Leman Russ groggily opened his eyes and held up his hand as his vision adjusted to the light. He felt bandages covering his body, which was beset by a soreness so intense it could only be described as petrifying. With great effort, he lifted his torso off of the bed and gripped his aching head. The first thing he saw clearly was a smiling girl… with large horns. For a moment Leman thought he had gone mad, before remembering where he was and what all had happened to him since arriving in this place.
To think of all these strange and bizarre things I have come to accept as normal… I doubt many in the materium will believe me. He thought.
"Good morning, Mister Russ!" Admu said.
"Aye…" Russ said weakly. "What happened?"
"Oh, it was incredible! You dashed and slashed around the arena like a… well, like a wolf!" Admu said, making wild movements with her arms in an attempt to imitate the warriors' duel. "I have never seen anyone move like that. Uncle Khorne didn't stand a chance!"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Khorne said, standing in the doorway with his helmet in his arm. Leman felt his heart rate increase, before noticing the disarmingly placid look upon the god's face. His formerly sharp and aggressive features somehow seemed softer and warmer. "It was an evenly matched fight, not even the stars could have predicted the outcome. A pure battle of spirit and will."
"That is all good and well…" Leman said, rising from the bed and emitting a groan of pain. "...but what in the Allfather's name happened to me? How long have I been here in this bed?"
"6 months." Khorne said. Leman's eyes shot open.
"By the blighted winds of Morkai…" Leman whispered, placing his hand on his forehead.
"You're lucky you woke up." A surgeon from Arcadia said, walking into the room holding medicinal vials in 3 of his 6 hands. The Slaaneshi servant had the characteristic porcelain complexion of his kind and a plume of violet hair parted to one side so as to conceal half of his face. Unlike the other acolytes of the Pleasure Prince, this one seemed to carry himself with a much more self-serious, though no less dramatic, demeanor. "We practically had to peel you out of that molten heap of armor like preserves from a metal can. Took several days to make sure you were even in one piece." he said, mixing the fluorescent fluids into a drinking vessel. Admu gave a squeamish look, remembering the dire state of Leman when she had first seen him. Khorne shot a venomous look towards the callous surgeon, who looked away nervously, deciding wisely to not go into more detail. "Here, drink this." he said, pouring the concoction into Leman's mouth before he could protest. "That should take care of the fatigue you're feeling. Other than that, you're healthy as a Nurglite ox." he said, sauntering out of the room.
"Tastes like grox manure…" Leman said, between bouts of hacking and gagging. He raised his hands, opening and closing his fists, then stretching his back and shoulders.
Seems to have worked, at least.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're alright Mister Russ!" Admu said, clasping her hands together.
"So, I take it that my trial is complete?" Leman said, turning to Khorne.
"Indeed… and you surpassed my expectations valiantly." Khorne said. "By my measure, you are judged worthy a thousand times over." He bowed his head as a show of respect to the primarch. "It is no wonder my niece is so fond of an honorable champion such as yourself." Admu blushed. "If she intends to court you, I will have no objections. Of course, her father Nurgle will have to bestow the blessing himself. I am sure that your progeny would establish a mighty dynasty."
Admu's eyes were as wide as dinner plates, and her face was so flushed she could have been mistaken for a bloodthirster. Leman simply bore a bewildered expression, as if he had just seen his father transform into a giant orange lizard.
"U-u-u-uncle!" Admu stammered.
"Is something the matter? I was under the impression that you-" Khorne was cut off by his niece practically tackling him, shoving him into the next room followed by the door slamming shut. Through the walls Leman could hear Admu's muffled rage and what sounded like large objects being tossed around.
While Khorne attempted to defend himself from his incensed niece in the next room, Leman's mind wandered to what little he remembered of the fight before falling unconscious. He could recall bits and pieces, like fragments of a dream, but nothing concrete. All he could remember for certain was a sense of overwhelming pride and reassurance, and the presence of the wolf-like spirit guiding him through the vision. The next time he encountered this being, he would have some questions for it to answer. As useful as its aid had been, he did not like relying on something so mysterious and unknown. Perhaps his father's mistrust of gods and spirits had finally rubbed off on him.
