Search the Community

Prologue The aide hurried through the vast garden. He carried with him news, news that would change the fate of their world and their sister worlds. A fleet had been detected entering the system. A fleet composed of ships of vast power and size. A fleet heading steadily advancing toward their defense network. The aide climbed up a small hill, cursing the Prime Minister for his insistence on detaching himself from the world at such an inopportune time. During these times of meditation, the Prime Minister would turn off all of his portable communication devices, and could only be reached via physical messenger. At the top of the hill, the aide paused as he scanned the garden for his task. A single glance was all it took. No one could mistake the Prime Minister for anyone else. After all, not one man or woman could hope to reach the Prime Minister’s height. The giant was tending to his portion of the garden, several bushes of flowers was his focus for this month. It was strange to see such a famous and powerful man on his knees in the dirt, idly humming as he worked with his gardening tools. The aide sprinted down the hill and closed the distanced between them in a few seconds. Before he could open his mouth, the Prime Minister without turning to look at him lifted one finger. “Catch your breath, Gregory. I already know.” Gregory resisted the urge to touch the holy symbol around his neck. He was one of many who believed the Prime Minister was blessed by the gods. The Prime Minister’s mysterious foresight, which had led him to becoming the de facto ruler of the entire system, was the largest piece of evidence of the blessing. Gregory took a few deep gulps of air before he opened his mouth to speak again. The warning finger wagged. The Prime Minister glanced at him with a mischievous smile before he shook his head. He began to pack away his tools. “Relax Gregory. There’s no need to be alarmed. Change is coming, but ultimately, I think it’ll be for the best. Please inform Admiral Zhon to stand down and to welcome our guests.” With a sigh, Gottfri climbed to his feet and stared at the sky. “My father has come for me.” ~~~ Seated on his command throne, Irvin Ruel impassively listened as the reports filed in. One last ship had been claimed by the Warp during translation into the target system. Compared to the total fleet's size, it was a minute payment for entry. For the price of one ship, two legions had successfully entered the system. Not just any two either. Out of the corner of his eye, Irvin could see one of the crewman's display showing ships belonging to the Fifth and the First Legions. The entire Fifth Legion was here. While only representing half of their strength, the First Legion contained some of the most powerful and famous ships of the Great Crusade, including the Thunderchild. It was another hint for the reason they had been brought here. Of the twenty legions, only one so far had been reunited with their lost primarch. Somewhere on the Thunderchild was the Primarch Icarion. And, if the whispered rumors roaming the hallways were true, then a second had been found. By far, the biggest supporting evidence was the one ship dwarfing even the flagship of Icarion. The Bucephelus, the personal flagship of the Emperor. Thus, when the fleet had first been forged and brought together under the personal command of the Emperor, the rumors had started. The second primarch had been found and it was time to bring him back into the Imperium's fold. Irvin had done his best to contain the rumors. While it was certainly a possibility their father had been found, he saw no reason to raise the legion's hopes without some kind of proof. The Emperor himself had never claimed to have found their primarch and when asked, didn't confirm He had found him. If there was no primarch to be found, it could hurt morale after inflating false hope. Yet, as scans revealed the local fleet's size and strength, Irvin couldn't keep the rumors out of his own head. The local fleet was a mere fraction of theirs, and their largest warship was half the size of the Thunderchild. Unless there was another purpose to this campaign, it was a waste to have so much of the Legiones Astartes concentrated here. "How quickly is the local fleet responding?" Fleetmaster Themos answered as he studied the visual feeds, "In slow order. The fleet is dividing into three groups with escorts forming a screen. If I had to guess, my lord, I don't think they've ever prepared to combat a fleet of our size." The Fleetmaster had been recently promoted following his excellent performance in the Selecuid campaign. The man was void-born and marked by it by his unusual height. He was merely a head shorter than a space marine, but his thin frame made him appear almost two-dimensional when standing next to a marine. Irvin frowned as he judged his possible adversaries. "Is our fleet in position?" "Yes, my lord.The Lightning Bearers have already formed their spearhead and are beginning their advance." The Fleetmaster glanced at him with his iron-colored eyes. "I fear we may not play much of a role after the Bearers finish their first strike if they don't accept compliance soon." Before Irvin could reply, communications officer Daylen announced, "My lords, we are receiving a general message from the local fleet commander." "Let's hear it," Themos commanded. Throughout the bridge, a voice said, "This is High Admiral Zhon-Vrook Carde of the Delian Federation. We ask you to identify yourselves, and to halt any offensive maneuvers. We are prepared to stand down and are willing to negotiate as necessary." One of the junior bridge officers snorted. "Negotiate? Someone can't count." No one had a chance to say anything as the Emperor himself answered, his voice echoing throughout the entire Imperial fleet. "I am the Emperor, and have no desire to engage in hostilities. My only wish is to arrange for a meeting between myself and your head of state at the earliest convenience." ~~~ Gregory waited impatiently as he relayed the avalanche of reports coming to him through his small communicator currently wrapped around his ear. The balding aide was under the distinct impression he was being ignored as the Prime Minister occasionally nodded, while he put the finishing touches on his uniform. Gregory glanced around the small ready room as his mouth instinctively spoke. Small was a relative word for this room and the rest of the mansion that was the personal home of Salim's Prime Minister. The ceiling, the walls, even the furniture were twice the size of their normal cousins on the rest of the planet. It had to be, for the Prime Minister was a giant, though he made sure there was plenty of normal-sized furniture to host the many leaders and guests he often entertained. Unfortunately, this room made no such accommodations for the rest of the humanity as this was Gottfri's personal ready room. A single large desk and chair were the only furniture, while most of the walls were decorated with weapons, pictures, and other keepsakes that supposedly enhanced the Prime Minister's creative desires on the days where he simply wanted to tinker. Gregory took a moment to ignore his communicator as he asked his own question. "Sir, is it wise to choose your military uniform for this...event? You said there was nothing to fear." "We don't," Gottfri reassured him as he finished pinning the last of his military awards, which covered both sides of his suit jacket with ribbons, seven-pointed stars, and medals. "But, until the unknown is cleared away, the people will fear this strange fleet coming towards us. They will want to know that they will be protected and what better way to show them then by physically reminding them that I am their Commander-in-Chief." The giant turned to the trusted aide. "Has the Senate convened?" "Most of them, sir. Senators Myron and Senator Xiu haven't arrived, but their aides say they are only momentarily delayed." "Good. Have my car waiting for me outside. I'll be leaving in a few minutes myself." "Yes, Prime Minister," Gregory replied before hurrying out. Alone and free of distractions, Gottfri turned his head toward the ceiling. With ease, his mind reached out, and he left his ready room behind as he awareness flew through the atmosphere. As ordered, Zhon's fleet had stand down and was holding orbit above the planet. The thousands of human minds in the fleet were colored with fear, anxiety, surprise, and hope. With a thought, Gottfri passed through the fleet to study the far more interesting arrivals. Before him another sea of humanity slowly moved towards them. No. Not just humans. While there was humanity numbering in the tens of thousands stretched out before him, some of them were not quite human anymore. Thousands of minds were subtly different in a way that took Gottfri a few seconds to miss out. No fear. No hint of it. Fascinating. And two minds stood out like stars in the enormous cloud of human thoughts and emotions. Well, a star and a supernova. Gottfri thought about investigating the smaller star, but he recognized the mind of his Father. After several decades of not knowing who his true parent was, he allowed curiosity to focus on the golden power, and he hurried to it. Not yet, my son. All in good time. Gottfri blinked and was surprised to see he was on the floor. The words. So few, and yet more than enough to 'gently' push him back into his body. No one had ever shown such power to him. Not even the strange xeno he had caught a decade ago. He climbed onto his feet as he analyzed the words again. He felt hints of amusement, a strong dose of determination and affection. Yet, he could detect a smidgen of disappointment. Without meaning to, he felt his second sight reaching into the future to determine the cause for the disappointment. He frowned and stopped himself. For all he knew, his Father would sense that as well and take offense to that. Still, he doubted his brush with his Father's mind was the cause of the disappointment, but