I have awoken from sus an coma battle brothers. Please enjoy this new chapter.
He watched as the last black and bone colored Thunderhawk took to the air and departed. That was it. They were alone now. The Mortifactors had left them and the world of Corillia to the hands of the Black Legion. The Lamenters would not leave. They would not forsake this planet. The Black Legion was many and the chapter was only few. They were spread thinly across the planet to be aided by their cousins..but alas this was no more.
He stood tall, slamming the but of his power spear, Victory's Price, into the dirt. He looked over his retinue. His battle brothers, much like himself, bore the mustard yellow hue that they called their chapter colors. On their left pauldron was a white and black checkered design above which a red bleeding heart sat. A black teardrop leaked from its side.
His squad consisted of five super human souls. He was their captain. The leader of this group. His armor was colored similar to there's but more furnished and dazzling in appearance. His helm was a modified Corvia pattern helm, the beak like extension sanded down to a V like mouth guard.
A black tear drop was painted underneath his right visor lense. Multiple honor marks and scrolls adorned his armor. A tan cape paired with a tattered tabard of the same color adorned his power armor. Around his head was a golden laurel, gifted only to the Emperor's finest. His body was slightly more armored than the others. He wore special artificer pattern armor. His pauldrons were more thick and rounded. He had an armored collar protecting his neck.
He was known as Kaeya the Stalwart in his chapter. He never backed down from battle. He never refused to give in no matter the odds. The Marines Malefactors may have called them cursed and abandoned them but they would not allow that to deter them. They had a duty to this world's citizens. To the Imperium. To the Emperor. To Sanguinius.
He raised his spear, bellowing out their war cry. "FOR THOSE WE CHERISH, WE DIE IN GLORY!" He exclaimed. His squads responded in turn. "FOR THOSE WE CHERISH, WE DIE IN GLORY!" Responded a chorus of voices. The Black Legion would not get past them. They would ensure that. He stood in front of the Chapter Banner, the cloth representing their legion billowing in the wind. Standing here gave him more confidence. More strength. He was ready.
Even without the amplified hearing of his vox, he could hear them. A chorus of distorted voices and murmurs. He could taste the death in the air. They were coming. Their traitorous cousins. The Astartes who turned their backs on the imperium thousands of years ago and shed fellow Astartes blood for unjust cause.
He gripped the shaft of his spear tighter. They would die today for their transgressions. He removed his bolt pistol from the holster, his index finger rubbing against the trigger.
The shouts and murmurs grew louder. He could finally start to see the approaching forms of his enemy. It was a sea of various colors. He saw the purple and gold livery of the traitorous Emperor's Children. The midnight blue of the Night Lords and lastly the dead black of Sons of Horus as they were once called.
His company champion,Tyrian, took to his side, wielding his power maul and shield. He never left his side.
The twins Romulus and Angeal were on opposing sides, bolters at the ready. Brother Mikel stood closer to the older twin,Angeal, his lightning claws crackling with energy. Lastly there was the standard bearer Darian, hand gripping the shaft of the pole bearing their legion iconery tightly. His bolter in his free hand. They would fire on his command.
He counted around thirty of them, with various weaponry. He waited for the traitor at the lead, a warrior of the Black Legion with two horns in his helmet, to get within his range. When he was no more than twenty meters away, with his bolt pistol at the ready, he thumbed the trigger.
A loud shot rang out, the round burst out the barrel of the pistol, catching the warrior dead in his throat. He stumbled and fell, part of his neck blown away. The others disregarded their fallen comrade, stampeding over him. He could hear the bark of bolter fire as his squad opened fire, shredding the nearest wave of traitors. He let loose another round, catching a night lord in his eye lense. The warrior stumbled, but Kaeya pressed on, emptying the remaining rounds of the magazine before holstering the weapon once more.
The Night Lord was on his hands and knees, blood pouring from his wounds. Kaeya gripped his spear with two hands, twirling the weapon gracefully in both hands then stabbing it downwards with great force. The weapon piercing through the down Night Lord's Power pack, cleaving through power armor and the black carapace beneath. He felt it skewer both his hearts. He twisted the weapon with a grunt of effort then withdrew it.