After a few days, Leman recovered to full strength. He donned the traveling clothes he had arrived in, and was met with Khorne and Admu standing outside of his room. Admu carried on her back a thick fur coat, giving Leman an idea of what their destination would be like.
"You will be traveling to Tzeentch's domain in the north for your final trial. His monastery lies in the great, snow-capped peaks of Albalus Lysagora, a frigid mountain range in the far north. The lofty peaks of those mountains are close to the veil and the winds of the warp are strong at that elevation, so I advise caution. Your strength is mighty, but Tzeentch's realm is that of the mind and soul; you must guard your thoughts and spirits well." Khorne said. "Your weapons and armor were extensively damaged during our battle and will take some time to repair. Tzeentch has informed me that you will not require them for your last trial, so I will ensure they are ready when you return." he said. "Oh, and do keep an eye on Admu, she-." Admu jabbed him in the side with her elbow, evidently not having completely forgiven her uncle, leaving a small dent in his armor. Khorne responded with a surprised grunt.
"Thank you, uncle." she said, with a grimacing smile. "Will you be needing a coat, mister Russ?"
"No need, lass. I've braved the long winter nights of Fenris in less than this." he said, gesturing to his traveling clothes. "I'll be fine."
"Wonderful! I've already got everything packed. Papa never let me hike all the way up the mountains at home, this will be so much more exciting!" she said, radiating a contagious joy.
The two walked out of Khorne's fortress and were met by throngs of warriors gathered to see the champion off. They cheered at the sight of Leman Russ; their weapons raised in the air.
Perhaps one day I may return to Fenris and be greeted by my sons like this. Leman thought. No, not perhaps. I am sure of it.
Musashi, Grizhka, and Ulthanesh stood at the forefront of the crowd. Leman approached Musashi first, and they shook hands.
"I must admit, I did not think it was possible…" Musashi said "for a mortal to fell Khorne himself. Perhaps now humans might be a bit more respected around here." he said with a chuckle.
"I would not discount yourself, warrior. There are some surviving tales of the heroes of ancient Terra and fighting you has proven those tales to be no mere legend. Be proud! You too are a testament to the strength of mankind." Leman said.
"You honor me, Leman Russ." Musashi said with a bow. Leman. turned to Grizhka, who had a stone-faced expression. Leman's eyes narrowed, and the two glared at one another. Then, Grizhka broke out into bellowing laughter, slapping Leman on the shoulder and nearly knocking him over.
"That was some performance, wolf-boy! I can scarcely believe it, besting two of the strongest warriors in history and then knocking the big man himself flat on his behind! You really have some fight in you, young pup." She said.
"Well, beating you was not an easy task." Leman said with a smirk. "I don't believe I've ever been concussed before, especially not by an overgrown ork." Grizhka laughed even harder.
"Put it here, champion. The galaxy shall tremble upon your return." Grizhka said, holding out her hand. Leman somewhat reluctantly reached out, before Grizhka spat on her palm and grasped a shocked Leman's hand before he could pull away. After she let go, Leman rubbed his palm with his shirt bearing an expression of repugnance. After ensuring his hand was at least somewhat clean, he turned to Ulthanesh who gently grasped his hand with both of hers (while Admu watched closely from afar with a suspicious look).
"Your task is nearly complete, warrior. I pray that you will succeed." she said.
"What do you know of my task?" Leman said.
"I know that you fight for the survival of your people, and the very galaxy itself." she said. "Our races have not had a… pleasant history. Yet somehow, I feel as though our destinies are bound by fate." Leman's brow furrowed. "All that I ask is that you do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Do not let rage and hatred destroy that which you love. Without a heart to guide it, the galaxy will eventually become as cold and lifeless as the one who rules it." She placed something in his hand and closed it. "I wish you a blessed journey, Leman Russ." Leman opened his hands, and with a puzzled look held up a medallion in the shape of a scorpion.
