CAMPAIGN FLUFF: The Folly of Man

The auto-stylus whirred and clicked as it produced the report. The Imperial forces had been taken by surprise and the losses had been catastrophic. Captain Agrippa had expected an alien presence but nothing on the scale of what they had encountered. He had been lucky to escape with his life, he knew. Had the Canoness not sacrificed herself so bravely, he was sure that the Ork would have finished him. Well, he would not make the same mistake twice. Reinforcements were on the way. Agrippa knew all to well the speed at which an Ork or Tyranid infestation could swell to unstoppable proportions. But how had there been both Orks and Tyranids on Dantus IX? And how could there have been Tyranid monstrosities of such awesome power? There was a beeping as the auto-stylus indicated it was finished. Agrippa picked up the report...


JOURNAL OF REPORTS FOR EXPERIMENT D9

COMPILER: **FILE CORRUPTED - DATA LOST**
DATE: **FILE CORRUPTED - DATA LOST**

ENTRY: The experiment on the Ork genome begins today. I am confident that we shall achieve great results of benefit to our archives.

ENTRY: Preliminary tests continue well. We have had much success in isolating the peculiar character of the Orkish gene. Its reproductive nature is of considerable interest, being of a fungal nature. The possibilities of this are limitless.

ENTRY: Further tests on the nature of Ork genetic preprogramming. We have had managed to have some effect on the predisposition of the Orks bred but are still having some difficulty quelling the beast's aggressive nature.

ENTRY: What luck! We have been given samples of the xenos genus Tyrannus! I have applied for permission to introduce the Tyranid gene samples into our experiments. I'm sure the mutagenic nature of the Tyranid DNA will help us conquer Orkish aggressiveness once and for all!

ENTRY: Disastrous day today. Holding pens malfunctioned and allowed Tyranid samples into the Ork holding bay. We lost huge quantities of samples. Something interesting did occur, though. One of the newer generation Orks was not attacked by the Tyranids. They seem utterly uninterested by the specimen. I have brought the subject in for dissection.

ENTRY: Analysis of the Ork survivor of last weeks accident has lead to a substantial discovery. Crossing of the Ork and Tyranid DNA has led to the fungal spores given off by the Ork acting so as to make it appear friendly to the Tyranid. This is a fascinating discovery, that could lead to many practical uses.

ENTRY: Success! The latest Ork generation has been truly pacified. We have started work on a mining operation with them. It seems we have created a slave race cheaper and more efficient than servitors. With this experiment a success, I shall move on to further study of the Tyranid genome.

ENTRY: Emperor save us from superstition and credulity. I have had reports from outlying mining stations of attacks by Tyranid lifeforms. All Tyranid lifeforms on this planet are in our research station, we would know if any lifeforms had made landfall on this planet!

ENTRY: Curious reports from the Ork staffed mining stations. Mine overseers claim the Orks seem to have started making their own tools and even some vehicles. Another inbuilt characteristic of the Orkish gene?

ENTRY: Something has gone wrong. We have lost contact with the Ork staffed mining stations. Several guards around the complex have gone missing at night. I have requested increased security around our station but have had no reply as of yet.

ENTRY: Orks attacked in the night. They have built crude weapons and are fighting alongside Tyranids! I fear the mutated spores have made the Tyranids see them as friends. Such monsters! How could Tyranid creatures of such size and complexity exist so far from a Hive fleet? The outer defensive are breached. It's only a matter of time now.


Agrippa put down the report. The arrogance and stupidity of the researches on this planet had turned it into a death world. Well, Agrippa was prepared now. He knew his duty. He would cleanse this planet of the xenos threat or he would die in the attempt. The war for Dantus IX had begun.

CAMPAIGN FLUFF: The Landing on Dantus IX

TO: Lord Castellan Tate, Overlord of Samarobriva

FROM: Master Scribe Malthus Hex

SUBJECT: Distress Signal Received from Dantus IX

DATE: S4.D30-993.M41


My Lord Castellan, a distress signal was recently received from a research station on Dantus IX. The system is, as you know, ill equipped to defend itself and requested external aid. It is my pleasure to inform you, my Lord, that aid is on the way in the form of a mission of Battle Sisters from the Order of the Ebon Chalice sanctum located on Gehenna and a detatchment of Space Marines from the Knights of Marconia chapter. May the Emperor bless and protect them. Your obedient servant, Master Scribe Malthus Hex.


