Liberty Dies

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Liberty Dies

Post by Drainial »

This is a story I just sort of made up whilst I was bord, I hope you enjoy it, this first section realy just sets the scene and tells you whats going on but I should be able to write more soon. Well enjoy.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liberty Dies


The courtroom was black, predictably. Most inquisitors seemed to love that colour for some reason but in this case Drascus could see their reasoning. The black walls on an already large room created the impression of unending space in an attempt to add to the intimidation of the hapless victims snared in the web of the Ordo Xenos. The 18 different symbols of imperial authority adorning the walls really was over doing things though, Drascus new a thing or two about extracting confessions from deviants him self. Well he should he had been doing so for longer than any of the young whelps standing before him with their eyes burning with what they would call ‘righteous anger’. He wished they would finish their glaring and get on with it, who would think being on trial could be so dull?

Finally one of the figures stood and walked forwards, a young women her golden hair pulled back in a sever bun at the nape of her neck. Her unnaturally pale face would have been quite pretty, though a little sharp, if not for the black tattoos favoured by zealots the galaxy over. She paused dramatically and pulled out an old fashioned scroll of parchment from inside her formal black robes. Unrolling it she began to read.

“Inquisitor Drascus Aranthalus,” she began in an oratory tone “You are charged with crimes against the Imperium of man and the Emperor of man kind. You are charged with having consorted with vile Xenos, the use of Xeno tech, leading Xenos to a world of the Imperium to further your own despicable ends and of the murder of Inquisitor Corvous Vitor and his entire staff as well as thousands of soldiers of the Imperial guard.” She paused for dramatic effect.
“How do you plead?”

Drascus smiled warmly at the entire room, then laughed as each and every one scowled in exactly the same way. They were used to their victims cowering in terror not grinning at them.
“I plead guilty to every one of my so called crimes, but before you take me to be executed in what ever bizarre and undoubtedly excruciatingly painful way you spent all night devising let me tell you a story.” Drascus smiled again “let me tell you all how the great Inquisitor Drascus came to be sitting here before you today, for I was once like all of you. So sure of your selves and of the corpse gods right to rule the stars.” None of the inquisitors interrupted him as he paused for breath and so Drascus continued.
“Gather round children for I shall take you back one hundred and seventy two standard years and to the far away planet of Asacia in the Andacolis sub sector.” So casting his mind far back into the past Drascus began the story, his story from idealistic young Explicator to radical Inquisitor.

Asacia was a paradise world, not for this planet the filthy spires of humanities great hives nor the endless ice or toxic wastes so often found on the worlds of the Imperium. Even agri worlds were put to shame by the beauty of Asacia and here not every man woman and child was consigned to a lifetime of back breaking labour in the fields. One continent was the most truly fertile with vast crops stretching to the horizon and tended by ancient machines from the golden age of technology, maintained and guided by the people of Asacia. The sea too was rich in its bounty and the great insects that swam in its depths, while unusual, were delicious and nutritious. Each and every citizen who passed the test to see whether they were intelligent enough to choose wisly elected the govorner every 5 years and this system had produced good administration for centuries. A fair and accepting society.

Perhaps too accepting; for even those born with the marks of mutation were often accepted if their marks were slight. This may have been due to the more open view of the local church, an organisation more interested in helping the needy and spreading the joy of the worship of the Emperor than decrying sinners and beating them selves with barbed wire.

This was the world in which the young Drascus Aranthalus was brought up, he joined the local imperial collage at a young age and was soon spotted by the local inquisition for his quick and inquisitive mind. At 17 he was requited as an Explicator and by 21 was under the tutelage of the revered Inquisitor Cassandra. At this time he left Asacia to travel the stars and it would be long ere he set foot once more upon the beautiful ground of Asacia.
Last edited by Drainial on Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Tijminator »

Very nice, I'd like to read more!

Only one very minor thing to say: IIRC, all numbers under 100 (Ninety nine and and less) are spelled full out, so seventeen and twentyone would be full words. (I know, very minor) Other than that, I can't really say anything about it..

Do you know if more is coming?

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Post by Drainial »

Yup, here is part one. Consider the one above a prolouge.
Anyway let me know what you think.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 1

Drascus looked at him self in the full-length mirror of his room in the Inquisitorial academy. At twenty-one standard years and 5 feet 9 inches he should have struck an imposing figure in his long black coat with silver skull buttons and inquisitorial seals on the cuffs; but the grin of boyish excitement spread across his face ruined the effect somewhat. It was an attractive face though his features were a little too sharp to be called handsome; his hair was a lustrous black and his eyes a muddy green brown that shone with intelligence and enthusiasm for his cause. Today he would take the next step towards the title of inquisitor and his first journey into the stars.

Picking up the case containing his few belongings Drascus headed out of the door and down the dark green marble stairs. The lobby was busy with the usual comings and goings of the academy. Explicators in uniform similar to his formal coat bustled along to their lectures giving the occasional inquisitor a small bubble of free space, no one crowded an inquisitor. In this hall only two people remained still. Both were obviously Inquisitors. Neither wore any kind of uniform or declaration of status but it was clear in every movement, the way they held the selves and the way they regarded others that they were people who expected to be obeyed and were rarely disappointed.

Drascus recognised the figure on the right, he was the master the Inquisitorial training academy Gilles Thatcher. Though he stood at a mere 5 foot 6 Drascus always felt the venerable Inquisitor lord was towering over him. Though his hair was white and thinning on top Gilles radiated confidence in him self and in his purpose. Students of the academy feared his harsh tongue but feared his disappointment even more.

The other figure Drascus had never seen before but he new instantly who she must be and he new every thing about her that could be found in the files of the Librarium. Cassandra Angelus was a beautiful women, the rejuvenate surgery she had every 10 years kept her looking 35 though she was well into her eighty fourth year. The long light blue coat she wore was similar to his in style but hers was tighter revealing a stunning figure, her dark trousers and shirt providing a contrast that would have made her stand out from a crowd of thousands.

Cassandra had been born in this very city and had become an Inquisitor at 32, the youngest in living memory. She had taken part in numerous wars and even more small operations to bring down the might of the alien. She had led a strike force to cleanse an Hrud infestation on the planet of Otack IV and had slaughtered the entire brood with out loosing a single guards man and fought along side Inquisitor lord Kypmton in his battle against the Tyranids. And he could have gone on. She had been his inspiration ever since he became an Explicator, now she was to become his mentor.

Realising that he had stopped and was staring at the couple Drascus forced his mind back into the here and now, walking towards the pair his stomach started to do back flips, no doubt irritating the colossal butterflies that resided within. As he reached them Cassandra turned to Gilles.

“This is the one?” her voice was rich and kind but to the trained ear carried an undertone of irritation at being made to wait for as long as she had. When Gilles nodded his accent she turned her piercing violet eyes on Drascus.
“Come on then,” She said smiling, easing the tension in his gut. “I know I am a legend around here but if you can manage to tear you eyes away from me for a moment we should leave.” It was said in a kindly way but some how Drascus new that he would be very unwise to try his new mentor’s patience any further. Gathering his suit case he shook the proffered hand of Inquisitor lord Gilles who spoke a few words of advice, chief amongst them being do as your told and only be inquisitive when your ment to be, before finishing
“If you don’t get your head blown off you could go far boy,” And with that the Inquisitor lord strode away up the stairs.

Cassandra turned and walked out of the large double doors, covered in gilded carvings of the emperor and famous Inquisitors of the past Drascus trotting at her heel. They walking in silence, Cassandra showed no inclination to speak and Drascus was far to intimidated by her to strike up a conversation. Turning the corner Drascus finally saw their destination. The Aquila landing shuttle painted a shimmering azure stood majestically in the middle of a stone court yard kept free for just such occasions as this. Cassandra spoke a few words into a small vox unit on the sleeve of her long coat and the boarding ramp dropped with a hiss of hydraulics. Sweat beading on his brow Drascus took the first steps towards his future.


“Are your quarters satisfactory?” Drascus was sitting with Cassandra in her study on her personal star ship, a small Frigate named Pre-emptive Strike. The originally military ship had been extensively converted with many of the rooms in the living quarters being luxurious rather than the usual Spartan design of Imperial Navy ships. This room for example, the captain’s office on most ships, had numerous silk hangings on the walls. All of them were off very high quality and none of them from anywhere even near Asacia. The chairs they were both sitting in were of a dark leather and extremely comfortable, the carved wooden table had been polished to a warm glow.


“Yes, thank you Inquisitor. They are more than satisfactory,” He wasn’t lying, the three room suite was by far the largest and most luxurious place he had ever been able to call home. Cassandra smiled warmly
“Just don’t get too comfortable. Just because I chose to live well when I can does not mean I am afraid to slum it when the need arises, and when that happens I like to have some one around who feels even worse than I do.” Drascus was pleased she was finally talking to him. On the shuttle she had all but ignored him and talked extensively with the ships master instructing him to make preparations to leave as soon as she was on board. Once on board she had told a servant to show him to his quarters adding, almost as an after thought, that he should come to see her in her study when he was settled.

“So I read from your files that you are a psyker.” Cassandra went on “Tell me what fields to you specialise in?”
“Telepathy, though I am also a competent telekine,” Drascus replied.
“Indeed, both skills that may be useful in the task we have ahead of us,” That made Drascus sit up, she was telling him of his first mission, his first chance to serve the God Emperor in a meaningful way. Cassandra laughed at his reaction but not unkindly.
“ Don’t get too exited young Drascus, your first mission with me will relatively safe and disappointingly lacking in opportunities for heroism and daring do. We are just going to meet some people. The first thing you should learn about me is that at any one time I will have several irons on the fire and this is but one in a long series of actions to achieve an end. The second thing you should learn is patience. Very little of an Inquisitors time is spent rushing around power sword drawn and putting the Xenos to flight. We will arrive at the rendezvous in two days. Whilst we are there I want you to let me do all the talking. You keep your eyes ears and mind open and tell me everything you find out. Can you project your thoughts?” Drascus nodded “Good, if you detect any thing amiss tell me about it silently. Now go back to your quarters and sleep, it’s three in the morning ship time and it will take your body a few days to adjust. I don’t want you exhausted for the meeting.”
Last edited by Drainial on Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Loran »

Very good mate!

The plot is interesting (so far what we know of it :P) and the story is easy to follow. Excellent :)

Can't wait for more, so be bored more often! :D

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Post by Lord of the morning »

You write really well, I cant wait for the next chapter
May I present The Dragon Reborn, He Who Comes with The Dawn, the Car'a'carn, the Cooramoor, The Prince of the Dawn, The Lord of the Morning, the King of Illian, and True Defender of the Light, Rand al'Thor.
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Post by Drainial »

You dont have to, here it is. (I get board fairly often)

P.S exuse any typoes, its midnight and I realy can't be botherd to proof read right now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part two

Drascus hurried up a ladder and into the launch bay of Pre-emptive Strike. Cassandra was waiting for him there by the open ramp of a shuttle, a bright azure like all of Cassandra’s craft. He had been showering when the summons had come and was a few minuets late, not exactly the impression he wanted to give on his first mission. Cassandra, however smiled warmly as he came to a halt in front of her
“Tsk tsk late for your first little outing,” She said shaking her head in mock disappointment. Drascus’ blushed a brilliant scarlet “well never mind that now we are about to set off.” She paused and thought for a moment “Do you have a weapon?” Drascus flushed again. He should have thought of that but he had left his silver chased las pistol back in his rooms, he shook his head.
“Get on board the shuttle, I’m sure we can find you something!” the inquisitor sighed.

Once on board Cassandra rooted around in the ships small arsenal. She rejected a finely balanced sword, a bolter, a las gun and several weapons that Drascus didn’t recognise before settling on a battered but serviceable las pistol and holster. As he strapped the gun beneath his coat Drascus couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment that Cassandra didn’t think he could be trusted with something more potent. Then again he hadn’t exactly covered himself with glory so far whilst with the Inquisitor.

“Now my young Explicator just remember what I told you, keep your mouth closed and your senses open. And don’t touch that gun unless I tell you to or your you see me do so.” Clearly seeing Drascus’ confusion she added, “We will be meeting some very unusual people, your first reaction will be to attack. What ever happens do not!” Cassandra’s voice had taken on a sharp tone of command, planetary governors had heard that tone and had chosen not to argue, Drascus didn’t even consider it.


