The Trialled

[Rummy]

This small bit of fluff I wrote ages ago some how became a short story.

I don't know alot about the Word Bearers so sorry if some of my info is untrue to the Legion.

Could someone also tell me if they sound too much like Loyalist Marines with calling each other "Brother" from time to time.

Oh and it still isn't fully finished so if you see "NAME" pop up every once and awhile I just still havn't named a few things.

Hope it doesn't get confuseing and enjoy!

 

"The Trialled"

 

The Beginning

 

After ten millenia of war Cerunnos of the Word Bearers started to hear whispers from the Chaos Gods within his own head, followers of the

Gods and those who the Gods have taken interest in often hear whispers from the dark patrons, promises of power and what must be done to

obtain this power. Sometimes crusades of death or missions to find lost artifacts of immense power. But the whispers were followed by visions

of things to come, they were about power indeed but also other things, most of it was unfimiliar to him except for a vision of Eldar

attacking what looked like Chaos forces, he was not sure what to make of this. He was being told to leave his host and his Lord and trusted

friend since before the Horus-Heresy, Malakai, and start on his own path to power. Malakai and Cerunnos have spent millenia fighting side by

side, in the name of the Emperor and in the name of the Dark Gods which has led Cerunnos to become Malakai's First Acolyte, in times like these a

true friend is hard to find.

 

Nevertheless Cerunnos could not pass an oppertunity to please the Gods, he was not sure why he must leave but it can only lead to more power

or total destruction and Cerunnos was willing to take the chance as power is what all followers of th Gods strive for. He was no coward of a

man and so did not try to slip away from his Lord and host without their knoledge. Cerunnos was aboard Malakai's flag-ship "NAME" which was

currently in the "NAME" system, He gathered his most trusted men and set off to inform Malakai of his news which he knew would not go down well

with him.

 

As Cerunnos entered the hallway to Malakai's chamber he was met by a host of Malakai's personal guard, these were marines Cerunnos had fought

along side on many a battlefield and so the guard payed no attention to him being here. As he entered the chamber he caught sight of Malakai

sitting in his throne in his ornate armour surrounded by kneeling cultist who were giving him a report on recent actions. As Malakai saw

Cerunnos enter the room he dimissed the cultists. Cerunnos took a step into the dimly candle lit room. 'Cerunnos' Malakai said as he

rose from the throne 'Why have you come to my chamber.' 'My Lord, my friend' Cerunnos stepped deeper into the room until he was at the first

steps up to the throne.'I have news for you my Lord.' 'News? What sort of news?' a look of confusion across his face. 'Our Dark Gods have been

speaking to me, and they have given me visions of power, visions of...of.' 'Spit it out, I am not a patient man Cerunnos and you of all people

know this well.' Cerunnos could see great eagarness in his eyes, Malakai had spent too long without direction from his Dark Gods and the

pointless killing that he had been occupying himself with was starting to get stale. Cerunnos started to become anxious as he prepared to

dissapoint and most certainly anger his Lord. 'I do not have time for these games, I thirst for the blessing of the Gods and for direction to

new power.' 'I have had visions, one such vision has shown me a path I must take in the name of the Dark Gods, a vision of power beyond

comprehension.' Malakai hissed through his teeth at him as he heard this for he knew it was power that was ment for Cerunnos and Cerunnos

alone.

 

Malakai stepped down from his Throne as complete anger built up within him. He started to move towards Cerunnos and asked him a question, a

question he already knew the answer to. 'And so who is the one that shall be granted this so called great power? And where can it be found?'

Cerunnos could see Malakai slowly reach for his Demonic blade but stood firmly and cautiously as he answered. 'The visions showed the great

power being granted to me old friend in a place even I know not of yet.' 'Do not call me friend you scum.' The Lord spat out. 'I shall not

have you leave this room alive!' he shouted as he pulled his bolt pistol and Demonic blade from their holsters readied to fulfil his last

words.

 

Cerunnos quickly stepped back and whipped out his power sword to prepare himself for the unavoidable battle that was about to ensue. Malakai

lunged forward with his blade in hand trying to behead him but Cerunnos ducked at the last moment and rolled off to one side but did not try

to strike back. Malakai fired his bolt pistol at Cerunnos but as he was full of anger he did not try to even aim his shots at his former

apprentice and friend and so his shots whirled passed the Marine without even a glance but the sounds of shooting did aleart the guard

outside the room of the confrontation.