The research facility was already secured by the Sisters of Battle by the time Captain Agrippa of the Second Company made landfall. The walls of the interior were pock marked with weapons fire and appeared to have been scored and acid-burnt in places. The stench of death hung over the place.
"Do we have any idea of what happened here?" he asked a sergeant.
"None, sir, only that the lab was used for experiments on xeno genetics." the sergeant replied. Agrippa gave the sergeant a nod, and turned towards the door. Just as he was about to leave, the sergeant called to him.
"Sir, I think you had better see this." Agrippa looked at the auspex in the sergeant's hand. As they watched, little green dots appeared at the edge of the screen. More and more appeared, until the little screen was ringed with green lights.

From outside the complex came the sound of gunfire...

Prologue: Eldar

Once again Allar-El found himself surrounded by the recreation of the council chamber, the Seers of Ulthwe spaced all around him.

“The Mon-Keigh have been driven from the world, their leader humbled but sadly alive. Our own forces have been sorely pushed and I would request the Council allow the guardians to return to the craftworld to rest and fresh warriors sent in their place. They have been through much and performed as well as anyone could ask in such trying times.”

“Do not worry about Grey, your vision was perhaps clouded but ours has come to pass perfectly. The Inquisition will think twice before they strike at our number again and while they have gained a scarred Inquisitor, we gained a much greater prize, you, Allar-El. This whole campaign has been for this purpose, to bring you to be the Seer we need and crush the personal forces and reputation of Inquisitor Grey. The foolish Mon-Keigh only value determination when it leads to victory, being the fools that they are leads them to turn quickly upon failure.”

“You will return and be joined with Anaris, as the two of you planned to request, then you will take tutelage under the Emerald Seer, and join us on the council, it’s time you saw the greater scheme of the galaxy. You will leave behind a small force of Reapers, they have already been instructed as such, who will keep watch over the world, the rest of your force shall return to Ulthwe safe in the knowledge they have safeguarded our peoples future”

With that the construct faded, they had been guiding him all along, he finally understood the depth of the councils power. His own abilities had grown a hundredfold and yet they had still lead him around as they chose. Now it would be his turn, the dark will for power lay at the heart of every Eldar, kept firmly under control but he allowed himself a smile at that which he would soon receive.
Of course should the councils power aid him in bringing Ulthwe's full might into contact with Lady Grey again that would merely be, a fortunate coincidence…

Campaign Fluff: Allar-El's Revenge

Allar-El strode across the battlefield escorted by Aspects, Wraithlords and Guardians, they had shattered the human resistance and were closing in on Lady Grey. He could feel her powers growing as she grew more and more desperate to stop their advance. Increasingly he found his own powers blocked by the technologically enhanced will of his foe, but she could not contain him entirely. Sensing a gap in her defences Allar-El cast his will at the makeshift fortress of imperial vehicles, the resultant psychic storm scything through their armour to tear off huge sections and threatening to overturn the vehicles entirely.

Sensing her position he could see she was attempting to flee from him! She must have realised her defeat was at hand and was planning her escape. Mentally signalling his warriors to capture her alive he began to watch through their eyes, he saw Elieric lead his Spiders through the Warp appearing in front of her, their deadly weapons lashing out slaying her last attendant and leaving her right leg a bloody ruin. The rest of her forces defeated Allar-El began to hold a psychic disturbance over the field, this would prevent her from escaping him again with that emergency teleport of hers.

It was several minutes before he arrived at her prone body, she still screamed her defiance in their primitive tongue surrounded as she was by his finest warriors, he would make her pay for her actions here. Kneeling in front of the Inquisitor he began to split his mind, he must keep up the disturbance, keep her powers in check and finally he would shatter her mind. Slowly he began, tearing at her memories, her values everything that made her what she was, this agony would seem like a hundred lifetimes before he was done. With her defences crumbling one by one the pain must be almost unbearable, if anything he suspect her training and enhancement made it worse, keeping her mind intact while most would have tumbled into darkness.

Then there was a scream and she was gone, she had actually broken through the disturbance and given her people an opening to retrieve her! Was it pure power or had she willingly sacrificed her defence to push through? His revenge was not complete, but he had left his mark, Grey would never forget his actions today, no matter how hard she tried or however much she clenched her mind shut. They would meet again and he would complete what he had started and until then he would console himself with knowing there would forever be a shadow of him staring over the Inquisitors shoulder…

CAMPAIGN FLUFF: The Inquisitor's Last Stand

The smoke of burning buildings turned the Eastern sky black. The camp was filled with the cries of the wounded. The fighting had been brutal and many had died, but not without cost to the Xenos. Two figures walked amongst the camp in conversation, the first a tall, statuesque woman with powered white hair, the second a man dressed in a heavy coat and the hat of office of the Ordo Hereticus. He spoke.

