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.

The Skulltaker heard the hum and watched as the shimmering shapes began to take form. He quickly counted 10 bodies. He looked over at the last of the Salamander Space Marines huddled against the far wall. Many dead Marines were sprawled across the floor, shredded, decapitated and completely torn asunder. The kill counter strapped to his wrist blinked over 30 fresh kills within the first hour of his arrival upon the battle cruiser. His thoughts turned dark as he brooded on Captain Argozz. The Salamanders commander was devious and always seemed to keep some trick hidden until the last moment. There would be no further running after this confrontation. The Captain would not teleport away just before the killing blow or call down a hellstrike attack instead of meeting the challenge. The Skulltaker had something that Argozz needed. There was no getting around that this time. There would be immense pain followed by an eternity of death.

The retinue of terminators had materialized in the furthest corner of the deck from the daemon. Captain Argozz had made sure his terminators could brace themselves for the coming charge. Each terminator carried both a thunder hammer and storm shield. The Chaplain was also armed as such. Three of the terminators had huge cyclone missile launchers fastened to the top of their armor. The Captain stood in the middle, his long thunder hammer held in one gauntlet and his trademark heavy flamer in the other. Argozz also had an ancient relic blade strapped to his back, the long doubled handed hilt stuck out from behind.

"It ends here." shouted the Captain across the vastness of the large chamber. "You shall be banished back to the warp from whence you came. These are my best here with me now. Our shields are impervious to your axe. Our hammers have always been your bane. You shall be beat town and utterly destroyed before the warp powers can re-assemble your bloody hide."

The Skulltaker sneered and then spat a bolt of black blood from his silver mask. As towering as the Captain was the daemon still stood higher. The daemon tossed aside the melta and gripped his great axe with both hands. The sharp teeth along the edge of the haft began to whir as hot sparks shot off. The suit of brass armor shone like lava and the daemon's eyes smoldered inside the mask lime a pair of burning coals. The daemon stood of straight and stretched. "I know you want to run like the coward you are but this one time you can't and I am here to mdke you pay in full."

Argozz gave the command to the trio of battle brothers topped off with the cyclones. Six missiles came rushing towards the daemon swirling about in tight spirals as they homed in on their solitary target. The Skulltaker watched as the speeding missiles quickly closed the distance then at the last possible moment he leapt aside. Exploding violently into the bunker behind him the payload ignited into a massive explosion with a deafening boom. The floor rumbled knocking about the dismembered arms and legs of the dead Marines. Like a bullet the Skulltaker launched himself at the terminators rapidly covering the bloody ground between them before the Salamander terminators could reload their missile launchers. The floor resonated as each armored step of the daemon carried him further into the deep corner where stood the enemy. Suddenly the Skulltaker lifted up his axe and aimed the hilt towards one of the terminators carrying a cyclone. The dark steel tip shot out from the axe like a spear and lanced through a lense of the Salamander skewering the terminator's skull as the long metal dart pierced through the back of his helmet. Argozz lifted up his heavy flamer rapidly thumbing the stiff trigger.

"Thrice damn him!" cursed Argozz as the dead terminator toppled over. "Close the line!" ordered the Captain as the remaining Salamanders pushed together and took a quick step back. They raised their storm shield in perfect unison now leary of the daemon's trick shot. One more steel dart spat forth from the butt end of the great daemon's axe bouncing harmlessly off the closest shield. Argozz spun about pouring his super heated liquid flame into the path of the charging enemy. The Skulltaker bounded up leaping over the terminators with one deft jump. His great axe came down like a scythe as he glided over the Salamanders but again his attack was blunted by another raised shield. Quickly the terminators spun about precisely holding up their shields and drawing back their might hammers. The Skulltaker leapt to the far side of their flank lashing out again with the axe. The teeth of the axe bit into the closest shield then harmlessly bounced off.

