Lady Elizabetha looked up as her acolyte walked into the room. The women wore a dark red dress in the style fashionable amongst nobles in the Gloriana system, her long hair powdered white. She walked awkwardly. The good doctor had done his best on the wound on her leg but it would still be some time before it was fully healed. Her mistress looked remarkably well considering the extant of the wounds she had suffered, the result of the enhancing nature of the Juvenat drugs the Inquisitor habitually took.
"This has gone far enough, Roberta," Lady Elizabetha said to the acolyte. "The xeno witches have played havoc with our plans one too many times." Lady Elizabetha stood and Roberta followed her out of the room. "Have you carried out my instructions?"
"Yes, m'lady," said Roberta. "I'm assured that they will be combat ready within a matter of days." They two women walked down a shadowy hallway, hidden in the labyrinthine construct of the Samarobrivan Planetary Administratum building.
"Excellent," said Lady Elizabetha. "Maybe we'll soon be able to give them something they won't have planned for." They entered a small room, the door unlocking when it's complicated sensor array recognised the Inquisitor's bio-signature. It was filled with maps, charts and cogitators. Lady Elizabetha picked up an auto-stylus drawing of a tall figure in ornate armour. Roberta was shocked to see a flicker of what could have been rage in the Inquisitor's normally controlled features. "You may leave now, Roberta," said the Lady, and, taking her cue, Roberta curtisied and left the room.
Left on her own, Lady Elizabetha sat back in a chair and looked through the reports collated by her network of informants. She had never seen the Eldar in the field of battle before this recent conflict and what she had seen had impressed her. The Ordo Xenos painted the Eldar as a doomed, dying race, but little had she been prepared for the ferocious devastation that could be wrought by their advanced weapon. And then there was the Farseer, as the xenos called them. The part of her brain Lady Elizabetha kept under strict control tingle when she faced him on the battlefield. There was potential there, the germ of a great power. Vague premonitions had been filtering through to her consciousness, despite her rigid defences against her own psychic powers, and the Inquisitor knew that she was soon to face a fight the likes of which she had never known before. She picked up the auto-stylus capture of the Farseer again and smiled.
"You have my attention, little witch. Now show me what you can really do..."
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Campaign Result: Aftermath of Tellas Morn, Eldar
When Allar-El found her he found he was immensely relieved to see her still standing, Anaris had suffered several wounds but seemed to have been stabilised and was now at the head of her Banshee handmaidens who had formed a circle around the remains of one of the fortifications the Mon-Keigh had destroyed in their attack.
There appeared to be a single warrior, his clumsy weapons clearly exhausted he had drawn a large blade and still seemed to be looking for an opening in the guard of the Aspect Warriors, remarkable the stubbornness of these creatures. He was readying the command in his mind for the Banshee to simply open fire and end his life when Anaris turned to him and steadied his mind.
“Aneith” The farseers thought instantly diffused with the use of his peacetime name, from anyone else it would have been an immense breach of authority to use it in this time and place, but Anaris knew the effect it would have and meant no lack of respect from it. “This creature, primitive and crude though it is has at least earned to die as a warrior, at least let me grant him that” With that she removed her helm, her eyes burned like Emerald stars and her blazing red hair unfolded down around her shoulders. Emotion welled up in Allar-El as Anaris knew it would, she knew he would eventually surrender to her request and the action was purely for her own benefit to feel his response, she truly was a child of Khaine, a terrifying beauty with pale porcelain skin and a grace to be marvelled at even among their kind. She had come so close to taking up the mantle of Exarch in the largest Banshee shrine on Ulthwe but had withdrawn, a fact he was always thankful of knowing that an Exarch would have no time for what they had come to share.
She sensed his smile and acceptance even with his Ghosthelm in place and he heard the sound of her ornate blade once again being drawn from it’s sheath as he turned away to return to what was left of the council chamber to plan their next move.
It was only a short time after his own arrival that Anaris arrived, despite her wounds she had clearly cut the Mon-Keigh down in short order.
“Anaris, you must assemble a force from our remaining troops to head out into the ruins and find a replacement webway stone, only then will we be able to retreat to our fortress Belein-Tor and gather the forces to drive these fools from this place.”
“Indeed Aneith, it would appear this time Inquisitor Grey has brought more or the Imperium’s Battle Maidens, the ones I fought seemed to burn with some kind of power, their armour proving almost impenetrable while their blades struck with the kind of precision I would normally reserve for our own kin, we must tread carefully Aneith for these warriors may prove to be a more deadly foe than even their ‘Space Marines’ ” she struggled with their crude language, its guttural sound a complete antithesis to her grace.
Not for the first time Allar-El felt his darker impulses welling within him, if he drew upon the more destructive energies within him he could have perhaps struck down these warriors before Anaris was even forced to intervene, the dark song rose to crescendo as his mind began to formulate the patterns to turn his powers against these upstart creatures, the time for subtleties was done, he would show them the true power of a Farseer turned to war…
There appeared to be a single warrior, his clumsy weapons clearly exhausted he had drawn a large blade and still seemed to be looking for an opening in the guard of the Aspect Warriors, remarkable the stubbornness of these creatures. He was readying the command in his mind for the Banshee to simply open fire and end his life when Anaris turned to him and steadied his mind.
“Aneith” The farseers thought instantly diffused with the use of his peacetime name, from anyone else it would have been an immense breach of authority to use it in this time and place, but Anaris knew the effect it would have and meant no lack of respect from it. “This creature, primitive and crude though it is has at least earned to die as a warrior, at least let me grant him that” With that she removed her helm, her eyes burned like Emerald stars and her blazing red hair unfolded down around her shoulders. Emotion welled up in Allar-El as Anaris knew it would, she knew he would eventually surrender to her request and the action was purely for her own benefit to feel his response, she truly was a child of Khaine, a terrifying beauty with pale porcelain skin and a grace to be marvelled at even among their kind. She had come so close to taking up the mantle of Exarch in the largest Banshee shrine on Ulthwe but had withdrawn, a fact he was always thankful of knowing that an Exarch would have no time for what they had come to share.
