Verdandi, Seas of Fate

The water in Joakim's glass was just that, water. The block of something in his bowl tasted of good things and had a texture that the Paladin had never encountered before. All three Champions had shed most of, or in Joakim's case, all of their armor. The food was bland, the cabin around them sparsely furnished and their host absent. Any thoughts about the future held few answers and so all three tried to fill the void by learning about each other.

"I used to be Duke of Cöln, but that was before the forces of Granbretan occupied it. Now I am an ally of Count Brass and have to obtain the Runestaff to change the course of this war. This thing, this jewel, was implanted by the sorcerer-scientists of Londra, they meant it to spy for them. Count Brass quenched it for now and I am in his service."
"Uh, I know enough of Germany's history and I do not believe having heard of a Duke of Köln with your name."
"Ah Sir Joakim, that armor you stowed over there is the product of science and technology, is it not?"
"Yes, with a bit of magic on the side."
"Yes, my people could make such things, long ago. That was before the wars, before the Cataclysm."
"You mean you are from the future?"
"I am from a future, not the future. The lore of the sorcerer-scientists spoke of many universes, of many times. And didn't our captain say that he navigates between realities?"
"Ah, like Germany then, shifting from one universe to the next. Well, your future will probably not come about where I live now, we have moved from Earth."
"Fascinating. So who are you?"

"I am Oberstleutnant Joakim Vos, Commanding Officer of the Reiksbund Paladins. We are an elite unit of armored infantry, used to fight Chaos, critters and anything too big for the normal footsloggers. Most of the time that means that we go in caves and others places you cannot send tracked vehicles, oh and we do a bit of hostage rescue on the side."
"Really? Well, I am Elric, Prince of Melnibone until my treacherous cousin, Yyrkoon usurped my throne and abducted my beloved cousin Cymoril. I have won Stormbringer and the favor of my family's patron, Arioch. I will free Cymoril and I will kill Yyrkoon in such ways Melnibone will talk about this for all times."
"Best of luck with that, but before we can do that we have a mission to fulfill, right? So how are we going to do this?"
"It is not that we have a surfeit of information to go on Sir Joakim. We have no armies at our command, we have us and our weapons. What is there to plan?"
"We have a location to protect and we have an indication where the attackers will enter this plane of existence. We have a decision to make."

"Yes, we have. Do we protect this place or do we ambush the attackers?"
"Exactly Duke, that is the size of it, at least as far as I can see."
"Ambush them of course. They will be many the captain said, so we need to surprise them."
"I understand you Elric, still I do not like it. What if we cannot catch them all. Even if one makes it through to us we fail."
"So what do you propose Dorian? That shack is unlikely to be defendable."
"Split up. Two of us go for the ambush, one kills everything the others miss."
"We are three and you want to split us up in the face of superior forces? Sounds like suicide to me."
"Looks like our swords allow us to speak to each other, even at a distance. We should be able to coordinate."

"I still do not like it, but this is probably the best way to get the job done."
"If you two seem so set on committing suicide then how can I keep you from doing so?"
"Then it is a deal. So who will be guarding that shack?"
"I have a rifle besides my sword, I can work much better in open terrain."
"Makes sense Sir Joakim. I have the plate armor, so don`t ask me to do much running. I`ll take the close guard then."
"Better you than me Hawkmoon."
"Yes Prince Elric, I love you too. I suggest we get some rest, shall we."

That they could all agree upon.

Glade of Kings, Athel Loren

The World Oak is huge, actually big enough that only magic allows for its immense size. It dominates the Glade like a giant among dwarfs. Two gods sleep in it and prepare for the next year. It is the avatar of Athel Loren and the Asrai had just fought a pitched battle to defend it.

Pierre Troisieme stared at it with an open mouth, eyes wide and a mind which refused to believe what they saw. The World Oak's branches covered the stars, normally. They occluded the moon and the stars and left the ground below in a deeper shade of black at night, normally. Not today.
Today the branches were bedecked by lights that gave off a warm color, by things that glittered and by figures from straw that displayed things important to Asrai and Man. When Sister Helouise had told the Stormtroopers what the Asrai had somehow done they did not believe it. And they hardly believed it now, it was just too otherworldly.

