Kianenad… the Eldar world for wasteland… how befitting to name such an ancient world… Otacan scowled. It was more then 3 standard human centuries since they crash landed here in this… gods forsaken world… In all honesty, he was surprised to find records of this planet being a paradise once. If he wasn't wiser he would have scowled at the idea that on this planet millennia ago humans and Eldar had coexisted. It hurt him… bitterly… He had once walked over all the crownworlds! He had once divined futures for all the Eldar race! He had once mastered such technologies that these primitives couldn't even comprehend! Had once… had once… those words ate at him. The Eldar empire… had fallen. The thought hurt him as he listened to the far of barks of mutated dogs and other wildlife.
"Isha preserve us…" he uttered in his melancholy as he felt wind on his face. His craftworld Suin'tann, the wailing spirit, had road out the psychic backlash caused by the deaths of trillions of Eldar, crashing itself into this world. Kianenad as the Eldar called it, had 3 continents, all of which more or less polluted by the radiation that was the fallout of the nuclear war that was waged here long ago. Suin'tann had the fortune of landing on the least polluted continent which had no human presence at all…. But for good reason. While the radiation here was comparably small, the beasts that roamed this place weren't and they would have presented a constant threat to the Eldar… were it not for their advanced technology and shielding.
"Brooding over the deaths again? By Asuryan, Otacan, your melancholy will be the death of you." Ishara spoke in the beautiful Eldar language and Otacan's face immediately brightened. The love of his long life had that effect on the old farseer. He turned his gaze away from the dangerous wilderness and back into his room on the large, crashed, spaceship. Gazing upon the beautiful woman he loved dearly he smirked. The wailing spirit was comparably a small craftworld, but it was home and with home and family he was every bit as rich as the Eldar empire was.
"Your parents were right to name you after Isha, my love… for every time I cast my gaze, my mind, my heart, upon you I feel revitalized." Otacan spoke as he placed his hand on his wife's chin. Well… there was ONE thing that made him immensely happy, that happened after the fall. He had gained what he had always wanted, but couldn't have had and that was an offspring. A daughter, which was now meditating behind his wife, oh how happy the old farseer was. Cheritalys had inherited the black hair that both her parents had, the beauty of her mother and the wisdom of her father. By the gods, thought Otacan, it was almost painful to look at her, for the joy was too great.
"What has our expeditionary fleet said?" Ishara snapped him back into reality. "Are the asteroids suitable for mining? Our bonesingers can make oh so much wraithbone." The woman spoke and Otacan nodded. While they lacked the resources to fix the craftworld and take it into orbit and raiding the humans on the other continent, while rather easy, would cost Eldar lives which Otacan wasn't willing to give, building additional vessels and sending them to orbit to mine for the resources they needed was easily within their grasp.
"The results are satisfactory, we will set up the unmanned drilling station soon enough." He said. It wasn't all dark, the population was on the rise and they were still experimenting with the Eldar paths. Still, the humans were his primary concern, for while only one organization on the planet (That they knew of) had access to firearms, the rest of it had fallen back to the medieval level of technology. Mutagon, mockingly named as such by the Eldar, was the most polluted of all the continents and that was where the mutants lived, as well as the outcasts of Bliskost, the third continent which housed several human kingdoms. Still, humans weren't on his mind… not today at least… Otacan sighed as he got his staff and his robes and his runes.
"I honestly don't know what your complaining about dear… we are better off that most other remnants of the Eldar race." Ishara spoke soothingly to him and he smiled as he gazed upon their daughter meditating. Alas… it was but a fleeting joy as he frowned.
"I wouldn't exactly call a man whos without limbs and neck deep in feces lucky just because the rest of his siblings had died… a comparison is not-" Otacan spoke with great annoyance but saw the face that his wife was giving him. "But your right… I have you two, more than any man here can ask for." He said as he kissed her on her cheek. She had her heeling duties and he had his leading ones. He contemplated on waking up Cheritalys from her meditation or just simply kissing her as well. No… he will let her gather her thoughts and control her emotions. With that he was out of their room and heading straight into the meeting room with the other seers of the craft world. The other 4 seers of the council were already present there and soon enough with a couple of exchanged thoughts the meeting began.
