war-witches followed his instructions precisely. It had been a delicate dance, a precarious balance between mortal sorcery and divine intervention. The thought made Lockcraft crave a stiff drink to calm his nerves. Unfortunately, he never took to the firewater like others had.
Besides, drowning his anxieties in alcohol would offer no solution, no respite from the feeling of impending doom that lingered in the back of his mind. As Lockcraft delved deeper into the data, his frustration grew. There were no clear answers, no neat solutions that presented themselves. It was as if the gods themselves reveled in playing by their own enigmatic rules, leaving mortals to navigate through a labyrinth of uncertainties.
"Leeway," he muttered to himself, his voice laced with determination. "If the gods hold the strings of fate, mortals must seize the threads of possibility."
Lockcraft continued scrutinizing the data, searching for patterns, anomalies, and anything that could offer a glimpse of understanding. He knew his sought answers might elude him, but he was resolved to keep searching. He refused to yield in the face of cosmic mysteries and impending doom. There had to be a way, a glimmer of hope hidden amidst the chaos. If Ravenloft had come this far, should it not be possible to go even further?
Lockcraft's frustration grew as he continued to search for answers, feeling as though he was trying to squeeze water from a stone. The unfairness of their situation weighed heavily on him. They had been on the cusp of achieving another miraculous feat through their own efforts, only to be faced with the need for yet another to get them out of this mess.
Lost in his thoughts, Lockcraft was suddenly jolted by the sound of laughter, faint yet distinct. It wasn't a natural sound but rather an echo resonating within his mind.
He instinctively reached for his modified laspistol, prepared to defend himself against any potential threat. As he cautiously stood up, he surveyed the room and checked outside his office, ensuring his surroundings were secure.
Outside, his security contingent, the heavily armored Ravenloft troops known as "werewolves," stood guard, vigilant and watchful. Lockcraft scanned the area, but there were no signs of any approaching individuals apart from his security detail.
Sergeant Christenson, noticing Lockcraft's cautious demeanor and the grip on his laspistol, inquired about the situation. Lockcraft felt the lingering presence behind him, urging him to remain alert. With determination etched on his face, Lockcraft addressed the sergeant.
"We may have a guest arriving, or they may already be here. If you hear anything unusual, do not create a disturbance unless I send a panic signal," Lockcraft explained, aware of how incredulous his words might sound. He was grateful that such peculiar claims and unconventional orders were not entirely unexpected within the realm of Ravenloft.
Christenson looked perplexed but understood the gravity of the director's words. "Understood, sir," he replied, ready to follow Lockcraft's instructions without question. Lockcraft didn't need to cause a scene now if he had one of their more eccentric guests over.
As Lockcraft closed the door behind him and turned around, his heart skipped a beat as his gaze fell upon an unfamiliar figure sitting casually at his desk. The individual leaned back in the chair, their Harlequin boots resting on the desk's surface as they reviewed the footage of the ritual.
Unlike other Harlequins he had encountered, this one lacked a mask, but Lockcraft couldn't help but wish they wore one. The creature's faded white face paint and piercing yellow eyes made him uneasy. Lockcraft couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as the Harlequin spoke, their voice laced with a delirious smirk.
"So close, and yet so far," the Harlequin remarked, their words carrying a hint of amusement. If there was any ill intention here, Lockcraft didn't feel it. He seriously doubted the Harlequins would send someone to kill him. "Though, you did better than most."
Lockcraft's glare intensified, his grip on the laspistol tightening. "If you're implying that you could have done better, then feel free to enlighten me," he retorted, his tone laced with sarcasm.
As Lockcraft approached his desk, he maintained eye contact with the Harlequin, refusing to back down. "Also, that's my chair," he stated firmly, his voice filled with a touch of authority.
The Harlequin chuckled softly, the sound reverberating through the room. "Ah, possessiveness over a mere chair. How quaint," they replied, their voice dripping with amusement. With deliberate intent, the Harlequin continued to rock back and forth in the chair, causing it to emit a faint squeak. It was a calculated move, a display of control that seemed to mock Lockcraft's territoriality.
Undeterred by the Harlequin's playful demeanor, Lockcraft maintained his composure and pressed for answers. "And who are you exactly? Did the Laughing God send you, or did you just come here of your own volition?"
The Harlequin paused, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he considered his response. "Ah, Mr. Lockcraft, ever the inquisitive mind hidden by a mask of stoic disdain," he replied with a sly smile. "To answer your question, call me Jean Dazzle. And I suppose I was and wasn't sent here by the Laughing One."
Lockcraft arched an eyebrow, noting the human-sounding name chosen by the Harlequin. "Jean Dazzle? Fine, whatever." Lockcraft commented, his voice tinged with annoyance. "Why are you here, sir?"
Jean Dazzle leaned back in the chair, his eyes sparkling with intrigue. "Ah, my dear Lockcraft, I am here to see how this story plays out. You see, I am a seeker of stories, a weaver of tales, and a practitioner of tall tales. Your organization's enigmatic endeavors have, naturally, piqued the interest of many in the halls of the Black Library."
Lockcraft's tone grew slightly impatient as he crossed his arms. "I figured as much," he replied, his voice tinged once more with annoyance. "But you haven't explained why you are here, in this room, speaking with me and disrupting my work."
Jean Dazzle's laughter echoed through the room once more, its eerie quality reminding Lockcraft of glass breaking. "Ah, dear Lockcraft, it is precisely because of your work and its far-reaching consequences that I find myself intrigued," the Harlequin replied, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He gestured toward the hololithic display, indicating the aftermath of the recent endeavor.
Lockcraft's brows furrowed in confusion. "So, you're merely curious about what happened?" he asked, his tone tinged with skepticism. "If you seek answers, I suggest you consult with your god or one of the Farseers. They would be more inclined to satiate your curiosity. Perhaps even Venus herself."
Jean Dazzle leaned forward, his eyes locking with Lockcraft's. "Ah, but you see dear director, it is not the straightforward answers I seek," he replied, his voice laced with a mysterious edge. "If anything, I'm here to provide you with such things."
Lockcraft's skepticism deepened, his gaze narrowing as he glared at Jean Dazzle. "So you are here to render me aid? Offer wisdom and advice?" he questioned, his tone dripping with suspicion. "And who approved this outreach? I don't trust anyone who claims to assist Ravenloft unless I or Corvus has personally vetted them."
The Harlequin's laughter resonated through the room once more, its echoes reverberating off the walls. "Why does any of that matter?" he replied, his expression playful. He gestured toward the hololithic display, drawing attention to the urgency of their situation. "You are looking to help the Primarch, yes? I have an idea for exactly that."
Lockcraft's gaze remained fixed on Jean Dazzle, his stare unwavering. "Then you can report your idea to one of your peers or the Great Seer," he retorted, his voice laced with caution. "Let them explain its merits and contents to me. I won't be so quick to drink from a poisoned chalice."
Jean Dazzle's grin widened, his eyes glittering with mischief. "Ah, but dear director, where is the fun in that?" he replied, his tone filled with amusement and intrigue. "You see, I offer you a gift—a means to throw off the investigation into the Primarch."
Lockcraft's skepticism flared once more, his voice laced with disbelief. "You have a solution to throw off the investigation by the Sigillite, his entire organization, every Arbite in Sol, Astartes, Primarchs, Mechanicum, Psykers, Custodies, and even the Emperor of Mankind himself, who are all working together to figure out why a warp event unseen in thousands of years just happened under all their watch?" he challenged his words carrying a mix of incredulity and defiance.
Jean Dazzle simply nodded, his expression unyielding. "Yes."
Lockcraft's eyes narrowed as he studied the Harlequin, searching for any trace of deception. "If you possess such knowledge, why haven't you shared it with your kin or the Eldar council? Why entrust it to me?"
The Harlequin's amusement grew, his tone filled with cryptic allure. "Because, dear director, the pieces of this intricate dance are already set. You are in a very unique position of holding power to pull the strings and orchestrate a great performance that will befuddle even the most astute observers."
Lockcraft's patience started running thin as he listened to Jean Dazzle's. The Harlequin's cryptic manner and convoluted instructions only added to his growing frustration.
However, he knew better than to dismiss any possibility outright. Options were low, and time was running out to implement any solution.
"Say I listen to your suggestions. I'd be a fool to take them at face value. I will need to verify whatever you tell me," Lockcraft asserted, his voice firm and unwavering.
Their alliance with the Eldar had been beneficial so far, but there was a point where trust had to be verified.
Jean Dazzle nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "A sensible take for a rather unsensible situation you find yourself in," he conceded, his tone laced with amusement. As Lockcraft rose from his seat, he noticed the tattered and bleached body armor of the Harlequin, its holo-field flickering in ethereal patterns.
"Now, let's get to the heart of the matter," Jean Dazzle exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "What you need to do is rather simple... well, actually, it's incredibly complicated and convoluted, but your organization seems to treat such things as old hat now, so what's the difference, eh?"
Lockcraft's irritation peaked. He had little patience for the Harlequin's theatrics. "Just get on with it and tell me what needs to be done," he urged, his voice curt and no-nonsense.
Jean Dazzle let out a theatrical sigh. "Very well, straight to the point," he acquiesced, though a mischievous glint remained in his eyes. "You, Mr. Lockcraft, and your organization will create a divine charm, a false reading that confounds anyone attempting to use the warp to find the True Shell. This charm will be accompanied by the fabrication of a false shell, replicating Venus's essence."
Then the Harlequin paused and laughed, "Though, you must first create a faux faith centered around a deity that doesn't exist in this timeline, and then you must convince the local warp to accept the charm, false shell, and faux faith."
Lockcraft's brow furrowed as he tried to comprehend the implications. "So, you want me to create a false religion centered around a deity that doesn't exist in this reality," he summarized, his voice tinged with incredulity. "Then, I must somehow convince the warp, the enigmatic plane that has plagued humanity for millennia, to accept this faux god, faith, and a replication of a god's essence. All in the hopes of throwing off any investigation into what truly transpired in Sol."
Jean Dazzle's laughter echoed through the room, a disconcerting blend of amusement and delight. "Ah, you've grasped the essence of it, dear director," he chimed, his eyes sparkling with mischief at his pun. "A grand deception, a web of illusions and manipulated energies. A feat that may baffle even the most astute observers."
Lockcraft's mind raced, evaluating the risks and complexities of the Harlequin's plan. It was audacious, almost insane, but it held the potential to divert enough attention to throw off any investigators. This was beyond absurd. It was dangerous, downright liable to fail. They had already tempted fate once more than once.
Damn it all. They had already gone this far. "Explain to me the specifics," Lockcraft demanded, his voice resolute. "Every step, every detail. And what we need to do to make this work."
Jean Dazzle's satisfaction was palpable in his tone as he responded, "Excellent. You must first acquire the name of the faux god in question. Thankfully, I have it: Errorum. A deity of Secrets, Exploitation, Mistakes, and the Stygian Keyblade."
Lockcraft's mind reeled at the mention of the god's name. A strange sensation washed over him, accompanied by a flickering light at the edge of his vision. It was as if the mere utterance of the deity's name had stirred something deep within him. "A Keyblade? This god isn't just some parallel deity you found... It's a possible godseed based on the Skeleton Key!"
A surge of realization coursed through Lockcraft's mind. Corvus hadn't divulged this crucial detail to him. It was likely that even the enigmatic Primarch himself wasn't aware of this connection. The revelation was both disconcerting and intriguing, but now, it holds no relevance.
Jean Dazzle's surprise flickered across his face momentarily before transforming into a wide, toothy grin. Rows of crooked, yellowed teeth were bared as he exclaimed, "My, my, my! You're quite astute! I expected a few questions, but you unraveled this mystery alone, with only a mere mention of a keyblade to guide you."
"Lucky me," Lockcraft muttered, dismissing any notion of praise. The implications of the Skeleton Key's ability to manifest as a specific parallel Godseed was staggering in terms of significance and danger. It meant that a divine relic had the potential to transform into an actual god.
It also meant that objects of worship could evolve into conscious divine entities. This made Lockcraft think of the Mechanicum and their reverence for Machine Spirits, the Tech-Priests of Mars hinted at the idea that machines themselves could transcend into becoming more than just a simple machines.
All of this worried Lockcraft that the thought of a galaxy where gods could be artificially created through a perplexing fusion of science and prayer was unsettling, to Lockcraft. The devastation ensuing could rival the horrors of the Age of Strife and the Cybernetic Rebellions.
And the Eldar, they knew of such possibilities? This information was at least in the hands of the Harlequins. Regardless, it suggested that their civilization had once possessed the capability to create gods but had perhaps been restrained by their own pantheon.
However, at some point, those restraints had faltered. Leaving the galaxy in its current state. As if Lockcraft didn't need another reason for this organization's existence. Ravenloft needed to comprehend and control the dissemination of this knowledge before someone succumbed to megalomania and sought godhood. Yet, here Lockcraft stood, about to embark on an endeavor equally perilous.
"I require as much information as you can provide," Lockcraft asserted firmly, his tone demanding. If there was any hope for success, he needed a comprehensive understanding and the ability to develop a strategic approach to organize the intricate components of the plan.
"Of course," Jean Dazzle gave another flourish, "My knowledge and skills are at your service. Although I would warn you that you need more than my considerable knowledge to pull this off." Lockcraft needed to gain the services of the Venusians and their goddess. Thankfully, this should be an easy enough sell to both.
"Then we best get started."
How do you create a religion within 48 hours? The intricacies of faith, namely the structuring, and narrative, often were formed organically. No one made an organized institution in a single day but developed the idea around dogmatic practice that arose from simple rituals. Yet more often than not, the name and concept of the god drew the most attention from newcomers.
In short, you create a religion with a simple premise: What does the god offer? That was the first question that Lockcraft and his contingent needed to have answered. Thankfully, Jean Dazzle might have already given it to them.
Errorum, the deity of Secrets, Exploitation, Mistakes, and the Stygian Keyblade. It was a name that held profound meaning once you delved into its essence.
Secrets? Throughout history, humanity has been driven by an insatiable thirst for the mysteries of the universe. The allure of a god who could unveil these secrets, even at a cost, was irresistibly tempting. Imagine the power to create something as extraordinary as the Shell and possess the knowledge of the Godseed's location.
Exploitation? The cult saw an opportune advantage in Sol's ponderous security measures. With Errorum as their patron, they could cunningly exploit the vulnerabilities, breaching the impenetrable defenses of the vault. They would accomplish the audacious feat of stealing the Godseed right from under the watchful eyes of Terra's inhabitants, a testament to both Errorum's power and their own audacity.
Mistakes? Ah, the intricate dance of fate. Errorum, the god of this burgeoning faith, would ensure that mistakes flowed in both directions. The penultimate price for accessing its boundless power. What good are answers and the means to conquer your adversaries if everything proceeds without obstacles? The interplay of triumph and tribulation would imbue the cult's endeavors with depth and challenge, making every step a thrilling and unpredictable journey.
The Stygian Keyblade? A bit harder to define properly, but one of the dharmic members suggested that the keyblade embodies the essence of Errorum. One that serves as a metaphorical key that unlocks hidden knowledge unveils concealed truths, and delves into the depths of forbidden wisdom. The blade aspect "cuts" through the quasi-state of truth and concrete falsehoods of institutions and individuals alike.
In the multifaceted name of Errorum, Lockcraft and his contingent found the foundation for their religious narrative, a tapestry woven with the yearning for secrets, the shrewdness of exploitation, and the delicate balance between triumph and error. Within this framework, it painted a vivid portrait of a deity whose offerings were both tantalizing and perilous. It easily appealed to any mortal follower, hungry for power, knowledge, and mystery that the warp would crave.
Jean Dazzle infused the new faith with his own artistic touches, adding subtle flairs that would catch the attention of the warp and distort any attempts to uncover the truth behind the events in Sol. It was a delicate balance, creating a religion that appeared substantial yet lacked the specific details crucial for genuine belief. This was the essence of their "red herring" strategy, designed to misdirect and confuse those who sought to investigate.
Lockcraft and his contingent successfully created this primitive religion, laying the groundwork for the next phase of their plan—the development of the divine charm, the False Shell. Compared to the intricate complexity of the True Shell, the False Shell had to be a stripped-down version, mimicking its appearance but lacking its true essence.
However, before they could proceed, they needed the aid of Venus. The goddess herself was key to unlocking the secrets required to fabricate the divine charm. It was a crucial step that would require their utmost persuasive skills and negotiation, for they needed her involvement to ensure the authenticity of the False Shell.
Lockcraft was starting to understand that this Jean Dazzle, or whatever his true name was, had to be a relatively high-ranking Harlequin. The healthy amount of fear the Levithan members and other Harlequins showed as they made their way to the med-bay of the Night Phoenix hinted at Jean Dazzle's significant standing among them.
As they made their way to the med-bay of the Night Phoenix, Lockcraft and Jean Dazzle encountered no resistance or attempts to stop them until they found the Venusians, most camped outside the room where their goddess resided.
At the forefront of the Venusian contingent stood Suraia, her displeasure evident upon locking eyes with Lockcraft. Their recent clashes during the emergency ritual strained their working relationship. The tension between them was palpable.
"Director," Suraia's tone carried a diplomatic edge, "What brings you here?"
Lockcraft responded flatly, "To see your goddess, obviously. Certainly not to uncover any more horrors the Dark Eldar have disguised as medical equipment." Suraia silently grimaced, acknowledging the mutual distaste for the Night Phoenix. None of them willingly desired to be aboard this vessel but duty-bound them to endure its dreadful confines until further notice. "Now I must see her."
"No," Suraia defiantly replied, "The goddess has requested not to be disturbed unless either the Warlord's Son or the Great Seer pays her a visit." The Venusians had assumed the role of gatekeepers, an annoyance to the Ravenloft contingent.
"Suraia, this is of utmost importance," Lockcraft pressed on, recognizing the significance of their mission. "I am working on a plan that could undermine the Imperium's investigation into the rebirth of Venus. It would safeguard her followers and herself from possible reprisal measures."
Suraia, deep in thought, appeared partially swayed by his words, but her resistance lingered. "Even if I desired to, our most beloved goddess refuses to allow anyone inside. She guards the Idol with unwavering protectiveness."
"The Idol?" Lockcraft queried, his curiosity piqued.
Suraia sighed, a mix of annoyance and envy coloring her features. "That woman, the Drukhari known as Sachmis. Our goddess dotes upon her like a mother bird. Yet, I cannot fathom why our Radiant Star blesses such a vile creature—captain of this abominable vessel, a slaver, and an unrepentant killer. But I dare not question the wisdom of our goddess."
A mischievous glint danced in Jean Dazzle's eyes as he interjected from Lockcraft's side. "Ah, the irony of fate, my dear Seventh Blood. Be cautious with your words, for zealous followers may interpret such remarks as justification to eliminate the perceived blasphemy of Sachmis."
Suraia's eyes blazed with fury as she locked gazes with Jean Dazzle. "We are not zealots or fanatics, alien! Our faith is built on love and reverence!"
Jean Dazzle snarked back with a sly grin, "Says the War-Witch." He chuckled at the evident embarrassment on Suraia's face, finding amusement in the exchange.
"Bastard clown! You look like you suck the joy out of any room you enter!" Suraia retorted, her anger palpable.
Jean Dazzle laughed again, waving her off with a dramatic flourish. "Oh, how your words bring color to my cheeks!"
However, despite the entertaining banter, Lockcraft reminded them of the pressing timeline. "Please, both of you, let's stay focused. We have a limited window of opportunity at the moment." He drew upon his experience managing disagreements among Ravenloft operatives, well-acquainted with the clashes that arose from a diverse mix of philosophers, scholars, priests, soldiers, scientists, and skeptics.
Seizing the moment, Jean Dazzle interjected, "Might I have a word with the goddess to get this proverbial ball rolling?"
Suraia, skeptical, responded, "You think you can lure her out of that room? I highly doubt that."
Jean Dazzle's smile widened, but the initial playfulness faded. "Oh-ho, but I believe I can. Whether or not you attempt to stop me is another matter entirely." His words carried a blatant threat.
Lockcraft felt a chill creep up his spine, and his surroundings briefly darkened as he watched Suraia tap into the power of the warp. "I'd like to see you try, you walking corpse of a clown."
Before Lockcraft could intervene to defuse the tension, a divine presence enveloped the med-bay, capturing everyone's attention. "Why do I sense the combative nature of individuals, yet no one deemed it necessary to invite me to witness it?"
Emerging seemingly out of thin air, the goddess Venus stood before the trio, emanating the same ethereal energy as when she first arrived. Lockcraft was confused when it was an olive-skinned woman with sun-kissed red hair adorned in a provocative dress uniform appeared before them. Had she changed forms once more?
The Venusians instantly bowed in reverence, and Suraia scrambled to her knees, her voice trembling, "Radiant One! Please forgive the disturbance we have caused in your vigil!"
"I'm surprised you even cared to intervene," Lockcraft said, raising an eyebrow. "I highly doubt a fight would have broken out. Harlequins don't engage in unnecessary conflicts."
Venus responded with a winning smile, her gaze shifting between Lockcraft and Jean Dazzle. "You would be right to assume that, to an extent. However, I was also responding to this creature's summons." She gestured towards Jean Dazzle, who couldn't help but smirk in response to the Sultana's glare.
"Told you I could get her attention," Jean Dazzle remarked, his tone dripping with satisfaction. Suraia's scowl deepened, but Lockcraft's mind was consumed by curiosity. How and when did the Harlequin send out his summons? He knew Jean Dazzle possessed psychic abilities, but communicating with a god while simultaneously conversing with him and Suraia? It was quite perplexing. Another piece of evidence to support that this Harlequin wasn't an ordinary one.
Venus redirected her attention to Lockcraft and Jean Dazzle. "Now then, why have you two called upon me?"
Lockcraft took the lead in explaining their purpose. "We have devised a plan to prevent the Imperium from uncovering the details of your securement and resurrection."
Rather than showing interest, Venus appeared puzzled. "I was informed by the Great Seer that he had everything under control. Why are you attempting to interfere with his machinations?"
"Ah, but you see, oh shining one," Jean Dazzle interjected, his voice filled with theatrical flair. "We believe it would be best to cloud the perspectives of your enemies, cause confusion, and redirect attention through the liberal use of a divine charm."
"A divine charm?" Venus's confusion was evident, but a fleeting moment of discomfort passed through Lockcraft as he felt a brief pain between his eyes. Venus spoke once more, her voice tinged with understanding. "You seek to create a false impression within the warp. Clever. However, you would require a substantial reserve of conceptualized design and energy, or at the very least, a viable instrument to establish a new narrative."
"Oh, but we can create such an instrument using another, more significant one as its foundation. The Shell of Venus, initially prepared by Ravenloft for you, would be an ideal anchor and catalyst for this new story. We merely need an imprint of your essence to bring it to life."
Lockcraft had a rough grasp of Jean Dazzle's proposal, but some aspects were new. Could a psychic imprint of a god truly be crafted? Furthermore, could a potent instrument or conceptualized design provide the necessary groundwork for a divine charm?
Venus contemplated the idea. "If you have the story prepared...?"
"We do," Lockcraft affirmed with a nod. "And we will require the assistance of your followers in this endeavor."
Suraia's displeasure at her people being recruited for Jean Dazzle and Lockcraft's plan was evident, but Venus seemed to be warming up to the notion. "I will need to access the Shell if only to elevate it to the status of the True Shell. Otherwise, the warp may become disoriented or attempt to undermine an instrument of my will."