She sensed his smile and acceptance even with his Ghosthelm in place and he heard the sound of her ornate blade once again being drawn from it’s sheath as he turned away to return to what was left of the council chamber to plan their next move.
It was only a short time after his own arrival that Anaris arrived, despite her wounds she had clearly cut the Mon-Keigh down in short order.
“Anaris, you must assemble a force from our remaining troops to head out into the ruins and find a replacement webway stone, only then will we be able to retreat to our fortress Belein-Tor and gather the forces to drive these fools from this place.”
“Indeed Aneith, it would appear this time Inquisitor Grey has brought more or the Imperium’s Battle Maidens, the ones I fought seemed to burn with some kind of power, their armour proving almost impenetrable while their blades struck with the kind of precision I would normally reserve for our own kin, we must tread carefully Aneith for these warriors may prove to be a more deadly foe than even their ‘Space Marines’ ” she struggled with their crude language, its guttural sound a complete antithesis to her grace.
Not for the first time Allar-El felt his darker impulses welling within him, if he drew upon the more destructive energies within him he could have perhaps struck down these warriors before Anaris was even forced to intervene, the dark song rose to crescendo as his mind began to formulate the patterns to turn his powers against these upstart creatures, the time for subtleties was done, he would show them the true power of a Farseer turned to war…
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
FLUFF: The Emperors Shadows
<999.m40> Magos Teradine
By your request, here is the report on the chapter you found yourself alongside in the most recent combat Lady Inquisitor:
The Emperors Shadows homeworld was named Lethe, a largely flat world covered in plains that served the Imperium as a low grade agri-world in the Segmentum Tempestus. The Shadows Chose this world due to the high numbers of Nomadic tribes that roam the world, skilled and honourable warriors they seemed like a good source of potential gene stock for the chapter. Lethe also possessed to small inhabitable moons, while they were of little use for agriculture they proved rich in minerals and have since been turned into successful mining worlds manned and worked by the penal legions with the Shadows ever watchful for insurgents.
The Emperors Shadows themselves are an Interesting chapter, originally of Ultramarine gene stock their purity has never been called into question, however for a chapter descended from the sons of Guilleman they have strayed from chapter doctrine in a number of ways. While their chapter structure follows their individual squads show variance by including many “Cleanse” squads in the place of the assault marines one would expect in a codex Chapter. These squads seem to have been born of the chapters preference for close range firefights and urban warfare by including a higher proportion of plasma, melta and flame weapons as well as rhino transports to bring them to the firefight with greater speed.
They are also unusual in their refusal to deploy aspirants in scout roles with the belief being that if they are unworthy to wear the armour of the chapter they are unworthy to bear it’s colours into battle. The aspirants instead of gaining battle experience that way participate in often lethal “wargames” against each other with the principle being that there is no greater foe they could overcome to prove their worth than another potential battle brother.
The Chapter is also noted in their complete absence of Chaplains, it is not understood how a chapter is able to maintain the spiritual welfare of their brothers without them but it is believed to be linked to our main concern regarding the Chapter
They raised flags with the Ordo Hereticus when it became apparent that rather than a God, the Chapter saw the Emperor as a extraordinary man with great powers, but merely a man none the less. The Inquisition has allowed this to continue as the belief seems to have left their dedication to him untouched and in the current climate investigation and potential excommunication of an entire chapter of dedicated marines would be a greater risk than allowing them to continue.
The chapter is currently embarking on a penitent crusade in repentance for the loss of it’s homeworld 2 years previously to an element of Hive Fleet Leviathan. Their devotion proved to be their undoing as with all but 3 battle companies of their 12, another break from codex tradition, out responding to calls for Astartes assistance when Leviathan smashed into the sector the Marines were too hard pressed to hold with depleted strength. It was this world that confirmed Inquisitor Kryptmans suspicions to Leviathans emergence however as the Shadows were able to pool their Librarians might and in an act of sacrifice generate a signal strong enough to punch through the Shadow in the Warp the foul Tyranids produce and send a single short message “We are the Emperor’s Shadows, the Tyranids have come, Honour to the Emperor”
By the time their battle brothers had arrived in reinforcement the sector was lost to the Tyranids, their homeworld of Lethe a blasted rock. The Shadows had apparently used they weapons stockpiles on Lethe and it’s surrounding moons to turn all large portions of all 3 bodies into a firestorm when it had become apparent they could hold them no longer dealing the swarm a blow, but sadly given the size of Leviathan, not enough to slow their advance. The remaining companies were ordered to withdraw and reform.
The Chapter has begun it’s recruitment, splitting the remaining companies back into 12 smaller groups to regain their original formation and dispatching them throughout the Galaxy as needed, careful not to recruit from worlds marked by other chapters the Shadows have none the less begun to receive aspirants from all corners of the Imperium but despite this variance maintain a strong prevalence for their original combat doctrine.
Recent Engagements:
With battle companies throughout the Imperium the Shadows are one of the most active Chapters currently engaged but they have been seen in high numbers engaging Hive Fleets Leviathan and Kraken and noticeably two battle companies responded when Inquisitor Carolus requested their aid in assisting her and her battlegroup during a mission to retrieve a number of potentially useful artefacts in the Ipsos sector which is where they fell under your jurisdiction during the end of that campaign after the death of Inquisitor Carolus.
They appear to be dedicated servants of the Emperor but their refusal to acknowledge the Divine Light of the Emperor is a worry regarding their devotion and defiantly warrants attention during any dealings with them.