what was it then? ~~~ Salim, the capital of Delos, was originally a small town in the center of the western continent Maghādvīpa. Few events had occurred in this little spot of Delos throughout the ages of mankind, which is why Gottfri chose it upon uniting the world under one government. There was no old blood lingering beneath the foundation to spoil the peace he had crafted after a decade of hard work. In the span of a few years, the small town had transformed into the ideal metropolis, featuring the newest technological wonders the planet had to offer. And at the heart of this new city was the Senate. Utilizing a word from ancient Terra to satisfy Sindhuans, Hellasans, and the smaller represented cultures, it was here the representatives of the planet gathered to guide and vote upon the future of Delos. The building in which they met was a large dome a mile in diameter and divided into three rings. The outer ring featured in-door gardens, restaurants, rooms for solace, and other features that allowed Senators, aides, and governmental workers to relax and interact with the common man. The middle ring housed the numerous offices, libraries, and work stations where most of the daily work of running a government was done. In the center was a vast chamber shaped into an amphitheater with the stage replaced by a platform and a large desk fit only for a being the size of the Prime Minister. Each ring was separated by boundaries of increasing security the deeper one went into the Senatorial dome. Although a web of corridors, walkways, and paths spread throughout the dome, a single path existed that went straight from the southern entrance to the main chamber. Today, two ranks of security personnel stood on both sides keeping the ever-growing crowd of people as Delos waited for its newest visitors to make their way down the road to the Senate proper. Gottfri waited with the Senate in the main chamber, for once, silent as he allowed the senators whisper to one another. Normally, he kept a full awareness of each senator's thoughts and desires. With his powerful perception, no senator could ever hope of deceiving or conspiring against him. It saved the political process a great deal of time and effort that used to be wasted on such fools. No senator was ever elected without first understanding that they would be sacrificing their privacy for their term of service. To be a public agent of the people, this was a small sacrifice. At least, in Gottfri's opinion. With such an old habit, it was taking effort to not peer into the minds of the incoming visitors. His passive sense told him there were three parties coming in in a line. In front, the blazing power of his Father's mind led three others. From the tidbits he could sense, these three minds intrigued him. They reminded him of the strange, fearless minds he sensed among the fleet, yet were distinct from them. Behind his Father, he sensed another powerful mind, one equal to Gottfri's own power. Yet, though equal in power, this mind was much stranger. It was a mind used to casually wielding authority but possessed discipline sharp enough to cut through adamantium. Curious. Three lesser minds traveled in the wake of this great leader, mirroring the other's discipline to a degree. But the last party of three individuals intrigued Gottfri the most. No great mind there, but each of them were alighted with anticipation and joy to the point that Gottfri was eagerly awaiting to see the reason why. It wouldn't be long. With precision and ceremony, the Senate guards reached out and open the Senate doors to welcome the self-proclaimed Emperor of Mankind. Gottfri had mentally prepared himself for being in close proximity to his father's powerful mind. He had not been prepared for his sheer physical presence. When the doors opened, the Emperor stood towering and radiant in golden armor of incredible complexity. It was like the power and brightness of a star had been condensed into a single being. After a momentary pause, the Emperor strode forward, attended by three warriors in golden armor carrying pole arms with rifles attached to the shafts. Taking a moment to distract himself from the walking sun, Gottfri peered into the minds of his senators. All worry, fear, and anger had evaporated and been replaced with awe. Simple, profound awe. If the Emperor had asked of them to resign their positions and come serve him, Gottfri had no doubt that he would be left with an empty chamber. As the Emperor came forward, Gottfri managed to glimpse the rest of the retinue entering the chamber. The first half of the retinue was a giant poised man clad in sleek power armour, dotted with lightning bolts. A great crystal decorated the center of his chest that Gottfri suspected as being an amplifier of some sort. The man moved with a dancer's grace, every movement precise and measured. He wore a mask of serenity as he studied Gottfri. Four warriors formed a crescent moon behind him, each small reflections of their leader. Gottfri resisted his curiosity to learn the name of this other giant, for he sensed that he couldn't make such an under taking without discovery. For this man was a psyker, like himself. Icarion Anasem. The name was 'said' aloud to a room where only a telepath could hear. The elegant giant barely nodded towards Gottfri before taking his place to the side of the Emperor. Gottfri quickly understood that it was a welcoming gift. Wishing not to be a rude host, Gottfri answered in kind. Gottfri Alexandros Darshan VonSalim. Gottfri finished his greeting with his own imperceptible nod before his attention to the last group entering the chamber. ~~~ It was with no small annoyance that Irvin Ruel felt his discipline threatening to break. His instructions were clear, handed down from the Emperor himself. He and two other legionaries of his choice were to form a diplomatic party and join the Emperor in a first contact scenario. A simple mission. Simple were it not for the fact that the other members included the Emperor and Icarion. To be in the presence of the Emperor alone would be one of the highest honors a space marine could achieve. To be in the Emperor's presence and the only discovered primarch was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Add in the possibility that his own gene-father was waiting for him at the end of this road left Irvin nearly overwhelmed. Although they hid it well, he knew his companions were struggling as much as he was to maintain their discipline. To his left was Immanzeul Kant, the legion's most powerful psyker after Yeshie's demise. Unlike the former Master of the Legion who had a wide mastery of powers, Kant was more focused, limiting himself to three of the psychic arts to specialize in. One of them was telepathy, and Irvin could only imagine what the psyker was enduring as he walked behind the two most powerful beings in the galaxy, while the monstrous crowd closed around them. Yet, Kant marched with steady purpose with them. On his right was Jorg Cavso, the greatest of their champions. No other had survived the lethal whirlwind of close combat as much as he had. It was not without cost. Beneath his power armor was a web of scars hinting at how close to death he had often come, but with such experience none could match his skill with the maul. His infamous maul was missing today as their only armament allowed was a volkite serpenta and a combat knife. The way his fingers occasionally twitched, Irvin knew it was missed. Regardless, they maintained their place behind the Lightning Bearers as they marched into the large domed building. Every step heightened their anticipation as they neared the two large doors at the end of the road. When they opened, Irvin resisted the urge to lean over so he could see past the enormous form of Icarion. By the Emperor, may our search come to an end. He knew it wasn't so, but it felt as though their pace slowed as the Emperor entered. It felt slower still as Icarion passed through the doors. As the last of the Bearers entered, the inner chamber came into view. Time switched moods as suddenly events sped forward. In a few short steps, Irvin and his companions entered the chamber. Before them in the center of the chamber stood a primarch. Their primarch. Even without Kant's mental investigation, Irvin knew that the Primarch of the Fifth Legion was found. Standing erect in an obsidian dress uniform, he wore a confident smile even as the Emperor stood before him. With bright red, short hair, their gene-father turned his attention toward them. His smile broadened as though he already knew they were his sons. Irvin had never before felt such elation. As they came to a halt behind the Lightning Bearers, the Emperor spoke. "Alexandros Darshan VonSalim, Prime Minister of the Delian Federation and Commander-in-Chief of her military power, I greet you as the Emperor of the Imperium and as your Father. It is my dearest wish that you and your world join me." Gottfri inwardly twitched. It was a small issue, but he sensed something large behind it. Of course, he wouldn't have shown his disquiet outwardly. One of the first lessons of politics he'd learned from his mortal father was self-control and how to present oneself. A simple yet powerful lesson, especially here. Not only did his true Father stand before him with the entire Senate, above them was a flock of recorders, cameras, and news personnel as they observed and telegraphed the proceedings here to the entire world. All it required was a minute exertion of his will, but a thought whispered, Why didn't He use my first name? As a child, Gottfri had been discovered at the base of a mountain on the eastern continent of Tyrin. It was Vitrion, a local magistrate, who found, named, and raised him. When Gottfri had accomplished world unity, he had discarded his last name, while giving himself three more. Darshan was to appease and connect with the Sindhuans of the West. Gottfri and VonSalim were two names he had discovered when he read about ancient Terra