Ulsan Starborn meditated. Though his eyes were closed, he felt the swirling, chaotic orbit of the runes around his body. He sat with his legs crossed, probing the present as well as the unlimited possible futures. As Farseer of Xerim, this was his duty. He felt a chill. Orwen Forgeblade, Xerim's Autarch, entered the chamber; Ulsan simply knew. Orwen noticed Ulsan's meditations and turned around to leave. "No, Orwen," said Ulsan. "You may stay. I will be but a moment longer." He raised a hand, fingers bent slightly in order to grasp one of the runes at the right moment. Two were about to collide. Ulsan quickly plucked one from its path, causing the others to fall. He opened his eyes and looked at the rune he had chosen.

"What does it mean?" asked Orwen.

Ulsan scowled at the rune. "I am not entirely sure, old friend, but I saw fallen human Astartes belonging to Slaanesh… a planet called Gorm… and Iyanden besieged."

"Iyanden is under attack?"

"No… it… will be." Ulsan put a hand to his head. "I am… unsure of how soon." He stood up. "I must gather the Seer Council."

Orwen nodded. "Shall I call the Exarchs?"

"Not yet, Orwen. The Council and I will deliberate on this matter. Perhaps my fears are unfounded."

"Very well, Ulsan. I believe I shall try to find my daughter. No doubt she is with that Iyegar boy." They walked out of the room together. "I hear Ysalia also shows affection toward Iyegar's friend, your apprentice."

Ulsan's apprentice. Orwen referred to Anchros Stormsinger, one of Xerim's Warlocks. Anchros had been under Ulsan's personal tutelage for some time. "Many a young Eldar is enamored with her, and she, in turn, is enamored with them. After all, she is called the Jewel of Xerim on the other craftworlds."

"Indeed, but none of her suitors are as favored as Remil Iyegar or the Stormsinger." Orwen shook his head. "The girl has always been indecisive and flirtatious." He looked at his feet. "Ulsan… was I a bad parent? Did I raise Ysalia and Freyan incorrectly?"

"You are asking the wrong friend, Orwen. I am not a father. However, I do know that your son's wanderlust was not your fault, nor is Ysalia's inclination to bat her eyes at every male who appreciates her beauty."

Orwen smiled. "Thank you, friend, for putting my mind at ease. But you should set to calling the Council. Do you have a message you would like me to give to Anchros, should I see him?"

Ulsan rubbed his forehead. "Yes. Please tell him I request his company in the Dome of Crystal Seers at his earliest convenience."

"I shall relay it. Farewell, Ulsan." Orwen strode in the direction of his home.

Ulsan made his way to the Dome of Crystal Seers, where the bodies of Xerim's Warlocks and Farseers became one with the craftworld. Once there, he used a spell to send a summons to each of the seven other members of the Seer Council. He felt another chill. The Farseer had not told Orwen everything he had seen, for the Autarch could not know.

Yet the fact remained: Ulsan Starborn had seen a vision of his own death, as well as that of his dear friend Orwen Forgeblade.

Anchros Stormsinger stood before a glowing rune, focusing the Warp's energies into it. It glowed more fiercely with each passing moment. He reached out to touch it and release its power in a storm of psychic force. As his fingers closed around the rune, it became scalding hot and he knew he had to stop before the rune was destroyed. He let go quickly, and the rune fell. Anchros clutched his wrist, frowning at the rune. Master Starborn had created it and given it to him, insisting that he would get better with practice. That had been several weeks ago, and Anchros had spent countless hours attempting to master it to no avail. The rune worried Anchros, for when he used it, he felt as though he were stealing a part of the Warp itself. There was a knock on the door of his bedroom. "Anchros?"

The voice belonged to Remil Iyegar, who had been his closest friend since they were both Striking Scorpions. Since then, Remil had walked the path of the Fire Dragon and Warp Spider Aspects, and Anchros now trod the Path of the Seer. "Come in, Remil."

Remil entered. "Have you been practicing with the rune?"