"Come on mister Russ, let's go see uncle Tzeentch! I can't wait to see the mountains up close, it's like that mountain you told me about from your world, uh… Azar-high?" Admu said.
"Asaheim." Leman said. "And it is a good idea to be on our way as soon as possible. The sooner I can pass the final trial, the better."
And so, the two departed to great fanfare, Khorne watching from high above in his fortress with a content smile.
The rolling foothills of the Lysagoran mountains began to rise just to the north of the base of Khorne's Plateau, and a dry breeze drifted down from the cold heights beyond. The dusty plains and deserts gave way to conifers and ferns. It was reminiscent of Nurgle's forest but not quite as lush or welcoming. It was as if something in the air prohibited certain things from living here, not just the falling temperature. As the forest deepened the air became moist and cool, with heavy clouds of fog and mist blanketing their surroundings. Admu drew closer to Leman, her breaths visible in the chilly air.
"This place feels… strange" she said.
"I feel it too." Leman said. "It reminds me of being on a ship with a faulty gellar field generator, though with a lot less screaming voices and agony." Admu shuddered a bit at his description, not wanting to inquire further.
That is strange… this place is probably the closest I've felt to being back in the warp since arriving here. Yet the overwhelming malevolence of Chaos seems absent, instead it feels like a kind of background noise. Is this what the Sea of Souls is like without the influence of the Chaos Gods?
Leman remained cautious, as he kept his eyes on what appeared to be shifting shapes and figures within the mist, though whenever approached they would disappear along with the fog itself. Winds whistled between the branches and ferns creating faint noises like whispers, just quiet enough to be indiscernible even to Leman's enhanced senses.
"We should keep moving until we're above the cloud layer, that way we can at least see our surroundings." he said.
Given how the warp tends to defy common sense, I hope there is a cloud layer here… he thought.
As they continued, patches of snow began to appear around the bases of the large conifers and hoarfrost gathered on the deep green pines of the trees above. The icy fog swirled and churned, creating dancing shapes which could fool the eye into seeing things that weren't there - or perhaps not seeing things that were there. Bereft of his weapons and armor, Leman felt vulnerable, and the assurances of this realm's "Tzeentch" gave him no comfort.
Out of all the abominable chaos gods, Tzeentch was likely the one he hated most. His servants eschewed honorable combat in favor of schemes and manipulation, rarely engaging in combat themselves and, whenever forced to do so, using cowardly magic to smite their foes from afar. Despite the beings of this world having proven his suspicions incorrect several times now, he was not particularly enthused for whatever 'challenge' this next and final trial had in store for him.
The winds became stronger as they ascended, and the fog became chokingly thick, almost like an icy smoke with a metallic tang. Leman heard animal calls in the distance, causing the hairs on his neck to stand up. They were deep and ethereal, more akin to ghostly wails than any living animal. Flashes of blue light danced deep within the fog, as Leman reached for a weapon which was not there.
Damn it all if the end of my journey comes from the deception of that trickster bastard Tzeentch… Leman thought.