in Delos' oldest library. He had taken them because they're linguistic and cultural roots didn't exist on Delos. It was a sign that while he identified with all people of Delos, he was a neutral unifier who refused to play favorites, even among the people he had grown up with. Ever since that day, those two were the names he wore in public. Is my name offensive to him? After his opening statement, the Emperor proceeded to give a speech. It lasted thirty minutes. As it ended, Gottfri knew one thing. Delos belonged to the Imperium. Not one man, woman, or child who had watched the broadcast could possibly refuse the Emperor's desire. What had taken Gottfri ten years of careful calculation and hard work was accomplished by the Emperor in half an hour. When the Emperor finished speaking, eight senators immediately stood to propose Delos' compliance. The proposal seconded by a second wave of senators. Before the Prime Minister could enact the official sanction of the vote, the rest of the senators rose and declared, "Yea!" Gottfri smiled and knew he need not fear a painful transition for Delos. It was exactly what he wanted when the first vision appeared to him three weeks ago. ~~~ The Senate's decision was quick and simple. The actual process of compliance was a much longer affair as thousands of Imperial ships made planetfall. In a matter of weeks, the technology of Delos would be advanced by decades, a deficiency that had plagued earlier efforts at fighting off xenos raiders. Lasguns would replace their stub guns, Warp technology would allow them to chase raiders outside of their system, and new medical technologies would allow them to combat the various poisons and chemicals the repulsive xenos often employed against them for their twisted motives. Although Gottfri had won a major victory against them four years ago, he knew he had defeated one faction among many. One of his political cards was to remind Delians that they had no guarantee they wouldn't return. Unity would lead to a much stronger defense against their foes. And now, they had the power to fend them off and destroy them if they desired. Yet, these weapons pale in comparison to these, he thought as he studied the men assembled before him. No, not men. Astartes. Legiones Astartes. The process of compliance was now on automatic, allowing Gottfri to invite his Father and his brother to his home. After a brief tour of his home, they now stood on the back patio of the mansion. While they were inside, another group of Astartes had assembled here. As Gottfri stood above them, he took a moment to enjoy their excitement and pride as they waited for him to speak. These space marines would become familiar faces to him as they represented the upper echelons of the Vth Legion. His legion. His sons. I have a much larger family now, Gottfri thought to himself with a smile. But one issue had to be resolved before he greeted his sons. Without turning toward him, Gottfri 'spoke'. Father. My first name, must I not use it? No, Alexandros. Gottfri is a name that is ill-suited to you now. Much like how you required the Delians to forsake their petty quarrels to be given a greater purpose, you too must cast away that name as you ascend to your true purpose. It is a small sacrifice, my son, and one you will not regret. Alexandros briefly wondered why Gottfri was the only name he was losing, but after being separated from his true father for a decade, he was willing to trust him on this. The mental conversation concluded in half a second. Taking a step forward, Alexandros shouted, "My sons! I cannot express my joy on this day of happy reunions. While I knew the Emperor was approaching, what a happy surprise it was for me to learn that I have brothers and sons to share in my happiness. From this day forward, may we never be parted as we partake in our greatest mission: to rescue Terra's lost children and protect them against those who would harm us! We will form the line against evil. We will be the shield of the Imperium. We will be the wardens, watching over our charges as we ward away the darkness! My sons, are you with me?" In one voice, his legionaries shouted, "FOR THE EMPEROR AND ALEXANDROS!" Before Alexandros could step forward, the Emperor mentally spoke with him. My son, your lord commander and nine others will accompany you to Terra. There I will teach and prepare you for being a true master of a legion. You may pick the other nine. I will take my leave of you now and will see you again on Terra. Your brother will remain here and in orbit for another day before returning to the Great Crusade. Good-bye, my son. I eagerly look forward to your training. Not much of a good-bye in human terms, but the words were carefully wrapped with pride, happiness, and anticipation. Alexandros turned and smiled. I as well, Father. With a deep nod, the Emperor walked toward his brother. After a quick round of words, the Emperor strode toward the mansion, while the other primarch approached him. Although Alexandros was eager to learn and interact with his sons, the amount of his time with his brother would be more limited. Best if I take advantage of it while I can. Formal introductions had been made quickly earlier, so Alexandros knew his name. Now, it was time to learn much more. With an easy smile, he hailed him, "Greetings, Icarion Anasem." The giant in pale armour stopped a respectable distance from him and bowed, unintentionally displaying his warrior's bun. "It is an honour to make your acquaintance, Prime Minister VonSalim." Alexandros hesitated before indulging in temptation. With a thought, the thousand paths of the future laid bare to his mind. In a third of a second, he found the answer he sought. Wearing a confident grin, Alex returned the bow before answering, "Please, we are equals. Alex will do just fine." Anasem raised an eyebrow before assenting. "As you wish, Alex. Then, it would only be fair to address me as Icarion." The primarch glanced over the mansion before his eyes settled on the garden covering the acres before them. "You have quite the abode. I have seen the homes of many generals and warlords and few are as filled with warmth such as yours. You especially have a capable horticulturalist." Releasing a hearty laugh, Alex said, "I'm glad to hear it! I've only recently picked up the hobby." Icarion quirked an eyebrow, but Alexcould sense he wasn't as surprised as he let on. "This garden was made by your hand?" "Every seed and tree," Alex answered before he swung a hand towards it. "Would you care for a walk through it?" Icarion nodded. "It would be my honour." With a subtle hand sign, Icarion signaled for his sons to remain where they were. Alexandros turned to his own sons and said with a smile, "I'll be back shortly." The head of the Storm Rider company, Irvin, bowed. "As you will, my lord." The two giants walked off the terrace and into a world of green. Alexandros lengthened his stride to match Icarion's gait as they passed by several crops. "I must confess, I'm surprised you would take the time to grow your own food," Icarion commented. "I assume you could afford any meal that could be made on this planet." With a chuckle, Alexandros reached over to pluck a cluster of grapes from its stalk. "You assume correctly. With a snap of my fingers, I could order any dish I wish, but my reasons for growing my own food is threefold. First, farming was the key for the ancients to establish themselves and to no longer bend to the fickle fate of hunting. It allowed us to establish roots that led to cities and then to civilizations. Thus, it is a way for me to connect with our collective past. Second, for millennia, it was mankind's primary occupation. When I work here, the Delians see it as a form of humility and respect my leadership all the more so. Third," he finished as he picked a few grapes before tossing them into his mouth, "food tastes better when it comes from my own hand." He held out the rest of the branch to Icarion. "Would you like some? You're lucky enough to arrive just as the crops have ripened." "I would be honored," Icarion answered as his fingers adroitly handled the tiny fruit. Although he could eat the branch in one bite, their advanced biology able to digest wood, Icarion picked and ate one grape at a time. "Delectable." Alex grinned. "Thank you." He gestured toward the path, and the two continued their trek. "Have you ever tried to see how long you can last without eating?" "The idea to try never occurred to me," Icarion admitted before glancing at his companion. "I assume you tried?" "You assume correctly. Alas, I had to give up after three years." Icarion nodded. "I imagine the pain was distracting by that point." With a laugh, Alex shook his head. "Fair guess, but no. I suspect I could have last several more years, but the problem was that the longer my fasting lasted, the more disconcerted my people became with me. I ended my fast to reestablish my connection to them, which is a pity. I'm still really curious what our limits actually are," Alexandros mused as the pair moved to a different part of the garden. "Were there really enough complaints to justify ending your experiment? If you were really concerned with the people's perceptions, why not just pretend to eat in private? "Because, I'm a telepath," Alex said bluntly. "All my life, I've been able to see past any front, deception, or facade meant to conceal a person's true self. In a few seconds, I can understand a person as deeply as their most intimate lover without their consent or their knowledge. I have used this power to manipulate, to protect, and to build in my rise of power to create unity and peace on my world. I was voted into office upon a promise. Since no man or woman could be safe from my gaze, I surrendered any claim to privacy." Alex stopped and waved a hand over the entire mansion. "I'm sure you noticed it when I gave you the tour. Every single square inch of my home is monitored by an entire web of cameras with only one room exempted. That surveillance