Sorry this chapter took so long; I've been sidetracked with Mass Effect 3 and a Fanfic I found.
Elfish = {}
…
They had agreed that one of the imperial guard squads led by Commissar Thalis would stay at the entrance with Thorn, Ellis, and Titania; while I would take the other into the fort to rescue the civilians. Meanwhile the Astartes would 'Cleanse and Purge' the fortress and plant demo charges to level it.
The team I led wasn't happy about being put under my command, but they did what they were told and after the first fight seemed to like the idea. Unfortunately even with the healing spells I knew four of them died on the way to the prisoners.
There were more prisoners then I expected; a full three hundred and eight of varying races. As the guardsmen moved among them breaking bonds, I did what I could to ease the wounds of as many as I could.
One of the guardsmen looking around and said, "Any of you that can still fight, arm yourselves as best you can, and help defend the rest as they make their way out." At this several of the freed prisoners grabbed clubs and swords.
"Brother, how is our progress?" Fenris inquired of Shepard over the vox.
"Top floor, clear and rigged, Brother." Came Shepard's reply.
Fenris switch channels and asked, "Krag, Hanun, status?"
"Green, Brother." Krag said.
"We are just finishing up here; these heretics are more resilient then I had thought possible, for mere humans." Hanun replied.
Switching channels yet again Fenris said, "Rex, we are ready." When there was no reply Fenris tried again, "Ultramarines is there anyone there?" After a few seconds with no reply he turned to his squad's channel, "Finish things here, I must go check on the Ultramarines."
"Understood Brother." Was the unanimous reply from the remaining three Space Wolves.
Fenris then made his way back down the ground level and worked his way to the great hall. But when he arrived what he saw filled him with rage, Rex and his squad lay on the ground broken and dead with a single black robed figure standing over them.
"Ah, another one; you Astartes are amusing. But I have little time for you." The robed figure said.
"In the Emperor's name, you WILL DIE!" Fenris yelled as he pointed his axe at him.
Laughing the robed man started to form a bolt of sickly black energy in his hands. "Let us see how my taint affects you, mortal."
Fenris was about to reply when he found himself chanting a new litany, somehow he knew it was a litany of purity and protection. When he started to glow with golden light he realized he had somehow tapped into the power of the Emperor himself. "By HIS will, you shall die." Fenris yelled as he charged.
To the Warlocks dismay when he launched his bolt of corruptive energies they were negated by the powers of the Emperors Light. But the Fenris' dismay the warlock changed focus at this, instead of trying to hit him the warlock poured his corruptive energies into the body of Rex.
Rex began to twitch and rise, his armor warped, changed it became a dull grey and started to seep out black tar. His power sword now crackled with black energy and the holy symbols of all his blessed war gear were slowly twisted and destroyed.
"Kill him my puppet, I must see to more pressing matters." The heretic said as he moved towards a hallway in the back of the great hall.
"Your foul powers will not keep me, Heretic you shall die." Fenris roared as he charged.
What he saw filled him with rage, this… warlock would pay in blood for the death of his brothers. He slowly moved into an alcove and waited. The heretic was headed his way.
In his younger days he was a scout of unparalleled skill, when he became a full fledged Battle-Brother of the Ultramarines he did not lose his skill for stealth and was the most effective of his brothers, when he died and was reborn as a Brother-Dreadnaught he had initially feared he would no longer be able to utilize it.
The warlock walked past him. With a grin none could see, he reached out and crushed the filthy scum with his power fist. It had shocked the entire chapter that even in death he had lost none of his skill, and sent his enemies running in terror. He was Lucivus, the Ghost of Ultramar.
Fenris had managed to score a viscous blow to this THING's head but instead of dying it just bled more black tar. He had taken a few nicks, but was holding his own quite well; when Lucivus burst through the doorway several sizes to small for him, tossing the warlock's broken corpse to the side and charging the corrupted Astartes.
Fenris quickly rolled out of the way just barley in time to avoid the avalanche that was Lucivus. He watched as Lucivus utterly destroyed Rex, granting him the final rest he deserved.