The ramp lowered with agonising slowness, who were they meeting, why? A rouge trader with information on some far away hostile alien race? A fellow inquisitor plotting to bring devastation down on the heads of foul Xenos? Who?

Slowly the ramp lowered revealing blue grey skin, four fingers three toed boots. Tau! Drascus’ hand went straight to the but of his pistol but he was stilled by a fierce glare from Cassandra. Belatedly he remembered her instructions; what ever was going on here it was neither a trap nor an attack. What had Cassandra said? They were just going to talk. Talk to some unusual people. He stared at Cassandra in shock and horror; she was consorting with Xenos! She was a radical! And she was trusting him. That was a sobering thought; Cassandra Angelus was his idol, the perfect inquisitor. Cleanser of the alien taint across the stars. Surely this could be nothing unclean, she had said that this was no more than a single step in a scheme that would not come to fruition for a long time, perhaps years or even decades. It could well be a plot to bring these beasts to the death they so richly deserved for the crime of befouling the Emperor’s glorious domain. For now he would do as she asked, until she could explain her self. Stretching out with his mind Drascus touched lightly upon the minds of all the five Tau in the docking bay, not enough to actually read their minds and certainly not enough to alert them to spying should any be physically gifted but enough to tell him of any dishonesty.

The lead Tau was dressed in rich white robes with purple and orange silks draped around him in various layers, Drascus could tell from the stance of the others and the subservient surface emotions he picked up from the minds of the others that this was the leader. In fact Drascus was surprised at the utter subservience and respect they held him in. No humans he had done this with had ever felt like this they always had some lingering resentment or old grudge. But here there was nothing of the sort.

The other four stood in a line a couple of steps behind the leader. The one on the far left was dressed in simple brown clothes, the cut simple and unadorned but the cloth of very high quality if Drascus was any judge (which he wasn’t truth be known). Despite his plain appearance the Tau held him self proudly and with a rare self-assurance. This was a being that knew exactly what he wanted to do in life and had utter confidence in his ability to do it. From his surface thoughts Drascus picked up that he was the highest member of something called the ‘earth caste’ what ever that was.

Next on the right was a very differently dressed alien; he thought it was female although knowing very little of the species beyond the name and that they had a burgeoning empire that had withstood an imperial crusade he could not be sure. They had touched on the Tau only lightly in the Imperial Academy.

The she Tau looked bizarre, her limbs were thin and frail looking; he got the impression that should he take it in mind he could throw her the length of the docking bay. An intricate framework supported her thin limbs allowing her to stand with dignity. Touching on her mind he found that she was serenity made flesh. She was also part of something called the ‘air caste’ probably in some way related to the earth case the first Tau was part of.

Next in line was a Tau in robes like the leader, though this ones was blue and less ornate. He seemed to be male, he looked a little out of condition, and he also seemed the oldest of the Aliens with wrinkles lining his forehead. Glancing at his mind Drascus saw a mind utterly dedicated to his cause. A cause that surface thoughts ravelled to be named ‘The Greater Good’ this one seemed to be some kind of high ranking diplomat or ambassador, a leader of the ‘water caste’.

The last of the group was larger and heavier than the other four; this one appeared to be female. She was wearing a serviceable orange jumpsuit with a form of carapace armour. Her mind revealed her to be a military leader of some standing in the Tau armed forces. She was ruthless but seemed to be compassionate in a way that was rare in imperial commanders, very interesting. Rather predictably this one was of the ‘Fire caste’.

Cassandra bowed her head respectfully the alien leader who bowed back with far lower bows from the four Tau at his back. Drascus stood; he would not bow to these animals! Finally Cassandra spoke.
“Greetings once again Aun Li,” she said, “I trust our scheme has not gone awry?”
“Indeed not revered Inquisitor, if you will come with me we can discus our progress.” He looked at Drascus inquiringly “Will you bring your functionary or shall I make arrangements for him to wait comfortably?”
Cassandra smiled, clearly amused (Drascus was far from amused at being dismissed as a servant) “Drascus here is my Explicator, my apprentice if you will. He will attend the meeting, he should begin to understand this kind of undertaking even if he can not fully take part yet.”

Aun Li nodded and turned on his heal, Cassandra walked by his side. Drascus’ place at her heal put him in the uncomfortable position of walking side by side with the lesser Tau leaders but he attempted to show complete calm on the surface even if it was the last thing he was feeling.

The corridor was oddly quiet though once a strange floating disk, seemingly similar to a servro skull in function floated past them on one errand or another. This casual use of high technology unsettled Drascus. He had never been overly keen on the way tech priests tried to horde technology and was dubious as to weather tuning on an engine really required that much incense but still, technology was far too dangerous a thing to be used indiscriminately.

A set of doors opened suddenly, the only sign of them was a small symbol on the wall, Drascus tried to hide his reaction to the sudden hole in the perfectly smooth wall but he felt sure that the Tau had noticed it.

Upon entering the room the alien leader and Cassandra sat at opposite ends of a white table, Drascus took a seat to the Inquisitors right whilst the leaders of the various castes arranged them selves around the table seemingly uncaring of formal positioning, odd Drascus had assumed that the war leader would have sat closest the Ethereal in order to protect him if things went badly for some reason. Drascus knew that no Imperial commander would feel safe without a platoon of guards if Xenos came aboard their ship.

Cassandra spoke first taking charge of the meeting from the out set.
“Shas’O Ki’ti” she addressed the fire caste leader “How close are you to gathering enough forces for our venture?”
“Very close Inquisitor Cassandra Angelus,” The she Tau said formally, Drascus read from her that she was newly appointed and had replaced another as military leader in this area after he died. She was not as familiar with Cassandra as the rest and felt the need to be very formal. A situation Drascus found alarmingly similar to his own in some respects.

“The actions against the Orks on Graluan have been concluded successfully and can move before one of your months is out, they will be ready in time. There was something wrong with her thoughts, delving deeper into her mind Drascus discovered what and mentally communicated with the inquisitor.
++She lies, the campaign is not yet done though the Tau have all but won, they should still be able to move within the month if they hurry. She knows this but does not want to disappoint the Ethereal.++
Cassandra nodded almost imperceptibly, perhaps to accept what the Tau Shas’O was telling her, perhaps in acknowledgment of his warning.

Cassandra turned to the Diplomat “And how is your castes objective going?”
“Very well Cassandra.” This older Tau seemed much more familiar with the Inquisitor than the others, a fact that irritated Drascus no end.
“Diplomatic and trade negotiations with the Emalk are breaking down according to schedule, we should have no opposition to enlightenment by force being approved when the time is right.”

Negotiations breaking down on schedule? Enlightenment by force? What on Terra was going on here. Thinking back to his studies Drascus remembered that the Emalk were a single world Xenos race close to the imperial boarder near the Damocleas gulf. Though they currently posed no threat they were swiftly becoming space going and were known to be hostile. Was Cassandra using the Tau to destroy the threat and bribing them by offering them a world? If that was so then it was a plan of massive proportions, a stroke of genius. A stroke of genius that would have her burned at the stake were it ever uncovered but it neatly removed a hostile threat with no loss of human life. It was brilliant!

Cassandra talked with the other leaders, the air caste commander confirmed that an invasion fleet would be available when it was needed and the earth case leader affirmed that all logistical support was in place. The meeting devolved into the discussion of details until eventually Cassandra stood and took her leave, Drascus at her heals. All the way back to the Pre-emptive Strike Drascus yearned to ask Cassandra questions but refrained from doing so until they were back in familiar ground. Besides his mind was reeling, still coming to terms with the idea of spinning one alien race of against one another in wars of extinction. How many other times had Cassandra done this? And how many Imperial lives had been saved by it?
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Post by Drainial »

Part three

Drascus followed Cassandra back to her rooms onboard the Pre-emptive Strike. She had not asked him to nor had he asked but he had some rather pressing questions to ask her and she made no move stop him. Entering the lavish apartments Cassandra kept as her own Cassandra turned and sat elegantly on a long white couch draped with crimson silk, it looked like surf on a see of blood. Drascus was somewhat alarmed by his own analogy, it was not something he would have thought of but a week ago. So much had changed since then.

Drascus was left standing as Cassandra stared at him appraisingly. Crossing her legs she said “Well I must say you are taking this better than I expected. Better than I did when my old master Agrand anyway, I was almost incoherent with rage when he first introduced me to the Hrud.” She paused “Why are you not? What you saw me do today goes against everything you have ever been taught to believe.”

Drascus had been angry he was still shocked. But his anger had cooled from white-hot rage to dying embers when he had worked out what he thought Cassandra was doing. He knew that the flames would be re-ignited if what he had worked out were not the case. He had to know.
“Did you instigate a plot amongst the Tau to bring death and ruin upon the Emalk?” It was all that needed to be said. Cassandra smiled more warmly than he had ever seen and slowly clapped her hands together three times.
“Very good Interrogator Drascus, your mind works quickly”
“I am not yet and Interrogator, Inquisitor.” Drascus said, he was very confused by his mentor. But one thing forced its way into his floundering brain. She was pleased with him! The Tau had been some sort of test and he had passed!
“You are now Drascus,” Cassandra replied “I am promoting you, the way you handled your self on the Tau ship and how quickly you realised what was going on proves to me that you are ready to take on a full and active role in the defence of humanity and that you deserve the rank of Interrogator.

“Now let me fill you in on the details of my little plot,” Cassandra continued “Sit please,” She motioned to the couch. Feeling bewildered and a little uncomfortable about sitting so informally with Cassandra Drascus sat.
“It all started when I heard of the Emalk from a rouge trader who had visited their world. What had five hundred years ago been a basic warrior society with all of the various tribes focusing on conquering and subsuming every one else, easy for a sophisticated trader to exploit. Had for some reason built vast cities that moved on great tracks, industrial marvels for their level of development. Some dwarfing an imperial Leviathan, still rolling around conquering and subsuming each other. More alarmingly still however was the actions of one of the most powerful of these cities. They were outfitting their metropolis for flight up to the stars. By all accounts they did not succeed however they are still working on it and the idea had taken hold on the other cities. They had all but ruined their own world but this point you see.

“So you decided that the Emalk had to be destroyed?” Drascus asked.
“Not straight away. In truth Drascus not all aliens are quite the evil beasts Imperial Dogma make them out to be. The Tau for example are in truth a very socially advanced race. In many ways not unlike humanity, but if they threaten Imperial lives then they must be stopped. It is that simple, and the Emalk had embarked on a track that could well end in a full-scale invasion of an Imperial world with millions of lives lost. But to establish the truth I went to the planet my self. That world makes Armageddon look like Asacia. This was when I decided that they must not only be stopped but also destroyed utterly.

“But you are an Inquisitor, you could have requisitioned all forces you needed to reduce the Emalk to molten slag. Why go to the Tau?”
“Because the whole point was to minimise the loss of imperial lives, yes I could have taken an imperial task force and attacked, we would have won to, though those gargantuan tracked cities are fearsome weapons of war. But lives would have been lost, far better that the Tau be the ones to lose the lives.”
“So how did you persuade the Tau to conquer it. You said your self that it’s a ruined world?” This had been the question that had puzzled Drascus the most. The conquest of the world was a major business, even for a galactic empire the sheer manpower required was immense to say nothing to the logistics of feeding the troops whilst on world.

Cassandra’s grin widened, she was one of those people who were forced to hide their light under a bushel and hated every second of it. Finally she could be recognised, if only by one man.
“It started with trade, the Tau will trade with other races so I requisitioned a trading ship and went to the Emalk. Quite frankly I let them fleece me but then I went into Tau space and sold of the Emalk merchandise to certain members of the water case who I knew to be prominent enough to deal directly with the Ethereal caste. It soon came to the attention of a certain Aun Li. Aun Li is an Aun’O, very highly ranked in Tau society indeed and after a few such trips I was asked to meet with him. That was what I had been waiting for. In the first meeting I stressed the value of the Emalk’s world.

