Cain and Slawkenberg meets Abaddon the Despoiler.
The people of Slawkenberg had no idea what to think of the Despoiler. Some thought him a hero of liberation. Others thought him a monster that was spoken in Imperial Propaganda, though some thought him not THAT bad. Others thought of him as misguided or weak, seeking the power of Nurgle while fighting to bring down the Imperium. However, the infamous Warmaster had thought it fit to arrive in Slawkenberg. And with Cain moving to confirm every rumor himself. Little did the people know the monster they were now harboring.
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Aboard the Vengeful Spirit, Abaddon, who was flanked by his chosen, sat across from the Liberator, who only arrived with his xenos bloodward, World Eater bodyguard, and his sorcerer aid. He stared at this supposed champion of Chaos Undivided with contempt. There was not corruption nor gifts. He only had favor, yet he has assimilated multiple Imperial Worlds into his puny protectorate without a single Daemon summoned, not a single blessing unto himself, without conducting a single sacrifice, actively waging war upon Nurgle, and happily allowing continued worship of the False Emperor. This could not stand. He will not be overshadowed by an upstart.
"So the Liberator crawls to me upon his knees. His planet at my mercy and followers crying out to the Dark Gods for power." Abaddon spoke as the Liberator drank recaf from a simple mug, careful to hide his fear from him.
"I come to you on my feet and pen in hand, Warmaster," He replied, face betraying no emotion, "Why have you taken interest in our world? Why are you here?"
"I come to demand your fealty to me, Liberator. I sense no Daemons and minimal blessings within your forces. I can offer you all the power you need to bring down the Imperium. Your armies will march across the stars and you may join your beloved in Daemonhood. You need only give your hand and sing my praises."
Unshaken, the Liberator simply asked one question. "And what if I refused? Remember, I am at war with the Lord of Despair. His curses disguised as blessings are nothing more than lies. Why should I side with someone who fights alongside bringers of despair while we should be fighting for hope?"
Abaddon sneered at the complete lack of regard the Liberator had for Nurgle. He shall pay for his blasphemy, be it in time, or right now. "And what makes it so that you can fight against the inevitable, Liberator? Nurgle is as inevitable as the other dark gods you and your people revere. Why fight against that which is inevitable? Should you refuse, I will offer your meager capital to the Grandfather. Your people will scream for an eternity and their souls will be brought to the cauldron."
Abaddon thought he would have broken Cain here and now, with his declaration and fear of his reputation. However, Cain did something that rang louder than even the destruction of Slawkenberg would have. He sighed. "I would assume that is also the fate that awaits should we fail or offend you. Is that correct, Warmaster?"
Abaddon, not letting the sigh throw him off, responded in kind with as much bluster as Khorn had gifted him. "Is that even a question? Your soul will brew a beautiful brew that could beat the trice damned Panacea your people crawl to for light and comfort. When they know the truth of despair, they will crawl to the Grandfather, begging for forgiveness. Not even Tzeentch would be able to save them from the Grandfather's rot and decay."
"So you would make us your servants and slaves rather than your allies." Again Cain sighed, clearly showing his blatant disrespect. Abaddon thought that this was why the Liberator had no blessings but wondered how he wasn't a chaos spawn yet. "Do you know what I see before me now? What you are showing the people of the Protectorate?" Cain was right. The whole meeting was being broadcasted live throughout the protectorate.
"The might of Chaos and the blessings the true gods can offer." Abaddon was sure his voice would spur people to rebel against this so-called Liberator, or at least break the man's will. But what he didn't expect was defiance. It was as if Khorn, Tzeentch, and Slaanesh all sided with him in this particular conversation as the Black Commissar spoke.
"You are showing the people of Slawkenberg what you really are: a sick parody of the Imperium. Just with the four gods as your patron who you so fanatically flagellate yourselves for rather than the Emperor. I do not see might. Only willing slaves who think their leashes whips. I do not see fury, only a wild animal who has lost all honor and skill. I do not see a plan, I see an aimless schemer more worried about his plan than the end goal. I do not see delight, only selfish pleasure. I do not see love, only despair. Answer me Warmaster, what is the end game here? What do you plan to do when the Emperor dies and the Imperium falls?" Abaddon and his chosen were all seething with rage. His chosen had to visibly hold themselves back from striking down the Commissar then and there. If they did, they would all die and the Vengeful Spirit along with them, which is what all the oracles told them. How they did not know, but one died from the sheer fright of the weapon.
"Once the Corpse Emperor dies, Chaos will reign and lead humanity to a better future. Its potential no longer shackled by a corpse upon a throne. What do you know of the Four, Commissar? I have been ravaging the Imperium for a ten thousand years and you merely a few dozen. What make you think you know more than me, Commissar?" Abaddon was at the very edge with his patience. Cain's bloodward, bodyguard, and his sorcerer were tense but readied themselves while remaining almost as calm as their master. A testament to their blind faith.