"Form up a circle now!" shouted Argozz. The stout line of the Salamanders wreathed in upon itself with the two ends meeting together. "The daemon cannot outflank us now. Keep up your shields and have your hammers ready. It only take but one blow to stun the evil beast and then he is done in."

The Skulltaker took a step back sharply eyeing the Salamanders' tight formation. Wherever he struck they could strike back as well. Then with a jolt of blinding speed he crashed into the armored circle swinging his great axe about in long looping figure eights. The force of his sudden attack forced the enemy back. One terminator lowered his storm shield as he prepared to counter attack. The Skulltaker saw the brief breech and immediately brought down his axe splitting the Salamander apart. The other Salamanders pushed back and the two who were closest on either side struck back. One of the hammers hit dead on knocking the Skulltaker hard. A large dent buckled along his bronze paldron and the daemon could feel a bone snap. Releasing the gripped on his axe from his useless hand the daemon could not help but wince from the pain of the strong blow.

The Skulltaker jumped back buying himself time for the warp to repair his broken limb. The circle of Salamanders watched intently as the daemon's brass paldron glowed like molten bronze reforming into it's original shape. The Skulltaker could feel the broken bone in his muscled arm reknit itself back together. The daemon flexed his arm and gripped the end of the axe hilt with his long sharp clawed hand. There were only eight left now of the enemy and they had failed to capitalize during the brief moment while the Skulltaker was both injured and stunned. Shaking his large head from side to side the long pointed metal dreadlocks jutting out from the top of the daemon's mask darted about like a cluster of angry vipers. They looked like a crown of dark wavering serpents.

Stalking around the Salamanders well out of reach from their awful hammers the Skulltaker glared at them. "I will continue to kill you off one at a time until only Argozzvis left!".

"Attempt to do so at your own peril!" shouted back the Salamanders' Captain. "We are ready for you now."

Too late the Skulltaker realized that the two remaining terminators armed with cyclones and moved into a forward firing position. Four missiles fired off at point blank range slamming hard into the gigantic daemon.

The missiles all struck exploding in a blinding flash of light. The terminators stood still intently watching. Captain Argozz lowered his heavy flamer and motioned for his retinue to slowly advance. The smoke from the explosion began to clear. The Skulltaker lay on the floor and his prone body had a slight twitch. His suit of brass armor smoked from the devastation. The daemon laid upon his back sprawled across the floor still tightly clutching at his great axe. His breath was ragged and course slowly wheezing out from his silver mask as his chest expanded.

"Attack!" shouted Argozz. The Captain and his terminators immediately charged towards the inert body of the Skulltaker.

One of the last Salamanders left wearing power armor looked at the terminators and said "They've come to snuff the daemon."

"You know he ain't gonna die. No he ain't never gonna die." said another Salamander.

The Skulltaker looked up as the terminators surged towards him. The Salamanders all held their hammers high above their heads ready to bring them down. "The replicant Marines..."

Suddenly Captain Argozz stopped and shouted out "Hold!". Immediately upon the order all of the terminators halted dead in their tracks. "Tell me what I want to know!" shouted Argozz. "And be quick about it. We won't stand around waiting while the warp bleeds you back."

"There are replicants here in your very company." whispered the daemon, his voice hoarse and dull. "It is your worse fear finally come true."

"I can smell their taint even now." said the Skulltaker as he slowly reached up with one of his brass gauntlets to remove his silver death mask. The helm fell to floor as his full face was revealed. His skin was copper colored and picked with flecks of bronze. The daemon's face was regal and his large red orbs for eyes flashed with fire. He sniffed at the thin air and grimaced. "That one." he said as he pointed towards one of the terminators. "He is a replicant."

"Brother Grimm has served under me for over the past fifty years." said Argozz. "I would know if it were so. You are simply stalling for time."

