Chapter Twenty Three.Alivan Goodman clutched his battle rifle close to his chest as artillery shells rained down on the northern wall of Vale. For two days now, from an area outside of his section's counter-battery fire, the invading army had bombarded the city with their artillery pieces.
He saw the Atlesian integrity officer Ventrian shredded by an air-burst shell. He didn't much care about the integrity officer. They were just there to keep him and his lot in line. 'Ah shit,' he muttered to the nearest trooper, a sharp-faced youth named Kaza. 'One less gun on the wall, one less body between us and them.'
'Would you shut up,' groaned a woman besides him, Titania. 'Can you not see you are scaring the boy. Ignore this old misser, only in it for himself.'
The Angel of Ash, The Pilgrim, did come to the Abyssal Queen's side in the valley of death. A land of broken rock and oil-black rivers, atop which sat an outwardly dilapidated castle. His death-grey armour had been stained with ash and bathed in ethereal blood as he made his way to the castle.
Ancient runes were etched into his armour's plastron. Khaane, Tezen, Slanat and Narag. These were the names of the Dark Gods in the Pilgrim's language, the language of Colchis.
Arvek, brother-confessor, Chaplain and Dark Apostle of the Word Bearers, clutched his crozius. Great vortices of dust clung to him, a halo of azure light hung over his head.
+Great ruler of the Abyss, do you sense me?+
No reply came but for the roar of black-and-bone beasts.
+I come to release you upon this world once more. To see you ascend to your rightful throne.+
As he closed on the castle, two great doors rocked open, welcoming Arvek.
Candles flicked into life, guiding him through labyrinthian hallways until finally, he was led to a throne room. Upon a great throne, on a raised platform, overseeing a table of three, sat the being Arvek had sought for years. The Catalyst.
A creature possessed of black veins and deathly pallor, it say upon a throne, crimson eyes glaring at him. A diamond-shape marked its head. Upon examination, Arvek determined the creature to be a woman of sorts. Her compatriots were all men, a scorpion-tailed one, a man of solid muscle and one with a fine moustache.
'Name yourself,' said the woman. Her voice was cold and level, it was possessed of a force that would make many grovel in fear. But not Arvek.
'I am named Arvek of the Word. I am a brother-confessor and Dark Apostle of the Word Bearers. Hail to you, great Lady of Remnant.'
For her lack of expression, Arvek saw her arch an eyebrow. 'Dark Apostle of the Word Bearers? How odd, I am unfamiliar with such a role. I ask that you explain yourself.'
Arvek nodded, drawing himself up to his full size, scrimshaw tokens rattling as he did so. 'My brothers, the Word Bearers, do even now asail this world. I hear them even now, distantly. They fight for you, my Lady of Remnant.'
She appeared to like that title.
'As a Dark Apostle, I am here to bring this world under your rule. As are all my brothers. Even now, they fight your enemy. Corralling them in cities, soon to be obliterated.'
'By bring this world under my rule, what do you mean?'
Arvek reached for his belt, drawing out a warp-flask. 'Ascension, my Lady. I have heard a prophecy. It tells of an ancient being, one born before the shattering of a moon,' he raised his head upwards. 'One that has great power, but is resisted. Upon ascension, that being is to rule not just this planet, but a thousand unders. I believe that being is you, my Lady.'
The warp-flask weeped, a mist of ethereal-vitae perfumed the air, creating a nearly transparent veil. Being so close to the energies of the warp, the three men tore away from it, all the while Arvk and the woman bathed in it. A temple was shown to them, in it sat a sword. Its body barbed and incarnadine in colour.
'With this sword my Lady. I would grant you ascension and see the prophecy fulfilled.'
The woman rose from her throne, walking down to meet Arvek. As tall as he was, even taller than many Astartes, Arvek was still physically smaller than the woman. He sensed a malevolent energy from her, not unlike the Warp, but not nearly as powerful.
'And why then, Arvek of the Word Bearers, should I believe you?'
Arvek chuckled softly for a moment, regaining his composure with newfound vigour. 'Because. Your ascension shall bring the Word to a thousand worlds.'
Well, Arvek finally being involved in the story and interacting with characters is amazing. But the question is, how long till the next chapter. I have no idea. I mean, I gotta fix it up now, but I want to procrastinate.
Joking, but anyway, take care all.