Cain simply sipped more recaf and spoke again. "Look at the planet, Despoiler. In these dozen years, we have achieved things that the Imperium could only dream about without constant blessings and sacrifices. We have proved that miracles do not have to come from gods. When standing united and unafraid, common people can forge together miracles and will once thought only possible by the gods. Everyday can be better than the last, perpetuating change for the better. The people enjoy basic pleasures once thought luxuries and, in sharing them with others, are happier because of it. The skill and honor demonstrated by our soldiers allows them to scream out in righteous fury without degrading into animals. The Panacea allows us to prove ourselves above despair and hopelessness. Why would we want power to free ourselves only to end up slaves again? What use do we have for sacrifices when simply bettering conditions can empower the part of the Pantheon we revere long term? Why let chaos reign if the people could do it themselves?" Cain's stare was somehow more frightening than even that of a greater Daemon of Khorne. Then he saw it. He Felt it. Where as the Dark Gods flow through him, they back Cain. He had no blessings, yet he has their favor. It was now that the mere thought that Abaddon himself might be a slave entered his mind after ten millennia. He could not tolerate this humiliation.
"You kid yourself, Commissar," Abaddon raised Drach'nyen to Cain's neck, instinctively standing up, "You deny the dark gods their tribute and disrespect one of the four powers. You have made a grave mistake this day, Commissar. Your pain will last an agonizing eternity and I will hear you and your lover cry as your soul is fed to the cauldron!"
Cain, for the first time showing any form of surprise or shock when the sword got close to his neck, back away a centimeter before he stood up as well. While he wasn't at the same height as him by a long shot, he certainly felt like it. It felt like the old Warmaster Horus was standing before him again. This time against him. "I'll speak again, Warmaster. I defy no gods. By sacrificing to them, you destroy their power long term. You condemn yourselves to barbarity and eternal conquest. You deny people basic pleasures. I do not see a Warmaster before me. Only a twisted rebellion repeating the Imperium's mistakes. A group of fanatics lead by a child who thinks only having the gods' approval brings victory. What have you accomplished in your 12 Black Crusades, Despoiler? By now, you should have brought the Imperium to its knees by now yet it still stands. Yet all you have done is kill billions and plunge humanity further into despair, with less hope than ever to return to mankind's golden age." Cain's soul was shrouded in shadow. He didn't know if it was Be'lakor was backing him as well, or if it was some trickery from Tzeentch that he couldn't see through. However, he and everyone else also saw a faint golden glow.
"You dare repeat a lie of the False Emperor?!" Abaddon was ready to strike down Cain in an instant. Yet he couldn't move his arms. Like some force was preventing him from doing so.
"If the Imperium's holy book was a lie, then we shall make it the truth. Not by will of any of the gods, but by will of mankind itself. Why do you not see it, Warmaster? Is your spite for the Imperium so great that it blinds you to humanity's true desire and what they wish for their destiny?" Cain's expression was a true fright to Abaddon. For a moment, he thought he was looking at the Corpse Emperor in all his false majesty. For a moment, he saw what he prayed to be a hallucination. In the Hallucination, Cain had 4 wings. One on his right side and three on the other. The one on his right side was similar to the dreaded Saint Celestine while the other three were similar to the wings on the greater Daemons of the three gods within Slawkenberg's pantheon. He also had three eyes. One red, one purple, and the one on his forehead blue. All this, while remaining the same height and build. Based on the expression of the of Cain's aids, they saw it as well. He had the Emperor's backing as well as the Gods'. How was this possible?! Lorgar would either have an aneurysm or heart attack over this. Yet for all his power, Abaddon felt an emotion he has long forgotten: fear.
"The False Emperor must die for humanity to prosper! Our true potential is held by that corpse upon a gilded throne! Do you not see it?! Or are you still blinded by your so called faith?!" Abaddon's chosen readied themselves for battle. However Cain remained calm. Has this man once called the Night Lords kin?!
"It is not the Emperor that holds us back. He desires a return to our golden age and humanity's prosperity. It is the High Lords and their petty squabbles that hold us back. Do you not see it? Or have you been blinded by your hatred of the Emperor or his Imperium?" Abaddon was shaking with in his armor. He stared down at the so-called Liberator who had his hand on his chainsword. When he stared into his eyes, he did not see a competitor to the title Warmaster of Chaos. He saw a new god. A god of Freedom, unity, and hope. The fifth god of Chaos and a second god for humanity alongside the False Emperor. Except this time, he would be more true than ever.
"You made a grievous mistake crossing me, Commissar." Abaddon wanted to make another threat. He wanted to flay the people alive and sacrifice them all to the gods. But so long as Cain lived, he will protect his people. Like the Emperor protects.