The enemy was upon them now. He saw his brothers engaged in separate skirmishes around him. The Twins were in combat with a small band of Black Legionaries. Angeal had taken a firing position, firing at any that approached his brother whilst he did combat with two warriors wielding chainswords. Romulus wielded both a chain sword and knife in battle. Of the two, Romulus was the better bladesmen of the two. He knew he would be fine.
Mikel stood guard over Darian, who had yet to release the standard. Mikel was a sentinel making bloody ruin of any who came close to their banner with his claws. Darian fired upon the horde, covering his brother's backside.
Lastly there was his own champion, Tyrian, currently in battle with a Black Armored terminator. The terminator had bashed his power fist against Tyrian's shield, forcing him down. His storm bolter aimed at the champion's chest. Before he could fire, Tyrian swung his power maul, ruining the warriors weapon. He swung once more, smashing the warriors left knee joint, forcing him down. He raised his maul in quick succession, roaring with righteous fury as he swung the weapon downward, caving the terminator's helmet in, slaying him.
The champion's Maul was thrice blessed and forged during the days of the Great Crusade. Legion says it was wielded by one of their parent legions long since fallen champions. It's name was Angel's Fury, the powerful field and strength of the maul holding enough power to shatter even the strongest of terminator armors.
He smirked beneath his helm. He was proud to lead this group of warriors. The youngest addition was the standard Bearer Darian, but he was just and steadfast. He would grow to become a mighty Lamenter in the future. The others had been under his service for more than one hundred standard Terran years. He had come to know them all well. He loved them each as a father would his own sons.
As their captain it was his duty to lead them into battle and show the example of what a Lamenter should be. He twirled the weapon above his head, bringing it forth to bear. He swung the weapon in a horizontal arc, the weapons head bisecting a black armored legionary in two. Another swing took with it the fire arms of a purple armored legionary. The warrior smiled at him, his scar marked face puckered in not pain but ecstasy. Kaeya jabbed the spear into his head, pulverizing the head into a bloody mist.
As the body dropped he waded further into battle, swinging his spear, reaping a bloody toll on his enemy. He could hear the booms of impact of Tyrian's maul or the clang of his shield as he bashed opposition with it. They were doing well so far. The enemy numbers were dwindling. This battle was to be yours. They would show the cousins their folly by abandoning them due to being cursed. They woul- A cry of agony rung out in his ear, amplified by the squad Vox network. He knew the was Angeal.
His gaze shot towards the origin of the voice. What he found caused his twin hearts to pause for a moment. He saw the form of Angeal, on his knees, holding his ruined stump of a right hand. Above him stood a grotesque being, wearing the corrupted black of the Black Legion. His right hand was what once was a lightning claw, it's form now damonfied, covered in pulsating black flesh. It's blades drenched in blood.
He saw Romulus facing off against a group of four black legionaries.
His brother's scream had diverted his attention for less than a second as he turned his head towards him. This action would cost him his life. The warriors surrounding hun seize the opportunity. One stabbed his blade into Romulus thigh causing his stance to lower. Another swung, taking with him the hand that wielded his chainsword. The third cleaved Romulus knife arm. The last swung his blade parting the Lamenter's head from his body.
Romulus' head rolled to his brother, the stump left on his body spurting blood. Before Angeal could even register what had transpired, the warrior he faced plunged his class into Angeal's chest. They pierced through his side as the warrior hefted the Lamenter into the air. A forked tongue came out of the creature's mouth grill, and lapped up Angeal's falling blood. Kaeya could only watch as Angeal struggled before the creature smashed the marines body to the ground. He heard a wet snap when Angeal made impact. His body lay still in the ground. His life signs flatlined.
Raged welled up within him as he hefted up his spear and with great force launched the weapon forward.
The caught the head of the beast still reveling in its kill gored it completely, still moving forward it found its way into the chest of one of Romulus killer's chest, pinning him to the ground. The body slid down the spear's shaft.
Kaeya was already charging towards them, having taken off upon first throwing his weapon. He had his bolt pistol in hand, already reloaded. He was already upon the trio of traitors by the time they had noticed him. He half tackled the first, throwing him over his back onto the ground. He caught the wrist of the leftmost warrior who had swung his weapon at him.