"Yes, but it still eludes my mastery."

"Well, what say you to taking a rest? You cannot keep opening your mind to the Warp in such a manner."

Anchros sighed. "I suppose so." They walked out into the craftworld proper and set down a road.

"Do you have anywhere in particular you would like to go?" asked Remil.

"No," Anchros lied. He wanted to meditate, perhaps in the Dome of Crystal Seers. For some reason, being near the Founder's body put him at ease. But Remil would simply try to pull him away from there, as well. "Does that mean we're going to go see the Autarch's daughter?"

Remil smiled with mischief in his eyes. "But of course."

Ysalia Forgeblade was beautiful but too open with her affections in Anchros' opinion. Remil was quite taken with her, but Anchros was concerned with more important things than mating. He was a Warlock of Xerim, one of the craftworld's most respected warriors, not to mention Farseer Starborn's personal student. The Farseer had sensed potential in Anchros, and he wasn't going to disappoint his teacher any time in the near future. "In that case, I believe I will return to my work, Remil."

"Oh, come, Anchros, you cannot remain a student every moment of the rest of your life. Trust me; one day away from your training regimen will do wonders for you. Freyan recently told me an ancient human proverb he heard as an Outcast: all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

"What does that mean?"

"It means, my friend, that although work ethic is invaluable, recreation is just as important."

Anchros had to concede that it was a good point. "Very well. Let us visit Ysalia."

Remil led the way, and Anchros followed. When they were within sight of her residence, they saw her outside. "There she is, Anchros. The Jewel of Xerim."

Ysalia Forgeblade had pale skin and fair hair like silk. Her limbs were slender, even by Eldar standards. She always moved with unprecedented grace. Her face brightened upon seeing Anchros and Remil, and she beckoned to them. "Remil! And is that Anchros Stormsinger?"

"Yes, Ysalia, it is I. I have taken a rest from my studies."

"And you decided to come see me? How wonderful!"

"He may be here, Ysalia, but it was only at my urging." Remil smiled at Anchros.

"Regardless, that you are here at all is nothing short of wondrous." She sat on a low ledge and invited them to do the same, which they did; one on each side of her. "What have your studies entailed?"

Anchros gazed into the distance, trying to find words to describe the spell Farseer Starborn had asked him to practice. "I am not entirely sure. Master Starborn never told me what the rune did, and he created it, so I cannot consult any of the craftworld's archives. But it feels like… like I am taking a raw piece of the Warp and unleashing it. No, not simply taking it… it is more akin to removing it forcibly and causing it to distort material space like a spear cutting through the air…"

Ysalia's face immediately shifted to concern. She instinctively seized Remil's hand. "Anchros, isn't that dangerous?"

The normally light-hearted Remil sobered. "I had no idea just how much you were opening your mind to the Warp. Are you sure this is safe?"

Anchros raised his hands defensively. "You do not need to worry. The Farseer would not have given me the rune if he believed I would be in danger. And the rune prevents such a thing from happening."

"And yet, Anchros," said Remil, "it still alerts the Great Enemy, does it not?"

"I do not fear She Who Thirsts, Remil."

A new voice approached from behind them. "That is a good attitude, Anchros. Your mentor would approve."

The three young Eldar turned to greet the visitor. It was Orwen Forgeblade, Autarch of Xerim and Ysalia's father. With him was Freyan Forgeblade, Ysalia's younger brother and one of Xerim's Rangers; he had only recently returned to the craftworld. "If you hold no fear for Slaanesh, then it cannot hurt you." Orwen sat down next to Anchros. "Fear nothing. Then nothing has power over you."

"It's true. This knowledge emboldened me through countless tribulations." Freyan took a seat to Remil's left.

"Wise advice," noted Remil.

Anchros nodded. "Thank you, Autarch."

"Use it well. The Farseer would like to see you in the Dome of Crystal Seers as soon as possible."