"Of course," Jean Dazzle readily agreed, much to Lockcraft's reservation. Ravenloft put The Shell of Venus on hold for further research. However, as if sensing his concerns, the Goddess of Love and War spoke.
"Do not worry, Director. I merely need to embrace the Shell briefly, allowing it and me to establish a mutual understanding."
Surprisingly, Lockcraft found himself considering that the claim wasn't entirely outlandish. Over time, he understood that Titan Princeps had to establish similar arrangements with the God-Machines of the Titan Legions. Why wouldn't the Shell and Venus operate on a similar principle if such a connection was required there?
Besides, he realized he didn't have much choice in the matter. With a resigned sigh, he relented, "Fine."
The group took a bit longer to reach the holding bay where the Shell of Venus was kept. The goddess conversed and interacted with her devoted followers during those ten minutes. Lockcraft couldn't help but notice the natural charisma that emanated from her.
Venus possessed an undeniable allure that seemed to effortlessly sway and convince those who looked at her. It troubled Lockcraft, not because he believed she didn't deserve such admiration or that her divine status granted her these abilities, but because she could manipulate and persuade others effortlessly.
He didn't like it. Not because she didn't deserve the admiration or that her divinity gave her such abilities, but rather how easy Venus made it all look to sway and convince anyone that looked upon her. A beautiful woman held the power to sway the masses, and a cunning one could influence even the most powerful individuals to her cause.
Yet, Venus's charisma and magnetic pull rival that of the Primarchs. Lockcraft reasoned that it could be attributed to her followers being the most fervent and devoted, but as the goddess of Love and War, her domain held significant influence in the galaxy. If interpreted broadly enough, love could encompass countless individuals, drawing them in with power and influence.
Upon reaching the holding bay, where the Ravenloft security and research contingent and the Venusians prepared for the upcoming ritual, Lockcraft was compelled to ask a question lingering in his mind.
"Once everything is resolved, regardless of the outcome," he began, "what are your plans, Venus?"
The goddess's expression turned amused, and her reply was as outrageous as blunt. "Oh, nothing too complicated. I intend to rebuild my cult, start a few wars, make some people fall in love with me, and continue my exploration of the galaxy. You know, get into some trouble."
"You make light of it, but you acknowledge that your actions will inevitably cause chaos," Lockcraft said, his voice tinged with seriousness and conviction.
Venus's expression turned even more amused as she replied, "Ah, but when does change not disrupt the wheel of the status quo? When does any action or inaction fail to cause trouble? And chaos, to whom? I believe every ambitious individual has stirred up trouble in their life, particularly if they stand for something. Your actions here are no exception; they, too, are causing chaos."
Lockcraft paused, considering her words. He knew there was a difference between the chaos Venus spoke of and the stability he sought to maintain. He had a clear purpose in mind—to prevent further loss of life and instability within the Imperium, even if it meant going against its authorities.
"This is different. I intend to prevent further loss of life or instability within the Imperium, even if I technically act against it."
But Venus, still amused, countered, "Director, surely you must recognize that those in power won't perceive your actions as anything but impeding an investigation into a matter that I imagine holds great importance to your Emperor of Mankind. They would call such actions treason."
"I am not a traitor," Lockcraft asserted firmly. "Everything I do is sanctioned by the Primarch. Just because our work may contradict the High Lords' mandates doesn't mean it lacks benefit for humanity. Besides, it saved you, didn't it?"
Venus's grateful smile acknowledged the truth in his words. "Indeed, Corvus and Ravenloft have my thanks and eternal friendship, as do you, Director. But let us not forget that actions carry consequences. If you continue on this path, do so with unwavering conviction, even if it means making enemies. It is better to stand for what you believe in than to stand for nothing at all."
Before Lockcraft could pose another question, Jean Dazzle and Suraia approached them. "I believe we are ready to commence this performance. With your permission, Shining One," Jean Dazzle said, his tone carrying a hint of disrespect that the Sultana chose to ignore, and Venus didn't seem bothered by it either.
With everyone in their designated positions, Venus swiftly and unceremoniously transformed into a being of dark, violent energy. Lockcraft couldn't help but draw a parallel to the sunset on the planet Venus. The goddess appeared to channel herself into the Shell of Venus.
Whatever transpired within the Shell took mere moments before Venus emerged, again sporting a radiant smile. This time, she assumed a more Eldar form, with flowing blond hair, tannish skin, and mesmerizing golden eyes. Her attire was a tantalizing, slightly revealing robe crafted from red and white silks.
"She changes forms as effortlessly as a woman changing her shoes or dresses," Jean Dazzle remarked, a half-joking tone in his voice. Lockcraft couldn't help but agree. Venus seemed to have an aversion to remaining in one form for too long, embracing her fluidity and unpredictability.
Lockcraft couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Dealing with unpredictable and elusive gods was looking to be an issue. Their ever-shifting personalities and motives made them difficult to track and anticipate. The Chaos God Tzeentch, as described in the notes provided by Corvus, exemplified this with its ability to manipulate the laws of physics to suit its chaotic and often bizarre schemes.
However, Venus, a goddess of Love and War, had a certain level of predictability within her domains. She was open about her desires, or at least those she revealed to Lockcraft. Taking note of this observation for future reference, Lockcraft's attention was drawn to something materializing in Venus' right hand. To his bewilderment, it resembled an unidentified idol or totem made of liquid stone, taking the form of a... sea-shell. How fitting for the situation.
Approaching Lockcraft and Jean Dazzle, Venus held the non-euclidean object in her hand. "I must say, the Shell is quite comfortable, albeit a bit snug in some places," she remarked.
"Don't tell me it rides up in uncomfortable places," Jean Dazzle quipped, eliciting a chuckle from Venus. Lockcraft ignored the inappropriate comment and focused on examining what he believed to be the divine charm.
"So, this is the divine charm?" he inquired.
Venus nodded in affirmation. "Indeed. All you need to do is place this over the heart of your False Shell and invoke the new name given to it. Recite the necessary prayers, stories, and whatever else you have prepared. The warp will take care of the rest."
Extending the sea shell towards Lockcraft, he cautiously accepted it. The divine charm felt moist and slippery in his hands, yet his palms remained dry and unaffected by any residue. It seemed so alive as if a tiny crustacean might suddenly emerge from within.
"Dare I inquire what would happen if a mortal were to... utilize this on themselves?" Lockcraft ventured, already sensing that the outcome would not be pleasant.
Jean Dazzle spoke up, his tone grave. "It would result in a complete shift of one's soul and personality, most likely transforming them into a quasi-daemon or a warp spawn. Most mortals cannot withstand such a conceptual shift without considerable mastery over the warp. What you might refer to as Alpha-level proficiency."
"Even then, I would strongly advise against it," Venus added, her expression tinged with a hint of ancient wisdom. "It is not a desirable fate; that much is certain."
Taking note of their cautionary words, Lockcraft kept his gaze fixed on the divine charm. Its otherworldly allure drew his mind in, causing a slight discomfort in his eyes, prompting him to avert his gaze. It was time to refocus on the task at hand.
"Now, we must proceed with constructing the False Shell," he asserted, acknowledging the significant challenge ahead. "Fortunately, it doesn't need to be as grand and potent as the True Shell. It simply needs to be suitable for a god, like Errorum."
Jean Dazzle's eyes gleamed with excitement at the prospect. "Ah, that is where my expertise lies. I can shape the materials needed for the False Shell and, more importantly, ensure it is intentionally flawed."
Lockcraft nodded, understanding the strategy. "Exactly. Since Errorum is a god of mistakes, making the cult's creation appear imperfect is clever. Anyone investigating will assume that the cult was provided with defective materials and instructions, leaving behind misleading evidence." He marveled at the multitude of skills and talents Jean Dazzle possessed, surpassing the capabilities of any individual Harlequin he had encountered thus far. But this was the final hint that Jean Dazzle was anything but normal.
With his arms crossed, Lockcraft grew weary of the charade. "Enough games, Jean Dazzle. Who are you really?"
Upon hearing the name Jean Dazzle, Venus's incredulous voice filled the air. "Jean Dazzle? What kind of...?" Her voice trailed off as she narrowed her eyes, and a faint blush colored her cheeks. "Cegorach!" Her tone held displeasure and annoyance.
Lockcraft realized he should have recognized that the enigmatic Harlequin was none other than the Laughing God himself, Cegorach. However, there was a nagging feeling that Cegorach had employed some trickery to obfuscate his true identity and prevent Lockcraft from unraveling the ruse.
Cegorach's laughter echoed with a disconcerting tone. "Oh, the fact that the mortal couldn't see through my guise was one thing, but it's rather amusing that it took you, the Shining One, this long to catch on."
Venus, clearly not pleased with being caught up in the joke, responded, "Nice to meet you too, I suppose." Her tone carried a hint of annoyance at her own failure to discern Cegorach's true identity until Lockcraft had caught on. "This certainly wasn't how I envisioned our first encounter..."
Cegorach grinned, relishing in the subversion of expectations. "I do enjoy defying expectations and pulling the wool over people's eyes." He then turned his attention to Lockcraft. "And you, director, are quite intriguing. You actually put up some resistance, albeit unsuccessful. But the fact that a part of your mind tried to resist me is more than I can say for most during their first encounters. Consider it an honor."
Lockcraft didn't particularly feel honored. "Why all the tricks, though? It could have saved us both a considerable amount of time."
Cegorach's gaze shifted to Venus, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Because, unlike our straightforward companion here," he gestured towards the frowning Venus, who clearly disliked being labeled as straightforward, "I possess the talent for misdirection."
"Hmph!" Venus huffed in annoyance, her frustration evident. "Since the two of you have matters under control, I will return to overseeing my little conduit." She shot a sharp glare at Cegorach. "We will certainly have a discussion later. Count on it."
The Laughing God seemed unfazed by her threat. "Yes, yes. You'll want to establish your ground rules and assert your…dare I say, dominance." He giggled at the double entendre before waving off the irked goddess nonchalantly, earning another glare before Venus departed from the hold in a flash of light.
After a brief pause, Lockcraft turned his gaze towards Cegorach, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Should you be antagonizing her like that?"
"Do not worry about her. You might have noticed she was all smiles before discovering who I was. No doubt an aspect of Khaine bubbling to the surface." He smiled at Lockcraft, "But this is also our first meeting, Director Lockcraft."
That was true, "Yes. Although I imagined our first encounter would be during our interview." At least then, it would have been a more controlled face-to-face than this.
"Well, now we get past all that awkward ice-breaking and can have a frank and friendly conversation!" The rictus smile that adorned Cegorach's face did nothing to alleviate Lockcraft's unease at the prospect of a conversation with the enigmatic Laughing God.
"Now then, how about we finish this business of making a False Shell?"
More than a little eager to get back to work, Lockcraft nodded and started redirecting the Venusians for the next stage of this plan. He kept a note of what he just learned, albeit not verbally, from the Laughing God. His power was strong enough to deceive even gods' minds, and his unpredictable nature was beyond dangerous.
True to his word, Cegorach provided the necessary materials and expertise to fashion the False Shell. The Laughing God admitted that his craftsmanship might appear unimpressive to most, but he was more than capable in this endeavor.
Instead of employing wraithbone or traceable Eldar components, he utilized materials that the Venusians would have sourced or acquired: steel, titanium, adamantine, rockcrete, and other mundane substances.
Lockcraft couldn't fathom how these disparate materials could be blended together. In one moment, there was a chaotic heap of rubble and debris. Then, Cegorach's laughter resounded with such intensity that it resembled an Ogryn bellowing through a loud hailer yet miraculously caused no harm to anyone's ears. And just like that, a rather unsightly statue materialized in the center of the meticulously prepared ritual circle.
The False Shell was hideous! Yet Lockcraft had to admit there was something beautiful and pathetic about it. As if it was shaped by children's hands, molding their hopes and fears into something that embodied a sad attempt to call upon salvation.
Throughout their encounters, Ravenloft encountered numerous feral worlds where the inhabitants worshipped totems and idols that invoked potent forces or spirits. These objects were revered for their ability to crush enemies, bring forth rain or sun, or safeguard against malevolent entities.
However, gazing upon the False Shell evoked no sense of power or awe. Instead, it felt akin to casting a message in a bottle into the vast, unforgiving sea, hoping that someone or something would aid stranded souls amidst an impending storm.
In that sense, Errorum responded to the call of those weary souls, whether for their betterment or detriment. The irony wasn't lost on Lockcraft, as he seemingly sought to do the same, albeit for different reasons.
"Now then," Cegorach spoke, his gaze fixed on Lockcraft with anticipation, "We must bestow upon it the divine charm."
As anticipated, the False Shell readily accepted the charm. Lockcraft merely had to place the object on the chest of the unsightly statue, and it was promptly absorbed. The Laughing God then instructed the Venusians and the Ravenloft contingent to channel the warp and offer their "prayers" to the absent deity.
Observing the unfolding ritual, Lockcraft couldn't help but acknowledge that its success hinged greatly on Cegorach's involvement. The presence and power of the Laughing God bestowed a sense of legitimacy upon the proceedings. After all, Cegorach had already played a part in creating the Skeleton Key, ensuring its success despite the near-undoing caused by the Reality Aberration. He had consistently provided the resources and information necessary for the Venusian heist to prosper.
So what did he get out of this?
Regardless, Lockcraft felt the atmosphere in the room undergoes a palpable shift. Whispers assailed his hearing, and the edges of his vision were tinged with a crimson and golden glow. The warp was listening. It seemed both amused and intrigued by the unfolding ritual. Perhaps the entities and spirits observing from beyond were unaware of the precise nature of the proceedings, or maybe they were simply eager to witness the Laughing God's performance outside the confines of the Black Library.
The effect was staggering. Lockcraft watched as the False Shell pulsated with eldritch power, emanating an otherworldly glow and hum. The wretched and despicable statue metamorphosed into a form that resembled a being alien to this galaxy and reality itself.
Gazing upon the transformed form of Errorum was a challenging feat. It wasn't due to physical pain or discomfort but rather an innate sense that Lockcraft's soul acknowledged his unpreparedness to witness the true visage of Errorum.
It felt like there was a timing, a moment when he would be ready, but that moment hadn't arrived yet.
Like gazing upon a secret that was better left uncovered.
Nonetheless, the ritual's completion brought a satisfied expression to Cegorach's face. This indicated success, albeit success defined within the context of their intricate plan. The past few hours had been fraught with stress and intensity, leaving Lockcraft pondering whether he should take pride in the outcome.
In the face of the enigmatic and convoluted scheme that had unfolded, Lockcraft did feel relief. Deep down, he recognized that he had played a pivotal role in shaping events, even if the full extent of their consequences remained shrouded in uncertainty. Only time will tell if this was the right choice.
Cegorach approached him, "Well, I believe we can call this a successful pet project for you and your organization. Your part in all of this is over. I will take the False Shell and ready it for its…deployment? Yes, deployment."
That was all well and good, but there was still one last problem to resolve, "We still haven't talked to Eldrad Ulthran about this."
"Oh, that was handled hours ago." Cegorach smile looked a bit too odd now. Lockcraft could see what he thought was melting wax or some other material. "I've been speaking with him this entire time while working with you through this puppet."
"Puppet?" Lockcraft narrowed his eyes and realized what had happened, "This isn't your true form, then."
Laughing at the realization, Cegorach nodded, "Jean Dazzle is one of many masks I have worn. Just like the Shining One, I too like to change outfits quite often." He gave an apprising look to Lockcraft, "You did quite well for yourself, as did your Ravenloft. Eldrad and I are impressed."
"That's all well and good, but will this actually help Corvus? How will you even get it back to Sol without anyone noticing?" By now, the entire system was swarming with investigators and powerful individuals.
Cegorach didn't laugh, but Lockcraft heard the echoing laughter in his mind, "You should know by now, Director, if I want to be somewhere or do something, I can and will." The visage of Jean Dazzle started to fade away, "Regardless, I need to get the False Shell ready. Your contribution will be remembered, and we will most certainly be in touch."
In a blink of an eye, Cegorach vanished, taking the False Shell with him, leaving behind a confused Venusian and Ravenloft contingent. Lockcraft took it upon himself to explain that their mission had been successfully accomplished. Upon hearing this, Suraia and her Venusians promptly departed to return to their goddess, their duty fulfilled.
Once the immediate matters were settled with the Ravenloft contingent, Lockcraft sought solace in his office, yearning for a moment of respite to reflect on the repercussions of his actions. The False Shell now rested in the hands of Cegorach and the Eldar, and Lockcraft could only hope that it would be utilized for benevolent purposes rather than contributing to the machinations of chaos.
Yet, even as he contemplated the outcome, Lockcraft couldn't shake the nagging realization that he had been skillfully guided and perhaps manipulated by the Laughing God throughout the entire endeavor. The true motives and methods of Cegorach remained elusive, leaving Lockcraft to question his own complicity in the grand scheme of things.
He willingly paid such a price in his unwavering dedication to aiding the Primarch, utilizing any means available. As he reflected on the experience, Lockcraft acknowledged that he had gained valuable insights into the complexities of divine beings and the intricate dynamics among the gods.
Nevertheless, Lockcraft made a note to try and better understand the more subtle acts of manipulation, misdirection, and guile. Because if there was one lesson that Cegorach taught him, it was that even a god can be fooled.
---
@Daemon Hunter Okay, here is the next omake.
Ravenloft rolled a 99 to counter the investigation. This is the omake that explains how this will happen.
---
False Reading
There was an uneasy feeling percolating across the Ravenloft contingent. It had been only a few hours since Corvus Corax and the heist team returned to the Night Phoenix with the Goddess Venus. The whole situation, at first, looked to have been a success, even with the failures of the Shell.
Lockcraft, however, knew that something had gone wrong. The Primarch approached the director only after meeting with Eldrad Ulthran and the goddess. He explained that he would be returning to Sol and likely faced some sort of judgment for his actions.
Unfortunately, the second heist had been too messy and chaotic to not have any evidence left behind that would paint the Raven Guard as the ones behind everything. With that in mind, Corvus explained that Lockcraft would engage the Shambhala Protocol if anything happened to the Primarch and his Legion.
Taking a deep breath, Lockcraft activated the holographic display before him. It flickered to life, projecting a comprehensive overview of the Shambhala Protocol, a meticulously crafted endeavor encompassing every facet of their operations and the safety of their personnel. The protocol was a series of plans that would be enacted to cover the tracks of all Ravenloft operations and move command staff and core personnel into the Black Library.
This was a very mild descriptor, though. It would take years to conclude, and the entire organization would be on the run during that time. No one can erase the existence of a whole group in one year, but the Raven Guard and Eldar made it a lot easier. The Shrike Commission would also be vital in moving funding and necessary resources into secured accounts and vaults.
Lockcraft paced back and forth in his private quarters aboard the Night Phoenix, his mind racing with thoughts and concerns. Nor could he ignore the unease within the Ravenloft contingent. Granted, not everyone was worried about the future that awaited them.
The devout followers of their reborn deity, the Venusians, clustered around Venus, their devotion evident in their every gesture and word. Lockcraft watched them with a mix of curiosity and wariness, wondering about the nature of Venus after she had absorbed the Shard of Khaine and the implications her arrival held for future operations.
But it was the Aeldari contingent that intrigued Lockcraft the most. Their keen interest in Venus, their whispered discussions, and their watchful gazes spoke volumes. No doubt, they couldn't help but notice the uncanny resemblance between the goddess's features and the Aeldari's physiology, sparking questions and speculations within his mind.
Naturally, Lockcraft also wondered what had gone wrong with the ritual. The failed attempt to coax the Godseed into the prepared Shell troubled Lockcraft deeply. Once again, proving that mortals could not predict the nature of the divine or the warp.
How this operation almost failed was a stark reminder. Only through his impromptu ritual had Ravenloft salvaged the whole procedure and the Shell. Yet, the fact that the Shell remained in a dormant state raised concerns about its vulnerability to other warp entities seeking to claim it.
Lockcraft knew he had to find answers to understand the intricacies of what had transpired and its implications for their future endeavors. But his hands were tied by Lord Corax's instructions to listen to the Eldar and monitor Venus.
Restless, Lockcraft approached the hololithic display in his quarters, activating it to review the recordings of the events that had unfolded. He analyzed every detail and interaction, hoping to glean some insight and understanding that would clarify their predicament. Not that it would do him any good; he already reviewed the footage at least four times.
Lockcraft studied the recorded data of the ritual, his eyes scanning the intricate patterns and symbols displayed before him. He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that their attempt hadn't resulted in the summoning of a daemon or a Reality Abberation. The potential consequences of such a mishap would have been catastrophic.
The tension that had permeated the air during those ten minutes of the ritual was indescribable. Lockcraft had held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest, as the Venusian war-witches followed his instructions precisely. It had been a delicate dance, a precarious balance between mortal sorcery and divine intervention. The thought made Lockcraft crave a stiff drink to calm his nerves. Unfortunately, he never took to the firewater like others had.
Besides, drowning his anxieties in alcohol would offer no solution, no respite from the feeling of impending doom that lingered in the back of his mind. As Lockcraft delved deeper into the data, his frustration grew. There were no clear answers, no neat solutions that presented themselves. It was as if the gods themselves reveled in playing by their own enigmatic rules, leaving mortals to navigate through a labyrinth of uncertainties.
"Leeway," he muttered to himself, his voice laced with determination. "If the gods hold the strings of fate, mortals must seize the threads of possibility."
Lockcraft continued scrutinizing the data, searching for patterns, anomalies, and anything that could offer a glimpse of understanding. He knew his sought answers might elude him, but he was resolved to keep searching. He refused to yield in the face of cosmic mysteries and impending doom. There had to be a way, a glimmer of hope hidden amidst the chaos. If Ravenloft had come this far, should it not be possible to go even further?
Lockcraft's frustration grew as he continued to search for answers, feeling as though he was trying to squeeze water from a stone. The unfairness of their situation weighed heavily on him. They had been on the cusp of achieving another miraculous feat through their own efforts, only to be faced with the need for yet another to get them out of this mess.
Lost in his thoughts, Lockcraft was suddenly jolted by the sound of laughter, faint yet distinct. It wasn't a natural sound but rather an echo resonating within his mind.
He instinctively reached for his modified laspistol, prepared to defend himself against any potential threat. As he cautiously stood up, he surveyed the room and checked outside his office, ensuring his surroundings were secure.
Outside, his security contingent, the heavily armored Ravenloft troops known as "werewolves," stood guard, vigilant and watchful. Lockcraft scanned the area, but there were no signs of any approaching individuals apart from his security detail.
Sergeant Christenson, noticing Lockcraft's cautious demeanor and the grip on his laspistol, inquired about the situation. Lockcraft felt the lingering presence behind him, urging him to remain alert. With determination etched on his face, Lockcraft addressed the sergeant.
"We may have a guest arriving, or they may already be here. If you hear anything unusual, do not create a disturbance unless I send a panic signal," Lockcraft explained, aware of how incredulous his words might sound. He was grateful that such peculiar claims and unconventional orders were not entirely unexpected within the realm of Ravenloft.
Christenson looked perplexed but understood the gravity of the director's words. "Understood, sir," he replied, ready to follow Lockcraft's instructions without question. Lockcraft didn't need to cause a scene now if he had one of their more eccentric guests over.
As Lockcraft closed the door behind him and turned around, his heart skipped a beat as his gaze fell upon an unfamiliar figure sitting casually at his desk. The individual leaned back in the chair, their Harlequin boots resting on the desk's surface as they reviewed the footage of the ritual.
Unlike other Harlequins he had encountered, this one lacked a mask, but Lockcraft couldn't help but wish they wore one. The creature's faded white face paint and piercing yellow eyes made him uneasy. Lockcraft couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as the Harlequin spoke, their voice laced with a delirious smirk.
