Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

They, call me the 'Mercenary' now, it was him.. It was Naberius.. He turned on me! I Urge you to hear me.. I now must leave the Knight's of Obsidia.. as an Exile, an Outcast.. Damn Naberius, and the Imperium! The Fallen king will hear my plea for vengeance, and if not.. There are always those who dwell in the depths of The Pit... I'm sure by now you fools have heard of the Slaughterer of New Obsidia? Oh yes.. He is Far from a Myth, He is Adramelech Balam.. Kin-slayer, Vermin, Traitor.. He is my last resort.. He will support me.. I have two choices now, Go and serve other uncaring lords under the New Obsidian empire banner of Lucifer, OR recruit.. recruit and flee, hide in the shadows, lurk in the mist. Wait until Lucifer, And Naberius are at War then take The Obsidian throne for myself..


'Incoming signal Lord Clefast' -barked Sinter a tall marine with a temper that matches his height.
'Patch' -retorted a metallic rasping voice. ' Lord Mortis.. we need not acknowledge Naberius, or Lucifer' -spited Lex a broad shouldered marine with an eye for violent tactics.
'Nicus?' -interjected Mortis Clefast. Nicus said nothing but walked over to the Vox board and clicked it onto the overhead.

'Mortis Clefast of all the low down mutts and dishonors of the Knights of Obsidia. You trespass the border,' -snarled a face without skin.
'I need no eyes to see your filth' -continued a face that stared into the soul yet had no eyes to stare.

'Ah the King and all his glory, I humbly accept your invitation to your empire' -The Outcast jeered.
'Keep yourself and those warhounds of yours out of my empire, I need no more treachery in my ranks' Naberius Nicor said, the one of the two Kings to the New Obsidian Empire.

'Restrain your anger Naberius, I am permitted to be in the Empire, i am on a Contract, from the Magus cult, there is a planet within your empire that I need to visit, I will visit it, and you will allow my ships passage.' -The Mercenary spoke in soft undertones. The screen shut off and a vox message appeared, the O.K. had been granted and they were to proceed straight to Agrusia. The Magus Cult had Contracted them yes, for a mission on Atresia, not Agrusia. En route to Atresia, A vox message had appeared that was over 4,000. Dating back to 1,000 years before the Founding of the Knights of obsidia. Agrusia had an old name back many thousands of years ago. But that was forgotten now.

'Mortis..' -croned Sinter.
'Patch' -growled Lord Clefast

'..ello?...My...me is Trooper....ton of Erwynn's wor... 108th.. oh..od Emperor.. HELP US' -the signal was on repeat but very cracked.
'Sinter, Diagnosis.' - spoke Mortis
'Erwynn's world, Cross referencing, Dragon Lords, Cross referencing...N/a. Lord there is no Data on the Dragon lords for 4,000 years+.' -Sinter spat out the words quicker than a wet blade slips through flesh.
'Lex?' -Mortis queried

'You know well and good, four marines is not an army, the chance there are still Dragon Lords there, piques my senses' -Lex hummed.
'Nicus?' -Mortis looked over to the silent Marine, who had the best shot in the galaxy said nothing as usual. He instead walked into the fore of the bridge and dialed in the coordinates of Erwynn's world

'Exploration it is..' -Lord Clefast spoke, as they drifted through space in their shuttle.

Hmmm this was intriguing! I demand more

I'm on that currently, while writing in a campaign with a fellow wargamer. I'll post the next part soon!

YaY

I need people to vote though to know some ideas.

Find lost technology..
Makes more sence too.

Thanks for the Idea!

Chapter 1,

The Drift, my chapter has always called it that. While the Imperium refers to it as The Warp. I follow my chapters teachings. It's bleak and droning, as we speed towards Agrusia, I feel something..
No, I push these thoughts away.. The Drift has many Terrors in it yet I am safe within my Drift-Chamber. I take deep breaths as I search through my mind for the possibilities of what really happened 4,000 years ago on Erwynn's world that resulted in Contact lost, and why the signal would be on repeat. If it still plays, even on a static note.. I deduce there is something there. I feel myself slip from the Drift as we enter realspace near Secci, a moon of Agrusia. We are near, and so I steele myself for this exploration.