"Fifty years... One hundred years... It does not matter. The replicants have existed since not long after the heresy. Don't fool yourself Argozz. Your Salamander geneseed was depleted over two hundred years after the war on Nulnn IV. Your apothecaries were hard pressed. This Brother Grimm of yours... it is a simple test to see if what I say is true."

"Enough of his lies!" exclaimed Chaplain Ael. "To listen to a daemon is to consort with the warp. Let us finish the fiend off now and be done with it. The stories of the replicant Marines is just that, a myth and nothing more."

"You know better Argozz." whispered the daemon as he pulled himself up in a sitting position. His brass armor had reformed and started to shine again with the luster of freshly spilled blood. His eyes burned hot as he sniffed again. "I smell Grimm's tainted blood and the stench is strong. The replicants are an enemy to us both. One daemon is no match for you and your retinue. I say run the test. If I am wrong you will still win this day but if I am right then you had best know."

"No daemon of Khorne would ever admit defeat!" cried Ael. "This is heresy."

"Khorne values martial honor above all else. As his champion I must admit my defeat. Another more worthy will take my place. So be it." said the Skulltaker. The daemon gripped his great axe as his armor began to squeal.

Argozz lifted his thunder hammer and smote it down upon the daemon, striking with all his strength. "There will be time a plenty to test what you have said after I send you back to the warp where you belong!"

The Skulltaker quickly shifted aside just as the hammer fell, pointing the end of his axe up towards the terminator named Grimm. A steel spike shot out punching through Grimm's shoulder pad. "Look for yourself and behold!" said the daemon.

Argozz looked over at Grimm and caught himself before he let out a gasp. Icy black ichor dripped from the end of the spike jutting out from his wound.

"It is so!" said Argozz. "Kill it!" commanded the Salamander Captain pointing his heavy flamer at the replicant terminator.

Two terminators closest to the replicant turned about swinging their thunder hammers into the replicant. The hammer heads exploded as they bashed in. Chaplain Ael watched in shock as the imposter was mashed apart. A thick pool of slimey black ichor was all that was left of the replicant. Its storm shield clattered to the floor beside the long pointed steel barb.

Argozz turned back to look down upon the daemon but the Skulltaker was no longer there.

"Over here." said the Skulltaker.

Argozz turned to see the deamonkin standing off in the corner. His armor had that polished look again and the daemon had put back his silver mask in place. The spines from his metal dreadlocks rested upon his broad armored shoulders. The Skulltaker held his great axe against his chestplate. "The truth has finally dawned upon you."

Argozz felt his innate hate swell for the daemon swell inside. His anger was so potent and steeped that he could not speak. The Salamander Captain saw blurred red cloud his vision. All he could do was rage.

"Why are you here alone with your company in some forgotten corner of this galaxy? There are wars to fight! Your hate for me rivals that of my patron Khorne. I am here alone while you stand surrounded. I cannot beat you and your retinue so I challenge you to fight me alone. Prove yourself."

"Only a fool would accept that challenge." said Chaplain Ael. "Lets finish him off and be done with this. Argozz for once you have the advantage. We must not falter in the face of vanity."

"Ael we started with a full retinue and now we are down to close to half that. The Skulltaker is simply looking for a way out. I agree, we must press our advantage now!" said Argozz. "Brothers form a line and assault the daemon!"

The Skulltaker gripped his great axe and charged the closest Salamander. The axe came down splitting the storm shield in twain. "Blood for the Blood God!" shouted the daemon as he ripped his axe into the terminator. Blood poured out of the rended armor as the Skulltaker swerved his axe through the terminator tearing him apart. Argozz and Ael both swung their hammers in unison, countering the daemon's attack. The Skulltaker lifted his axe up then brought the weapon down blocking their blows in a rush with blinding speed. Argozz and his Chaplain were turned about by the sheer force of the Skulltaker's attack.