"So close, and yet so far," the Harlequin remarked, their words carrying a hint of amusement. If there was any ill intention here, Lockcraft didn't feel it. He seriously doubted the Harlequins would send someone to kill him. "Though, you did better than most."
Lockcraft's glare intensified, his grip on the laspistol tightening. "If you're implying that you could have done better, then feel free to enlighten me," he retorted, his tone laced with sarcasm.
As Lockcraft approached his desk, he maintained eye contact with the Harlequin, refusing to back down. "Also, that's my chair," he stated firmly, his voice filled with a touch of authority.
The Harlequin chuckled softly, the sound reverberating through the room. "Ah, possessiveness over a mere chair. How quaint," they replied, their voice dripping with amusement. With deliberate intent, the Harlequin continued to rock back and forth in the chair, causing it to emit a faint squeak. It was a calculated move, a display of control that seemed to mock Lockcraft's territoriality.
Undeterred by the Harlequin's playful demeanor, Lockcraft maintained his composure and pressed for answers. "And who are you exactly? Did the Laughing God send you, or did you just come here of your own volition?"
The Harlequin paused, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he considered his response. "Ah, Mr. Lockcraft, ever the inquisitive mind hidden by a mask of stoic disdain," he replied with a sly smile. "To answer your question, call me Jean Dazzle. And I suppose I was and wasn't sent here by the Laughing One."
Lockcraft arched an eyebrow, noting the human-sounding name chosen by the Harlequin. "Jean Dazzle? Fine, whatever." Lockcraft commented, his voice tinged with annoyance. "Why are you here, sir?"
Jean Dazzle leaned back in the chair, his eyes sparkling with intrigue. "Ah, my dear Lockcraft, I am here to see how this story plays out. You see, I am a seeker of stories, a weaver of tales, and a practitioner of tall tales. Your organization's enigmatic endeavors have, naturally, piqued the interest of many in the halls of the Black Library."
Lockcraft's tone grew slightly impatient as he crossed his arms. "I figured as much," he replied, his voice tinged once more with annoyance. "But you haven't explained why you are here, in this room, speaking with me and disrupting my work."
Jean Dazzle's laughter echoed through the room once more, its eerie quality reminding Lockcraft of glass breaking. "Ah, dear Lockcraft, it is precisely because of your work and its far-reaching consequences that I find myself intrigued," the Harlequin replied, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He gestured toward the hololithic display, indicating the aftermath of the recent endeavor.
Lockcraft's brows furrowed in confusion. "So, you're merely curious about what happened?" he asked, his tone tinged with skepticism. "If you seek answers, I suggest you consult with your god or one of the Farseers. They would be more inclined to satiate your curiosity. Perhaps even Venus herself."
Jean Dazzle leaned forward, his eyes locking with Lockcraft's. "Ah, but you see dear director, it is not the straightforward answers I seek," he replied, his voice laced with a mysterious edge. "If anything, I'm here to provide you with such things."
Lockcraft's skepticism deepened, his gaze narrowing as he glared at Jean Dazzle. "So you are here to render me aid? Offer wisdom and advice?" he questioned, his tone dripping with suspicion. "And who approved this outreach? I don't trust anyone who claims to assist Ravenloft unless I or Corvus has personally vetted them."
The Harlequin's laughter resonated through the room once more, its echoes reverberating off the walls. "Why does any of that matter?" he replied, his expression playful. He gestured toward the hololithic display, drawing attention to the urgency of their situation. "You are looking to help the Primarch, yes? I have an idea for exactly that."
Lockcraft's gaze remained fixed on Jean Dazzle, his stare unwavering. "Then you can report your idea to one of your peers or the Great Seer," he retorted, his voice laced with caution. "Let them explain its merits and contents to me. I won't be so quick to drink from a poisoned chalice."
Jean Dazzle's grin widened, his eyes glittering with mischief. "Ah, but dear director, where is the fun in that?" he replied, his tone filled with amusement and intrigue. "You see, I offer you a gift—a means to throw off the investigation into the Primarch."
Lockcraft's skepticism flared once more, his voice laced with disbelief. "You have a solution to throw off the investigation by the Sigillite, his entire organization, every Arbite in Sol, Astartes, Primarchs, Mechanicum, Psykers, Custodies, and even the Emperor of Mankind himself, who are all working together to figure out why a warp event unseen in thousands of years just happened under all their watch?" he challenged his words carrying a mix of incredulity and defiance.
Jean Dazzle simply nodded, his expression unyielding. "Yes."
Lockcraft's eyes narrowed as he studied the Harlequin, searching for any trace of deception. "If you possess such knowledge, why haven't you shared it with your kin or the Eldar council? Why entrust it to me?"
The Harlequin's amusement grew, his tone filled with cryptic allure. "Because, dear director, the pieces of this intricate dance are already set. You are in a very unique position of holding power to pull the strings and orchestrate a great performance that will befuddle even the most astute observers."
Lockcraft's patience started running thin as he listened to Jean Dazzle's. The Harlequin's cryptic manner and convoluted instructions only added to his growing frustration.
However, he knew better than to dismiss any possibility outright. Options were low, and time was running out to implement any solution.
"Say I listen to your suggestions. I'd be a fool to take them at face value. I will need to verify whatever you tell me," Lockcraft asserted, his voice firm and unwavering.
Their alliance with the Eldar had been beneficial so far, but there was a point where trust had to be verified.
Jean Dazzle nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "A sensible take for a rather unsensible situation you find yourself in," he conceded, his tone laced with amusement. As Lockcraft rose from his seat, he noticed the tattered and bleached body armor of the Harlequin, its holo-field flickering in ethereal patterns.
"Now, let's get to the heart of the matter," Jean Dazzle exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "What you need to do is rather simple... well, actually, it's incredibly complicated and convoluted, but your organization seems to treat such things as old hat now, so what's the difference, eh?"
Lockcraft's irritation peaked. He had little patience for the Harlequin's theatrics. "Just get on with it and tell me what needs to be done," he urged, his voice curt and no-nonsense.
Jean Dazzle let out a theatrical sigh. "Very well, straight to the point," he acquiesced, though a mischievous glint remained in his eyes. "You, Mr. Lockcraft, and your organization will create a divine charm, a false reading that confounds anyone attempting to use the warp to find the True Shell. This charm will be accompanied by the fabrication of a false shell, replicating Venus's essence."
Then the Harlequin paused and laughed, "Though, you must first create a faux faith centered around a deity that doesn't exist in this timeline, and then you must convince the local warp to accept the charm, false shell, and faux faith."
Lockcraft's brow furrowed as he tried to comprehend the implications. "So, you want me to create a false religion centered around a deity that doesn't exist in this reality," he summarized, his voice tinged with incredulity. "Then, I must somehow convince the warp, the enigmatic plane that has plagued humanity for millennia, to accept this faux god, faith, and a replication of a god's essence. All in the hopes of throwing off any investigation into what truly transpired in Sol."
Jean Dazzle's laughter echoed through the room, a disconcerting blend of amusement and delight. "Ah, you've grasped the essence of it, dear director," he chimed, his eyes sparkling with mischief at his pun. "A grand deception, a web of illusions and manipulated energies. A feat that may baffle even the most astute observers."
Lockcraft's mind raced, evaluating the risks and complexities of the Harlequin's plan. It was audacious, almost insane, but it held the potential to divert enough attention to throw off any investigators. This was beyond absurd. It was dangerous, downright liable to fail. They had already tempted fate once more than once.
Damn it all. They had already gone this far. "Explain to me the specifics," Lockcraft demanded, his voice resolute. "Every step, every detail. And what we need to do to make this work."
Jean Dazzle's satisfaction was palpable in his tone as he responded, "Excellent. You must first acquire the name of the faux god in question. Thankfully, I have it: Errorum. A deity of Secrets, Exploitation, Mistakes, and the Stygian Keyblade."
Lockcraft's mind reeled at the mention of the god's name. A strange sensation washed over him, accompanied by a flickering light at the edge of his vision. It was as if the mere utterance of the deity's name had stirred something deep within him. "A Keyblade? This god isn't just some parallel deity you found... It's a possible godseed based on the Skeleton Key!"
A surge of realization coursed through Lockcraft's mind. Corvus hadn't divulged this crucial detail to him. It was likely that even the enigmatic Primarch himself wasn't aware of this connection. The revelation was both disconcerting and intriguing, but now, it holds no relevance.
Jean Dazzle's surprise flickered across his face momentarily before transforming into a wide, toothy grin. Rows of crooked, yellowed teeth were bared as he exclaimed, "My, my, my! You're quite astute! I expected a few questions, but you unraveled this mystery alone, with only a mere mention of a keyblade to guide you."
"Lucky me," Lockcraft muttered, dismissing any notion of praise. The implications of the Skeleton Key's ability to manifest as a specific parallel Godseed was staggering in terms of significance and danger. It meant that a divine relic had the potential to transform into an actual god.
It also meant that objects of worship could evolve into conscious divine entities. This made Lockcraft think of the Mechanicum and their reverence for Machine Spirits, the Tech-Priests of Mars hinted at the idea that machines themselves could transcend into becoming more than just a simple machines.
All of this worried Lockcraft that the thought of a galaxy where gods could be artificially created through a perplexing fusion of science and prayer was unsettling, to Lockcraft. The devastation ensuing could rival the horrors of the Age of Strife and the Cybernetic Rebellions.
And the Eldar, they knew of such possibilities? This information was at least in the hands of the Harlequins. Regardless, it suggested that their civilization had once possessed the capability to create gods but had perhaps been restrained by their own pantheon.
However, at some point, those restraints had faltered. Leaving the galaxy in its current state. As if Lockcraft didn't need another reason for this organization's existence. Ravenloft needed to comprehend and control the dissemination of this knowledge before someone succumbed to megalomania and sought godhood. Yet, here Lockcraft stood, about to embark on an endeavor equally perilous.
"I require as much information as you can provide," Lockcraft asserted firmly, his tone demanding. If there was any hope for success, he needed a comprehensive understanding and the ability to develop a strategic approach to organize the intricate components of the plan.
"Of course," Jean Dazzle gave another flourish, "My knowledge and skills are at your service. Although I would warn you that you need more than my considerable knowledge to pull this off." Lockcraft needed to gain the services of the Venusians and their goddess. Thankfully, this should be an easy enough sell to both.
"Then we best get started."
How do you create a religion within 48 hours? The intricacies of faith, namely the structuring, and narrative, often were formed organically. No one made an organized institution in a single day but developed the idea around dogmatic practice that arose from simple rituals. Yet more often than not, the name and concept of the god drew the most attention from newcomers.
In short, you create a religion with a simple premise: What does the god offer? That was the first question that Lockcraft and his contingent needed to have answered. Thankfully, Jean Dazzle might have already given it to them.
Errorum, the deity of Secrets, Exploitation, Mistakes, and the Stygian Keyblade. It was a name that held profound meaning once you delved into its essence.
Secrets? Throughout history, humanity has been driven by an insatiable thirst for the mysteries of the universe. The allure of a god who could unveil these secrets, even at a cost, was irresistibly tempting. Imagine the power to create something as extraordinary as the Shell and possess the knowledge of the Godseed's location.
Exploitation? The cult saw an opportune advantage in Sol's ponderous security measures. With Errorum as their patron, they could cunningly exploit the vulnerabilities, breaching the impenetrable defenses of the vault. They would accomplish the audacious feat of stealing the Godseed right from under the watchful eyes of Terra's inhabitants, a testament to both Errorum's power and their own audacity.
Mistakes? Ah, the intricate dance of fate. Errorum, the god of this burgeoning faith, would ensure that mistakes flowed in both directions. The penultimate price for accessing its boundless power. What good are answers and the means to conquer your adversaries if everything proceeds without obstacles? The interplay of triumph and tribulation would imbue the cult's endeavors with depth and challenge, making every step a thrilling and unpredictable journey.
The Stygian Keyblade? A bit harder to define properly, but one of the dharmic members suggested that the keyblade embodies the essence of Errorum. One that serves as a metaphorical key that unlocks hidden knowledge unveils concealed truths, and delves into the depths of forbidden wisdom. The blade aspect "cuts" through the quasi-state of truth and concrete falsehoods of institutions and individuals alike.
In the multifaceted name of Errorum, Lockcraft and his contingent found the foundation for their religious narrative, a tapestry woven with the yearning for secrets, the shrewdness of exploitation, and the delicate balance between triumph and error. Within this framework, it painted a vivid portrait of a deity whose offerings were both tantalizing and perilous. It easily appealed to any mortal follower, hungry for power, knowledge, and mystery that the warp would crave.
Jean Dazzle infused the new faith with his own artistic touches, adding subtle flairs that would catch the attention of the warp and distort any attempts to uncover the truth behind the events in Sol. It was a delicate balance, creating a religion that appeared substantial yet lacked the specific details crucial for genuine belief. This was the essence of their "red herring" strategy, designed to misdirect and confuse those who sought to investigate.
Lockcraft and his contingent successfully created this primitive religion, laying the groundwork for the next phase of their plan—the development of the divine charm, the False Shell. Compared to the intricate complexity of the True Shell, the False Shell had to be a stripped-down version, mimicking its appearance but lacking its true essence.
However, before they could proceed, they needed the aid of Venus. The goddess herself was key to unlocking the secrets required to fabricate the divine charm. It was a crucial step that would require their utmost persuasive skills and negotiation, for they needed her involvement to ensure the authenticity of the False Shell.
Lockcraft was starting to understand that this Jean Dazzle, or whatever his true name was, had to be a relatively high-ranking Harlequin. The healthy amount of fear the Levithan members and other Harlequins showed as they made their way to the med-bay of the Night Phoenix hinted at Jean Dazzle's significant standing among them.
As they made their way to the med-bay of the Night Phoenix, Lockcraft and Jean Dazzle encountered no resistance or attempts to stop them until they found the Venusians, most camped outside the room where their goddess resided.
At the forefront of the Venusian contingent stood Suraia, her displeasure evident upon locking eyes with Lockcraft. Their recent clashes during the emergency ritual strained their working relationship. The tension between them was palpable.
"Director," Suraia's tone carried a diplomatic edge, "What brings you here?"
Lockcraft responded flatly, "To see your goddess, obviously. Certainly not to uncover any more horrors the Dark Eldar have disguised as medical equipment." Suraia silently grimaced, acknowledging the mutual distaste for the Night Phoenix. None of them willingly desired to be aboard this vessel but duty-bound them to endure its dreadful confines until further notice. "Now I must see her."
"No," Suraia defiantly replied, "The goddess has requested not to be disturbed unless either the Warlord's Son or the Great Seer pays her a visit." The Venusians had assumed the role of gatekeepers, an annoyance to the Ravenloft contingent.
"Suraia, this is of utmost importance," Lockcraft pressed on, recognizing the significance of their mission. "I am working on a plan that could undermine the Imperium's investigation into the rebirth of Venus. It would safeguard her followers and herself from possible reprisal measures."
Suraia, deep in thought, appeared partially swayed by his words, but her resistance lingered. "Even if I desired to, our most beloved goddess refuses to allow anyone inside. She guards the Idol with unwavering protectiveness."
"The Idol?" Lockcraft queried, his curiosity piqued.
Suraia sighed, a mix of annoyance and envy coloring her features. "That woman, the Drukhari known as Sachmis. Our goddess dotes upon her like a mother bird. Yet, I cannot fathom why our Radiant Star blesses such a vile creature—captain of this abominable vessel, a slaver, and an unrepentant killer. But I dare not question the wisdom of our goddess."
A mischievous glint danced in Jean Dazzle's eyes as he interjected from Lockcraft's side. "Ah, the irony of fate, my dear Seventh Blood. Be cautious with your words, for zealous followers may interpret such remarks as justification to eliminate the perceived blasphemy of Sachmis."
Suraia's eyes blazed with fury as she locked gazes with Jean Dazzle. "We are not zealots or fanatics, alien! Our faith is built on love and reverence!"
Jean Dazzle snarked back with a sly grin, "Says the War-Witch." He chuckled at the evident embarrassment on Suraia's face, finding amusement in the exchange.
"Bastard clown! You look like you suck the joy out of any room you enter!" Suraia retorted, her anger palpable.
Jean Dazzle laughed again, waving her off with a dramatic flourish. "Oh, how your words bring color to my cheeks!"
However, despite the entertaining banter, Lockcraft reminded them of the pressing timeline. "Please, both of you, let's stay focused. We have a limited window of opportunity at the moment." He drew upon his experience managing disagreements among Ravenloft operatives, well-acquainted with the clashes that arose from a diverse mix of philosophers, scholars, priests, soldiers, scientists, and skeptics.
Seizing the moment, Jean Dazzle interjected, "Might I have a word with the goddess to get this proverbial ball rolling?"
Suraia, skeptical, responded, "You think you can lure her out of that room? I highly doubt that."
Jean Dazzle's smile widened, but the initial playfulness faded. "Oh-ho, but I believe I can. Whether or not you attempt to stop me is another matter entirely." His words carried a blatant threat.
Lockcraft felt a chill creep up his spine, and his surroundings briefly darkened as he watched Suraia tap into the power of the warp. "I'd like to see you try, you walking corpse of a clown."
Before Lockcraft could intervene to defuse the tension, a divine presence enveloped the med-bay, capturing everyone's attention. "Why do I sense the combative nature of individuals, yet no one deemed it necessary to invite me to witness it?"
Emerging seemingly out of thin air, the goddess Venus stood before the trio, emanating the same ethereal energy as when she first arrived. Lockcraft was confused when it was an olive-skinned woman with sun-kissed red hair adorned in a provocative dress uniform appeared before them. Had she changed forms once more?
The Venusians instantly bowed in reverence, and Suraia scrambled to her knees, her voice trembling, "Radiant One! Please forgive the disturbance we have caused in your vigil!"
"I'm surprised you even cared to intervene," Lockcraft said, raising an eyebrow. "I highly doubt a fight would have broken out. Harlequins don't engage in unnecessary conflicts."
Venus responded with a winning smile, her gaze shifting between Lockcraft and Jean Dazzle. "You would be right to assume that, to an extent. However, I was also responding to this creature's summons." She gestured towards Jean Dazzle, who couldn't help but smirk in response to the Sultana's glare.
"Told you I could get her attention," Jean Dazzle remarked, his tone dripping with satisfaction. Suraia's scowl deepened, but Lockcraft's mind was consumed by curiosity. How and when did the Harlequin send out his summons? He knew Jean Dazzle possessed psychic abilities, but communicating with a god while simultaneously conversing with him and Suraia? It was quite perplexing. Another piece of evidence to support that this Harlequin wasn't an ordinary one.
Venus redirected her attention to Lockcraft and Jean Dazzle. "Now then, why have you two called upon me?"
Lockcraft took the lead in explaining their purpose. "We have devised a plan to prevent the Imperium from uncovering the details of your securement and resurrection."
Rather than showing interest, Venus appeared puzzled. "I was informed by the Great Seer that he had everything under control. Why are you attempting to interfere with his machinations?"
"Ah, but you see, oh shining one," Jean Dazzle interjected, his voice filled with theatrical flair. "We believe it would be best to cloud the perspectives of your enemies, cause confusion, and redirect attention through the liberal use of a divine charm."
"A divine charm?" Venus's confusion was evident, but a fleeting moment of discomfort passed through Lockcraft as he felt a brief pain between his eyes. Venus spoke once more, her voice tinged with understanding. "You seek to create a false impression within the warp. Clever. However, you would require a substantial reserve of conceptualized design and energy, or at the very least, a viable instrument to establish a new narrative."
"Oh, but we can create such an instrument using another, more significant one as its foundation. The Shell of Venus, initially prepared by Ravenloft for you, would be an ideal anchor and catalyst for this new story. We merely need an imprint of your essence to bring it to life."
Lockcraft had a rough grasp of Jean Dazzle's proposal, but some aspects were new. Could a psychic imprint of a god truly be crafted? Furthermore, could a potent instrument or conceptualized design provide the necessary groundwork for a divine charm?
Venus contemplated the idea. "If you have the story prepared...?"
"We do," Lockcraft affirmed with a nod. "And we will require the assistance of your followers in this endeavor."
Suraia's displeasure at her people being recruited for Jean Dazzle and Lockcraft's plan was evident, but Venus seemed to be warming up to the notion. "I will need to access the Shell if only to elevate it to the status of the True Shell. Otherwise, the warp may become disoriented or attempt to undermine an instrument of my will."
"Of course," Jean Dazzle readily agreed, much to Lockcraft's reservation. Ravenloft put The Shell of Venus on hold for further research. However, as if sensing his concerns, the Goddess of Love and War spoke.
"Do not worry, Director. I merely need to embrace the Shell briefly, allowing it and me to establish a mutual understanding."
Surprisingly, Lockcraft found himself considering that the claim wasn't entirely outlandish. Over time, he understood that Titan Princeps had to establish similar arrangements with the God-Machines of the Titan Legions. Why wouldn't the Shell and Venus operate on a similar principle if such a connection was required there?
Besides, he realized he didn't have much choice in the matter. With a resigned sigh, he relented, "Fine."
The group took a bit longer to reach the holding bay where the Shell of Venus was kept. The goddess conversed and interacted with her devoted followers during those ten minutes. Lockcraft couldn't help but notice the natural charisma that emanated from her.
Venus possessed an undeniable allure that seemed to effortlessly sway and convince those who looked at her. It troubled Lockcraft, not because he believed she didn't deserve such admiration or that her divine status granted her these abilities, but because she could manipulate and persuade others effortlessly.
He didn't like it. Not because she didn't deserve the admiration or that her divinity gave her such abilities, but rather how easy Venus made it all look to sway and convince anyone that looked upon her. A beautiful woman held the power to sway the masses, and a cunning one could influence even the most powerful individuals to her cause.
Yet, Venus's charisma and magnetic pull rival that of the Primarchs. Lockcraft reasoned that it could be attributed to her followers being the most fervent and devoted, but as the goddess of Love and War, her domain held significant influence in the galaxy. If interpreted broadly enough, love could encompass countless individuals, drawing them in with power and influence.
Upon reaching the holding bay, where the Ravenloft security and research contingent and the Venusians prepared for the upcoming ritual, Lockcraft was compelled to ask a question lingering in his mind.
"Once everything is resolved, regardless of the outcome," he began, "what are your plans, Venus?"
The goddess's expression turned amused, and her reply was as outrageous as blunt. "Oh, nothing too complicated. I intend to rebuild my cult, start a few wars, make some people fall in love with me, and continue my exploration of the galaxy. You know, get into some trouble."
"You make light of it, but you acknowledge that your actions will inevitably cause chaos," Lockcraft said, his voice tinged with seriousness and conviction.
Venus's expression turned even more amused as she replied, "Ah, but when does change not disrupt the wheel of the status quo? When does any action or inaction fail to cause trouble? And chaos, to whom? I believe every ambitious individual has stirred up trouble in their life, particularly if they stand for something. Your actions here are no exception; they, too, are causing chaos."
Lockcraft paused, considering her words. He knew there was a difference between the chaos Venus spoke of and the stability he sought to maintain. He had a clear purpose in mind—to prevent further loss of life and instability within the Imperium, even if it meant going against its authorities.
"This is different. I intend to prevent further loss of life or instability within the Imperium, even if I technically act against it."
But Venus, still amused, countered, "Director, surely you must recognize that those in power won't perceive your actions as anything but impeding an investigation into a matter that I imagine holds great importance to your Emperor of Mankind. They would call such actions treason."