network is plugged into this world's information network. At any point in time, any citizen can log into their personal cogitator and watch my actions as I go about my day. Thus, I have earned the Delians' trust, and it allowed me to enforce my own requirement that any who seek the office of Senator has to make a similar kind of sacrifice. So, no, no eating in private for me." "I confess," Icarion began as they turned another corner, a wave of pleasant aroma welcoming them. "It is a rare moment for me to be surprised, but I know of no other ruler, not even the Emperor, who would go to such lengths to reassure his own people. Pardon me if I'm being too far forward, but why? Why do you sacrifice so much of yourself for them?" "You're not being too far forward," Alex quickly reassured him. "We are brothers, after all. As to your question..." A pause lingered between them as the marched down between a row of bright orchids. Alex chuckled. "You know, I think you may be the first person to ever ask me that question. A third of my people believe me that I am some deity's servant and assume that my generosity is part of my nature. Another third would never ask, lest my thinking tempt me to indulge in more base desires. And the last third are too busy trying to find a way to take advantage of my kindness to bother inquire as to why." He came to a stop and turned his attention back toward the estate. Icarion halted as well, patient for his answer. "Perhaps I'm selfish. One forward question for another. I know you are a psyker, like me, but what powers do you command?" "Command is not the word I would use," Icarion said. "It implies a level of control that I don't think is truly possible. The Warp, for all of the potential it offers, is more wild than a raging fire. No one can hope to tame it, but only unleash it in controlled measures." "There is much wisdom in that," Alex agreed as he turned his gaze back to his brother. Icarion nodded. "Thank you. For a more prosaic answer, I have some mastery of most known arts, but I focus my efforts in the arts of divination and... purity." In the back of his mind, Alexnoted the awkward pause but chose not to pursue it at this time. "We are alike in that way, then," he said cheerfully as he held up an open palm. A miniature fire sparked into life a few centimeters above the center of his palm. "I too have knowledge of wide array of arts, but I find them a distraction." Without a sound, the fire ceased. "Like you, I have a natural inclination toward divination. Yet, my best expertise lies in telepathy." Alex dropped his hand, and his eyes swiveled back towards Salim. "I burn with a desire to know and learn about people. Telepathy has served as my greatest tool in that regard and provided me with some of the most beautiful images of humanity. You know something about telepathy. Have you learned how to see auras? Have you ever seen a metropolis at twilight?" "I haven't," Icarion said. "While I know some of the basic principles that guide the art of telepathy, I've never pursued any of the more advanced techniques." "Ah, you don't know what you're missing. You see..." Alex trailed off. "Actually, I could show you, if you're willing." Icarion glanced at the Delian sun. While the day was late, the primarch estimated that sunset was still an hour or two away. "I do not wish to be rude, but I have duties I must return to before long." "No, no," Alex explained as he shook a hand. "I understand that we're nearing the limit of our time together today. No, I meant, I can show you my memory of it. As though you were there yourself." There was a moment of hesitation before Icarion nodded. "As you wish." Alex grinned before suggesting, "It might be easier if you closed your eyes. Less of an abrupt transition that way." Another pause before Icarion complied. The world changed. The soft sounds of a garden were replaced by the distant sounds of the city. The warmth of the afternoon sun was gone as a chill was carried by strong winds. Icarion opened his eyes and saw an evening sky greeting him. Next to him was Alex who was watching him, amused, as the pair stood on the edge of his mansion's roof. Glancing behind him, Icarion was surprised to see a second Alexandros, who did not notice either himself or his duplicate, dressed in casual sleepwear. The other Alexandros was walking towards them before stopping a foot away, his eyes fixated on the city with a smile. "You settled?" The current Alex asked. "I believe so," Icarion murmured. "When is this?" "A few weeks ago before the first of my visions of our father." Current Alex pointed toward the city. "Watch." Icarion turned his full attention toward the city. As any city in twilight, artificial light had filled the void after the last rays of sunlight disappeared beneath the horizon. Despite being a typical city of mid-level technology, no smog threatened to obscure sight of it. Vehicles traveled along the roads, offering their own small lights to the cityscape. For a moment, Icarion thought his eyes failed him. As he watched, the lights grew brighter and morphed into different colors. The roads became veins of red and light blue. The skyscrapers reflected bronze and vermilion. By far, the most colorful were, what Icarion assumed, were the city's dormitories. They were rainbows emanating from these buildings, but when Icarion focused, he saw that there was a subtle domination of light greens. Alex answered the unspoken question without prompting. "To me, light green is the color of excitement. Or, at least, that's the color I see when I see someone excited. Salim is a new city. Most of the people here feel like they are a part of something new. Something that is bigger than them. That they're on the edge of something new and powerful. The city was like this even before I began dropping hints that the Emperor was coming." "Now," Alex began, "here comes the main event." For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the dormitories exploded with even more color as shades split further into lighter and darker iterations, briefly intertwined to create a stunning sight. These tornadoes of auras engulfed entire neighborhoods as Icarion watched. Almost as quickly as it had come, the cornucopia of colors subsided, yet grew more wild as the spectrum bounced between different hues. Alex happily sighed. "Normally, a human being uses only one hemisphere of their brain during the day, alternating between the logic and the creative given whatever task they're on. But, for a few moments before a person falls asleep, both hemispheres are active, creating some truly incredible sights to my eyes." "Were only I an artist capable of capturing such beauty," Icarion murmured. With a wave and a chuckle, Alex dissolved the scene before them, returning them to the garden. "Perhaps that's why I serve humanity so diligently. To indulge in the wonderful sights they offer to me." "If only more men were as 'selfish' as you," Icarion said with a wry smile. Alex's grin grew wider. "I appreciate the thought." He glanced at the sky of today, and his grin shortened. "Ah, I suppose we are out of time. My how quickly it can travel when one wishes otherwise." Icarion nodded. "True words, but only for this day. You'll soon see. The Great Crusade may become your primary mission, but our Father allows quite a bit of leeway when it comes to personal execution of the war. There will be campaigns where we will fight side-by-side, times we can reserve for leisure, and, eventually, the Great Crusade will end. Then we, and our other lost brothers, will have all the time we desire to learn about one another." "Then let us return, so we can bring that happy day closer!" Alex declared before leading Icarion back to the mansion.

​The IInd Legion ​The Storm Riders ​The Grey Tide, The Eye of the Tempest, The Purged. Overview: Primarchless and will be until their destruction. The Emperor sanctioned their Thallax technology but they pushed too far, meddled too deep and were censored, purged from the pages of history for their own hubris. Thinking they could overcome the ban on that hated technology, AI. The historical terror of the Iron Men! History: Born from the Yral region of techno barbarians, mated with the Martian technologies of bolters and the Mechanicum's favoured use of human brains implanted into technology, this IInd legion grew and fought in hostile territories, excelling in brutal armoured battles and delivery of short range firepower in huge amounts. With a love of speed to rival the Vth legion but more often than not vehicle mounted. Open topped and fast vehicles favoured to get large amounts of firepower up close and personal. Volkite and then later bolter weaponry favoured in almost all cases. Legion colours: Dark grey and gold/bronze chasing. Black and Deep red as a secondary colour. Work well alongside smaller mechanical units such as thallaxi using them to bring in weapons, leaving the asartes to close with the enemy. Use of an unknown class of landspeeder transports was common. Racing to engage the enemy and suppress him with low flying assets and speeding vehicles. Lots of dreadnoughts throughout the legion, however because apothecaries are rarer, legionaries more likely to be interred in dreadnaughts or turned into Thallaxi than rebuilt in the flesh. Most legionaries are covered in flowing tribal tattoos, scars looped into the pattern, stories told over the skin and armour of the asartes. *special snowflake character legion master. Legion Master SiJana, the Ash Dancer. Preator of the legion. Equipped with a pair of matched fighting gladii, a set of Artificer armour. Heavily patterned and with powerful Volkite weaponry mounted on the wrists it allows the wearer to shoot and slice their way through their enemies. *thallaxi leaders (can only be secondary commander) Astarxii Enhanced Thallaxi, crafted from asartes stock, too damaged to be interred into dreadnaughts, too valuable to lose their knowledge and history. Often heavily in heavily customised