'My Lord Clefast..' -began Sinter 'We have guided the ship to Secci, a moo..' -Sinter attempted to continue but shutup after a deathgrin from Mortis. 'You.' -Mortis said 'You are to land us on Agrusia, no other place. Lex will "entice" some natives for directions. Nicus will be eyes and ears. If push comes to mutilation, then we have a new home once we manage things on Agrusia.' -Mortis chattered.

He stood from his Command chair where he had been in Drift lock. His enormous body and suit automatically adjusted to the weight. he went and picked up Tilochus from its sheath. Tilochus was a master crafted power sword, specifically designed to be ultra thin and light, for swinging and slashing. He looked the blade up and down, it was his most prized possesion.

'Sinter, estimate on how long to landing?' 'Well, not sure really, we've entered some magnetic field that has thrown off our ship' -Sinter replied.

All of a sudden everyone was smacked to the floor, by a force so massive it reminded Mortis of a titan shaking the earth with its step, when the ship took a jarring hit, literally cracking it sideways. Despite Mortis being a space marine he drifted into an unconcious state. All he could feel was as if he was falling hard and fast.

Hmm I say this has me marked as curios, what hit the ship? Orbital fire? planetside weapons or a meteor?

Chapter 2,

I've never been fond of the Drift.. It's always been too quiet, yet not even quiet by the voices that plagued me. I think i stopped falling but, I cannot tell. There is some Thing that holds me under..
It's a voice, the voice of a Warp-Terror as the Imperium might classify it. I disagree, it sounds warm and inviting, bringing me an unbound joy that I have not felt since.. Well since before my Initiation.
I'd love you to see what this Friend of mine shows me. I sit upon an Obsidian throne in a Steel room, surrounded by my Lieutenants, Sinter and Nicus bring in a Heathen Dog who trespassed into the New Obsidian Empire, and claimed that he was an imperial and this land was the God-Emperors if he is such a man, why is he atop a throne yet unmoving, a rotted corpse, this trespasser shall be granted the blessing of Public Execution, and His head shall be sent back where he came from. Lex will do the beheading. But out of the corpse left on my court yard grows something hideous. Yet oh so perfect with its crackling sinnew and armour forms in seconds out of skin. It's Flaming white eyes and obsidian skin pleases me. This is my friend, and he is oh so wonderful, he is always going to help me. He calls himself, Legionn which means 'many'. He asked me to simply serve me until the end.. On the condition he can be a part of me, in body and soul and mind. He knows how to wake me! He will strengthen me. Could you think of a better deal?..

Chapter 2, (continued in next posting on this thred)

I sense heresy brothers! TO ARMS!

Heresy? ; ) Ohhhh never This is our Friend, why would something bad offer to help? ahahaha.

The Obsidian King wrote:Heresy? ; ) Ohhhh never This is our Friend, why would something bad offer to help? ahahaha.

What you did there.....I see it and approve!

Wonderful!! working on Chapter 2, right now!

Chapter 2, Cont.

I seem to have grown? Take this as truth or not, but Legionn, was right! I am stronger! much stronger. I've grown now and my skin is stiff, yet it no longer is truly skin. What was once pale and weak is now regenerative and made of a moving Drift-stone of some sort. I am literally Living Rock, the Obsidian King, truly is born today. My armour is now also made of this Drift-stone, as are my swords. though Tilochus is merged to my body, it is retractable, could this be some Divine gift? I am waking and Voices appear.

The landscape was a wet, hot jungle, with poisonous plants, animals, and air. The Jungle canopies sprawled hundreds of feet into the air, and for miles around there was no end to the swelter of the Jungle. There were a myriad of life forms. Voices popped all around Mortis like small arms fire.

'A blessing from the Dragon of fate most likely' -whispered a voice.

'This? It is of living stone? what is he doing here' -replied another.

'The lords of The Lair will want this one especially, gather him with the others' -commanded a third.

Mortis' eyes fluttered open when his body felt other presences touching him. Instantly he went into defence mode, He grabbed a small man that was alien in appearance yet akin to humans, that had been one of the three voices and with its torso fitting oh so easily into his palm he looked deep into the mans eyes Tilochus grew from the Obsidian Drift-stone that made up his body, armour and flesh, then slipped through the little mans flesh with more grace then a bird doing aerial dances. The man yelped then slumped over in Mortis' fist, which in turn was whipped at the next assailant who tried to duck but failed to in time and was crushed by the sheer velocity of the pitched body. Mortis turned to eye Leader who had by then called a host of it's underlings from the surrounding forest. The third Man who was identified early on as a leader, did not move at all since the fight broke out. Suddenly clapping broke out, Mortis stepped back at the thunder of the noise. It sounded as if he was in a arena of gladiators in an empire he read of once on ancient terra.