"It's Liberator, First Captain," Cain's voice along with two others rang out. One of them was recognized by everyone with long memories as Emeli's. The other, only the Black Legion Veterans and Hektor recognized. It was the Emperor's voice. This seemed to have touched a nerve in Abaddon as he swung his sword down at Cain. Cain for his part, simply dodge both the blade and the Talons of Horus. In a swift motion, he disarmed Abaddon and held him at blade point. Though he knew that the chainsword wouldn't be able to penetrate his skin, it was the gesture that frightened Abaddon. Cain's scowl reminded the Warmaster of the Emperor's himself. Cain only looked at Abaddon with pity and rage in his eyes. Pale as death itself and with a resolve as unshakable as Cadia.
"My lord!" one of the Astropaths concealed panic, "An Imperial Battlegroup is approaching us!"
"Jurgen, contact the USA, ready defenses. Get us out of here!" Cain got off of the Despoiler and sheathed his Chainsword. Abaddon and his chosen tried to shoot at them, but Cain's sorcerer teleported them away to safety.
Abaddon shook with rage. He ordered the Vengeful Spirit to open fire on Slawkenberg, but it was stopped by a protective shield that he had no idea of the origins of, be it sorcery or technology. In his rage, he turned the remainder of his guns on the Space Hulk. It barely dented it before it returned fire, rupturing the Hull of the Vengeful Spirit. Abaddon was forced to retreat. No matter. He will learn from his mistakes and repay this humiliation.
The Imperial Armada completely ignored Slawkenberg, opting instead to chase the Despoiler. No doubt wanting more glory.
-
The Liberation Council watched Cain in awe. Mahlone had tears in his eyes. The Lord Liberator stood firm against the Monster that haunted the Imperium while flanked by only his bodyguards and rather than bend the knee so that they may survive, he stood true to the Liberation's beliefs, risking himself so that they may never be slaves again. Mahlone, even in his pride, would admit that he likely would have at least shook in fear should he be in the Liberator's shoes. To see the Liberator so stoic and so defiant brought hope and courage to him. He will not be found wanting on the field of battle.
Jafar almost fainted from the web schemes at play here. The Liberator was fulfilling the Gods' plans yet leading humanity to a better future by using their blessings to make the Emperor's lies into truths. A true Master of Tzeentch's game. He's even managed to secure the Emperor's favor for his rebellion against his Imperium. It truly showed how much of a masterful planner he is that he could secure the Emperor's favor. How he did not know. If the galaxy was a card game, seeing Cain's hand would likely be incomprehensible to everyone but Tzeentch himself. That or Cain is using his limited cards to the best of his capability and getting the best outcomes, like a true follower of the Machine God and Tzeentch. If Cain's plan was a painting, it would be a Magnum Opus that rivals even the Aeldari's greatest pieces. Once he had admired Abaddon but now the Liberator had lifted the veil from his eyes.
Krystabel was salivating at the seemings. To see the Liberator so passionate in front of the entire protectorate in the face of the Champion of Chaos Undivided was beautiful. He had no blessings, but rather favors. It was amazing what one man could do. His desire and plan for his people was something that Krystabel and Emeli would shed tears of happiness about. With the Liberator leading Slawkenberg, paradise and eternal pleasures awaits.
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In the Warp, Emeli was dry. She never thought it possible but here she is. She was worried for her dear Ciaphas, but seeing everything he just did made her elated. She even unconsciously corrected the Despoiler alongside her beloved. Such power. Such beauty. She had started to accept that Cain won't be her equal, but rather her superior. Be it as a even more favored, or even a new god. Cain's ascension is something songs will be written about and if made into an art piece, could make Slaanesh's realm look like a dull field.
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Father Anthony saw that golden light. The truth he knew for so long has presented itself. The Emperor did not abandon them. He had deemed Cain worthy of his light. The God Emperor still protects them and Cain had managed to unite the gods themselves. He allowed himself to shed a few tears. His prayers today was more bright and hopeful than ever before. For the Emperor's chosen walked alongside and led them, though he did not think himself worthy of that light.
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Holy Frak I have no idea what just happened. I met the Despoiler and I was so frozen in fear that I couldn't move my face outside of talking. Figuring that I as doomed, I just spoke what's on my mind and what the People of Slawkenberg thought I would say. As it turned out, it was the worst possible choice as the Despoiler put me to the sword. I almost died. Then, who or what knows came over me and next thing I knew I had the Despoiler at sword point. How the Frak am I still alive?! What's worse, is that my reputation has increased yet again. I wanted to cry but that would likely end up with my head removed. For now, I prepared protectorate in case the Despoiler wanted retribution. Knowing how petty one man can be, we need a lot of guns for me to even survive a Black Crusade.