“We are the Emperors Shadows, The Tyranids have come, Honour to the Emperor”
--Last communication from Lethe--
By your request, here is the report on the chapter you found yourself alongside in the most recent combat Lady Inquisitor:
The Emperors Shadows homeworld was named Lethe, a largely flat world covered in plains that served the Imperium as a low grade agri-world in the Segmentum Tempestus. The Shadows Chose this world due to the high numbers of Nomadic tribes that roam the world, skilled and honourable warriors they seemed like a good source of potential gene stock for the chapter. Lethe also possessed to small inhabitable moons, while they were of little use for agriculture they proved rich in minerals and have since been turned into successful mining worlds manned and worked by the penal legions with the Shadows ever watchful for insurgents.
The Emperors Shadows themselves are an Interesting chapter, originally of Ultramarine gene stock their purity has never been called into question, however for a chapter descended from the sons of Guilleman they have strayed from chapter doctrine in a number of ways. While their chapter structure follows their individual squads show variance by including many “Cleanse” squads in the place of the assault marines one would expect in a codex Chapter. These squads seem to have been born of the chapters preference for close range firefights and urban warfare by including a higher proportion of plasma, melta and flame weapons as well as rhino transports to bring them to the firefight with greater speed.
They are also unusual in their refusal to deploy aspirants in scout roles with the belief being that if they are unworthy to wear the armour of the chapter they are unworthy to bear it’s colours into battle. The aspirants instead of gaining battle experience that way participate in often lethal “wargames” against each other with the principle being that there is no greater foe they could overcome to prove their worth than another potential battle brother.
The Chapter is also noted in their complete absence of Chaplains, it is not understood how a chapter is able to maintain the spiritual welfare of their brothers without them but it is believed to be linked to our main concern regarding the Chapter
They raised flags with the Ordo Hereticus when it became apparent that rather than a God, the Chapter saw the Emperor as a extraordinary man with great powers, but merely a man none the less. The Inquisition has allowed this to continue as the belief seems to have left their dedication to him untouched and in the current climate investigation and potential excommunication of an entire chapter of dedicated marines would be a greater risk than allowing them to continue.
The chapter is currently embarking on a penitent crusade in repentance for the loss of it’s homeworld 2 years previously to an element of Hive Fleet Leviathan. Their devotion proved to be their undoing as with all but 3 battle companies of their 12, another break from codex tradition, out responding to calls for Astartes assistance when Leviathan smashed into the sector the Marines were too hard pressed to hold with depleted strength. It was this world that confirmed Inquisitor Kryptmans suspicions to Leviathans emergence however as the Shadows were able to pool their Librarians might and in an act of sacrifice generate a signal strong enough to punch through the Shadow in the Warp the foul Tyranids produce and send a single short message “We are the Emperor’s Shadows, the Tyranids have come, Honour to the Emperor”
By the time their battle brothers had arrived in reinforcement the sector was lost to the Tyranids, their homeworld of Lethe a blasted rock. The Shadows had apparently used they weapons stockpiles on Lethe and it’s surrounding moons to turn all large portions of all 3 bodies into a firestorm when it had become apparent they could hold them no longer dealing the swarm a blow, but sadly given the size of Leviathan, not enough to slow their advance. The remaining companies were ordered to withdraw and reform.
The Chapter has begun it’s recruitment, splitting the remaining companies back into 12 smaller groups to regain their original formation and dispatching them throughout the Galaxy as needed, careful not to recruit from worlds marked by other chapters the Shadows have none the less begun to receive aspirants from all corners of the Imperium but despite this variance maintain a strong prevalence for their original combat doctrine.
Recent Engagements:
With battle companies throughout the Imperium the Shadows are one of the most active Chapters currently engaged but they have been seen in high numbers engaging Hive Fleets Leviathan and Kraken and noticeably two battle companies responded when Inquisitor Carolus requested their aid in assisting her and her battlegroup during a mission to retrieve a number of potentially useful artefacts in the Ipsos sector which is where they fell under your jurisdiction during the end of that campaign after the death of Inquisitor Carolus.
They appear to be dedicated servants of the Emperor but their refusal to acknowledge the Divine Light of the Emperor is a worry regarding their devotion and defiantly warrants attention during any dealings with them.
“We are the Emperors Shadows, The Tyranids have come, Honour to the Emperor”
--Last communication from Lethe--
FLUFF: Farseer Allar-el
Seer Allar-el’s recent performance in retrieving Aliakor is to be commended, the Mon-Keigh that opposed him were delivered a painful blow before our forces retreated to the webway with the artefacts.
Many of our own were lost as seen by the council but with the Aliakor retrieved the prevention of a greater loss is now a viable future.
Allar-el himself is still young and shows talent as a commander but lacks the breadth of gifts sufficient to by considered for the Council. Since her loss at the hands of the foul Orks he has taken to carrying the soul stone of his sister, which while it appears to have given him access to a greater level to destructive potential serves as a dangerous crutch that could lead to an over reliance on her strength.
The blood of Seers runs through his veins as you know, his mother was a well respected member of this council and one even the Great Ulthuan himself saw as a great resource and gifted Seer. The routes through his future show almost as many paths where he achieves the status of Ulthuan as where he is damned to darkness of the Sha’eil. His future balances on the edge of a blade, we can only hope his gifts are sufficient to prevent his fall.
He has also formed a bond over recent decades with the Autarch Tireth Anaris, a pathfinder who overcame her wanderlust and re-settled on the craftworld. Her time as a wanderer brings her a disturbing degree of passion and fire but it seems to temper well with Allar-el’s calculating analytical nature. She often serves as a bodyguard to him in the field and while she feels the call of war he cannot sway her from the path I feel that Allar-el’s inexperience means he cannot make the same claim. I have seen the skeins of fate, this bond will either forge both into stronger blades or should one fall, doom the other to darkness.