'Help me…' It was soft quite but there, 'Quickly before he can use my powers to regenerate, free me.' Somehow he knew were to go.
After a moment's prayer for guidance, Fenris rushed off to find who was speaking to him. He ran down hallway after hallway, around corner after corner. He finally came to a door and found it barred. Instead of trying to break down the door he opted to break through the wall next to the door.
Inside the room he found a beaten woman nailed to the wall. He quickly pulled the nails out and for some reason placed them in a pouch. He then reached down and helped the woman to her feet, steadying her as he began to lead her out. In the hallway she stopped and he noticed that her wounds had healed.
Turning to him she said, "For your aid I reward you with this boon of my power. Know that you have saved the goddess of love and fertility." There was a flash of golden warmth and she was gone.
He turned his vox to all channels and said, "Report."
"Done and Clear." Came Nathanial over the vox.
"Good, I shall be out shortly assist with the civilians and get them to a safe distance." Fenris said as he walked to entrance.
We had managed to get half of the civilians to safety by the time the Astartes were done, then Nathanial made his way over to me and asked. "We have been directed to aid in the evacuation. How may we assist?"
After a second's pause I said, "Have your brothers help move those too injured, to easily move; Echo, do the same. Both of you do what you can to help them." I said as I collapsed near those we had already got out. "I've used too much power."
'As you command, lord.' Echo rumbled as he hurried off to give orders to his people.
Tilting his head Nathanial said, "It will be done."
Ellis came over to me and sat down next to me and asked, "What's wrong?"
Sighing I said, "Nothing… I just used too much of a power my body can't yet endure in large quantities."
"What do you mean?" She asked quizzically.
Shaking my head I said, "I was reborn roughly a hundred years ago so my body is still transitioning into what it should be, it's a pain but I've gotten used to it."
To this she asked, "Reborn? You mean like reincarnation?"
"To put it simply yes, but in point of fact it's far more complicated." I said as I pulled out a power bar.
By the time he got to the entrance to the fort the last of the prisoners were being helped out, and Lucivus had moved the bodies of his brothers out of the fort. It saddened him to see so many of the Emperors finest dead, but they were now at his side. As he approached KenRu, Titania came running up to him and wrapped her arms around one of his legs.
Bending down and picking her up he called over to KenRu, "So, where to now?"
KenRu looked thoughtful for a moment then said, "Well, you already know the objective but I'd have to say… Hmmm, the 'Dale Lands'; half way to any were."
"I see, and my fallen brethren?" Fenris asked as he looked over at the dead Ultramarines.
"Unfortunately, I did not get to their bodies in time to resurrect them. But I can insure they are given a proper burial if we take them with us, and I don't expect any heavy fighting from here on out. But stay on guard, for the enemy is legion." His last words gained him nodes of approval from several of the Astartes.
"How long will it take to get there?" Fenris asked as he surveyed those who where now under his command.
"Two days of swift travel, and it must be swift we travel through the 'Blood Haunt Lands'; A barren dessert infested with undead abominations." He said as he stood.
"What of the civilians?" the Commissar asked from a few feet away.
"It's not far from here, to Yokorii they will make there way there on there own, it's safe enough." KenRu said as he walked away.
The Xeno, this KenRu was right it these 'Blood Haunt Lands' were a horrible place. Alexander thought to himself. In there trek through this place they had come across twelve zombies, three undead dogs, and mysteriously lost one of their own to the darkness of the night.
"Commissar, Commissar, is that a bird?" one of the guardsmen called as he pointed up at something.
After a moment of intently staring at it the Commissar said, "Shoot it down, we've got dinner."
Before the guardsman could take the shot he was stopped by one of the Terra-Unas Xenos rumbling, 'I wouldn't if I were you, all you would do is piss it off.'
Annoyed the Commissar said, "What would you know, Xeno. One shot from a las weapon can kill a man."