“Wait a moment,” Drascus interrupted “You said that the Emalk had ruined their world, what could make that was so valuable.
“Plenty of things Drascus. The Emalk’s great cities require incredible engineering and there are certain minerals to be found there that are unique and extremely useful. The Tau were very interested in trade and started almost immediately with Aun Li and the water caste leader we saw today over seeing things. Once trade was underway however I stepped in again. I subtly introduced the idea that the Tau were being kept away from the truly valuable Emalk merchandise, which may or may not be true. At this point I revealed my true self to Aun Li, he was surprised to be sure but once I persuaded him that I was telling the truth we hatched a plan. Aun Li first gathered the leaders of the castes that you met on board the Tau vessel. He then arranged for trade to begin to break down, making it seem like the Emalk were to blame, all in preparation for the conquest of Emalk. He arranged to have Fire and Air caste forces ready to strike as when we are ready. When he proposes his idea to take the Emalk into the bosom of the Empire by force if necessary he will be able to point to forces who are conveniently battle ready with no place to go. The time has almost come. The only real downside is that the Tau will get the Emalk’s technology and resources, but really it makes them little more dangerous than they already are to the Imperium and certainly less so than a whole new hostile race.”

“When the Tau do invade, will we go with them?” Drascus asked.
“Yes my young Interrogator, the Tau will want a gesture of good faith and expect us to attend. We will not disappoint them.
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Post by Lord of the morning »

good, good...
May I present The Dragon Reborn, He Who Comes with The Dawn, the Car'a'carn, the Cooramoor, The Prince of the Dawn, The Lord of the Morning, the King of Illian, and True Defender of the Light, Rand al'Thor.
RIP Robert Jordan
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Post by Drainial »

Its taken a while but here is the next two parts, number 5 is just a short linking peice where Drascus is back in the court room. Hope you enjoy it.

Part four

The world of Emalk was every bit the waste land Cassandra had described, to Drascus who had only ever seen the beautiful world of Asacia it was doubly horrific. The ground was churned to a vast plain of dark mud, here and there within the track marks a mile wide and twenty feet deep dead stunted shrubs and weeds attempted to grow but even such hardy plants could not truly live in such an inhospitable place. The way that these Emalk treated their world filled Drascus with new resolve, these beasts could not be allowed to take their ways and ruin the clean worlds of the Imperium of man. Off course Cassandra claimed that there were imperial worlds, worlds like Armageddon that made this world look like a meadow, but Drascus simply couldn’t believe that. They just seemed worse because the humans there should be living better, that was it.

Tau bustled quietly around Drascus and Cassandra, in the year since the war began two things had happened to bring Drascus to this place. Drascus himself was hardened, he had proved himself in combat many times and the tracks of war had ground down his eternal optimism and replaced it with a steely resolve to destroy all those who stood against mankind, he had also acquired decent equipment. His armour was a breast plate of standard Tau manufacture, this one however was mat black where the Fire caste’s shone bright blue and in its centre ran the crimson I of the inquisition with a single silver skull at the centre. From somewhere Cassandra had produced a beautiful force cane for Drascus to wield as she had no psychic aptitude herself, and he carried a Tau pulse pistol that he had picked up in a fight and had simply kept in preference to other imperial weapons. He had also acquired a refractor field to keep him safe from the more potent weapons in the Emalk’s arsenal.

The other thing to develop was a technique for brining down the vast tracked cities of the Emalk. When one was sighted and its course plotted the bombers of the air caste would attack the tracks and bring it to a halt, Tau hunter cadres were then landed on the top tiers of the cities to fight their way down. Another force on the ground would enter through the gaps beneath, climbing up the mangled tracks to attack the under city and plant explosives in the engines and fuel vast fuel tanks taking advantage of the diversion created by the attack from above. Drascus was with one such force now.

The vast Leviathan had crested the horizon an hour ago and had steadily closed on Drascus’s position, now it filled Drascus’s world and the noise of its engines would have defend him without the earplug/com units provided by the Tau. Any moment know the Orcas were due to begin their bombing run.
“All units prepare for attack,” Just as the voice of the Shas’O faded ten specks dived from the heavens like titanic falcons spreading chaos and burning death. The behemoth screamed even through the ear plugs as gigantic tracks split and fell to the ground creating shockwaves that must have been felt a on the other side of the continent. As smoke poured from the gaping wounds in the now stilled city the strike force began to move, above them more aircraft landed a hunter cadre on the highest peak of the city. Drascus climbed into the Devil fish Transport that he and Cassandra shared with a unit of fire warriors armed for close assault, pulse carbines griped to their chests. Several nodded respectfully to Drascus as he took his seat next to his mentor. Cassandra was all supreme self-confidence and cool serenity. The prospect of battle did not bother her in the slightest, to be honest by this stage the impending battle did not worry Drascus much either.

The Devilfish jerked slightly as it rose of the ground but after that the anti-grav made for a ride as smooth as any Drascus had ever known. He might have appreciated this more had he ever ridden to war in an imperial Chimera. The calm ride lasted mere moments however.

The rear door crashed down and Drascus followed the fire warriors streaming out of the transport. Immediately they came into contact with a unit of Emalk warriors. The Emalk were not humanoid as were the Tau, they ran on four pairs of leg along a long segmented body that ran low to the ground for the back six legs before rising on the first two allowing the two arms to clutch various nasty looking weapons similar to imperial stubers, crude perhaps but deadly. Their skin was brown and leathery with their upper torsos protected by dull steel like metal that provided little protection from imperial, let alone Tau small arms fire.

Before the startled Emalk could act pulse carbine fire shredded the closest warriors, strings of gore and scarlet blood flew through the air as the fearsome fire power of the Tau showed its power. The Emalks were not stand for long however, knowing that they could not out shoot the Tau they threw themselves at the Tau producing short blades in both hands. After the first barrage only four Emalk remained but the beasts were as tall as a man and surprisingly swift. Knowing the Tau’s ineptitude when it came to blade work Drascus and Cassandra charged to intercept.

Raising his pistol Drascus blew out the brains of one Emalk, seeing another from the corner of his eye Drascus raised his Force cane just in time to block a blade ment for his neck. Pulling back Drascus lashed out with a series of swift blows forcing the Emalk on the defensive, ducking another thrust he stabbed out catching the Emalk square on the chest. Ordinarily such a blow from a cane would be far from fatal however as he struck Drascus called upon the power of the warp to incinerate the Emalk in a great flash of white light and crackling blue lightning.

Turning Drascus saw that Cassandra had already spilt one Emalk in two with her power sword and even as he watched she drove the blade up through the second warriors abdomen and kicked it off the blade (Drascus could never tell the gender differences of the species at first glance). She turned her back on the dieing beast, leaving it to its squeals of pain.
“Lets move on up,” She said, addressing the squad leader and Drascus. The Tau nodded and the whole group began to trot towards some intact stairs. These stages of the missions were a little imprecise, it was impossible to get plans of the individual cities so to find the engines and fuel tanks it was more a matter of following vibrations and trusting to luck than any great feat of planning.

As the unit rushed through the steel corridors burning wreckage often blocked their path. Eventually they heard sounds of fighting up ahead and in lieu of any better targets they made the decision to head towards it. Emerging from a side corridor Drascus was confronted with a large open space, in the harsh artificial lights more than 50 Emalk battled half their number in fire warriors. Despite the Tau’s superior weapons and armour sheer numbers were telling and the Tau were being pushed back. They could change that.

Drascus, Cassandra and the accompanying fire warriors had appeared on the right flank of the Emalk, they had not yet been spotted but they had to act fast if they were to maintain the element of surprise. Cassandra shouted something into the com link, Drascus didn’t really hear it but he saw Cassandra charge forwards and immediately followed, as did the Tau. Gathering the power of the warp again Drascus reached out and grabbed several piles of loose debris, which he then flung at the backs of the oblivious Emalk. The barrage knocked several from their feet, ceasing this momentary advantage Drascus leapt forwards pulse pistol flaring, his cane slashed downwards, his psychic power blazed through the dark wood and turned a painful blow into a strike of obliteration. Four more died whilst still on the floor before Cassandra joined him. Eight were accounted for before the Tau reacted. When they did the world turned into a landscape of blue fire and death, firing on the unprotected rear of the Emalk’s position cut down a dozen more Emalk. With the Emalk shocked and somewhat lower in numbers the first attacking Tau made a great push forwards, pulse weaponry blazed punching through crude steel armour and leathery skin. Within a minuet not a single Emalk still drew breath.

Cassandra ran towards the Shas’la leading the main Tau force, Drascus followed.
“My thanks inquisitor,” The Tau were always courteous.
“All part of a days work,” Cassandra replied with a slight smile. “Now tell me what it is we have just gained accesses to.”
“The fuel Inquisitor, we have found the main fuel reservoir.” It was impossible to see the Tau’s expression under his helmet, but his tone betrayed an excitement equal to Drascus’ he knew what this ment.

The Trio made there way to a pair of large iron double doors, the Shas’la snapped of some quick orders to his squads to create a perimeter and called in a special squad of Tau, there armour markings marked them as combat engineers. That did not translate exactly, amongst the Tau all of the engineers came from amongst the earth caste and the idea of crossover was anathema to them, never the less these Tau were extremely good at blowing things up.

First came the doors, the specialists planted shaped charges at the four corners of the frame. Standing well back they blew them in a strangely muffled explosion that took the door clean of the hinges. Advancing inside Drascus saw a sight now familiar to him, the tank was massive. The fuel inside could have provided an armoured regiment with enough fuel to get them through an entire campaign with some to spare, it along with four others would power the moving city for a year. They also made quite a large bang. The Tau were already moving, huge mounds of plastic explosives and shaped charges sprouted from the armoured tank, the Emalk took no risks when it came to their fuel sources, fuel was life but the amount of explosives the Tau were putting down would blow the foot of the Titan.

Already the Shas’la was on the vox to the Shas’O, now that one of the main targets had been taken the whole strike force could pull out. Indeed as the fire warriors finished setting the explosives they were pulling out. Drascus and Cassandra left side by side (Drascus had long ago abandoned his position at her heel). The Tau filed out by squad all alert for signs of attack but none came. The combat engineers came last, pausing to mine all of the tunnels into the reservoir. It would not do for the explosives to be disarmed before they could be employed.

Drascus and Cassandra followed the Tau through the tunnels, there were sporadic attacks by small groups of Emalk warriors but all were repulsed without loss the Tau’s body armour proving itself the equal of any imperial carapace.

Eventually they found themselves back at the entrance point, the Emalk had been held at bay by several Fire warrior squads who acknowledged them as the passed. Many other Tau had already returned and the Devilfish grew increasingly crowded, few Tau had died but several Devilfish had been destroyed in the Emalk counter attacks. The Devilfish launched themselves out of the gaping wounds in the cities iron hide. The Tau craft swiftly flew out of the range of the mostly silenced city guns. As they did not Air caste landing craft airlifted the second strike force from the upper tiers. When everyone was clear the Shas’O made contact with the leader of the combat engineers.
“We are clear, initiate explosions, for the Greater Good.”
“For the Greater Good,” The Fire warrior replied. With that he took out a small stick, a hand with high and three inches wide with a small red button on top. A detonator. Without preamble the button was pressed.

Even through the earplugs and the Devilfish and over a mile away the noise momentarily defend Drascus. The city did not simply explode. It erupted! That was the only comparison that did it justice. The shockwave tilted the Devilfish forward momentarily before the pilot brought it back under control.

Landing back at the small operations base in the area Drascus looked back at the great heap of mangled metal that had replaced the once great moving city. No signs of life had been detected from within the ruins and Drascus was not surprised. It was no different from the fourteen others he had seen and helped destroyed. Nor from the hundred or more that had been destroyed worldwide. The war was nearing its end. That city had been the last true giant and even it was a hound beside a wolf compared to the monsters they had seen at the start of the war.

