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Of the many places one can hear legends and tall tales about in the Empire of Mankind in the 41th millennium few are as shrouded in darkness and mysteries as the Ghoul Stars. This dark and desolate region of the Ultima Segmentum, the sheer amount of horror stories and ghastly tales about those who has ventured into these haunted marches are the things void travelers tell to scare each other. And to warn their fellows against going there.

There are those however who willingly make their home on the borders of this sector. The most infamous of these are The Death Hands chapter of the Adeptus Astartes and their fellow guardians The Death Specters.


The Death Hands home world is a eerie and remote world, that lies in a system that are home to five other worlds. All of these worlds are sparsely populated and barley cling to life, had it not been for the Chapters relationship with the Ragnarokian system recruitment would have been all but impossible. The world goes by the name of Hades and serves as the final point any would be adventurer may resupply or seek shelter should it be required.

But yes, I sense you do not want to read information about a Astartes chapter. You want to hear tales that make your hair stand and a cold shiver crawl up your spine! Well then. Settle down my friend and I shall begin.



Part I.
The void seemed colder than ever, rouge trader and explorer Astor Everhearth thought. He had traveled to this Emperor forsaken part of space to try his fortunes here, and all he had found was dead worlds and the remains of world long ago passed into the pages of history.

He had heard a lot about the Ghoul stars, and had wived them until now as noting but old wives tales, but now he was not that overconfident. He and his trusty crew had last docked in the shipyards above the world of Hades. There he had payed a small fortune for maps, supplies and information on what could be waiting for him beyond the horizon.
As he rose from the command throne and walked down the small flight of stairs leading down to the crew stations on the bridge of his ship he felt that same oozing feeling of fear grip his hearth. No he thought, its just your mind playing tricks on you, get some rest and tackle it from there.

As he lay in his bunk and tried to sleep his mind drifted of, and he soon was fell into a restless slumber. Suddenly the intercom crackled to life beside his bed “ My lord, you better get up here in a damned hurry. We found something”. Cursing the unfortunate crew member to wake him up he put on his cloths and hurried to the bridge.

Arriving he walked over to his second in command Ashanti witch was a pretty woman in her late twenties with dark hair and skin as black as the night . “ Alright girly, what got you all so rilled up” he said.
Returning the favor she replied “ The deep space scans picked it up a few hours ago old man, it seems one of the worlds in this system has some secrets to reveal. We cant however tell exactly what is, for that we would need eyes on the ground.”
Scratching his chin he paused for a second, and then said “ alright then, get us in orbit as fast as you can”.

While the rouge trader and his henchmen where preparing for a planet side expedition, someone else was also watching the situation.
“ My lord, we detect energy readings from Cerberus IV. It seems something or someone has activated a beacon of sorts. What is your commands” a Tech priest said with his head bowed low as he stood before a massive throne witch was situated on the equally impressive bridge of a huge ship that resembled a fortress more than a ship.

“ Let them proceed, I will not risk revealing our presence just yet. Let the mortal have his moment o before we announce our coming” came the reply from a massive man clad in pitch black amour.
“ They may even prove useful in our mission that lies ahead”.
Bowing in respect the Priest walked away to continue his work on the ships Machine Spirit.

While these events where unfolding the cold dying light from the stars continued to ebb, and on the world in question something began to stir, something that had not moved in countless millenniums.


Part II.

The Rouge Trader vessel Nefertiti hung in a low orbit above Cerberus IV. The ship was worn with age but only a fool would mistake it for defenseless. Her bite was far worse than her bark many would be pirates had learned.

However the state of the ship was one of the last things witch raced thru the mind of Ashanti, she always disliked being left behind while her Captain and lover left to explore a world that might yield secrets or other valuable things. However she did see the need for such things, it was how they all made a living. She was needed aboard the ship due to her skill as a officer, and for the equally important reason that she was the one who would assume command if anything went wrong.