Anaris herself has proven a boon to the craftworld since her return, despite her oft worrying levels of distaste for the more… confining aspects of the Path. It has been too many cycles since one such as her though and even though some more senior member may find it distasteful her passion is contagious and well needed. She blazes with life in dance, song and as is becoming the case in battle too. Clearly while she has turned down the paths of Scorpion, Banshee and Avenger she clearly has a preference for forming these warriors into her handmaidens in times of battle.
I would therefore recommend he not be inducted into the High Council at this time and one of the other potential aspirants chosen. Anaris on the other hand should serve as field commander to his actions and I recommend they be placed in command of the Unan Novine action currently under Council review.
While I would never place my own visions above those of the Council I see this project being the best course to bring that greatness to pass, however it also contains portents of one who hunts him, the Mon-Keigh Inquisitor. Her duty has grown into a dark obsession with our kind and she has the power and the knowledge to do us great harm.
It was the great Phoenix who nearly cut her down on that battlefield but she is all two aware of Allar-el and Anaris and would not hesitate to break their bodies, souls and fates with their crude devices should the opportunity arise.
I would therefore suggest Anaris take a squad of her personal handmaidens and if this creatures dares show her face to defy our plans that Anaris handle the matter of her destruction personally before she has a chance to even see Allar-el.
These are the paths as I see them and submit myself to the decisions of the Council.
Emerald Seer Te’lan
Many of our own were lost as seen by the council but with the Aliakor retrieved the prevention of a greater loss is now a viable future.
Allar-el himself is still young and shows talent as a commander but lacks the breadth of gifts sufficient to by considered for the Council. Since her loss at the hands of the foul Orks he has taken to carrying the soul stone of his sister, which while it appears to have given him access to a greater level to destructive potential serves as a dangerous crutch that could lead to an over reliance on her strength.
The blood of Seers runs through his veins as you know, his mother was a well respected member of this council and one even the Great Ulthuan himself saw as a great resource and gifted Seer. The routes through his future show almost as many paths where he achieves the status of Ulthuan as where he is damned to darkness of the Sha’eil. His future balances on the edge of a blade, we can only hope his gifts are sufficient to prevent his fall.
He has also formed a bond over recent decades with the Autarch Tireth Anaris, a pathfinder who overcame her wanderlust and re-settled on the craftworld. Her time as a wanderer brings her a disturbing degree of passion and fire but it seems to temper well with Allar-el’s calculating analytical nature. She often serves as a bodyguard to him in the field and while she feels the call of war he cannot sway her from the path I feel that Allar-el’s inexperience means he cannot make the same claim. I have seen the skeins of fate, this bond will either forge both into stronger blades or should one fall, doom the other to darkness.
Anaris herself has proven a boon to the craftworld since her return, despite her oft worrying levels of distaste for the more… confining aspects of the Path. It has been too many cycles since one such as her though and even though some more senior member may find it distasteful her passion is contagious and well needed. She blazes with life in dance, song and as is becoming the case in battle too. Clearly while she has turned down the paths of Scorpion, Banshee and Avenger she clearly has a preference for forming these warriors into her handmaidens in times of battle.
I would therefore recommend he not be inducted into the High Council at this time and one of the other potential aspirants chosen. Anaris on the other hand should serve as field commander to his actions and I recommend they be placed in command of the Unan Novine action currently under Council review.
While I would never place my own visions above those of the Council I see this project being the best course to bring that greatness to pass, however it also contains portents of one who hunts him, the Mon-Keigh Inquisitor. Her duty has grown into a dark obsession with our kind and she has the power and the knowledge to do us great harm.
It was the great Phoenix who nearly cut her down on that battlefield but she is all two aware of Allar-el and Anaris and would not hesitate to break their bodies, souls and fates with their crude devices should the opportunity arise.
I would therefore suggest Anaris take a squad of her personal handmaidens and if this creatures dares show her face to defy our plans that Anaris handle the matter of her destruction personally before she has a chance to even see Allar-el.
These are the paths as I see them and submit myself to the decisions of the Council.
Emerald Seer Te’lan
Sunday, May 4, 2008
FLUFF: There was a sudden terrible cry...
...and a bright green flash of light.
Warboss Salznik's already swinging Power Klaw missed the head of the commisar he was aiming at. This was mostly due to the fact that it was no longer there - much to the relief of the commisar. Instead the power klaw continued its trajectory and met the head of an unfortunate Ork boy, sending it skyward. Salznik staggered, regained his balance and then looked around. The noise of battle had gone, replaced by a strange silence punctuated only by the odd ork scream, then followed by the sound of fights breaking out. There was not a single 'oomie in sight, which was odd, because until a moment ago Salznik and his Goff boyz had been showing the pink skins what Orks like to do with the business end of a choppa.
Grabnutz, the Warboss's pet attack squig gnawed on the headless Ork boy's leg whilst Salznik consulted with his Nobz. He had a headache and was ready to start knocking heads. There had been a great deal of confusion after the flash of light and several of the ork boyz had started fighting amongst themselves and Salznik had had to put a few boyz down to restore some order. What was patently obvious was that the Warband wasn't on Kansisas anymore. This place didn't look like the war-ridden desert planet Salznik had created since he had begun his own mighty Waaagh! This planet was leafy and teaming with life.
