RWBY 40k – Salem, Mistress of Inquisition.

[Theme: Shingeki No Kyojin Opening 1].

A symbol of a Salem's father kingdom flag could be seen on a wall.

"They're the prey and we're the hunters!"

The symbol is destroyed by an explosion, revealing the title "Salem, Mistress of the Inquisition" with under it written in gold "The Great Crusade", behind the title was the flag of the Imperium with the two eagles.

"And we're the hunters!"

The camera goes away a little of the title before turning to the stars.

"Gods ignorant of the trampled flower's name, the bird that fell from the stars takes her by the wind."

The next scene shows Salem marching on the land after leaving a grave. Her clothes changing from Remnant clothes to the Imperium's clothes. Her sons join her march, appearing one after another with their own family. All of their faces are serious.

"Even if you pray, nothing will be changed."

The next scene shows a horde of Orks marching inside a ruined human city. Followed by another scene of a Chaos Daemon incursion coming from a gigantic eye in the sky.

"But that which can alter the present is the resolution to fight."

An army of Luna Wolves is present inside of a courtyard with the flags of the Imperium. A cut shows them making the salute. The third cut shows them drawing their swords. The fourth cut shows them launching themselves at the Orks.

"Tramping over corpses, swine who mock the will to advance."

The next scene shows rapid images of the Imperium Propaganda against Xenos like Orks, Eldars, Rangda, Psybrids and other Xenos.

"Peace of the cattle and the prosperity."

Scene showing walls of human cities by explosion of the enemy artillery, with the middle showing the symbol of the Imperium.

"The freedom of the dead, hungry eagle."

The next scene shows Salem blasted away by the explosions shocked but composing herself in the next second.

"Our caged humiliation signals the start of our retaliation. Beyond the worlds, we're hunters that slaughter our prey."

Horus, Fulgrim and Magnus runs at the Orks and destroys them with the help of their Astartes while using their powers against them. Horus especially kills a Warboss.

"As these surging surges burn away our bodies, we ignite the dusk with a crimson bolter and bullet!"

The next scene shows the ramparts of a Hive City defended by both Rogal Dorn and Perturabo. Perturabo activates a cannon that he controls to destroy the Orks in his way. The next cut shows Sanguinius and Horus defending themselves against Xenos who towered at their same height, with heads resembling lumps atop their round torsos. Possessing long and thick arms with in the end three stubby fingers. The next scene shows Salem with her silver armour running and charges with her blood katana against a Bloodletter followed by a fading of the Imperium flag floating.

"And we're the hunters!"

The scene shows an Astartes running in slow-motion on an Ork. The next scene shows the Primarchs exiting their barges along with their Legion. In front the silhouette of the Emperor also running.

"And we're the hunters!"

In front of the coming army, a gigantic horde of Orks. And the overlapping army of Astartes coming to them. Before chaining with images of fight of Guardsmens against Xenos, Astartes against Xenos and the four silhouettes deep inside the warp accompanied by their daemons.

"And we're the hunters!"

Inside the overlapping images, the Brothers Gods are present, looking with contempt the guardsmens facing them. The next cut shows the map of the Galaxy covered by the blood along with the apparitions of uncountable names of different human planets.

The last three cuts show Salem, the Primarchs and the Emperor in their armour.

As the music reaches its final part, Salem, the 20 Primarchs along their whole family could be seen on a mountain gazing to the stars with their back turned from the camera.

[End of the theme and the generic].

Ep 66: Drune Emancipation.

958.M30.

Horus Lupercal, Mortarion and Jaghatai Khan are inside of a private room of the Vengeful Spirit, preparing their plan to the conquest of Drune. A desertic and solitary world but containing a lot of technology and a really developed society.

Jaghatai Khan: "I reunited you two for an exceptional campaign. Since, they didn't respond to us one single time. And this is suspicious."

Horus: "What did you want from us?"

Jaghatai Khan: "To insure victory. If we can't intimidate them by our simple presence."

Horus: "You said that nobody responded to your calls?"

Jaghatai Khan: "Nothing and the cities stay stubbornly closed. It seems that the Drunians doesn't want to see the exterior."

Mortarion: "Tch… Why they deny the existence of the rest of the universe?"

Jaghatai Khan: "I don't know and it's better to try to not see why… So, I will focus on the capital city while you target the smaller cities. An attack all at once will the fastest way to win."

Mortarion rolled his eyes.

Mortarion: "If it's only that…"

Jaghatai Khan: "We will prepare the plan for the next hours. See you…"

A few moments later…

Mortarion and Horus were alone in a room. Horus served a tea to Mortarion.

Mortarion: "What are you doing?"

Horus: "This is not often that we can partake a moment to chat Mortarion. Take this."