Astor Everhearth was not particularly pious, but there where moments when he prayed for salvation and good fortune.
He stood in the illuminated launch bay aboard his ship, around him men where gearing up for the coming expedition to the world that awaited them below. He muttered a final prayer before he turned to his men, “ Alright you lot, When we land I want you all to remember your responsibilities. I don’t want ANYONE to get hurt you understand me! Stay in your dedicated teams and keep in touch with the rest of us”.
With these final words still ringing in their ears the men began to board the five transport ships that would carry them to the surface of Cerberus IV. All of them where experienced soldiers but still, many of them felt a tingling in their guts as the ships began their decent.


Meanwhile in the shadow of a moon that orbited a gas giant another ship drifted thru the void. The ship resembled a massive cathedral, but there the similarities ended. It was bristling with weapons and had a aura of dread about it, the ship was named Perdition’s Flame and it belonged to the Death Hands Astartes Chapter.
Aboard the ship there was a feeling of calmness, but even this was deceiving. The ship was on alert as it always where when it patrolled these Emperor forsaken realms. At the ships bridge noting stirred except for the quiet chanting from a Tech Priest tending to a machine spirit and the standing shape of Brother Captain Arkangle. He stood silently and watched the men under his command tend their duties, his mind was filled with thoughts about his last campaign, and the failure he had been forced to suffer.
Denied after all those years felt like a mortal blow to his pride and sense of duty to the father of mankind. He had been acquitted of any wrong doings but still the feeling lingered on.
Next time Eldar he muttered to himself, next time you will die by my hands.

His moments of silent brooding was disturbed by a a Chapter serf “ My lord the vessel we have been monitoring have launched several drop ships, They also seem aware they are not alone. We can not however tell if they have spotted us, what do you command us to do?” the serf said with a steady voice.
Upon hearing this Arkangle considered his options, turning towards the serf he said “ Send for Brother Liberian Octavious, and set a course for Cerberus IV but keep us hidden.”
The serf bowed once again and went about his appointed tasks.


The drop ships shuddered as they entered the atmosphere of the world below them, after the bone rattling entry they soon touched down.
The troopers piled out, and organized them self into their dedicated squads. After making sure no ghastly doom awaited them for the time being they signalled the all clear and their leader excited his own shuttle alongside his cadre of bodyguards clad in heavy carapace armour and armed with bolt guns and melta weapons.
The first thing that struck Astor Everhearth was how quiet it was, there was not a single sound to be heard except for those from his men and their gear.
“ Okay get the search started, I don’t want to be stuck here for longer than needed” he said.

Above them Ashanti and the remaining crew members on the bridge studied the constant pict scans and searched for anything out of the ordinary, that could be expected on a world like the one below them.
“ Be careful Everhearth, I don’t want to lose you too” she whispered to herself.

Nice start! I like the way you're building it with the different sets of characters. Keep it creepy!

The Ghoul Stars are an awesome canvas - I look forward to seeing what you paint.

I like it as well, and it's sort of a relief not just reading violence at this site.

@ Necroagogo : I think you will be suprised

@ Beaviz81 : I thinka writher should try to differ betqwen styles of writhing. But thanks for liking it, always nice with good feedback

This is a nice intro, I'll be sure to read more.

Part III.

Something stirred in the dark caves beneath the surface of Cerberus IV, to an observer it would appear as ghostly shapes flowing true walls, and merging with age worn pieces of machinery that flickered to life.
The warren of tunnels that honeycombed the deep places of the world slowly began to be filled with a eerie green and turquoise glow.

In the centre of the warren of caves and tunnels a tall and pale structure flickered into life, a swirling maelstrom of energy spiralled out from its centre point, and soon it hummed with a low almost humming tune the structure began to reveal its nature. It was made of wraith bone and had been built aeons ago, now it once again allowed its users to spill forth from the web way.