"I am not a traitor," Lockcraft asserted firmly. "Everything I do is sanctioned by the Primarch. Just because our work may contradict the High Lords' mandates doesn't mean it lacks benefit for humanity. Besides, it saved you, didn't it?"
Venus's grateful smile acknowledged the truth in his words. "Indeed, Corvus and Ravenloft have my thanks and eternal friendship, as do you, Director. But let us not forget that actions carry consequences. If you continue on this path, do so with unwavering conviction, even if it means making enemies. It is better to stand for what you believe in than to stand for nothing at all."
Before Lockcraft could pose another question, Jean Dazzle and Suraia approached them. "I believe we are ready to commence this performance. With your permission, Shining One," Jean Dazzle said, his tone carrying a hint of disrespect that the Sultana chose to ignore, and Venus didn't seem bothered by it either.
With everyone in their designated positions, Venus swiftly and unceremoniously transformed into a being of dark, violent energy. Lockcraft couldn't help but draw a parallel to the sunset on the planet Venus. The goddess appeared to channel herself into the Shell of Venus.
Whatever transpired within the Shell took mere moments before Venus emerged, again sporting a radiant smile. This time, she assumed a more Eldar form, with flowing blond hair, tannish skin, and mesmerizing golden eyes. Her attire was a tantalizing, slightly revealing robe crafted from red and white silks.
"She changes forms as effortlessly as a woman changing her shoes or dresses," Jean Dazzle remarked, a half-joking tone in his voice. Lockcraft couldn't help but agree. Venus seemed to have an aversion to remaining in one form for too long, embracing her fluidity and unpredictability.
Lockcraft couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Dealing with unpredictable and elusive gods was looking to be an issue. Their ever-shifting personalities and motives made them difficult to track and anticipate. The Chaos God Tzeentch, as described in the notes provided by Corvus, exemplified this with its ability to manipulate the laws of physics to suit its chaotic and often bizarre schemes.
However, Venus, a goddess of Love and War, had a certain level of predictability within her domains. She was open about her desires, or at least those she revealed to Lockcraft. Taking note of this observation for future reference, Lockcraft's attention was drawn to something materializing in Venus' right hand. To his bewilderment, it resembled an unidentified idol or totem made of liquid stone, taking the form of a... sea-shell. How fitting for the situation.
Approaching Lockcraft and Jean Dazzle, Venus held the non-euclidean object in her hand. "I must say, the Shell is quite comfortable, albeit a bit snug in some places," she remarked.
"Don't tell me it rides up in uncomfortable places," Jean Dazzle quipped, eliciting a chuckle from Venus. Lockcraft ignored the inappropriate comment and focused on examining what he believed to be the divine charm.
"So, this is the divine charm?" he inquired.
Venus nodded in affirmation. "Indeed. All you need to do is place this over the heart of your False Shell and invoke the new name given to it. Recite the necessary prayers, stories, and whatever else you have prepared. The warp will take care of the rest."
Extending the sea shell towards Lockcraft, he cautiously accepted it. The divine charm felt moist and slippery in his hands, yet his palms remained dry and unaffected by any residue. It seemed so alive as if a tiny crustacean might suddenly emerge from within.
"Dare I inquire what would happen if a mortal were to... utilize this on themselves?" Lockcraft ventured, already sensing that the outcome would not be pleasant.
Jean Dazzle spoke up, his tone grave. "It would result in a complete shift of one's soul and personality, most likely transforming them into a quasi-daemon or a warp spawn. Most mortals cannot withstand such a conceptual shift without considerable mastery over the warp. What you might refer to as Alpha-level proficiency."
"Even then, I would strongly advise against it," Venus added, her expression tinged with a hint of ancient wisdom. "It is not a desirable fate; that much is certain."
Taking note of their cautionary words, Lockcraft kept his gaze fixed on the divine charm. Its otherworldly allure drew his mind in, causing a slight discomfort in his eyes, prompting him to avert his gaze. It was time to refocus on the task at hand.
"Now, we must proceed with constructing the False Shell," he asserted, acknowledging the significant challenge ahead. "Fortunately, it doesn't need to be as grand and potent as the True Shell. It simply needs to be suitable for a god, like Errorum."
Jean Dazzle's eyes gleamed with excitement at the prospect. "Ah, that is where my expertise lies. I can shape the materials needed for the False Shell and, more importantly, ensure it is intentionally flawed."
Lockcraft nodded, understanding the strategy. "Exactly. Since Errorum is a god of mistakes, making the cult's creation appear imperfect is clever. Anyone investigating will assume that the cult was provided with defective materials and instructions, leaving behind misleading evidence." He marveled at the multitude of skills and talents Jean Dazzle possessed, surpassing the capabilities of any individual Harlequin he had encountered thus far. But this was the final hint that Jean Dazzle was anything but normal.
With his arms crossed, Lockcraft grew weary of the charade. "Enough games, Jean Dazzle. Who are you really?"
Upon hearing the name Jean Dazzle, Venus's incredulous voice filled the air. "Jean Dazzle? What kind of...?" Her voice trailed off as she narrowed her eyes, and a faint blush colored her cheeks. "Cegorach!" Her tone held displeasure and annoyance.
Lockcraft realized he should have recognized that the enigmatic Harlequin was none other than the Laughing God himself, Cegorach. However, there was a nagging feeling that Cegorach had employed some trickery to obfuscate his true identity and prevent Lockcraft from unraveling the ruse.
Cegorach's laughter echoed with a disconcerting tone. "Oh, the fact that the mortal couldn't see through my guise was one thing, but it's rather amusing that it took you, the Shining One, this long to catch on."
Venus, clearly not pleased with being caught up in the joke, responded, "Nice to meet you too, I suppose." Her tone carried a hint of annoyance at her own failure to discern Cegorach's true identity until Lockcraft had caught on. "This certainly wasn't how I envisioned our first encounter..."
Cegorach grinned, relishing in the subversion of expectations. "I do enjoy defying expectations and pulling the wool over people's eyes." He then turned his attention to Lockcraft. "And you, director, are quite intriguing. You actually put up some resistance, albeit unsuccessful. But the fact that a part of your mind tried to resist me is more than I can say for most during their first encounters. Consider it an honor."
Lockcraft didn't particularly feel honored. "Why all the tricks, though? It could have saved us both a considerable amount of time."
Cegorach's gaze shifted to Venus, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Because, unlike our straightforward companion here," he gestured towards the frowning Venus, who clearly disliked being labeled as straightforward, "I possess the talent for misdirection."
"Hmph!" Venus huffed in annoyance, her frustration evident. "Since the two of you have matters under control, I will return to overseeing my little conduit." She shot a sharp glare at Cegorach. "We will certainly have a discussion later. Count on it."
The Laughing God seemed unfazed by her threat. "Yes, yes. You'll want to establish your ground rules and assert your…dare I say, dominance." He giggled at the double entendre before waving off the irked goddess nonchalantly, earning another glare before Venus departed from the hold in a flash of light.
After a brief pause, Lockcraft turned his gaze towards Cegorach, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Should you be antagonizing her like that?"
"Do not worry about her. You might have noticed she was all smiles before discovering who I was. No doubt an aspect of Khaine bubbling to the surface." He smiled at Lockcraft, "But this is also our first meeting, Director Lockcraft."
That was true, "Yes. Although I imagined our first encounter would be during our interview." At least then, it would have been a more controlled face-to-face than this.
"Well, now we get past all that awkward ice-breaking and can have a frank and friendly conversation!" The rictus smile that adorned Cegorach's face did nothing to alleviate Lockcraft's unease at the prospect of a conversation with the enigmatic Laughing God.
"Now then, how about we finish this business of making a False Shell?"
More than a little eager to get back to work, Lockcraft nodded and started redirecting the Venusians for the next stage of this plan. He kept a note of what he just learned, albeit not verbally, from the Laughing God. His power was strong enough to deceive even gods' minds, and his unpredictable nature was beyond dangerous.
True to his word, Cegorach provided the necessary materials and expertise to fashion the False Shell. The Laughing God admitted that his craftsmanship might appear unimpressive to most, but he was more than capable in this endeavor.
Instead of employing wraithbone or traceable Eldar components, he utilized materials that the Venusians would have sourced or acquired: steel, titanium, adamantine, rockcrete, and other mundane substances.
Lockcraft couldn't fathom how these disparate materials could be blended together. In one moment, there was a chaotic heap of rubble and debris. Then, Cegorach's laughter resounded with such intensity that it resembled an Ogryn bellowing through a loud hailer yet miraculously caused no harm to anyone's ears. And just like that, a rather unsightly statue materialized in the center of the meticulously prepared ritual circle.
The False Shell was hideous! Yet Lockcraft had to admit there was something beautiful and pathetic about it. As if it was shaped by children's hands, molding their hopes and fears into something that embodied a sad attempt to call upon salvation.
Throughout their encounters, Ravenloft encountered numerous feral worlds where the inhabitants worshipped totems and idols that invoked potent forces or spirits. These objects were revered for their ability to crush enemies, bring forth rain or sun, or safeguard against malevolent entities.
However, gazing upon the False Shell evoked no sense of power or awe. Instead, it felt akin to casting a message in a bottle into the vast, unforgiving sea, hoping that someone or something would aid stranded souls amidst an impending storm.
In that sense, Errorum responded to the call of those weary souls, whether for their betterment or detriment. The irony wasn't lost on Lockcraft, as he seemingly sought to do the same, albeit for different reasons.
"Now then," Cegorach spoke, his gaze fixed on Lockcraft with anticipation, "We must bestow upon it the divine charm."
As anticipated, the False Shell readily accepted the charm. Lockcraft merely had to place the object on the chest of the unsightly statue, and it was promptly absorbed. The Laughing God then instructed the Venusians and the Ravenloft contingent to channel the warp and offer their "prayers" to the absent deity.
Observing the unfolding ritual, Lockcraft couldn't help but acknowledge that its success hinged greatly on Cegorach's involvement. The presence and power of the Laughing God bestowed a sense of legitimacy upon the proceedings. After all, Cegorach had already played a part in creating the Skeleton Key, ensuring its success despite the near-undoing caused by the Reality Aberration. He had consistently provided the resources and information necessary for the Venusian heist to prosper.
So what did he get out of this?
Regardless, Lockcraft felt the atmosphere in the room undergoes a palpable shift. Whispers assailed his hearing, and the edges of his vision were tinged with a crimson and golden glow. The warp was listening. It seemed both amused and intrigued by the unfolding ritual. Perhaps the entities and spirits observing from beyond were unaware of the precise nature of the proceedings, or maybe they were simply eager to witness the Laughing God's performance outside the confines of the Black Library.
The effect was staggering. Lockcraft watched as the False Shell pulsated with eldritch power, emanating an otherworldly glow and hum. The wretched and despicable statue metamorphosed into a form that resembled a being alien to this galaxy and reality itself.
Gazing upon the transformed form of Errorum was a challenging feat. It wasn't due to physical pain or discomfort but rather an innate sense that Lockcraft's soul acknowledged his unpreparedness to witness the true visage of Errorum.
It felt like there was a timing, a moment when he would be ready, but that moment hadn't arrived yet.
Like gazing upon a secret that was better left uncovered.
Nonetheless, the ritual's completion brought a satisfied expression to Cegorach's face. This indicated success, albeit success defined within the context of their intricate plan. The past few hours had been fraught with stress and intensity, leaving Lockcraft pondering whether he should take pride in the outcome.
In the face of the enigmatic and convoluted scheme that had unfolded, Lockcraft did feel relief. Deep down, he recognized that he had played a pivotal role in shaping events, even if the full extent of their consequences remained shrouded in uncertainty. Only time will tell if this was the right choice.
Cegorach approached him, "Well, I believe we can call this a successful pet project for you and your organization. Your part in all of this is over. I will take the False Shell and ready it for its…deployment? Yes, deployment."
That was all well and good, but there was still one last problem to resolve, "We still haven't talked to Eldrad Ulthran about this."
"Oh, that was handled hours ago." Cegorach smile looked a bit too odd now. Lockcraft could see what he thought was melting wax or some other material. "I've been speaking with him this entire time while working with you through this puppet."
"Puppet?" Lockcraft narrowed his eyes and realized what had happened, "This isn't your true form, then."
Laughing at the realization, Cegorach nodded, "Jean Dazzle is one of many masks I have worn. Just like the Shining One, I too like to change outfits quite often." He gave an apprising look to Lockcraft, "You did quite well for yourself, as did your Ravenloft. Eldrad and I are impressed."
"That's all well and good, but will this actually help Corvus? How will you even get it back to Sol without anyone noticing?" By now, the entire system was swarming with investigators and powerful individuals.
Cegorach didn't laugh, but Lockcraft heard the echoing laughter in his mind, "You should know by now, Director, if I want to be somewhere or do something, I can and will." The visage of Jean Dazzle started to fade away, "Regardless, I need to get the False Shell ready. Your contribution will be remembered, and we will most certainly be in touch."
In a blink of an eye, Cegorach vanished, taking the False Shell with him, leaving behind a confused Venusian and Ravenloft contingent. Lockcraft took it upon himself to explain that their mission had been successfully accomplished. Upon hearing this, Suraia and her Venusians promptly departed to return to their goddess, their duty fulfilled.
Once the immediate matters were settled with the Ravenloft contingent, Lockcraft sought solace in his office, yearning for a moment of respite to reflect on the repercussions of his actions. The False Shell now rested in the hands of Cegorach and the Eldar, and Lockcraft could only hope that it would be utilized for benevolent purposes rather than contributing to the machinations of chaos.
Yet, even as he contemplated the outcome, Lockcraft couldn't shake the nagging realization that he had been skillfully guided and perhaps manipulated by the Laughing God throughout the entire endeavor. The true motives and methods of Cegorach remained elusive, leaving Lockcraft to question his own complicity in the grand scheme of things.
He willingly paid such a price in his unwavering dedication to aiding the Primarch, utilizing any means available. As he reflected on the experience, Lockcraft acknowledged that he had gained valuable insights into the complexities of divine beings and the intricate dynamics among the gods.
Nevertheless, Lockcraft made a note to try and better understand the more subtle acts of manipulation, misdirection, and guile. Because if there was one lesson that Cegorach taught him, it was that even a god can be fooled.
---
@Daemon Hunter Okay, here is the next omake.
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- Location
- USA
I think there was a rewrite here but the original part was left in. Apologies if I'm mistaken.
Alright, some more Q&A stuff. Slightly unrelated note towards the very end, but there is a real possibility that we might try for a Sister of Silence waifu while on Terra, hence those questions.
1. Interesting theory that I just came up with, but can a mortal who spends a considerable amount of time with a god or in their personal domain start to develop quirks or habits that could be associated with the god even if they don't believe in them? Like a quasi-cultural osmosis, albeit unconsciously.
A: They would yes
5. Is Shai-Tan a thing or not considering Morningstar is a thing now?
A: They are a thing still
7. Basically make Vashtorr the closest a single individual can come to being the Satan figure of the Mechanicus. Use him as an opportunity/excuse to flesh out the Machine Cult's faith like how the Imperial Creed has been. You could have Cogboy equivalents to the Sisters of Battle with their own Acts of Faith or an elite order of Techsorcists who have dedicated themselves to their purpose so much that they can cause Chaos tech to go into seizures mid-battle with holy code words. Give the Machine God some spotlight, y'know?
A: That would work well for him
1a. Huh, I wonder what the humans living in the Black Library are like these days.
A: It hasn't been long enough for them to notice yet, but over time they're going to be a fair bit more eccentric
19. Had any of the Phoenix Lords returned to realspace since?
A:
4. So Jupiter is likely going to be based on Orus because that was what Corvus has planned, but where will Venus go? She can't go back to the world of her namesake, so where exactly can she establish her powerbase? I think the plan was her to go with Sachmis to her new pirate empire and setup a base of operation, but I suppose there is also the opportunity to help Sachmis and Corvus with getting the megastructure from the Ulwarth and establishing her prescene there.
A: At the moment that's in flux. Cegorach offered an isolated section of the Webway but Venus didn't like that that much.
5. Given how a Venus cult will propagate across the IA, I am assuming she just approaches the soldiers and officers from within dreams?
A: That is one of the methods she'll use
7. Crazy thought, but will there benn an unintentional side effect of Eli approving all Primarch project funding to help reduce tensions between the "Rebel" and loyalist factions because they aren't going to feel like the government is intentionally hamstringing one side?
A: There's a chance of that
21a. Magnus is working on his Portal Maze? How is that going?
A: He is, at the moment he's worked on shoring up the parts of the Prosperan Webway he's made
23. does Kesar keep unused runes on him in the event he needs to slap down a purity rune on somethink or someone
A: He does although he's got a purity rune in his armor already
10: If you were to rank the Primarchs in terms of how much they have contributed to scientific research, where would Kesar be?
A: I would say roughly fifth, but it depends on how you choose to rank them. Ahead of him would be Magnus, Perturabo, Ferrus, and Vulkan
11. I take it most Eldar sort of just *stare* at Venus, unsure what to make of her. She's not "ugly" from a physical standpoint, but something about her feels a little uncanny valley in some respects.
A: Pretty much, the best description would be like finding a catgirl IRL
11b. Of all possible ways you could have descvribed this, why would you call what was already a half-alien love goddess that she looks like a catgirl for the elves?
A: It's where my mind went immediately in full honesty. And it fit
15. I really want to see Venus meet with Morianne. I have to imagine there is a weird disconnet there as well due to Morianne's nature.
A: The best answer to what happens there is Venus' form begins glitching
16. Wait, hang on... Sachmis used to be basically a maid, right?
Is she now Venus's maid?
A: …Maybe
18. I have a genius idea.
Venus was offered an empty part of the Webway, but rejected that yeah?
The dream-cats this turn. Send them all there.
Venus can truly become the ultimate catgirl elf goddess, you furry.
A: Well uh, hmm, I mean. It'd work?
18a. why the fuck would you agree to this.
18b. how would it work? i have to know.
18c. could not think of a reason it would not work huh?
A: Because TLP, like reality, has no guard rails
18b. For that, you essentially cause that portion of the Webway to follow dream logic rather than normal logic
18c. Pretty much
18e. so, essentially, cegorach finds this old greco-roman god who's doubly caprious because goddamn why the hell did sachmis have to imprint her mind on a goddess like this?
here's this abandoned parking lot of a super pocket dimension, you can crash there if ya like? no? shit, dammit, i need to keep an eye on her assets- i mean this asset of a goddess. what do i do.
oh shit, the eternal wardens who i'm trying to ally has found a gigantic horde of dream cats? and the dream cats lost their home and are otherwise pretty chill?
five birds, one stone. distract the goddess with endless cats and make her happy with them, awesome. turn that pretty unused webway place into an awesome dreamland filled with amazing cats? fuck yeah. those same cats can also help eldar with their powers and be very happy with this? triple combo. eternal wardens grateful that this problem is solved? masterplan. this is extremely funny? best reason.
A: Proof that Cegorach is just winging it
18f. hey, remember this?
"SleepMode — Yesterday at 4:01 AM
Given how a Venus cult will propagate across the IA, I am assuming she just approaches the soldiers and officers from within dreams?
DaemonHunter — Yesterday at 12:30 PM
5. That is one of the methods she'll use"
how much would the dream-cats help?
18g. also, like, seriously how good would this whold idea really be with the venus + cats plan?
A: ...oh, oh my. They'd help quite a bit
22. So how much convincing does Eldrad or Cegorach need to give her to go with this plan?
A: Not that much provided they offer assistance with herding the cats
2. It says a lot about TLP's metaphysics and general possibility for crazy stuff that the idea that a shard of canon Magnus the Red (apparently reflecting his desire for lost knowledge) traveling to the past, merging with King Cadmus and turning him into a Perpetual that was then used as an ingredient to help create Magnus the Red in the first place being actually possible as a scenario.
A: I can confirm that it is
4. What would Venus say if she saw Clint? How would she describe the Timeless Army/March of Eons?
A: "Are you open to recruitment? It's rare to see someone as dedicated to war as you."
5. Technically speaking, could Venus with the dream-cats be able to manage to spread her divine worship to a Forge-World with said Warp Xenos cats?
I ask because I want to accuse you of making a 'dreamy' catgirl half-elf love goddess who can spread her cult by fucking 40k lolcat memes.
A: Well, technically yes
8. This is the stupidest possible accidental foreshadowing I have noticed for TLP, relating to the Venus dream-cat idea.
Venus has nothing to do with cats irl.
However, gods and goddesses related to cats do exist. Such as Bastet, Freyja and Kek and so on.
...
Sekhmet is an Egyptian goddess depicted with a Lion's head.
Sekhmet is also known as Sachmis.
Venus got Sachmis, so now she can get cats.
A: This is the funniest shit
6b. I assume that they'd want an amazing new home, Webway makes that a check, and then a source of food. Their food is dreams and ideas, so I assume that they'd eat Eldar dreams and such. Maybe ideas from Commorragh, actually. For using human dreams to spread Venus's worship... clearly, they'd something stronger to sweeten the deal.
What would be something that Venus or the Eldar could offer that would be welcomed by the cruel cat overlords of the Webway?
A: Solitaire dreams, those would be a highly unique experience
9. So, Venus is gonna head to the Zanzibar League at some point right? Literally that is a place that will worship her because she's the goddess of victory, war, and prostitutes.
A: That is one of the things on her to do list yes
2. Aside from becoming gods, did Alpharius Omegon going through the Well of Eternity affect their Legion at all?
A: Not that you know of, then again you don't know much about how their Legion is like
3. Passing this along:
"Mysterio: remind me again one thing we can do with our newfound pysker power is be a supportive unit? by that I mean boost others CR as well as combat ability?
TinyGladiator: Largely, it also helps with rune-making too.
Mysterio: now I can't recall if this is another thing we can do but was it possible to teleport but only to those we have a very close connection/relationship with?"
A: It's unlikely
8. I realise this probably isn't true, but in the Mechanicum novel there is a vision of the Void Dragon where the great beast devours maidens that are sacrificed by other humans to appease the horrific monster.
While it is noted in text to be more of a metaphor than reality, and Blanks obviously can manifest for anyone when they're born, this makes me wonder if this reflects at all to the mysterious origin of the Sisters of Silence.
A: Oh I like that actually, it's pretty fun
18. Not sure if I asked this before, but how did that ritual sacrifice god ascend in the first place?
A: Through a massive ritual they performed with a few hundred k sacrifices that ascended them
19. Also, it's interesting that the Ritual Sacrifice god managed to ascend while only partially having their domain. Is that something more unique to how widespread and powerful that domain is, or can, say, Alpharius Omegon ascend Sigma by sharing the domain of Espionage or something?
A: More unique to that domain
20. So Errorum is effectively a god that exists in an alternate timeline in TLP?
A: They are yes
20a. So what happens now, though? Lockcraft effectively told the warp of this timeline that "Oh yeah, there is this god you might not have heard about" and the False Shell is technically a thing now.
A: For that, there's an alternate timeline out there where people are rather confused as to why Errorum is the way that they are. As well as Ravenloft being about to experience some extremely fucky things happenning with the False Shell that neither they nor Cegorach expected.
19a. Who else has the ritual sacrifice domain, then?
A: Be'lakor, a handful of other daemons, Emps, but most of it is free floating
22. Also, is Cegorach's power growing in certain instances? Like his ability to multi-task via puppets like with Jean Dazzle?
A: It's less that their power is growing, and more their worship base is growing
20aa. Wait a minute...did Ravenloft in our timeline accidently empower a god in *different* timeline?