A sudden rush of wind blew through the trees from behind the duo, followed by a bellowing wail. An immense shadow appeared in the mist, which was all the signal Leman needed to grab Admu's arm and begin sprinting up the mountain. From behind them he could hear branches snapping and falling to the ground, accompanied by more ghostly cries. They weaved through the pines and underbrush, before finally emerging from the fog-consumed forest and stumbling on the sparse, rocky mountainside. The fog formed a flat sea which spread out behind them, only the tops of conifer trees poking through occasionally. They turned around, as the eerie calls from within the mist grew deafening. The source of the sound revealed itself, a glowing shape rising to the surface of the cloud layer before bursting forth into the air. It was an immense creature, with transparent skin like glass or crystal, its internal organs lit up in a fantastic display of multicolored lights. It was reminiscent of the great sea creatures which the mighty krakens of Fenris would do battle with: "hvaluri" or, as some ancient Terran texts described, "whales". The creature spread its flippers as it rose above the clouds, making a low rumbling which reverberated through Leman and Admu. It rose into the air as if suspended in water, lazily flapping its tail and soaring just above the cloud layer. It was followed by more whale-like creatures, each synchronizing their haunting calls like an unfathomable song. The sky above the clouds was a dazzling light show, with ribbons of green and blue light flowing through the air as if pushed and pulled by some invisible current. There were stars here, but they were not fixed; they moved with the currents as well, swirling in impossible patterns with galaxies forming and dissolving like transient eddies on the surface of a great river. Amongst the auroras and stars a myriad of equally mystifying creatures swam across the night sky. Aside from the fog whales, what appeared to be shooting stars dashed across the sky before then abruptly changing course and swirling around the whales like schools of fish. Great flattened serpents drifted lazily along unseen currents, their bodies completely black but lined with countless tiny red and magenta lights which made them visible. Glowing, multicolored jellyfish the size of starships undulated slowly in the air, their tentacles like the trails of comets. Creatures of all shapes, sizes, and colors whirled overhead in a chaotic yet graceful kaleidoscopic ballet.
"It's… beautiful." Admu said, breathlessly. Leman silently agreed.
He had seen all kinds of impossible sights during his years inside the hellish realms of chaos, but none could have ever been described as truly 'beautiful'. In the back of his mind, he recalled a long-forgotten memory, half-remembered from when he was but a child. Alone on an unforgiving world, freezing waters, ice, and blistering winds all around him, he huddled to conserve his warmth beneath the gray-black storm clouds. Then, the clouds parted, and the winds ceased. He saw the night sky for the first time, millions upon millions of tiny lights accompanied by auroras like great strokes of paint upon a black canvas. Leman breathed in the cold air and felt a faint warmth in his chest.
Admu slowly turned around, drinking in the magnificent display overhead, then gasping.
"Mister Russ, look!" she said, pointing behind him. Leman turned and beheld the summit of the mountain.
The ice-and-snow-covered rocks which formed the mountains seemed to flow upward, bent and folded at impossible angles as if reaching for the sky itself. Nestled within and above the crags and peaks was a colossal monastery, made of some arcane amalgam of marble and granite. Streaks of gold, silver, bronze, and countless other precious alloys were embedded within the rock, either naturally or by some unfathomable sorcery. Great spires, steeples, and minarets rose majestically above the walls, their metallic peaks shining in the ethereal light. All around the monastery and the mountain peaks buttressing flowed currents of blue-green energy, snaking from the lower parts of the mountains, between the towers and up into the sky. The light-currents flowed along a great silvery-white chain which rose from the mighty central spire of the fortress, towering above before reaching the shining beacon which seemed to draw everything upon the mountain towards it: a moon, bathing the summit in a pale and ghostly blue light. It loomed so large overhead and hung so low to the surface that Leman felt as though he might trip and fall straight onto its surface high above. Fragments of the mountain below floated between the ground and the satellite above, suspended by the combined gravity. The white-silver chain hung from its southern pole, tethering it to the monastery below.
It was a lot to take in. It was more than a dream, it surpassed anything Leman could have ever imagined in both wonder and mystery. Admu's eyes glimmered in the starlight, wide and bewildered by the magnificent sights before them. The two walked slowly up a mountain path, passing by hoarfrost shrubs with crystal-blue flower buds and boulders coated in glowing teal lichen. Leman remained lucid yet was still awestruck by his surroundings, so much that even he let his guard down at least a little. The night sky had always held a somewhat hostile connotation in the primarch's mind, an endless expanse of darkness which held countless, untold threats to humanity. Yet here, he felt no such hostility. The sea of souls flowed through and around him without resistance, leaving him with an unshakeable sense of tranquility.
The remaining walk up the mountainside was rather short, yet it felt as though it lasted a lifetime as the two imbibed their phantasmagorical surroundings. It was only halfway up that Leman realized he was still holding Admu's hand, which he abruptly let go and curtly apologized. Admu simply smiled and blushed imperceptibly. Unfortunately, the two eventually found themselves at the end of their trek: A large metallic door carved into the mountainside with piles of snow gathered on each side. Leman reached out to knock, before being interrupted by the sound of electronic static.