The Leader rose its webbed palm. Silence filled the Jungle, such an eerie silence that Mortis felt unnerved.

'You are truly a blessing from the Dragon of Fate' -spoke the Leader. 'You must forgive our inhospitality, Usually we do not welcome such distinguished guests so rudely as a gladiator duel against our best champions..' 'But you slayed my sons in seconds, and for that. You are now respected amongst my people.' -the leader continued. 'But now you must come with me to The Lair There are those similar to you who might like, such an esteemed champion of Krgg'hjrgath' in their presence.'

Mortis eyed up the Small man, It was pale skinned and had two sets of arms rather tall compared to his counterparts. 'My Lieutenants are missing.' -he replied, a stone-hoarse voice came out. 'Oh? The three.. yes they were found, critically wounded, but if a champion like you lays claim to them, then we shall do all you ask for their safety.' -beamed the creature. 'My title is Juri, Chief of the Forest, You are?' -continued Juri. 'Legionn, ... wait no, I'm Mortis Clefast, the Obsidian King.' -replied Mortis, he was curious why he had mistook his name. 'Okay, well my people will refer to you as such..' 'Come with me to the Lair, and i will bring your sons Mortis' - Juri said.

'I shall walk with you' - said a voice not of Mortis own.

Hmmm I get distic Lizzard men vibes from this part, not sure if good or bad that one

.

I dont know really. Im not sold on this idea. But I will hold judgement until I have read more background, as for mutations well maybe but as I said I will await more info

improvement ideas as to what i could change them to? just humans?

edited them to human-like aliens, four arms. MUCH BETTER.

I would find Beastmen or something akin to that more belivebal. But it all depends on how you flesh them out, for all I know you may have some genius back story to them. If so then full spead ahead with these guys

I decided to switch them to a human like alien race, (still children of the forest) but they have two sets of arms. slightly smaller then average humans, and pale.

Chapter 3,

I am wary of the Children of the Forest.. they are too accepting. The build of them is repulsive small pale skinned humans with four arms. They call me their champion after minutes of meeting them.
The air here is stuffy, it chokes you with its poisonous fumes. I can remember saying my name was Legionn. Must've been some mistake.. We are walking in the jungle, we have been for days without stopping from this breakneck pace. I can feel my energy is being sapped so I Drift to the plane of Aether where i met my Friend Legionn. I see him sitting by himself on top of a black plateau, that smelled of brimstone. I come to him and try to speak with him, no words come out. But we talk in my mind together.

'You visit me too often Friend, you draw the attention of Drift-terrors by doing so.' - Legionn's voice was clear as the sky on a cloudless day.

'You'd protect me though.. Right Legionn?' -replied Mortis.

'Yes of course! We are Friends, our destiny was entwined together since before my naming' -Legionn chirped.

'I've never had such a Loyal friend as you Legionn, Did you make these changes on my body?' -Mortis questioned.

'I did, and it is our body Friend' -corrected Legionn.

'My mistake I forgot, I have a question, days ago i was asked my name and I replied Legionn. Why?' -asked Mortis.

'Don't worry, Friend.. you were confused from the shock of the crash.' -Legionn evaded the question with utmost subtlety.

'Go now you must wake, you've been in the Drift for many days now. You've arrived at the destination'

'Wait!' -began Mortis, but he had already been pushed out of the drift, and back into his body. He regained concioussness and woke to a total different world. There was softly waving grass all around him with colours ranging from vibrant greens, to ambered yellows. He felt the wind sweeping across the plain, landing softly on his living stone-skin. It was warm and the breeze brought memories from before his initiation, of his life on his homeworld many thousands of lightyears away. He ended the thoughts when a sight appeared on his horizon. A massive Plateau that would by any normal scale of outclassed a titan. he finally took the time to get clearer looks at his company. Juri, was tall, around 7 feet, where his counterparts were only around 5 1/2. Four arms long and lean with long fingers ending in webbed palms. Juri, boasted a long flowing mane of ivory hair, he had a light leather vest with two long Sickled shaped swords slung off his back. Juri also carried a Long Staff, and some sort of pistol that looked to be a supercharged gun that fired miniature needle crystals that produced a paralyzing static charge. Curious, they have a hand for technology, Like the old Primarch Ferrus Manus. Mortis continued walking through the plains that seemed to go on forever without end.

