Hello there! This is my first fanfic. Warhammer 40k belongs entirely to GW. Reviews would be very much appreciated.
Indulis Gaisma rode on a horse next to his aide followed by an armored division, artillery division, and two infantry divisions of his army. He had received word from his scouts that the Asinisians were planning to launch an assault on the most important port of Gasima. Port Ventspils. Ventspils was where the lands of Gaimsa received most of their provisions, trade, and other goods from their allies.
According to the scouts, the Asinisians would launch a ground attack with artillery and tanks against the city. Assuming this would not be as large a battle as many others that had been fought and given the importance of the port, Indulis had taken the aforementioned divisions to Ventspils. Ventspils was a good distance to the West from Indulis's capital, Riga. Despite the paved, well-maintained road, the journey had taken a couple of weeks. They couldn't have arrived a moment too soon. Right as his men were reaching the entrance to the port city, the Asinisians attacked.
Ventspils was in a unique location. To the West lay the great sea of Daugava. To the North, South, and East were the regions of the Gaismans. The Asinisians, whose lands were located North of the Gaisman lands, were attacking from the North and the West. The Asinisians battleships pounded the port city. The panicked citizens of the city rushed to save themselves only to be waylaid by the units of the Asinsians army. It became a bloody route. The Gaismans, seeing their kin being slaughtered like cattle, rushed into battle. The sound of lasgun fire, tearing flesh, blood splattering, and artillery pounding replaced the usual cacophony of shouting merchants, bustling city life and water lapping gently against the launching piers.
The Asinisians and the Gaismans were both evenly matched for the Asinisians had brought with them two Armored Divisions, one Artillery Division, and multiple infantry divisions for the attack. The battle lasted for five days until finally the Gaismans, able to call in naval support, pushed the Asinisians' naval and ground forces back beyond the coastal defenses. It was a bittersweet victory however. A good percentage of the population of Ventspils had been slain and it would take months if not years to reconstruct the city.
With heavy hearts, Indulis and his men rode their way back to Riga. Indulis rubbed his gloved covered hands together, his breath freezing in mid air before his eyes, before grabbing the reins of his steed.
"The cold also bites hard in the New Year, doesn't it, my lord?"
Indulis turned to his aide walking beside him, a young corporal.
"Yes it does, my dear Harijs," Indulis said.
Harijs sighed heavily.
"The Asinisians have struck us another grievous blow, lord. Is there no end to their blood thirsty warmongering?" Harijs inquired, his voice ladened with despair.
Indulis shook his head sadly.
"No, dear Harijs. For as long as anyone's memory, the Asinisians have always held an unquenchable blood thirst. None more so than Lord Asinis," Indulis stated, his very body shuddering at the mention of the Lord of the most powerful warrior families.
Harijs felt a chill go up his spine as well. All of Briedis knew that Asinis was a sadistic genocidal maniac. Harijs returned his attention to the road in front of him as the convoy continued its journey home. Above them, the stars glowed brightly and Briedis' only moon, Debeskalns, shone brightly on the forested road.
Turning to his aide behind him, Lieutenant Colonel Kalniņš, Indulis opened his mouth.
"Kalniņš, what are our loses?" Indulis asked.
Kalniņš reached into his coat and pulled out a parchment.
"We took eighty thousand men with us to Ventspils, my lord. Forty eight thousand killed or missing, twenty four thousand wounded, and only eight thousand still able to fight. That is not including our materiel loses, which amounts to seventy percent," Kalniņš read off of the report.
Indulis sighed heavily. Another victory at a great cost.
Is there any hope? Indulis thought somberly.
"My lord, look up in the sky!" Harijs cried.
Indulis immediately pulled on the reins of his horse and halted. His men did the same. Looking up, Indulis' eyes widened along with his men's. In the sky came a single flying star heading towards the earth. But there was something different about this star. It shone akin to a bright white flame, as if the gods were flinging a beautiful flaming jewel to give to its people. Watching attentively, the Gaismans saw the white star flung towards the earth, crashing behind a cluster of trees just a few hundred feet from their position. The earth shook violently, almost as if Thor himself had come upon the earth. Many of Indulis' soldiers fell face down on the ground, muttering prayers to Freya, goddess of light and compassion. After the earthquake subsided, Indulis wondered what to do.
"My lord, what in the name of Odin was that?" Harijs asked.
"I do not know. Perhaps we should find out," Indulis stated.
Harijs looked at him with fear.
"My lord. Are you sure this is wise? We do not know what that thing could be. What if it's dangerous?" Harijs stammered.
"My dear Harijs, I have seen many things in my life. I believe that perhaps this may be a good omen. A sign of favour from the gods. Now, send for Captain Levits and a handful of men," Indulis ordered.
Harijs saluted his lord and quickly left his lord's side and headed towards the back of the column. Indulis hopped off his horse and looked towards the direction the white flaming star had crashed as a steadily climbing column of white smoke rose from the crash site. Just what exactly would Indulis find? Some meteorite? Treasure? Or some monster from the stars that stalked the void. Shaking these thoughts from his mind, Indulis waited patiently for his aide to return. Harijs returned with Levits and two soldiers in tow. Levits and the soldiers saluted with a sharp click of their boots and bowed before their lord.
"Ah! Captain, you will accompany me to the crash site. Harijs, remain here with the rest of the convoy and my horse. If I do not return within the hour, continue on without me. I do not trust the night to be kind if we stay out here for too long," Indulis barked.