frames and carrying large weaponry with other short ranged weapons added to their chassis. Elites: The Storm Riders elite unit: The Fusilari Terminators dual wielding Combi bolters and have chain bayonets Huge fire power and resilience but little CC prowess. Troops: Large 20 man Tactical squads in open topped fast vehicles a favoured tactic. Can take additional close combat weapons. Support squads favour Volkite weaponry. Thallaxi squads with bolters and breacher shields. Unusual Motor pool: Sicarian Ajax transport Early Mk of Primaris repulsor is Turretless. Super heavy transport based on falchion chassis. Tactics: Large skimmer or light tank charges over open or impassable terrain e.g. swamp, water, rivers. Man power and boltguns win wars. All else is secondary to a good short range firefight. Armour reflects that with Mk III favoured. The legion is grouped by company and troop. Each Company has 3 fighting troops, a Thallaxi troop and a Centurio commander. Air power used as heavy support and most vehicles are transport capable for a fluid and roving battle. The Troika council contains the three Senior Centurios. They advise the Legion Master SiJana. Although it may seem like a barbarian tide of grey armour and gold edging and markings flowing across a field there is a synchronicity in the attacks with Thallaxi pulling the trigger seconds before the troops roll into close range and dismount to fill the air with rounds and storm hard points. Thallaxi shield squads hit the ground moving fast and hard towards the enemy with a paired legionary squad moving behind them. The Legion Culture Ride the lightning, Race the thunder, Be the eye. "II legion war mantra. Used to time firing cadence and tactical manoeuvre during battle." While hand to hand combat is simply a means to an end for the IInd they are still legionaries. Most bolters have bayonets fixed of some description. It is a matter of personal choice what combat knife and attachment your bolter has. Many have added tweaks and personality to their kit. There is no definitive answer of the perfect weapon. It is simply the one that you need in the moment. "In the eye, you are the calm while the storm of battle rages around you." History (expanded): Gathered from the tribal peoples of old Yral living about the industrious halls of their tyrants and with them they brought their superstitions and culture. Not of Gods and beasts but of the regions howling dust and rad storms and their mastery of the eye. The calm in the moment and the minds ability to process and react faster than it can consciously act. They brought their elecbows and their darkiron knives to the feet of the conquering Emperor. He gifted to their greatest volkite weapons and returned their blades for they were already mighty with power. His flesh crafters took their mortal frames and remade them powerful demigods. Riders of lightning and Bringers of thunder. Thus they rode the storms that ravaged the lands. Striking fast in rolling waves of deep grey and flashes of bronze. Soon they had ridden their storm into the sky and onwards to glory and death in the heavens. And still they rode. Deep in the dark bringing the light and the brutality of sectarian Truth to the system of Terra. They rode on Red Mars and found their new weapons. And though the were proud of their mighty Volkite they were not too proud to turn down their new weapons; the Bolter. The ultimate expression of the storm. A flash of light, a roll of thunder they entered into the battles around that Saint of Storms Jupiter. They triumphed. They lost. They triumphed again. Many were the kill marks on their new tools and many were the stories inscribed on their plate. Still the Grey Tide rolled on. Eventually they emerged. Not many but enough. They had mastered the planet of storms. They had become one with the eye of the tempest and were blooded and bonded. They were the IInd legion. The Storm Riders. The Great Crusade: They hungered to meet their Progenitor. They rebuilt and prepared and retrained. They mastered their new equipment. They were ready to meet the Galaxy in a wash of Ceramite and bolts. They would bring the lightning and the Thunder to all who opposed the rightful ruler of the Storm. Their first system was almost their last. System 33 1 as named for the 33rd Crusade Fleet, 1st reconquest. Humanity were found. They were to be illuminated, saved from the darkness of the void. Instead the found a pair of planets overrun with swamps and deserts ruled over by mechanical men, lords of Iron astride beasts of Steel and fire. This 331 system was corrupted beyond the wildest nightmares of the Crusading Fleets. Where the people should have thronged the streets in celebration only fire and battle sounded. The IInd deployed in force. If they could not save this blighted place they would destroy those who now ruled in humanities stead. The Grey Tide rolled forth, skimmers perfect for the swamps, the tanks in waves over the rocky empty plateaus. The Lords of Iron were many, hordes of powerful constructs powered by technologies the Martian contingents could only marvel at. Many of the IInd died hard, messy deaths. Many were simply torn asunder. Many more survived, horrifically burnt but in a coma. The Legion built dreadnoughts by the dozen, but still there were more Astartes crippled and unable to fight on as they were. Soon there numbered a lost brotherhood of demigods, in their hundreds then into their thousands. Simply waiting to die. This was a large for Legion morale. Many of those fighting on the planets below were becoming morbid and almost suicidal in their attempts to break the seemingly unending hordes of flame and steel. TBC Future posts will include: The discovery of a certain STC... The journey into the rest of the Crusade. The beginning of the end. The Purge. The End? And If I get excited enough maybe I will do some Photoshop/art. Til next time.

Hello there, at long last, it is about time to publish my newst project; a DIY version of the Dominion of Storms. Mentioned on the galaxy map during the Horus Heresy, which was don by Forge World, it inspired me to recreate this region as the setting for all of my selfmade chapters, warbands and the like. Though it took me some time, I enjoyed it quite a lot. I also started to write something down in the fan fiction section but don't expect any great writing skills. In this thread, I will upload every project I'll work on, including my Storm Riders chapter which was published a couple of weeks ago. Long speech short, I hope you will enjoy reading it and as allways: comments and criticisms are welcome. Cheers, Kelborn -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- The Dominion of Storms (Ancient depiction of the realm known as the Dominion) (depiction of the realm known as the Dominion in the late 41st Millenium) (current depiction of the realm known as the Dominion in the beginning of the 42st Millenium) In the Imperium’s eastern border lies a huge and desolate area of space, its common name on astronavigation charts being the “Dominion of Storms”. This region of void was renowned for the ferocity and frequency of the ethereal gales that beset vessels that dared sail the Empyrean there. But still, within the raging storms and hideous nebulas, which prevented every attempt to unify this realm under a single rule, there are regions which are not constantly plagued. In these stellar oases, entire systems can be found which were as well colonized in ancient times, like the rest of the known galaxy. Separated from one another, different cultures and governments had developed, each of them being able to sustain themselves. Nevertheless, trading and few diplomatic connections were established, though it was nearly impossible to maintain this rare contacts as the constantly moving storms did their part to separate them again. Ignored during the Great Crusade and left behind to be brought into compliance when the Imperium had consolidated itself entirely, this region cam into prominence during the dark days of the Horus Heresy. Used by the traitors Lorgar and Angron as a cutoff to bring death and betrayal into the realm of Ultramar, it was quickly acknowledged by both sides of the war for its potential of being a bastion and waypoint for the future. While Horus advanced to prepare his strike on Terra and Lorgar and his brother Angron led their Legions through the Dominion of Storms to hide themselves before bringing annihilation to Ultramar, the hordes of the Traitors nearly ignored the Dominion in their backs. But there were others, who were more long-sighted. Perturabo, Primarch of the IVth Legiones Astartes Iron Warriors became interested in the wider Dominion as it was not only a perfect base of operations but further a source of yet uncovered resources and potency. Tasking a strike force of his own Legion to conquer it, Perturabo concentrated on the larger scale of war. But there were others, who laid their hands on this precious zone. Small in numbers but fierce in battle, black clad members of the Legiones Astartes arrived in the southern regions of the Dominion. Having renounced their heritage and not considering themselves as belonging or beholden in any way to their Primarch or their erstwhile brethren, none can tell where they have come from or who they previously were. After their arrival, they started to fortify the Domerian cluster, one of many small and isolated empires within the Dominion of Storms. From there, they started their own crusade, holding up the ideals of the Great Crusade. Within the borders of the Dominion, they quickly came to know as the Phantom. Known for their secretiveness and success on the battlefield, they declared themselves as the sworn guardians of the Dominion. It was them, who tried to stop the fleets of Lorgar and Angron, binding at least a small portion of their so called Shadow Crusade. But yet another side of the war joined them in their lust for conquer, the Brotherhood of the Storm Riders, members of the Vth