Now THIS is awesomsauce! I approve and so do jimbo the Ogre!

Chapter 4,

I've been experiencing many blackouts, where I Drift for days on end. I wake in new situations and it's rather awkward. I remember very little during my Drift journies. I've noticed my hearts no longer beat, yet I am more alive and well than ever before. From my view I can see the Plateau, we are nearly there. By first light tomorrow I'll be atop the mountain and with my Lieutenants. I wonder if they have changed as I have. I'd assume they have. I'm going now, into the Drift.

I try to enter the Drift but Legionn says not right now. I feel immense guilt as I try to remember what it was like when The emperors Light shone on my human skin.

'Juri..' -starts Mortis.

'You have a Drift-Being inside you, I know.' -interrupts Juri, 'You want it out, but you are too convinced it is friendly. It has been pulling you into the Drift so it may live in your body, then return to its own plane.' -Juri finished.

'How'd you..?' -Mortis began

'Your flesh, It is Drift-skin, Maaklhir, We've seen it much, when the Dragon of Fate drops someone to our home. If their skin is made of Maaklhir, we then take you to The Plateau of Judgement. If you are judged to be of Maakohir, you survive and we take you to The Lair. If you are judged to be of Maaklhir, then, you must be executed by the Light of Day.' -Juri spoke calmly on a single note. never putting emotion behind his words.

'And if I refuse to be Judged?' -asked Mortis.

'The Light of Day cannot be escaped, this world is always covered in darkness except when Maaklhir comes to be judged. You came so you shall be judged, -Juri retorted.

They continued walking throughout the night when they finally reached the top day had broken.
There is light now showing in the sky, and it's autumn light casts itself over my obsidian stone-skin. And in this light I see them, The Council of Maak.

Good one, keep it coming.

Chapter 5, Judgement day.

I am now atop the plateau. the light is coming, I have been shot by a paralysis needle, and restrained on a Dias with my Lieutenants, I was right, they have changed, Sinter, Lex, and Nicus are all made of Drift-stone too. We are about to be judged. I clear my mind.

'You four, of Maaklhir flesh have come to The Plateau of judgement. You are being tried as Maaklhir, do you deny these allegations?' -spoke a Figure who was sitting upon a tall seat behind a Podium. six others were with The first figure.

'We do not even know what Maaklhir is!' -shouted Mortis.

'You are all possessed by a Daemon named Legionn, He has warped your bodies to his own usage. The Light of Day can free you. Do you Deny Maaklhir, and accept Maakohir?' -replied the first figure.

'What are you even speaking of... Maakohir? Maaklhir? These words don't register!' -screamed Sinter.

'DO YOU DENY MAAKLHIR!' -shouted the first figure.

'What IS maaklhir!' -howled Mortis.

The back and forth banter continued for days when the sun was almost at it's climax in the sky they asked a final question to each of them.

'The Light of Day is coming now, Deny and we will free you from Legionns grasp. Refuse and your hearts will beat, and the Light of Day will kill you.' -Asked the first figure who'd continued non stop with the same questions.

'I Deny Maaklhir...' -began Lex. 'I Deny Maaklhir..' -continued Mortis. when sinter's turn came he looked at them figures who were covered away by a blinding light, and spat at their feet.

'You choose Maaklhir and the Light of Day will judge you accordingly. They waited and this Light of Day crept closer and closer to sinter and envelpoed him. Horrid shrieks of pain and grief rang throughout the Plateau, and Mortis looked over to see the obsidian melt off like hot wax and Sinters flesh appeared for seconds before bubbling and melting as his skin, and armour sloughed off like a snake shedding it's skin. All that remained of Sinter were bone-chilling memory of his screams. Next the first figure turned towards Nicus and looked at him.

'You are mute, Nicus are you not.' -spoke the figure. Nicus looked up with tears brimming, he nodded vigourously.

