I was never a man of protocol. While i was taught everything about the rules and customs of the highborn, i never had to put them into practice. But, as the Clenaser of Lrgl, i had to attend this particular ball. Everything was pompous, a glorifying ceremony, celebrating the end of a long campaign against the arch-enemy's servant Augugond the Iron Crow.
My name is Darrius Augustus Wolf, a humble Commissar-Colonel of the Imperial Guard. Orphaned at a young age, i enjoyed the good education of the Schola Progenium and was chosen to ensure, that the moral and duty of the Imperium shall not falter under my watch. I was transferred to the fortress world of Yrath, where we were cut off from the rest of the Imperium for some years. The Navy broke through the barricade of the arch-enemy and we took the fight to them, took back Yraths moon, purged Lrgl from Chaos and finally found and destroyed Augugonds stronghold. In this time, i had to take over command of the regiment i was originally attached to. We lost many good people in this campaign, one of them was Lord-General Artor, a man i admire deeply and to whose sainthood i look upon with favor.
And now, i was sitting between some nobles and entitled buffoons, who have never even seen a fight, talking about battles as if they had been there, as if they had any right to judge the actions of men who are greater than them. This was the moment, when i realized the figure who, like me, stood out of this crowd for being scarred, hardened and without any skin-enhancers. But her face was not familiar and a psychic hood was fastened into her skull. This particular model reminded me of a spider, pumping poison into its prey.
Guarded, she greeted me. I tried not to look like i noticed the seal of the Inquisition crafted into the cleavage of her dress. This had several reasons i would like to not elaborate upon. We started talking about the campaign. The battles on Lrgl and Augugonds fortress. I doubted for some time, that i would experience the next day. Fighting against chaos can lead to your own purging, i was told. After a while, i noticed that her questions went to another direction i still can't put into proper words. After an hour, we parted, but i was expecting a surprise in the future. One does not gain the attention of the Inquisition without reason.
An adept of the High Lords of Terra explained to the whole crowd, the boons and privileges, the higher echelons earned for participating in this campaign. At this point, i only wanted to go back to my men and prepare for the departure to the next warzone. Or maybe we could rebuild Yrath. My mind went to places, when i suddenly heard my name. The adept explained to the crowd, that my regiment and me would be freed from their service to the Imperial Guard. And for the first time in a long while, i froze in place. What was the meaning of this? The speaker went on, explaining, that for my exceptional services to mankind, i will be allowed to forge my own destiny as a Rogue Trader, building my own dynasty and bringing the Light of the Emperor to the lightless void.
By then, i wanted a drink.
Cast of Characters
Lord-Captain-Commissar Darrius Augustus Wolf, warhero and trusted servant of the Emperor
Captain Marcella „Notch" Dragan, my most trusted soldier, now acting as my First Officer
Enginseer Prime Magos Devlyn, Lord of our Enginarium
Junka, an Ork mechboy who somehow has ties to the Inquisition
"Sema", a mercenary or a pirate, i am not sure