He pressed the tip of his bolt pistol underneath the warriors head. He let loose two rounds, blowing the back of his head out.
He swung the warriors body to his side as the next swung his sword. The weapon cut through his comrade's body. As he went to withdraw, Kaeya emptied his clip into the warriors faceplate, dropping him.
As he went to retrieve his spear, he heard the familiar sounds of Tyrian's power maul. He had just ended the warrior he had downed earlier. Kaeya gripped his spear and ripped it out of the fallen marine's body and flicked off the lingering blood. He looked towards Tyrian.
"To the standard! We must regroup with our brothers!" He roared Tyrian simply nodded in response as they both ran to regroup with their two remaining squadmates.
They found Mikel and Darian rallied at the banner. Darian was no longer holding the standard, now a few steps forward, firing his bolter one handed into a charging warrior. He was missing his left arm, right at the joint. A few drops of blood fell from it, the blood having clotted. Mikel was a bit farther ahead of him withdrawing his claws from a fallen Night Lord.
His armor was badly damaged, multiple gouges lacerating it. From these wounds seeped blood much blood. The damage was so extensive seemingly his body was having trouble clotting to stop the bleeding.
His movements were sluggish, probably from the blood loss and the many blades jutting out his body.
"Tyrian go to Darian I shall go retrieve Mikel!" He yelled as he ran towards his wounded brother. Tyrian went to defend the wounded bearer. It was only a shirt stride to Mikel. The warrior had done a splendid job of blocking the enemy's path to Darian, save for the few splinters. The dead surrounded him on all sides. A glorious sight indeed.
He arrived placing a hand on Lamenter's Pauldron. "Brother I am here now. Fall back to the others I shall cover your retreat." He said. Mikel did not turn towards him.
"Are the twins well brother captain? I heard Angeal's screams but was too besieged at the time to help. My helm's hud is damaged. I can not check their life signs." He said.
Kaeya gripped his pauldron tightly, shaking his head. No words were needed . He was certain Mikel understood the gesture.
"Shame...I was rather fond of those two and their constant bickering. All is well for I shall be joining them soon." Replied Mikel. Kaeya was confused until Mikel turned, exposing his front to him. A fist sized hole was in his chest, probably from a bolter round, and had destroyed his innards. He was quite certain his primary heart was gone and his secondary was working in overdrive to keep his massive body standing.
"Enemy round burst my heart. Secondary barely keeping me up. It is too late for me. I shall remain here and lessen the load on you all. The young one, Darian. Fine lad he is. Didn't even flinch when he lost his arm. Refused to leave the banner. He'll make a fine warrior for the chapter. May he live longer than all of us. Now go on brother. I shall hold them here." He said
Kaeya bit his lip in frustration. He squeezed Mikel's pauldron one final time and took off towards the last two surviving members of his team. He heard Mikel's voice one final challenge. He roared their legion mantra.
"FOR THOSE WE CHERISH! WE DIE IN GLORY!"
Kaeya clutched Victory's Price tightly in his grasp.
Damn them! Damn those Mortifactors for leaving them. The enemy had been bolstered by reinforcements. If their allies hadn't left them they wouldn't be in this situation. Three of his brothers wouldn't have fallen to the disadvantage in numbers. Angeal, Romulus, and Mikel would still be here alongside them.
Kaeya had made it to Tyrian and Darian. Darian was on a knee, trying to reload his bolter with one hand. Tyrian stood in front of him batting away any who came too close. He stood beside his champion. He would make certain that Darian would live to see another day.
As he fought back the traitorous enemies, certain thoughts lingered in the back of his head. As the death toll rose so did the thoughts as they pushed forward.
Why was his chapter cursed with so much mistreatment? Why were they ridiculed as such. Why were they scorned by others solely due to their "cursed" standing when all they did was serve and aid those around them? Why were they so..damned?
He was lost in thought. Too lost to hear Tyrian's warning. He looked up to see a purple armored Noise marine, his right arm fused with his cannon and the left wielding grotesque claws. The warrior had aimed his cannon and was preparing to fire. He saw what those things did to unlucky Astartes caught at close range. Ruptured their innards. Completely Destroyed them..He would not survive this.