The Sisters of Shallya had introduced this "Christmas" thing into Bretonia over the last few years . Some nobles liked it, most ignored and some found the message "peace on Earth" too ludicrous to allow it. The serfs loved it, especially as there was a message of "peace from everyone" in there and the Sisters tried to have a good meal for all who attended.
But this, this was a different thing by far. It was a message from the Asrai that was very hard to overlook and more than a bit welcome.
The Christmas Party was a strange thing, as both Asrai and Bretons were new to this thing. But no matter whether Man or Wood Elf, the idea of celebrating family, peace and hoping for a better future could be cherished by all. The chocolate provided by the Sisters from the last supply run was surprisingly agreeable to both species as was a wine made from berries the Bretons had never seen.

Pierre Troisieme made it to what went for his bed under his own power quite late. He slept well for the first time in a long time. For now, he was at peace with himself.

Close to Castle Wolfenfels

The fire roared in the fireplace, heating the room to a nice temperature. The candles on the tree had burned out and the boys were in their rooms already.
Nathan Alpers and Ermine looked at each other over two glasses of red wine.

"Thank the gods that this year you could be with us for Christmas."
"Oh yes, right you are. But after two years where I was up there Space Command did not have much choice. I would have raised a ruckus if they had developed funny ideas."
"Thanks Nathan. I enjoy every day I am with you, I really do. But this year I need you more."
"I know love, I miss him too."
"As do we all. To you father, wherever you might be now."
"To you, Baron Heinrich."

Orbit around Fenris

The Thunderhawk entered the shadow cast by the giant ship which swallowed most of the stars before them. A number of lights indicated where it was to go and while it made its course its passengers got a good look at the ship. The closer they got the more obvious it became that it was very well armored indeed. On that armor many smaller turrets indicated where the point-defense weapons were while huge turrets on the dorsal and ventral sides sported weapons that looked like they could fit the Thunderhawk inside their barrels.

The docking bay that was their target was equally huge, being able to handle squadrons of such craft at a time. There was a sparkle when the Thunderhawk crossed the shield that kept the air inside the hangar when the doors were open and landed at a spot indicated by more light strips. When the doors opened several beings exited it clad in power armor and furs. Some of them occupied positions around the ramp, a small group of giants made their way forward. They walked through lines and lines of soldiers who seemed to be half flesh and half human. They stopped before a being clad in red robes. Most of the face under the red hood was invisible, but a shoal of silver-white mechandrites hung from it and covered what might be a chest.
The voice that came from somewhere in those robes was far too perfect to belong to such an inhuman body.

"Greetings Leman Rus. It has been 12.56 standard years since we last met."
"Well met then Venerable Archmagos Hel Karbor. What brings you to our system?"
"Oh, it is Supreme Archmagos these days, among others things thanks to the holy STC you brought us. We are here because we bring you a gift."
"What gift might that be and why?"
"When we parted 12.55 Standard years 127 days ago you stated that you wished that we return the Battle Barge Ragnarök to you after we repaired it. Unfortunately this is no longer possible. Many structural elements of your ship have undergone changes which degrade them to unacceptable degree. The ship's reactors have been embrittled by neutrons and the machine spirit could not be revived. As such no economical repair is possible."
"So?"

"So we have retrieved the plans for the Gloriana-Class battleships from the STC that you brought us. The Iron Ring around Mars has worked ceaselessly to bring these plans into reality. This ship is based on the Hrafnkel, the battleship that once was yours. Keeping up with the traditions of your chapter we have named this ship Nagelfar and it is yours now. This is our present to you Leman Rus."
"Emperor's beard, I'd never thought I'd see her likes again."
"You have not seen much yet Leman Rus. This ship is built based upon plans from the Age of Technology. There are no serfs here that move propellant by hand or open weapons breeches by chain gang. This is a spaceship which is unlike anything we have built in a very long time."
"And you want me to test all of this?"
"We could hardly think of anybody who would perform a better combat-test than you."
"Thanks I think. But yes, you are right, there will be a hunt soon. And now it will be a hunt to remember.

Somewhere, at night

The air around Joakim Vos was cold, even if not as cold as it had been around Altdorf and humid. The sky hung full of stars of a clarity that made him pause for a moment. It was not just beautiful, it told him something. There were very few artificial lights and no man-made fog to obscure the heavens. That was the first hint that Verdandi's captain had not been blowing smoke. Switching to low-light sensors revealed an undulating arid landscape mostly consisting of small fields. A couple of stone enclosures indicated where pastures were, but no animals could be seen presently. Scanning in the direction they had been given he found an unassuming cairn that might or might not be the point where the enemy would make his entrance.