Some of the Nobs leading the warband's huge mobs of boyz had found the warband's Weirdboy lying unconscious surrounded by a ring of dead boyz about 20 deep. As the painboyz set to work opening up the weirdboy's head in order to 'fix' him, Salznik sat on a rock deep in thought. Everyone knew Weirdboyz could tellyport during the heat of battle, usually accompanied by a bright flash and sometimes taking a mob or two (at most) of Orks with him. It seemed however as if the weirdboy in front of Salznik had tellyported most of his warband out of battle and onto another planet. For a Goff Warboss Salznik was unusually bright, but this conclusion still took a while to come to and the Painboyz had already finished their own brand of sergery when Salznik stood up and turned to look at the prone weirdboy still unconscious on the ground. A thought struck the Warboss and he smiled a dreadful smile; if he wasn't mistaken then he was looking at the most powerful weirdboy since the greatest weirdboy of them all - Old Zogwort.
Warboss Salznik's already swinging Power Klaw missed the head of the commisar he was aiming at. This was mostly due to the fact that it was no longer there - much to the relief of the commisar. Instead the power klaw continued its trajectory and met the head of an unfortunate Ork boy, sending it skyward. Salznik staggered, regained his balance and then looked around. The noise of battle had gone, replaced by a strange silence punctuated only by the odd ork scream, then followed by the sound of fights breaking out. There was not a single 'oomie in sight, which was odd, because until a moment ago Salznik and his Goff boyz had been showing the pink skins what Orks like to do with the business end of a choppa.
Grabnutz, the Warboss's pet attack squig gnawed on the headless Ork boy's leg whilst Salznik consulted with his Nobz. He had a headache and was ready to start knocking heads. There had been a great deal of confusion after the flash of light and several of the ork boyz had started fighting amongst themselves and Salznik had had to put a few boyz down to restore some order. What was patently obvious was that the Warband wasn't on Kansisas anymore. This place didn't look like the war-ridden desert planet Salznik had created since he had begun his own mighty Waaagh! This planet was leafy and teaming with life.
Some of the Nobs leading the warband's huge mobs of boyz had found the warband's Weirdboy lying unconscious surrounded by a ring of dead boyz about 20 deep. As the painboyz set to work opening up the weirdboy's head in order to 'fix' him, Salznik sat on a rock deep in thought. Everyone knew Weirdboyz could tellyport during the heat of battle, usually accompanied by a bright flash and sometimes taking a mob or two (at most) of Orks with him. It seemed however as if the weirdboy in front of Salznik had tellyported most of his warband out of battle and onto another planet. For a Goff Warboss Salznik was unusually bright, but this conclusion still took a while to come to and the Painboyz had already finished their own brand of sergery when Salznik stood up and turned to look at the prone weirdboy still unconscious on the ground. A thought struck the Warboss and he smiled a dreadful smile; if he wasn't mistaken then he was looking at the most powerful weirdboy since the greatest weirdboy of them all - Old Zogwort.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
DISCUSSION: 4.5th Ed and Forthcoming Conflicts
Well, that's all the fluff so far posted. I have questions.
- Are we starting a new Marine / WH / Eldar Campaign?
- Are we using 4.5th Ed? And...
- What is 4.5th Ed, exactly?
FLUFF: Report on the Increased Xenos Activity in the Ipsos Sector
SECURITY LEVEL ALPHA – PASSCODE ENCRYPTED
TO: Lord Castellan Tate, Overlord of Samarobriva
FROM: Master Scribe Malthus Hex
SUBJECT: Increased Xeno Activity in Ipsos System
DATE: S6.D12-992.M41
My Lord Castellan, please find as requested my report on the increased activity of the various Xenos races in and around the Ipsos sector.
INCIDENTS
991.M41
S1.D34 – S2.D12 : Reports come from Outsector of conflict between Imperial forces and unidentified Eldar raiders.
S2.D29 – S7.D03 : Numerous reports from Outsector of ongoing conflict between Eldar forces and both Adepta Sororitas heralding from Gehenna and an unidentified Adeptus Astartes force suspected to be renegade Emperor's Shadows. See note A.
S7.D15 : Suffering catastrophic losses, Imperial forces make tactical withdrawal to reconsider position. Eldar make cowardly retreat at this point. A glorious victory for the Imperium! See note B.
S12.D31 : Distress alert received from Rogue Trader vessel Acheron in the Halo Stars. Message contains only screams and static. Warp interference suspected cause of loss of contact. See note C.
992.M41
S2.D05 – S4.D20 : Series of brutal Ork raids on Imperial mining stations in sector outer rim. Curiously, no Ork ships sighted around the time of the raid. Several trader ships lost to unknown causes in the galactic west of the sector. See note D.
S5.D23 : Orks somehow make planetfall on Gehenna. Adepta Sororitas quick to react but sudden appearance of xenos of the Tyranid race causes heavy losses. Adepta Sororitas forces forced to fall back.
S6.D01 : Ork and Tyranid forces converged on Ecclesiarchy chapel. Taken by surprise by the ferocity of the attack, garrisoned Battle Sisters quickly overwhelmed. Canoness Pia Dominica VIII barely escapes with her life. See note E.
NOTES
A) The alleged co-operation of the Adepta Sororitas with the Emperor's Shadows implies that this chapter may not have turned rogue as previously suspected. Perhaps they seek penitance? Suggest full inquiry into history of this chapter.
B) There are unconfirmed reports of Inquisitorial activity in this campaign.
C) I suspect this may have been caused by xenos.
D) Has the beast mastered warp travel? Surely not. I very much doubt these creatures capacity for higher technology.
E) I suspect these bursts of Tyranid activity to be the front of a much larger invasion force. I strongly recommend seeking guidance from Ordo Xenos.
As ever, my Lord Castellan, your obedient servant, Master Scribe Malthus Hex.
The cold light of the Halo Stars looked especially bleak to Davone Yrte, captain of the Rogue Trader vessel Acheron. The voyage had been a total failure, the promising line of planets proving completely lifeless. With a sigh, he turned from the viewing port and made to leave the cockpit.