Legiones Astartes White Scars. In search for the remains of the Ullanor Orks, the sons of the Great Khan joined forces with the Phantoms to secure the Dominion for the Imperium. After that and after learning about the betrayal of Horus, the Legionnaires under Thoruk Khan sought to join their Primarch again. It was then, when the Phantoms were alone again, that the strike force, sent by none other than Perturabo, the Lord of Iron himself, arrived at the borders of the Dominion, ready to take it for their own means. Soon, the wheal of death and war would spin again. Timeline Pre Imperial era Sometime between M15 and M19 - The Creators downfall: The ancient race known as Quoraz conquered the entire region which will later be known as “Dominion of Storms”. They used their advanced technology to form this region how they wanted it to be, including rearrangement of whole star systems, intense terraforming and even shaping some of the native species into sentient races as laborers and servants. By this, the xenos races of Arak, Tul’vyr, Abashi and Rai’Q came to live. While the first three races were designed to serve as labourers and workers, the Rai’Q was shaped to reminiscent their creators, keeping a part of their intelligence to protect the realm of the Quoraz. Unfortunately, the Rai’Q learned much while serving until they gathered their forces and tried to overthrow their masters, resulting in an apocalyptic war which ravaged the entire realm of the Quoraz. After nearly 100 years of constant war, the Quoraz were able to kill nearly all Queens of the Rai’Q who served as a vital connection between their swarms and therefore ending the war. Without them, the remaining Rai’Q fell to anarchy, killing everything in sight and destroying their own achievements like bio ships capable of flying through space which were destined to carry them to the borders of the galaxy. The last Quoraz learned from their mistakes, sealing the remains of their kingdom with multiple storms and nebulas. No one shall ever enter or leave this new Dominion of Storms. Too few to keep a race alive, the last Quoraz died a couple of years before the awakening of the Emperor. Since then, the Rai’Q had never shown up, although rumors claim that one queen might have survived but was never found. The other races of the Quoraz were now isolated, each of them developing differently. The Abashi of Hanaii regressed into savage barbarians, while the Arakk and the Tul’vyr formed an isolated but peaceful society on Uldunar. M30 – M31 – Great Crusade006.M31 - A home within storms: An unknown fleet under the leadership of black clad Astartes entered the unsecured region of the infamous Dominion of Storms, discovering a couple of habituated planets which introduce themselves as the Kingdom of Domeria. Acknowledging the potential of the entire dominion concerning resources and the offered possibilities, they decided to remain, to secure and fortify the Domerian cluster and to explore this mysterious realm even further. Unbeknown to the rest of the Imperium, they began their own crusade to unify the worlds of the dominion. 007.M31 - The Green Tide: A sizeable fleet of Orks, which had once belonged to the forces of Ullanor fled into the Dominion of Storm as they were hunted by members of the Legiones Astartes. When they reached the Domerian cluster, they were welcomed bywell prepared forces of the black clad Astartes, who named themselves the Phantoms. In trying to overwhelm them, the Orks stretched their forces too thin, resulting in their systematically annihilation. M31 - Horus Heresy / Great Scouring 007.M31 – The Shadow Crusade: Using the unstable and dangerous Dominion as a cut off for their unholy Shadow Crusade to bring war to the realm of Ultramar, the fleets of Lorgar and Angron were scattered within the restless storms. Some ships like the Catechism of Revelation were lost forever. Others like the Tenacious Zeal and the Eternal War, both part of a small portion of the impressive traitor fleet, were separated from the bulk of their crusade, travelling separately through the void. In doing so, the infamous Preachers of the Truth Word Bearers chapter and the 26th World Eaters Company discovered several planets and systems as well as numerous resources hidden within the storms. When the Phantoms’ scouts found them, they were immediately engaged by the whole forces of Domeria, resulting in several ambushes and battles within the borders of the Dominion. 007.M31 - Treachery uncovered: The Storm Riders brotherhood of the Vth Legiones Astartes entered the realm of Waniku, which as well is a part of the Dominion like the Domerian cluster, searching for elements of the Ullanor Orks which had fled before the might of the Imperium. None could be found. Instead of them, they were faced by combined forces of the Word Bearers and the World Eaters, fighting against an unknown force of Astartes Legionnaires. As they had been separated from the wider Imperium for a couple of years, the White Scars under Thoruk Khan had not heard of Horus' great betrayal and the atrocities that were committed. Therefore, they were caught off guard when both, the XVII's Preachers of the Truth chapter and the XII's 26th company attacked them, as the Sons of the Great Khan had officially sided with the Emperor during the second battle of Prospero. Alongside the unidentified force, which had offered a pact to destroy the aggressors, the Storm Riders faced the traitors, ravaging nearly half of the Waniku sub sector, until finally facing them on YT-1300, an uninhabited world at the edge of the Waniku sub sector. In this final confrontation, Warp storms erupted because of a breaching warp engine and several dark rituals done by the Diabolist of the Word Bearers, forcing the loyalist to retreat and trapping the traitors within, resulting in the renamed Dreadstars. 008.M31 - The Departing: Thoruk Khan and his men decided to return to their Legion to fight at their Primarchs side. The black clad Astartes, who introduced themselves as Phantoms, declared that they would remain to secure the Dominion and its numerous routes through the SegmentumUltima. Furthermore, they assumed additional forces of the traitors within the Dominion. When being asked to which Legion they belonged, the Phantoms replied that they were the loyal sons of the Emperor, the last ones of his Ghost Legion and there was nothing more to say about it. 009.M31 – The Iron Dawn: Tasked to claim the Dominion of Storms and its assumed resources by their Primarch Perturabo, the 117th Grand Battalion of the IVth Legiones Astartes Iron Warriors passed the borders of the Dominion, right after the battle of the Dreadstars. A long and devastating war erupted, when they were intercepted by the loyalists’ forces of the Phantoms, ravaging a wide area and several planets of the Dominion. In making use of guerrilla, ambush and infiltration tactics the Phantoms were able to slowly decimate the Iron Warriors’ forces. During the last battle in the orbit of Pheistos, a subdivision on the Iron Warriors fleet renounced their heritage and their traitorous Primarch, pledging their true fealty to the Imperium. They allied themselves with the Phantoms, destroying the remains of the 117th Grand Battalion. As it turned out, these loyal sons of the Iron Warriors were heavily outnumbered and have waited for the right time to pledge their true loyalty and to inflict as much damaged upon their treacherous Legion. Both, Iron Warriors and Phantoms joined forces, resulting in the foundation of the Phantom Blades. 011.M31 - A bastion of calm: In the final days of 011.M31, under the command of Arceas Odenathus of the 10th Chapter, the Ultramarines moved to assault the world of Desperation, in the northern borders of the Dominion of Storms, seeking to establish a zone of Loyalist control in the Dominion. 013.M31 – Honourum retaken: When Arcaes Odenathus, captain of the Ultramarines, rallied the scattered Imperial garrisons across the Dominion of Storms in order to recapture Honourum, the Phantom Blades heeded his call for aid. Fighting against the stationed World Eaters and Word Bearers garrison, they proved their worth in retaking the former outpost of the Ultramarines. Experienced in fighting the traitorous sons of both, Lorgar and Angron, the Phantom Blades were a decisive factor in the loyalists’ assault. 024.M31- A new home: The Storm Riders brotherhood under Thoruk Khan returned to the Waniku sub sector, claiming the world of Aukkaja as their new home. From then on, they are the sworn guardians of Waniku and, alongside their allies of the Phantom Blades chapter, of the entire Dominion of Storms. M32 – The Forging 035.M32 - Death from below: The Storm Riders chapter and a fleet of the Departium Munitorum discover Tanyaba and the nearby ocean world Kajio, which was the home of House Toho, who furthermore were facing annihilation by an unknown, amphibious xenos race. After defeating the native Nagazh, Kajio and Tanyaba joined the Imperium. 076.M32 - Who's da Boss?: After being defeated by House Valcorian during the war against the Beast, the Grinskull Freebootas under Kaptin Dabossa, headed for something new to plunda! When they found the realm of Waniku cluster, they immediately set course for it. Defending their home against this new threat was the first challenge for the relatively newly founded Storm Riders and their new allies of House Toho. 079.M32: Rise of the Beastslayer:Tanyaba, famous for its vast and diverse forges, was declared to become home of a new Titan Legion, Legio Gojira. Making use of the same modifications House Tohos Knight Suits had, Legio Gojira was able to fight under water for a certain amount of time. 354.M32 - Horrors of the past: An ancient, insectoid race awakens and threatens the entire realmof Waniku, House Toho, the 26thAlphic Scorpions, a Militarum Tempestus regiment and the first Titans of the newly risen Legio Gojira engaged them while the Storm Riders and Phantom Blades chapters are distracted elsewhere. 