Cassandra turned to face Drascus
“You did well in there. Ten Emalk, that’s near to your personal best.”
“They needed to die,”
“Off course but your record during this war revivals the greatest hero’s of the imperial guard. Even the Tau have come to respect you and that is not an honour they bestow on many humans. You have learned much here, but it is time to move on. The life of an inquisitor is more than combat and high intrigue. There have been reports of imperial citizens in the Vabatus cluster trading with Hrud, we are going to investigate. We leave in two days.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part Five

“Cassandra and I spent three years investigating and hunting down the traders and another six months to find and cleanse the Hrud themselves. I never liked the Hrud, even for Xenos there a shiftless bunch of treacherous rodents. A word of Advice to you youngsters, never turn your back on a Hrud because you’ll get a poison dart between your shoulder blades. Anyway after that little diversion we spent some time driving of a Tryanid splinter fleet. All in all we were together for six years. At the end of our battles against splinter fleet Belaphron Cassandra decided that I was ready to take on the mantle of Inquisitor in the Emperor’s most Holy Inquisition. Though I was sad to part with her I headed back to Asacia for my official ordination.”
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Post by Darthken »

very good indeed, keepem coming
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Post by 51la5 »

This is great more please.
Silas Group 24

Weapon Skill 3
Strength 2
Dexterity 5
Toughness 2
Intelligence 5

Skills: Basic Stealth.

Equipment:
short sword, repeater crossbow, Light green shade cloak, Fire lighter, Stealth armour, Map, 48 gold.
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Post by Drainial »

Its taken quite a while but here is Part 6. Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 6

Asacia, it had been six long years since he had seen her last. The Turquoise ball of his home world shone radiantly in the light of its sun, even from orbit Asacia was easily the most beautiful planet Drascus had ever set eyes upon. Drascus was travelling on a great space barge, once it had belonged to the most affluent of the traders who had grown fat on trade with the Hrud, now it served to bring Drascus home in some considerable comfort as well as protecting him with formidable firepower. Inquisitor Drascus (for he was an inquisitor now, the ceremonies to come were a mere formality) it sounded good to him. He was one of the youngest Inquisitors ever to come from the world of Asacia.

The ships vox crackled into life as the barge began its approach on the planet
“Unidentified space craft, state your intentions.” It was a man’s voice at the end of the line, a bored man and one who had apparently given up on civility some time ago. Drascus pushed a button on the command throne and answered
“I intend to land you fool what else would I be intending to do?” Well if the man couldn’t be civil he saw no reason to be.
“Oh and on whose authority? You can’t just waltz into Asacia.” Drascus was fairly sure that last bit was not in whatever manual the rest of the questions had come from. However it worried him, Asacia had always been open to all imperial ships when he had left.
“Inquisitorial authority. I am Inquisitor Drascus Aranthalus so still your tongue lest I cut it out when I land,” With that Drascus shut of the vox and broadcast a digital image of the inquisitorial seal to the address of the arrogant questioner. There were no more interruptions.
As the barge passed low over the planet Drascus got the feeling that some thing was wrong. Across the lands bellow hung a great pall of smoke. This was the agricultural continent fires of this kind were unheard of here they destroyed huge numbers of crops. This was not normal. He had to find out what was going on. Drascus called over the navigational officer
“Land at the nearest viable location, we will continue on to the capital later,” The officer scurried of the do as he was bid. It had taken a few days but no one on the ship argued with Drascus anymore.

The barge landed on a large patch of scorched earth. The landing ramp slammed down with a concussive thud and Drascus walked down at a sedate pace, force cane in hand. The first thing to hit him was the smell, the overwhelming sweet stench of burnt flesh. Human flesh. Then he saw the source. Bodies were piled in a heap fifteen feet high and thirty across. Each had the unmistakable burn hole of a las gun through the centre of the forehead, obviously executed. The whole grisly mound was aflame.

Fury and disgust burned through Drascus, who had done this to his people? Why?
“Oi!” The exclamation came from Drascus’ left. The voice was male voice full of aggression and self-assurance.
“What are you doing here? Clear off!” Drascus turned.
“What has happened here?” Drascus asked. The man was large, as tall as Drascus and a good deal wider. He wore a black tunic of roughly woven cloth and dark brown trousers. A serviceable las pistol was holstered at his hip and he held a small bludgeon in one fist. His face was fixed in a sneer of passive aggression.
“Just a cleanse what’s it to you? Civilian’s aint allowed to be here.”
“Well then it’s a good thing that I am not a civilian then. What do you mean by a cleanse, all I see are murdered citizens of Asacia.” The thug looked unimpressed.

Drascus had to admit that he did look like a rich young man more than a seasoned inquisitor. At only 27 years of age he did not look like a man who had seen the world let alone several worlds. He wore no armour at present nor had he picked up a pistol. The force cane was a potent weapon but to the untrained eye it was merely a fancy stick. He was dressed in a white shirt and long deep blue coat; the cuffs were discreetly decorated around the cuffs with sliver thorns and blood red roses. He would have to educate the man.

“I am waiting for an answer man.” Drascus’ voice was level and commanding.
“No civilians here mate, back on your ship your you’ll be taken back.” Ah well some men never learned. Drascus reached out into the warp, gathering its power he slipped into the thugs mind making him more malleable and more open to questioning.
“What do you mean by a cleanse?” He asked again
“Just the mutants sir, got the round them up and cleanse them sir. And the dissidents.”

Mutants? Asacia had never had enough real mutants for one of these mounds and the man spoke of it as if it were commonplace. Drascus bent to examine a body on the edge of the pile; the body was of an old man. He looked normal, there at the back of the neck. Hidden in the wrinkles a few scattered lizard scales. Comprehension flooded Drascus. Asacia had always been accepting of those with minor peculiarities, small mutations like these. They had never proved any kind of a problem in the past; some one from out side must be behind this, some one with power enough to overturn the laws of an entire planet.

“When did this begin?” Drascus asked of the man
“A year ago sir, when the new Inquisitor arrived.”
“What Inquisitor?”
“Inquisitor Vitor sir, Corvous Vitor,” Drascus nodded, there was the source of this atrocity, he would be at the capitol for sure it was the only place from which to organise such a feet across the planet.
Drascus stood again and channelled the energies of the warp into the force cane. The cane blazed suddenly as the power was discharged into the thug. Perhaps he had not started this horror but he had perpetrated it in the name of this Inquisitor Corvous Vitor, had spoken of it in such an off hand manner that it was quite obvious that he cared nothing for the fates of these poor innocent souls.

Drascus walked back to his barge. Anger surged in his heart. First he would find out the true condition of his beloved Asacia, then he would rain such vengeance down upon the perpetrators that they would wish for there audience with the emperor long before their time.
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Post by Darthken »

exelent.
but you had to leave us hanging though ;)
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Post by Loran »

Amazing :) It gets better all the time. Great work, mate!

Can't wait for the rest of it :D

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Post by Drainial »

Well I am afraid you did have to wait and I apologise. No more however, here is part 7.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 7

The eastern fringe glittered with a smattering of stars and a few dull smears of far of planets, in all it was a perfect example of the perfect stillness that was the universe. Suddenly through the infinite blackness a tear of light and impossible noise blazed through the nothingness. The warp is beyond human ability to fully comprehend let alone describe. Through this rip in the planes of reality there emerged a disappointingly small oblong space barge. Drascus sat at the command throne contemplating his next move. In truth he had gone over it so many times before that it was simply a way of claming his nerves. He had done what he was planning before, but only as Cassandra’s adjutant, the expected monotone voice of a servitor piped up
“Revered Inquisitor,” Drascus made a mental note to have the tech staff make these servitors less formal
“ There is a message of Xenos origin.”
“Very well, let us hear it,” Drascus commanded.

++You are now entering the Tau Empire, imperial vessel state your intentions++
The Tau voice was stiffly formal as was the way of the Tau when dealing with outsiders. Drascus pushed a button on the armrest of the Throne
“Tau outpost, this is Imperial Inquisitor Drascus Aranthalus. I request safe passage in the Empire and contact with revered Aun’O Li.”
++Your request will be considered, remain were you are, Inquisitor++
If Drascus did not know otherwise he could have sworn it was a machine talking.
“Send a message to Aun Li, he will vouch for me.”
++We will see++
The message cut out.

Drascus waited for three days, his impatience grew by the day but then again it took time to get messages across the stars. His impatience fed on him however; he was fairly confident that Aun Li would listen to him; the two of them had spoken often and gained a certain measure of respect for each other even if they had never formed anything approaching friendship. The Tau were one of the most human Xenos in the galaxy but they were not that human. Eventually the out post, silent since the first transition, beeped into life once more.
++Revered Inquisitor++ The Tau spoke a little more respectfully now
++Aun Li will meet with on the Hero class star ship Industrious Endeavour. Please travel to this set of co-ordinates++
“We shall.” Drascus shut of the transmission and opened and other to the engine room
“All speed to the following co-ordinates,” Drascus sent them through. The ship shuddered almost imperceptibly as it lurched into motion its plasma drives shunting the vast tonnage of the barge through the void.


The boarding ramp lowered with agonising slowness. Drascus was acutely aware of the similarities to his first trip on the Pre-emptive strike. As before the ramp slowly uncovered the grey blue wrinkled face and white and orange robes of Aun’O Li. Drascus himself was wearing his most formal clothing, long black coat with silver lions running down the cuffs and lapels, white silk shirt and obligatory force cane and pulse pistol in polished warm black leather. The Tau leader spoke first
“So an Inquisitor now young Aranthalus, and what brings you back to our Empire so soon?”

“I have no time for games Aun Li, so I shall not attempt to play them. Can we speak in private?”
The Tau hid it well but Drascus that he was both amused and not a little irritated by Drascus’ manor. Drascus had grown a great deal in the years since the invasion of Emalk, it would take a little time for the aged Tau to fully come to terms with his now more assertive and commanding nature; though Drascus was well aware that he must curb that nature when dealing with Aun Li. The Tau commanded absolute loyalty from every Tau on the ship and without him the plan was lost. He would not play the games Cassandra had. Not when the vengeance of Asacia was the issue.
“Very well Drascus, follow me.” Li waved the other Tau in the hanger out of his way and marched quickly through the large doors and through the white halls of the ship until the arrived at a door that slid open as the Li touched his hand to a panel in the wall. Inside was a simple room. It was small, two chairs and a small table filling the space. The room was bathed in soft light and typified the Tau style of simple, well made elegance.

Aun Li sat and motioned Drascus to do so.
“Well Inquisitor, what is so urgent?”
Drascus had been planning for this moment for many days; he had considered and rejected a dozen stories and had finally decided on a version of the truth with a twist of flattery. He took a breath and began a story that would change the fate of billions
“There is a planet near to the boarder of Tau space, it is a world currently controlled by the Imperium of man. This world is a paradise, fertile fields and golden sunsets, bountiful oceans, and peaceful liberty for all.” Drascus sighed


The Tau’s face had taken on a speculative expression; Drascus knew that his entirely accurate description was having the desired effect.
“So how does this world concern the Tau?” asked Li.
“That is how things used to be. I returned but recently the Asacia, for that is the name of this world. I arrived to find a much-changed world; the fields remain fertile, the sunsets remain golden and the oceans bounty is not diminished, but liberty lies dead upon the soil of Asacia. One year ago an inquisitor named Corvous Vitor arrived on Asacia. You are familiar I am sure with the effects of mutation?” Aun Li nodded “Asacia was more lenient that most with such beings. Those with minor afflictions walked free of persecution as they should in any civilised society. I know that no Tau would be cast out of his Caste and society for some small mark upon his body which he could not possibly hope to change.”
“This is so,”
“However with the coming of Vitor things changed. The governor was executed and all across the planet hundreds of thousands were brutally murdered by those who had once called them neighbour. Not out of any personnel malevolence but simply out of fear, though I worry about the effect the propaganda will have on the children. Thousands dead Li, and for no purpose!” Drascus’ voice had been angry as he described these events. Now he sounded plaintive “I have seen the Imperium and there is no help for Asacia their, the Tau are our only hope. Take Asacia into your great empire Aun Li, and let liberty thrive again! I beg of you.”

Aun Li was silent for a long minuet, for sixty terrible seconds Drascus was sure that he was going to refuse, his heart thumped in his chest and only monumentally self-control kept him from speaking once again. Finally Li spoke
“Inquisitor Drascus,” he said in a profound and official tone “The Tau will help this poor world and bring it into the loving arms of the greater good.”
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Post by Drainial »

I have neglected this story for far, far to long. I have a bad habit of starting these kinds of things and not finishing them. Well not this time. So if anyone at all still cares here is part 8. Its been a very long wait and you have all probobly forgotern whats hapened but anyway. Heres hoping someone wants to know what hapens.