"Otacan. I trust you have the reports from our mining expedition." Ornelela spoke regally. Otacan nodded and responded properly.
"Yes! Im pleased to report that the automated mining will be assembled and will begin in but half the cycle latest! Korlayas, what about the beasts?" Otacan declared, finishing the subject as the thoughts were shifted and exchanged between the 5 seers which surrounded a large psychic focusing crystal.
"The beasts are retreating… and breeding! Each time one of our patrols hunts one pack down another rises, more fearsome, mutated and vicious. I fear that without drastic measures taken to erase their presence from this planet!" Korlayas spoke mentally, anger evident, but not explosive as it was cooled by reason and tempered into a blade.
"A drastic solution such as?" Otacan asked.
"Fire and plasma bombing their caves… it is far easier to recreate the flora and fauna then to endure this. Slowly they are taking away Eldar lives… that can be and must be prevented…." Korlayas stated.
"I am keen to agree with Korlayas on this subject." Harintias said, surprising everyone. "your concerns are justified farseer… but we lose lives for such trivialities… better we eradicate them completely and risk them trying to overwhelm us than to continue to suffer like this." The brown haired seer said. Otacan sighed.
"You know my only reason to fear such an attack is the fact that the fires and destruction will spread and it will be too taxing for us to steer those… animals… if they all charge the craftworld, we will be victorious, sure, but how many of us will perish?" Otacan said, but found to be the sole reason thinking like this. He was over… careful, he knew it. Over the years he saw the other seers change their stance and despite himself he slowly found himself agreeing with them. "But alright, I will consider it."
"You're the wisest amongst us, Otacan… you soly amongst us bare the ancient lineage of the nobles of the Empire… we will defer to you." Ornelela spoke reassuringly.
"Good then…" Otacan responded. "Let us shift to our gaze to our primitive… cousins…" Otacan said and the rest found themselves slightly giggling, despite their age and maturity. All except Korlayas.
"I would not jest Otacan… it pains me to even bare the resemblance of those primitives…" he responded.
"Things are all quiet in the human lands." Reryev gently spoke. "The humans mind us not one bit at the moment." She added.
"Good… we all have our duties, we should seek to them!" Otacan said at the weekly debrief. They slowly changed the pace and the form of the meeting.
"How is young Cheritalys, Otacan?" Ornelela asked and Otacan instinctively sighed.
"Good… a lot better than… A lot less adventurous and defiant than I was in my youth…" Otacan said and there were psychic giggles in the air. "It pains me to restrict and restrain her… she does far better than I would have but… I fear it is not enough… we must stick to the path." He spoke plainly.
"She will learn… she has the best teacher one can hope to have." Ornelela comforted him. Just then a eruption was heard and the large, floating focusing crystal in front of them flared to life as it shone like a bright star. The seers all covered as they were blasted away by the psychic energy, feeling the earth shook bellow their feet.
"What is happening!?" Reryev asked fearfully.
"The warp is tearing itself asunder!" Korlayas declared as they regained their footing, the earthquake subsiding.
"How can this be!? Is the sea of souls opening itself upon us!?" Ornelela declared as Otacan's fast Eldar mind races.
"FARSEER!" a guardian came in, shouting. "A object is falling from the heavens! It is neither a comet nor a meteor but its… something!" the guardian said.
"WHAT?!" Otacan asked as he opened his interface for all to see. A large trail of fire was plummeting down to the earth rapidly as everyone stared and gasped from the image on the sensors.
"The warp spat it out and now it is falling right down. Eta for the fall is-ah!" The guardian declared as the object hit the ground, sending another earthquake as everyone braced for impact. The Eldar superior agility negated any potential threat as Otacan got in contact with the surveillance teams.
"Start up the raiders! At least 3 squads of guardians get ready! We will read the threats of future and tell you how to proceed!" Otacan ordered with his com link. With a nod to the other farseers they began their collective vision.
Imagines were everywhere, rapidly moving, shifting as horror gripped the hearts of the farseers deep in trance.
A werewolf, a vampire, a angle of darkness… hordes of armored monstrosities descending on the craftworld, all led by a golden devil with insurmountable power. Women and children are screaming as they are being slaughtered, the aspect shrines desecrated and the craftworld sullied as its infinity circuit goes cold.
