Court of the Young King
"-nd what do you recommend? We let him walk freely after destroying a perfectly good Grav tank?"
"What do you say Farseer Macha? What should we do with this Mon-keigh?"
Doom awoke a bit, before noticing his movement was constricted. That and also he was suspended a few feet in the air. He looked around, trying to move but only managed to float around.
He realized he had been imprisoned somehow, he looked down before sighing in relief. He wasn't naked like the last time he woke up from a slumber. But his helmet was gone sadly. He would have to find it later.
There were 8 curved pillars around him, each of them controlling gravity and holding him in place and suspending him in the air.
He spotted a variety of Eldar who wore differing armor types, looking up at him like a object as they studied him.
Doom merely snorted, probably the prissy prater "higher than thou" types he was used to. However the red cloaked lady caught his attention as she peered up at him with a serious face. Wearing delicate armor underneath the cloak, Doom could already tell. She was some kind of warrior, of very high importance. Whether or not she earned her position was up for Doom to figure out.
"Although it is questionable to say the least, I suggest we ask him ourselves."
"Ask him? That is out of the question, to even speak to him is an affront to our-"
Macha immediately turned to the Warp spider Exarch, "Might I remind you that he bears the mark of the god we all worship in this room, on his hand might I add." Macha slowly looked back before speaking again, "And he saved one of us. That deserves some question as to why." that effectively shut up the Exarch.
Doom hadn't really cared about the conversation, instead focusing his efforts on attempting to float out of his prison. However he was dragged back to the middle every time he tried to get out.
Macha immediately noticed it, "That will not work Mon-keigh, I suggest you put your efforts-"
Doom gave her the finger,
before trying again.
Macha raised an eye. She once walked the path of the Thought Talker when she was still considered young, dabbling in Diplomacy and sometimes, rarely communicating with Humans who she have grown to dislike for reasons.
However she easily recognized the Human gesture which meant one thing.
"Fuck off."
This was definitely a special case, however Macha spoke on. "I do believe there's a lot of questions that you will answer." She said, however Doom ignored her again. As he grunted whilst trying to reach one of the pillars.
It was like talking to a Child.
However Macha had all the patience in the world, she spoke again.
"Who are you."
Doom stopped, slowly pulled back into the middle of the gravity well before looking at the Farseer dead in the eye.
"I am the Doomslayer."
Macha looked on, as her serious demeanor still kept up as she looked back at him. "Doomslayer? Quite the title... So why did you save him?"
"Who?" Doom already knew what she was talking about but decided to play hard to get.
Macha merely frowned, "Do not play stupid Mon-keigh, You know who I speak of."
"Hmm, The driver? Yeah I guess I did." Doom said
"So you admit to willingly saving him?"
Doom paused before changing the subject, "Y'know, last time someone imprisoned me, a lot of Demons and people died."
The Farseer remained unfazed, but it gave her some insight. "So your implying that you have fought Daemons, that is a big claim."
"It's not a claim, it's true." was all the Marine said before the Dire Avenger next to Macha shook in anger.
"Farseer, this is clearly an insult to our intelligence. Finish him and be-." However Macha simply glared at the Dire Avenger, he immediately hanged his head down before stepping back.
Macha looked back at Doom before speaking again, "Very well Doomslayer, now would you care to explain why-" Macha said before pointing to his hand, "the Symbol of one of our most revered gods is burned into your hand?"
"He tried to possess me" Doom said before grinning and flexing out his left hand, "Didn't work out." His hand glowed red once more as blood began to drip off of it.
"Isha's tears... Arileth was right." A Striking Scorpion said. Doom's eyes lit up as he connected two and two together, seeing as the only one who saw the mark was the Eldar with the power glave.
"So that was the Woman from before, sounds Gaelic." Doom thought before his thinking was interrupted.
"And how...? Did this happen? Answer." Macha said, her voice was now dead serious. Although it still didn't intimidate Doom in the slightest.
"Well, I can't really say. All I know is that I really should be on my way back to the Chaos realms. That goddess of yours Isha, isn't really going to escape from the clutches of that space AID's inducing mother fucker Kaldor told me about." Doom said as he stretched his hands before yawning.
"You have clearly lost your mind." the Farseer said as a matter of factually.
Doom merely snorted before a red sack materialized in his hands.
"Here Cat-"
Right before Doom could say it, the Doors behind the council burst open revealing,
"Cegorach?" Doom asked, to which the Exarchs looked back at Doom in surprise by the fact a Human knew the true name of the Laughing god. Macha however remained staring at the intruder.
"No, you speak merely to a humble servant of his." The masked figure said before chuckling, before his body language stiffened.