The first to step out was a tall slender figure grasping a slender staff in her hands. She was followed by a group of feminine shapes wielding slender swords and with hair red as flame.
They was followed by more armed figures and as the last to exit the gateway was four massive bipedal figures holding massive swords in their hands and with long barrelled weapons mounted on their shoulders.

“The host awaits your command Farseer.” said the tallest of the women standing next to their leader.
The one who was being addressed turned around and looked at the gathered host at her command.
“ Send forth our rangers, I wish to learn more of those who have chosen to make this world their tombs.”

“ As you command my lady” her servant replied. “ So the dice is cast, I pray we have not chosen wrongly” the Farseer muttered to herself.


Meanwhile in orbit above the plant things where quiet on board the rouge trader vessel. The scans had not been able to produce any valuable information, this was due to several things accordingly to the Tech priests. Anyhow this did not do much to relive the mood of Ashanti, the woman who had for years been used to a life of constant danger did not take well to the periods of calm aboard the ship. But she endured due to her sense of duty and her love to the man who owned the ship.

As she sat in the ships command throne and cursed the universe for being such a dull place at this moment several things happened at once, it began with a crew member who where manning one of the long range scanner station called out “ Unidentified contact closing in, moving at high speed. Its gonna be in range within twenty minutes.”

“Prepare for contact, all hands to battle stations! I want all systems ready and make sure that damned shield is at maximum efficiency” Ashanti called out to her subordinates. Biting her lip she hoped that the contact was not hostile, they where too far away from any shipping lanes for any Navy ships to come to their aid.

The rouge trader vessel Nefertiti broke from orbit and placed herself between the oncoming ship and the world below, her shields flickered into life and her potent weapons hummed to life.
Still the unidentified ship came on, not revealing its identity or its purpose.

Suddenly one of the men manning the bridge spoke up “Ship identified Captain. Perdition’s Flame an Astartes Battle barge. “

Great read, as always.

Ouch Astartes Battle Barge. If I'm not mistaken they can even beat an Emperor Battleship mano en mano. What kind of ship is Neferitiri?

I would like Astor at least described.

Eldars are always interesting, props for involving them.

All will be answerd in the next chapter young one. I will flesh them out a bit more then

Vox netID : Ultra magios IX00991234_Yt
Subspace transmission incoming
Thought of the day : Idleness breeds heresy!


Ordo Hereticus report on Rouge Trader Astor Everhearth. The following describes those facts uncovered by this standard investigation into the activity of the mentioned individual and his trader organization.

Subject name : Astor Everhearth of Necromunda.
Early years and the gaining of his current position.

His exact origins have been lost in the maze of paperwork clogging the Necromundian Ministiroum administration, he is believed to been born in one of the higher class families but due to unknown reasons he was cast out at an early age.

He would have drifted into the hive gangs or death had he not been recruited by force onto a ship belonging to a trader based out of Ultima Segmentum, he spent the next decade aboard that wrecked ship. It is not hard to imagine the things he suffered at the hands of the older crew members on those long journeys into the void. It is possible it was in these years he gained the zealous hate against slavers and those who prey on children or those without the option to defend themselves from such predators.

However when had decade had passed things changed, I have heard from several reliable sources that the young man at one point challenged the captain and slew him in the ensuing fight, the crew where quick to fall in with their new master, who then wasted little time in securing his position. And began the task of acquiring a trader charter from the nearest Imperial Governor
his rise to wealth took longer than expected and him and his crew fell on rough times. However all that changed when a new charter became available, it was this who catapulted the now seasoned trader captain into the position he now has.

He made earned a great fortune on the charter, and he also gained many enemies over those years. Many did go after him with murder in mind, but few where ever heard from again.
He was presumed missing with all his crew and ship after venturing into the Ghoul stars, but the man who has gained a reputation as a calm and calculating captain emerged from those cursed realms to claim massive rewards for the risks he had taken.

He is a man who can spend days or months waiting for a chance to secure his price, he is however also prone to mood swings and periods of heavy drinking. Most likely due to his childhood.

