Another type of Daemon of the Liberator
Time may be meaningless in the warp, yet experience is not. The neverborn that would eventually refer to itself as the scavenger had been around since before humans first traveled through the warp. Yet to be named, it had already shown the behavior trait that would shape its entire future.
It had watched many times how other warpspawn like to attack the passing ships of mortals and that they had to spend much of their strength to break through the defenses of their would-be prey. At first it only finished off the most weakened of its kin from these attacks, taking their strength for itself. This scavenger behavior was ignored by the stronger predators of the warp, for they cared not for the hangers-on that followed them. The scavenger bided its time as it slowly grew more powerful, waiting for an opportunity.
-
Qo'rzon waded through the blood and bodies of mortals, delighted by their struggle yet annoyed at their success at slowing him down. Their Psykers lashed out at him, the disciplined volleys of the armsmen and continuous fire from their squad weapons decimated his minions. A cadre of priests were chanting with a burning fervor that made it uncomfortably hard for him to keep his form coherent. The mortals were defending their vessel's primary gellar field generator, as long as they held his forces would be on the back foot. Conversely, if he and his minions were to destroy it, the ship would be lost.
Then from beyond the hull of the ship, another creature pierced through into the bubble of reality. Qo'rzon stopped his advance for a moment in disbelief as the scavenger declared its challenge in growls and hisses that reverberated in the corridors of the vessel. The daemon felt his challenger approach, phasing through a bulkhead behind him. It had taken the form of a massive feline with bright green eyes and a light gray coat with black dots.
"Here and now? You worthless wight, I will erase your mark on the immaterium so thoroughly that you will never even existed at all!"
The scavenger only hisses in response as it bared its venom dripping fangs and wicked claws. Spikes extended from the length of its tail as it pounced. Qo'rzon raises his shard-blade and crab claw to strike, yet he has to shield his face from the corrosive venom that the scavenger spits at him. The scavenger evades his counterstrike, wraps its spiked tail around his left leg and pulls hard. Qo'rzan's struggles to regain his balance while also trying to block the follow-up strikes.
The fight continues, Qo'rzan manages to land a few successful hits of his own, yet it becomes damningly clear that he can not win. Without him directing his forces, his minions have been cut down and now the mortals are doing their best at supporting the scavenger, blasting at him with everything they have. The daemonic venom of his foe has sapped his strength and he knows it is over as the scavenger wraps its tail around the wrist of his blade hand. Yet his defeat is not what bothers him the most. As the scavenger begins to subsume Qo'rzan he is still forced to witness how his killer hisses once at the mortals before dragging his crumbling form back into the warp, the ship and its crew surviving the attack.
-
The scavenger grew stronger and bolder with every feast, daring other warpspawn to attack mortal vessels in its presence.
In doing so it earned itself a thousand minor names as some mortals noticed its actions. It was worshiped by void sailors whose ships it had repeatedly assisted, a kind spirit that protected them from the horrors of the warp. Some crews even erected dedicated shrines onboard in hopes of attracting it whenever their ship entered the warp. In this fashion it has acted and gained strength for many thousands of years.
All of that changed during the final years of the 41st millennium.
-
To mortal senses it might appear like a simple bonfire floating around in the incomprehensible vastness of the warp yet it was anything but that to the scavenger. The yet to be named felt the strength of the fire, the emotions and dreams which made it burn so bright were like a reflection of itself, yet stronger by magnitudes. On a rock next to the fire sat a human looking figure. The man was disturbingly mundane in his appearance, were it not for the literal fire in his eyes he would easily have passed for a mortal lost in the warp.
"I have wondered how long it would take for one of your kind to come across this place."
Stepping closer, the scavenger took on a vaguely humanoid shape, a being obscured in gray robes.
"One… of my kind?"
The scavenger had never ever talked before, a new and interesting experience. The sitting man nodded.
"Yes, one of those few who, through their actions, aid humanity by their own choice. You have made the decision to prey on those that prey on mortals, a choice seldom made."
"Power is power and prey is prey. Mortal vessels are good bait."
The man chuckled, looked into the fire for a moment/eternity before looking again at the scavenger. The fire in those eyes burned brighter.
"And yet your deeds remain the same. You have protected many a ship and crew during their journey. Now, do you know who I am?"
And even though the scavenger had never paid much attention to the great game, it knew.
"You are the Fledgling, the Liberator."
The Liberator smiled at the scavenger, gesturing to another stone right next to his.
"Indeed, that is me. Sit, I have an offer I wish to make, but first you must look into the flame and tell me what you see."
The scavenger sat down, feeling the robes resting against the stone beneath it. It began to stare into the fire. Warmth, comfort, the company by its side. Concepts passed through its consciousness, understanding slowly crept up into the psyche which had never needed such ideas.
"It is the Fire of Liberation. Humanity's yearning to throw off their chains."
"It is. From that fire I was created, it gives me strength. It could be your strength too, if you wish."
The scavenger turned its attention away from the fire.
"You are stronger than I, I can feel it. Yet you tried not to take my strength. You want me to join you willingly."
The Liberator grinned at it.
"I am incapable of wanting or trying to force you. I can only offer you the choice."
The Liberator held out his hand.
"You would continue as you were, with greater strength, with steadfast allies at your side. You would not only assist the Humans in repelling attacks from hostile daemons but also help them in navigating the perilous nature of the warp. If this is not to your liking you may leave. This is also not a one-time offer, if you change your mind later, I will gladly accept you then."
The scavenger eyed the offered hand.
"I have one demand. You will give me a name."
In the blink of an eye, the Liberator had an answer.
"You shall be Charon then. The ferryman that safely transported humans across the greater river of the underworld and protected them from the beasts that dwelled within the depths of Styx."
The Liberator's offered hand now held a silver boat paddle and Charon reached out for it. In an instant, the paddle became one with him, a natural extension of his limb. It was a perfect weapon that rested in his hand, ready to strike and a tool with which to tame the currents of the warp and make them navigable.
"Then I shall protect them."
-
So I had another idea how warp travel could work for the Protectorate. Why not fill the role of navigator using a daemon? Makes travelling a lot safer if you got a neverborn escort for your journey. Also yes, I took a bit of liberty with Charon's role description to make it fit better.
Ferrymen - Even more powerful than the Liberator's usual greater daemons, Ferrymen are ancient previously unaligned daemons that willingly joined the cause of Liberation. They guide the ships of the Protectorate through the warp to their destination and with support from other daemons of the Liberator, they also fight back against hostile warpspawn trying to attack the ships. Appearance wise they generally take after Charon, the first Ferryman: Vaguely humanoid shape, disguised in robes, armed with a great silver boat paddle.