"Ahem, testing…" a squawkish voice spoke, followed by the sound of tapping upon a microphone. "Good, good, everything should be working properly…" Leman could hear a stack of papers being shuffled. "Greetings, challenger, to my humble abode… er, fortress… monastery… the great Hara Berezaiti!" Leman looked at Admu with a slightly incredulous expression, who offered a simple shrug in return.
"If you have made it this far, then that means you have passed the trials of Nurgle, Slaanesh, and Khorne, leaving only one trial remaining… the trial of I, Tzeentch! Lord of Sorcery and Knowledge, Archiver of the Past, Present, and Future! The All-Knowing! The All-Hearing! And the All-Seeing!" The voice proclaimed.
"All-knowing?" Leman said. "Then does that mean you kno-"
"Ah ah ah, no questions just yet. Pass my trial and you may ask me any questions you like. Also, this is a pre-recorded message, so I could not answer your questions even if I wanted to!"
"If these messages are pre-recorded then how can y-"
"I have been waiting for this day for eons! Millennia spent planning for this very day, which would be the day you are hearing this recording!" Leman sighed. "Now, just enter this elevator and it will deliver you to the location of your trials. I wish you luck, challenger! Tzeentch, signing off." Despite this, the recording continued for a few more minutes. It was silent save for the sound of rustling feathers and muffled speech, ending with the sound of a microphone being tapped and then hurriedly turned off.
I am not looking forward to this. Leman thought.
The metal doors opened with an electric chime, and the two entered the elevator. It descended smoothly, the humming of large machinery reverberating through the metal room. After a short time, the doors on the opposite side opened to reveal a vast metal hallway, as wide as a small hangar. They proceeded down the cylindrical tunnel, their path lit by coils of tubes filled with some glowing substance which oscillated between green, blue, and violet. They sprawled across the walls and ceilings like roots, occasionally attaching to unidentifiable instruments jutting out of the sides of the hallway. After traversing what felt like a mechanical jungle of tubes and machinery, the tunnel opened up into an impossibly large room. The lack of lighting as well as the extreme dimensions of the space made it feel as though it were infinite, extending out in all directions without end. As they walked out into the dark room, a hangar door closed behind them. A loud electric hum echoed from beneath the floor, and a mechanical whirring noise filled the air. Above them, great rotating mechanisms lit with the same blue-green-purple light illuminated the darkness, and Leman could feel a tingling sensation along his skin.
"What is this sorcery?" he said.
"Not sorcery, technology!" A disembodied voice rang out. "What you are experiencing is my state-of-the-art warp-powered virtual simulation chamber!"
"A simulator?" Leman said. "I know of some combat simulators the other chapters would use for training."
"Oh, I can assure you this will be far more impressive! You are a great warrior Leman Russ, your incredible results in my brother's trial have proven that much, but I know that you are no mere brute." Tzeentch said. "You see, I intend to test something other than your strength and prowess in combat… your mind! Your ability to adapt to your surroundings, your strategy, your tactics, all of them will be put to the test in a series of three scenarios I have developed based on information compiled from historical records. Oh, how I have waited for this day!" Tzeentch said, followed by the sound of excited clapping.
"Hello uncle Tzeentch! It's been a long time since I've seen you." Admu said to the voice.
"Oh, hello Admu, I- wait, Admu? W-what are you doing here?" Tzeentch said.
"I'm accompanying mister Russ on his quest! I've followed him all the way from papa's forest to here." she said. "Didn't you know that? You did say you were all knowing…"
"I, uh, must have… overlooked this possibility in my planning… well, no matter. I'll simply deactivate the simulation and ensure you are out of harm's way… Oh. Well, that is peculiar." Tzeentch said. "It appears that the simulation... cannot be deactivated… until the trial is complete…" Tzeentch said, laughing nervously. "Okay, new plan! Just follow the challenger's lead and help him to complete the trials, then everything should be fine!"