The farseers tried desperately to weed out the false strands and to leave out the single true future for them to read, looking for any way to alter and change it. There! One vision stood out.
A mighty dragon stood before the monsters… A mighty Kurom, sword in hand as the golden devil pointed at him, ordering his minions to attack and attack they did. The dragon fought bravely as the armies of the Craftworld wailing spirit fought besides him.
"Ahh!" Otacan yelped as he felt sweat pour down his forehead, like it did with the other farseers. He had not been this excited since the fall!
"What… what does that mean?" Ornelela asked.
"Where the Kurom stands before the ancient ones, defying his own kin, the shroud of safety will be laid down." Korlayas declared as everyone agreed.
"Guardian… lead me to the raiders." Otacan declared as he gathered himself.
"Otacan wait! Its dangerous!" Ornelela spoke out.
"And If I die the 4 of you must remain here to guide our people!" he declared as he rushed to the raiders, feeling anxiety come over him. He still knew not what had landed out there but the guardians filled him in.
"It seems to be a pod of some sorts… the smoke is clearing out but the beasts are gathering and moving in… sire?" the guardian asked as they stopped in front of the raider. Otacan was at first shocked and surprised to see Cheritalys and Ishara there, but then remembered what type of Eldar his daughter was.
"Im coming with you, NO arguing!" Cheritalys said, her arms crossed. Otacan exhaled as he saw ishara place her hand gently on their daughter's shoulder.
"Cheritalys… I just had a vision that is of upmost importance for our people…" Otacan began but she cut him off.
"I had one two…" she declared and he blinked. "I saw you murdering a child… and causing doom for us all." She declared. He opened his mouth, shock fading as disbelief set in. "And I know what you will say! But it ISNT a false vision! Take me with you father! I wont take no for an answer!" Cheritalys all but howled as tears appeared in the corner of her eyes. Otacan looked at Ishara who nodded. Then he exhaled.
"Fine… but be on your best behavior!" he order her and her eyes brightened as she jumped, hugging him.
"Thank you father, thank you!" she declared. Otacan sighed, on top of everything he had to deal with this. Never mind, he will push this to the back of his mind as he focused on the task at hand. Boarding the raider the pilots took off with little chatter as Otacan held his oracle runes. 'May Asuryan save as all…' he thought prayers to the dead god.
"Otacan! Whatever that thing is, we cant sense it!" Suddenly radio chatter picked up across the raider. "We cant contact you! The warp is distorted!" Korlayas spoke over the machine. Otacan felt it two, the interference rapidly getting stronger as they approached the crash site. In the craftworld he could passively feel and sense the thoughts of hundreds and thousands of the inhabitants of the fallen craftworld. Right now he could not sense his own wife's mind… A sense of dread slowly crept into him. He was about to scream, being more psychically sensitive than the rest of the Eldar here, who were also clearly VERY uncomfortable.
"Sire, you should see this!" The Pilot declared and Otacan went to the front, looking out of the windows.
"By the ancients!" Otacan declared as he saw a sight that horrified him. The raiders hovered, circling above the crash site, the crater rather large for a small pod which crash landed in it. Still that was not what shocked the farseer. On the edges of the crater, stood the largest, tallest and most mutated beasts he had ever seen. Mutated birds flew around the raiders, but they did not attack, nor were the beasts aggressive. The clawed, winger and horned fiends which were the product of the radiation pollution all knelt in the direction of the pod.
"Pilot…" Otacan barely uttered, feeling weak as he could not access his psychic powers. Ishara supported him as he became determined to end the source of this horrifying… thing…. "Take us down…" he ordered.
"But sire." The pilot spoke fearfully as he two felt the blank zone.
"Do it!" Otacan ordered and the pilot obeyed, the rest of the raiders staying airborne as the craft landed in the crater. The smoke was gone and the fire long extinguished thankfully, as the fauna was vaporized and the soil unable to catch and sustain power. Ishara helped her husband out as their daughter walked besides them.
