RWBY 40k – Salem, Mistress of Inquisition.
Ep 38: The Compliance of 47-10 (Khur).
903.M30. In the West of the Galaxy. Planet of Casdra.
Lorgar was preaching the goodwill of the God-Emperor of Mankind on the planet of Casdra. Along with the Chaplain Kor Phaeron. Kor Phaeron was now an Astartes who has recovered with his transformation his vigour and youth.
He was placed on the pyramid of Casdra Prime, where a statue of a Harpy was being removed. After 10 years, his efforts were worth it. In front of a gigantic crowd of the city.
Lorgar: "He protect us and gives us bravery. By intelligence and dedication. He gives us the way. We have to walk on his and never go to another way. Now, the fire of this city, dedicated to a false demon goddess, will burn anew for the glory of our protector! The God-Emperor of Mankind!"
He ignites a blue flame on the beacon of the ancient temple of the Harpy of Casdra. The fire expands in all the beacon of the temple and reach two meters height. And so, the population was stunned before knelling before it, whispers of prayers could be heard.
Kor Phaeron (to Lorgar): "We have finished about this planet."
Lorgar: "Yes… Let's go to another Crusade."
A few hours later, in the flagship of the Word Bearers legion, the Fidelitas Lex.
Lorgar was thinking on his throne in the bridge of his ship. He has a sense of emptiness in his soul. He feels that something was missing from him. Something he has not accomplished.
Kor Phaeron: "What is the matter Lorgar? Why are you so thoughtful?"
Lorgar: "Something is missing… I converted population to the Faith. But it's lacking something. Something great, to complete."
Kor Phaeron: "Hm… I think I know what is missing."
Lorgar: "Tell me."
Kor Phaeron: "A Temple-World. A world with all the beauty of our Faith. We're everything is concentred."
Lorgar was thinking about it and realise that Kor Phaeron was right.
Lorgar: "Yes. Yes! This is what I missing! Why I haven't thought about it sooner?"
Kor Phaeron: "It take time for the Faith to reveal itself Lorgar."
Lorgar: "I have to know where I can put a sanctuary worthy of our Faith. Something, we can celebrate our faith after so many years. We deserved it."
Kor Phaeron: "Choose well. The planet must be perfect for your vision."
Lorgar: "Yes. Let be for our Crusade…"
In the next two years. Lorgar Aurelian searched on his already converted planets to see if he can build a worthy Temple-City.
And so… After two years, the Word Bearers brough under their compliance the world of Khur, named by the Imperium 47-10.
It is a civilised world who surrender after seeing the might of the Imperium. And so, Lorgar Aurelian was observing from the sky inside his ship, the lands of the planet.
Unlike the other times, Lorgar was beginning to see hope on this planet.
Kor Phaeron: "What is happening?"
Lorgar: "Hm… This planet is quite beautiful. Yes, really beautiful."
Kor Phaeron: "This is the planet you searched?"
Lorgar smiled.
Lorgar: "More I think, more I think this is the case. Let's go on the surface, here to be precise."
He pointed a mountain chain in the North.
Lorgar and Kor Phaeron take a barge and descend on the mountain chain. After exiting it, Lorgar marched with his Chaplains and Priests.
Lorgar: "More I looking on the chain, more, I am sure. This city will be here and nowhere else."
Kor Phaeron: "But why here? Why a temple for the One here and nowhere else?"
Lorgar: "Because this has to be big, decorated and furnished. Exactly like these mountains."
He walks a little and reach an empty small valley, with a small grass and trees. He touches them with his hand.
Lorgar: "A garden, for beauty of the Imperium."
He could see a cascade coming down to the valley, filling it with a small lake. Lorgar pointed this side of the land.
Lorgar: "A lake and cascade. The Imperium is full of life, filling the heart of the mankind with joy and longevity."
He approached the water, touches it before putting a bit a water in his mouth.
Lorgar: "Good, really good. This place will be for the baptism of the infants and children. The next generation is coursing and filling the Imperium like this cascade filling the lake."
He continues to walk and goes on the plateau on the mountain, it was flat and filled with rocks. But the view on the valley and the horizon with the plain beyond the mountain chain was beautiful.
Lorgar: "The temple of enlightenment will be perfect here. To see the horizon with hope, and the wind of life blowing to us."