"Elizabetha, this has gone on too long. Your actions are starting to cause comment. This crusade of yours against the alien, it has cost many lives to the Imperium. And as for your recent actions, they could see you end up on trial."

They walked in silence for a while until they reached a makeshift landing site where three Valkyrie transport ships were warming their engines.

"I'm pulling out the majority of the forces on the planet, and I... request that you come too. I have never doubted your judgement in any matter, Elizabetha, but this whole thing, well, it smacks of pride."

Suddenly, Lady Grey's two assistants came and stood by her side. For the first time since they had started walking, the Inquisitor turned to face her ex-pupil. The force of her stare and the wave of psychic energy almost knocked him back. There was a slight corona of light about her head. When she spoke, the words came into his head almost before the sound reached his ears.

"Do not think to question my judgement. This alien witch, this abomination in the eyes of the Emperor threatens man's domion in this sector. I have felt a power beyond which you could possibly imagine. And you tell me to leave? To run, like a beaten dog? No. This ends here. If it costs me my life, it ends here."

Campaign Fluff: The Rage of Allar-El

Allar-El strode inpatiently around the infirmary, his psychic power crackling around him like his own personal storm, what was taking so long surely the Mon-Keigh could not have injured Anaris this badly?
Finally the screen cleared, the operation complete he could see her chest moving, she lived still. Allar-El must give his thanks, had the pathfinders not struck down the Assassin when they did... the Wraithbone of the nearby wall cracked under the psychic pressure, his passions were unbound now, he would lead this last charge, Greys fortress was revealed and the way opened.

The deployment of her human infantry had caught Anaris off guard, what appeared to be a small contingent of their "Space Marines" had suddenly sprung into and ambush of dozens of human warriors appearing in every window and doorway. They would not be enough to save her though. His vision of Anaris defeating Grey was broken, his love would not have the strength to fight and would not even be able to walk for the final strike, he would simply replace that ending with a new one, he would rend Grey's mind assunder and let her live, she would live out the rest of her years trapped screaming in her own mind while her body rotted.

The stars themselves had once bowed to the Eldar and while they had fallen fall since their zenith he would show them that there was strength yet in his people and that their rage could still shake the pillars of heaven.

Campaign Fluff: The Spear of Khaine

Allar-El watched as the remaining Guardians passed though the newly re-activated webway back to Minas Morn, soon the aspects would follow with the wraiths bringing up the rear should the Mon-Keigh attempt a last desperate strike before they escaped. He doubted they would take such an action, Anaris had truly bloodied them in the fighting that took place during the stones recovery, using her Fire Dragons she had created pitfalls and unstable areas that had delayed large portions of the enemy present allowing her to bring the immense firepower of her force be bear on small portions of the enemy at a time. She had truly danced around the clumsy Mon-Keigh and gained the attention of Khaine that day with barely any of her foe leaving the battlefield alive. Inquisitor Grey had once again escaped their grasp but not without loss, she and much of her followers had been caught in Anaris’s trap, her Warp Spiders had bloodied the Inquisitor well upon catching her in their web. Tanith had performed poorly however, it was the young Seers first battle but to have been caught unawares and almost killed by failing to shield himself from She Who Thirsts could have been disastrous. Allar-El would have to recommend that he return to the craftworld and repeat his training before he was allowed back to the battlefield.
Once they returned to Minas Morn they could marshal a much larger force and strike back at these upstarts, they would have access to much more ordinance and many more Aspect Warriors, they would unleash the Baharr Larstill, a storm of blades and death for these foolish Mon-Keigh who opposed them, Allar-El could already see the thread of fate he needed, Anaris stood over the fallen form of Grey, blades blazing like Badbaltrilas the warrior of legend with the landing of their enemy burning around them. Yes, he would strike at her mind while Anaris delivered the final blow to her mortal form, thus she would be forever scattered.
He knew just how he would locate them too, for all her zeal and hatred it appeared that Lady Grey was herself a… “Witch” as they called them. She clearly kept it contained normally but something about this conflict was letting it bleed out, he could sense it, feel her rage at him, it was forming a bond between them, how little the Mon-Keigh understood, she had handed her exact position to him!
They needed to strike quickly before she had time to ready her forces and move out, with Anaris’s aid they would drive the Spear of Khaine directly to the black heart of this force and end Grey’s crusade of vengeance once and for all.