A: 20aa. They did yes, it's why it actually worked. If they hadn't done so, then it'd have been seen through by Emps
23. Ravenloft learns about this cross-timeline contamination effect. They do whatever is possible to prevent Orks and Khornates in other timelines learning about the BTW.
A: I will say that Cegorach has in fact already been working on this. As has Tzeentch
24. Wait a minute, with his own power and perhaps the Skeleton Key... could Corvus hear whispers from himself? From another timeline?
A: There are places where that occurs. However, those situations are ludicrously dangerous.
24a. The Skeleton Key is slowly becoming an actual reality hack ability if you can locate the universal depository of general knowledge and suddenly you are looking into weird alternate timelines for info
A: Similarly, it is something that it can do, however it's a bit like openning a door blindly. You have no idea what's on the other side.
24c. At some point the Ordo Chronous equviliant in TLP is going to show. That is unless Ravenloft is slowly becoming the founders of whatever temporal defense force is forming in TLP.
A: Odds are even then they'll still show up. It's just it'll be the Ordo from another timeline
24e. so Auro is on the hit list for this time line protection group since he was the first one to do cross timeline fuckery
A: Depends on which group it is. Some of them yes, some of them no, some of them both
25. Does our Masters of the Otherworld trait apply to that non-Chaos daemonworld?
A:
1. I realise something.
The 'solar system' of Sixty-Three-Nineteen is said to be divine in nature, a godspore conglomerate in my own words, from a diffused godspore of Sol itself. Which has been somewhat used by the current 'Emperor of Mankind' upon 'Terra'.
I asked before if Venus's rebirth could affect the Sixty-Three-Nineteen Venus if the heist worked. With such a crazy, unexpected rebirth, has something more noticeable occurred?
1a. Worse yet, could the real Emperor of Mankind and such use the fake Venus as a divination focus for the real Venus (goddess)?
A: 1. It has yes. Namely that Venus now has a daemon on it
1a. They could yes
7. how do psyker familiars work?
A: That's a very hard question to ask
8. what is Kesars bonus in duels vs Daemons
A: Base of +275, but he often gets an intangible bonus for various attributes that's hidden. Usually that results in a +325
9. how does overkill work with True Death for Exalted daemons
A: If you roll over a certain amount during the roll where they die, then they get true killed. Said number varies from daemon to daemon
15. How much of a chance, is it that we get another Aleph or maelstrom situation after our 10 years with emp?
A: Low
15a. Does that mean then that the twins are going to do something incredibly risky and dangerous then, and ask us for help?
A: Perhaps, perhaps not
1. Huh, could we ask the Emperor to help make this Primal Rune? I'm sure he'd like to have one.
"Purification?
Effect: Boost to purification.
Requirement: Ask someone other than Kesar who has purified a holy artefact of a Chaos God help create this./Ask the Emperor of Mankind to help create this."
A: You can ask
2. can psykers create minor warp sprites by gathering and refining raw warp energy?
A: Not really how it works
3. Since we're gonna be stuck on Terra for a couple decades, are we gonna be able to meet Emps while we're here to sort out all the Rune stuff?
A: You'd have to see if he's available for that
4. if the First Daemon Princes had not been removed what would that have resulted in?
A: An exponentially more dangerous chaos. One that actually had highly experienced daemons with ambition and flexibility
5. So just to be clear, with the exception of Be'lakor himself, have all of the first daemon princes of the Chaos Gods died?
A: They have yes
5a.Actually, what about Slaanesh's first Daemon Princes? Did they all get shanked by Ceg or are they still around?
A: Killed by Kurnuous
6. How many new space marines per turn do we get ?
A: It varies based on your number, logistics, and recruitment, but around 50k or so
7. Oh are we going to work on the Geneseed with the Emperor and Fabius during our stay at terra?
A: There is a possibility
12. I was just wondering what 'holy artefact of a Chaos God' that the Emperor cleansed, allowing him to create this Rune. Probably a lot, but I just realised... would Kesar's chaos wounds count?
A: It would if it was completed, which it wasn't
12a. Huh, then what did the Emperor manage to cleanse in the past out of curiosity? It wasn't the Maelstrom, was it?
A: chaotic STCs with a daemon in them
13. You said before that a Runic Wind in an area would let more runes be made easier there, and certain other stuff to happen.
Roughly speaking, if we made a bunch of volumetric runes of fire in... say, the Rune World, how much would that help the Rune World for that particular runic type?
A: Unknown
16. Putting runes on a living thing drains their soul for the rune, yes?
How does that work with putting it on a machine, and affecting the machine spirit?
A: It's a passive drain on them
1. To put this into perspective, you said dating a Sister of Silence will help Kesar manage psychic awakening? By how much?
A: It'd make it easier for him to handle some of the power overall. Akin to a +10 to +30 depending on the strenght of the blank in question
1a. Since we're gonna become a psyker soon, what malus are we getting till the 20 years are done?
A: -100 to most things.
13. Aside from being baffled the Primarchs can have such feelings, I have to wonder how the Emperor would react to Kesar getting a blank GF either mostly or at least partially to just cure the psychic headaches?
A: He'd approve of the reasoning behind it. But would wonder why you didn't break up afterwards.
14. do blanks grow in power like psykers through effort or time?
A: They do yes
A: They would yes
5. Is Shai-Tan a thing or not considering Morningstar is a thing now?
A: They are a thing still
7. Basically make Vashtorr the closest a single individual can come to being the Satan figure of the Mechanicus. Use him as an opportunity/excuse to flesh out the Machine Cult's faith like how the Imperial Creed has been. You could have Cogboy equivalents to the Sisters of Battle with their own Acts of Faith or an elite order of Techsorcists who have dedicated themselves to their purpose so much that they can cause Chaos tech to go into seizures mid-battle with holy code words. Give the Machine God some spotlight, y'know?
A: That would work well for him
1a. Huh, I wonder what the humans living in the Black Library are like these days.
A: It hasn't been long enough for them to notice yet, but over time they're going to be a fair bit more eccentric
19. Had any of the Phoenix Lords returned to realspace since?
A:
4. So Jupiter is likely going to be based on Orus because that was what Corvus has planned, but where will Venus go? She can't go back to the world of her namesake, so where exactly can she establish her powerbase? I think the plan was her to go with Sachmis to her new pirate empire and setup a base of operation, but I suppose there is also the opportunity to help Sachmis and Corvus with getting the megastructure from the Ulwarth and establishing her prescene there.
A: At the moment that's in flux. Cegorach offered an isolated section of the Webway but Venus didn't like that that much.
5. Given how a Venus cult will propagate across the IA, I am assuming she just approaches the soldiers and officers from within dreams?
A: That is one of the methods she'll use
7. Crazy thought, but will there benn an unintentional side effect of Eli approving all Primarch project funding to help reduce tensions between the "Rebel" and loyalist factions because they aren't going to feel like the government is intentionally hamstringing one side?
A: There's a chance of that
21a. Magnus is working on his Portal Maze? How is that going?
A: He is, at the moment he's worked on shoring up the parts of the Prosperan Webway he's made
23. does Kesar keep unused runes on him in the event he needs to slap down a purity rune on somethink or someone
A: He does although he's got a purity rune in his armor already
10: If you were to rank the Primarchs in terms of how much they have contributed to scientific research, where would Kesar be?
A: I would say roughly fifth, but it depends on how you choose to rank them. Ahead of him would be Magnus, Perturabo, Ferrus, and Vulkan
11. I take it most Eldar sort of just *stare* at Venus, unsure what to make of her. She's not "ugly" from a physical standpoint, but something about her feels a little uncanny valley in some respects.
A: Pretty much, the best description would be like finding a catgirl IRL
11b. Of all possible ways you could have descvribed this, why would you call what was already a half-alien love goddess that she looks like a catgirl for the elves?
A: It's where my mind went immediately in full honesty. And it fit
15. I really want to see Venus meet with Morianne. I have to imagine there is a weird disconnet there as well due to Morianne's nature.
A: The best answer to what happens there is Venus' form begins glitching
16. Wait, hang on... Sachmis used to be basically a maid, right?
Is she now Venus's maid?
A: …Maybe
18. I have a genius idea.
Venus was offered an empty part of the Webway, but rejected that yeah?
The dream-cats this turn. Send them all there.
Venus can truly become the ultimate catgirl elf goddess, you furry.
A: Well uh, hmm, I mean. It'd work?
18a. why the fuck would you agree to this.
18b. how would it work? i have to know.
18c. could not think of a reason it would not work huh?
A: Because TLP, like reality, has no guard rails
18b. For that, you essentially cause that portion of the Webway to follow dream logic rather than normal logic
18c. Pretty much
18e. so, essentially, cegorach finds this old greco-roman god who's doubly caprious because goddamn why the hell did sachmis have to imprint her mind on a goddess like this?
here's this abandoned parking lot of a super pocket dimension, you can crash there if ya like? no? shit, dammit, i need to keep an eye on her assets- i mean this asset of a goddess. what do i do.
oh shit, the eternal wardens who i'm trying to ally has found a gigantic horde of dream cats? and the dream cats lost their home and are otherwise pretty chill?
five birds, one stone. distract the goddess with endless cats and make her happy with them, awesome. turn that pretty unused webway place into an awesome dreamland filled with amazing cats? fuck yeah. those same cats can also help eldar with their powers and be very happy with this? triple combo. eternal wardens grateful that this problem is solved? masterplan. this is extremely funny? best reason.
A: Proof that Cegorach is just winging it
18f. hey, remember this?
"SleepMode — Yesterday at 4:01 AM
Given how a Venus cult will propagate across the IA, I am assuming she just approaches the soldiers and officers from within dreams?
DaemonHunter — Yesterday at 12:30 PM
5. That is one of the methods she'll use"
how much would the dream-cats help?
18g. also, like, seriously how good would this whold idea really be with the venus + cats plan?
A: ...oh, oh my. They'd help quite a bit
22. So how much convincing does Eldrad or Cegorach need to give her to go with this plan?
A: Not that much provided they offer assistance with herding the cats
2. It says a lot about TLP's metaphysics and general possibility for crazy stuff that the idea that a shard of canon Magnus the Red (apparently reflecting his desire for lost knowledge) traveling to the past, merging with King Cadmus and turning him into a Perpetual that was then used as an ingredient to help create Magnus the Red in the first place being actually possible as a scenario.
A: I can confirm that it is
4. What would Venus say if she saw Clint? How would she describe the Timeless Army/March of Eons?
A: "Are you open to recruitment? It's rare to see someone as dedicated to war as you."
5. Technically speaking, could Venus with the dream-cats be able to manage to spread her divine worship to a Forge-World with said Warp Xenos cats?
I ask because I want to accuse you of making a 'dreamy' catgirl half-elf love goddess who can spread her cult by fucking 40k lolcat memes.
A: Well, technically yes
8. This is the stupidest possible accidental foreshadowing I have noticed for TLP, relating to the Venus dream-cat idea.
Venus has nothing to do with cats irl.
However, gods and goddesses related to cats do exist. Such as Bastet, Freyja and Kek and so on.
...
Sekhmet is an Egyptian goddess depicted with a Lion's head.
Sekhmet is also known as Sachmis.
Venus got Sachmis, so now she can get cats.
A: This is the funniest shit
6b. I assume that they'd want an amazing new home, Webway makes that a check, and then a source of food. Their food is dreams and ideas, so I assume that they'd eat Eldar dreams and such. Maybe ideas from Commorragh, actually. For using human dreams to spread Venus's worship... clearly, they'd something stronger to sweeten the deal.
What would be something that Venus or the Eldar could offer that would be welcomed by the cruel cat overlords of the Webway?
A: Solitaire dreams, those would be a highly unique experience
9. So, Venus is gonna head to the Zanzibar League at some point right? Literally that is a place that will worship her because she's the goddess of victory, war, and prostitutes.
A: That is one of the things on her to do list yes
2. Aside from becoming gods, did Alpharius Omegon going through the Well of Eternity affect their Legion at all?
A: Not that you know of, then again you don't know much about how their Legion is like
3. Passing this along:
"Mysterio: remind me again one thing we can do with our newfound pysker power is be a supportive unit? by that I mean boost others CR as well as combat ability?
TinyGladiator: Largely, it also helps with rune-making too.
Mysterio: now I can't recall if this is another thing we can do but was it possible to teleport but only to those we have a very close connection/relationship with?"
A: It's unlikely
8. I realise this probably isn't true, but in the Mechanicum novel there is a vision of the Void Dragon where the great beast devours maidens that are sacrificed by other humans to appease the horrific monster.
While it is noted in text to be more of a metaphor than reality, and Blanks obviously can manifest for anyone when they're born, this makes me wonder if this reflects at all to the mysterious origin of the Sisters of Silence.
A: Oh I like that actually, it's pretty fun
18. Not sure if I asked this before, but how did that ritual sacrifice god ascend in the first place?
A: Through a massive ritual they performed with a few hundred k sacrifices that ascended them
19. Also, it's interesting that the Ritual Sacrifice god managed to ascend while only partially having their domain. Is that something more unique to how widespread and powerful that domain is, or can, say, Alpharius Omegon ascend Sigma by sharing the domain of Espionage or something?
A: More unique to that domain
20. So Errorum is effectively a god that exists in an alternate timeline in TLP?
A: They are yes
20a. So what happens now, though? Lockcraft effectively told the warp of this timeline that "Oh yeah, there is this god you might not have heard about" and the False Shell is technically a thing now.
A: For that, there's an alternate timeline out there where people are rather confused as to why Errorum is the way that they are. As well as Ravenloft being about to experience some extremely fucky things happenning with the False Shell that neither they nor Cegorach expected.
19a. Who else has the ritual sacrifice domain, then?
A: Be'lakor, a handful of other daemons, Emps, but most of it is free floating
22. Also, is Cegorach's power growing in certain instances? Like his ability to multi-task via puppets like with Jean Dazzle?
A: It's less that their power is growing, and more their worship base is growing
20aa. Wait a minute...did Ravenloft in our timeline accidently empower a god in *different* timeline?
A: 20aa. They did yes, it's why it actually worked. If they hadn't done so, then it'd have been seen through by Emps
23. Ravenloft learns about this cross-timeline contamination effect. They do whatever is possible to prevent Orks and Khornates in other timelines learning about the BTW.
A: I will say that Cegorach has in fact already been working on this. As has Tzeentch
24. Wait a minute, with his own power and perhaps the Skeleton Key... could Corvus hear whispers from himself? From another timeline?
A: There are places where that occurs. However, those situations are ludicrously dangerous.
24a. The Skeleton Key is slowly becoming an actual reality hack ability if you can locate the universal depository of general knowledge and suddenly you are looking into weird alternate timelines for info
A: Similarly, it is something that it can do, however it's a bit like openning a door blindly. You have no idea what's on the other side.
24c. At some point the Ordo Chronous equviliant in TLP is going to show. That is unless Ravenloft is slowly becoming the founders of whatever temporal defense force is forming in TLP.
A: Odds are even then they'll still show up. It's just it'll be the Ordo from another timeline
24e. so Auro is on the hit list for this time line protection group since he was the first one to do cross timeline fuckery
A: Depends on which group it is. Some of them yes, some of them no, some of them both
25. Does our Masters of the Otherworld trait apply to that non-Chaos daemonworld?
A:
1. I realise something.
The 'solar system' of Sixty-Three-Nineteen is said to be divine in nature, a godspore conglomerate in my own words, from a diffused godspore of Sol itself. Which has been somewhat used by the current 'Emperor of Mankind' upon 'Terra'.
I asked before if Venus's rebirth could affect the Sixty-Three-Nineteen Venus if the heist worked. With such a crazy, unexpected rebirth, has something more noticeable occurred?
1a. Worse yet, could the real Emperor of Mankind and such use the fake Venus as a divination focus for the real Venus (goddess)?
A: 1. It has yes. Namely that Venus now has a daemon on it
1a. They could yes
7. how do psyker familiars work?
A: That's a very hard question to ask
8. what is Kesars bonus in duels vs Daemons
A: Base of +275, but he often gets an intangible bonus for various attributes that's hidden. Usually that results in a +325
9. how does overkill work with True Death for Exalted daemons
A: If you roll over a certain amount during the roll where they die, then they get true killed. Said number varies from daemon to daemon
15. How much of a chance, is it that we get another Aleph or maelstrom situation after our 10 years with emp?
A: Low
15a. Does that mean then that the twins are going to do something incredibly risky and dangerous then, and ask us for help?
A: Perhaps, perhaps not
1. Huh, could we ask the Emperor to help make this Primal Rune? I'm sure he'd like to have one.
"Purification?
Effect: Boost to purification.
Requirement: Ask someone other than Kesar who has purified a holy artefact of a Chaos God help create this./Ask the Emperor of Mankind to help create this."
A: You can ask
2. can psykers create minor warp sprites by gathering and refining raw warp energy?
A: Not really how it works
3. Since we're gonna be stuck on Terra for a couple decades, are we gonna be able to meet Emps while we're here to sort out all the Rune stuff?
A: You'd have to see if he's available for that
4. if the First Daemon Princes had not been removed what would that have resulted in?
A: An exponentially more dangerous chaos. One that actually had highly experienced daemons with ambition and flexibility
5. So just to be clear, with the exception of Be'lakor himself, have all of the first daemon princes of the Chaos Gods died?
A: They have yes
5a.Actually, what about Slaanesh's first Daemon Princes? Did they all get shanked by Ceg or are they still around?
A: Killed by Kurnuous
6. How many new space marines per turn do we get ?
A: It varies based on your number, logistics, and recruitment, but around 50k or so
7. Oh are we going to work on the Geneseed with the Emperor and Fabius during our stay at terra?
A: There is a possibility
12. I was just wondering what 'holy artefact of a Chaos God' that the Emperor cleansed, allowing him to create this Rune. Probably a lot, but I just realised... would Kesar's chaos wounds count?
A: It would if it was completed, which it wasn't
12a. Huh, then what did the Emperor manage to cleanse in the past out of curiosity? It wasn't the Maelstrom, was it?
A: chaotic STCs with a daemon in them
13. You said before that a Runic Wind in an area would let more runes be made easier there, and certain other stuff to happen.
Roughly speaking, if we made a bunch of volumetric runes of fire in... say, the Rune World, how much would that help the Rune World for that particular runic type?
A: Unknown
16. Putting runes on a living thing drains their soul for the rune, yes?
How does that work with putting it on a machine, and affecting the machine spirit?
A: It's a passive drain on them
1. To put this into perspective, you said dating a Sister of Silence will help Kesar manage psychic awakening? By how much?
A: It'd make it easier for him to handle some of the power overall. Akin to a +10 to +30 depending on the strenght of the blank in question
1a. Since we're gonna become a psyker soon, what malus are we getting till the 20 years are done?
A: -100 to most things.
13. Aside from being baffled the Primarchs can have such feelings, I have to wonder how the Emperor would react to Kesar getting a blank GF either mostly or at least partially to just cure the psychic headaches?
A: He'd approve of the reasoning behind it. But would wonder why you didn't break up afterwards.
14. do blanks grow in power like psykers through effort or time?
A: They do yes
Auro Communing with Time
- Location
- USA
Another omake with Auro interacting with the Timeless Watcher of Skysoph, in a bit more of a direct meeting and the start of them forming a language of their own.
The Temporal Altar was completed at last, the Engine proving its worth once more even after the ascendance of the blade that I carry in hand. Perhaps another would question the name I gave to this creation of my efforts, but it is a fitting term to give to a device intended to reach forth across the void to call for the one that had touched the Ouroboros in the recent past. I was alone this time, Shandra and Throth both dealing with their own works, my old teacher exploring what could be done with the Engine through the assistance of Majestic's psykers. Shandra I do not know what she does, her field of void giving a degree of obscurity to my sight.
The Ouroboros was ready and so was the Altar. It was a crude construction basic and bare of ornamentation, I had never sought such things in the past the material value ignored indeed with ease. But now, I look upon the altar and compare it in mind to the Engine and find it lacking. The Engine is a construction of harsh elegance, everything in place and everything to function, but it does yet retain grace and elegance that I only recently began to understand.
It would be wrong to say that I never understood the value of such things, I have always been aware of the value to the iron of moral in battle. But, I see now that I was blind to much in the past, the time from battle that Majestic has given me is a boon indeed it seems. There is no need for the practical to be inelegant, there is no need for the practical to be brutal and simple, there is in fact a greater whole to be found within the merging of the functional and the elegant.
To my new eyes the altar before me is crude, a reflection of the older days of my efforts where I cared not for such things. It is nothing more than a simple block of marble passed through the Engine fused together upon the atomic layer with entropic fusing, with a indentation fit for the blade that I carry to fit within.
It would suffice indeed by my calculations, but it was basic and would have to be improved with time and effort. This most basic of forms will soon be wiped away to give rise to a better form and construction fitting for my current skills.
As I ponder such things I wonder if Perturabo or Fulgrim ever question their efforts, I know their nature through their legions and in the case of the former through working under his command during the war in the shattered empyrean. Both are crafters surpreme and I know my skills are the workings of an insect compared to their grandure, but I wonder at times like this looking upon my work if they too feel that they could better their own efforts. Does Fulgrim wonder if practical means would improve the appearance of his efforts or Perturabo if elegance would improve his own designs? A question without an answer possible to be gained, but I find myself intrigued by the answer possible and perhaps in years to come I will find a time and place to ask them for their thoughts on the matter.
In the end it matters not for I see the brutal practical design before me and know that it will be recreated better shortly. I will never be as Fulgrim, one whom sacrifices function for apperance, but no more do I have to be Perturabo who gives all in favor of function. I look down upon the Ouroboros in hand and I understand another facet of my nature. Balance was at my core, perhaps it was tempered through the war or something else, but it changes not. In the end I strive towards balance in all things now, I will never succeed this I know for I will never be as emotional or spontaneous to be balanced against logic, but I can be balanced in other forms.
Elegance and practicality will be how all that I build will be, function and form one and the same. I will stand forever between the empyrean realm and the constant as a guardian of both, I will stand at the center point of Time and Death for as long I live.
I nod to myself for this fits me better than other descriptions in the past. I wonder how many of my erstwhile brothers would understand the depths of my antipathy towards combat. Battle never even in the very beginning sparked enjoyment within my heart, even before the logical matrix was first erected over my mind, it was something I loathed. The era of garrisoning worlds was a relief to me even though during that time I drifted ever further from emotional understanding as the matrix was improved and expanded upon.
Now, at last I am healing and I can see that clearly. Perhaps I would have found some relief in time with the legion past the war in the empyrean realm, but it would be tainted indeed. Here in the heart of Majestic under the light of the primal anathema and his light, I am recovering from wounds left untreated for a century and a half.
To protect the iron, to ensure that there is no threat to humanity, to ensure a better dawn I act. The Ouroboros is in hand as I insert it into the altar. As the connection is made I am elsewhere, I know that this is but my mind seeking to understand what could not be understood. I am adrift in a sea of time, unmoored from normal reality, in something else. Yet of course that is all a lie told to me by my senses of time, in truth I am exactly where I was and have not moved for I will not move without reason.
In this void I am alone and yet not, I can feel time flowing in spirals around. It is not that dissimilar to discovering and learning from temporal echoes in the warp. I ponder that idea and realize that it is incomparablity different, there is nothing the same between the two below the surface. I let go of my urgency and wait, whatever might slumber in this place would soon find me and from that the true test would begin.
Eventually as the hours passed, something moved within the temporal abyss. It was a leviathan of the depths compared to me in scope and size, yet its power curiously dim compared to what I had expected to face. In this liminal realm of Time where Death touched upon the borders, I could see the shape of the being that had reached through the Ouroboros I weilded as a sword. The shard of Time and Death serving as a passable vessel through which it could reach.