It was a strangely dressed figure, wearing all assortments of Colors and weaved in Diamond's on both his trousers and trench coat which covered slim Ornate armor. He wore a sadistically smiling mask, complete with long waxed Eldar like ears on the side of the mask as well as a red brush on top of it. His weapons were a beautifully crafted power sword as well as a Shuriken pistol which he holstered on his hip.
Next to him appeared to be a female and a male on either side of him. With one of them wearing a bright assortment of Greens and yellows as well as a silver mask that seemed to be ever shifting. The other wearing the skeletal mask of death himself, complete with a pure black and edgy looking trench coat that gave him a intimidating aura.
A Guard immediately came up to Macha. "I apologize Farseer! But the Harlequins just... Appeared! I had attempted to tell them off but-"
Macha spoke, ignoring the Guard. "Troupe master. Why have you come here?" Macha asked, the Eldar simply just ignored her, walking right past her before shutting of one of the Pillars.
The Gravity immediately shut off before Doom grunted in surprise, smacking against the floor of the council room as the Wraith bone cracked.
"What is the meaning of-." A Dark Reaper attempted to speak before one of the Death Jesters growled out, standing in front of the Exarch menacingly as the both of them stared each other down. The Troupe master walked up to Doom as he attempted to get up, offering a hand to the Human like a friend would.
Doom looked up at the Harlequin before looking at his hand and hesitatingly taking it. "Uh, thanks." Doom said, possibly the only single act of kindness he received so far after arriving at Biel-Tan.
The troupe master nodded before looking at the stunned council, Macha merely glared back at them. However more out of curiosity then actual anger.
"Troupe master, It has been a while since you have last came to Biel-Tan. What brings you here?" Macha said before the Harlequin paused before speaking.
"We are strained for time Farseer, Their is something very important all of you must see." The Harlequin leader spoke.
The Eldar looked at the Marine. "If your willing to show them, Doom." Doom looked up before smiling.
"Yea sure, I was about to anyways. Here Catch!" Doom said before tossing the bag to Macha which her hand shot out and caught with ease. Macha raised an eyebrow, before slowly opening the bag and peering in.
Macha gasped in surprise, dropping the bag.
"By Isha..." Macha said.
The Troupe master laughed heartily before speaking, "Indeed it is, You didn't think she who thirsts simply relinquished all the souls of our kin now did she?" The Harlequin said before looking at Doom again. "Very fine work Doomslayer."
Doom merely shrugged, "Meh. You should be thanking your boss, he kinda saved my ass, Mister... Uh what's your name?" Doom asked before stretching his back.
The troupe leader chuckled again as if he was laughing at his own joke, "Arlecchino." before holding out his hand to which Doom gladly shook.
"The Death Jester is Hamlet, and the esdainn is Columbina." The two Harlequin escorts curtly bowed to Doom before looking back at the council.
The rest of the Eldar slowly walked towards the bag, before a impatient Warlock rolled it open with his foot.
The head rolled straight out, still looking ever perfect as Slaanesh was in life.
The rest of the Eldar council simply stood still. Unsure what to do as they looked at it.
"Does this mean that... That she who thirsts is dead?" A Swooping hawk asked, Doom face palmed before walking forward.
"Yeah no fucking shit he's dead, look!" Doom said before picking up the head. "He's literally a fucking head!" Doom said, He could hear the Troupe master laugh in the background.
"But, How?" Doom heard a voice behind him, revealing Macha. Here serious face gone and instead replaced with shock.
"I kinda ripped it off. I mean, that tends to kill people." Doom said before placing it back inside the bag.
A Warp Spider simply shook before speaking aloud, "No! It must be some sort of Illusion! Their is no way this Mon-Keigh could have possibly killed a God of chaos! It's just not possible!"
"I agree, and even if he somehow did, what will this mean for us? Does that mean we are truly free from her grasp? Thousands upon thousands of years of trying to resurrect Ynnead... All for nothing?" The Dire avenger said.
"Well I did. Whether or not you choose to accept it is fine either way. But there is a Goddess I apparently should save because it would be a massive pain in the ass to the Chaos pukes, something which I am willing to do." Doom said, Arlecchino came up beside him.
"The Human is right, The laughing god demands we assist him."
Another Eldar Councillor spoke up, "Assist him? How?"
Doom thought for moment before speaking, "Well, Can you guys get me back into the Realms of Chaos?"
A few Eldar looked visibly stunned.
"I'm just gonna take that as a no." Doom said, however the Troupe master spoke up.
"It is possible."
The Eldar council turned to look at the Harlequin, "The eye of terror." Arlecchino said. An eery silence filled the room, before it exploded into chaos.
One side debated, Why would sane person even go near the eye of terror. The other side of the argument were still considering the Validity of Doom's claim to killing their Immortal enemy, something which was thought impossible.