_________________________________________________________

Part 8

“There is a great deal to do Drascus, and I hope you understand that an invasion cannot be launched overnight,” Li continued in a less formal tone
“Of course Aun’O, I am well aware that we must plan and gather your forces.”
“Yes indeed but that is not the only barrio. I am a powerful being within the Empire young Drascus, but I do not have the authority to requisition the millions of troops necessary to invade an entire planet. I shall have to leave you for a good while to take your case to the high council. It is there that the decision must ultimately be made as to whether we shall expand the empire in this unplanned direction. Before I can put my case to them there are many things I need to know, the Tau do not go anywhere blind folded, and we will not allow ourselves to be used as your personal tool. Remember that Drascus, I do this not for you but for the Greater good.”
“Of course Li, what is it you need to know? I may not be able to answer all of your questions but I shall certainly try to do my best.”

“First and foremost, the most important question is this, if we invade this world what kind of military force can be fielded in its defence and what are the chances of a counter invasion force by the Imperium?”
Luckily Drascus had prepared himself for this, he had spent two months, one weak and four days longer on Asacia than he had wanted to and had discovered much, including the military strength of his home world.

“Inquisitor Vitor, that foul murderer, brought with him a full regiment of experienced imperial guardsmen, the Akaline IIV. That’s five thousand experienced and well-armed troops. He also brought two hundred Ordo Hereticus storm troopers and five hundred members of the sisters of battle, the chamber militant of the Ordo. All of these are fanatically loyal to the Inquisitor and the Emperor and hold no compassion for the people of Asacia what so ever.” Drascus paused
“But that’s not all, is it Drascus?” Li prompted
“Not even slightly. During his time on Asacia Vitor has polluted many minds, particularly those already in position of a vicious streak. In the year and three months since he took over he has raised sixty regiments of local militia, trained them and set them on the local populace in a campaign of terror. That’s another three hundred thousand troops, well equipped but utterly inexperienced and only barely trained. Discipline appears to be good though, and moral is high though it may well crumble at the sight of an enemy who doesn’t cower before them.”

“They are supported by the regular army who by and large switched loyalties to the Inquisitor when he declared himself dictator for the duration of ‘the crisis’, the few regiments who resisted were executed. The Asacian army is relatively small and has not fought a full blown war in centauries, never the less it can still call upon twenty well armed and well trained regiments of soldiers, a further hundred thousand troops. So Vitor can call upon roughly four hundred and five thousand and seven hundred troop, five thousand seven hundred of which are experienced soldiers.” Drascus continued.

“But even that’s not everything is it Inquisitor. I would hate to think that you were withholding anything. What of the PDF?” Li asked, leaning on the table slightly.

Despite his resolve to do things right Drascus hesitated for a second. When Aun Li heard the numbers it might make him reconsider. But honesty was the only way. It was the only safe way at any rate, if Li found him to be lying then he could find himself blown out of an air lock, and Li didn’t miss much. Reluctantly he continued
Even after all of the recent massacres the total population of Asacia is still approximately four billion. After discounting all of the Children, the aged and those in professions vital enough to any war effort to be excused services that number is significantly reduced. Even so, at full call out Asacia can field at least one hundred million men and women. I will take time however to call up so many, longer to equip them and longer still to train them. And I can say with certainty that there are not even close to enough weapons on the planet to equip so many. And the training will take experienced soldiers of the front lines. Our best chance, perhaps our only chance is to make a swift strike to destroy the high command. Once Vitor and his hand picked generals are slain I can declare him excommunicate Traitorous and all of his actions and laws null and void. With any luck at all the army will then defect to us; and the PDF call up will be reversed. The death of Vitor and the prospect of fighting an actual war should cause the extermination battalions to disintegrate and leave only a few thousand diehards, easily moped up. Of course the Storm troopers, Akaline IIV and the Sisters of battle will still have to be dealt with, but the Fire caste should have no difficulty in that.

Li nodded his bald, blue grey head. Amongst the Tau that meant much the same as a smile,
“I shall have to confer with my Fire caste advisors, but I think that if you are correct, and the death of this Vitor will cause so much of the Asacian forces to disperse I should have no difficulty in gathering the forces that shall be needed.”

“And how large, would you estimate, such forces would need to be?” Drascus asked
“It will depend I am sure on many factors, not least the state of the air and orbital defences of Asacia, which we shall go into next. However I should think that two million Fire warriors should do very well indeed.”

Li questioned Drascus for many hours, bringing in the heads of the Fire, Earth and Air castes aboard the Industrious Endeavour to advise him at various times. But he seemed happy to Drascus, almost eager, though the expressions and mannerisms of Xenos were always difficult to decipher. Drascus realised that in all probability this was Li’s last chance to do a great deed for the Greater Good. The Tau were not a long-lived race and his time was drawing to an end. He would help, Asacia would be free.
Last edited by Drainial on Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Neferata »

Excellent work :D! I'm looking forward to read the rest of it.

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Post by Drainial »

Well, at this point I doubt anyone cares but I decided to take up the story once more.

_______________________________________________________________________

Part 9

The Belaphron, Drascus’ heavily modified space barge, shuddered as yet another lance strike impacted on its shields.
“Shield strength at seventy eight percent,” one officer called out to the bridge crew at large, forced to raise his voice over the murmur of officers conferring and worrying mingled with the hum of engines stretched to their limit. Every few minutes the general cacophony generated by so many individuals busily working to keep the barge both in one piece and moving on course was punctuated by the dull thud of lance cannons firing into the void.

“New coordinates, hard to starboard and tilt north seven degrees!” The ships master called out, his clam clear voice cutting through the organised pandemonium with practised ease. Drascus could admire the man, he was one of the few members of the crew he would could something like a friend. At any rate they had played many games of regicide together in Drascus’ apartments (the man wasn’t bad, a little over reliant on his rooks perhaps). Shaking his head Drascus forced his mind away from such meaningless wanderings; it was finally at hand. The liberation of Asacia was long overdue. It had taken four long years; four years, two days and eight hours, of endless Tau politicking to get approval for the invasion of Asacia. Drascus had laboured alongside Aun’Li for a further six years, three months and four days to bring about the end of various military actions in order that the forces might be made ready for the liberation. Another year and a half to gather the fleet, put the logistics in place and load up the troops. A further eight months (as closely as could be calculated travelling through the warp) had been spent in transit and now, twelve years and more after leaving behind his beloved home, he could finally begin to set things right.
A lot of things had changed in that time, as numerous scouting expeditions to the planet had revealed. The general slaughter continued, though the focus now was on rooting out the last few ‘twists’ being sheltered in the homes of the brave and the compassionate. Vitor remained in power, still dictator by his own inquisitorial decree. The army was in fact weaker than it had been, Vitor had carried out a ‘grand purge’ of the rank and file the year after Drascus had left and it had left the armed forces decimated. All things considered though things could have changed a great deal more, had Vitor managed to settle himself more completely, or set up some puppet government, the plan may not have been viable, and it had to work, it had to! It was certainly the only chance they had.

Aun’Li had managed to gather a vast invasion force of over two million fire warriors with many more support staff aboard a veritable armada of ships, but if the planet resisted, if it could withstand the initial blow and gather its forces things could turn against the invaders very swiftly indeed. Two million fire warriors were a formidable force by any standard but against the resources of an entire world geared for war... Drascus shook his head. It had to work.
Another great shudder, harder than before, shook Drascus out of his reverie.

“Shields holding at forty four percent!”
Another shudder racked the deck, this time it was accompanied by the low moan of a warning siren
“Shields at twenty six percent!” The lieutenant called out once more, his voice shaking with the strain. The orbital defences of Asacia were antiquated but strong. Though no war fleet had been sent against them (the Imperial Navy had no ties with Asacia) lance batteries and missile silos were dotted throughout the asteroid belt encircling each of its three moons and upon the planet surface its self.

A large table dominated the centre of the bridge, for centuries it had been thought a somewhat odd ornament for the space, five feet wide and four across it sat directly before the command throne usually reserved for the captain of the ship, occupied now by Drascus. Then the Tau had gotten a look at it. Much to the dismay of the more conservative of the Belaphron’s attendant tech priest’s earth caste scientists and engineers had been allowed to study the ship. It had all been part of one of the many deals Drascus had struck in order to have the invasion sanctioned. Much to the surprise of both the tech priests and the ships master the ‘table’ turned out to contain a fairly sophisticated holographic projection system linked with sensors dotted about the ship and was capable of displaying a surrounding battle in precise detail. As far as anyone could tell a wire had snapped one day about a thousand years ago and no one had ever fixed it. With time the projector’s true use was forgotten and a priceless artefact and useful tool had fallen into disrepair. After copying the circuitry (once again against the objections’ of the tech priests) the system had been repaired.
Blue images representing Tau vessels floated above the surface of the table, projected six feet into the air. Great flickering clouds of gunships darted like swarms of hornets, encircling the many satellites and silos and levelling them. Further back (if any way could be called ‘back’ in the void) larger ships powered forward, some adding their great guns to the bombardment, others spewing out new clouds of smaller ships.

The attack was succeeding, though not without cost. Symbols flickered and died as turrets and batteries obliterated dozens of small craft with each passing minuet and already one great Hero Class star ship burned in the blackness, crippled and decompressed, oxygen bleeding out alongside frozen grey bodies. But each minuet brought less death, less destruction for the liberating Xenos as fewer guns returned fire. The guns of Asacia could not hold back the armada, all the legions of hell would not prevent the return of Inquisitor Drascus Aranathlus. He would descend to the surface, burning staff in hand and seek out the vile excuse for living being that had brought about the desecration of paradise. Liberty would live again, though it cost a million lives or more to see it done.
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Post by Lonely shade »

Very nice story! Just minor issues with article use and verb tense. Also, if singular it is woman, women is plural. Is this the end or will the story continue?

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Post by Slortor »

wow! i care!

im not usually a 40K fan but this stuff is excellent. I'd love to see some more. As Lonely said there are a few things that need editing but that doesnt detract from the story at all.

Please keep going.
Name: Khalia D'Vaarko (meaning: Khalia, property of Vaarko)
Age: 210
Height/Weight: 5'6", 8 stone
Other: no distinguishing features, barring the brand of a great house left wrist.
Class: Mage
Equipment: Robes, Dagger, Staff
Skills: Power of Ulgu, Power of Chamon
Stats: Ws3, S3, T3, D4, I5

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Post by Drainial »

There is a little more, probobly three more parts. Here is the next one, I hope you enjoy it.

_______________________________________________________________________

Part 10


“Bring her down captain,” Drascus instructed the master of the Belaphron. Smiling softly the captain gave the order, all had gone well and the shields had held. The ship had barely taken a scratch, many of its ancient systems, long redundant or run inefficiently for a thousand years and more were running as though new, the legacy of the earth caste. The bridge seemed almost eerily quiet now that the battle was done, the orbital defences destroyed or circumvented; but the void above Asacia filled with new life. The great armada of Aun’Li cast long shadows over whole continents, blocking out the sun. Even as they glided in toward his world two million fire warriors girded themselves for war and packed themselves into shuttles and drop ships, ready to take the liberation down onto firm hard ground.

Outwardly Drascus was the utter epitome of calm, only those who knew him well would notice the way his hand griped the carven handle of his cane and clenching and unclenching his fingers in time to the beating of his heart. Within he was near to breaking point, so many emotions running through him; excitement, nerves, fear for what was to come, fear for his people, fear that he was wrong and the people were happy. But above all rage, such blinding rage. When he had first set eyes upon the blasted and ruined world of Emalk Drascus had known anger and revulsion in equal measure; but it had been mingled with something else, pity. He had pitied these poor benighted creatures, for the world they had to live in, for the lives they had to lead, because they were not under the protection of the emperor and because Cassandra had decreed that they must die. They had had to, that was clear; their deaths had been for the good of the Imperium of man. But still there had been a spark, the merest smidgen of compassion. When Cassandra and he had tracked down Harold Booth, the trader in whose barge Drascus now sat, Drascus had first encountered an open traitor against mankind. He had been dealing in secrets for forbidden poisons used in the assassinations of highly prominent imperial officials; the man had made the then interrogator’s blood boil till he spat red steam. And yet Drascus could see in him a young boy who only wanted to see far away planets. Delving into Booths thoughts Drascus had witnessed the fall of a once noble man through greed and avarice, and once more he had known pity. But here and now, toward Inquisitor Corvus Vitor, he could summon none, not a drop of pity nor a shred of understanding. There was only rage. Anger stoked for twelve years in a slow burning furnace, hot and deadly yet controlled with practised care by a master smith. And that scared him, just a little. If he truly could summon no compassion, who was to say that he was any better than Vitor himself?