The ship witch he now posses is a rare thing indeed even for a Rouge Trader. The ship is a Gothic class cruiser, how such a ship came into its current owner hands are unknown, however it has been speculated that is was granted to Everhearth after aiding the Adeptus Mechanicus Forge World Hellheim with a very delicate quest into the Ghoul stars. It is noted that the ship is modified to fit its current role but still has roughly the same capabilities as a standard Imperial Navy cruiser.

Like the new entries, very well written. And those poor Rogue Traders; fighting a Battlebarge isn't a very easy task.

Thank you, and if they come to blows the next chapter will reveal

LL for me I think the DH would ally with a Rogue Trader if it served their need. They just are math and logic, nothing else. If a non-Astartes serves their need, let it live. If not *BLAM!*

At least that's how I regard them.

Yes, It would be wrong to call them friendly minded towards those who dose not fill roles they need filled.

Part IIII.


The two ships faced each other head on, both were marvels of the capabilities of mankind. But if they should come to blows there would only be one left standing, altho the Rouge Trader vessel bristled with weapons and other means of defensive systems it could not hope to match the sheer might of the Astartes ship now heading straight for her.

However the ship did not open fire, nor did it spew out its deadly arsenal of boarding pods. Instead the massive battle barge took up position alongside the outgunned and outclassed Gothic Cruiser.


Aboard Nefertiti`s bridge a siren told of a incoming signal from the the massive ship lying beside the. The bridge was filled with nervous crew members and officers.
The Pict screen crackled to life, and revealed a massive Astartes clad in pitch black armor with skin as pale as marble. His steel grey eyes seemed to mirror the feeling of dread he emitted.

“ Rouge trader vessel, this is Brother Captain Arkangle of the Death Hands. You seem to be lost amongst the stars, I strongly recommend you to power down your weapons and lower your shields. Unless you wish to know how we deal with those who violate the travel restrictions we impose upon our realm.”

Ashanti felt the cold hand of fear take ahold of her mind, but still. The seasoned Cadian woman did not succumb to it, steeling her nerves she sent answered the awaiting Astartes “ My lord we are currently in support of a exploration team on the world below us, we have kept our weapons and shield s ready in case of any unforeseen events. But we will do as you command. And no, we are not lost. We gained access to these marches from your fleet master at the world of Hades.”

Brother Captain Arkangle smiled a wolfish grin when he watched the woman reply. She did not allowed her fear to cripple her, and she conducted herself with a degree of self confidence that could only stem from decades of service in the name of the immortal Emperor.
Yes they would live still. And if the veins of fate wanted it, they could even earn the right to serve the Death Hands.

While these events unfolded above them the men of Astor Everhearth was forming up outside the massive cave they had discovered. There where almost two thousand of them now, the landing ships had landed all his men. And now the men where eager to get on with heir tasks at hand.
“Come on lads, remember your training keep yer trigger finger ready! Any damned xeno show s its smiling face, give it a new arsehole.” called one of the sergeants.

The men crept down the dimly light tunnel, chimeras covering their backs. They where all seasoned soldiers witch had served in many campaigns before joining up with their current employer, most of them hailed from either the Ragnarokian regiments or from other well known regiments.

As they advanced they knew not who was watching, had they know they would have retreated and set up defensive position outside the tunnels.

The errie silence of the tunnels was broken by a mournful wailing that seemed to be the cries of the damned, followed by heavy footsteps that could only come from something massive. Cries of warning and outraged filled the air alongside the sounds of hand to hand combat.

The Eldar had sprung their trap, now the interlopers would pay.

Great new entry; stupid sneaky Eldar.

Good storytelling Trondheim, ill be watching for more.

Thanks for the nice feedback. Anything I need to improve?

Nice-paced build up. I like the way you manage to introduce the characterisation into the story without it seeming forced. The set-up for the (I presume) big underground fight reminds me of the battle from the latest IA book, which ain't a bad thing.

Hoping for carnage!

Part V.