Yet, even at this remove I could take its measure and found my power not far from its scope. In skill and mastery of Time I was hopelessly outmatched, but for that to be otherwise would have been the surprising event to discern. It was less than the power of those that my erstwhile brothers and primarch termed exalted, its power might straddle the border of Favored and Honored, but that was beyond my reach to discern at this distance removed.
I had come into this expecting to face a being that would match an exalted of the corrupted fractals in might and skill, knowing well that my death if it so sought would be likely indeed even this far afield from its center. Yet, now I stand before across a void of time and space a being that would die to a strike team from any legion. It would fall before the Wardens without having the chance to act in truth, it would claim the lives of some of them no doubt, but it would be below a thousand by all measures at this distance. Of course I must take into account the unknown nature which could skew such calculations.
Yet, at the end, the simple fact remains. The balance of power lies in my favor and it so far has made no moves towards hostility towards me, only curiosity. I reach out with time towards it, weaving a tapestry of time echoes and paradoxes in line with how it reached forth to me.
Information tangled across time without reason, in this temporal void bordered by death there was no logic to things. Events and causes were disjointed, chaos was omnipresent and yet some things slipped through the eddies of time. The first was that I learned where I had felt this signature before, prior to my adventure through the cyclic ages of the world where Shandra was freed I would not have noticed, but now I do.
The feel reminds me of the samples of the strange world of Skysoph where Horus works to bring them into compliance. Time ends and both begins within the being before me, that is wrong I realize with an epiphany. Tendrils tie it back to something beyond my sight and this projection limits its form and nature.
Understanding dawns, the creature before me is outside of time itself in all forms. It lives between the seconds, the intervening moments, the gaps between existance, the died and forgotten timelines of reality it lives across and in them all. I wonder what it means for such a being to be alive, such a word feels ill suited for a being that lives an infinity of times and yet never exists. Even daemons are more bound by time, within its home I wonder if any could truly slay it for good.
Daemons die to the wardens and others, their existances shattered and unmade in discrete timeframes. That is the heart of our victories over the forces of the corrupted fractals, but I look upon a being to whom death in a moment is not the end. To the being before me, dying in the now simply means that it lives in all other moments. Perhaps I misunderstand what I see and feel, but to my eyes I behold a being that is of Time and yet not of Time, something intrinsically above time itself.
A response comes, drifting across the temporal axis as expected, dancing with paradox and strands of time that are nonsensical to my mind. It is better than it was through the Ouroboros alone, but only by degree. The cipher war I engaged with the first captain in over decades now proves its value again, I would have missed the chain of logic to the response without such understanding of the bizarre and unnatural permutations of events. It will be slow and tedious indeed, that is without question, but with the Altar at hand and communication ensured, it is possible to bridge a gap impossible to overstate.
Hours pass as we commune, it can not be called speaking for it is too uncertain we are in the first fumbling steps of understanding the other and it shows. It reminds me of first contact with worlds that have deviated so far as to innovate entire new languages unmoored from any chain of linguistic descent and even the rare few aliens that had their language copied and forgotten by the Imperium.
Yet, where those were sounds and simple physical forms, this was of Time. The dance of seconds, the dilation of moments, the crunching of hours, the weaving of paradoxes, the sundering of impossible events, the interlocking chain of causality, the rending of timelines and much more that even I failed to properly understand. It would be humbling or infuriating to others to be confronted with such a display of lacking skill and understanding, but even though I know myself to be one of the best chronomancers of the Imperium, I feel no such emotions as I struggle to keep pace with the being before me.
I accept the truth and fact as I always have, and move forth to correct my failure. Slowly order becomes clear, and more becomes known, it will be the work of years indeed to fully codify a language between us, but I have the time to invest and reason enough to do so. In the end, I will understand the dragon of Skysoph that is no longer a question of purpose, but merely of time required.
The Ouroboros was ready and so was the Altar. It was a crude construction basic and bare of ornamentation, I had never sought such things in the past the material value ignored indeed with ease. But now, I look upon the altar and compare it in mind to the Engine and find it lacking. The Engine is a construction of harsh elegance, everything in place and everything to function, but it does yet retain grace and elegance that I only recently began to understand.
It would be wrong to say that I never understood the value of such things, I have always been aware of the value to the iron of moral in battle. But, I see now that I was blind to much in the past, the time from battle that Majestic has given me is a boon indeed it seems. There is no need for the practical to be inelegant, there is no need for the practical to be brutal and simple, there is in fact a greater whole to be found within the merging of the functional and the elegant.
To my new eyes the altar before me is crude, a reflection of the older days of my efforts where I cared not for such things. It is nothing more than a simple block of marble passed through the Engine fused together upon the atomic layer with entropic fusing, with a indentation fit for the blade that I carry to fit within.
It would suffice indeed by my calculations, but it was basic and would have to be improved with time and effort. This most basic of forms will soon be wiped away to give rise to a better form and construction fitting for my current skills.
As I ponder such things I wonder if Perturabo or Fulgrim ever question their efforts, I know their nature through their legions and in the case of the former through working under his command during the war in the shattered empyrean. Both are crafters surpreme and I know my skills are the workings of an insect compared to their grandure, but I wonder at times like this looking upon my work if they too feel that they could better their own efforts. Does Fulgrim wonder if practical means would improve the appearance of his efforts or Perturabo if elegance would improve his own designs? A question without an answer possible to be gained, but I find myself intrigued by the answer possible and perhaps in years to come I will find a time and place to ask them for their thoughts on the matter.
In the end it matters not for I see the brutal practical design before me and know that it will be recreated better shortly. I will never be as Fulgrim, one whom sacrifices function for apperance, but no more do I have to be Perturabo who gives all in favor of function. I look down upon the Ouroboros in hand and I understand another facet of my nature. Balance was at my core, perhaps it was tempered through the war or something else, but it changes not. In the end I strive towards balance in all things now, I will never succeed this I know for I will never be as emotional or spontaneous to be balanced against logic, but I can be balanced in other forms.
Elegance and practicality will be how all that I build will be, function and form one and the same. I will stand forever between the empyrean realm and the constant as a guardian of both, I will stand at the center point of Time and Death for as long I live.
I nod to myself for this fits me better than other descriptions in the past. I wonder how many of my erstwhile brothers would understand the depths of my antipathy towards combat. Battle never even in the very beginning sparked enjoyment within my heart, even before the logical matrix was first erected over my mind, it was something I loathed. The era of garrisoning worlds was a relief to me even though during that time I drifted ever further from emotional understanding as the matrix was improved and expanded upon.
Now, at last I am healing and I can see that clearly. Perhaps I would have found some relief in time with the legion past the war in the empyrean realm, but it would be tainted indeed. Here in the heart of Majestic under the light of the primal anathema and his light, I am recovering from wounds left untreated for a century and a half.
To protect the iron, to ensure that there is no threat to humanity, to ensure a better dawn I act. The Ouroboros is in hand as I insert it into the altar. As the connection is made I am elsewhere, I know that this is but my mind seeking to understand what could not be understood. I am adrift in a sea of time, unmoored from normal reality, in something else. Yet of course that is all a lie told to me by my senses of time, in truth I am exactly where I was and have not moved for I will not move without reason.
In this void I am alone and yet not, I can feel time flowing in spirals around. It is not that dissimilar to discovering and learning from temporal echoes in the warp. I ponder that idea and realize that it is incomparablity different, there is nothing the same between the two below the surface. I let go of my urgency and wait, whatever might slumber in this place would soon find me and from that the true test would begin.
Eventually as the hours passed, something moved within the temporal abyss. It was a leviathan of the depths compared to me in scope and size, yet its power curiously dim compared to what I had expected to face. In this liminal realm of Time where Death touched upon the borders, I could see the shape of the being that had reached through the Ouroboros I weilded as a sword. The shard of Time and Death serving as a passable vessel through which it could reach.
Yet, even at this remove I could take its measure and found my power not far from its scope. In skill and mastery of Time I was hopelessly outmatched, but for that to be otherwise would have been the surprising event to discern. It was less than the power of those that my erstwhile brothers and primarch termed exalted, its power might straddle the border of Favored and Honored, but that was beyond my reach to discern at this distance removed.
I had come into this expecting to face a being that would match an exalted of the corrupted fractals in might and skill, knowing well that my death if it so sought would be likely indeed even this far afield from its center. Yet, now I stand before across a void of time and space a being that would die to a strike team from any legion. It would fall before the Wardens without having the chance to act in truth, it would claim the lives of some of them no doubt, but it would be below a thousand by all measures at this distance. Of course I must take into account the unknown nature which could skew such calculations.
Yet, at the end, the simple fact remains. The balance of power lies in my favor and it so far has made no moves towards hostility towards me, only curiosity. I reach out with time towards it, weaving a tapestry of time echoes and paradoxes in line with how it reached forth to me.
Information tangled across time without reason, in this temporal void bordered by death there was no logic to things. Events and causes were disjointed, chaos was omnipresent and yet some things slipped through the eddies of time. The first was that I learned where I had felt this signature before, prior to my adventure through the cyclic ages of the world where Shandra was freed I would not have noticed, but now I do.
The feel reminds me of the samples of the strange world of Skysoph where Horus works to bring them into compliance. Time ends and both begins within the being before me, that is wrong I realize with an epiphany. Tendrils tie it back to something beyond my sight and this projection limits its form and nature.
Understanding dawns, the creature before me is outside of time itself in all forms. It lives between the seconds, the intervening moments, the gaps between existance, the died and forgotten timelines of reality it lives across and in them all. I wonder what it means for such a being to be alive, such a word feels ill suited for a being that lives an infinity of times and yet never exists. Even daemons are more bound by time, within its home I wonder if any could truly slay it for good.
Daemons die to the wardens and others, their existances shattered and unmade in discrete timeframes. That is the heart of our victories over the forces of the corrupted fractals, but I look upon a being to whom death in a moment is not the end. To the being before me, dying in the now simply means that it lives in all other moments. Perhaps I misunderstand what I see and feel, but to my eyes I behold a being that is of Time and yet not of Time, something intrinsically above time itself.
A response comes, drifting across the temporal axis as expected, dancing with paradox and strands of time that are nonsensical to my mind. It is better than it was through the Ouroboros alone, but only by degree. The cipher war I engaged with the first captain in over decades now proves its value again, I would have missed the chain of logic to the response without such understanding of the bizarre and unnatural permutations of events. It will be slow and tedious indeed, that is without question, but with the Altar at hand and communication ensured, it is possible to bridge a gap impossible to overstate.
Hours pass as we commune, it can not be called speaking for it is too uncertain we are in the first fumbling steps of understanding the other and it shows. It reminds me of first contact with worlds that have deviated so far as to innovate entire new languages unmoored from any chain of linguistic descent and even the rare few aliens that had their language copied and forgotten by the Imperium.
Yet, where those were sounds and simple physical forms, this was of Time. The dance of seconds, the dilation of moments, the crunching of hours, the weaving of paradoxes, the sundering of impossible events, the interlocking chain of causality, the rending of timelines and much more that even I failed to properly understand. It would be humbling or infuriating to others to be confronted with such a display of lacking skill and understanding, but even though I know myself to be one of the best chronomancers of the Imperium, I feel no such emotions as I struggle to keep pace with the being before me.
I accept the truth and fact as I always have, and move forth to correct my failure. Slowly order becomes clear, and more becomes known, it will be the work of years indeed to fully codify a language between us, but I have the time to invest and reason enough to do so. In the end, I will understand the dragon of Skysoph that is no longer a question of purpose, but merely of time required.
Daemons of Chaos
Daemons of Chaos
Exalted: +250
Honored: +120
Favored: +80
Greater: +40
Herald: +30
Lesser: +20
Tzeentchian: Reroll all rolls
Khornate: +40 to combat on top of normal bonuses
Nurgle: Double wounds
Slaanesh: Generally has an extra trait
Undivided: No inherent bonuses but are more intelligent and have the highest growth potential
Note that daemons tend to gain a lot of traits as they increase in rank, so they can be significantly more dangerous than what the numbers can indicate
Honored: +120
Favored: +80
Greater: +40
Herald: +30
Lesser: +20
Tzeentchian: Reroll all rolls
Khornate: +40 to combat on top of normal bonuses
Nurgle: Double wounds
Slaanesh: Generally has an extra trait
Undivided: No inherent bonuses but are more intelligent and have the highest growth potential
Note that daemons tend to gain a lot of traits as they increase in rank, so they can be significantly more dangerous than what the numbers can indicate
Exalted
Sarthorael: ?????
Ghargatuloth: ?????
M'Kachan: ?????
Aca'Stag'Neizz: ?????
The Storm - Attacks all hero units at once when at a distance. Max range is continental.
3 more unknown Exalted Daemons
Below Exalted
????Note that Khornate daemon traits are constantly in flux due to rapid trait gain from the Blood and Thunder War.
Skulltaker:
Roll individually against everyone in a duel
Invert Number Bonuses
Gains a +50 per tier of type of enemy killed, escalates (currently +150, upgrades on Astartes hero kill)
Khornates cannot retreat while present, +200 last stand bonus to Khornates
????????? x3
Negates psyker abilities
Immune to exhaustion
Divide wounds taken by 8
Negate wound penalties
-20 per hour Skulltaker hasn't killed someone
The only known alive non-Undivided Exalted daemon who is all but guaranteed to kill Kesar in a 1 vs 1 scenario
Skarbrand:
Autokills nonheroes
Can reduce duel times against nonheroes to 1 minute
Multiply kills by 10k
Negate crits for and against
Cannot retreat, cannot strategize
-20% true death chance
8 traits suppressed by rage
Sane Skarbrand would be more powerful than Skulltaker
Ka'Bandha: ?????
negates two of the opponents trait
An'ggrath: ?????
Defensive bonuses of some kind
Large maluses when facing heroes
Would lose to Maticus in a duel
Vasu-Senar:
+400 to combat
Escalating +10 per round. Cap of +80
+40 against enemies with a stronger bonus than him. -20 against those with a lower bonus.
-50% true death chance
+40 to Khornate rolls while present
+40 morale bonus
Increased trait gain
Narrative honor in duels
+40 to diplomacy
Br'Odural:
+250 to combat
Invert Number Bonuses
Roll individually against everyone in a duel
-40 to attempts to run from him
-40 against swarms, +40 when outnumbered by heroes
Quadruples wounds inflicted if opponents try to run
Captures souls on kill if in a one on one
+160 to finding enemies
Cannot be taken by surprise
Reduce psyker abilities by half
Karanak: ?????
Doombreed (Daemon Prince):
+400 to combat
-100% true death chance
Multiply army casualties by 8 on both sides
+160 when acting as a general
Increases cohesion of Khornate armies
Applies general bonus on a larger scale
The Hunter: Unknown, Pinnacle Honored level
The Blood Weaver, Khornate Lord of Change: Unknown, Honored level
?????
Exalted
Skulltaker:
Roll individually against everyone in a duel
Invert Number Bonuses
Gains a +50 per tier of type of enemy killed, escalates (currently +150, upgrades on Astartes hero kill)
Khornates cannot retreat while present, +200 last stand bonus to Khornates
????????? x3
Negates psyker abilities
Immune to exhaustion
Divide wounds taken by 8
Negate wound penalties
-20 per hour Skulltaker hasn't killed someone
The only known alive non-Undivided Exalted daemon who is all but guaranteed to kill Kesar in a 1 vs 1 scenario
Skarbrand:
Autokills nonheroes
Can reduce duel times against nonheroes to 1 minute
Multiply kills by 10k
Negate crits for and against
Cannot retreat, cannot strategize
-20% true death chance
8 traits suppressed by rage
Sane Skarbrand would be more powerful than Skulltaker
Ka'Bandha: ?????
negates two of the opponents trait
An'ggrath: ?????
Defensive bonuses of some kind
Large maluses when facing heroes
Would lose to Maticus in a duel
Vasu-Senar:
+400 to combat
Escalating +10 per round. Cap of +80
+40 against enemies with a stronger bonus than him. -20 against those with a lower bonus.
-50% true death chance
+40 to Khornate rolls while present
+40 morale bonus
Increased trait gain
Narrative honor in duels
+40 to diplomacy
Br'Odural:
+250 to combat
Invert Number Bonuses
Roll individually against everyone in a duel
-40 to attempts to run from him
-40 against swarms, +40 when outnumbered by heroes
Quadruples wounds inflicted if opponents try to run
Captures souls on kill if in a one on one
+160 to finding enemies
Cannot be taken by surprise
Reduce psyker abilities by half
Karanak: ?????
Doombreed (Daemon Prince):
+400 to combat
-100% true death chance
Multiply army casualties by 8 on both sides
+160 when acting as a general
Increases cohesion of Khornate armies
Applies general bonus on a larger scale
Below Exalted
The Hunter: Unknown, Pinnacle Honored level
The Blood Weaver, Khornate Lord of Change: Unknown, Honored level
?????
Exalted
Qaramar, He Who Is Not Yet Exalted:
The End - Cannot truly die unless someone enters his own realm and faces him there. Within it, his true death chance is normal.
The March of Time - If unwounded in a round, heal 7 wounds provided the wounds would not true death him if it killed him within his realm
Rot-Lord - Has 7 rerolls for a duel to use when desired. Cannot reroll 1s.
Sturdy - Doubled wound thresholds
Enduring - Halve wound penalties
Untiring - Immune to Exhaustion
Reaper of Men - Double Enemy Casualties within his presence
The Return - +5 to dueling rolls every time he faces the same opponent (stacks)
Ku'gath:
Multiply wound threshold by 4.
Gains a +10 per round. -25 to combat.
Inverts Exhaustion. No limit to bonuses gained this way theoeretically.
Negate two enemy traits.
Quadruple Disease Bonuses.
+50 to command.
Any roll with seven counts as a crit success for them.
Any roll with a seven counts as a crit failure for his opponent.
Increase rank of diseases he makes by one.
Double Wound Total.
Enemy Rerolls Crits
Qogbeth: ?????
Gangrel: ?????
+100 to command
Double Wound Thresholds
The Nuckelavee:
Immune to exhaustion.
Can only be wounded by heroes.
Enemy wound thresholds decreased to 10.
Quadruple Wound Threshold.
Autowins duels against warp creatures with a smaller combat bonus than it.
Against nonheroes automatically considered to roll a 70 vs 7.
Double Disease Bonus.
+75 to combat
Takes a trait from every Exalted Level Opponent they Kill.
+100 while on the Mither's homeworld
77% chance of true killing opponents
Bubondubon:
+50 when defending Nurgle's domain, -25 to combat
Immune to Exhaustion.
Negates wound penalties.
Double Wounds. 20 wounds total.
+50 to nearby Nurgle forces
+20 to other Unclean Ones in duels while present
Scabeiathrax:
Nonheroes he wounds instantly die.
Applies his bonus to army combat even while in duels.
Multiplies enemy casualties by 7.
Doubled wound thresholds.
Halved Wound Penalties.
Heal 1 wound per round.
Any roll of theirs with a seven counts as a crit success for them. Any roll of their opponents with a seven counts as a crit failure for them.
Dies seven rounds after he reaches -200 wounds.
Mechanical Opponents Suffer a Wound Each Round
+225 combat bonus
Tsaw-Raah:
Ignores First Killing Blow
Divide wound penalties by five.
Immune to exhaustion.
Can only be wounded by heroes.
Multiply Wounds by 10. Up to -200 (100 wounds). -50 to combat.
Max wound penalty of -50.
Increase round length by a factor of seven.
Negate one enemy trait.
Nurgle's Manor: ?????
Quadrupled wound thresholds
Below Exalted
?????
Exalted
Manada-Sija: ?????
Perfection Personified - Reroll all dice if below 25.
+20 against Khornates
Always Another One - 1/4 attacks automatically miss
+230 for combat
1/4 chance to negate wounds
Doubles the time it takes them to die when they do lose
N'kari: ?????
Syll'Esske: ?????
Shalaxi Hellblade: ?????
+250 for combat
+20 to rolls each round. Caps at 80. After which reduces cap bonuses for enemy bonus growth by 10 each round to a minimum of zero
Zarakynel: ?????
Kyriss: ?????
Below Exalted
The Masque: Pinnacle Honored+ level
?????
Exalted
Be'lakor: Unknown, at least Emperor+/Cegorach level.
Drach'nyen: Unknown, at least Emperor level.
Mathlaan: Unknown, at least Emperor+/Cegorach level in the Warp, closer to standard Exalted in the materium.
Vashtorr: Unknown, at least Emperor+/Cegorach level.
+250 to combat
Double Wound Totals
+10 to wound threhold
Regains a trait a day (Total of 8)
Regained traits would have included abilities such as decreasing true death chance, increasing enemy true death chance, and constant cr checks
Below Exalted
The Black CovenantsThe Promised Prince: Honored
+155 total combat bonus
+80 to command
Reroll personal rolls for combat/stealth
Tier 2 Vampire (The Angel, The Red Thirst)
The Angel - Minor narrative bonus to swaying people to his viewpoint
The Red Thirst - Can heal by drinking blood/eating human flesh. Applies stacking insanity to do so.
+40 to diplomacy
+20 to Blood Angel combat rolls when present
Reduce casualties by half when in command
Increase main commander bonus if assiting by an amount depending on their relationship
Half negative morale effects
Malachiel:
+20 to combat against Wardens
Reroll both his dice and his opponent's dice when he would die
+20 to combat checks
+100 to corruption
2 rerolls per year.
Only applies to battles and such.
He used to have 3 other blessings, but he lost that when he was revived.
Omar:
Rerolls all dice
+20 against Beltran
+20 when engaging enemies on his own initiative
Note: Unfortunately, a lot of the daemons on this list either aren't yet fluffed out or we don't even know the names of. However, I felt that it would be better to at least start tracking who they are.
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I don't think the changeling was an exalted greater demon
I think emps is more powerful and it's only dangerous to him because of conceptual adventages
Yes the Changeling was an Exalted daemon.
Drach vs Emps in power is a weird question because they essentially have narrative traits that work against each other and counter each other. Drach'nyen may be less powerful than Emps in overall power but his traits and abilities still make him a terrifying force of nature. I'd say he is strong enough to stand in the same tier as Emps even without factoring in conceptual advantages.
Years 41 - 45 Part 10 - Discussions with Father and Sons
- Location
- Elsewhere
[X] Allow it and send 100 Wardens to ensure the safety of the rune world
[X] "I'm unwilling to do this, but the awakening is valuable." - Psychic awakening occurs naturally. (20 years total)
[X] "I'm unwilling to do this, but the awakening is valuable." - Psychic awakening occurs naturally. (20 years total)
"A cautious choice," the Emperor said neutrally and without judgment. "Then join me on my journey back to Terra."
"Will you explain more along the way?" Kesar asked, wishing to learn more about the warp and soulstones in general. "You've left me with a lot of questions."
"I should have - " the Emperor abruptly stopped speaking for seemingly no reason. "It seems I won't be able to." Throwing a hand out between real and unreal, the Master of Man psychically tore apart space and time, violating the laws of the materium through the application of the laws of the immaterium. "With me Kesar, there's an emergency on Terra."
Without hesitating, Kesar dove into the portal, shouting into the vox within his armor as he did. Transmitting a complex code of seemingly random characters as he did, the Primarch informed the Stormbird pilot very briefly on what he was going to do. "Leaving with the Emperor, RTB!"
A rather surprised Astartes that piloted a Stormbird received the message, then spoke out loud. "I thought as much, this was turning out much too normal."