As the ship closed in on a bare patch of ground near to the edge of Asac, the capitol city of Asacia Drascus shook himself mentally. This was not the time for such musings, nor the place.

“Captain I must prepare myself for battle. Take the ship down and ensure that all proper defences are in place. I want no fuss from the local populace, if they attempt to barter passage off the planet deal with them, but do not let anyone onto the ship without my express permission.”
“Yes sir,” Ship master Grayson saluted with good grace, though Drascus knew he resented being supplanted as commander of the ship. Likely he would already have known what needed to be done; he was a most capable man. But on today of all days he could take no unnecessary risks. They could afford no mistakes; Asacia could not afford any mistakes.

Leaving the command throne to the captain Drascus made his way to his personal quarters. They were close by and with his long and hurried stride Drascus arrived in good time. Stepping inside the young inquisitor barely glanced at the sumptuous surroundings and instead made his way directly to the far corner of the main room. Upon a mannequin their rested his arms and armour, hardly changed in all the years he had fought. Quickly Drascus shrugged of his coat of deep midnight blue and donned a carapace of Tau manufacture. Cassandra had set one of the artificers upon the Pre-emptive Strike to altering it; the result was impressive to say the least. In place of the bright blue favoured by the Tau sept from which the army was drawn the armour was black as pitch, down the centre the crimson I of the Inquisition dominated the armour, with a sliver skull staring gauntly from the centre. After the carapace was buckled into place Drascus donned his gun belt of plain black leather, his ever reliable pulse pistol already tucked into the holster. Thus prepared Drascus put his coat on once more, though he let it hang open so that the Inquisitorial seal was clearly visible. Finally Drascus picked up his force cane, the aged mahogany wood carved with promises of retribution in stylised high gothic and finished with sliver filigree was the most potent of his tools. He could only hope that it would be enough.

Armed and armoured now Drascus descended through several levels of his ship, passing many hurrying officers and members of the crew as they scurried around on one essential errand or another. Drascus nearly ran one fellow down so absorbed was he in his own thoughts and fears. It was a measure of stress he felt that the man was sent away without so much as a apology, Drascus made a point of being civil with the crew. On such a small craft resentment in anyone of them could cause problems.
The deck under his feet changed, on one level soft wood floors shone with the glow of a fine polish, on the next cold hard steel clanged under his boots. This portion of the ship was strictly utilitarian, the glamour and comfort of the space barge forgone in favour practicality. Yet more deck hands passed him by, giving brief nods or none at all. Drascus barely noticed, there was much to be done. Even as he emerged into a large hall, forty feet wide and seventy across with neat stacks of crates lining the walls Drascus felt the deck lurch beneath his feet. Several deckhands swayed with the ship and one young man, barely nineteen by the look of him (he must have been a child when Drascus had taken command of the ship) actually fell over, much to the amusement of his elder comrades.
The com bead in Drascus’ sleeve beeped

“Inquisitor,” It was Grayson “We have landed.”
“So I noticed captain, well done. I barely felt the impact.” Drascus commented dryly. The ship’s master had the good humour to chuckle; it was as though he felt no anxiety at all. Perhaps he didn’t, Asacia wasn’t his world after all.

“Lower the ramp if you would captain, I am in the unloading bay.” By way of answer a segment of the wall swung out and down with a slow hydraulic hiss.
Stepping off the ramp Drascus savoured his first breath of clean Asacian air for twelve years. With the gentle sunlight on his face and the spring flowers perfuming the air across even the largest city just to stand on Asacia once more was a pleasure. Yet the scene was marred, as it always would be until things could be set aright. For a start there were no people bustling around the suburbs, no children playing in the streets. He had expected none, of course. There was a war on no children would play in the landing grounds, no doubt they were all fled days ago to the country or deeper into the city. For another amongst the orchards and sandstone houses Fire warriors ran and earth caste workers laboured to prepare forward bases. Spying his objective Drascus strode over to a waiting group of fire warriors, several units strong with their devil fish transports idling alongside. As he walked over the Shas’vre in command stepped forward.

“Inquisitor, all is prepared and on schedule. The assault on the city centre and palace are due to begin in less than four minutes.” He said.
“Well then let us mount up.” Drascus replied with equal brevity. With a few curt orders the well trained soldiers moved out and took their places in the devil fish. Drascus took his own seat in a transport and with no further ado the small convoy was on its way.

Speeding through empty streets they made good time. As the Xenos craft wove through streets of elegant three story houses with vibrant friezes every few hundred yards Drascus could not help but wonder how the overall plan was working out. He was connected with the Tau communications of course, but he could hardly demand constant updates, not when the communication staff was under the strain of co-ordinating a planet wide invasion. He could In an imperial force, but not amongst the Tau. Still every time he heard explosions in the distance Drascus could not help but wonder.

Drascus’ small strike force had made it through the city outskirts unopposed, as they approached the palace however resistance began to appear. Men in simple uniforms of died black cloth manned barricades to the old city centre. They crouched behind a road block of rusted personal transports and rubble scavenged from near by buildings, apparently hit by Tau artillery. Though they clutched bright clean las guns to their chests Drascus could tell, they were terrified. Reaching out with his mind he could feel their terror, masked with a veneer of bravado and in some cases mastered with a rude form of courage. Militia, Drascus judged. Some of Vitor’s thugs and bullies roped in to massacre their fellow citizens. They were of no real importance, but they were in the way.

Orders were given and the as the first volley of Las gun fire pattered against their armoured hulls the devil fish slewed to a halt. A spray of burst cannon fire sent the troopers ducking back behind their barricade as the fire warriors disembarked. Inside his transport Drascus waited with the Tau. As the door clanged down they rushed down the ramp. With the skill and speed of troops trained to perfection and proved in the crucible of war the fire warriors showered the executioners with blue death. Pulse rifles flaring a dozen humans fell in the first few seconds. Under the shouted directions of an apparent officer or sergeant, marked out by a cap baring a golden raven, the road guards belatedly returned fire. Lasfire blasted holes in the walls and ground, but it was too little too late. Reaching out with his mind once more Drascus focussed his attention on the sergeant. Reaching in Drascus found a decidedly ordinary mind, the mind of a bar room brawler or perhaps more accurately the bouncer whole ejected him. That he was dedicated was clear, he believed in the cause he fought for. Drascus could respect that, at the very least the thug had not murdered, burned and raped solely for the shear hell of it. Without a second thought Drascus took hold of his consciousness. The man became aware then, and he fought, but the result was never in question. The man’s mind was weak, unfocused and untrained, in less than a heartbeat his soul was snuffed out and he collapsed to the ground.

The fight was over quickly, Drascus turned his attention back to the battle at large just in time to see the end of three last soldiers. One shouted defiance and obscenities in equal measure until a pulse shot burned a hole clean through his forehead and another punched through his kidneys. Another sobbed as he shot, yet he still raked the Tau with streams of wild shots. Even as he died, chest near cut in half by pulse rifle fire the man kept firing. The final man wept behind the barrier, rifle clutched to his chest like a babe, all thoughts of fighting on forgotten. He had signed up for the chance to be someone, to belong to something greater than himself and get one over on everyone who had ever told him he would never amount to anything. Vaulting over the barrier one tall shas’vre seemed to shake his head, before placing a pistol on the man’s bowed head and ending it. It was a merciful death all things considered. Thirty odd men had died in less time than it took to have a shave. But these had been Vitor’s butchers, not trained soldiers. It was time to move on.

Grenades were placed at the foot of the barricade and the Tau had all returned to their transports by the time it was reduced to rubble, clearing the way. They sped over ground torn up by the coming of conflict. Flagstones lay shattered by the bombardment of Air caste flyers, though where they were now was a mystery to Drascus. Perhaps the cities small air force had managed to get thunder bolts into the sky before the airfields were taken. It was not his concern.

The buildings here were more imposing, grand structures. The abodes of rich and powerful people flashed by, the blooming flowers in spacious gardens seemed to mock the ruination of war. Here and there they spotted citizens, singly or in small groups. None looked to fight, most appeared to be searching for safety, any kind of sanctuary. All ran at the sight of three sleek devil fish thundering through the centre of the street, engines humming. They needn’t have bothered, the transports did not slow. The palace was at the very centre of Asac city, it was the seat from which governors had ruled since the second founding and marked the very spot colonists from Terra had come to the world, Ten thousand years ago and more.

Inside the Devil fish Drascus could see little, only glimpses of the immediate surroundings in the screens of the drivers. Yet he knew that the palace was in view now. It was a towering structure with two great spires housing many thousands of advisors and bureaucrats flanking a tall arched structure shining brightly in the mid morning sun, the slivery marble glowing with a soft sheen. Though he could not see it Drascus knew that above the great carven doors there were engraved the words ‘The worthy and the just shall know no fear, the Emperor protects.’ Those words were no longer visible, obscured by a great banner worked in black silk and gold proclaiming a new mantra, one dictated by Vitor ‘the pure shall know nor fear, let the impure beware the Emperor’s wroth’. There could be no more poignant symbol of Vitor’s tyranny.

As they drew nearer to the palace new defences began to appear. Automated turrets had been dotted in one way alleys, but they were detected and dealt with by the Tau with practised ease. Snipers had been stationed in windows and on roof tops, but their weapons lacked the punch to trouble the devil fish and they moved on through increasingly wide streets at speed.

The small convoy met real resistance at last when it turned down a corner and entered a wide boulevard a mere hundred paces from a lesser entrance into the great palace. This time however Drascus saw that they had more to contend with than a handful of barely trained thugs, forty or more soldiers of the Akaline, the regiment brought by Vitor to Asacia stood behind a sand bag palisade. All reports suggested that they were veteran troops, battle hardened and deadly. Reaching out with his mind Drascus felt nothing of the terror that had so affected Vitor’s thugs. Some worry yes, a little trepidation. But to a man they were ready to fight, to die if necessary. Not for Vitor; for the pride of the regiment and because they were soldiers of the Imperial guard. They did not want to die, but they were prepared. Nothing in their minds told Drascus that the reports were wrong. Never the less, they were between him and his objective, and so they had to die.
The devil fish sprang forward with a renewed burst of speed, spreading out of their single file and into an arrow formation. Even as the devil fish strafed the imperial position with burst cannon the guard opened fire, not with las rifles, the men knew that small arms could not stop the Tau vehicles. Unlike the thugs however the Akaline had more potent weapons at their disposal. A missile fired from a shoulder mounted launcher sailed over head as Drascus’ tank swerved to one side just in time. There was no time to weave for the devil fish to their right however as a las cannon slammed its tightly focused energy straight through the hardened armour and into the engine. With a concussion muffled by the walls of his transport Drascus heard the other devil fish explode, then the crunch as whatever remained smashed into the ground.

But now they were in range and prepared to fight. Swerving to a halt the back ramp crashed down once more and eight fire warriors swarmed out followed by Drascus. The imperial soldiers reacted with speed and precision, bathing them in las fire as they disembarked. Well crafted armour saved lives many times over in those first few seconds yet not all could be spared. The lead shas’vre took a las bolt through the lenses of his helmet and fell with a crash to the ground. Another succumbed to the sheer volume of fire and was punched of her feet, her breastplate now a smouldering mass welded to her chest. Tau were firing back now, men dropped all along the palisade as pulse rifles took their toll, flak armour no defence.
Despite the Tau’s superior weaponry and armour it was clear that as things stood the imperials would surely win. A point underlined by the detonation of their now empty devil fish, destroyed by a well aimed missile. Flicking his eyes to the right Drascus saw that a few of the Tau in the rightmost devil fish had survived and were adding their fire to the combat, but it was not enough. He had to step in. Marshalling his mind, still blazing with his pulse pistol, Drascus reached out to the warp. He drew its power into himself, glorying in its intoxication; he gathered as much as he could safely manage without shattering his mind and forfeiting his soul. Calmly and deliberately he raised his cane and levelled it at the dead centre of the wall of sand bags. Carefully he began to form the power as he wished. The Inquisitor took an involuntary backwards step as a las bolt smashed into his shoulder. The armour held, and so did his concentration. Just. Finally, after a long moment Drascus forced the energies held within himself down the length of augmented wood and out into the world. A great flash of green light broke through the duelling red and blue to impact on the sandbags. With an inrush of air the wall exploded into bright dancing flame, roaring six feet high in a sheet of conflagration so intense that the guardsmen staggered back, eyebrows aflame. The Tau fired blindly now, shooting through the flame to rake the imperials. But no retaliatory las bolts blazed back. Taking a step forward Drascus thrust his cane toward the great palace, in response his wall of emerald fire leapt forward, tendrils licking at the guardsmen. But when those green flames licked stolid soldiers they did not burn with natural fire, it consumed them with the all devouring immolation of the chimera’s breath.