"What happens if we die in these simulations?" Leman said.
"Good question!" Tzeentch exclaimed, followed by silence. "You know, I probably should have tested that before now…" Leman and Admu looked at each other with a worried expression. "I will see if I can do anything about deactivating the simulation… In the meantime, rule of thumb: try not to die. I wish you luck in your trials!" Tzeentch said. "...Nurgle is going to have my head for this…" Tzeentch muttered. Arcs of energy appeared in the air all around them, and Leman felt as though his soul was becoming detached from his body. His surroundings dissolved into a chaotic slurry of light and sound, bolts of energy cleaving reality apart until nothing remained except pure sensation. Then, everything went dark.
Leman felt around his surroundings, and realized he was sitting down in some kind of enclosed space. Suddenly, red emergency lights came on and revealed that he was inside of some kind of cockpit, of a design Leman was entirely unfamiliar with. His hands moved instinctively, flipping switches and pushing buttons which seemed to activate the machine he was encased in.
The simulation must have given me access to whatever technical knowledge I require to complete the trial. Leman thought.
He flipped a switch, activating a vox-caster which blared static. The static began to clear as he turned a knob, and a voice could be heard within the background noise. Zeroing in on the frequency of the transmission, the voice became intelligible.
"Co-...der-...ight-...orks-..." the voice said between bursts of static. "Sh-...vah-….Come-... In-... respo-..." Leman zeroed in on the transmission further, until finally it became clear. "...O'Shovah, come in. This is Shas'O K'val, Commander Farsight, please respond!" a female voice said.
Commander Farsight? Leman thought. I do not recall any imperial officers by that name.
By some internal nudge, Leman was compelled to respond.
"Hello, do you read me?" he said.
"Oh Commander Farsight, how relieving it is to hear your voice once again!" K'val said. "Our positions are being overrun by orks, we need urgent reinforcements in sector 3!"
It appears this is my trial… but what weapons will I be using? And what forces am I commanding as this 'Commander Farsight? Leman thought.
A visor lowered from a compartment above, which Leman peered through. His vision adjusted, as he instinctively grabbed hold of two control sticks. The visor came online, and he was greeted by a war-torn landscape with the bodies of orks and strange, blue xenos strewn everywhere. Using the control sticks, he got used to controlling the battlesuit(?) he now found himself in, words and terminology floating in his mind but not quite being committed to memory. It was as if he could access a user manual inside of his head but never quite remembered what he had read. He moved the suit's arms, noticing that one of them held some kind of arcane blade.
This must be some kind of titan, but I have never heard of one which could be operated by a single pilot. Leman thought.
He turned the battlesuit's head and saw a monstrous machine next to him. It was truly titanic, rivaling an Imperial knight in size and likely surpassing it in sheer firepower. Each of its limbs held triple-barreled energy cannons, and three colossal gun batteries hung from its back. The machine turned to him, and a familiar voice came through on the vox-caster.
"Mister Russ? Is that you?" Admu said, waving the arm of her battlesuit. "You look so small from up here!"
"Admu? You can pilot these vehicles as well?" Leman said.
"Yep! I'm not sure how, but it just kinda comes naturally, like walking or swimming. It's really cool! Check this out!" She said, pointing one of her arms at a large boulder. With a blast of blue light and a powerful shockwave, the boulder was reduced to molten slag in the blink of an eye.
"Be careful what you are aiming at, Admu." Leman said. "I would not want to end up on the wrong end of that thing."
"Yes sir, mister Russ!" Admu said, making her battlesuit mimic a salute.
"Hello? Commander Farsight, are you still there? We need urgent backup in sectors 3, 5, and 6, our defenses are nearly overrun by ork forces!" K'val said.
"Understood. We will arrive shortly." Leman said over the vox-caster. "Well, Admu, are you ready to see what fighting orks is like up close?"
"Yessir! Oooh, this is going to be so exciting!" Admu exclaimed.
"Then let us go hunting for greenskins." Leman said, raising his suit's sword.