Now on board the Bucephalus, Kesar was forced to sprint to keep up with the Emperor. "What's the situation?"
The Emperor didn't respond verbally, instead sending a telepathic poke through Kesar, who after a moment's consideration, relaxed his mental walls slightly. "Multiple distress calls from the Sigillite, possible warp incursion in Sol."
"How is that possible?" Kesar thought in his mind, loudly enough for the Emperor to hear it. "There shouldn't be enough cultists for that. Could we have missed this?"
"There is another possibility," the Emperor spoke out loud this time, having arrived at the Navigator quarters of his vessel. His eyes glowed with power, and Kesar felt his own weight double as gravity itself increased with the Emperor's gaze. "Were you involved?"
The Second Anathema visibly blinked, an expression of sheer surprise appearing a moment later before he wiped it away. "Wait-"
"Never mind, you're not a good enough liar for it."
Kesar only barely resisted the urge to throw his hands up in confusion. "Why do I feel you said that as an insult?"
"It's called a backhanded compliment." The Emperor smoothly responded, already beginning to work on navigating through the warp even from this deep within a star system. "It reflects well on you from a predictability standpoint."
"Thank you?" Kesar said, coming out more as a question than an answer. "Are you intentionally keeping me on the backfoot during this conversation? Or is this just enjoyable to you?"
"It's the least you deserve," came the Emperor's ominous reply. "Now pay attention, while I doubt you'll make for a good navigator, learning how to do the basics may still prove useful."
"If you do get more information on what's happening on Terra, let me know," Kesar said before settling down to watch the Emperor navigate the warp.
Traversing through the warp was normally boring for Kesar. Today it was still boring, but there was something else he could spend his focus on. Watching the Emperor chart a course through the warp was less like navigating its currents, and more like watching an icebreaker at work.
Sheer power brushed aside waves of the warp, with the Emperor only making changes rarely and seemingly at random. It was only after Kesar stared at the raw expanse of the immaterium, notably devoid of daemons at the moment, that he began to see what the Master of Man was avoiding.
Beyond the waves and eddies of the warp, there were slow, near-stationary vortexes and whirlpools. So subtle that only a Primarch with great experience with the warp could spot them. Seeing the danger at hand, it made it all the more critical to Kesar that Navigators were needed to traverse the warp.
While he might be able to do that now, whatever course he charted would be far from safe. There were still times when the Emperor made a course correction he never would have expected. Those were the ones that he may never learn the reasoning for, but perhaps with his powers, he may be able to see the unseen.
Arriving in the Sol system, Kesar was met with the sight of a system on total lockdown. Even the Emperor's own vessel was scanned before being allowed through. The Primarch felt his muscles tense up, awaiting some form of fight, yet there seemingly was none. "What has Malcador discovered?"
The Emperor's face twisted up into a frown. "Whoever it was achieved their objectives, they have successfully extracted classified material from a secured facility."
"A facility in Sol itself?!" Kesar asked, amazed. "I can think of only one group that could contemplate attempting it, and even they would be hard-pressed to accomplish it successfully."
"I will want further information," the Emperor rumbled, "but if all goes well, we may not even need it."
The Emperor's eyes turned bright gold, and Kesar felt ripples within the warp through his very soul. He could feel the gaze of his father for a moment, a distinctly uncomfortable feeling of being looked at by an entity stronger and more powerful than him. Then it vanished as the Emperor turned his gaze elsewhere.
Kesar watched as his creator continued to stare into nothing for a few minutes before he grew bored, realizing that this may take a while. Leaning on the wall for another 10 minutes, the Emperor finally closed his eyes, the blinding glow within gone when he reopened them. "Anything?"
"We might be dealing with the acausal creation of a god." The Emperor began to explain. "Or it might be a non-chaotic cult that slipped through our fingers."
"A god? Like the twins?" Kesar hazarded a question, then frowned as an answer came to him. "Or more like the Archdaemons, who draw power from both worship and their claimed domains?"
"One that at the very least gains power from worship," came the explanation. "A shell is being made specifically for them to act in the materium, with instruction from a god itself. Which implies that the god whispered into the maker's ears."
"Is this a god based on one of the planets in Sol?" Kesar asked, both as a question and as a way to bounce ideas off the Emperor. "Or perhaps Vulkan or Haephastus, both known for creation? The Hellenites and Deorems have become rather large in the Desolation."
"It's Venus," came the answer. "I had planned to wait for her to be born before killing her, but it seems her cultists had other ideas."
"Why did you wait?" The Second Anathema commented. "It's far easier to kill daemons when young and inexperienced. Are gods different?"
"I wanted to gather parts for future projects. Finding divine matter is difficult with the Archdaemons and daemons filling the warp. Having a known source in Sol would have made for an easy harvest." Explained the Emperor, to which Kesar nodded along, for the explanation did make sense in a calculating sort of way.
"Would it not be better to ally with her? Having a friendly warp being would allow for some interesting options against the Archdaemons." Kesar thought up some possibilities he could think of. Using a god to locate clusters of daemons within the warp before tearing open a warp rift and ambushing them was one such thought. "Actually-"
"Please don't," the Emperor sighed, "even if a god was willing to do so, all human gods will go slowly insane with time. As they age, they'll gain more of their memories of worshippers that existed during the Age of Strife. And with those memories, they'll turn darker and darker until they are no longer the god they were born as."
"Are you sure about that?" Kesar hesitantly asked, now in an area where he had yet to truly research to the degree that the Emperor had. "Wouldn't the souls have faded by now?"
"A normal soul that has experienced a natural death will usually fade," the Emperor explained. "A soul subject to fear and terror throughout its existence, that meets a horrific, unexpected end does not. There is a reason any undead or wraiths you find are the monsters driven by pain and suffering."
"Then why revive Angron?"
There was silence for several seconds, the Emperor's face briefly passing through an emotion that seemed almost foreign to the Master of Man. Guilt. "He was happy." Kesar didn't say anything, waiting for his creator to continue. "I thought binding him to Nuceria would bind him to those emotions. But the Butcher's Nails weren't Dark Age technology as I suspected, at least not entirely."
"What were they?" Kesar asked, leaning forward with an intense degree of focus.
"A modification of Eldar technology. One that bound the very soul of the Twelfth. Rather than bind to the happier emotions I intended, Angron was bound to the nails, and the nails bound to Angron."
"And you just let him live like that?" The Second Anathema asked in a horrified voice. "At that point, a mercy kill was the only moral choice."
"Only to Angron himself," the Emperor sounded old at that moment, Kesar thought. He sounded like a man buried under centuries of war crimes, one that always claimed to be looking at the larger picture. "I believed that as a Primarch, he would make the Imperium stronger than he would if I simply ended him. Unfortunately, Angron's will proved insufficient, and he turned into Angron the Bloody."
"He was never insufficient. If anything, we were all insufficient in helping him." Kesar shot back in a heated voice. To think this was what the Emperor thought of his brother … "Angron's will... I have only met him once, but I'd say that his will was quite strong. He just lost almost all reason to keep going forward."
"If his will was strong then he would have remained in command of his Legion." The Emperor responded. "Instead he failed as a leader, and when Mortarion forcibly wrested command from his fingers, he fell into line like a mortal."
"For your sake, I hope you never speak like this to Mortarion," Kesar snarled. "Because he will try and kill you."
"He could try."
Kesar made sure not to repeat those words to Mortarion. Not only would that enrage his brother, but it might also cause him to start thinking up creative "solutions" for handling his father. "You shouldn't say those things." Kesar remarked softly, "Because you make it sound like you've already decided that Mortarion is your enemy rather than someone that you can work this out with."
"I have given him everything he has ever wanted," the Emperor said in a deceptively calm voice. "I killed Mortarion's daemonic father when he couldn't, saving his life in the process. Everything he asked for on Orus, I have given to him freely. If we become enemies, it is due to Mortarion's choices, not mine."
"Have you ever just talked to him?" Kesar suppressed his righteous anger, focusing on a more diplomatic approach. "Without some ulterior motive, or desire to manipulate him. Just talk and get to know Mortarion and what he wants. Because I don't think you have."
"I would have nothing to say."
"You can't mean that."
"It's too late to focus on the past. What's done is done."
"Why are you like this?" The Daemonsbane asked, exasperated. "We were in the middle of a genuine conversation. The compromises offered would likely avert a civil war, I was enjoying the details about gods, then you do this." Kesar gestured at his creator. "You … you just casually levy insults against my brothers. Insults that they would be well within their rights to retaliate over. Is there any wonder the Imperium is unstable?"
"They are observations, not insults," came the cold reply. "I speak truly at all times, if someone is uncomfortable with the truth, then it is a problem they must overcome."
"That only works if you're infallible," Kesar responded. "Everyone makes mistakes."
The Emperor looked at him with disappointed eyes. "You're still young, you'll learn." The Emperor took a step forward and patted Kesar on the shoulder. "Everyone does eventually." Then, with a snap of his fingers, the Emperor vanished, as Kesar looked into empty air, wondering what his creator meant by that.
"What in the warp have you gotten us into father?" Oriacarius rubbed his temples, massaging the headache that had developed from Kesar's debriefing of the last few years. "An alliance with Xenos? Fine, that's complicated but can be handled. Getting psychic powers? An interesting decision, and not one I agree with, but it can be handled. Organizing a council of Primarchs to directly rebuke the Emperor? You're lucky I had a contingency for that, even if it wasn't properly fleshed out. So to summarize. What the fuck?!"
"Was the Xenos alliance really a surprise?" Maticus interjected. "Considering the information they claimed to have, it's little wonder father accepted their words."
Rather than being placated, Oriacarius only seemed more annoyed. "That's not the hard-to-predict part, the difficult part is the fact that Guilliman is fucking one of them!"
"It's rather crass to say that out loud," Kesar said with a blush. "And I don't see how that's a problem, provided it remains out of the public eye."
"First of all, I didn't even think Primarchs had sex drives," Oriacarius responded. "Nor did I expect you or your brothers to prefer Xenos over humans."
"Do you prefer humans?" Maticus asked with a slight smirk on his face. To which the First Captain answered with a glare. "Don't complain, it's relevant information."
Both Astartes looked at a blushing Kesar. "I-I don't see how that's relevant."
"Conflicts of interest," came Maticus' answer. "If we're fighting aliens, the possibility you fall in love with one should be considered. Not to mention what happens if you duel someone that's 'your type'."
Kesar looked at Oriacarius in the hope that he wouldn't have to answer that question. The First Captain answered with three words. "Leman x Zunia."
Kesar blinked at hearing that, "What? No. That's...no. I mean Leman? I mean I guess. Sure. Leman would do that but with Zunia? Really? With her?"
"I have evidence," Oriacarius began, pulling out a dataslate. "Would you like to see it chronologically, or in order of importance?"
"Wait," Maticus interjected, surprised. "Why do you even have that?"
"I had to worry about Zunia turning Leman into a trophy husband and beginning a coup in the Imperium," the First Captain swiftly explained. "Not to mention the possibility that an assassin used her to blackmail Leman or 37 other scenarios."
"But how does … their courting history help?" Kesar asked for the sake of his own sanity.
"It's helped reorient the priority of contingencies. Thanks to understanding their relationship better, I have been able to downgrade the possibility of multiple scenarios, while upgrading the possibility of others." Neither Maticus nor Kesar responded at first, thinking over the information.
"Have you shared this with Fulgrim?" Kesar slowly broached the topic. "I think he'd enjoy it."
"Oriacarius, be honest with me, how much courting history do you have?" Maticus asked, clearly invested in the answer.
"Too much," the First Captain said. "I've received proposals from a number of nobles, if you have any form of public-facing political power they'll offer a marriage."
"Have you … responded to any of them?" The Third Captain asked as Kesar himself leaned forward, invested in the answer.
"A few early on when the Legion was short on resources, but now things have changed so I don't need to do so anymore."
"Did you have a preference?" The Primarch questioned. "Men, women, other, neither?"
"Not really, although nobles do not make for pleasant conversation regardless." Oriacarius shrugged at the non-answer. "I know it's inconsistent for Astartes, there's rumors Orion is now married and has a child, I know Baldur has courted both men and women, and Maticus is-."
The First Captain's words were cut off, as the Astartes in question instantly covered his mouth. "I don't think that's important."
Kesar would have agreed to not barge into the life of Maticus, but right now he needed a distraction from the awkward conversation. "It's alright, Maticus. Whatever is said here won't be uttered outside it."
"My sexual orientation is not relevant today," the Third Captain said with a bit of worry in his voice.
"I don't really see what the problem is," the First Captain said. "It's not like anyone would tease you for it, we have better things to make fun of you for."
"I am rather curious as well," Kesar added.
"I prefer the mystique," Maticus said with a wry grin. "Hmm, I should make a betting pool on it actually."
Oriacarius sighed, "Fine, if you want to scam some of the neophytes, by all means."
"It's not a scam," the Third Captain responded with a slight bit of heat in his voice. "It's teaching them to carefully observe your surroundings and realize they're dealing with a superior opponent and should withdraw."
"And if they don't, then you get what they bet."
"Two things can be true at once."
Kesar idly wondered if his brothers had similar conversations with their sons. Not on the same topics, but at least the same relaxed and joking tone for things. "Alright, with that distraction done with," Oriacarius began to speak once more, "can we get back to asking more important questions?"
"Like father's sexual orientation?" Maticus cheekily added.
Oriacarius glared.
Kesar coughed, "I … I haven't really thought of it."
"Well, is there something that you would like to do with a partner?" Oriacarius asked, trying to lead Kesar down a path of self-discovery.
The Daemonsbane scratched his chin in thought. There was quite a bit to think about, but at the same time, it wasn't something that really came to Kesar that easily. "Killing daemons?"
There was silence. "It is rather enjoyable," Maticus added.
"Like father, like son, I suppose," Oriacarius mumbled under his breath, softly enough that Kesar wasn't sure he was supposed to hear that. "You don't really interact with most other people that would be considered flirtatious that wasn't a daemon." Oriacarius had a point. The only person that might have tried that was Miss Zeta, but that was just more her wanting to get a rise out of him.
"It's never really come up. I imagine most are just intimidated by me." Kesar wasn't a terrifying figure, but he was still an imposing one.
"Well, perhaps you should consider doing that talk-vox program with Guilliman? Let the people get to know you?" Maticus suggested, but Oriacarius shook his head.
"All that will do is create some blustered-up depiction of him. Kesar needs to speak directly with someone that will be able to understand him and not run off screaming."
Kesar felt like he needed to defend himself, "...I wouldn't cause someone to run away screaming from me."
"Well, the average guardsman does think you're responsible for most of the Imperium's black ops programs," Maticus explained. "So they may make some assumptions."
"If all else fails, the Imperial Army does hold matchmakers," Oriacarius added. "You could attend one."
Kesar immediately shook his head, "that sounds like it'd end with everyone trying to date me and no one else."
Maticus tried a different approach, "Let's try a different approach...what would you want to talk about if you went on a date with someone?"
"That depends on that individual." Kesar could think up a thousand different topics to discuss with someone.
"Right, but I mean in a general sense. You know, an icebreaker."
"Icebreaker?" Kesar tried to think of something, "Well, I could talk about my brothers?"
"That's a good start," Maticus agreed in part, "But you'll have to talk about yourself at some point. What would you want to say that isn't related to killing daemons?"
"Hmm..." Kesar had to think of that for a moment. "If they have the right clearances, talking about the warp would be nice, or some of the fun stories I've been a part of."
"I think the only way we're going to find out is to have you try and date someone," Oriacarius concluded. "Would you be interested?"
"Oriacarius playing matchmaker," Maticus muttered, "well, it isn't the strangest thing you've done."
"Let's just put a pin in this idea anyways," Kesar said, "I am going to be stuck on Terra for the next decade getting used to my new psychic vision, so it can wait."
"The Sister of Silence!" Oriacarius jumped up suddenly as if an idea had come to him. "They meet all of your criteria!"
The First Captain immediately began shuffling around, "no," Maticus began in horrified awe, "I refuse to believe you had a presentation prepared for this possibility."
"Of course I didn't, I'm not precognitive," the First Captain snapped, causing the Third Captain to lightly sag in normality. "This was initially meant for Magnus." The normality was gone.
"But why?" Kesar asked in a tone of complete confusion.
"In case he fell for a honeypot," Oriacarius responded in a tone that conveyed just how obvious of an answer that was. "Getting him to court a Sister of Silence would both prevent that issue, as well as allow him to indulge in more practical research regarding psyker-blank interactions."
Maticus frowned, then moved to speak before stopping himself. Then repeated the process. "Are you referring to research, or … 'research'?"
"Both are good."
"...while I hesitate to provide more work for you Oriacarius, Magnus will be working with the Sisters of Silence more." Kesar began to explain, recalling his recent conversation with the Emperor. "Both he and Mortarion have been given responsibility for the Astra Telepathica."
The First Captain visibly groaned at the reveal. "I swear, the more I hear of this meeting, the less I trust it."
"We should talk about it," Kesar began, "while this has been entertaining, there are some serious topics to discuss."
"We should," Maticus agreed. "I for one think we should start with the Eldar."
"I wasn't done with the conversation yet," Oriacarius frowned. "It may seem trivial on the surface, but discerning Kesar's romantic preferences will help ensure the safety of the Legion and Imperium."
"That seems like a bit of an exaggeration," Kesar shuffled awkwardly, "I'll allow it, provided it's quick."
"I can set up multiple, discrete meet and greets for you." …this was not what Kesar expected from this conversation. Which said a lot considering how unpredictable it had been thus far. "Most of them will be Sisters, because I believe their personality attributes are most compatible with yours, but I'll also be reaching out to some of the assassin temples as well."
"Not to any guardsmen?" Maticus asked.
"Trying to build contacts within the Imperial Army is near impossible at the level that would be needed," Oriacarius explained. "Simply getting in contact with soldiers on a regimental level is difficult, let alone someone on the frontlines that I expect Kesar would be romantically compatible with."
That … that was more insightful than Kesar expected. What was it he looked for in a potential partner? He couldn't truly say even now, but the strength to put themselves at risk and thrive had its appeal. "I will keep this in mind," Kesar said neutrally, finally deciding on a response. "But this feels both forced and unnecessary."
"As fun as it would be, I have to agree," Maticus added. "It seems irresponsible for father to spend his time exploring his romantic preferences."
"With the extra time Kesar has, it may be worthwhile," Oriacarius explained, "while you could certainly spend all your time adapting to your new powers, using some of this time to learn more about yourself may be more valuable than you expect."
"You're rather supportive of this," the Primarch said, touched by his son's words. "I won't promise to agree to this, but I will consider it further."
"That's all I can ask for." The First Captain replied before gesturing towards Maticus. "Now, the Eldar?"
"We should hold off for a while," Maticus began. "They may be potent allies in fights with the archdaemons, but as a rival to the Imperium, they have their own priorities. If it comes down to it, I believe they will prioritize their own safety over our lives."
"I myself don't like the timing," Oriacarius added. "They approached Kesar during a stressful meeting, where his judgment would be most clouded. Based on the last time I fought the Eldar, their divinatory abilities are potent. It's not out of the question that they tailored the approach to yield the best results."
"Would they be able to fool three Primarchs consistently, however?" Kesar questioned. "Magnus, Guilliman, and Corvus all are involved to some degree, and I highly doubt Guilliman would let himself be manipulated by his Eldar lover, no matter how in love he is."
"Only if you don't consider the Eldar's divination capabilities." The First Captain replied. "Think of it less like human psyker skills, and more akin to skilled Lords of Change. And their talents in subtle telepathic arts," noted Oriacarius. "Many tales of the Fair Folk across the galaxy's less advanced human worlds speak of being of such incredible beauty that a single word from them would bring a man under their spell for a day and a night. Upon examination, many of these tales are based upon Eldar encounters in the ancient past."
"Is it also possible that they just like their Eldar companions because of who they are? I will admit that their capabilities and skills would be impressive, but it's just possible that they formed an attachment purely on a consensual and mutual admiration." Maticus suggested after a moment before shrugging, "Just a thought."
"It is," Oriacarius acquiesced, "but Guilliman could still be manipulated by his lover without her knowledge. We've seen it with Tzeentchian cults operating through multiple degrees of separation. Here only two degrees would be needed."
Kesar thought about Roboute in this instance. Much as he and his brothers liked to joke of Tarasha Euten, his mother, having a bit more influence on him than even the Emperor, it didn't take much to imagine that anyone that Roboute was "seeing" would either have or need her approval at some point. "It's the degree of manipulation that I'd have to question. Guilliman is a bit different from most of the Primarchs in regard to his command structure. Not to mention he does still take advice from his mother, something few would predict even with skilled divination support."
"It seems like I have a new course of action," Oriacarius said, "I need to speak with Lady Euten."
"Please don't phrase it like an interrogation," Maticus pleaded. "I trust you brother, but whatever you do, don't imply that Guilliman's lover is manipulating him."
"I wouldn't do that," Oriacarius replied, waving off the worry. "I am concerned about this, but I also understand the need to not insult a Primarch to his mother. I don't think I'd survive the verbal lashing that'd follow."
"Then we shall table this decision until after that conversation," Kesar decided. "Additionally, if you wish, I'm sure we could ask for an Eldar to answer some of your questions."
"Hmm, that would be helpful." The First Captain agreed. "Maticus, I'd need you to handle it, I don't think I'll have enough time to take care of it myself."
"I have time that I can spare," the Third Captain nodded, "I'll rotate some Sergeants through to cover for me for a few weeks."
"It seems we have a plan for the most pressing concern," Kesar concluded, "but for the discussion with the Emperor, while it wasn't perfect, it was also still a monumental step."
Oriacarius shifted uncomfortably, "only if he actually follows through honestly."
"There…" Maticus began hesitantly, "There is the possibility he was blatantly lying."
"Or simply concealing important information."
"If we assume the worst, then we will never come to an agreement," Kesar disagreed with the assertions made and made it known. "While there are likely hidden caveats, I doubt they are as dangerous as you think."
"But even if there aren't hidden caveats, this is clearly designed to split apart the Primarchs," Oriacarius explained. "There were two groups among the Renegade Few, your and Horus who wished for greater oversight and an end to the Emperor's absolute dictatorship, and Vulkan and Kelbor-Hal who sought improvements in the standard of living for the common man."
"That did concern me," Kesar acknowledged, "and yet, the Emperor's arguments made sense. It truly does seem as if the Imperium cannot afford the cost of Vulkan's reforms."
"I don't think it can afford not to pay it, however," Maticus interjected. "Morale among the Imperial Army has only fallen further since the Ritual War instead of recovering as we expected."
"While that is a concern, it's not related to Vulkan's reforms," Oriacarius clarified. "The issues within the Imperial Army and the issues among the livelihood of the common man are caused by differing incentives and systems."
"I'm not so sure," Kesar added to the conversation, "there is a systemic trend among the Imperium to only interact with existing power structures and to serve the interests of governors and overlords. This contributes to both sets of problems."
"I feel that overlooks some of the nuances," Oriacarius responded. "The issues with the Imperial Army are more as a result of the Astartes Legions being both expensive and extremely effective. Which results in the Imperial Army being passed over compared to the Astartes for both fame, victories, and finances."
"You make it sound like we're at fault for this," Maticus muttered out loud.
"We are," the First Captain began. "What story makes for better propaganda? The 10 million guardsmen that died taking a tiny hive? Or the 100 Astartes that broke through three lines of defense to force the surrender of an entire continent?"