This got a deep rumbling from several others of the Xenos and the reply of, 'My cannon can kill ten men in a single shot, human; and I would still not provoke that beast. It is a… in your language, a Rage Fang, and is no bird." After a couple of seconds starring up at it the Commissar waved for the guardsman to stand down.
After a few more minutes a forest came into view, it was a welcome sight. But Lucivus could see the ambush waiting for them.
"Brother-Commander, greenskins in the forest ahead." Lucivus Said into his vox.
"Understood Brother." Fenris replied then over all vox channels, "Greenskins sighted ahead prepare for combat."
As Lucivus was about to start the Litany of Steel KenRu cut in over the vox net, "Ah, so that's how you communicate? Primitive… but efficient enough. I will take care of them." When Lucivus casually looked to were KenRu was last he found he was just gone, and as they approached the ambush sight the Ork signatures started to disappear.
When they did finally enter the forest only one Ork jumped into the middle of the road but before he could say anything a masked shadow appeared out of on were and took its head off. Then casually walked over to them; taking off its mask to show it was KenRu. Curious how was he able to remove all traces of himself?
Using that power set had drained me more then I thought it would. I would have to sleep tonight. Shaking my head I said, "It's about two hours tell we get to 'Tower Keep Dale' I would like to reach it in one." Nodding Fenris looked over to Commissar Thalis who nodded once in agreement.
Pulling out his Bolt Pistol the good Commissar yelled, "OK ladies, we've got a nice jog in store for you… WELL WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, AN INVITATION? GET MOVING!"
This got a chuckle from Fenris that died when he looked over to Titania. After a seconds hesitation he scooped her up in his arms and started running. Everyone else fell in step.
We reached 'Tower Keep Dale' in early evening, and we were able to gain entrance with little problem. I led them to another of my warehouses turned mansion/workshop and got everyone situated for the night.
I awoke that morning nice and refreshed; it was nice to sleep on a bed again. As I looked around I found a certain little Eldar found her way into my bed through my locked door… no through my unlocked window. I quietly got out of bed and dress.
To my surprise the hallway was quite lively, if quiet. The smell of cooking food wafted up to me from the stairwell at the other end of the hallway. As I made my way toward the smell I saw Titania shamble out of the room I had given to Ellis and her to use.
Catching sight of me she said, "{Morning; lord.}" With a slight nod I returned her greeting and we headed down for food.
When we reached the kitchen it was to my great surprise that I found… what could only be an Astartes out of armor wearing an apron and cooking (o.0). As I looked around I saw several others including Fenris. Sitting down at the table I grabbed some bacon and eggs.
One of the Guardsmen looked over at me thoughtfully and asked, "So… Xeno boss man; Umm, how old is that little xe… I mean how old is Titania?"
"{Hmmm, the human asks a good question, 'How old are you?'}" I asked with a sly smirk.
"{I'm twenty three.}" She said with a sheepish grin.
Keeping a strait face nearly killed me but I managed to do it just long enough, "She's twenty three."
After the guardsman managed to get his jaw off the ground he stuttered out, "Y-You're joking right? Right… Grox Crap… you're serious."
Nodding I replied with, "More or less, she will physically be about eighteen-ish when she reaches thirty or so maybe forty." Turning to Titania I said, "{We'll need to train you to fight… and speak common (Low gothic to Imperials).}"
"{Okay…}" She said in between bite of food.
Somewhere in the distance she heard the sound of a door being silently closed, but for some reason she couldn't place it. Looking around she found she was in a field of white flowers next to a lake.
"{OK little one, is there any form of combat you wish to learn? Swordsmanship, or maybe the Great Arcanum's of our kind?}" I asked Titania as she looked around my training hall.
It was nothing special, all it was, was a large room with a polished wood floor and on every wall several of every kind of weapon, known to me; a considerable arsenal.
"{I want to be like my mom.}" She said as her face turned red.
"{What did your mother do?}" I asked skeptically.