Mortarion takes the big cup, looked at Horus before removing his mask. Revealing his lower part of his face who was riddled with wrinkles like he was sick or an old man. Mortarion takes the tea and drinks it before posing back the cup. Horus sat beside him.

Horus: "How it's this?"

Mortarion: "Good."

Horus: "It was mom who taught me."

Mortarion: "…"

Horus: "Since we have the time to talk, I have always asked myself this question. What do you think of our mom?"

Mortarion: "That's none in your business…"

Horus: "Come on."

Mortarion: "I don't hate her."

Horus: "It's that all?"

Mortarion: "Even if she has given the occasion to kill Necare. I am still… indifferent. Also, I have realised that she is a hypocrite."

Horus widened a little.

Horus: "And for what reason?"

Mortarion: "She always paint herself as a loving mother but when I saw her with Zorai and from what I learn how she leads her lands. She is so cruel. Why I have to trust her?"

Horus: "It reminds you of Necare, it's that it?"

Mortarion doesn't respond.

Horus: "Our mom is a complicated woman. When I frequented her in my childhood, it took me time to fully love her since I didn't see her in my earliest days. Did you know how she was with me?"

Mortarion: "I didn't care much what happening in this 'family'."

Horus: "You should make an effort, you're an uncle and great-uncle. Anyway, mother was strict. She put me in hard training both body and mind to make myself a 'Brave and Strong Warrior' like she said."

Mortarion: "Tch…"

Horus: "But also, she is loving, caring, even gentle when it's needed. You simply don't know how much good times we have passed together."

Mortarion was still sceptical and Horus could see his face.

Horus: "Know this Mortarion. The demonstration of violence she has displayed against Angron was something that she is ashamed even today. She didn't mean it at all. She has just a problem about her anger."

Mortarion only frowned further.

Mortarion: "How I can trust her in that case?"

Horus: "Just be patient. Know her better and she will know you in return. After all, see the rest of our brothers. It takes time but, in the end, we all return the love that our mother given us."

Mortarion stayed silent.

Mortarion: "And the Emperor, our supposed father?"

Horus grins faded and cannot respond for a moment.

Horus: "It's… complicated. Even me who has passed much time with him. I barely know him more than you. He has secrets that he wouldn't want us to know. But by judging by his look when I asked this question: 'What happened on Molech? I didn't remember what happened.' He only looked at me with dread mixed with fear. I could only guess that we witnessed something that we shouldn't and he erased our memories because like he said to me afterward: 'You shouldn't dig too much in the universe secrets because you mind will broke and ends at the same state of despair than your own mother traversed in her sad past.' That's he said to me. He tries to protect us from something. Something so horrible that nothing we can do. And this is why he is so distant with us. The thing that happened there affected him to some degree."

Mortarion: "Even if this is true. I would try to see what this about when we finish the Great Crusade. If the thing is as dangerous that you seem to guess. I want to see what he has saw. After all, we are supposed to be a 'family'."

Horus: "Time will tell us."

Then the two brothers ended their discussion and only taken more sips of tea.

A few days later…

The joined army of the three Primarchs in front of one of the gigantic cities of Drune. It was the global capital of the world. The coalited army arrived in front of the gates, who are closed shut. Mortarion has his mask back to his face.

To the surprise of the three Primarchs, nothing comes from the battlements and only silence comes from the city. The sound perturbating the silence were the vehicles and the steps of the Space Marines.

Mortarion: "What is happening?"

Horus: "This is suspect."

Jaghatai Khan: "Hm…"

Horus turns to the walls.

Horus: "Surrender to the Imperium! Lords of the Drune!"

But nothing comes from the city, it passably irritates the XVIth Primarch. He was going to walk to the doors but a White Scar arrived to the trio. It was a Storm Prophet.

Storm Prophet: "Wait, lord Lupercal."

Horus: "What?"

Storm Prophet: "It's leading you to a trap. It is a trap."

Horus: "What do you mean by that?"

Storm Prophet: "A shadow is looming above this place. A shadow of dominion. Only death will cut the ropes."

Mortarion: "Tch… Why I have to believe you and your ominous phrase? (turn to Horus) Break this door for once."

Horus: "But the Librarian said it's a trap. It could explain why this planet is so odd. Also, my instincts said to me that there is danger inside."

Mortarion: "Why do you listen to him?"

Horus: "Magic is real and Warp powers is real. Stop deny the danger!"

Jaghatai Khan: "Our enemies are waiting for us."

Mortarion: "Fine, I will break this door myself!"

Mortarion approached the gates and began to smash it with force. So much he managed to pierce a big hole and opening the gates. He turned back to his two brothers.

Mortarion: "Let's go inside now…"

He makes his first steps inside. He is quickly startled by the vision of a great mass of the inhabitants come from the streets. Their eyes were blurry and empty, their mouth was open and drooling. They all dressed in ruined rags. These people didn't seem to have taken care of themselves for months or even years.