 

++++++

 

As the guards were about to enter the room to confirm the sounds of battle they were attacked by Cerunnos' own bodyguard of elite Marines who

had been ordered to wait for the sounds of trouble but stay out of sight. Cerunnos' men led by his best warrior Brontes, an Aspiring Champion

from his retinu, charged for Malakai's guard just as an explosion burst from the walls knocking both groups of Marines to the floor. As

Brontes picked himself up from the floor he could see the explosion had left a wall of debri in front of him and blocked him and the other

Marines from joining their commander in battle and getting him to safety but he knew what to do. He turned to meet the rest of the Marines in

the squad assembling 'we'll break into two groups. Mentu, take charge of one group and head for the teleportation banks and secure our

commander. Then teleport us all to one of the ships to make our exit. I'll lead my group to the engine room on the ship to stop them from

following us once we leave. You have your orders, in the name of the Dark Gods!' He said with fury in his eye's.'ON ME MEN.' He shouted as

the Marines departed.

 

++++++

 

Cerunnos gathered himself from the floor after the explosion just in time to parry another of Malakai's blows and then kicked his former Lord

away. Malakai's guards came rushing into the room prepared to join their Lord in battle. 'What is happening to my ship?' Malakai yelled with

a frustrated voice.' Our fleet is under attack from the Eldar my Lord and a group of Marines seem to have their loyalty to Cerunnos.' Malakai

stared at Cerunnos 'So you try to take my men from me aswel, and I guess they are currently led by no other than Brontes. He alawys did

favour you over I.' He hissed. 'Take your men and hunt down these other traitors; I'll deal with this one myself.' He barked. 'MALAKAI, I

take my orders from our Dark Gods.' He said trying to reason with the demented Lord but he knew it would be ignored. 'I will not fight you

Malakai' Cerunnos said. ' Then die like a fool, I shall wipe you from the face of existence' Malakai shouted as he charged with a new

ferocity.

 

++++++

 

Brontes and his Marines rushed through the corridors of the ship with little resistance apart from a few small groups of cultists which were

no match for the might of the Marines. As they neared the enterance to the ship engine room they came across a junction, "NAME" paused. He

could hear noises coming from all directions except the one they had just came from. 'AMBUSH' He roared but by now the other Marines could

hear it aswel and prepared themselfes. Cultists, no match for the Marines as the others had come to know but when in great numbers even the

Marines stood no chance. They came raceing down the corridor infront of them swinging blades, firing pistols and shouting praise to the Gods.

'Open fire brothers, let the Dark Gods guide us to a quick victory for time is something we do not have.' Simultaneously the Marines let out

a volley of fire, shot after shot slammed into the tide of cultists but they would not relent. Suddenly more cultists rushed in from the two

side corridors of the junction. The six Marines could not hold back the flow of zealous warriors who came at them from three different

directions. Brontes ordered the men to make a fighting retreat. He had but two options, fight the tide of cultists until they were engulfed

and surely die or make a full retreat, but to were could they go that the cultist warriors would not or could not follow. Brontes took a

frag grenade from his belt in one hand and primed it while fireing his bolt pistol with the other. In one swift action he lobed the grenade into

the mob. As it exploded the cultists were thrown in every direction and it took a minute for the still huge number of cultists to realise

what had just happened but it did not take long for them to continue their assault on Brontes and the Marines. The cultists drew nearer and

nearer, amunition was starting to run low, all was lost when suddenly like a wave, the cultists from the rear to the front of their mob

halted in confusion except those few unlucky who had already found themselves in combat with the Marines with no support. Those at the rear

started to charge again and slowly the rest followed them but now it was in the oposite direction from the Marines. Brontes and his men were

unsure of why they had been left by the mob but they could hear battle again, then they saw them.

 

The Eldar were swift, easily cutting down the cultists with their blades. This was their chance to get to the engine room but just as he was

about to order his Marines to move a cultist covered in scars and symbols, an Agitator, stopped and turned to face the Marines again

even as his cultist mob ran off to fight thier new foe. He lifted a plasma pistol form his side and fired twice and then tried to catch up

with the rest of his men but Mentu fired a bolt into the back of his skull blowing his head right from his shoulders. The plasma shots were

aimed for Brontes, one shot flied past continueing down the hallway but the other was on target. He tossed himself aside but in doing so the

shot slammed into the chest of one of the other Marines instantly killing him.