"{Moms… Moms a… Phantom.}" She said this like she had been caught red handed doing something she shouldn't have, and I knew why. Titania wasn't just some Elvah, she had to be ether Ru'Elvahn, or Ko'Elvahn.
"{Which are you Ru (Rune) or Ko (Time)?}" I asked as I moved over to a weapon rack.
Suddenly afraid she asked, "{How… How did you know?}"
Sighing I said, "{Because I am of the Ru.}" as I took off my trench coat and pulled up my right shirt sleeve to show the mark of the Ru'Cas (Rune Primal; see avatar on my profile) on my bicep.
This made Titania's eyes go wide, "{But… but mom said you were all dead.}"
"{She's mostly right, not many remain and most of the ones that do aren't what we were. They are shells consumed by the need for revenge; even I can barely be called Ru'Elvahn anymore.}" I said as I put my trench coat back on.
"{I'm Ko'Gal'Elvahn. (half time elf, half wind elf)}" She whispered.
"{I see… let us begin.}" I said as I tossed her a short sword. She may not be a full blood time elf but with practice she could learn to use power of her heritage quite well.
As Fenris stood in the door way he watched Titania train with KenRu. It amazed him how good of a teacher KenRu was, just standing there watching he had already picketed up half a dozen moves.
Standing there he also started to pick up details about Titania he hadn't cared to pay attention to before. She was small only about 3'5", with a petite frame, she had pale golden white hair that came down to her knees, surprisingly well honed muscles, but what really caught and held his attention where her eyes.
Her eye's where sharp, insightful, inquisitive, and always looking for openings and advantages; they were a glowing deep purple that Fenris found oddly mesmerizing and alluring.
It was nice here almost paradise, it was calm and serene. But eventually she began to awake. It was a slow thing, parts of her perception began to shift, fade, and change. The field of flowers slowly became a room, the lake disappeared, and the smell of flowers became the smell of food.
When she opened her eyes she found KenRu was gone, for some reason she couldn't place this made her a little sad. As she got up out of bed she looked around for some clothes, but when she didn't find hers she moved over to a dresser. When she opened the first drawer she found it was full of blades, knives, and a couple of guns. The next drawer had various different knickknacks, and a few books. The next one had a few shirts in it, one was big enough for her to use as a night shirt, so she took it and put it on so she wouldn't have to go through the hallway naked… to be honest she wasn't sure how she had gotten her last night.
When Ellis left KenRu's room she was glad to see the hallway was empty, hurrying over to her room she slipped in just as she heard talking coming up the stairs. Now that she was in her room, she let out a sigh of relief and quickly put on her clothes to find that they were clean. This puzzled her; she had been wearing the same outfit for the last week or so and in all that time the white dress had never gotten dirty. Realizing this she when over to the rooms desk and grabbed an ink well. She then dumped it on her dress only to watch in amazement as it faded away. Shaking her head at this new development she headed down stairs to where the smell of food was coming from.
The kitchen was still a bustle with Astartes and Guardsmen. Sitting down at the table she served herself and began to eat in silence, her silence didn't last past her first mouth.
"Hey, Eldar… want some tea or maybe some of this… coffee?" Asked the… Astartes in an… Apron?
After managing to suppress her mirth at this sight she said, "I'll take some Herbal Tea… Astartes."
After a mug of hot tea was presented to her Laban asked, "So… Xeno, what craftworld do you hail from?"
After staring across the table at him for a few seconds she decided it would be okay to tell him, it wasn't like her former craftworld had made any real enemies. "I hail from, Yme-Loc. Though there are few of us left anymore."
Frowning Nathanial asked, "Didn't your craftworld get destroyed and a fight against the forces of chaos?"
After a couple of bites of food she replied, "Almost, but thanks to the aid of an Imperial Battle group we had saved a week before the battle we were able to slip through a webway, although we took considerable casualties."