Men screamed in utter agony as the wall of fire ate into them, for a full minute they howled, Drascus held the flames in place. Another minuet passed and the screams diminished to a few pathetic whimpers barely audible over the crackle of the flames, and still Drascus held it. Another full minuet passed, till no sound but the spiting fire could be heard. Finally Drascus let it go and the spectral flames disappeared as though they had never been.

Now that the flames were gone their work was clear for all to see. Battle hardened Tau made a point of looking away. One warrior actually removed his helmet and vomited onto the street. Those forty noble soldiers of the emperor were now nothing but smouldering bodies, unrecognisable as anything but human, and that only vaguely. No skin remained, only blackened flesh and melted eye balls. The serviceable small arms they carried with such pride and used with such skill cooled as discoloured puddles on the ground, glowing with the heat of a forge.
Working such a feet had left Drascus drained, he felt weary to his bones, but he could not stop now. Not when he was so close.
“Come on then,” he said to his remaining fighters, eighteen fit to fight and walk unaided. “They appear to the done with. Gather the shaped charges, we must blow the door.
Moding a group of Druchii.net players is much like directing the musical 'Cats' using actual cats. Frustrating, difficult, chaotic but ultimatley satisfying and a great deal of fun.

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Post by Slortor »

dyed - not died cloth

apart from that spelling looks good. Story is as good as ever :) we'll be heading back to the courtroom some time soon?
Name: Khalia D'Vaarko (meaning: Khalia, property of Vaarko)
Age: 210
Height/Weight: 5'6", 8 stone
Other: no distinguishing features, barring the brand of a great house left wrist.
Class: Mage
Equipment: Robes, Dagger, Staff
Skills: Power of Ulgu, Power of Chamon
Stats: Ws3, S3, T3, D4, I5

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Post by Drainial »

This will get finished, I am determined.
_______________________________________________________________________

Part 11
With a muffled crump and a brazen clang the thick steel door thudded to the ground, opening up the palace to Drascus’ small strike force. Wasting no time all quickly filed through, Drascus at the head. The walls were bare here, simple brick coated in white wash, in his lengthy preparations Drascus had memorised the layout of the governor’s palace in excruciating detail. It had been an obsession for him in the first few months, working with Aun’Li to gather support for the liberation. The Inquisitor could quite easily have drawn a map of the palace in great detail, they were in the servants quarters (assuming that they were still used now as they had been for millennia); there was a long way to go if they were ever to reach the governors command room.

Wordlessly they set out, the fire warriors following Drascus’ lead. With their boots hammering on the wooden floor he wondered that all the world did not hear them and rush to block him. But they did not, not yet. Sirens howled throughout the halls, no doubt one more hurried patter of soldiers’ boots went unheeded with so many rushing to and fro. The small group rounded a corner; here at last they found resistance. No soldiers with bulky packs of kit and well oiled guns nor booby traps and barricades; a tiny gaggle of servants stared in silent, wide eyed shock at the sudden appearance of aliens in their home. The fire warriors too came to a halt, unsure of what to do. They could afford no time to take prisoners.

The servants shuffled back. Some, Drascus saw, were very young, boys and girls just into their teens. It made sense, palace jobs were often handed down the generations. Now at the fore front of the crowd stood an old woman, back unbowed despite her grey hair and weather beaten face. In her livery she seemed an ancient matriarch, fiercely proud and protective of her family despite her lowly station. For several seconds the impasse continued before Drascus’ made his way forward.
“Our quarrel is not with you but with your master, return to your rooms and stay there until the fighting is over and you shall not be harmed.” Drawing herself up despite the terror in her eyes the old woman replied
“And if we don’t? You will kill us here with your filthy Xenos pets? Cut us down like the cowards all traitors are?” Drascus was stunned; it had never occurred to him that they might refuse.

His hesitation was taken, by some at least amongst the servants, as confirmation. One young man, perhaps fourteen years old, suddenly rushed forward. An older man lunged to stop him but was too slow. Running toward Drascus he screamed “Traitor!” Truly shocked now Drascus stood his ground as the boy slammed into him; the scrawny creature was far too light to knock the Inquisitor to the ground, but madness lent him strength as he clawed for Drascus’ eyes. Blind instinct took over, unreasoning, unthinking instinct; there was a flash of blue, the stench of scorched skin and a shrill, warbling scream. Drascus looked down; on the floor before him lay the boy, mewling and thrashing in agony, clawing at the hole in his gut.

The normally unflappable Inquisitor took an involuntary step backwards. What had he done? To take the lives of soldiers was one thing, it was a fight, it was fair, it was what they signed up for. To kill for a cause that was one thing, it had purpose beyond the action. But what was his cause if not the very boy crying at his feet?
They were all screaming now, all of the servants. All save the matriarch standing at the fore, hatred burning in her eyes. They scattered, running, some forward in frenzy, some backward in fear. They would alert the guards, he would fail, and all of Asacia would be left to the tyranny of Vitor. And that was the reason, bigger than the boy, bigger than Drascus or any single man. The whole mattered more than its parts, what were these few compared to the people of the world? With tears threatening his eyes but a voice etched in steel he said “Open fire.”
The Tau, Drascus often reflected, were truly excellent soldiers. Instantly the well drilled warriors levelled their short carbines and let out a hail of burning blue light. The corridor lay quiet again and Drascus strode forward, wishing to be away from this place, far away. As he walked a hand clamped around his leg, strong and firm. The Inquisitor paused, looking down. The old woman was still breathing; still hating him, he could taste her mind. Her lips, withered and cracked, moved; yet he heard nothing. Bending down he put his ear close to her mouth, with what must have been near to the last of her strength she croaked one word
“Why?” Drascus stood. He knew the answer, a credo few could fully understand, few at least in the Imperium. Levelling his pistol at her grey head he said
“For the greater good.” A single shot ended her life, as she slumped Drascus straightened. Turning back to the silent semi circle of waiting warriors Drascus motioned with his hand. They had wasted too much time, they had to carry on.

Rushing through deserted hallways, ignoring turnings and hundreds of doors both gaping and locked tight, the strike force soon found what they had been looking for, stairs. This staircase ran right up through the main spire, with the lifts almost certainly sealed off it was by far the quickest way to reach Vitor. Like everything else on this level they were hard and utilitarian.

The small group climbed in spirals for what seemed like hours, ignoring each turning, keeping to the servant’s stairs. No one, it seemed, had thought to guard this route, so out of the way, so low in profile. No one of rank ever used it; no soldier either unless it was to slink off to the bed of maid in the middle of the night.

Worry and elation battled in Drascus’ mind, thus far the plan was going well; despite the unforeseen altercation. He should have been happy, but he wasn’t, he didn’t know what was going on! The ground assault, was it going well? If Shas’O Ki’ti failed to secure the city then capturing Vitor would do them no good. The ruler ship of the Tau and Vitor’s excommunication had to be presented as a fait accompli to the people, if the capitol stood... it didn’t bare thinking about. And yet it was all he could think about. If any significant target failed to fall... Drascus shook his head, he had to concentrate. Taking Vitor was as important as taking the city, both were rallying points and his concern was with the Inquisitor. The Tau had never failed him yet.

They were nearing the exit now; soon they would have to leave the safety of the hidden staircase and enter the heavily patrolled upper corridors. This was the most unpredictable part of the plan; they could not know where Vitor was. The control room, used by governors to co-ordinate planet wide defence, was certainly the most likely, but he still didn’t like placing the fate of his world on a maybe.

The column of fire warriors came to a halt before a nondescript wooden door; this was it, show time. The leading Tau looked back for Drascus’ instruction, without thinking he said
“Curtains up.” The Tau paused; if his head had been un-helmeted Drascus was sure he would have blinked. He should have realised, the Tau would not understand even the broadest of imperial cultural analogies.
“Go,” He said simply. This the Tau could understand, taking a step back he kicked the unlocked door open and rushed forward, only to be thrown back in a shower of blood. The bark of bolter fire filled the air and the Tau were forced into a hasty retreat back down the spiralling staircase bundling Drascus with them.

So, the stair case was not completely unguarded then. With his heart racing but his nerves holding up Drascus quickly assessed their situation, it wasn’t good. The door of the stairs created a bottleneck which could be held indefinitely against many more soldiers than Drascus had with him. The only other way round involved retreating three floors, finding another set of stairs and hoping to overcome whatever guards were posted there. It would be time consuming and in the end had no guarantee of success. On the other hand they could be held here for hours, unable to advance, simply left to stew.

Or maybe not, from above Drascus heard feminine voices; strangely melodic after the harsh grating of their weapons fire.
“...flush them out. Arainel, where is your flamer?”
“We can’t use a flamer here Joline,” another snapped back
“Why not? With the fire purge the galaxy of the unrighteous and the unclean, Sebastian Thor.” The first rejoined
“I know the scriptures sister; It’s not a matter of faith but of practicality. If we burn them out we will likely take half the palace with us.” “But...”
“Both of you be silent,” another voice joined the conversation, laden with authority. The other two dutifully shut up
“The destruction of the palace is secondary to keeping it from the Xenos; none the less to set the building on fire would do us no good. Pandora, give me you frag grenades girl.”

This was bad, really bad. Before Drascus could so much as begin to formulate an idea three small black cylinders flew through the open doorway just out of sight, bounced off the wall and came raining down upon them. There was no time to think, and so he didn’t; acting out of sheer instinct the inquisitor strove to push away this impending death. The his will manifested in a wall of force, pushing the grenades back and up, up through the doorway.

With a crunch and a roar the three grenades exploded, hardly realising what had just happened Drascus shouted
“Forward, now!” And they did, surging up the last few stairs and into a scene of confusion. Six women lay sprawled across the ground; all armoured in bone white plate with bolters in their hands. As he had suspected Vitor had his loyal Ordo militant Sisters of Battle guarding his inner sanctum. Though they had been knocked from their feet by the blast unfortunately for the Tau their power armour ensured that the sisters had survived the unexpected barrage where lesser men would have been shredded. Already they were coming to.

Before the last of the fire warriors cleared the stairs one of the women clutched her bolter to her chest and let out a burst of fire, three rounds hit the armoured form of a fire warrior, as the first impacted the armour fractured, the second saw it splinter, the third drove deep into the Tau’s chest and erupted in a fountain of gore. The others were not much slower to their feet and soon the sounds of battle drowned out rational thought. Five pulse carbines blazed against one adamant clad beauty, flares burning and breaking the perfect white finish of her polished armour before she fell in a heap. Shrieking their battle hymns the sororatis closed in, bolters blazing. One fire warrior was thrown back down the stairs, forced into an unnatural back flip by the force of the shot obliterating his face. Another sister fell, head now only a twisted metal lump, deformed and glowing gently.

Others amongst the sisters had more sense than to fight the Tau at range and closed the tiny gap to engage hand to hand, with her antique sword the leader of this band sliced through the head of one Tau, bolt pistol crumpling the knee joint of another as her companion slammed a long bladed dagger into the midriff of a third, sliding between armour plates with ease born of long hours of practise.