Inwardly, Anchros was relieved. He hadn't wanted to leave his work, and even if he had then he would not have come to see Ysalia. "Then I shall go." He stood. "Farewell, Remil, Freyan, Ysalia." He turned to Orwen and bowed. "Farewell, Autarch Forgeblade. Xerim survives."

"Xerim survives," echoed the commander.

"I cannot deny what I have seen," the Farseer said to his Council.

"This is folly, Farseer. Iyanden is well-protected."

"And yet the Tyranids almost destroyed it. Had Yriel not doomed himself by taking the Spear of Twilight – "

"We do not know for sure that it is only because of Yriel that they survived the attack, Fereth."

Ulsan allowed the debate to continue for a time. Finally, he raised his hands for silence. "Enough." His voice was of normal volume but his tone was imperious. "All those in favor of assembling a host to Gorm, come and stand next to me." Three of the Seers moved. Two of those remaining were hesitant. However, Ulsan knew one would break the tie. Sure enough, Haro Jantar joined the Farseer. "It is decided. Make preparations. I have business to which I must attend." The Council was leaving as Anchros Stormsinger entered.

"You wished to see me, Master?"

"Yes, Anchros." Ulsan smiled to put him at ease. "We have matters we need to discuss."

"Is it about the rune you gave me, Master?" They began walking toward the center of the Dome, where the Founder's body stood erect with his witchblade in the ground.

"Not specifically, but since you have mentioned it, how goes your practice with it?"

Anchros rubbed the back of his head, slightly embarrassed. "It could be better. I'm still unsure of what the spell is supposed to do."

"Do you have any guesses?"

"It feels like I'm ripping out a piece of Warp space and making it cut through real space like a spear."

Ulsan smiled again. Anchros was a prodigy the likes of which he had not seen in centuries. "You have the right of it."

"Do you have a name for it?" Anchros sounded a bit worried about how safe the spell was.

"I can assure you that you are in no danger as long as you are using the rune. To answer your question, I call it Asuryan's Retribution."

"Asuryan was killed long ago, Master."

"Yes, by Slaanesh. However, he lives on through his children, the Eldar. And by taking a piece of the Warp, the source of Slaanesh, it is an indirect way of fighting her, depriving her of power… therefore, it is named for the father god, slain so many ages ago."

They had reached the Founder. Anchros studied the body of the long-forgotten first Farseer. "Master?"

"Hm?"

"When you're in battle… you have a spirit stone that belonged to every other Farseer before you, don't you?"

"Yes, Anchros. They guide me, and at times I lose myself in their collected minds."

Anchros remained silent for a time. "Then do you know the Founder's name?"

"Yes." Ulsan answered without hesitation. He had nothing to gain from lying.

"Why do you not record it?"

"He prefers it this way."

"Why?"

"Who can say? Perhaps, in time, you will know him."

"I am a long way from becoming Farseer, Master."

Ulsan looked at his protégé. "Perhaps. But, Anchros, I need you to listen to me now. We… we must prepare for battle. Xerim must take arms."

"What? Against whom?"

Ulsan placed a hand to his head. "Human Astartes, fallen from their Emperor. They belong to Slaanesh and… plan… to attack Iyanden… are… attacking Iyanden…" Ulsan staggered and fell to one knee.

"Master!" Anchros helped Ulsan to his feet.

"My apologies, Anchros. I… I have seen something troubling. Something unfortunate will happen in the battle against these Astartes, but… I will need you to carry on. There is nothing you can do to prevent it."

"I… don't understand."

"You will. Some events are fixed in time… solid realities that must come to pass. So you must learn to accept these things."

"Thank you, Master, for your wisdom. Will that be all?"

Ulsan stood up straight. "Yes, Anchros. Now make ready. We must leave soon."

"Xerim survives," said Anchros with a bow.

"Xerim survives." Ulsan watched him leave. He would understand in time. But for now…

Ulsan traced an arcane symbol in the air. This would allow him to speak to the entire craftworld.

"Xerim," he began. "This is Ulsan Starborn, your Farseer. Prepare for battle. Assemble the entire host and wake the Avatar. We will need everything."