 

++++++

 

Their weapons collided with each other leaving them face to face, both struggled to overcome the others skill. Explosions from other parts of

the ship could be heard as the chaos fleet engaged the Eldar but Malakai ignored the battle. 'Malakai, your ships are being attacked and will

probably fall to the enemy and yet you still insist on trying to kill me.' Cerunnos warned him, but Malakai was uncareing of this as he was

letting his anger cloud his judgement. Both warriors pushed away from each other and Malakai gave a long stare before once again he charged

him. Cerunnos was not fighting at his full as his past frindship with Malakai held him back. Malakai swung down heavy apon Cerunnos with his

Demonic blade and when it made contact with Cerunnos' blade it shattered the Power sword as it could not withstand the power of the demonic

essence within. Malakai continued with the swing of his blade and the edge of it sliced down one side of Cerunnos' face which knocked him to

the ground with it's power. He could feel the power of the warp denzie burn at his face leaving im blinded in one eye. He rose himself to one

knee as Malakai strode over to him. 'If it is my life you want then it is my life you may take old brother, for I will not fight you.' He

said with a deep voice. Without a word Malakai holstered his bolt pistol and took his blade in his two hands ready to make his execution. He

paused for a moment, then he raised it high into the air and after a short pause started the swing but before he could behead him Cerunnos disappeared,

teleported away by his men who had gotten to the teleportation banks just in time.

 

As he reanimated in the engine room of the ship he could see his men led by Brontes fighting off the Marines Malakai had send to hunt for

them and other Marines who had also taken to the fight as it raged on. Cerunnos fired his plasma pistol and struck down an opposing Marine

who was about to hit Brontes from the side with a chainsword. Brontes looked back to see his commander with a heavily scarred face behind him

and a corrupt smile grew apon his face. The other Marines had finished the first part of their mission by getting Cerunnos back with his men

but now it was Brontes turn to destroy the engines. Cerunnos quickly moved to join his Brother Marines who had taken cover within the engine room, as

they were about to set the charge to blow the engines they were attacked by a second wave and were now pinned down by bolter and plasma fire while Marines and

cultist closed down on them. 'Brontes, what is our situation?' Cerunnos asked as he fired his pistol at the advanceing enemy. 'Surrounded,

out numbered, pinned and low on ammunition commander. We'll need a blessing from the Dar...' His sentence was cut short by an explosion

coming from a door to the engine room. Chaos Marines charged their way into the room and at this point Cerunnos and Brontes were certain this

would be their end but supriseingly the the new Brother Astartes turned their fire towards the Marines and cultists under Malakai's rule. 'Would you

call that a blessing brother.' Cerunnos laughed with delight of their new arrivals. Brontes wasted no time and ordered two of his men to set

melta charges at the base of the great engines. 'Our Dark patrons are pleased us this day brother'

The battle was hardfought but eventually Cerunos' men and the newly arrived Marines held Malakai's forces off long enough for the charges to

be set and now their timer was counting down.

 

As Cerunnos and all of his men including the new Marines teleported and reanimated on the deck

of one of Malakai's escort ships the ships captain, a small hunched man by the name of Camalus turned to face him. In an old strained voice the man spoke 'Cerunnos, I have been hearing whispers from our Gods, they told me you would come and that I must lower the sheilds to let you come aboard'. 'The Gods also whispered to me of my arrival aboard your ship Camalus, and that you would follow me on my path to power'. 'And that I

shall do, in the name of the Dark Gods I swear my allegiance to you Cerunnos'. Brontes tapped his commander on his shoulder.'We must leave

now if we wish to get away from this conflict, the charge should detonate soon to give us our escape'. The ship's captain turned on his heal

and ordered his crew to engage the sheilds and to get the ship moving, moving away from the battle, but none of them knew where they were

going with the exception of the Chaos Gods.

 

As they left the conflict between Malakai and the Eldar, Cerunnos turned to the Marines behind him. The bridge of the ship was near packed

with the number of power armoured giants on it. He called out for the Marines that had come to their help in the engine room to step forward

and they did so. 'Who should I thank for leading you to my aid fellow Marines.' Cerunnos called out. A Large Marine named Belatu, Mentu's

brother, stepped forward from the assembled Marines. 'It was I, Belatu, my brother contacted my men and I during the battle with the Eldar and informed me

of the situation. I have always followed your lead my Lord and I always shall' Cerunnos paused as he heard these words. This was the first

time he had been called Lord, and he liked it! Brontes also realised this and let out a shout 'Yes, to our new Lord we swear our alliegence.

This is the beginning of a new Word Bearer host and we shou..' He was once again cut off mid sentence but this time by Cerunnos 'My brother,

we are Word Bearers yes, but Malakai will no doubt report us as traitors to our Legion, to Lorgar and the council in an act to destroy us. Do not heed

his words, we are still true Word Bearers. We follow the will of the Gods, the same Gods that every Word Bearer worships every day, every night and on

every battle field across the Galaxy! This shall be our Trial from our Dark Gods, now we will prove our worth. We shall please the Gods wishes in the

search for power and when the time is right we shall rid the Word Bearers of the blasphemous Malakai. In doing so we shall prove our alliegence to Lorgar and our legion'

Cerunnos stated. All the men around him roared out in approval and it was the birth of a new era for these men.

 

It was not long before they became known as "The Trialled".