The wail of the banshees and the hail of shuriken weaponry mixed with the hiss of lasguns and the muffled barks of auto cannons. This was the scene that filled the great tunnel, the rouge trader forces was however not unprepared for battle had they been it would have devolved into a massacre. But there was no escape from the fact that they where hard pressed to keep their lines from breaking.
A group of men was torn to bloody ribbons by a hail of shuriken fire while a Banshee was ripped apart by a salvo of auto cannon fire.


“ Section 5 covering fire! Pin that bloody xeno down” Astor yelled thru the symphony of battle. The xeno witch needed pinning was a Eldar sniper, witch had shot the trooper that been beside him. The section that was called upon to do this did as ordered, they unleashed a hail of lasfire and quickly the sniper fire stopped.
“ Target down sire.” came the response from the section leader.

Further down the line someone shouted a warming about incoming fire, witch was quickly followed by the cries of wounded and dying men. To an observer it would have seemed as if a change of pace had occurred in the battle being waged. The Eldar increased their efforts and now the full might that they had at their disposal was unleashed, the heavy footfalls something massive was drawing near. Soon the humans would be noting more than corpses and worm fodder.
With a force like a avalanche the four Wraith lords hit the troops defending from the rest of the Eldar host.
With wraith swords and shuriken cannons they cut a bloody path true their foes, many men fell to their great swords and more died from the razor sharp projectiles they fires from their weapons.
However all was not lost, because a new actor was about to make its presences known on the bloody scene of war.


Brother Captain Arkangle looked around him, the scene was one of mayhem and destruction. The crew of the Nefertiti had not offered much resistance to him and his brothers. His long time informer Ashanti had proven useful. Her skills of infiltration and subterfuge was seconded to none, the ship now belonged to his lord.
The woman in question approached her master, “ Here are the cogitators to the vault. You will find the thing you seek there.”
As she turned to leave a stabbing pain ripped true her body, looking down she saw a blade emmiting from her chest. Ashanti sunk to her knees, imagies of her life flashing before her eyes. Weeping she felt the blade being pulled back.

“I do not forget wench. You may have thought yourself safe, you were wrong! I suffer not liars to live” said Librarian Octavious and turned to his Brother Captain, “ What have you planed for those on the world below us.

“We have dealt with this insubordinate whore, Now we protect what needs saving. I want that man alive.” Arkangle said, and turned to leave. “As you command my lord” the Librarian.

o.0. Nasty space marines! Didn't see that coming.

What's going to stand up to the Wraithlords?!

As always, a fun read. Nice one, Trondheim.

Thanks mate Yes, Death Hands are not very forgiving

“ Fall back! Fall the frak back! We cant stop those things.” Astor yelled over vox link, his forces where in the process of being butchered by the Eldar after the Wraith lords had shown up, the behemoths where unaffected by anything they threw at them. Most of their chimeras was noting more than burning wrecks and all but two heavy weapon teams was dead.

As he ducked a swiping blow from a banshee and returned the favor by shooting her point blank in the chest with his bolt pistol he cursed the damned xenos. What remained of his over two thousand strong force was now no more than five hundred bloodied and baterd men. It dawned on him that he would die here, they had not been able to contact their ship and now these damned things where after his head.

Meanwhile in orbit aboard the Battle Barge Perdition’s Flame a sober scene unfolded. On the drop pod deck and in the teleportarium deck Astartes prepared for battle.
Brother Captain Arkangle took a moment to look around, alongside him stood fifty members of the honored 1th company. All veterans of a thousand campaigns witch where warriors without equals.
However he did not underestimate his foes either, he knew that to do that was to invite failure and defeat. Therefor he had ordered three squads of tactical marines and one of the venerable old ones awakened, and roused for war. The great walker stood beside the drop pod that would deliver him to the field of battle. He was armed for close combat, a great sword gripped in one metal fist and the other crackled with energy. Dreadnaught Rasputin was famed for his savagery and his zeal even before he was placed in that metal tomb, now he served the chapter when the need was great.