The writing is great, but I'm still not sure what the plot of the story will be... If the story is about Argozz, then the demon needs to either die or be sent to the warp. If the story is about The Skultaker, then Argozz needs to die soon... the fight scene is grinding on too long imho....

it is still good though..

thank you very much for the much needed feedback. The good news is someone is going to die herocially very soon.

G

The Skulltaker lifted one hand from the haft of his great axe and grabbed a hold on one of the terminators' storm shield. The daemon pulled the Salamander up from the floor and flung the veteran into the other terminators knocking them all aside. Quickly the Skulltaker grabbed his axe with both hands again and brought it down hard chopping the closest fallen Salamander in twain with one strong blow.

An immense series of explosions rocked the chamber and the floor suddenly split as the high vault was torn apart. The daemon found himself suddenly standing on one side of the gaping chasm as huge chunks of debris rained down from the ruined ceiling. The Salamanders picked themselves up standing on the other side of the giant breach.

"Argozz you are a replicant!" shouted the Skulltaker, then the daemon threw his great axe with all his might across the ever widening gulf between him and the Salamanders. The axe looped end over end as it flickered across the chasm. With a great thunk the head of the axe collided into the exposed skull of Captain Argozz, sinking deep into his head as the whirring bits of pointed blades tore deep into the commander's brain. Thick black oily ropes of slimy ichor spilled out from the messy ruin of Captain Argozz' face. The other Salamanders looked on in utter surprise.

"Skulls for the Skull God!" shouted the Skulltaker.

we now move forward in time... the Skulltaker has been tasked by his God to eliminate a warband of rogue Marines who rule upon an immense eldar craftworld they have taken over... there is also rumors of a second and secret task for the Skulltaker...

The lonely corridor lead into the very heart of the eldar craftworld. Jet black wraithbone covered the walls, ceiling and floors. Skulls from defeated dark eldrad had been mounted at even intervals along the long winding corridors. The top of each skull had been neatly cut off and burning coals filled inside. Evil Chaos runes painted in dark red blood were sprawled across the walls like maddened graffiti. At the end of the corridor a set of huge doors were locked closed with a gigantic brace of corroded iron. A small party of Brass Talons, the rogue Chapter of Marines that had seized control of the craftworld, stood guard. Their leader looked back into the heart of darkness that lay ahead leading back into the madness of the long dark corridor. A stiff wind began to blow and the coals within the mounted skulls shifted about as hot bits of red ash flittered down. "Something comes this way now." said the Brass Talon switched on his auto senses staring into the void. Several large humanoid forms came into view over the ultraviolet spectrum. In front of the group was the largest member towering about the rest. "Hostiles dead ahead! Activate your bolters for full automatic!"

Suddenly red beams of bright death lanced out from the pitch black cutting like lasers through the Brass Talons' armor. "Drop back behind the bunker!" commanded their sergeant but the order had come too late as the clandestine group emerged from the black throat of the corridor. Huge Bloodletters wearing plated brass armor charged forth firing their plasma weapons into the Marines. In the center came the Skulltaker carrying a large stormshield on one arm with a great axe in his hands.

"No survivors! No surrender!" screamed the daemon as his Bloodletters surged over the bunker slashing wildly with their burning hell blades.

No sooner had the brief encounter started then it was over. The Bloodletters quickly pried the helmets loose from the dead Brass Talons and set about severing the Space Karines' heads off so they could get at their skulls. The Skulltaker set down his pirated stormshield and looked at the locked doors. "The barrier is warded with grey magicks."

The Skulltaker reached down grabbing the jutting spines from two beheaded Marines. Grunting the deamon pulled hard ripping free both spinal columns clean. The Skulltaker then set about to work carefully wrapping the dangling chains of vertebrae about the rusted iron lock. As soon as he was finished he bent over and tore out two more sets of spines. The Bloodletters were very busy polishing their vanquished foes' skulls and took no notice of their master.