"Dorian, I think you should go now."
"Granted, but it is darker than a Granbretan`s heart here."
"Let's see. You see that star over there, the bright one? Ok, you follow that till you hit those houses. There is an alley over there, seems like there is a bit of light once you enter. Take that one and then the first left will bring you there. If you lose your way you break this, that gives a light that only I can see. I will give you directions then."
"That I can do. Fight well."
"You too."

"Who did name you the leader of our small expedition Sir Joakim?"
"No one Prince Elric. But since I do not invite demon princes to dine on the rest of us and try to give sensible advice...
"So, what is the sensible advice for the two of us?"
"See that small wall over there?"
"Yes, I am not a human who needs aid or sees nothing in the dark."
"That is pretty much between that cairn and our target. It is also besides the path that leads down there. We get a bit of cover, we will not be seen, we can watch unobserved."
"Is this how you wage battle? Hiding, ambushing, making sure that you know all about the enemy and he stays ignorant about you?"
"Yes, I care for my men and my own life. Even more I care about the mission."
"Good. None of that foolishness they exhibit in the Young Kingdoms. Maybe you are worthy of watching my back."
"Maybe. So?"
"So we take your sensible advice Sir Joakim. Lead on."

Ever since Og and Nog went at each other with bones and sharpened sticks soldiers had to wait, had to endure the pains a hard ground gave them, the cold that seeped through the thickest of clothing and the uncertainty that came from waiting without seeing anything. Joakim was spared some of that, his power armor was well padded, waterproof, and his helmet provided all the night vision he could wish for. That did not spare him from the self-doubts that came from the dearth of information. Wouldn't it be better to stay together? Go for the stable that they had to guard? Was the place he had picked indeed the best one for the ambush?

He debated if he should talk this over with Elric and quickly dismissed the idea. No need to fuel arrogance more than he needed to. He was in the third circle of thinking about the best ambush spot when his lower arm started to vibrate. At the same time the HUD in his helmet began to display numbers and a spot mostly in front of him.

"I sense something Sir Joakim. There is a rise of Empyrean energies over there."
"My magic detector says the same thing. At that cairn I would say."

Before the two could say any more there was a thunderclap of displaced air, discharges which looked electric but for being green and the smell of burned things.

The field before them had been empty a second before, now it was full of beings that did not belong. Most roughly followed the human form, yet even the low-light sensors made them more rugged and indicated horns and claws. Others slithered on the ground or ran on at least four limbs. Snouts sniffed the air for spoor, glowing eyes looked at the ground for tracks or the skies for direction. Two beings in their midst seemed to bring order to chaos and that was not allowed.

"Cover your eyes."
"Why?"
"I`ll give them a flashbang, just do it."

Elric was going below the wall when Joakim threw the grenade into the enemy's midst. A small bang indicated that a charge ejected several plates from the body. What followed were several almighty explosions that were accompanied by extremely bright flashes. His enemies had been out here to have their eyes adapted to the darkness. The Paladin doubted they would see anything, but green spots for a few crucial minutes. Now to make something of that opportunity.

Joakim's Mauser had been heavily modified so it could be used better with his power armor. The scope was able to give a feed directly into his helmet visor and when he gripped the handle tightly ammo status was displayed in a corner of the HUD. He choose the closest of the beings as a target and brought the dot on center mass. When he pulled the trigger the round in his barrel left at nearly 900 meters per second. Before the target had any chance to acknowledge the hit a second bullet had left the barrel and a third was nearly chambered. The round passed the muzzle before the bolt carrier and barrel had finished their way through the rifle's receiver. Only then did recoil press the rifle into Joakim's shoulder and only then did the barrel rise a bit. The three round all hit the left torso of something that looked conspicuously like a Bloodletter. The impacts were all within three centimeters of each other and they either removed or mushed everything that was in the mighty chest. By the time the not-Bloodletter had hit the ground it was quite dead and Joakim was about to engage the second target. The results were not too dissimilar and pandemonium followed.