354.M32 - Hunting the moon: The Phantom Blades hunted the Cabal of the Reaping Moon, a band of Dark Eldar pirates which had its own kingdom within the more unstable regions of the Dominion. M33 - A galaxy aflame 087.M33 - The Scion of Madness: In the first years of the 33rd Millennium, the government of the Waniku realm lost contact with a convoy of the Adeptus Mechanicum, near Kuabos. The last transmission was about a giant, unknown ship of unknown class on its way to intercept the convoy. When the 4rd Tribe of the Storm Riders chapter found the missing convoy, nothing was left behind except the wreckages of the convoys' ships. Within the cold bones of the dead crewman, they found a message which was left behind: "You were found of being weak and corrupted. The galaxy will be purged of your existence. The Iron Fist will be your doom." 089.M33 - The Fist strikes: Kuabos was attacked by the Scion of Madness. Cold and efficient logic coupled with the savagery of daemon machines secured the renegades victory. The inexperienced defending Skitarii and Taghmata regiments stood no chance against a foe, which had waged war since the Great Crusade of the Emperor and the horrors of the Dark Mechanicum. Helldrakes and Forgefiends tore the defence systems apart, while Legionnaires and masses of adjacted auxiliary forces raided the hive cities Furisa Tertius and Secundus. Furisa Primus fought fierce and was spared from the atrocities the others had to endure. Killing every soul within the hives and scavenging everything useful, left both hive cities as massive, silent graves behind. When reinforcement had arrived, the warband of the Iron Fist was already long gone. 176.M33 - The genocide of Konig Secundus: When the Imperium lost contact with the entire star system of Konig Secundus and its surrounding outposts at once, a nearby crusading fleet of the Soul Drinkers chapter was recruited to engage the incident. With an emergency strike force, consisting of elements of the 26th Alphic Scorpions and the Phantom Blades chapter on route to support them, the Soul Drinkers hurried to arrive as soon as possible. Entering the outer rims of Konig Secundus just in time to support the last survivors of the local Astra Militarum, the Soul Drinkers witnessed the carnage which was unleashed here. The Scion of Madness hung deep in the lower orbit above Konig Secundus, the defending fleet scattered around it. There was nearly no response from Konig Secundus itself but those survivors, who had gathered within the southest fortress, Tal Dabor. Engaged by the Soul Drinkers fleet, the Scion of Madness was long enough distracted until imperial reinforcements had arrived. Outnumbered and in a desperate battle for survival, the Iron Fist was about to flee. Sacrificing much of its warmachines to secure the escape, the Scion of Madness was barely able to flee but it made it into warp. As both sides had taken heavy casualties and with the completed genocide on Konig Secundus' people, no one dared to call that a victory. M35 - The Time of Schisms 143.M32 - The Sons of the Lion: High Cardinal Alonsus declared the independency of the Kuljantis cluster within the SegmentumUltima, near the Dominion of Storms, renaming it the Four Heavens. Alongside the Angels of Redemption were the Phantom Blades sent to deal with the seemingly corrupted Alonsus and his priesthood of Westshire. Instead of dealing with the fanatical armies together, the Angels of Redemption went straight for the High Cardinal in a decapitate strike while the Phantom Blades systematically engage the whole cluster, purging it from its heretical belief. In doing so, they encountered a black clad Astartes warrior who was responsible for the corruption of the High Cardinal and his priesthood. After taking the Astartes into custody, they were faced by the Angels of Redemption. The following argument between both chapters lead to a bitter feud as the Phantom Blades were forced to surrender the traitor to the Sons of the Lion. Curious about the unusual behaviour of their so-called allies, the Phantom Blades decided to find out of what had happened to the scions of the Dark Angels in order to led them threat a fellow Astartes chapter. M36 – Age of Apostasy 351.M36 - The Children of the Sun: After years of preparations, a chaos cult rose on the beautiful shrine world of Omoke. With every shrine or temple they destroyed, the barriers between the mortal and daemon realities were weakened until the Children were able to summon the first demons. With the whole planet drowning in blood, the combined forces of the Storm Riders 1st, 3rd and 7th Tribes and the Tempestus Scions of the 26th Alphic Scorpions were able to hold the demonical forces at bay, while a small contingent of the mysterious Grey Knights cleansed each temple from its demonical incursion, reassembling the barriers between the planes and ending the constant stream of daemons. Cornered, the Children of the Sun fought desperately and it was revealed that an ancient and long thought defeated enemy had founded the cult: The Preachers of the Truth. Hearing that their old nemesis was still out operational, made the Phantom Blades immediately focused all of their forces to find and hunt down every living member of the Word Bearers warband. 666-937.M36 - The Tion Hegemony: During the so called Age of Apostasy, many revolts and insurrections arose because of all kind of demagogues, chaos conspiracies and oppressed populations. But the records of one specific were locked deep within the archives of Terra and the holy Inquisition: The Scions of the Sigilite. On Hephelios Primaris a man named Tion, who proclaimed he to be the reborn Malcador the Sigilite, was born. Not only did he look like him, but he also shared memories and visions of the Emperors closest advisor. As he gathered more loyal followers he tried to spell before the local governments of the Dominion. All of them denied accepting him as the true Sigilite. Therefore, he left the Dominion in search of other, more open followers. And he did found them. In the subsequent years, Tion the Reborn Sigilite, as he was named by his loyal followers, was able to gather various followers. About 200 planets, several regiments of the Astra Militarum and Ordo Tempestus, an order of the Adeptus Sororitas and three chapters of the Adeptus Astartes pledged their fealty to him, resulting in the founding of the Tion Hegemony. When the Hegemony declared its independence, the High Lords of Terra at last reacted. The subsequent attempts of peaceful negotiations resulted in a disaster. War erupted, which lasted for nearly three hundred years and shook the Imperium in its foundations as more worlds and another two Astartes chapters joined the Hegemonies' cause. A devastating civil war arose, which was halted by a crusade of nearly insane size as 15 Astartes chapters and hundreds of Astra Militarum regiments were recruited to end the reign of the pretender. The gigantic Crusade of Truth was divided in three smaller crusades to engage the vast Hegemonie from different sides. Led by the Ultramarines, the Black Templars and the Carcharodons chapters, these three crusades of truth, revelation and justice were, though acting separately, successful. The war and the Hegemony itself ended when the still living Tion the Reborn Sigilite was captured by the Carcharodons, judged guilty by the Ultramarines and executed by the Black Templars. This long lasting campaign took the Imperium many centuries to finally recover from it and still, the name Tion was whispered behind closed doors within the formerly Hegemony. M37 - Age of Redemption 399 – 402.M37 - Bonechewa-Waaaagh!!!: BossSkullswalla, one of the last descendants of the mighty Shadowtooths clan, invaded the Waniku sub sector with countless bloodthirsty Orks. Undefeatable on the ground, the only way to stop him was to confront his fleet in space. Imperial forces under the leadership of the Storm Riders chapter lured him in a trap between the gravity of Monsuna and its asteroid belt, resulting in his utter defeat. The few surviving Orks, which were able to flee, crash landed on the near world of Kumula. There, they were hunted down until they lost every bit of technology, turning them into primitive wild Orks which fought each other. Therefore, Kumula was then renamed into the Green Hell. 589.M37 – Rise of the Forsaken: The former chapter of the Blessed Blades were said to be loners, rarely fighting at the side of other imperial institutions as they have seen themselves to be superior and the chosen sons of the Emperor. In the early years of the 37nd Millennium, the Imperium lost contact with them because of the outcomes of the warpstormDionys. Their entire home system was caught in one of countless erupting warpstorms of that time. They were declared to be lost forever. Centuries later, near their former home of Elia-Hathel, a warband clad in the colours of decay appeared out of nowhere, assaulting nearby systems. It is assumed by high ranking members of the Ordo Malleus, that the so called Forsaken are the remains of the former Blessed Blades chapter. In 589.M37, they entered the south-western realm of the Dominion of Storms for reasons unknown. A strike force consisting of the Knights of House Toho and the Phantom Blades was sending to intercept them. After several devastating battles, the Forsaken were at least put to rest. M38 - A Time of Unrest 527.M38 - Xenos in shepfur: The 3rd Tribeof the Storm Riders chapter supported a Deathwatch Killteam led by Inquisitor Xulvias and brother captain Maxamius of the White Consuls chapter in hunting down a rising genestealer cult hidden deep within the hive cities of Hana. Though heavy tensions between the Astartes leaders and the loss of Inquisitor Xulvias, they were able to overcome their differences and extinguish the Xenos cult. 973.M38 - Bread and Excess: Over generations, the rulers of Polymus became more and more decadent, ruthless and addicted to wealth, power and sensation. When they enacted the creation of