“Sir? I think you had better see this,” the first mate called to him. Reluctantly, thirsting after the bottle of wildsnake in his cabin, Yrte turned and walked over to the dashboard where the mate sat. “They've been flashing on and off the radar for a while now, but all of a sudden they've increased speed and changed course. Sir, they're headed for us.”
“They? Who are they, sailor?” demanded Yrte. He was growing testy. He knew all the crew were. A failed voyage meant no pay, yet again, and things had been sparse enough as it was.
“I... I'm not sure, captain. I've tried hailing them, but there's no reply.” The first mate's apprehension made Yrte nervous. He tried to suppress his unease.
“Pirates, is it? Call battle stations. I'll take the gun at the helm,” Yrte commanded. The first mate nodded and set the ship to action stations. The ship sirens blared and crewmen ran to their various quarters. The dark red emergency lighting cast the captain's face into stark relief. He grinned. The Acheron was one of the finest civilian fighting ships in the sector. Those pirates didn't know what they had gotten themselves into.
Suddenly, the whole ship trembled from a mighty blow. Warning lights lit up all over the cockpit's various dashboards.
“What the hell was that!?” cried Yrte, steadying himself against a bulkhead. The unmistakable sound of lasgunfire was audible from the back of the ship.
“Looks like something has latched itself onto the ship, sir! Some kind of boarding torpedo, perhaps, I don't know!” the first mate reported, nearly screaming. His eyes met the captains and they stared at each other for a moment.
“Impossible... who could...?” the captain mentally shook himself. “Send a distress signal. We're going to need help on this one, and besides--” The captain never had a chance to finish his sentence, because at that point the door was torn from it's hinges. In the half light, Yrte briefly saw something, a nightmare of teeth, claws and chitinous flesh. There was a blur, a brief but intense pain, and the captain saw no more.
FLUFF: Ipsos Sector Inquisition
INQUISITORS OF NOTE IN THE IPSOS SECTOR
As per your request my Lord, I have acquired a list of information on some of the more prominent Inquisitors in the Ipsos sector. I hope this serves your purposes well.
LADY ELIZABETHA GREY
As an infant, Elizabetha Grey was much like any other child. She was born into a noble family on the planet Castilla, a civilised world in the Gloriana system. It was the invasion on Castilla by the Ork Waagh Kazrik that was to lead to her life taking a very different path from that of a mere planetary noble.
The Orks struck from nowhere. Castilla, being the first planet in the path of the Waagh, was overrun in a matter of weeks. When the Orks broke into the Grey families manor they must have found the young Elizabetha and her family cowering, terrified in the cellars. I say must have, my Lord, because it what then transpired is not known. When the Storm Troopers of the Samarobrivan Grenadiers regiment cleared the building they found the child Elizabetha shivering and alone in the middle of the cellar room. Pasted about the walls and ceiling were the remains of quite a large number of Orks. The location of her family was unknown but it is speculated that they were killed in the same manner as the Orks. Being simple soldiers, the Storm Troopers took the child back to the Schola Progenium on Samarobriva, unaware of the cause of the incident. Lady Elizabetha was six years of age at this point.
At the Schola, Elizabetha showed no signs of unusual powers. She was trained for entry into the Adepta Sororitas and took to her studies well. It seemed she would make a fine Battle Sister, and I am certain she would have had it not been for a visit to the Schola from Inquisitor Carolus (now deceased, see file --FILE RESTRICTED--). Being a powerful psyker himself, he recognised psychic potential in Elizabetha. As a result, he inducted Elizabetha into his service so that he might train her to use her powers effectively. And so it was that, at the age of fourteen, Elizabetha entered into training under an Inquisitor.
Despite Elizabetha's potential for great psychic ability, she very rarely used her powers. It is most likely that she fears them, having deep rooted psychological trauma from the incident in her families manor. Elizabetha stayed on with Inquisitor Carolus for some time, until, at the age of thirty four, she was made an Inquisitor proper. From this point on her career went from strength to strength and she gained renown as a wise and intelligent Inquisitor. Working in and around the Ipsos sector she successfully prevented numerous insurrections and eradicated countless Chaos cults. At the age of ninety six she was nominated and elevated to the rank of Inquisitor Lord.
Lady Elizabetha Grey works extensively with the Adepta Sororitas of the Order of the Ebon Chalice, located on Gehenna. She is a member of no Ordo, but has close ties with the Ordo Hereticus. It is thought that her fondness for working with the Ecclesiarchy is due to her time in training at the Schola Progenium. She has also been known to work with inducted Imperial Guard regiments and has an exceptionally good relationship with the Knights of Marconia chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. She aligns herself to no faction within the Inquisition, preferring to focus her attentions on her duty to safeguard the Imperium against its enemies.
Lady Grey has trained several Inquisitors, notably one Nathaniel Luteran with whom she maintains close contact with and has worked with on several occasions. She has been known to also work with Lord Inquisitor Marcus Calvinus. She harbours deep hostility for Inquisitor Guido Abraxis, whom she sees as rash and dangerous.
During her recent involvement with the Eldar she appears to have developed an intense dislike for the race. It is said that she pursues them with vigour even now. Whether her purposes are discovery or revenge is, as of yet, unclear.
LORD INQUISITOR MARCUS CALVINUS
I could find little or no records of Lord Marcus Calvinus' activities before his recent arrival in the Ipsos sector. His arrival was tied in with the affair of the False Prophet Boden (xref: --FILE RESTRICTED--) and was thought to be at the request of Lady Elizabetha Grey. His actions in that campaign proved him to be a warrior of quite some skill. He is of the Ordo Malleus and is a staunch Thorian. It is thought that his Thorian tendencies are what have kept him in the sector and, as far as my sources can tell, he has been investigating the Adepta Sororitas in this sector, researching the Living Saint that has been rumoured to have been seen in various recent campaigns.