Stepping onto the platform Arkangle called out to his brothers “ Suffer not the xeno to live, and venerate the father of mankind true battle brothers! TO WAR!” and with that a sound like that of thunder sounded and the teleporter was activated, at the same time the drop pods where launched.
Eighty angels of death alongside a Dreadnaught would hit their foe like a hammer blow. And end this one way or the other.

The warlock leading the Eldar war host was sensing the spirit of his foes crumble like sand before the tide, they had put up a good defense bu in the end the Wraith lords had broken them, ripping them apart in showers of gore and blood. Now it was time to end this, the farseer needed the all the time she could get.
He watched as the human leader shot a Banshee at point blank range, her mangled body crumbled and her killer rammed his blade into the neck of another one. Yes he would die last the psyker thought to himself.
He was about to order the last phase of the attack when the air vibrated and he felt a tremor in the empyrian, with a thunderous crack fifty massive figures appeared amongst his warriors.

Suddenly the air filled with the unmistakable bark of bolters and the low hiss of flamers. But rising above all this was the sound of carnage coming from the terminators of the Death Hands 1th company who where carving a bloody way true the Eldar. However they soon met fierce resistance.

A terminator was split from head to groin by a glowing wraith sword and another one was tossed like a doll across the great tunnel. Banshees swarmed the veterans and used their speed and numbers to combat them.

The two sides where unevenly matched, thunder hammers and storm shields clashed with mirror swords and shuriken pistols and wraith weapons. The Terminators would have taken many more casualites had it not been for the arrival of their support,stomping down the tunnel came Dreadnaught Rasputin, he howled like a man possessed and began his bloody work. The great walker was soon however faced might a mighty foe even he needed to handle with care.

Blocking his way was a giant of a Wraith lord, its featureless head seemed to tremble with rage and it was armed in the manner of its human opponent. Speaking in a hollow voice it called to its foe witch answered in kind and came on hard, sword leading the way.

To anyone standing near the dueling pair it would have seemed like two great avatars of death clashing. One made from Wraith bone and the other clad in adamantium and steel exchanging blows that would have split even a terminator in two or smashed a transport to pieces.
No quarter would be given and none asked for, however it was something else than any action by either of these two great warriors that would decide the outcome of the duel.
That person was a unidentified former guardsman who despite being well aware of that it would cost him his life stepped out from cover and fired a long rattling burst of kraken rounds from his bolt gun. This distraction came just in time, because the Dreadnaught had suffered many hits and was being pushed back on the defensive.

These rounds fired from almost point blank range hit the great Eldar walker but did noting more than distract it for the time it took it to grab the doomed man and crush the life out of him with one massive hand.

This however was all the time its foe needed, sensing his chance honorable Rasputin struck with all his righteous fury, the great sword in his metallic fist cut true wraith bone and severed vital parts, as his foe slumped to its knees. Dazed by this unforeseen event he pulled back and with a great howl he drove his other fist true its skull. And with a brutal tug ripped its head clean of.
Trowing his trophy away the by now enraged walker began to rip a bloody path true all who tried to oppose it, now the xenos would learn to fear him once again.

Yeah, those Iron Hands are nasty. Nice new entries, sorry I missed 'em. I been busy with school recently.

Nice heavyweight fight! Only three more wraithlords for Rasputin to stomp, no? Good, punchy fight scene!

That would be correct. Next part up at some point during the weekend I recon

Wow, thats some awesome fluff! I love how you describe the scenes, and how you create tension!

Its also nice ti read some Eldar fluff, I haven't seen much of that yet.

Only things you could improve are punctuation and some minor grammar mistakes.....

Keep it up!

Thanks Merlin. Hehe yea, those two are what I need to work on.

Grammar easily corrected, the storytelling skill is what is harder to come by and you habe that.

Love the wraithbone vs adamantium imagery and their mutual challenge, even in different languages some communication is universal!