The beings ran here and there, at least two of them tore into others of their kind. Nobody seemed to take command, nobody ordered a counterattack for long seconds. Joakim's thumb moved the selector up one notch and continued with single shots. Working from left to right he did not check if his targets went down or not. He simply acquired them as fast as possible, squeezed off one shot and went on to the next one. He went through his magazine at a frightening rate and was reaching for his next one when something crashed into his back. The growls and the hot fetid breath that assaulted his ears reminded him that not all threats relied on their eyes and ears to find their target. Claws raked the tough armor on his back and long teeth tried to find a purchase on his helmet. He tried to turn, tried to grab his pistol, tried to fight back and was denied by his prone position, the sheer weight and strength of the being on his back.

One second there was an all-out assault that he could hardly stop, the next only a heavy weight and hot fluids that made their way down his armor. Pushing up with his and his armor's strength he pushed the being aside that looked like a vastly overgrown dog with a reptile's scales and spines all along its back. Its thick neck was mostly cut through though and all life had fled it. Between Joakim and the other enemies was a black-clad elf that swung a sword with far more strength than his slender limbs seemed to allow. At the same time he had a speed and agility that made Joakim envious. He managed to get to his feet, the close-range battle allowed only using his sword.

His helmet might give him night vision, but no depth perception. That should have made for an awkward fight, it did not. He was using a sword that knew what it was doing better than him and availed itself of Joakim's strength. And strength there was, the strength of a very-well trained man multiplied by actuators powered by high-tech and magic. An edge that had not been sharpened since Sigmar's time met a scaly arm not of this world. It went through the limb without any ado and the return stroke removed a substantial portion of the ugly head before him. The swords tip pierced something that wanted to charge him and only the suit's legs allowed him to keep his footing. He more felt than saw where Elric was and went in his direction. His sword's pommel removed every tooth of something that wanted to bite his arm off, his boot crushed the skull when it hit the ground. By that time a wave of cool energy rushed through him, dispelling any hint of tiredness that he might have felt. He knew without looking where Elric was, he knew how he had to move to get into the Elf's back.

The two champions were surrounded by enemies of all descriptions, a throng that was sure to overwhelm them. They pressed in on all sides, driven by hate and need to kill Man and Elf. Clawed hands reached for them, crude swords aimed for their sides and huge maws wanted to consume them.

It was not to be. Both fought with a strength they should not have, a speed that far exceeded that of their enemies and covered each other without ever looking. And then the enemy retreated, flowing to the sides like scolded children. It was that breather that allowed both champions to realize how exhausted they were and how much the battle had taken from them. It also provided the opportunity to make something of the deep rumbling challenge that washed over them like the sound of a fog horn.

The demon before them loomed over his minions like an adult over small children. A veritable mountain of flesh rested on legs the size of temple pillars. A club that seemed to be the size of a ship's mast rested in hands and a grin with far too many teeth promised bloody tidings. Elric watched the giant with awe and Joakim heard him trying to work a spell again only to fail. How swords, even such as theirs, were to best such a giant was beyond Prince and Paladin.

"Fuck this."

The barrel below the Mauser's stock was short and fat. A second trigger operated the grenade launcher and Joakim had no problem at all placing the 40mm projectile on target. Exploding against the vast chest with the force of a hand grenade it spewed hot shrapnel into the demon. The roar from the beings mouth was different this time, full of pain and hate. The legs started moving and their force shook the ground below Joakim.

"When at first you don't succeed.."

Joakim ripped the breech of his launcher open and inserted a new projectile from a shielded pouch. The enemy was only a few dozen meters away when his second shot left the barrel. He could see the grenade in flight, it was that slow. It went to the right of the place he had aimed for and exploded against the demon's flank.
The explosions was less spectacular this time. It seemed a bit subdued but the reaction to it was not. The being's mouth opened again, but greenish flame came from it this time. Eyes, ears and any other orifice bled liquid fire that had a greenish tint to it.

"Eat Warpstone and die asshole."

The demon dropped to the ground scant meters from the wall that had been Joakim's starting point and the Paladin could feel the impact even through his boots. He watched the minions, the beings that had been such a threat only moments ago. None of them wanted to get near to the two Champions and when Joakim lifted his Mauser again they fled back towards the cairn. . A minute later a number of loud cracks were head as air filled the places the beings had just vacated.

"You are full of surprises Sir Joakim, you really are. This has been most refreshing."
"Refreshing? I think I still prefer some beer. Thanks for saving me back there."
"I think we can consider us even Joakim. Do you think it is safe to look for Duke Hawkmoon now?"
"Yes, I can believe the natives are a bit restless by now. He could use a hand."
"We made enough of a spectacle, that is for sure."