Storm Prophet: "Lord Mortarion. I have said to you that the shadow is looming toward us. These bodies are husks and dolls manipulated by the strings of this shadow. Please, don't go inside more."

His voice was more worried and serious than before.

Jaghatai: "Listen to him, Mortarion! He is deadly serious!"

Horus: "Mortarion. You are doing something very bold and imprudent! Come back to your senses!"

Mortarion was about to respond more vehemently when he suddenly sees something in the corner of his eye. He turns back and sees. An enormous eye in the sky, right above the center of the city was forming an aethereal storm.

Mortarion: "What the…?"

Horus: "I knew it!"

Jaghatai: "Mortarion come back!"

The bodies began to agitate and whines like zombies before marching toward the Lord of Death. Mortarion exit rapidly the city and goes back to the group. Horus uses his telekinesis magic to close the gates before repair them with his Chamon magic branch and finally shut them.

Horus: "Here, in the exterior. We are safe."

He turns toward Jaghatai Khan.

Horus: "We have to discuss something. (turn to the Storm Prophet). Immediately."

A few moments later…

A camp was dressed around the capital city. Inside of the biggest tent, the Primarchs are reunited with the other most important Librarians of the White Scars.

Storm Prophet: "This is a Xeno invasion. But not like the Osiris Psybrids. These are coming from the Warp."

Horus: "What kind of God we are facing?"

Storm Prophet: "No Daemons but something more primitive, more ancient. Primordial predators coming from portals linking to this hellscape."

Horus: "Hm… This is worrying to say the least. How do we have to do?"

Storm Prophet: "Close these portals and kill the creatures and so, the souls' victims will be free of this shadow whims."

Horus: "Fine. No more initiative. (turn to Jaghatai Khan). You will take over of this operation."

Mortarion: "Wait what?!"

Horus: "Think about it Mortarion. You have banished the Librarians from your Legion while mine have magicians who has a limited knowledge of the warp despite the teachings of the Thousand Sons. Jaghatai Khan on his side has the means to effectively know how to counter the Warp creatures. Then, with the magicians of my Legion will try to destroy these creatures since magic has greater effect on warp spawns."

Mortarion only grunted in irritation. This campaign will be horrible to him.

Jaghatai Khan: "Thanks Horus. You won't be disappointed with my decision."

In the next six months. The Great Khan launched a series of wars all over the planet to take the cities.

But the first engagement is clearly not what they anticipated.

An army leaded by Horus inside one of the smallest cities of Drune managed to arrive inside and goes to the central place. He was tearing apart the human zombies coming toward them.

Horus: "Let's go! We are close now!"

Abaddon: "Take that!"

The second right hand man slashed and killed ten of these zombies. The XVIth Legion finally arrived inside of the central place.

But the sight shocked the Primarch, a horror he has rarely saw.

He could see several creatures with an unreal appearance. They were floating on invisible rivers of aethereal matter. They have an oversized body, multiple eyes and tendrils. Some kind of mutated octopus but who their body is not close in the slightest of these cute intelligent animals that he saw in the laboratory of his mom. No, he could feel it in his gut. It was predators nothing more, nothing else.

But still, he gathers his bravery and…

Horus: "Librarians! Kill them!"

And so, the Magic Librarians of the XVIth Legion launched their wave against these creatures who responded with explosive warp attacks.

A battle of explosions against magic blasts unfolds inside of the central plaza. But each time, one of these creatures are killed. The zombies become less active and the reality around the XVIth Legion regain it's colours and normal shape, reinforcing the magic.

Horus himself, despite a slight strain on his head, feeling the trial of the last creature to take over his mind with desperation. He slams with his mace full of magic, the creature screamed in a distant and echoing pain before disintegrating in the air.

And so, the last creature dying. All of the zombies drop on the ground, revealing what they are. Dead bodies who have been unjustly taken hold by these devourers, with no chance to know a free life with a free soul.

Only remained the portal, and it was hideous to see. It was circle of flesh surrounding it the cracks of the warp with inside the black and red clouds of the storms in the other side.

Several Storm Prophets approached the portal and began to chant incantations toward the portal in their Chogorisian language. And then, the flesh began to rot, falling apart while the tear was closing down. Finally, the alive portal died, the tear closed completely and the reality regains his normal form.

Horus scratched his eyes; they were stinging like if mosquitoes has planted their venom inside. The pain calmed down in a matter of minutes.

Abaddon: "Oh my… It was… I don't know how to said."

Horus: "…"

Abaddon: "Are you okay?"

Horus: "I have a question. It was the horror similar or worse than the thing we have faced on Molech and the Emperor decided to erase it from our memories?"

Abaddon: "… I am asking the same question now that you said it."

Horus: "Let's hope that we take out these Xenos."