It was looking hopeless, until a voice boomed out. "ENOUGH!", The rest of the Eldar looked up. Macha was clearly angry as the warp transcended around her, her eyes radiating powerful blue energy which levitated her off the ground. The room was silent again before the Farseer came back down.
"Are we not Eldar!? How far have we fallen from grace?" Macha asked as she slowly walked to the right whilst addressing the crowd. "Countless millennia's we have done nothing. Instead we falter more and more." Macha said before stopping. "But, If Cegorach's claims are true... Then this Mon-... Human. Has accomplished more than all of us could even dream of in a lifetime. Kill She who thirsts." Macha said as she pointed at Doom. "And to further enforce that fact, there is no way it is a coincidence that he bears the Mark of Khaine. He must be of dire importance."
"Today is a red letter day, This marks the turning point of our people, of our species as a whole, no longer under the constant fear of Slaanesh! Will we turn our backs on the possible rescue of our beloved Godess Isha?! Or will we trust Cegorach's judgement? And help this Doomslayer reach the Eye of Terror?" Macha finished.
Doom let out a whistle, the Lady definitely knew how to say a speech. The rest of the Eldar were silent, but their Farseer spoke the truth.
"How do you propose we get there?" A warrior asked.
Doom snorted, "So lemme get this straight. The eye of terror, is some sort of evil portal-" Arlecchino whispered to Doom before letting him continue. "Evil portal... 'In Space', so just get me close enough and drop me in." Doom said as a matter of fact.
"But you don't understand, to go through it would be certain death, if your lucky that is. The worst is that you would mutate, turning into a abominable chaos spawn before being spat back out." another Eldar said.
"Uh, actually that's where your wrong. How do you think I killed that pretty pink prick who's head is right over there?" The council looked at the sack before looking back at Doom. "Hey don't give me that look, that is the dude, or chick... Fuck I don't know, but I did rip off that traps head." Doom said.
The Eldar couldn't deny it, they could sense the chaos that slowly radiated from the sack, it was incredibly powerful even when dead.
"Suppose it is possible that you can survive getting through the eye of doom with what has been revealed about you thus far, but we have no Webway portals even near that sector of space." the Warp spider Exarch asked, as he took his gaze away from the sack.
"So? You guys have ships right? Just put me in the fastest one and I'll be right there."
"But the only ship we have that can get you their in the quickest time is Eliarenath's Gift, you will need a whole crew to man her if you wanted to reach there in a about a weeks time." Another Eldar said.
"Shit." Doom thought, until he felt a hand on his shoulder, revealing Arlecchino.
"Then I shall rally some of the Harlequins including myself to join you, they hold no pride. We shall see to it that you get to the eye." the Troupe master said before looking to the other council members, "However my Harlequins will only make up as a small remainder of the force, we will need crew members and if possible, more warriors. In the meanwhile, I shall rally the Troupe. Hamlet, Columbina, come." Arlecchino said, before the group walked out of the court.
Macha was in deep thought before speaking.
"I shall be coming along with this expedition to the fringes of the eye as well." Macha said, to which the Eldar council looked surprise at.
"But Farseer Macha, we may need your guidance when-"
Macha looked at them before speaking, "I know, but right now... Isha's Freedom is more of a concern." Macha said.
"However I trust the Court of Exarchs will make the correct Decisions in my Absence?" The warriors nodded, albeit in an unsure fashion.
Macha came up beside Doom, "You will need to convince the Exarch's to lend there Aspect warriors to follow you."
"Okay. Which one should I ask first" Doom asked to which Macha answered.
"Me." A voice said.
Doom looked at the doorway before his body stiffened a tiny bit. Wearing white and green aspect armor and with a helmet in hand, stood the the Exarch who had the face of his late wife. Now seemingly fully healed from the experience as she glared at the Doomslayer.
Things got awkward really quickly before Doom spoke up, "I just wanted to say, that whole part in the beginning was all Khaine's doing... Except for the tank. That was mine." Doom confessed before scratching the back of his head.
Arileth scoffed looking at Macha, "I am only willing to follow along with my Sisters for their protection, not because he bears the mark of Khaine. The rest of the Exarchs will stay here to defend the craft world." The howling banshee said before walking past him, power glave in hand.
Doom looked at her with her back turned to him. "She is beautiful for a representative of myself." Khaine spoke in his mind.
"Great. Not only are you an Asshole, you're a pervert as well." Doom thought, he heard Khaine explode again.
"This Mon-keigh calls me the one with un-noble intentions?! You are the one staring at her rear!" Khaine said in anger. Doom merely shook his head.
"Touche" Doom thought as he watched her sit down, preparing her armor and gear for the trip to come.
"I never thought I would say this but I suppose if Khaine truly does inhibit this Mon-keighs body, then he can acquire some of my Aspect warriors." said the Exarch representing the Dire avengers.
