Beyond Farthest Thule

by SDWilson

The far reaches of the Imperium of Man tore themselves asunder during the High Lord Goge Vandire's Reign of Blood in the early 36th millennium. But while this happened, most of Humanity was blind to the fact that the Galaxy shook from the events that occurred Beyond Farthest Thule. But not the Inquisition, for they were at its heart. The Phoenix Reborn & Epilogue have been posted!

66. Part 11 The Phoenix Reborn ch6

Early 36th Millennium, dawn of the Plague of Unbelief
The Deep Reach
Scholomance, Blackstone Fortress and the fabled nest of the Cosmic Serpent

The Aeldari milled about the chamber uneasily, their attention shifting back and forth from warily watching the Masque of the Horned Serpent spread about its perimeter to the centre of the chamber. There, nearly a score of Aeldari, all members of the High Council of Rubha Àird Driseig, including both Oisín Aanwen and Dubheasa, were gathered in a circle that surrounded the hexagonal dais beneath the Oculus. And on the dais stood Druthact, psychically directing the flow of the Ritual while the Council communed and lent him its strength. Around the High Council, the Warlocks and various Aspect Warriors stood guard with the Avatar of Khaine waiting, a motionless bundle of wrath.

A single Aeldari scout ran into the chamber from one of the burrows. He stopped and yelled in his loudest voice, "Siân Aanwen has returned and she brings a host led by Prince Taliesin ap Enniaun."

Siân Aanwen entered the chamber, side by side with the Prince, and followed by a string of green dressed Aeldari, the Bloodsworn Retinue of the Prince. The Aeldari parted, allowing Siân Aanwen and the Prince to approach the inner ring of the Council.

"We have saved a place for you in the circle," said the raven-haired Dubheasa. "Will you join us?"

"We will join you," Siân Aanwen said as she nodded to Oisín.

"In battle!" screamed Taliesin as twin sabres leapt into his hands with blinding speed and he decapitated the nearest Warlock. "You dare to threaten the Exodites under my protection for this absurd gamble!"

An instant later, the Council had split. No longer communing and sharing its combined psychic power with Druthact, they were squared off against one another. Dubheasa leading one faction while Siân and Oisín, the Aanwen siblings, led the other. Psychic energy was channeled and rained down from the heights, lightning and fire. The Prince dashed through the Council and was upon Druthact in an instant, but the next instant he was tossed half-way across the chamber with but a thought from the ancient entity. In another instant, the Warlocks and Aspect Warriors had mobilized and the Avatar of Khaine sprang to life. Fire burst from its form and scorched several of the Prince's retinue. Though split, the numbers heavily favored those supporting the Ritual and the soon to be reached outcome was almost immediately apparent.

Then the blasts and thunder of heavy bolter and lascannon fire filled the chamber. Imperial Walkers entered from several different burrows than the one through which Siân and the Corsairs had entered. And waves of Inquisitorial Stormtroopers flowed in from a number more burrows. And amongst those waves flowed Apothecary Fynn and Jorik as well as the golden warrior Ilyas.

Anarchy followed.

More than a few Aspect Warriors numbered amongst the green-cloaked host from the Aelion Corsairs of Prince Taliesin and they squared off against the Howling Banshees, Stalking Scorpions, and Dire Avengers of Rubha Àird Driseig. But, the Aspect Warriors of Rubha Àird Driseig were split themselves. Banshee fought Scorpion, Scorpion fought Dire Avenger, and the numerous Dire Avengers fought each other, making it impossible to tell friend from foe while the craftworld's Council itself squared off against each other. The Troopers stayed in disciplined fire teams and focused their fire on the nimbler, but restricted, Aeldari.

The Avatar left destruction in its wake before it was met by Ilyas and Fynn. The golden warrior began a circling dance of blows around the construct in an attempt to hold its attention while Fynn began firing his psycannon at it and the walkers focused their fire upon it.

And Basil appeared before Druthact, psycannon in hand. He fired but the ancient entity had already left the Oculus. With but a thought, Druthact tore the psycannon from Basil's hands and leapt toward his opponent as the Singing Spear appeared in his. But Basil had already sprang away with the Nemesis Force Halberd appearing in his hands.

The two began to pace a circle around each other at the base of the dais, Imperial might matched against ancient Aeldari technology.