'You've denied Maaklhir then, Without words you cannot accept Maaklhir, so it cannot take you wholly.' -the figure continued.

'You have been judged now, and Maaklhir, can claim you no more' -said the figure. suddenly the blinding light left them, and the normal brightness returned, and Mortis, Lex, and Nicus saw him. The Lord of Dragons and the Drakes.

Chater 6, The Lord of Dragons.

The Light.. It Burnt the Drift-Stone off of our flesh, yet we did not die like Sinter.... What is he? They are Exactly like a space marine, armoured and all, yet they have scales? They are a terrifying sight, abhorrent.. The Lord of Dragons has Iridescent scales and looks upon me with fiery red eyes. The Drakes are all of black scales, and silvery eyes. I take my time to look at The Lord of Dragons as the Light of Day secedes from The Plateau. There are scaled Wings on his back? I see the same on The Drakes. A total of 6 Winged Giants present themselves in coloured emotions, The Lord of Dragons names himself as Maak Fier, He was forceful, driven, and stern. His right hand was The Drake known as Maak Sin. Sin was elegant and strode forward with graceful steps, yet I could tell he possessed a cunning unlike any I have seen before. The Second Drake was named Maak Ur. Ur was friendly in all things, never raising his voice. The remainder presented themselves in this order; Maak Oa, Maak Li, and Maak Lo the twin of Maak Li. The Lord of Dragons looked at Mortis for a minute, Mortis felt unnerved under the intense glare.

'You have come here, earned the respect of the Children of the Forest, passed Judgement, and met those who were lost. What is it you desire.' -quiered Fier.

'I found a signal, being broadcast, a Trooper, from Erwynn's world, A request for aid. Four thousand years old, from when your chapter went missing, Lord Fier.' -answered Mortis.

'They rebelled, as soon as we were attacked by a Chaotic Fleet, The Dragon of Fate, blessed us and turned us into his Children, and so we hid from the Imperium, in the safety of The Lair, We fought the Traitors for 100 years, but this was no traitor PDF force.. There were Traitors amongst them, The Skulltakers attacked us, we hid, and fought protracted warfare, we still do, this world it has immeasurable value, immune to the Rot of Chaos.. So they came and attempted to take it from us, this Plateau is Protected by the Light of Day, so we are safe from them here, as is the Lair. We sent calls for help.. none answered, except for this race of Creatures known to us as The Children of the forest. They came, by the millions and fought tooth and nail for us. Slaughtering traitors by the droves.. But there are more traitors. they hide in the South, near Traitor rock as we've dubbed it. We cannot attack them, we know not their numbers, despite My own being monumental, I am not a foolish man. We have no Space worthy vessels, and control of the cities has been lost. We are weathering the storm.. But we will strike them soon, there shall be a day of Reckoning.' -Explained Fier

'So you hid? While they have had the chance to breed, and gain more strength!? You are Space marines! Lords of all the Galaxy! My Chapter turned from the Emperors Light, and so I've been wandering the galaxy since looking for a way to right my chapter in the eye's of the Imperium! Yet I find able-bodied Soldiers and Marines who hide Behind their walls like frightened children! Your numbers must be at least 7,687! That's near a Legion!' -objected Mortis.

'We hid, because if you've seen us, you'd know we'd die the second the Inquisition saw us, you fool! I would not lead my sons to death, ready your lieutenants, We march for the Lair.' -Fier commanded with a booming voice. Juri hearing so ran over to mortis.

'Champion, you need not worry, Lord Fier knows how strong you are. and the fact that you can morph that sword out of your flesh, just goes to show, you are a valuable asset.. Fier is not foolish, he won't send you away. He need's someone like you, and your Lieutenants. Please Champion, I implore you to reason' -Juri chided.

'I will march for the Lair on the single reason, that almost 8,000 Marines ready to stride to war, lay there, dormant dragons.' -Mortis said plainly.

'Very well Champion, I accompany you.' -Juri replied.

Hmm this is actually quite hard for me to judge, I dont know what I think really. But its well made thou and good as always

I agree, i'm thinking on it real hard. What do you suggest?

Well...this is unfamiliar territory for me, since I normally portrait loyalists and dead/dying Xenos. I honestly dont know if I am to be honest, contact LoneLictor for aid me thinks