As he readied himself for his fate, Tyrian jumped in front of raising his shield to face the brunt of the damage.
The Noise Marine laughed as he fired off the wave, Tyrian's shield held for a moment then shattered under the massive pressure, before his body was hit and launched into him, sending the two flying. As he tumbled through the air, he saw Darian carried away by the resulting force of such a weapon.
He lost hold of Victory's Price, while in the air and blacked out when he landed.
When he came back too, his vision was blurry. He tasted blood in his mouth. His hud was damaged, the eye lenses of his helm cracked. He staged up, fumbling for his pistol at his waist. He could not find it.
Then he remembered. Darian and Tyrian! Where were they. He saw neither near him. He thought all was lost, till he heard shuffling and a low groan.
He looked towards the noise to find Tyrian still standing, his back to him, maul in a two handed grip.
A series of badly beaten bodies surrounded him. He must have been defending his unconscious form. He reached for him, uttering his name.
"Tyrian!" he said but received no response. When he reached him, he gripped his shoulder but yet the warrior did not move. He moved to the front and his hearts dropped at what he saw.
Tyrian's entire front was caked in blood. Much of it came from his helm. The warriors victors lenses had shattered and the ceramite of his helmet was cracked. His champion had taken the full force of the noise cannon. His innards had to be ruptured. His eardrums burst.. Brain rattled yet the fact he remained up to defend his comatose form moved him. Even in death, Tyrian still protected him.
He felt a massive crack against his side, launching him into the fallen warrior, causing him to land on top. The force was enough to crack his ribs and shatter the ceramite on his sides.
He felt a foot kick the weakened area, turning him over before it stomped on his breastplate, causing him to cry out in pain. He placed both hands on the purple colored boot, trying his hardest to move it but he was too weak. His body had not yet adjusted after being hit with the sound wave, even though Tyrian had protected him.
He found his oppressor to be the Noise marine, claws slicked with blood, cannon aimed at his head.
" A hardy one he was. Not many can withstand a direct blow from my cannon~ Pity I wasn't able to play with him. Same for the one armed one. Sunk my claws into his chest while he was out~ I thought you all dead till I found you~ You are all that remains..I'm going to take my time with you. There is no one here to stop me. They are all gone..Now it's just us~ I'll make sure you feel the full extent of the god I ser-
Before he could even finish, a blade found its way through his chest. He reached for it with his bloody claws before it moved up, crudely slicing him in two. His body fell to the side, releasing him and revealing his savior. He saw Darian, gripping Victory's Price clutched tightly in his remaining arm, shaft clutched tightly between his side and arm.
Four puncture marks, oozing blood were evident on his chest. The right side of his helmet was missing, showing his fair skin and lolling eye.
"For..those we cherish..we die..in..glory." He said as he fell forward, dropping the power spear. Kaeya caught him in his arms, laying him down gently as he held his head. Blood poured onto him from his wounds, covering his yellow greaves in his brother's life blood.
"Stay with me Darian.. You will be fine. I will signal for aid from our remaining brothers. An apothecary will heal you." He pleaded. Darian's eyes, slowly losing its shine drifted towards him as he reached up with his remaining hand.
"Captain..you still live..I did it.. I saved you..and protected our standard..I did it..I did it..Captain Kae..ya.." as he said his name, Darian's arm fell limp, his head lolling over as the life faded from his eyes. Kaeya held him for a moment before laying his head down gently and closing his eyes.
He picked up his spear and walked to the still standing chapter standard, tattered but still flowing vigilantly in the wind. He stabbed Victory's Price into the ground And sank down to his knees, removing his helmet and dropping it beside him.
His squad..his entire squad were dead. Their bodies lay on the earth alongside the enemies they died fighting. Only he remained. Only he was left to carry on their memory and live with the burden of their chapter curse.
He clenched his fist slamming them into the ground as he bowled out in pure agony at his loss.
He dropped his head, cradling it in his hands and..he wept. Wept for his fallen brothers. Wept for the damnation of his chapter. Wept for the misgivings that were sure to plague them in the future.
The Lamenters have always been one of my favorite chapters..They're just so tragic. So I wanted to write a chapter depicting one of their tragic battles.