On a death world located in a volatile region of the Maelstrom approximately 5000 standard years ago, the Sorcerer Zaekos pursued an artefact of great power... The Staff of Infinity. It was said that the bearer of this staff would gain immense magical power through all eternity. Zaekos was tempted by this item ever since he became aware of its existence and made every effort to retrieve it. Tzeentch, it seemed, had other plans for him...
His vessel orbited around the planet slowly, view ports displaying the lush green forests and rich hazel coloured mud surface strewn with large bodies of deep blue water. Zaekos ‘chamber was incredibly large and hollow. A dim blue glow came from seemingly nowhere and the luminescent shine from cobalt flames the only illumination. Sitting upon a throne of ornate gold, polished to a reflective sheen, he reviewed the data-slate in his armoured hand, thumbing through the information provided by his scanners. The results were strange; no life was present, save for the vegetation and local fauna. Reaching the information section on the structures of this world, he noticed something curious; a large pyramid located near the centre of the largest continent. It had large triangular steps tapering upwards to a flat slab bearing an enormous brazier in the shape of an eye. This, he thought, must bear the artefact he was looking for.
Nebiros was a large man, even for a Space Marine. Long draping parchment inscribed with sorcerous runes danced frantically on his armour as he strode towards Zaekos. Each step of his armoured boot echoed off the impossibly large and dark chamber. He could feel the piercing stare of a million eyes as if he were in the centre of an enormous amphitheatre as he made his way closer to his destination.
Nebiros was about to speak when his lord respond to his thoughts.
‘Yes, it is time. Prepare the landing party.’ Zaekos said; his gaze fixed solely on the image of the pyramid before him.
‘As you wish, my lord’, he replied as if not even phased by the intrusion into his mind. He turned sharply and walked towards the exit.
‘...and Nebiros’, Zaekos said, slowly raising his regard from the slate. Nebiros turned his head to receive his notice.
‘Do not fail me. We must have this artefact if we are to crush the loyalists.’
Nebiros nodded in acknowledgement and made his way to the bridge to issue a warning order to signal the preparations to begin.
* * *
Zaekos stepped off the landing craft, bathed in the light of two suns shining down on the world. His eyes quickly adjusted to the change in brightness. The air was thick and humid and would be difficult to breathe if not for his super human abilities and advanced equipment. The temperature was high, and he could see a wall of mist that clouded vision several metres in front of the formation. They had landed a few hundred metres from their objective in a clearing laid with cobblestone. Surrounded by trees, Zaekos could see the leaves glistening in the sunlight. In the distance a large escarpment displayed a wonderful vista of thick foliage and a raging waterfall. Brightly coloured birds flew through the air effortlessly, and he could hear their chatter even through the deafening noise of the roaring turbines. The craft took off, flying through the air and disappearing into the rolling clouds.
Zaekos quickly studied the tactical heads up display map inside his helmet before barking out some orders. They stepped into the jungle and instantly got the sense that they were not alone. All of the marines could feel as if something immensely powerful was awaking.
As they advanced, the sense of unease grew. Suddenly everything felt wrong. Out of place. Changed. Surrounded by another clearing, the pyramid came into sight as they burst through the wall of trees. The stone was a dark and dreary grey that caused one to feel a variety of emotions as if they were staring directly into the warp, but not as potent. Elaborately carved gargoyles that seemed to stare back were on each level of the structure. Blasphemous runes were carved into all sides that made any who laid their eyes upon them felt nauseous. A single staircase leading up to the flaming brazier presented itself to any foolish enough to crave such a power.
‘Create a perimeter around the pyramid, I will ascend and claim the artefact’ Zaekos said.
No sooner than his troops were in position had Zaekos began climbing the stairs to his prize. He could almost feel the power flowing through his veins. A grin of success spread across his mouth as he neared the top. It was almost his. After nearly half a century of searching... the staff was almost his.
A large black bird like creature flew overhead, casting a shadow on Zaekos. He looked up at it for just a moment to try to discern its origins, but the sun was behind it and he was unable to see clearly. Returning his gaze to the prize at hand, he continued up the stairs but stopped once more. Was the bird-creature laughing at him? He shook the thought from his mind but as he did, he heard something even more bizarre. The creaking of ancient wood as if it were inside his very head. He turned around to see his force scanning the tree line in befuddlement.
‘Stay alert’ he chimed in on the vox.
