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 Sgt_Smudge wrote:
Loved it.

Felt so epic to read, the desperate push to reach the ritual site and the Cadian's speech was great!

Particularly liked how each commander was given an opponent that matched them, showed how similar the two forces were. Nice reference to Grimskull by the way.

The warp bits were just as mind-bending as you wanted, really got across the futility. (Poor Commissar Gavor, I really loved his last words. So fed up of life and his existance that he willingly steps into the abyss to be with the woman he loves. Brilliant.)




Where, when, or even what reality?
Maybe in the sorcerers cupboard full of mint shiny acting captains he collects?

That solved my dilemma, I was wondering what to do with Gavor. My plasn was dying fighting the night lord heroicly but that's so much better.

I










Now, my real question?

Spoiler:

Shrugs, I don't know he said he was too cool to return with the rest of Omega team. lol

Don't worry, I'm sure he's in good hands...

*evil cackling intensifies*


Also, where was that chap Captain Grey buried? I've got this lovely necromancy spell I'd love to test

And I must say, I like how the Sorcerer has pretty much become this story's Darth Vader, with the force choking replaced with mindfething people to death

 Ezra Tyrius wrote:
Don't worry, I'm sure he's in good hands...

*evil cackling intensifies*


Also, where was that chap Captain Grey buried? I've got this lovely necromancy spell I'd love to test

And I must say, I like how the Sorcerer has pretty much become this story's Darth Vader, with the force choking replaced with mindfething people to death

Dead on a battlefield, killed by a deamon at a polar fortress. Pretty cold place, should preserve bodies quite well me thinks ;-)

The way I see it, the campaign has ended up with these general character tropes:

Karak: Noble hero, strength and will, duty and honour bound. The typical Paladin/Hero role.

Sorceror: Mysterious bad guy who never reveals their true motive, but always there.

Grinbad: Ruthless warmonger, savage and brutal, typical Ork really!

Aurelius: Tragic hero, punching bag for the setting.

Archarus: Raging bad guy, violent and deranged.

Titus: That guy no-one really likes, but has to put up with.

Ajuran: Tortured hero, haunted by ghosts of the past.

Sheppard: The rogue hero, the wildcard, the ladykiller. A true maverick.

I'll be writing up the last piece for Titus and his Deathwatch tomorrow. The Deathwatch have done enough thus far, and I can't imagine them staying around much longer.
The Vault was dealt with (with varied success) and will soon be off to their next warzone.
Besides, it wasn't the most enjoyable thing, having a character that transcended normal restrictions and rules.

It will be nice to focus on Aurelius again, once someone finds him.

 Ezra Tyrius wrote:
Don't worry, I'm sure he's in good hands...

*evil cackling intensifies*


Also, where was that chap Captain Grey buried? I've got this lovely necromancy spell I'd love to test

You do seem to have a thing about my characters, don't you?

Don't you know Smudge? Cadians are good at 2 things. Killing and heroic speech making

Double post

You assume the Iron Warriors would bury him? Bah, they probably boiled him down to his basic elements to make into protein for the common slaves to eat. Wouldn't be the first time the Iron Warriors did that...

Well, as soon as the opportunity comes up to try and search for him (whether it be by number generation or just asking Chazz who has him) then I volunteer as tribute.

Julius stood on the bridge of the Battle Barge "Honour" and stared out the viewscreen in shock. As the ship had begun establishing itself in orbit over Gailor Prime the entire planet had disappeared for a few seconds. When it re-appeared the planet seemed to be dead. Vox messages shot back and forth between the oribiting ships furiously for a few minutes. Then they had received some vox signals from the few remaining troops on the ground, and the Black Templars vessel had nearly immediately dispatched shuttles to the surface to pick up the survivors. Not wanting to wait for word from the Templars, Julius had ordered one of the Thunderhawks attached to his company down to the surface to look for survivors from Aurelius's company. He dearly hoped that they could be found, for to lose an entire demi-company of Astartes, and one of the chapter's most promising up and coming leaders would be a terrible blow to it's strength. Julius continued to pace around the bridge as he waited for word back from the pilots of the Thunderhawk.

Ryus pondered as he watched the Warpath Cruicible blip disappear from his tactical display and noted its transition into the warp. He turned to his advisors to get an update about the withdrawl of all ground forces. The New Order had sustained acceptable casualties during the siege bar the loss of High Judge Fyragh. Ryus wondered if Fyragh had appointed a successor before he was slain. The Chapter Master made his question verbal and to his delight, a Judge Grejer had been selected to lead in Fyragh's place should death occur.