He descended the mountain chain for one hour and goes to the plain outside the mountains, with a bucolic plain extending to the horizon with a few big trees with a big river flowing from the mountain inside of the plain.
He goes to the nearest of the big trees, they seem to be aged for at least a century. Lorgar touches the trunk before caressing it.
Lorgar: "It's rough and hard. Like the longevity of time. And so, we can be as solid and flexible as trees by living well."
He sees a small tree further and goes to it, smaller than him.
Lorgar: "And of course, everything begins anew after death… This is decided this land will be for the pilgrimage. The Faithful will see the happiness of life with these trees."
He sees a death trunk further and kneels before it.
Lorgar: "Unfortunaly… Not everyone has this chance. They die in misery of life because sadness awaits us at any moment. Until the cycle began anew."
He touches the death trunk and then the small flowers surrounding it.
Lorgar: "Happiness will always find a way."
He sees a big rock, under the light of the sun of this system. He approaches it and touches it.
Lorgar: "The One, will be here. This is perfect. Simply perfect."
Kor Phaeron: "So, what do you name it?"
Lorgar: "Monarchia."
And in the next days, metal cabin has been put inside the plain when Word Bearers bases are built far from the region.
Lorgar was drawing the plans of Monarchia. On the mountains, he was planning to build the main part of the temples and habitations. The lake valley is purposely less modified to preserve the magic of the valley because the baptism will be celebrated here.
For the plains, he has prepared a pathed building, with the trees inside who will altars for the prayers and versets.
And for on the summit of the highest mountain, it will be the temple oft the wedding. Because the wedding is the founding of a new future for loving couples.
Lorgar: "Here… Now, let's build this. I will make this surprise for mother."
For the next ten years, Monarchia was build on Khur. Designed to be the perfect city of all the religion of Lorgar. He personality decorated the best parts of Monarchia, painting, sculpting and writing.
His hands will delicacy impressed everyone in the growing city.
And so, at the end. Monarchia was finished in 915.M30.
And he invited Salem, Horus and mostly everyone who can be invited. Infortunaly for him, it was only Salem, Horus, Fulgrim with Edelgard and Udili, Sanguinius and Rogal Dorn.
Inside of the Infinite facing the planet of Khur, Salem was discussing with her sons.
Sanguinius: "Do you have any idea of why Lorgar Aurelian invited us all?"
Rogal Dorn: "He will show another temple to us."
Fulgrim: "But he said that it's worth to see and I feel I shouldn't miss it."
Udili: "This is why you bring us here with Edelgard?"
Fulgrim: "I won't leave alone Udili too much, I don't want you to be unhappy."
Udili: "This is fine."
Horus: "If we invited us all for the first time. It's seeming to be really important."
Rogal Dorn: "What do you think mother?"
Salem: "… I am with Fulgrim and Horus. If he invited us all, this has to be important."
An Astartes enters the room.
Astarte: "Primarch Lorgar Aurelian is coming."
Salem: "Let him enter."
So, Lorgar Aurelian enters with Kor Phaeron.
Lorgar: "I am happy to see you all. Despite the absence of the others."
Salem: "Why you have invited us? What have built this time?"
Lorgar Aurelian with a proud smile.
Lorgar Aurelian: "The perfect city. Monarchia."
And so, the small group embark on the barge and flew to Monarchia.
Everyone was impressed to see a city of this splendour and beauty. Build with marble, decorated in harmonious mix of gothic and baroque. The city was gigantic with two parts, one with buildings on the mountains with another a garden in the plains.
They reached the platform of welcoming the barges.
The one who was the most impressed was Salem, seeing everywhere in her vision the churches, cathedrals with the habitation's buildings. The Witch of Terra turned to Lorgar.
Salem: "It was you, who build this?"
Lorgar nodded.
Lorgar: "To celebrate the greatness of the Imperium and the Emperor of Mankind. Who protects us from enemies and misery."
Salem: "This is… kind of beautiful. I can recognize someone who put passion and love in his work."
Lorgar: "You can say that again. Let me show you all."
And so, Lorgar brings everyone in the different key parts of the city, filled with the followers of the religion. The Lake of Baptism, the Mountain of Wedding and the Plain of Life.
After that, the group were assembled to a courtyard in the middle of the plain.
Salem: "I am delighted to see that you can express your passion without worrying Lorgar. I hope this will continue for you."