After teaching Titania a few dozen combat routines for her chosen weapon, a Wych Blade (yeah it's a witch blade… kind of) she had been given for her twenty third birthday. To my surprise it was a high quality one that was made specifically for her and would grow and evolve with her, mirroring her soul. It was a long thin blade that protruded from her right forearm and even her left when she wanted it to. The Wych Blade was quite a rare version being a pure one that melded with the wielder instead of the more common but still rare as all hell, type that was more of armor and weapon rolled into one with a dash of madness and insanity. Well anyways I took her to the library and gave her a few books to read saying, "These should help you learn common, if you have any problems ask me or Thorn… Nathanial might also be able to help you." I then wandered off to find the leader of the Gaurdsmen.
The good Commissar was drinking a cup of coffee at the front door watching the towns people move about there daily life.
"Hey." He said as I walked up.
"Hey, you can allow your men to move about the city as long as they don't cause a seen." I told him.
Looking at me he asked, "So, basically keep them in check and they can go to a tavern."
"Yeah, that about sums it up; Oh, and here's pay for the fortress." I said as I handed him a rather large bag of gold. I then headed up to my room to meditate and maybe get some more sleep.
As Nathanial wandered around town he found it quite refreshing to not have to maintain a constant vigil on his wards. Thanks to the Daemon… or 'devil' as KenRu had called it he had learned how to construct self maintaining wards that only needed to be peripherally monitored, and best of all where far stronger then anything he could have out up otherwise.
This 'Magic' has amused him and slightly intrigued him, but now that he had learned more about it he found he much preferred it. It did have its disadvantages, such as the fact that probing a mind with magic was a far more prolonged endeavor and the fact that sending telepathic messages was a bother; but the offensive and defensive powers were amazing. With just the basic spells he could be far more effective on the battle field and the few disadvantages he could make up for by using his well honed psyker talents. It also didn't hurt that all his training to hone his will still played a huge role with these new powers.
Nathanial broke from his revere when he realized he was no longer in town. As he looked around he found he was in a clearing near the city but what really struck him was the crystal tower in the center of it. He found he could see a door as if it was cloaked with a weak illusion.
Walking up to the door he found that it was opened. Readying himself he cautiously entered, it was a large room with a pedestal in the middle of it. Upon closer inspection he found it was a guest book. Opening it to a random page he found a name he recognized; Leman Russ.
"AH, you have finally come." Came a voice from the back of the room.
Looking up from the book Nathanial saw a man that was tall and willowy, wearing a pair of brown pants white shirt with an Azure blue great cloak, and on top of all of this he was wearing a pointed wizards hat that had it's point bent.
"Who are you?" Nathanial demanded as he reached for his sword.
"I am Arch-Magus Azure Rodwel, Master of the Crystal Tower; and I have been expecting you for sometime now." The man… this Rodwel said with a flourishing bow.
Warily he asked, "Why where you expecting me?"
Azure stood there pensive for a moment before he said, "A man named Leman Russ came to me some time ago. He requested that I give something to you when you arrived." Walking over to Nathanial, Rodwel pulled out a folded piece of parchment and handed it to him.
Unfolding the parchment, Nathanial found that it was a Warrant of Trade; but unlike other Warrants of Trade this one gave… gave… the owner the rights and privileges of a High Lord of Terra, and was signed by the Emperor and his loyal primarchs.
Looking up at Rodwel he heard him say, "Oh, and there's a message that goes with it. 'Deliver it to the Xeno leading you home.'" With that Rodwel left him standing there to contemplate what had just happened.
After much thought and inner conflict between his loyalties to the Emperor and his inborn hatred for Xenos; he would not disobey the Emperor no matter his distaste it left in his mouth.
As I sat there meditating, I sensed the door open, then close. I felt someone walk over to me… it was female… Elvahn… no Eldar.
As Ellis sat down next to me on the bed I eased my way out of the meditative trance I was in, regaining my hearing, my since of touch, since of smell, and finally my since of sight.
"Did you need something?" I asked.
With a startled yelp she replied, "N-nothing; I was just wondering what you were doing."
"Meditating." I said simply.
With a puzzled look Ellis asked, "What where you trying to see?"