Finally all the Space Marine spines had been ripped free and intricately wrapped around the large iron brace. The Skulltaker took a loped skull from the wall pouring out the hot coals and then filled it full of blood from the Brass Talons sergeant. The deep red fluids seeped slowly from the large eye sockets as the daemon held up the skull. "Blood magick to pry open this lock..."

The spinal columns from the dead Marines began to writhe like skeletal serpents using the hardened edges out the severed vertebrae to slowly score against the thick iron.

The Bloodletters looked up to watch having just finished attached the smooth skulls of their latest victims to their tight bronze waist chains. The fiends grinned for a brief moment then bowed to the Skulltaker. Slowly they all stepped back pumping more plasma cartridges into the long barrels of their rifles.

The spines continued crawling around the girth of the lock cutting grooves deep into the pitted surface. From within the locked doors came the muted sounds of pitiful wailing. One of the Bloodletters took a step forward and sniffed. "they are in their master. I smell their thin blood scent even now."

The Skulltaker looked down upon the Bloodletter. "We must be very quick Angrath. There will be more Brass Talons here soon. We must not let them interfere."

Finally the ghostly spines of the dead Brass Talons had sawed through the giant iron lock. It split in two crashing down. The Skulltaker reached out firmly grasping the large door handles pulling hard with all his strength. A sickly sweet smell of rotted meat came wafting from out between the doors as the huge daemon pulled them open.

The doors creaked upon their stiff hinges as the Skulltaker pulled them open. The mob of Bloodletters had pulled their long barbed fractual edged war knives free from their iron sheaths attaching them to the ends of their long bsrrelled plasma rifles. Inside the tiny dim alcove the daemons spied a cluster of eldar fastened to the curved walls. Long jagged spikes had been driven through their slender limbs piercing into the jet black Wraithbone glistening upon the curved walls. In the middle of the cluster a tall spindly eldar seer groaned. A huge collar of brass with deep studs had been fastened tightly around his neck. The seer looked taking in his view of the Skulltaker and the muscular daemons suited in bronze plates of armor surrounding the ancient daemon. "Life is a best a cruel hoax played upon us at the whims of the Gods."

"I have no life." said the Skulltaker. "For I and my kind are immortal. You have reaped what you have sowned. The price is steep but I am free while you are bound." With that the great daemon took a spike from his nest of metal dreadlocks hanging from his masked head and poked it through an eye of the old eldar seer, pushing it deep into the alien's skull, piercing through the brain. The eldar spasmed against the wall then fell still as it's gemstone blazed with a life of it's own. The Skulltaker ripped the gem free from the dead seer throwing the flashing stone upon the ground and grinder it into dust with steel shod hoof. There was the sound of laughing as a tortured scream emitted from beneath the daemon's heel. "Go now to your new master for your kind created him in your wanton ways. You are most deserving of this harsh fate."

The other eldar squirmed against the walls as the Skulltaker looked down upon them. Slowly he made his way from each imprisoned xenos slaying them one at a time in the exact same manner. When he was done the Skulltaket began to unfasten the collars of Khorne from their necks tucking them all into a pouch of dark crimson leather fastened to his belt.

"More of the Brass Talons approach." said Agnrath.

From outside the small room came the sound of many armored boots marching. The constant thud had a tight cadence and the daemons could feel it as the floor beneath them began to pulse.

"Agnrath do what you do best." commanded the Skulltaker.

"Oh tee wah!" shouted the Bloodletter Angrath as the large daemon stepped out into the narrow hall. "Oh tee wah!" The Bloodletter began to grow. His muscles bulged and pulsated. The horns protruding from his forehead sprouted out twisting about at their sharp pointed ends. "Oh tee wah!"