Just as he was trying to make sense of it all, a loud crack sounded, the blast knocking him off his feet and up several stairs. The gargoyles on the pyramid came to life, bursting off their perch and flexing their wings while releasing a devastating roar of freedom. Zaekos fired his bolt pistol into the nearest one, blasting off chunks of rock but with no effect. It came at him with daemonic speed, pinning him to the rock of the stairs. He bashed it in the back of the head with his elbow, stunning it and giving him just enough time to kick the fiend off him. It reeled in an empty agony as part of its cranium slid off, crumbled to dust and disappeared. The beast staggered and was about to make another attack when Zaekos unloaded several shots into the space where part of its head used to be. The detonation from the bolts caused its body to convulse and explode into a flash of fire and then to dust.
The sky was peppered with the winged beasts, crumbled bits of rock falling as they circled overhead. The sorcerer looked down to see what looked like the tree line closing in. He activated the magnification rune on his helmet and learned that it wasn’t the tree line closing in, but rather the trees themselves given humanoid form! They clashed with his brethren, causing brute force trauma to the marines below. Huge branches swung with incredible speed and power, denting and piercing armour with daemonic talons.
His Havoc squad opened fire at the gargoyles with their autocannons, showering rocks and pieces of stone which crumbled to dust as the hurdled towards the surface of the planet. Roars and screeches could be heard a great distance away as the cloud of monstrous beasts slowly diminished. The firing stopped suddenly as a group of tree-fiends engaged the Havocs in a swirling melee of death.
The force below was locked in deadly close combat. Dead bodies and broken branches lay amongst the ruined area. Nebiros was seen pummelling one of the tree-men with his bare hands, his helmet removed and cracked on the ground beside him. He had a large gash on the side of his head but still he fought with undying fury.
‘My lord!’ he yelled. ‘Retrieve the staff and end this madness!’
Zaekos fired some bolt rounds into the tree monsters climbing the side of the pyramid before running to the top. When he reached the final slab containing the brazier, a wall of flame erupted around him. He glanced around and saw that time had stood still. Birds suspended in mid air, bolt rounds stopped in flight, and spurts of blood hovered above their owners.
‘What sorcery is this?’ Zaekos exclaimed. The response was only laughter. A few moments passed, but he was unsure of how short or long time actually elapsed. The voice that answered chilled even him to the bone. Though monotone, it sounded as though a million souls spoke in agony and despair. Love and hate. Curiosity and wonderment.
‘You seek a forbidden power, Zaekos. We cannot let you have that which is not yours. In a time before times, Tzeentch himself placed the artefact you seek on this world. Since then we have been trying to unlock its secrets. You may not have that which is not yours.’
Steeling himself against the maddening voice, he forced himself to respond;
‘Name yourself, Daemon’. He clenched his fists and took a step forward.
‘To do so, would break your petty mind into a thousand pieces. You cannot wield this power.’
The Daemon was mocking him, he thought. A trick. As a follower of Tzeentch he knew the daemons of his God were ever scheming for their own devious means. Zaekos gritted his teeth and reached into the raging red flame. As he did so, the flame turned a brilliant blue and extinguished. The wall surrounding him also disappeared. He could hear gunfire again, but paid that no heed. He had his staff. After all these years of searching, he finally had it. He stared at it and at once felt the power surging through him like a rampaging storm. Pain wracked his body as he tried to control the force he was now in possession of. Roaring with agony, he raised the staff above his head. A loud boom sounded and a blast wave of bright white light burst from the end of the staff. It radiated away from him like the ripple of a drop of water into a calm sea. Every Space Marine turned to glance at the source of the explosion only to be struck by it, turning them all to stone.
‘You wanted this power, Zaekos. It is now yours... you have released me from this eternal shackle... now I am finally free...’ the voice said.
Zaekos watched in horror as he was slowly turned to stone, the power of the staff seeping from his arm and through his body. The last thing he heard was the maniacal laughter of a daemon freed.
FIN
I'll be painting this army as if it were all made of stone and reanimated. The Daemon Prince is going to be a Treeman. The Lesser Daemons will be Dryads. The Raptors will be Furies (which are the gargoyles). Here's the list:
Sorcerer
Daemon Prince (Treeman)
2x 9 Thousand Sons
1x 9 Lesser Daemons (Dryads)
1x 9 Raptors (Gargoyles)
Vindicator
Predator
1500 points.
What'd you think about the story?
3rd 40k Army
Definitely helps with the motivation to keep this going (I have "wandering army syndrome").