Disclaimer: I do not own Warhammer or FoZ. Also, I probable don't know as much as I should about FoZ lore so if I bugger it up at any point feel free to give me an earful. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
A.N: Ok I've finally decided upon the staff of destruction, the staff itself is of my own creation but is tied into Warhammer lore, sort of, I am making a bit of new lore myself for it. I do hope you like it, plus it will be the start of a Warhammer sub-plot for the characters to follow. Enjoy.
A Pact with Ancient Gods
Chapter 10: Signs of Old Enemies
The Relic Vault
As the director and professor began to unbind the complex magical locks sealing the vault, the Changeling contemplated the energy's radiating from within. The sear amount of magic bound to this item was staggering to say the least, earlier when he passed the vault, he had surveyed its enchantments. Considering these people haven't been properly using magic for century the enchantments were incredible impressive, to such an extent that even he would struggle to unbind them in under a few minutes. And they had been designed to also hide whatever was within, but this item overpowered that be a ridiculous extent.
A final great click and a split came down the centre of the wall, which then opened inwards. He, Osmund, Colbert and Miss Longville who was allowed to accompany them by the director, entered.
"So Sir Familiar, what was it that you are searching for?" Inquired Osmund as he did a quick survey of the collection. Upon receiving silence for several seconds from the usually quite vocal spirit, the three humans turned and were surprised by what they saw. The Changeling had ceased all movement, usually this was not the most uncommon thing when one was surprised by something, but for this Familiar it was very odd, for they had always been doing something. Whether it was swaying from side to side as they floated, twiddling some of their many fingers, or even readjusting their robes, they had always been doing something as if it was physically impossible for them to be doing the same thing for more than a few seconds. Something had clearly spooked it.
Before any could speak the Changeling slowly began to float to one specific relic, upon seeing it Osmund and Colbert both got thoughtful frowns while Longville tensed up. He was heading for the staff of destruction. He stopping a respectful 5 metres from the pedestal holding the staff's case.
The staff itself was 2 metres tall with many strange and seemingly randomly positioned lines, it gave of a gentle golden little that flooded the otherwise dark room, the top of the staff held a seemingly normal sphere of crystal but upon closer inspection, the crystal held tiny dots of lights which the Changeling suddenly recognised as stars, thousands of them. This all but confirms it, he knew what this was, its design matches the 2 others he had encountered before. This was an Old One relic weapon, and he knew which one it was.
"Where did you find this?" His voice caught those present of guard, for it had completely lost its previous cheerful and mischievous tone, in its place was a flat voice that one could hear spoken on the most serious of matters. Rather than answer the question, Osmund asked one of his own.
"You recognise the staff of destruction, don't you?"
"I do recognise it, now answer the question." There was rising aggression in his voice, whatever the staff meant to him, it was gaining a very severe reaction.
"It was given to me by the being that saved my life thirty years ago. Now that I answered your question, you shall answer one of mine, why do you recognise the staff of destruction?" Both men were paying close attention to the Changelings words, but neither were as determined to hear this information as the secretary.
"First Osmund, let me say that isn't its name, this is a weapon that was once wielded by an Old One, specifically one that disappeared almost 8 thousand years ago. What you see before you is possibly the most powerful magical weapon to has ever existed to my knowledge. Its name is, The Star Sceptre of Xholankha, but we spirits know it by another for the deed that was committed with it. We call it 'God Splitter'." A heavy silence fell upon the vault as the mortals processed this information. They each turned back to the sceptre, all with varying thoughts. Osmund's face was hard as stone, already thinking of way to further strengthen the vault to deny this weapon to anyone. Colbert's eyes were filled with unease and slight fear. But most curiously and unnoticed to all but the Changeling was the look in Miss Longville's eyes, a look of all consuming lust not uncommonly seen upon Slaaneshi daemons. After about a minute Longville asked the question within all their minds.
"Why do you and your kin call it 'God Splitter'?"
"Why do you think? There used to be five major spirits, until the Old One Xholankha used his sceptre against one of them. His name was Malal, more than strong enough to be a God, the embodiment of destruction, discord and chaos, his power grew with every act of destruction, great or small. At the height of his power, a wave of his hand and armies could disappear into thin air, storms of fire could spring up across whole continents, and that weapon split him in a single strike." At these words each of the looks in each of the human's eyes only grew.
"Do you have any suggestions on how to deal with such a thing?" Colbert's voice almost stuttered but he managed to hold himself together, eye fixed upon the sceptre.
"You want my advice; I will tell you this for free. Put it somewhere nobody will ever use or find it, for this reason alone, nobody here can control the sceptre, not even me, only the Old Ones and their direct servants have a shot at using it safely." He then turned to look stare strait into Longville's eyes. "If someone else were to try, they could split this whole world in two with but a single mistake." Before anyone could say anymore the Changeling turned and left the vault.
{--}
Vestri Field
The Changeling was floating around the field contemplating the implication of the sceptre's presence and the possibly presence of the Old One, Xholankha the Lost, when suddenly his hand was grabbed and spun him around. Revealing an exhausted Louise.
"Thank the Founder I finally found you. We need to practice your act in the exhibition in 2 days' time." To this sudden information the Changeling had only 2 words to say.
"Come Again?"