Lorgar: "Of course, mother. Of course."
Kor Phaeron was frowning a little by this exchange. Not liking the proximity between the two. But he didn't say anything, his hour has not come yet…
Rogal Dorn: "Hm… I am sorry to say this to you Lorgar. I have to go back to my Crusade."
The others Primarchs nodded.
Lorgar: "Of course, I am not restraining you. I hope you will have more time to come back."
Salem: "I will stay a little more."
Horus: "You want to stay mom?"
Salem: "Yes of course, Horus. Go without me, you are grown adults. You can take of yourselves on your won crusades."
Horus: "Hm… okay."
A few hours later… Lorgar and Salem were alone on a private part of Monarchia.
Salem: "Hm… I still can't believe you can make this city so beautiful. With the passion of thousands of men."
Lorgar: "I am very proud of myself. I have surpassed so much…"
Salem: "Lorgar, I have to say something to you and this is important…"
Lorgar smile fade.
Lorgar: "What is the matter?"
Salem: "Can you stop the Auto-da-fé in the planets you have conquered and converted?"
Lorgar: "Why? This is necessary for the belief of the people."
Salem: "No, it's not. If you want your religion to be accepted. Respect at least just a little the local customs. Also, preserving the knowledge is something that your father, the Emperor of Mankind ordered in the Imperial Truth."
Lorgar: "Why this is important?"
Salem: "You have to always learn from others to perfect your religion. Kor Phaeron and Nairo taught you the importance of religion, right? Now, I want you to learn about the people who wants to accept this and so, by respecting them, their customs and their knowledge. As the Emperor ordered but as I ask you as your mom. You won't disobey your god, right?"
Lorgar (with a solemn tone): "Of course not. I would not do that."
Salem: "Good. Please promise me to preserve the local customs and knowledge of the people you conquer while you spreading your word."
She puts her hand on Lorgar's cheek, he was a bit surprised but smile in the end.
Lorgar: "I will. I have achieved something with Monarchia and I will preserve from now on."
As they have a good time between mother and son. They were observed from afar by Kor Phaeron who was irritated.
Kor Phaeron: "By the Powers… This woman is dangerous and her false gods make me sick…"
Days later, on a planet recently conquered by Horus, Salem was with him planning for the next Crusade.
Horus: "I have a question for you mom…"
Salem: "Yes?"
Horus: "Why do you accept the religion of Lorgar when it clearly breaks the rule of the Imperial Truth?"
Salem becomes serious.
Salem: "To be fair, I have never believed in the Imperial Truth should forbid religion, except of course the Chaos Gods. If we do have to be accepted by the population of the Imperium, we have to respect them in the first place, including their religion. For Lorgar… He is not wrong about the Emperor."
Horus: "What do you mean?"
Salem: "He has the power and the longevity of a god. Your shape and health come from your father. You have only inherited from me your magic."
Horus was silent, Salem has a point.
Horus: "This is the only way for you?"
Salem nodded.
Salem: "Yes. With a God-Emperor, this is inevitable that one day, Humanity as a whole, will pray him. No matter how much efforts to say the contrary. You will see in the future, churches dedicated to him on every planet possible. Better let Lorgar doing the thing. In addition, it will mean much less Chaos Cultists in the Imperium."
Horus: "… You say that because the Remnantians have been created by the twins and you are a believer?"
Salem shakes her head.
Salem: "No, this is pragmatism. You have look to weak events and smalls signs like that. Because sometimes, events take time to finally come in place."
Horus: "Hm… I hope you are right."
To be continued… Salem's Counterattack – Episode 39.
The civilisation of Bordomer is close to a Maiden World and is about to colonizing it since they are numerous and confident enough to do. Weeks after that, the Imperium finds the planet being a complete wasteland with no survivors. Salem expresses an anger that her fellow Imperials have rarely see and so, her thirst of revenge will lead her to the responsible: Autarch Mauryon, militant commander of Biel-Tan.
The Golgothan Slaughter – Episode 40.
The World Eaters Legion launch an attack to the stellar wasteland of the Golgotha Sector, close from the Maelstrom. Here, in the part named the Sarum Sector, with the Forge-World of Sarum is besieged by the Abhuman empire of the Brotherhood of the ruin. This massacre will soak the mantle of the XIIth Legion.