The Tau could never stand against these valkyries alone. Moving forward Drascus lunged forward and caught the descending ancient blade before it could cleave another of his warriors in two. The woman’s head snapped round and her eyes narrowed in fury, she seemed to be seeing him for the first time,
“Traitor!” she snapped, drawing back her blade and lashing out with a massive overhead blow, the inquisitor smoothly side stepped, parrying the blade before it took his head off
“A traitor may see the light and repent, a traitor may walk back into the Emperors glory,” she chanted as she struck out, blade moving almost faster than the eye could follow, and yet every strike was met or avoided, every blow turned
“It matters not...” she panted, lunging forward. Drascus swayed to the side, letting the tip score the side of his armour as he brought his own weapon lashing down. A second before it impacted bright light blazed through the carven wood, as the cane hit the woman screamed and staggered, falling to one knee. Her sword dropped from numbed fingers and she lowered her head.

Where the cane had hit her armour was no more, only a gaping hole now remained, bloodied flesh studded with adamant shards.
“They shall be granted absolution in the cleansing fires, for there is nothing in all the galaxy so foul as a traitor,” Drascus raised his pistol as he completed the catechism for her
“I know the scriptures sister,” Pulse fire lanced through the eye of her helmet and she slumped to the floor.

The duel had lasted mere moments, yet much had happened in the fight at large. Two more sisters had fallen, though it had cost three fire warriors their lives. The final sister of battle rose from slitting the throat of one poor unfortunate to find ten carbines and a pistol pointed at her. Before she could so much as reach for her gun a veritable wall of fire threw her backward, broken and dead.

Looking around Drascus assessed the damage, it wasn’t good news. Of the thirty warriors he had set out with only ten now remained ready and able. The fight with the sororatis had cost them dearly in both time and numbers; still, they could only press on.
Moding a group of Druchii.net players is much like directing the musical 'Cats' using actual cats. Frustrating, difficult, chaotic but ultimatley satisfying and a great deal of fun.

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Slortor
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Post by Slortor »

and you're still writing very well.

I look forward to the end.
Name: Khalia D'Vaarko (meaning: Khalia, property of Vaarko)
Age: 210
Height/Weight: 5'6", 8 stone
Other: no distinguishing features, barring the brand of a great house left wrist.
Class: Mage
Equipment: Robes, Dagger, Staff
Skills: Power of Ulgu, Power of Chamon
Stats: Ws3, S3, T3, D4, I5

lrnec wrote: Reality and truth is more brutal than almost any fantasy game
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Drainial
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Post by Drainial »

Part 12
Drascus strode down the corridor, leaving the dead of the ambush where they lay, along with the unconscious form of one wounded fire warrior. In these upper tiers the Spartan utilitarianism of the servant’s quarters were replaced by sumptuous furnishings. The party moved quickly, the thud of their boots lost in thick shag pile carpets of deep crimson, paintings flashed by, each hung tastefully on the beautifully patterned walls. There was no one around, no doubt non essential staff were else were, and the security personnel had far better things to do than lingering in corridors, he thanked the Emperor for small mercies.

“We are close to the control room now, very close. I expect that we shall soon encounter more guards, be ready.” Drascus warned his remaining companions. The sole remaining shas’vre simply nodded his head. Experienced though he was with Tau culture and mannerisms Drascus didn’t know what to make of that, if he was true to his own culture such a gesture might denote happiness, or excitement. Such a display would certainly have surprised Drascus, the Tau were normally so reserved even in their blood lust. On the other hand the Tau may have been attempting to copy human customs and simply indicate acknowledgment.

The Inquisitor shook his head, still marching on. He knew that he was only trying to distract himself from the crushing worry gnawing at him, like a vast rat clutching to his shoulders. He could hear nothing of the battle outside from within the palace, at least the alarms had stopped, but the outer walls were many meters thick and he was deep in the interior of the palace, where no sunlight reached. Even so Drascus could not help but worry, if all had gone to plan the Tau army should have broken through the outer defences and be nearing the palace grounds even as they ran. The remnants of the strike force ducked around a corner into a section which was (if it was possible) even more sumptuously luxuriant than the one they had left behind, Drascus allowed himself a slight smile, they were getting close, so close now.

The Inquisitor’s small strike force came to a halt once more at an intersection. A wide open space confronted them, a circular room with four corridors branching off it, but it was not indecision that stopped them; they all knew the route. At the centre of the space, perhaps fifteen meters square, stood a great imposing statue. Eight feet tall and wider by half again than any man or Tau the figure stood carven with great skill in iron grey rock, decorated fabulously with sliver trim. One shoulder pad of its baroque armour was beautifully adorned, worked in black and silver. In immobile hands the statue clasped a bolter; it dwarfed those of the sisters of battle, making them seem flimsy toys by comparison. In fact in every way this seemed to be the father of those wilful girls known as the Adeptus Sororatis, sterner and immeasurably more powerful. The sight of a statue of an imperial space marine was enough to strike fear into the hearts of any enemy of the Imperium. And then it moved. Raising bolter to shoulder faster than seemed possible for so bulky a figure the astartes rained death upon the shocked party with a roar like bottled thunder. The white helmed shas’vre was sent hurtling back, gore plastering his squad mates from a ruined chest, another Tau screamed as her leg was torn messily away by mass reactive rounds stopping only when another split her skull.

Surprised though they were the fire warriors were seasoned veterans and it took them mere seconds to gather their wits and return fire. Pulse rounds spattered off the front of the great warrior’s power armour, ceramite sheathed adamantium more than equal to the destructive forces arrayed against it. A third fire warrior howled his last moments away, clutching as his gut and trying hopelessly to stop the escape of his intestines.

The silver eagle began to glow red as the ceramite sheath started to fail to disperse all of the furnace like heat discharged from the pulse rifles. A burst of shells crushed the hand of a fourth warrior, before another ended his life.

In seconds the Marine’s magazine was empty, seven figures still opposed him, still hosed his form with devastating fire. His armour proved far stronger than the paltry copies worn by the sisters of battle, and yet even he would fall eventually. No one man could match a squad of fire warriors at range, nor did he attempt to. Rather than load another clip the astartes charged forwards, eagle burning like the sun. Blazing with his pulse pistol Drascus was shocked that anything so vast could move so quickly, but certainly he had rarely seen a human match this angel’s sudden lunge.
Before he could do anything to stop him the astartes slammed into the nearest warrior, sending him flying with a shoulder barge; armour met armour and carapace cracked. The technologies of mankind, it seemed, had not yet been completely outstripped by that of the Tau. Lashing out with a fist the marine lifted one poor unfortunate from his feet and sent him hurtling into a college; both sprawled upon the floor, struggling to rise.
With one hand the angel of death drew a dagger, its blade long enough to be counted a short sword by any normal man. Seizing the barrel of a fire warrior’s weapon the astartes yanked her forward, and buried the knife up to the hilt in her chest. With the Tau in such disarray Drascus knew he had to step in, and yet to face a space marine in combat... every little boy wanted to be a space marine, every little boy was told of their near godlike prowess in battle. None the less, what had to be done had to be done.

Griping his cane more tightly and ignoring the sweat trickling down his face Drascus ran toward his towering adversary. As the astartes pulled his dagger out from the flesh of the once proud shas’la Drascus lunged forwards, hoping to end the fight before he was even noticed, it was not to be. With almost preternatural reflexes the space marine parried his cane with a bloodied knife and punched out with his other armoured fist. The young Inquisitor avoided the spine shattering blow by ducking under and slashing upward with his cane. The stroke made a striking viper seem a lethargic by comparison, and yet it did not hit home; pain ran up Drascus’ arm as his wrist was caught by the giant fist of his opponent. He tried to pull back, but couldn’t; the astartes’ fingers were like a vice. Another hand slammed into his back, shaking bones. Drascus could not but help let out a cry of surprise as his wrist was released just as the other hand propelled him forwards. The Inquisitor flew across the room and slammed bodily into one wall. The world went black.

Drascus opened his eyes, he must have been unconscious only seconds for the fight continued, if it could be called as much. A fight implied some level of equality, what Drascus saw now reminded him of nothing so much as a fox among the chickens. He watched in impotent rage as the grey armoured astartes grasped one warrior by the head and twisted it, wringing his neck. For the first time in several minutes pulse fire impacted on the marine’s armour, splashing off his back, it was useless. Turning on his heel the marine lashed out with a backhanded blow, striking the Tau on the neck and driving him to his knees. Seconds later the fire warrior’s head snapped back with an audible click as knee met helm and he slumped to the ground, quite dead.

Another Tau had evidently been killed while Drascus was unconscious, for his body lay sprawling, limbs akimbo and very still. Drascus struggled to his feet, trying to ignore the grinding pain of broken ribs. As the Inquisitor grappled with his own wounded body the astartes buried his dagger up to the hilt in the face plate of the eighth shas’la, he fell without so much as a murmur. The remaining two Tau were on their feet now and plastering their tormentor with pulse fire. For a moment the marine staggered backward and Drascus knew a fleeting second of hope, before the angel of death came crashing forwards again. Limbs shattered and skulls were crushed as enhanced flesh and ancient plate met grey skin and newly manufactured body armour. Just as Drascus got to his feet the space marine turned.
His head was fully enclosed in a helmet of brutally efficient design, an image to terrify the enemies of mankind. Drascus could not see his face, but he could feel the rage of this noble warrior. It was an almost palpable thing, stronger than any he had ever felt in the mind of another, but impeccably controlled. Every action, every movement, every blow was carried out with cold precision, anger fuelling, but never directing them. And all of that rage was now directed at Drascus. As the metal mountain moved towards him Drascus knew he had no hope of besting this man (if man he could rightly be called) in combat. It was the first time for a long while he had come up against someone so completely out of his league in martial prowess, fortunately he had other options.

Drascus let the power of the warp fill him, drinking in the sweet glory of it all. Seizing the warp was always a joyous experience, but was not without its price; daemons’ mellow voices seemed to whisper in his ear, promising to help him, to save him if he would only submit. To raise him up above all men if only he would give them a tiny gesture of his willingness to serve, just his soul, and what was that? What good was his soul to him now? Drascus forced these tempting voices to the back of his mind and ignored them as he had so many times before, daemons offered nothing but lies and damnation.

The power of the warp, gathered now as strongly as he dared, allowed him to move beyond his mind. With the speed of thought Drascus formed a mental lance and drove it deep into the mind of the charging astartes. It was like plunging a knife through a thick block of oak; the power, momentum and surprise of this mental attack allowed the Inquisitor to drive deep into his mind, battering aside mental defences. Unlike so many others Drascus had fought in this way however, the astartes was not helpless, he was well trained.

Drascus sweated as he strove to drive his probe deeper, to reach the root of the marine’s psyche, it was difficult. The astartes was aware now, and his will was strong, strengthening his mental defences the space marine strained against this intruder in his mind, seeking to cast out the foreign thing crawling in his most private sanctuary. Though Drascus could not know cold sweat burst from the space marine’s brow with the effort. In mid stride he stopped, barely realising that he had done so focused was he on the mental duel.

Drascus leaned on his cane and stared deep into the glowing red eye pits of the angel’s face plate only to be met with the same impassive hate as every other foe. Beneath the mask though the marine was beginning to crack, slowly, oh so slowly the mental wards began to crumble. Drascus battered against the walls of his enemies sanity, both stood unmoving, totally fixated on their contest, invisible, silent, but every bit as deadly as the bloody combat for just minuets before.

Boring into the marine’s mind Drascus felt something snap, and suddenly was plunged into a world that was not his own. Images and thoughts he would never think, information he should never have known; it all flooded him. But that was not what he was there for. Dragging himself from the memories of this foreign mind, at once so similar and yet so utterly different from that of an unaltered human, Drascus looked for the core. And there is was, pulsing with a golden light to his mind’s eye. Moving with deliberate coldness Drascus pressed down upon it, smothering the light. For a moment he was stalled, as the space marine made one last desperate effort to throw him back. It failed.

With a sigh of relief Drascus released his hold on the power of the warp and slid to his knees, holding his cane for support. Looking upward he saw the giant figure stand for a moment, then, soundlessly, it began to topple forwards. With a great crash the body fell to the floor, quite dead. Pushing himself to his feet Drascus began to stumble towards one of the corridors leading away from this charnel house.

Vitor was close; he would never let his death watch guard stray far while Xenos descended on his world. So close now, so close.
Moding a group of Druchii.net players is much like directing the musical 'Cats' using actual cats. Frustrating, difficult, chaotic but ultimatley satisfying and a great deal of fun.

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