Indulis, Ventis, and the soldiers soon began their trek. The only sound that could be heard was the howling wind and the crunch of their boots against the snow, glinting blue and white in the moonlight. Approaching the trees, Indulis reached for his laspistol. Better to be cautious, just in case. Slowly, they advanced through the cusp of trees, their breath freezing in the air and surrounding them like mist. Soon they came to a cusp of pine trees that were uprooted from the ground, as if an angry fist had smashed through them. Approaching it, they soon saw that the object from the heavens had made a path of destruction as it landed. Walking a while more, they noticed more trees uprooted, laying in blackened beds of earth. Soon, the path of destruction ended. At the end of the path lay the object itself. But what stood next to the object stunned the men. Standing tall and strong was a full grown stag. Imposing, his white fur glowed in the moonlight and his blue eyes shone like crystals in the starlight. The sight of a white stag, the symbol of house Gaisma, was a good omen. On Briedis, the stag represents strength, maturity, and spiritual enlightenment. A white stag in particular represented holiness and purity and also great change.
Indulis and his men froze under its steady gaze before its head turned towards the object. Giving a huff, the stag trotted off into the forest. Gathering their wits, Indulis and the men approached the object, only for them to be stunned once again. That which had crash landed wasn't made of ice and rock, but of steel and iron. Even more shocking, each of the Breidisians heard the sound of screaming coming from within the steel object. Levits and his soldiers raised their rifles. Indulis simply stared. That scream didn't sound foreign at all. It sounded...human. Tentatively, he took a step towards the object. Levits looked at his lord with concerned surprise.
"My Lord! Why are you stepping towards that object? We do not know what is within," Levits cried.
Indulis gave a sharp look towards Levits.
"My dear Levits. Listen closely. That scream does not sound akin to that of an animal. Neither that of something from the stars. It is the sound of a human. Plus, recall the white stag we encountered not a few moments ago. You, as all our kin know, that it is a good sign," Indulis stated.
Levits looked unsure.
"My lord, are you certain?" Levits asked.
Indulis nodded and stepped closer towards the steel object. Upon closer inspection, it seemed that the object was some sort of metal container with a lid.
"Levits, hand me your lasrifle," Indulis ordered.
Hesitating, Levits handed his lord the weapon. Indulis approached and rammed the butt of the lasrifle between the lid and the container. It took some force and time, but Indulis finally managed to get the lid opened with a loud hiss and release of mist. After the mist had cleared, Indulis looked into the container. His eyes widened as he saw what was causing the screaming. A child. A beautiful child. One with brown hair, fair complexion, and beautiful brown eyes. Tears were streaming down the child's cheeks as he screamed and sobbed.
Levits approached the pod and his eyes widened at the child.
"It...it's a child. A mere boy, of what I would say, not yet four years old," Levits declared.
Indulis ignored him. Staring at the child, his mind wandered back to his wife, Elena, who had never been able to bear children. Despite being married to each other for years and with both of them approaching the age of thirty-three, it left them desperate for a child. Perhaps Odin and Freya had answered their prayers. The child suddenly opened its eyes and stared at Indulis, terrified.
"Hush little one. No need to be afraid. I am here to help," Indulis said gently, arms outstretched.
The child cautiously approached Indulis as he stepped out of the pod with difficulty. The child wrapped its arms around Indulis as he lifted the child up, setting it on his hip. The child soon stopped crying, calming down in Indulis' warm, strong arms. Indulis started to make his way back to the convoy.
"Levits, men, come,"Indulis ordered.
Levits and his men followed their lord back to the convoy. Harijs was still standing next to his lord's horse as they approached. Harijs look of relief at their return quickly turned to astonishment at the sight of the child in Indulis' arms. Indulis dismissed Levits and the soldiers before hopping back onto the horse, setting the child securely in front of him.
"My lord?" Harijs inquired.
"A story for when we arrive back in Riga, my dear Harijs. Move on," Indulis ordered.
Harijs blinked but nodded. Clicking his tongue and a kick of his feet, Indulis' horse began to walk and the rest of the column followed on. Harijs faithfully walked by his lord's side. Indulis looked at the child in his arms, now sleeping peacefully. Looking up at the stars, Indulis smiled. Elena would be overjoyed when he returned. Both at the fact he had returned safely, but also for their newest blessing. But what name should he give to the child? The White Stag still embedded in his brain, Indulis knew what to name the child in his arms.
"Vīrietis. I shall name you Vīrietis. Great Stag," Indulis said.
The child smiled in his sleep, almost as if he heard the name and accepted it. Indulis chuckled before returning his eyes to the road. What Indulis and the rest of Briedis would not know for many years is that the child in his arms would cause great change to Briedis and the entire galaxy and the universe would never be the same again. All the while, in a realm of brass and blood, a giant sat on a throne of skulls. The giant's fearsome hound face grinned wickedly, eyes shining crimson. The child that had landed on Briedis would do. His brethren had already laid eyes on some of the others they had scattered. He was ahead of them, however. The giant had set his eyes on another champion as well halfway across the galaxy. What was the name of the planet the other child had landed on? Ah! Nuceria. The giant knew that the child on Briedis and the child on Nuceria would serve him well in the future. His grin turned into a smile, with razor sharp fangs that glinted in the fires of his realm, appearing as if they were made of blood. The giant laughed, echoing across his realm and beyond and striking fear in all within the realm of the Immaterium.