Massive multitudes of Brass Talons looked at the front of their forward ranks to see a gigantic Bloodthirster looming before them. The greater of daemon of Khorne opened its huge maw and belched forth an incinerating ball of searing flames enveloping the closest Brass Talons. The Marines were vaporized in an instant. "Oh Tee Wah!" cried Angrath has the great daemon tore into the rank and file of the Brass Talons scouring them with his long wicked cat of nine tails. The tips ended in long barbed bits of razor sharp hardened bronze that cut through their power armor as if it were nothing more than paper. "Oh Tee Wah!" bellowed Angrath the unbound bloodthirster.

The Skulltaker grabbed a hold of his great axe charging into the fray swinging the large axe in a loop figure eight shredding power armor as he stepped forward cutting a spot for himself to fight against the Brass Talons. His Bloodletters surged into the open gaps thrusting their hellblades into the enemy.

"Fallback!" came the command from the rear of the Space Marines' rank and file. The Brass Talons immediately began to drop back sheathing their chainswords and pulling out their bolters so they could start rapid firing.

"Forward ho!" yelled the Skulltaker. Angrath bellowed out more fire and charged forward knocking the Brass Talons aside as the greater daemon surged deep into the enemy rank.

2/10

The Skulltaker spun around cleaving his axe through the air. His Bloodletters had to jump out of their master's path of destruction, leaping outside the Skulltaker's long reach. "Skulls for the Skull God!" shouted the Bloodthirster Angrath as the greater daemon brought down a cleft armored hoof smashing the closest Marine into a bloody pulp of gore and broken armor.

"We need those collars back daemon." spoke a towering Brass Talon standing back just outside the mad carnage. The Marine wore a suit of highly ornamented dark blue armor and a huge psychic enveloped his barr head. Three bronze service studs stuck out from his pale forehead, the end of each stud pressed with a different symbol bearing the mark of Tzneetch.

"So the rogue Librarian finally shows himself!" shouted the Skulltaker as he brought down the head of his huge axe splitting another Brass Talon apart with ease. The huge daemon lifted up the bag holding the eight collars of Khorne with his free hand. "Here they are. Let's see you take them."

The Librarian lifted his huge sword called by the name of the Executioner as he began to levitate about the floor. "The collars are necessary to bind the psychic force of the eldar. This craftworld cannot run without their bound power."

"The seer council is dead." spoke the Skulltaker. "It was a mercy killing." The daemon through the ground remains of several gemstones against the floor. "Their spirits were consumed by She Who Thirsts."

"You call that a mercy killing?" spat the Librarian.

"Far better to die a quick horrid death than prolonged suffering.

"Your psychic power is meaningless versus the children of Khorne. Your skull will hang from my belt."

The Librarian sneered.

Author's note:

I sent a PM to the guy who rated the story 2/10 to find out why he thinks it's so horrible... Reply came back as follows:

Typographical errors - I am writing this on my cell phone... It's really hard to go back and fix everything. I was planning to edit this as I get closer to finishing the story.

Space Marine saying the word 'ain't'... That appears in a phrase where I was quoting a line from a song to pay homage to the band.

Daemons firing plasma guns... I am actually planning to address this aspect of the story further along but I'd rather not go into any detail now.

I don't mind if someone wants to rate the story but I think it's only fair to give some reasons for a poor rating. This story still has a long way to go.

G

The Librarian began to move towards the melée. Angrath the Bloodthirster was surrounded by a score of Brass Talons, busy crushing them one by one as more of the rogue Marines charged in to fill any gap in the line surrounding the greater daemon. The Bloodletters finally had begun to take some losses becoming slowly overwhelmed by the vast numbers of Brass Talons. Swinging his axe from left to right and then back again the Skulltaker kept an eye on the tainted psyker. The bag of collars he held onto tight with the other hand. Scores of dead Marines littered the floor as the Khornate warband forced their way forward.

The dark Librarian held up a gauntlet and whispered a secret spell. Bolts of fiery lightning crashed down upon Angrath. The Bloodthirster hissed as the bolts harmlessy bounced off his hardened armored hide then he flicked his cat of nine tails whipping the barbed ends toward the Librarian.