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.

PROLOGUE

Along the borders of known space, far out on the Northern rim, lies a small system. A system that is barely big enough to contain the weak sun within. It's rays not strong enough to support life on the five planets that circle it, but enough to encompass them in a gloom, and even that is almost being kind.

Almost.

The five planets can almost be considered dead worlds in the classification of the Imperium of man. All of them volcanicaly active, their great mountain spewing out ash and molten rock in equal measure, creating an atmosphere that can choke and blind you dye to its polluted state. It's vast badlands covered in thick layers of ash like a snow of death, it's cloudy, thundery sky almost blocking out any trace of its sun's weak light.
The ground is a bizarre jigsaw puzzle of criss crossing magma fissures and cracked volcanic earth, intersected with the only seemingly redeeming feature if these ash strewn planets - forrest's of orange crystals, jutting out of the ground at impossible angles, their razor sharp edges both beautiful and deadly in morbidly equal measure. Their beauty even more pronounced when the sky parts but for a fleeting moment, and the sunlight can catch the gems causing them to sparkle and glisten, bringing a sense if life to its barren, gloomy home.

But, these worlds hold secrets. Secrets that are ancient in age, and frightening in their power. For this system is the property of a certain alien species that calls these five planets their home. For these planets are under the control of the Necrontyr, and their ancient, undying forms lie dormant under the crust of the earth, in great cities of the dead, kept safe by atmospheric locks to keep out the ash, and seemingly limitless legions of AI controlled machines that repair and repel invaders in equal measure.

And at within the earth of the biggest planet lies the capital tomb city, it's ancient, pristine passageways and rooms undisturbed for countless millennia. Once full of Necrontyr going about their short lives, now so eerily quiet it feels unnatural. And withing the greatest structure of this city lies the grand palace of the Phearon that rules over his dynasty of the dead, as idle as a statue upon his great seat. But this Phearon is different. While most Phearon's within the Necrontyr dynasties strive for power, wealth or the madness of war, this Phearon is driven not by material gains, but for the countless Necrontyr that live within his domain.

For this is the story of Assholetep the Insufferable, Phearon of the Dikh-Ehd dynasty, his rise to power amongst his people, and the unique way he rules: No gods, No masters...



Well, here's the prologue to a story I just thought of during a particularly boring shift in work. Early days yet and I'm still thinking of the main part of it, but getting stuff down is better than nothing, right?
Anyway, let me know what you guys think!