a gigantic coliseum for brutal sports like gladiator fights or entire war scenes, the Inquisition became curious of them. Lord Inquisitor Tobeas Markucien recruited the nearby living Phantom Blades to engage the seemingly corrupted cast of rulers. After several months of infiltration, espionage and the like, the loyal forces of Markucien and captain Damios of the Phantom Blades found out that the upper echelons of Polymus’ society were indeed corrupted by the god of pleasure. The following campaign took nearly two years and annihilated entire cities until the cult, later known as the Seekers of Pleasure, was annihilated. Worlds of the Dominion Because of its numerous, dangerous and unstable storms and stellar phenomena, it is not possible to name the Dominion of Storms a single realm. Instead, several stellar oases in between these storms permitted mankind to colonize many untouched planets, leading to the foundation of a handful of independent kingdoms and empires. Those listed below are the most considerable as for their importance for the Imperium and their decisive history: Waniku: Of regular size for a sub sector, Waniku is governed by a council, consisting of representatives of each colonized world, with the Warchief of the Storm Riders chapter acting as the head of all military forces of Waniku. Notable planets of Waniku are: Aukkaja– Ocean and Adeptus Astartes homeworld - first planet of Waniku being rediscovered by the forces of the Imperium; became the homeworld of the Storm Rider Brotherhood of the V Legiones Astartes White Scars after the Horus Heresy and the following Second Founding Hana – Hive World - Hana is one of the most productive worlds within the Waniku sector. Hanaii - Death World - It spends much of its time eclipsed by another planet, causing it to have long periods of twilight and nighttime. Every couple of months, the planet slips out of eclipse and is blasted by harsh heat from the sun. The primitive Xenos population, known as the Abashi, often seeks shelter in the planet's vast and thick forests, but during this period, forest fires are also frequent. During the eclipse period, the Xenos population is constantly on the run and hiding from Hanais variety of dangerous creatures. To survive, Abashi learn to be extremely adept at stealth and hunting. Place of ScholaProgenium of the 26th Alphic Scorpions, who are using the planets special environment and natives, sometimes along with their allies of the Phantom Blades chapter, as their training ground. Kalo - Agri-world - This planet and its orbiting moons have a Mediterranean climate, making them ideal for agriculture. Kaijo - Ocean and Knight World - Homeworld of House Toho, the Nagazh race and the giant Ke'mano monsters Koya – Feral World - Koya is a Storm Riders Training World used largely for increasing the tactical and strategic skills of the Chapter's Neophytes. Having several drastic climate zones this world is ideal for their training process and maneuvers. Make’ao - Dead World – Before the Great Crusade, Make’ao was well known as Ka’mala, the proud jewel of Waniku. It was a world full of life, beauty and all kind of arts. Destroyed by life-eater bombs during the conflict between the Storm Rider brotherhood and the World Eaters' 26th company in the first years of the Heresy. Omoke- Shrine World - spiritual center of Waniku, the damage done by the rise and fall of the cult known as Children of the Sun was nearly total, changing its beautiful surface for all eternity as the continent Hiboja was ravaged entirely, turning it into a barren world Pal Harboris- Hive world - While Tanyaba is the industrial center of the Waniku sub sector, Pal Harboris is well known for its giant, orbital shipyards. Every imperial force, be it imperial navy or Astartes chapter, of the entire Dominion is delivered by the lords of Pal Harboris. Their ships are well known to be perfectly balanced in terms of arms, protection and speed. Specially customized ships for the Storm Riders and Phantom Blades chapters are produced as well. Recently, Pal Harboris had suffered a horrible catastrophe. About 70% of its shipyards were heavily damaged, nearly the entire docked fleet was stolen and the population took casualties in the millions as three hive cities were nearly vaporized as a distraction by the infamous Alpha Legion. It will take years until they will have recovered. Tanyaba - Forge World – Tanyaba is a Forge World ruled by the lord magi of the AdeptusMechanicum. Home of LegioGojira The Dreadstars- place of the final showdown between the Storm Rider Brotherhood and the traitorous World Eaters forces, Warp Storm erupts and swallowed entire system, since then it became a bastion and refuge for all servants of Chaos from cultist to space marine and even daemon. Nowadays, the storms have lifted for reasons unknown and a huge army of chaos followers emerges from the Dreadstars. A strike force consisting of elements of all nearby imperial forces, the Inquisition and the mysterious Grey Knights gathered to engage this new thread of old times. The green Hell - Once known as Kumula this planet is a former Death World, covered entirely with jungle. Remains of Bonechewa clan fled to this planet after the disastrous ending of the Bonechewa-Waaagh!!!. Degenerated to wild Orks without proper technology. Domerian cluster - small cluster of handful of planets in the southern realm of the Dominion Polymus - Civilised World, seat of power of the Domerian cluster Sheda, penal moon of Polymus Arexis, fortress moon of Polymus Neptus - Paradise World, being the crown jewel of the Domerian cluster Klepiames – Agri World, supplies the Domerian cluster with food Taspar - Death World, homeworld of the mysterious Phantom Blades chapter, home of the deadliest predators of the Domerian cluster, including the Helenian Nighthunter and the Hydarian serpent, a harsh planet with several climatic zones, which make Taspar the ideal trainings world of a Astartes chapter, habituated by a couple of native kingdoms, technology level is at ancient bronze era Pheistos – Industrial World, center of Domerian industry Elemes, mining moon of Pheistos The Yurai nebula – a giant and strange nebula in the northern realm of the Dominion; it is assumed that it is not a natural but rather an artificial phenomena of unknown originCraftworld Umare, A medium sized Craftworld, the Eldar of Umare are lead by Runeprophet Alveras, they believe that enemies like the Orks, Necrons, Tyranids and especially the powers of Chaos can only be defeated if the Eldar and the Imperium would stand together. The tried several attempts to join forces with the Imperium, their greatest success being to have become the allies of one of the Emperors Sons. At least they say so. If that would be true, it would be of great insight about what happened to one of the Lost & Forgotten Legions. Since the days of the Horus Heresy they hide within the dangerous Yurai nebula, allying themselves with the nearby imperial forces, for example the Storm Riders, against a common foe. Shen-Jian - Maiden world, allied with craftworldUmare, first world to be conquered by the Eldars of craftworldUmare to establish a safe haven for those who had lost their home in the recent time Illyas’ Tear - Maiden world, allied with craftworldUmare, second world to be conquered by the Eldars of craftworldUmare to establish a safe haven for those who had lost their home in the recent time Quel'Doraj - Dead world, formerly the third world conquered by Craftworld Umare and first to fell beneath the emerging Twilight Crusade of the powerful chaos champion known as Dal'Gun Sharjaszh, daemon world, former homeworld of the peaceful Arakk and Tul’vyr races, conquered by Dal’gun and turned into a daemon world, formerly known as Uldunar The eternal Storms – several closely gathered stellar storms (ion, warp and other), either created on purpose or it is the result of an unknown event (for example the destruction of a planet system or to lock something up)Fel-amor, hidden base of the Dark Eldar force known as the Cabal of the Reaping Moon Nyg-Sarthu- Daemon and Fortress world, hidden center of Dal’Guns emerging forces and his seat of power as well as the former homeworld of the extinct Quoraz race Hyperias - unique space station, a seemingly ancient space fortress, heavily armed and defended, all who tried to enter it where perished or driven off, there are some rumors and legends that it might have belonged to a Space Marines Legion of old, which disappeared from one day to the next, some even claim that it is still inhabited Known Forces Imperium of Mankind AdeptusAstartesStorm Riders, successor chapter of the White Scars; Deriving from the stormy world of Aukkaja, the Sons of the Great Kahn protect the realm of Waniku. Known for their fast and merciless strikes, the are an important part of the loyal forces of the Imperium. Phantom Blades, a secretive brotherhood, not much is known about them. Making use of infiltration, sabotage and feints, they lured their enemies into death traps, overwhelming them in surprise assaults. These black clad Astartes are hunting in the dark, watching over their home, the Domerian cluster and the wider Dominion of Storms. QuestorisFamilia; Household Toho CollegiaTitanica; LegioGojira Astra Militarum Ashigaru regiments of Kaijo Dustwalkers of Hana KaloanPraefectors Ordo Tempestus; 26th Alphic Scorpions The alien, the heretic, the mutant OrksBonechewa clan GrinskullFreebootas Shadowtooths clan Dark Eldar; Cabal of the Reaping Moon Chaos Space Marines The Forsaken [formerly known as the Blessed Blades] Preachers of the Truth [Word Bearers] Nightmarchers [former part of the Storm Riders] The Iron Fist [iron Hands] Wolves of Apocalypse [Wolf Brothers] Chaos CultsBrotherhood of Kain (Tzeentch) Children of the Sun (Nurgle) Carnage Incarnate (Khorne) Seekers of Pleasure (Slaanesh) Daemons; Butchers of Katharax [KhorneDaemonkin / remnants of 26th World Eaters company] Neutral Eldar; YuraiEldar [craftworld Umare and Maiden worlds]