Lord Calvinus most often makes use of the Grey Knights when he goes to battle, preferring to make a surgical strike at the heart of the enemies forces. He is often seen to be working with other Inquisitors of the Thorian factions, most notably a young Inquisitor by the name of Andrei Tredan, who has been known to have been working in the Ipsos sector for his entire career. He feels a deep enmity for Inquisitor Guido Abraxis and the two have come to physical violence on several occasions.
INQUISITOR GUIDO ABRAXIS
Inquistor Abraxis is a fervent Monodominant. A member of the Ordo Hereticus, he fights to cleanse the Ipsos sector of the mutant, the psyker and the xeno. His methods are considered extreme by most and dangerous by some. He has declared exterminatus on two seperate planets and frequently leads purges of worlds in the Ipsos sector.
Raised on the hive world Babylon in the Dantus system, Abraxis was recruited as an explicator by the Amalathian Inquisitor Turpin. One of his first acts after being made a full Inquisitor was to launch an investigation into his old master. Sadly, the results will never been known as Inquisitor Turpin took his own life before the investigation could be completed.
Along with the Adepta Sororitas, Abraxis takes great pleasure in using penitents in his methods, and often recruits rabble mobs from the various Redemptionist cults on the planets in the Ipsos sector. For this reason, perhaps, he works mainly in the Dantus system. He works with no other Inquisitors referring to them as 'weak' and 'hypocritical.'
That is all I could find master, but I hope it is enough to be going on. I will task my sources to find any more information available. I am, my Lord, your faithful servant.
Lady Elizabetha, one of my agents intercepted this transmission. I thought it of the utmost importance to bring it to your attention. - R
Her arm twitched again, the pain in her side was lessening with the care of the chirurgeons but had still not faded fully.
That shrieking Eldar harridan had almost ended her that day, only the actions of her loyal retainers bought the time needed for an emergency evacuation teleport, what had one of the “Phoenix Lords” as those foul witch scum called them been doing on that world anyway, had the Aliakor meant that much to them that they had called on one of their great legends?
These months had not been wasted however, tracking information gleaned from all aspects of the Inquisition had allowed her to gather authorisation for a crusade against the Eldar, and now she had finally found a target.
The craftworlds were far too great an obstacle, entire fleets could crash against then and achieve nothing, nut now she had received word of a world, not too far from the Eye of Terror that the craftworld of Ulthwe were using as base for some kind of operation, in Imperial space no less! It would be an ideal target to lead her troops to and take a bloody toll on those who dared deny her the Aliakor and nearly brought her end.
Her troops had found a staging post for Eldar operations on world, a small fortress the Eldar had named “Telas Morn” in their foul tongue, that is where the hammer of the Emperor would fall first…
FLUFF: Major Systems of the Ipsos Sector
MAJOR SYSTEMS OF THE IPSOS SECTOR
THE VENETO SYSTEM
Situated at the centre of the Veneto system is Marconis Prime, the homeworld to the Knights of Marconia chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. A successor chapter of the Ultramarines, the Knights of Marconia seek to surpass the shining example of Ultramar and have brought the entire Veneto system into self-sufficiency and unity with the beautiful Marconis Prime as the jewel in the centre. The planets in the Veneto system are a mixture of verdant agri-worlds, high-tech industrial worlds with little pollution, and densely populated civilised worlds.
THE DANTUS SYSTEM
If the Veneto system is paradise, the the Dantus system is hell. A chain of pollution wreathed industrial planets orbit a great red sun. Of these worlds, over half are hive worlds, the atmosphere being too harmful even for those equipped with respirators. Dantusian societies are harsh and segmented with an aristocratic ruling class governing massed throngs of squabbling industrial houses, akin to those of Necromunda. Gang violence and minor uprisings are common and the Cult of the Redemption has many followers in this system. Having little in the way of a standing military force, the Dantus system relies greatly on the protection of the nearby Knights of Marconia, and the Imperial Guard levies and Battle Sisters of the Gloriana system.
THE GLORIANA SYSTEM
The largest of the systems of the Ipsos sector, the Gloriana system is home to fully fifteen inhabited planets. The capital of these planets, and seat of power is Samarobriva, a world almost entirely blocked from sunlight by the orbit of other planets for six months of each year. During this time Samarobriva is plunged into near 24 hour darkness and the land becomes a frozen wilderness. The great cities of Samarobriva stand out as little points of light in a cold and dark landscape. As well as the seat of government, Samarobriva is the training ground for the only Imperial Guard regiment in the sector, taking recruits from the surrounding planets in the Gloriana system and the site of an Inquisition fortress. The second major planet in the Gloriana is Gehenna, a cardinal world home to a Preceptory of Battle Sisters of the Order of the Ebon Chalice. Smaller Commanderies of the order are posted throughout the Ipsos sector and the sisters are key to the defence of the sector.
HISTORY OF THE IPSOS SECTOR
REDISCOVERY
Located in the galactic north west of the Segmentum Pacificus, bordering the cold unknown of the Halo Stars, the Ipsos sector was isolated from the Imperium for many years. Memory of the Emperor and Imperium survived as myth and legend. It was not until the incursion of the vile forces of the Chaos Lord Raimis in 836.M38 that the hand of the Imperium was felt by the sector again. A force of Space Marines of the Black Consuls chapter had been despatched as part of the forces sent to crush the Chaos Lord's armies. Following a pitched naval battle where heavy losses were incurred on both sides a contingent of the Chaos fleet broke off from the main fleet and headed for the then unknown Ipsos sector. Thinking them to be in retreat and keen to capture and kill Lord Raimis himself, the contingent was ignored for the time until the battle proper was won.