They had not, for whatever reason. They followed the star that Joakim had picked for Dorian Hawkmoon an hour ago and found the armored warrior standing watch before a small hut.

"What was that Sirs? I saw some flashes and the shadow of something big, but no sound of fighting. There was this thing, apart from that all was quiet."

Something like a much overgrown bat laid close to the former Duke. One wing and most of its head were detached.
Elric and Joakim looked at each other uncomprehendingly before shrugging their shoulders.

"It is not if that would be the most strange thing happening to us lately."
"Indeed. Say Champions, do we want to have a look at what we guarded so well?"
"I am not sure if that is a good idea."
"Come on Sir Joakim, somebody who fought so well should not be afraid of having a look. And maybe something escaped the duke's attention and poses a threat."
"Ah, can't hurt, can it?"

The door was a simple thing, just some rough boards nailed together using some rope for a hinge. When it opened it offered a sight into a simple stable, giving shelter to an ox, an ass and some sheep. There were also two adults in there, but they were not what grabbed Joakim's attention. It was the smell of blood. Joakim had seen more than one battlefield, more than one casualty clearing station. He was a connoisseur of blood, he could tell fresh arterial from bleed-through bandages, alien from human blood by smell alone. This was different and for a moment the Paladin feared of having failed.

But both adults looked at the three men with consternation, not fear and there were no obvious wounds to explain the smell. When Joakim saw the straw speckled with blood, the fabric that was colored with red streaks and when he saw the small bundle swaddled in more cloth and held on the female's chest he understood. A birth can be a bloody thing, especially if it is the first time for a young woman. The bundle on the mother's chest held a baby that was not long in this world.

Joakim made useless sounds that were to soothe parents who certainly did not understand a word of what he was saying. The man pleaded something he could not understand either and offered a few coins. Joakim pushed the hand back gently and was only too glad that he had raised his visor before entering the stable. The featureless helmet would have freaked out these two for sure. He turned to the mother and went to one knee to get to the level where he could have a look at the child. The mother did not say anything, but she did not shift the bundle away when he lifted the cloth a bit.

He had seen newborn babies before, including his daughter when she was borne two years before. They would become cute and adorable in a few days, but now they were red, their eyes swollen shut and their movements lacking any coordination. Somehow this one had a skin that was more smooth than he expected and the hands seemed to hold a strap of cloth. And then the eyes opened and he looked into eyes that were wrong. They were human enough, but they tracked his movements quite purposefully. There seemed to be an intelligence there that should really not be present yet. For a short moment Joakim felt watched and weighed . There was a smile and something that could have been a wink if such babies were capable of such things.

The Paladin felt awkward for a moment and looked for something to do. The parents were obviously not so well off, their accommodation and their clothes said so. He dug into the pouches on his vest and produced a couple of dressings and a few granola bars.

"Here folks, take this, you can use this better than me."

He stood up before addressing his companions.

"I think our work is done, lets get back."

He turned back a final time before leaving the stable again and waved goodbye. Neither of the parents did, but the baby seemed to do so and watched him go.
He had left the stable already when the thought hit him like a hammer. No, it couldn't be, right. As in really really could not be that?"

The fog that suddenly appeared at the village's edge was neither unexpected nor unwelcome and it brought them back to the Verdandi in the blink of an eye.
While his companions started to shed some of their armor he made a beeline to the ship's captain.

"What the bleeding fuck did I just see captain? Why did we just defend a stable with nothing more important than three nobodies inside? And please do not tell me that we protected ..him."
"Did I tell you that the three of you together were quite a risk already, something that would make the gods take notice?"
"Yes, you did. How does this have any bearing on our mission? Or do you want to tell me..."
"Your sword was obviously right about you, you are a perceptive one. Yes Sir Joakim, bringing you three here, protecting this place nobody cares for was a distraction. There were things happening elsewhere that needed to proceed without such interruptions. You certainly had lots of beings watching you, mighty, old and with plans quite contrary to my masters'. You have made sure that there were no such interruptions."
"So all this fighting, these abductions were for nothing?"
"I would not say so, I really would not. You protected something very important, just not here. A bit like defending a mirror so that its picture is taken for the real thing."
"What?"