"And how is that different from the woes of the common man?" Kesar asked. "The Imperium cares solely for the magnitude of production, not the conditions of the workers. Being told a world has produced 10 million lasguns a day is met with much greater applause compared to improving the lives of the average citizen."
"Because the people in power want the Imperial Army to be improved," Oriacarius explained. "No one in power, save for a handful, wants to improve the lives of the poor."
"So you claim the issue lies in simple disinterest rather than misalignment of perception? I can see how that's a more nuanced issue than expected." Kesar mused. "If that's the case, then it seems the Emperor has a point," Kesar added. "It sounds like the Imperium's entire political structure would have to be overturned."
"That…may not be possible," Maticus acknowledged. "Not without severe violence or millennia of sustained effort."
"The Imperium as a whole wasn't designed to be a good place to live," Oriacarius mused, seemingly thinking back to an older time. "We keep the existing power brokers in charge of planets not because it's smart, but because it's quick and easy. If I could restart the Crusade all over again, I'd try and convince the Emperor otherwise."
"But now it's too late," Kesar explained, continuing his son's line of thought. "The precedent has already been set, and to change it now would require a herculean effort."
"On some level, the Emperor must have known this," Maticus said, "then made the decision to accept it anyways."
"The reasoning for it was rather simple," the First Captain explained. "No one of importance cared, and I myself saw no reason to start more wars than needed."
"We do this ourselves, don't we?" Kesar said, half as a question, half as a statement.
"We do," Maticus realized. "Most worlds we bring in are fundamentally unchanged, for they join willingly and under a banner of peace."
"Have Baldur look into the details some more," Kesar ordered, "he's already doing his current survey, he should have the information needed to expand upon his report."
"Hurry up and wait it is," Maticus mused, "I suppose that's all we really can do right now."
"Making a rash decision would be a poor idea," the First Captain agreed, as Kesar nodded along.
"We must move carefully," Kesar explained, "for it may not even be needed." Oriacarius and Maticus clearly disagreed, but the Second Anathema still held out hope that the Imperium would remain whole. Even if that hope felt more and more like faith in an institution that didn't deserve it.
"So, this brings us to the last topic," Oriacarius began, to both Kesar and Maticus' confusion.
"I wasn't aware there was another topic," Maticus began.
"Oh right, the mask," Kesar said, bringing out the Mask of the First Daemonsbane, "with everything that happened, it completely slipped my mind. I'm surprised you knew of it, Oriacarius."
The First Captain blinked, then looked at the mask before turning back to Kesar. "That … that isn't actually what I was talking about." He rubbed his temples. "I'm going to have to write so many contingencies for this."
"If it helps, you can hold onto it for a few years," Kesar said. "It's probably best if I don't have an Eldar artifact on Terra."
"Yes, that's a good idea," Oriacarius said snappily, causing Maticus to chuckle.
"I'll be sure to ask for a mask of my own from the Eldar then."
The First Captain glared at his smirking brother before turning back to Kesar, "As I was saying, we have another topic to discuss, Lord General Militant Karcer Urial."
"Who is that?" Maticus asked.
"Ah, I didn't realize she had been demoted." At the Third Captain's questioning look, Kesar clarified further. "She was the Lord Commander of Ultima and had a rather hostile relationship with Guilliman. Has she been causing problems for the Imperium?"
"She's trying to order the Legion around," Oriacarius began. "She's also unilaterally decided on the strategic policy of colonization in the Maelstrom."
"Wait, what?" Kesar uttered in surprise. "That … is that even how the chain of command works?"
"No one questioned it until now," the First Captain answered. "It's almost always just been precedent, there's no guidelines on who is actually in charge legally."
"What's her policy for colonization?" The Primarch asked. "Is it at least sane?"
"Complete colonization and exploitation over the next 2500 years," Oriacarius replied. "While a reasonable timescale for the end goal, it's the details that concern me. She's decreed a multitude of orders for how the spoils of war are to be divided primarily among the Imperial Army and will be publically sharing them shortly."
"That … on the surface it seems reasonable," Maticus added. "Sharing the spoils of war among the average soldier is popular, but it's the precedent that it sets which is the issue."
"The precedent could be circumvented," Kesar countered. "If all else fails, simply say that I was busy on Terra with the incident on Venus, so command fell to her. "
"While that may be the case, I'm far more concerned about the STCs, she's allowing the initial regiments to retain ownership of them, provided they sell it within a year to both the Imperium and Mechanicum."
"That seems like an odd problem," Maticus replied. "Morale is already going to be a major issue, as will mutiny. Providing physical rewards to the soldiers should help alleviate these problems. And it's not as if they can hoard the STCs."
"It's the perception that's the problem," Oriacarius explained. "While Karcer promises the guardsmen everything, it is the Wardens that have to deal with corrupted soldiers. That was already enough of a problem during the Ritual War when information was heavily controlled. It'll be so much worse when we don't control the information channels."
"Could we read her in?" Maticus asked. "Outright going against a Primarch takes a strong sense of will, I doubt she'd be Lost from simple knowledge that the archdaemons exist."
"I'll have to see," Kesar neutrally responded, "but I doubt the Emperor will allow it. It took Lorgar falling for him to read in the Primarchs."
"Is she open to a conversation?" Maticus asked. "We can sit down and clarify what our desires are, learn more about why she's doing this, then come up with a plan of action."
"Yes, but then I'd be operating using my level of influence and prestige, not Kesar's." Explained the First Captain. "If we decide now, it's Kesar making the decision. If we converse then decide, it is I who makes the decision."
"You could read her into a cover story for the Archdaemons," Kesar pointed out, "blaming the executions on warp xeno possession or Enslavers would be viable. And it's not like her ideas are without merit."
"Again, it's the principle of the matter, Karcer has chosen this course of action carefully to shore up her own position within the army." Oriacarius explained, "And so I worry that letting her get away with this will only embolden her further even if it will improve her opinion of Primarchs."
"So she's playing politics and trying to make herself the carrot while using our legion as the stick..." Kesar could see the logic, especially in light of her poor experiences with Roboute. If she was certain that she could not count on support from the Primarchs or their gene sons, best to use that acrimonious relationship in a way that benefits her.
"Indeed, and while annoying, it is hardly going to give us great grief." Maticus said casually while Oriacarius gave a glance of disagreement, "You know, we could do worse than having her come to Terra to meet you, establish the ground rules, and show that while she had trouble with Lord Roboute, you and she can have a better working relationship."
Kesar gave a hum, "And it would go a long way to counter the image of the Eternal Wardens as being contrarian to diplomacy or reconciliation. The attempt itself would do well."
"She'll refuse outright," the First Captain said, "the guard has many factions that'd take the trip as a sign of weakness and would pounce. Any such meeting will have to be on her terms."
"But touring the frontlines with her will certainly help our image," Maticus countered, "and I doubt she can talk circles around you brother."
"I don't like making assumptions like that," Oriacarius responded, "I've seen what Otto could do with a fleet, I don't want to run into Karcer only to find she's as good at talking as Otto was at naval warfare."
"We could have Baldur do the actual talking," Maticus countered, "it'd stretch him thin, but he could adapt."
"Is there any other information that we know?" Kesar interjected, realizing this talk was going nowhere.
"Can I see the orders?" Maticus asked his brother, "It might provide a bit more information."
"Here," Oriacarius replied, handing over a dataslate.
Maticus hummed thoughtfully as he read it. Helpfully orienting the dataslate so that Kesar could read it over his shoulder. Going through the document, it did seem to be more vague than Oriacarius had initially explained. Closer to orders one would give if they expected that they wouldn't be followed. Instead of a direct deployment pattern for the Astartes, it was instead a preset deployment pattern for the Imperial Army, followed by heavy recommendations for how many Astartes should be sent to each location, along with the goals for each compliance.
"This is a bit more nuanced than you initially described," muttered Kesar.
"I don't really see how," countered the First Captain. "Either we do as she says, or we don't and let billions die before Karcer folds and agrees to let us choose the deployment patterns."
"Or we could provide her with our planned deployment and have her adapt," Maticus suggested. "I doubt she's insane enough to try and overrule that."
"If we do that, then we have two separate chains of command with different orders for each," Oriacarius responded with a tinge of irritation in his voice. "We'd trigger yet another crisis for the Imperium to manage."
"I think you may be assuming the worst of her," Maticus said thoughtfully. "She's prepared to fully operate without our support but is putting the initiative for cooperation on us. Leaving us to be the scapegoat should things go wrong From what I heard about how she became the scapegoat for many of Lord Roboute's decisions, she is very much trying to avoid being twice burned by the same situation."
"Perhaps, but she is also playing the long game and using the situation to create precedential advantages for herself and other lord commanders, that is my particular concern." Oriacarius clarified his own stance. "What we choose here will have far-reaching consequences that few will be able to predict."
Choose 1
[] Allow Oriacarius to decide the deployment schema for the Wardens, ignoring Karcer's own plan
[] Have Oriacarius converse with Karcer first, but don't suggest anything
[] Have Oriacarius converse with Karcer first, but suggest he accept placing her deployment schema
[] Agree to Karcer's deployment schema now as a show of good faith and trust
[] Have Baldur hold a discussion with Karcer in an effort to gain more information and have Oriacarius make the decision based on the conversation
[] Write-in
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TinyGladiator
Just another SVer
- Location
- I move alot.
Lord General Militant Karcer Urial is a competent commander, and while she dislikes the Primarchs due to recent history and current circumstances (including her demotion from Lord Commander of Ultima)
She does not understand the full capability and strength of the Eternal Wardens, thinking they're about half as good as they really are according to what was mentioned on the Discord Server. That's not her fault, pretty much most of the available records and intel regarding the Eleventh Legion looks more redacted than anything aside from the Alpha Legion and Assassin Temples.
She'll learn in time and experience, and if we work with her properly. As well as the issues of their greatest enemies.
Chaos corruption is an issue to deal with, but it's not going to be a stupid surprise or contrivance or conflict. The Imperial Army is known for rebellion, for desertion, for madness and friendly fire and other such matters when regiments are sent to the worst battlefields (and who can blame 'em?).
Sudden mass killing is expected and pretty much policy already, not to mention Warp afflictions or psychic influence which is absolutely well-known, from crazy witches causing absolute mayhem to the apocalyptic horror of an Enslaver plague. Psykers are feared and, when not killed, sent to be properly trained when possible. Leaving them alone is a massive rarity done with good reason. Humanity knows the dangers of the Warp, even if Chaos specifically is distorted or unknown.
Karcer isn't an idiot or someone with a death-wish, she know enough about the hazards and dangers of this position. From the sheer insanity that is a massive compliance over one of the worst regions in the entire galaxy that is also (only very recently) now liveable and colonisable.
Her plan is not the best for generally taking over the Maelstrom or for the Eternal Wardens, but this it does benefit the Imperial Army the most. As mentioned, morale is at an all time low and an Imperium-scale civil war based on a mass uprising from the Imperial Army is extremely possible. The situation needs every bit of help it can get, and this is the perfect time to start working on this.
Her demands aren't at all unreasonable, actually. It benefits the soldiers at lot for little to no direct cost for the Eternal Wardens, The precedence set for someone in the Imperial Army able to command or take charge of an Astartes Legion, or more accurate heavily suggest the war plans and domain expansion, could be seen as an issue.
Yet it could be a great benefit and show just how serious Kesar Dorlin is about what happened with the Council on Orus, that even at the top with the Primarchs and the Emperor, accountability will be made. Even if 'only' the higher-ups Imperial Army and the Emperor of Mankind and Malcador knows about what happens, this is a huge display of Kesar putting his money where his mouth is. He is fucking serious about this, he is in this whole series of events for the long-haul
She may not be the best at working with Kesar or the Eternal Wardens specifically in terms of taking on the Maelstrom quickly, but she is one of the rare few that is both competent and also actually cares about the soldiers under her. Working with her is an opportunity, and Kesar Dorlin is an expert at opportunism.
Sidenote: Kesar being side-lined for at least two turns actually helps support relations with working with her, as it's a massive show of trust to have a Primarch go 'Hey, gonna be gone from commanding for a while, I trust you to be in charge for at least a large part of this' which even if Kesar denies her plans is a huge and pretty much unprecedented thing. And make any decision to truly work with her even huger for everyone involved.
She does not understand the full capability and strength of the Eternal Wardens, thinking they're about half as good as they really are according to what was mentioned on the Discord Server. That's not her fault, pretty much most of the available records and intel regarding the Eleventh Legion looks more redacted than anything aside from the Alpha Legion and Assassin Temples.
She'll learn in time and experience, and if we work with her properly. As well as the issues of their greatest enemies.
Chaos corruption is an issue to deal with, but it's not going to be a stupid surprise or contrivance or conflict. The Imperial Army is known for rebellion, for desertion, for madness and friendly fire and other such matters when regiments are sent to the worst battlefields (and who can blame 'em?).
Sudden mass killing is expected and pretty much policy already, not to mention Warp afflictions or psychic influence which is absolutely well-known, from crazy witches causing absolute mayhem to the apocalyptic horror of an Enslaver plague. Psykers are feared and, when not killed, sent to be properly trained when possible. Leaving them alone is a massive rarity done with good reason. Humanity knows the dangers of the Warp, even if Chaos specifically is distorted or unknown.
Karcer isn't an idiot or someone with a death-wish, she know enough about the hazards and dangers of this position. From the sheer insanity that is a massive compliance over one of the worst regions in the entire galaxy that is also (only very recently) now liveable and colonisable.
Her plan is not the best for generally taking over the Maelstrom or for the Eternal Wardens, but this it does benefit the Imperial Army the most. As mentioned, morale is at an all time low and an Imperium-scale civil war based on a mass uprising from the Imperial Army is extremely possible. The situation needs every bit of help it can get, and this is the perfect time to start working on this.
Her demands aren't at all unreasonable, actually. It benefits the soldiers at lot for little to no direct cost for the Eternal Wardens, The precedence set for someone in the Imperial Army able to command or take charge of an Astartes Legion, or more accurate heavily suggest the war plans and domain expansion, could be seen as an issue.
Yet it could be a great benefit and show just how serious Kesar Dorlin is about what happened with the Council on Orus, that even at the top with the Primarchs and the Emperor, accountability will be made. Even if 'only' the higher-ups Imperial Army and the Emperor of Mankind and Malcador knows about what happens, this is a huge display of Kesar putting his money where his mouth is. He is fucking serious about this, he is in this whole series of events for the long-haul
She may not be the best at working with Kesar or the Eternal Wardens specifically in terms of taking on the Maelstrom quickly, but she is one of the rare few that is both competent and also actually cares about the soldiers under her. Working with her is an opportunity, and Kesar Dorlin is an expert at opportunism.
Sidenote: Kesar being side-lined for at least two turns actually helps support relations with working with her, as it's a massive show of trust to have a Primarch go 'Hey, gonna be gone from commanding for a while, I trust you to be in charge for at least a large part of this' which even if Kesar denies her plans is a huge and pretty much unprecedented thing. And make any decision to truly work with her even huger for everyone involved.
- Location
- United States
Alright, so:
Karcer is, or at least seems, untrained, and unequipped for this particular position. I don't particularly mind that she's anti-Primarch, or suspect that she'll be a bad commander in any real sense. In fact, I imagine she's actually a great commander in all traditional fronts. Buuut because she is facing Daemons, and the Corruption that both they, and the very planets she is sent to give off, special care must be taken. Especially because, if a commander with as high a position as hers becomes Corrupted, and in the Maelstrom in particular, she could do a great deal of damage to the Imperium as a whole.
My plan to deal with this would be to send out a squad of Astartes, or Witch Hunters, to effectively ambush her on the ship she will be utilizing to travel into the Malestrom conflict, and either convince, or force her to undergo the intense basic training necessary to deal with the Corruption on the roughly half-a-year voyage. With a team of Astartes, we should be able to get her at least a +10 to dealing with Corruption, possibly higher, and by convincing or forcing her to undergo one or two hours of additional screening and training at the end of each day we should be able to improve that resistance to an acceptable level over time. Afterwards, we can either drop the training should it be proving politically inadvisable, or begin anti-Daemon training.
Luckily, we do have the Witch Hunter, and Valhallan basic training programs, which are obviously geared towards mortals, and should allow us to get a great deal of training done very quickly.
I'd suggest, personally, either sending one of our most charismatic sons to legitimately convince her of the idea, and thus, through her, improve our reputation and ability to work with the Imperial Army as a whole. However, a team of Astartes also maximizes, and really assures, our ability to force her to undergo the basic training she doesn't know she needs, even should she refuse.
Or alternatively, we could send the Witch Hunters, and disguise the whole affair as training ordered from Malcador, or Imperial Army high command rather than Primarch high command, and thus not run into most of the big political problems. The issue being that, of course, Witch Hunters would be much less effective at teaching CR in a short amount of time, and that should the ruse be discovered she'd likely be much more angry than if we just forced her hand the traditional way.
Karcer is, or at least seems, untrained, and unequipped for this particular position. I don't particularly mind that she's anti-Primarch, or suspect that she'll be a bad commander in any real sense. In fact, I imagine she's actually a great commander in all traditional fronts. Buuut because she is facing Daemons, and the Corruption that both they, and the very planets she is sent to give off, special care must be taken. Especially because, if a commander with as high a position as hers becomes Corrupted, and in the Maelstrom in particular, she could do a great deal of damage to the Imperium as a whole.
My plan to deal with this would be to send out a squad of Astartes, or Witch Hunters, to effectively ambush her on the ship she will be utilizing to travel into the Malestrom conflict, and either convince, or force her to undergo the intense basic training necessary to deal with the Corruption on the roughly half-a-year voyage. With a team of Astartes, we should be able to get her at least a +10 to dealing with Corruption, possibly higher, and by convincing or forcing her to undergo one or two hours of additional screening and training at the end of each day we should be able to improve that resistance to an acceptable level over time. Afterwards, we can either drop the training should it be proving politically inadvisable, or begin anti-Daemon training.
Luckily, we do have the Witch Hunter, and Valhallan basic training programs, which are obviously geared towards mortals, and should allow us to get a great deal of training done very quickly.
I'd suggest, personally, either sending one of our most charismatic sons to legitimately convince her of the idea, and thus, through her, improve our reputation and ability to work with the Imperial Army as a whole. However, a team of Astartes also maximizes, and really assures, our ability to force her to undergo the basic training she doesn't know she needs, even should she refuse.
Or alternatively, we could send the Witch Hunters, and disguise the whole affair as training ordered from Malcador, or Imperial Army high command rather than Primarch high command, and thus not run into most of the big political problems. The issue being that, of course, Witch Hunters would be much less effective at teaching CR in a short amount of time, and that should the ruse be discovered she'd likely be much more angry than if we just forced her hand the traditional way.
So Daemon brought up that the biggest hang-up she'd have with this is: You'd essentially be taking her out of the command to do what she'd consider boot camp all over again. So if we had to make this work, we have to make it not into boot camp.
Also, the mentality of Karcer in this instance: 5. Can't we just reassign her to a cushy position or is she one of those "No, I actually care about my career beyond just getting cushy gigs. I'm a soldier, through and through."
5. If it was a promotion she'd accept. Otherwise no. She's not a soldier at all, but more a general
Also, the mentality of Karcer in this instance: 5. Can't we just reassign her to a cushy position or is she one of those "No, I actually care about my career beyond just getting cushy gigs. I'm a soldier, through and through."
5. If it was a promotion she'd accept. Otherwise no. She's not a soldier at all, but more a general
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- Elsewhere
A good way to think of Karcer is that she's definitely dedicated to the job, but also really bitter with what happenned with Guilliman. And very much burnt as a result of it. As such, if she remains where she is, she'll be unhappy, so she's trying to work her way back up to her prior position.
If we want her to have actual power, we need to commit to it and she'd probably ask for it on her terms and nothing else. Otherwise, we gotta just get rid of her via some form or means.
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- United States
You know? One way to tempt her into actually accepting the boot camp is to point out how person ties to a Primarch would do wonders to her career. Sure, it sucks having to fight alongside the Legions all the time because you're routinely thrown into Legion-tier battles. But it does give you a looooot of political power, money, and basically anything you can hope for.
Not to mention how much she'd get immensely better at her job with a little Primarch attention.
Besiiides~ We need a good mortal commander to replace the one we lost in the Maelstrom Crusade. And if she rises to a rank high enough to stabilize the Imperial Guard with all the support we give her that'd help us out immensely.
Not to mention how much she'd get immensely better at her job with a little Primarch attention.
Besiiides~ We need a good mortal commander to replace the one we lost in the Maelstrom Crusade. And if she rises to a rank high enough to stabilize the Imperial Guard with all the support we give her that'd help us out immensely.
TinyGladiator
Just another SVer
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- I move alot.
Speaking of her prior history, in the interest of sharing this in info in the thread and such and to make it more easily accessible in general, what is the history of the former Lord Commander of Ultima?
Dauan Tienar
To the endless horizon
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- Victoria
With regard to this plan, I'm not enthused by it. It doesn't seem like she has much goodwill left as a result of what got her demoted (aka Roboute).
Personally, I think we should continue the trend of being transparent with what we want (while being opportunistic ofc) and outright have Kesar tell her to her face that she needs this info and that this is his/Kesar's wheelhouse and let her fill in the blanks. Use our reputation as "The Black Ops Primarch" to our advantage even if we aren't really the Black Ops Primarch in truth (Lmao on all the censorship on our compliance files for all the Chaos stuff for making everyone think we are black ops).
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I mean, if she's nearby and it doesn't take any sort of action to get Kesar to do that? Absolutely, Kesar's got the +45 to diplomacy, the position, the reputation.
If not, that's pretty much the plan for whatever Astartes squad, or Witch Hunter unit we send her way. Explain to her why she needs CR training as "Hey, this place is crawling with cognito hazzards, let us train you so you won't be taken over by them." And if she makes reasonable requests like, say, asking for better payment, support on her getting a higher position, or additional training on a bonus she actually wants....we agree to that!
If she's adamant that she absolutely will not take training on how to deal with personal training from a Legion on our designated specialty? That kind really just proves that she's unfit for the position, because she can't see past her pride to look at the bigger picture of what is best for the Imperium at all.
Sadly, because we're talking about what could be the lives of trillions of people, and potentially even the loss of STCs, I really don't think we can risk not training her.
Also I totally forgot about this before: But we should also give her a Purity Rune along with the training. It'd be relatively inexpensive, and so long as she doesn't go out of her way to break it it'd be another big boost to her CR.
If not, that's pretty much the plan for whatever Astartes squad, or Witch Hunter unit we send her way. Explain to her why she needs CR training as "Hey, this place is crawling with cognito hazzards, let us train you so you won't be taken over by them." And if she makes reasonable requests like, say, asking for better payment, support on her getting a higher position, or additional training on a bonus she actually wants....we agree to that!
If she's adamant that she absolutely will not take training on how to deal with personal training from a Legion on our designated specialty? That kind really just proves that she's unfit for the position, because she can't see past her pride to look at the bigger picture of what is best for the Imperium at all.
Sadly, because we're talking about what could be the lives of trillions of people, and potentially even the loss of STCs, I really don't think we can risk not training her.
Also I totally forgot about this before: But we should also give her a Purity Rune along with the training. It'd be relatively inexpensive, and so long as she doesn't go out of her way to break it it'd be another big boost to her CR.
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For that during the Maelstrom war, Guilliman forcibly transfered troops from Ultima to the Maelstrom. These troops were earmarked as garrisons by the LC and when they were removed, a lot of people were unhappy. However instead of blaming Roboute they blamed her, which led to her being demoted.
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Sadly it'd take 6 or so months for Kesar to go meet her as she is currently near the Maelstrom