"Where is Judge Grejer now?" Ryus inquired of his advisor's, hoping the Judge had made it aboard. It would be difficult to find a replacement if the Grejer were not found.

"He said you knew where he was. He said it was the Last Preparation..." one of his advisors replied, turning back to address his Chapter master.

"Good, now prepare the cyclonic torpedos."

"Sir their are still guardsmen down there!"

"Do it, serf" Ryus unshakably replied.

"Yes, Chapter Master..." the advisor turned back to his monitor and typed out a message to the ordinance crews to load torpedos. Ryus tapped the arm of his command throne.

"I also require all documentation of Grejer's departure to be sent to my quarters post-haste..."

A few hours earlier (pre New order section)

"Rescue flights launched Marshall"

"Tangir, any other signals from loyalist elements who survived?"

"Yes Marshall, some Faust units, Catchans and other misc group"

"Launch flights, rescue who we can reach, this planet is dead, full checks aboard ship"

"Aye sir, preparing now, Tangir out. "

Rescue flights soon began to arc down to the planet, the Templers would rescue who they could and see what they could salvage from the ruined dead husk of Gallor Prime.

"Thunder hawks incoming, Brace for jet wash" came the shout as the massive black angular craft came into land, ramps dropping and touching the glassy ice the second the crafts own feet touched the deck.

"Go, Shepard, Petra, humans to the right, seats modified. Titus, Deathwatch and Omega left, Templers Center, Honor guards Right with the humans. " Karak ordered, this was his evac.

"ramps sealed, passengers secured, engines to full" came over the crackling internal comms, "any new to the thunderhawk, enjoy the ride" as all felt the firm push as the massive engines propelled the craft aloft in under half the time of most other shuttle's.

Petra tossed her badly battered helmet to the deck, her Armour was dented, cut and scarred in a dozen places, proof despite its old look, it was just as tough as a storm troopers, Leaning her head on shepherds shoulder, "we lived, we did it. Lord Karak, your Captain of a warship, you have a chapel. No excuses Shepard, we just survived Armageddon, Feth anyone."

"i think she means it Shepard the Marshall joked, follow your orders" Laughing as he said it.

"a wedding,ha, you may want to do another round with the orks" Ulf joked, Catching the Helmet rolling on the deck" Though Spanneorus will have to do something about this armour first"

"My order has disgraced me, looks like no knights to escort me, Feth tradition it seems" She added dejectedly, despite Armageddon some things mattered.

"Knights, well im no knight but they did not just fight in that hell with us , By this Hammer you will have a escort" Ulf roared,

"i agree, we will make a new tradition, someone will have to find Chaplain Vargos too" Brook replied, Quiet normally, pius and respectful.

"Any last words Shepard?" Joked Marshall Karak,

"My future wife has already found a way to override the comersariat in a single flight, gained powerful allies, and Ulf is probably going to drag me in chains if im late, i surrender"

"it was inevetiable" Petra whispered, falling asleep seconds later.

*****

Down on the Surface rescue missions where mounted, Thunder hawks and troop transports landing at ruined camps, some had degenerated in to wild beats, torn to shreds by roaring hurricane bolters and marines manning pintle mounted assault cannons on the doors, at one they found a few of the Fausteens knights and troops, fighting back to back vs the monsters that had been there fellow guardsmen, in another they found several hundred held up in a HQ bunker, the Governor and his staff had survived the battle, though many had died before the doors had sealed. In the Jungles the Catchans had been seemingly protected by the fake Temple and many made it, Iron Tooth wounded but managing to limp himself aboard to the transport, too proud to be carried off the planet.

The Titans had escaped, so had many of the Admech, the Warlord was damaged, and 2 scout titans had been destroyed, there massive guns had driven backs hoards of mad beastial packs, immune to the fear that had cost so many there lives.

Much was lost, as Karak looked over the reports, no one could doubt his actions, thousands had been saved, though little in the grand campaign, it mattered. Damn anyone that tried to stop him.

***********

(a few days later)

Ulf walked down to the Serf decks, nods and respectful bows followed his wake, but he was here for a different reason, 2 serfs carried boxes behind, stopping at the right door he rapped twice and entered. Shepard was at the medical bay, the Cadet Commissar had been found wounded, he'd need a new arm but had survived the battle by sheer luck, just catching one of the last overflights of the Temple city. Governor Paulus was being treated for minor wounds alongside many of those found in the bunker. Petra nursed her head taking a painkiller and downing water from a metal beaker, Gavors wake, how could Shepard even walk after that night?

