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Chapter Two
Beginning of a Champion
Stories to be Told
Vows to be Taken


30182994.M41 TST
Darian Crusade
Chapel, Strike Cruiser Sigismund’s fist

It was black.

Pitch black, black as the soul of Horus, or maybe the Armour of the Templars, yes that sounded better, armour, my armour, Power Armour provided by the Mechanicus, granted by the chapter, blessed by the Emperor. the black turned red, well not exactly red more like molten steel, or lava fresh from a fissure in the rock. this red started at a point beyond the horizon and grew upward as if burning the sky, burning it into a radiant sunrise, but as i looked down to the ground, a vibrant green grass was pocked with blast craters and traitor's bodies, dead or dying, the wounds of war festering on their flesh, the stink of burning promethium permeated the air as if the smell is the air itself. The cries of the men were muted echoing softly back and forth as if my ears were filled with wax.

As I strode through the field I saw a small number of my brothers lying on the field, the most worthy of men, left to rot on this lonely planet, far from the love of their family, far from those who adore their sacrifice the air turned cold as their dying breath left them. I bent down to a brother who was reaching for me, I gave the final benediction as was taught to us in the first days of our training in the chapter keep, that is when the cross on his chest started to glow. The glow grew as his form was lifted off the ground, what was before me was not his form anymore, but that of our father the Emperor, beside him and to the right was his praetorian our Primarch Rogal Dorn and Sigismund the first Emperor's Champion and first High Marshal to his left.

The Emperor then spoke to me, His words where great though I remember them not, there meaning struck me to the core however, as if he spoke straight into my soul, his meaning was simple, I was to lead my brothers into combat as his hands and voice, i was to take his banner as his son Sigismund did at the behest of our Primarch, this call struck me to my core, the meaning was so deep I was jarred from my dream, if you call it that, it was a vision, if i have the right to say so, a vision provided by the Most Holy Emperor.

Kifus finished his recitation of the speech, the master of sanctity, chaplain Chandish stood from the stool he was sitting on in the corner of the chapel on the Sigismund’s Fist. Chandish pulled his cruzious from it scabbard at his wast, despite the obvious weight of the staff his symbol of office seemed comfortable in his hands, at this the chaplains swung, stopping centimeters from the chest of Kifus. the chaplain nodded in approval, "good brother, you have excelled in this first test of many, that of trust in those in your chapter to be the most loyal and honorable to you, to protect you and never bring direct harm to you." Chandish lowered the weapon deactivating the powerful field. “You are about to enter into a brotherhood more revered then any other in the whole of our glorious chapter, you have been selected to continue a tradition begun by our Father the Emperor and given to the first of your line, the High Marshal Sigismund the first Champion of the Emperor, and greatest of Black Templar. Are you Ready Kifus, Are you ready to become a Champion, The Emperor's Champion, the first Champion of the Darian Crusade?” Looking Chandish Square in his eyes, Kifus solemnly nodded, “I will stand for my brothers and protect the honour of the Emperor, Dorn and Sigismund.”

The procession was solemn and slow, The Master of Sanctity led the entourage, followed by Kifus and then a number of servators, each carring a piece of the Armour of faith before them, heads bowed in subservience to the glorious relic. Brother Initiates lined the passageway, their Neophyte charges standing in reverential quite at their masters sides.

As the procession continued the lights dimmed as the neared the end, the dome of the Primarchs. this chapel was the glory of the both Marshal Calin and the Master of Sanctity Chandish. The dome rests at the base of the super structure, just behind the armoured prow of the mighty vessel, as the Champion and his companions entered the Dome the splendor of it hit all in attendance once again, the Loyal Primarchs in all their glory Ringed the room with mighty splendor, as if these avatars would come to life themselves.

As kifus entered the dome he looked up, the armour plates were retracted from the crystalline dome, the lights of the stars and the blueish glow of Darians moon was all that lit the chamber. His first step in the chamber was met by a choir of young acolytes singing the praises of the chapter and the vows of the Champion of the Emperor in praise to the Father Emperor. As Kifus passed a Statue of a Primarch a young Acolyte reminded him of the aspects of the Emperor they each represented and thus the aspects of the Emperor he must live, passing Corax and Vulkan, Guilliman and Khan, Manus and Russ, Sanguinius and El'Jonson, and finally Rogal Dorn.