But the small fleet had not been in retreat. Lord Raimis had become aware of the Ipsos sector and the human presence there by the whisperings of daemons in his dreams. His plan was to conquer the sector and use it as a power base for a renewed attack on Imperial space. However, Raimis was killed and his forces routed back to the Eye of Terror. The war won, the Black Consuls set about searching for the remnants of the fleet, including those that had broken from combat in the great naval battle. Their search took them into the Ipsos sector where they received a distress signal from a nearby planet. The signal mentioned warriors in crimson and black armour laying waste to all around them.
The Black Consuls were quick to react and sent the fleet towards the signal. It was a trap, however, and on arriving at the source of the distress signal the Astartes' ships were shot from the sky by powerful planetary lasers. In the ensuing evacuations many Space Marines died but the Black Consuls were able to launch drop pods and Thunderhawk drop ships in time to save a small force of Marines. The leader of this force was Marius Constantine, then Captain of the 5th Company. Constantine and his forces found themselves on a planet at war.
RECONQUEST
The commander of the Chaos sub-fleet, Rakaus Tarrn, had landed on the planet and declared himself dictator. Though many of weak mind fell in line with Tarrn's regime, likewise many of the planet's natives fought back, levying armies against the Chaos threat. It was five miles from one of these armies that the Black Consuls made their landing and the commander of the army led his men to investigate these further falling stars that may yet bring more enemies to their land. The Black Consuls were surprised by these fierce men dressed in a dark regal blue and plate metal armour. They fought with solid slug weapons vaguely recognisable as Imperial patterns autoguns. The commander of this force, though, was a pious man and he quickly realised that the warriors standing before him were the legendary Star Giants that fought in the service of the Golden Emperor. He pledged his forces to Marius Constantine and begged him help them in their fight against the dark armies of Rakaus Tarrn.
And so it was that the Black Consuls led the assault on the false dictator's palace. After a long and bloody battle the allied forces gained the upper hand and Constantine found himself face to face with Tarrn in the throne room of Tarrn's palace. Tarrn and Constantine fought in a battle that was likened unto the Emperor's battle with Horus himself, and that lasted several hours. In the end, Constantine slew Tarrn and cast his body down but not without cost. Constantine was mortally wounded and his body was reverentially interred in one of the Chapter's mighty dreadnoughts. But the planet was saved, and in honour of Marius Constantine's noble sacrifice, it was renamed Marconis.
RESTORATION
Following the deposition of Tarrn, the Black Consuls found themselves stranded on Marconis. With their ships destroyed, they had no means of returning to Macragge. Consequently, they lent themselves to the restoration and re-establishment of Marconis into an Imperial world. Short range space-worthy ships were built and planets in the regions surrounding Marconis were discovered and reconquered. The space protected by the Marines based in Marconis began to be known as Marconia. In time, the technology of Marconis improved sufficiently that the Black Consuls were able to construct long-range psychic beacons that allowed them contact with neighbouring Imperial sectors. When word of the stranded Consuls - long considered dead - reached the Chapter, their homeworld was overjoyed. However, the Marines had been assumed lost to the Chapter and had been replaced. Ever watchful of the teachings of Roboute Gulliman, the Black Consuls could not have their Chapter number over one thousand. The problem was brought before Holy Terra and a solution was reached. The Marines stranded on Marconis would become the first company of a new successor Chapter of the Black Consuls. In honour of their great deeds and service to the Imperium in the space surrounding Marconis they were named the Knights of Marconia.
EXPANSION AND INQUISITION
With more planets being discovered with every passing decade, the Inquisition decided that their presence needed to be felt in the sector. With the utmost diplomacy, a conclave of Inquisitor Lords approached the Chapter Master Maximus Septimus of the Knights of Marconia and informed them of their will to monitor the progress of the sector to safeguard against any threat of taint. The Chapter Master agreed to allow them full Inquisitorial access to the planets outside of Marconis' direct system and freedom of passage within. With this accord reached, the conclave set up an Inquisition fortress on the recently discovered world of Samarobriva. The Inquisition's access to all Imperial archives proved beneficial, as the name of the sector was discovered, along with all of its subsidiary solar systems' in an ancient datafile, the origins of which were lost in time. The Inquisition also helped set up governing bodies and ordered the creation of the Samarobrivan Imperial Guard regiments, the founding of several Schola Progenia, and the foundation of the cardinal world of Gehenna.
THE IPSOS SECTOR UP TO THE PRESENT
In time the Ipsos sector began to flourish. The Knights of Marconia began to win recognition as worthy successors to the Black Consuls, the Samarobrivan regiments swelled into a formidable fighting force, and the Dantus system became a mighty factory of the Imperium, providing tools and weapons that were sent throughout the Imperium. However, peace was short lived. Being close to the Eye of Terror, several Chaos incursions have ravaged the sector, one of which led to the death of Chapter Master Maximus Septimus. Ork waaghs have come down on the sector several times, threatening especially the industrial worlds of the Dantus system. But despite all this the sector has survived time and again. However, a new dark cloud threatens. Eldar activity in the area has increased and has shown itself to be hostile. Rival Inquisitorial factions have been creating tension that has, on several occasions, led to all out violence. Skirmishes with Ork raiders have increased of late, and small incidents of Tyranid activity have been speculated to be merely the forward reaches of a new Hive Fleet. At the close of the 41st millennium the Ipsos sector is facing more and more threats from within and without and the Imperium's grip on this far flung part of the galaxy may be threatened once more.
-- from the Administratum Archive of Records, Marconis Prime --
-- FILE 938.A RESTRICTED: ACCESS ONLY LEVEL 3 INDIVIDUALS --
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