After a moment of thoughtful silence I cryptically replied, "I seek the serenity of the soul."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"The surest way to power is self control; the fastest way to power is corruption. I strive for self control in all things." I said as I got up and went over to a jug of water.
As I took a drink of water she asked, "Then can you teach me?" This caught me a little off guard but for some reason I kind of expected it.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt." I said as I put me glass down.
For the next two hours I taught her how to meditate on self, soul, control, and power. She learned fast and understood surprisingly well.
As Nathanial walked up the stairs he felt oddly… at peace with what the Emperor willed him to do. On his way back through the town he couldn't stop contemplating that which was set upon him, and in this contemplation he found that this task was indeed the will of the Emperor. He couldn't explain it but for some reason he felt it, to his very soul. He proceeded to the door at the end of the hallway, and knocked.
In a serene and other worldly voice KenRu answered, "Yes?"
Not giving that oddity a second thought Nathanial replied, "I have a message for you… Lord."
After what he assumed was a second of shocked silence KenRu replied, "I see… come in." For some reason he couldn't understand he hesitated, then after reaffirming his purpose opened the door.
Nathanial was hit by a wall of residual power. At first he feared Daemons but then realized it was pure; the power sang of golden prosperity and hope but was thick and dark, as if born from the darkest pits, and shining like the brightest sun.
After this realization he finely, truly understood why the Emperor wanted this Xen… no; this Elf to have the Warrant of Trade.
"What is this message you have for me of good, sir?" KenRu asked in a tone that could only be called playful.
Nathanial kneeled presenting the Warrant of Trade and said, "The Primarch Leman Russ has bid me to give you this token of the Emperor's will."
I found this turn of events very… interesting to say the least. How did his Emperor, know I would get it? It wasn't like things like this hadn't happened before but… well I had never been bound by fates decree and wherever I went fates would change.
Taking the Warrant of Trade I said, "I accept this token, and hope I may repay the trust given to me in kind." As I read the Warrant loose ideas I had, started to come together as a plan.
When I was done reading the Warrant I motioned for Nathanial to sit and asked, "Nathanial, I wish to know of your people. I wish to hear of the Imperium Of Man as well as the other factions." With a nod, Nathanial began.
This town was repulsing and fascinating all at once. Cog could barley comprehend the underlining principals of some of the technology, where as others were little more then clockwork. Then there was magic. Oh, Magic so fascinating somehow it broke every law of physics and yet at the same time was the sole reason they existed.
He didn't know much about the warp but he knew enough to tell the magic was completely different. Where the Warp twisted and violated the materium, Magic kept it together and made it function.
He had been to twelve different stores and read and cataloged every book in them in just less then half a day. But the accomplishment that brought him true pride was the fact that he already mastered all the basic cantrips of the Arcane Arts. This is what led to him out here in the forest wandering around, unlike his fellow Tech-Priests he found something calming about being surrounded by nature, but what truly set him apart was the fact that he kept his emotions. It was Cog's belief that to give up ones emotions was to forsake their humanity.
As Cog wandered deeper into the woods he found some ruins. Upon closer inspection he noticed that the 'ruins' was an abandoned workshop. He slowly approached it and peered inside. The inside of the building was dusty but surprisingly still intact. When he found the door he slowly opened it and stepped inside.
The inside of the workshop was a mess, papers littered everywhere pieces of some machine… maybe spare parts? As he moved about the room gathering up papers and looked them over he found some schematics and a journal; after reading the journal he quickly put it and all the material he could get together and headed back.
Magos Errant Cog of the Adeptus Mechnicus had found the JACKED.
That night it was decided that they would tarry in the Dale lands no longer. The next day was spend collecting supplies, ammo, and extra weapons. During this time Fenris talked with the rest of the Astartes about what they what they would do once they returned to the Imperium. After much argument Nathanial told them about the Warrant which led to more arguing but finely they came to the only conclusion there faith would allow. The Xeno was favored by the Emperor, they would protect him, and it was there DUTY.