"Thanks." Doom said, but the Exarch still glared.
"However if this is some sort of trick into getting us to give you are finest warriors before betraying them... Then I will ensure your short diminutive life will be short. Mon-Keigh." Doom frowned at the insult
"Try me." was all the Marine said, his eyes flashed with hatred for a second before subsiding. The dire avenger giving him is own look of disdain.
The rest of the Exarch's begrudgingly accepted giving at least some of their warriors to help defend the ship. Only because of proof that he hosted Khaine, that and the fact that the Harlequins supported his claim of killing Slaanesh, which they still found hard to believe.
However They still found it hard to accept the fact that a Human, was going to be the savior of their race.
Doom frowned a bit in thought before spotting his helmet helmet on a pedestal.
The Farseer raised an eye as he picked up the helmet. "One more question Doomslayer that I think we all wish to ask. What you did today was not even on the level of even the strongest of our warriors, how were you able to do so?" Macha asked out of curiosity. The rest of the warriors gathered closer as they too were curios. Doom merely paused, looking at the visor of his helmet.
"Because I am the Doomslayer, the Demon's of this so called 'chaos' are brutal and unforgiving." Doom gritted his teeth as he shook with anger.
"However... I am much, much, worse. They will have to pray for their wannabe gods to save them when I am through with them." Doom said menacingly.
No Eldar would admit it, but as soon as Doom had uttered those words. They felt a chill in their spine, perhaps he truly was as he said, a killer of a god.
"Lead on." He simply said, no longer the immature Mon-keigh she had known before but instead, something ancient and angry. Macha motioned for Arileth to follow as the three of them walked outside, ready for the journey to the eye of Terror.
Bluddflags Voidship
"Roight, so accordingz to Gork n' Mork, we gotta goez to 'ere." Bluddflag said before pointing at the crudely drawn map. "And den we uh... Go 'ere." Bluddflag said before making a squigly line. "Den we bash 'sum panzee's, where we'll find the 'Umie which Gork and Mork want us to help?" Bluddflag said, drawing a circle at the end of the squiggly line.
"No Boss! You'z gotta...! You'z gottaaaaaaa!" The Weirdboy attempted to say something before his head exploded.
"Ga! Again!? What da zog..." Bluddflag said before picking up the map, now drenched in blood.
"It was me favorite map too. Stupid git..." Bluddflag said before looking at Mister Nailbrain who was hiding behind a table alongside Spookums in case a real 'eadbang occured. "Which one was dat now?" Bluddflag asked.
"Dunno boss, I lost count already." was all the Mekboy said before taking a dirty rag and cleaning off the Ork blood that was on his arm.
Bluddflag merely grunted, "Send in da next weird boy, We'z gotta to be quick about it otherwise we might miss dis chance."
Spookums stood up hesitatingly, "On it boss, GET DA NEXT GIT IN 'ERE!"
Bluddflag huffed again before looking at the now ruined map, it would take time to figure out what to do next. But Bluddflag had a perchance for these kind of things. He was a smart Warboss and Kaptain.
After all he was in it for the possible Waaagh! and the Loot if Gork and Mork were telling him what to do,
and of course the possibility of getting hats. He liked Hats.
Cadia
"You've read the report I trust?"
"Yes... Though I must confess, I find it quite hard to believe Lord Castellan Ursarkar E. Creed." A figure asked from the shadows.
Creed took out the cigar out of his mouth before chuckling, "Creed will do fine my dear, however the stories I have been hearing from Terra." as he leaned forward on his desk, drawing out a new tactic they could use in case of another chaos incursion.
"Yes? What about them?"
"Is it true? The emperors body beyond ruin... Managed to smile?"
"... Yes, it is."
"Then the feeling is mutual, I know what I saw. You simply were not here to see it, but I saw it. After purging a small army of Slaanesh cultists. It happened."
"And what happened to these Cultists Lord Castellan?"
"I don't know how to explain it, they simply screeched like the parasites they were... But they kept yelling that emperor awful phrase even as my men were in the process of gunning down and stabbing their writhing bodies."
"Which was?"
"The Doomslayer... Does that mean anything to you Miss?" Creed asked, The figure shrugged.
"All we know is that Cult activity has gone down by an estimate of 1/4th percent according to the Administratum. All of the activity being related to the Chaos God Slaanesh."
Creed smiled, taking another puff from his cigar. "Something really bad must have happened to their parasitic beliefs, good."
"Or, there will be retaliation of some sort. Keep a watchful eye Creed. Cadia stands at the eye of terror, if this planet falls then-"
"You don't need to remind me."
The figure stepped forward into the light, wearing pure black armor with a flowing cape and a inquisitor hat.
Inquisitor Adrastia spoke once more, "Then it is time for me to depart. Good luck Lord Castellan."