As Kifus approached the statue of brilliant yellow marble quarried from the depths of Terra herselfan honor guard of 10 Sword Brethren Encircled Kifus each with a Servitor at his side, Chandish held the Black Sword and Calin the Helm of Faith, all were ready for the ceremony to begin.

As the songs silenced and only the hum of the engines could be felt or heard a bell of ancient naval origin was rung and heard throughout the ship.

The first brother came forward with the lower torso, “do You Brother vow to stand firm as a foundation for those that may need it, to support the crusade as this piece of your new Armour will act as the foundation in it's own right?” Kifus looks to his Brother in Arms “I will lead us from despair to hope, from faith to slaughter.” the Sword brother nods and signals the servitor, “so be it brother.”

the Second Sword Brother steps forward bearing the greaves of the suit, speaking, “do you Brother Kifus, Vow to keep the chapter moving ever forward on this great crusade, to always defend the future of mankind and to not stop until the end overtakes you?” Kifus took a step forward and saluting as the old traditions of Terra hitting his closed fist to his chest he responds, “I vow as Champion of the emperor to move always forward, never back.”

again and again the Armour of Faith is presented to Kifus he takes a vow on each item presented and then the piece of Artificer Armour is assembled slowly encasing Kifus in solid adamantine.

As the entire suit is assembled two items remain, the sword and the helm, both are ancient tools, passed from one champion to the next always recovered, always repaired, always blessed.

Marshal Calin stepped forward holding the helm aloft before him, “this helm has seen many a war, many foes have died to the bearer of this helm, many enemies have wished for the head under this helm, but that is the fate of one blessed to fight as the Emperor's Champion, to live a life of valor and he honour, and to die in glorious battle by those you hate the most. Do you Kifus swear to live and die by all of the oaths you and every Champion before you have made?

Taking the helm in his hands and examining it as if for the first and last time, Kifus looks up the Marshal, "I Kifus, vow to protect, serve, and if the emperor calls for it, die, for the sake of chapter and thus the Emperor." The last man in the Circle, Chaplain Chandish comes forward a sheathed sword in his hands, present it to Kifus, "this, Kifus, is the sword of faith, it will strengthen you and your resolve, wield it rightly, and true, this last and final vow you shall take to become the missing link our crusade has long been without, the emperor's champion." continuing with his statement Chandish stepped closer to Kifus and handed the sword to Kifus pommel first, Kifus grasped the blade by the grip, yet Chandish did not release the sheath. "do you, Kifus, as the emperor's champion, vow to uphold the honor of the emperor through service and sacrifice,will you accept any challenge no matter the cost for the betterment of the crusade, will you suffer not the unclean to live for they are the embodiment of heresy and must be cleansed, and will you abhor the witch, for they are the gateways through which chaos flows? will you Kifus, do this for the crusade, the chapter, the Imperium, and the father emperor?"

looking the master of sanctity right in his eyes Kifus repeated back the vow “I, Kifus, as the Emperor's champion, vow to uphold the honor of the emperor through service and sacrifice, i will accept any challenge no matter the cost for the betterment of the crusade, i will suffer not the unclean to live for they are the embodiment of heresy and must be cleansed, and i will abhor the witch, for they are the gateways through which chaos flows. I Kifus, do this for the crusade, the Chapter, the Imperium, and the Father Emperor." at this the chaplain released the blade, looking up at the stars in the panoramic view, Father Emperor, I dedicate this brother marine to you as your champion, guide him and protect him, lend him your strength as you have done in the past for the Champions that fought in your name." looking back down the chaplain proclaimed in a large unearthly voice, "it is done, the new champion has been hailed and sealed, we are now ready for battle and victory.”

looking at the entirety of the crusade in this grand hall all together marshal Calin Smiled for the first time in a long time, “Break open the wine, fire up the galleys, tonight we dine, for tomorrow our enemies must die!” a great cheer erupted and was silenced once more as the chapter echoed the sentiment of their own Marshal.