"ugh! What is this head ache!?" Cheritalys asked as she rubbed her templates. "I can not sense my own thoughts, let alone yours." She said as the Eldar around her felt weak enough, some of them beginning to fall on their knees, their hands no longer able to support their shuriken weaponry.
"A blank, null field!" Otacan said as he felt his nose bleed. Just then as the Eldar collected themselves, their sensitive pointy ears picked up an eerie sound.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhh!" a cry was heard, but it was high pitched and full of fear and sorrow, a emotion which emanated and pierced even the hardened Otacan, coming from the crashed adamantine pod.
"Whats that!?" Cheritalys asked as she, her mother and father, struggled to walk to the pod.
"Wa-wa-WAAAAAAAH!" the crying became louder as they approached the pod, their very souls shivering.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The crying became louder as a dent formed in the pod. Otacan gasped as he saw it. Then another… and another.
"GET DOWN!" Otacan spoke, shielding his wife and daughter as the pod ripped itself apart, exploding as the wiring went haywire. Opening his eyes as the three to turned to see the remains of the pod, they heard the crying once more, this time clear and as loud as it can be, annoying them as only a cry of a baby can.
"WAAAAA!" the creature thrashed as the three approached to examine it. It was hideous.
"By Asuryan!" Otacan said as he held his head, feeling such intensity of blankness from the baby that he felt his head could explode any moment. His wife and daughter were on the verge of passing out as he gazed upon the creature. It was no Eldar, that was certain, despite its pointy ears it couldn't be farther from Eldar physique…. But neither was it completely human. A small but well-formed tail hung between its legs. It was male… that much was certain, Otacan thought as he saw the two stiff horns forming on the sides of the infant's forehead. Its skin was ashen but its hair as black as it could be as the child lay on its own pair of scaly, leathery wings. Damnation, even its nails weren't normal as claws formed in their places. "An abomination!" Otacan declared as the infant cried on, the farseer raising his staff to strike a killing blow.
"FATHER NO!" Cheritalys yelled as she all but threw herself in between the infant and her father. Otacan was perplexed as he bled from his nose profusely. Cheritalys eyes were bloodshot as she gazed at him.
"Move over child! This abomination is a threat to us all! The sooner we erase its existence the better!" Otacan spoke sternly. But then, something he did not expect happened. Ishara went to the infant, looked down at it and smiled. This baffled Otacan as his wife bent down and gently picked up the horrifying baby. Almost immediately it stopped crying and with it… the pain stopped. The null field was gone! He could hear his own thoughts again, as well as thoughts of others. The enormous pressure he felt on his head dissipated.
"He was just lonely…" Ishara said as the infant stopped crying, opening its eyes. Once more Otacan was horrified. They were pitch black with yellow, lizard like irises, again not unlike the Eldar. "And lonely." Ishara spoke and gently swung the naked baby and the baby laughed, its irises dissipating and its eyes becoming completely pitch black.
"You two cant be serious!" Otacan declared as he wiped away blood from his nose.
"This is the child Im supposed to save, father…" Cheritalys spoke gently and he looked down at her.
"You did say that a Kurom will stand besides us when the end comes… this looks like a little Kurom to me!" Ishara smiled as she gently swung the dragon baby who continued to laugh with pure joy.
"What do you want us to do with it?" Otacan gave up as he asked.
"We will take it home with us, of course!" Ishara said cheerfully and Cheritalys smile widened.
"Can we dad? Please!" Cheritalys asked, almost pleading.
"Daughter… wife… that child presents a threat to the entire craftworld! I cannot in good-" Otacan protested but Ishara stopped him.
"We can place him in a dampening chamber! He can obviously control his powers with his emotions." Ishara said as her path of the healer knowledge allowed her to make such judgments. Otacan exhaled.
"Fine…" the farseer let up. "But its on your heads!" He declared as he went back to the raider. "Guardians! Pick up the remains of the pod for further analysis!" he ordered as he boarded it.
"So mom, how shell we name our little dragon?" Cheritalys asked, standing beside her mother as the two gazed upon the newborn. It was… odd to say the least and there was no way of telling how the uptight and arrogant Eldar would react to it.
"Oh my daughter it is clear! Your new little brother will be the Kurom he is. A dragon!" Ishara proudly said, feeling motherly affection for the child she just adopted.