The rest of the campaign continues but each attack makes several Astartes dies either by the zombies or by the soul snatching by these warp creatures.

But still, they returned back to the capital city, where the main dish was still waiting the Primarchs and their Legions.

They finally arrived toward the main plaza of the capital and here, above in the sky, a great ark could be seen. A ark chair formed by the flesh of an unfortunate man who has been manipulated by these horrid creatures. The reality was distended so much that it's threaten to tear more around the great hole that the warp has formed.

Jaghatai: "Here we are…"

But here, a shadow emerged from the hole. It was another of these forsaken creatures but unlike the rest. It was bigger, having hundreds of more eyes for hundreds of more tentacles, linked to a body inflated like a building. It was truly frightening but not for the Khan.

Jaghatai: "Brothers! End this kingdom of dominion!"

Horus: "Yeah!"

Mortarion: "Hm…"

Mortarion and Horus goes for the two corners of the plaza while Jaghatai assembled the rest of his Librarians. And then the attack is launched.

The Lord of the Death and the First Son attacked the tendrils of the creature, with the help of the Astartes, especially Horus whose Magic disintegrated many of the tendrils who tries to drain his soul.

Mortarion however was in difficulty while the strain of the creature spirit increased on his head, making incapable for him to advance further.

Then the Storm Prophet launched their mind attacks against the creature who was trembling by this sudden attack. It's avenged itself by piercing then of them with his tendrils who has the resistance and as sharp as diamond.

Jaghatai Khan rushed toward the monster who was already occupied by the two other Primarchs and their Astartes. The monster couldn't react in time and Jaghatai finds a weak spot in his interior face in his flesh. He pushed above, sees an organ in the central mass of the behemoth and strikes with his saber. The creature screamed in pain before inflating more and more.

Jaghatai: "Quick! Run away!"

Jaghatai Khan jumped just in time before in the next seconds, the creature exploded, tearing by the same occasion by the flesh gate. The tear closes down in a matter of seconds and the reality goes back to normal.

Horus helps the Khan to come stand up.

Horus: "Are you okay?"

Jaghatai: "I need some rest… my mind is like mush…"

Mortarion arrived toward his brothers.

Mortarion: "Never again. It was horrible, this parasite was trying to take my brain…"

Horus: "Of course, but it's finished now, Mortarion."

He turned toward the corpse of the unfortunate victims of these predators.

Horus: "Let's offer them a proper place to rest…"

A few weeks later… Back in Terra.

Horus was facing his mom; she was reading the report about the new Xenos species discovery by the Imperium. She was quite worried.

Horus: "So, it was the thing that happened in our crusade."

Salem: "Hm… This is horrible, more than the Daemons of the Warp."

At this moment, Ilil who was behind of the desk along with Allarielle approached Salem, he widened at the sight of the drawing of the monster.

Ilil: "Hey, I recognize it!"

Salem: "Wait, really?"

He nodded.

Salem: "So explain yourself Ilil."

Ilil: "This is an Enslaver, a very ancient creature from the warp. One of the oldest existing in the Aether. Even before the existence of the Gods of Chaos and the Daemons."

Salem: "They are this old?!"

He nodded.

Ilil: "When we are making our expansion in the Galaxy, dozens of millions of years ago. The overuse of our psychic powers has drawn the attention of the Enslavers. But unlike on Drune, we have been faced with millions of these horrors. A ruthless war who has expanded for millenias. Many of my kind have their souls devoured by these horrible creatures. We have resolved this problem by creating the first versions of our Guardian Stones. And little by little, we have banished them inside of the warp. But still, some of them who are more cunning than the others managed to come back sometimes."

He touched his own guardian stone attached on his clothes.

Salem: "Hm… I guess that the Chaos Daemons are sufficiently delicious to drawn them in a never-ending fight against the Chaos Gods, am I right?"

Ilil: "I would say that there are many creatures in the warp that this dimension is more like a jungle than anything else."

Salem: "I see… (turn to Horus) Horus, write this down."

Horus: "Of course mom."

Salem turns to Ilil.

Salem: "I would like to know more from what have learned in Biel-Tan, my little Ilil…"

To be continued… Castigation of Carinae.

Corvus Corax discovers that the Carinea Congregation is very turbulent and refusing to be brought under the Imperium's compliance. But at the war goes on, he will witness a truly gruesome method of war who will put him in rage.

Next episode… Alpharius and Omegon.

Salem and the Emperor rediscovers the XXth Primarch, but the discovery makes the other Primarchs suspicious about the twins since the two adults seems to treat with too much familiarity with the twins. But the reality is shadier than that.

Next episode… A bitter marriage.

963.M30, with all the Primarchs reunited. The whole family reunited inside of Terra to a big event. The Emperor and Salem are now marrying. After the family reunion and the marriage, the honeymoon promises to be hard.