"greetings Ulf, what brings you to this deck?" Petra asked.

"A surprise, it is the Marshalls gift to you, your armour was wrecked, we have made a replacement" cueing the serfs to place down the boxes and leave.

"thank you, i am honored, " opening the crate, it was sized perfectly off her old suit, but the similarities stopped there, ornate details worked in silver metal rimmed the Helmet, etchings of the Battle of the Temple where worked in two tones into its Breast plate, in a matter of days the Templers had crafted a suit surpassing even those of the Order Masters, ornate yet effective and Artificer plate providing protection well in excess of her old Armour, "this is"

"spannerous, his work in metal is some of the best, a deserved reward" Ulf added. "14.30 at the chapel of the black sword tomorrow, a Serf will be sent to guide you, this ship is a maze, The knights i might add seem to have changed there minds, your status is restored, i had a quick word with them, all polite of course" The giant added with a wink.

"Thankyou, Ulf, your Chapters gift i will never forget"

Im a bit confused on whats happening in your story Jhe... Can I get a sparknotes version?

 Tactical_Spam wrote:
Im a bit confused on whats happening in your story Jhe... Can I get a sparknotes version?

Flight from the frozen temple city. The remaining loyalist evacuation, bit of banter and chatter mostly.

One is a summery of current events, guard rescues, survivors, snap shots of what went on on the plannet, as mech escaping mostly intact, people driven mad etc

3rd is a small bit, just a bonus of Petra getting a new set of armour, and the wedding set up.

Whos getting married? I am a bit behind.

 Tactical_Spam wrote:
Whos getting married? I am a bit behind.

Lord commissar Shepard, Knight captain Petra, they where chazzs characters till the inquisition raid and then got sent to vanguard and ive been writing abit about them since the frozen temple.

Aw... I dont get to nuke the guard

 Tactical_Spam wrote:
Aw... I dont get to nuke the guard

Still plenty left down there. I only rescued a few thousand.

Though after the warp storm they may not be much guard lefty in them

Wow, that story caught me off guard. Poor Sheppard fights for a life time in the warp and then is immediately put on the spot like that lol. Good story Jhe, did you plan to write the ceremony, because if not I would like. (In the grim-darkness of the 41st millennia there is only war.... and wedding cake.)

Do we get to wear suits for this ceremony?

 chazz huggins wrote:
Wow, that story caught me off guard. Poor Sheppard fights for a life time in the warp and then is immediately put on the spot like that lol. Good story Jhe, did you plan to write the ceremony, because if not I would like. (In the grim-darkness of the 41st millennia there is only war.... and wedding cake.)

Your welcome to write the ceremony if you want, in the massive battles, warships, fleets and warp madness it seemed like a fun contrast have, something so small, yet diffrent

 Tactical_Spam wrote:
Do we get to wear suits for this ceremony?

I suppose power armour counts a formal lol :-)

 jhe90 wrote:

 Tactical_Spam wrote:
Do we get to wear suits for this ceremony?

I suppose power armour counts a formal lol :-)

Whos doing the ceremony then? Considering you happen to be fighting along side the Black templars and a Black templar baby chapter, which one gets to do the ceremony?

 Tactical_Spam wrote:

 jhe90 wrote:

 Tactical_Spam wrote:
Do we get to wear suits for this ceremony?

I suppose power armour counts a formal lol :-)

Whos doing the ceremony then? Considering you happen to be fighting along side the Black templars and a Black templar baby chapter, which one gets to do the ceremony?

Think that one goes to the second founding but at this rate it ia tirning out to be the socierty wedding of the crusade! ( plus there already aboard the Emperors Vengeance) (new order chaplain could represent them maybe? ) im sure chazz can work new order into the whole story, its the crusade wedding of the year lol

Chazz your welcome to write if, though any guests are welcome :-) its a big ship, chaos excluded, no black sheep family !

The Ultramarines will send Captain Julius and a squad of Tactical Marines. Us Ultras love weddings.

I like how a simple wedding derailed a entire crusade, and everyone forgets a entire planet basicly died.

But wedding lol

Hey, my boys just got here. We have an excuse. Unlike the rest of you schmucks.

 jhe90 wrote:
I like how a simple wedding derailed a entire crusade, and everyone forgets a entire planet basicly died.

But wedding lol

ok guys most important question of the crusade, chocolate or vanilla cake. (Templars say Chocolate but Ultramarines say Vanilla, all out war ensues.)