Dark descent

[Demoulius]

The creatures had come out of nowhere, which was suprising considering their bulk and stench. The creatures could take an amazing amount of abuse before they expired and the scouts were firing their bolters almost non stop. Although they fired in controlled bursts they were unable to stop the advance of the beasts. Vendris and Aphael ran out of the alley they were in, firing bolts at an unseen horror at the back of the alley. Tethris' band of arbiters were also firing their weapons at the monsters but Tethris himself stood still. He seemed transfixed with fear or overcome with grief.

 

'Brother sargeant, what are these things?' Dementis cried out, one of his sniper rounds taking off an appendage from one of the beasts. 'Thats a question we will to anwser later men, right now we are getting out of here' The scouts had formed a circle and were covering all sides, inside the circle the arbiters were adding their fire to the fray. The beasts seemed to resiliant though and their weapons were having no visible effect. Although entire chunks exploded from the beasts where bolt rounds and sniper shots hit them, the beasts were still closing in on the team. One of the arbiters broke his nerve and ran when one of the beasts got close. Instead of getting out safely however his fate was less colourfull. Another of the monsters broke through a wall in an abandoned grosery store and struck him to the floor. Having the oppurtunity the monster engulfed him and the beast started its handy work. The hands tore entire chunks of the arbiters flesh and all he could was scream as the beast took its fill from its prey. The only luck the arbiter had was that his end was swift.

 

Grimus was disgusted by the unholy abominations. Bolter rounds, although taking chunks of the beasts werent powerfull enough to fell these beasts. At least not in the numbers that the scouts had avaible. He detached a krak grenade from his belt and threw it at the closest monster. The grenade seemed to be absorbed into his hide before the beast erupted from the inside. Huge chunks of flesh and bone for thrown around the street and Argus was clipped in the shoulder. The beast, now no longer in balance slumped to one side and let out a sigh. Its matter seemed to dissolve in the street. Noticing the effective use of grenades Vendris ordered the rest of the scouts to do the same and soon the three of the closest monsters were blown to pieces. Every exploding grenade brought with it a shower of bone and flesh and more and more of the scouts were beeing hit. Three of the arbiters were also hit, and moments later their bodies fell into shock.

 

In total Vendris had counted seven of the beasts with the one erupting from the shadows of the alley beeing the largest. He had gotten a little longer to inspect the shapes now and what he saw filled him with horror. The beasts had huge gaping maws across their forms and strange antenna and tubes on their backs. He dident quite know what their porpuse was, nor did he care. 'Get ready to make a strategic withdrawal' he shouted to make himself heard over the firefight. He picked up a rusted chain from the ground and attached the last grenades he had to it. Vendris coiled up the chain and tore out the pins simultaniously. He threw the chain to the underside of the grosery store to his right and gave the order. 'run' he shouted and broke out in a sprint. The entire group broke out in a sprint to get as far away from the monsters, and the soon to be exploding grenade chain as they could.

 

An explosion followed by the sound of a collapsing building at least signalled that the trick had been succesfull. The following shrieks a sign that at least two of the beasts were underneath the building. The group came to a stop and looked at the devastation they had left behind. The scouts quikly took up posistions behind low walls and behind corners of alleyways. If the monsters would continue their advance they would be ready. Inspecting his troops quikly things werent looking well. Four of his scouts had been hit by the shower of bone. The wounds starting to look sickly, even if strucken with gangreen. The arbiters that had fallen into shock had to be left behind but the other dident look much better. They were coughing up blood and obviously sick from the experience. Something else seemed to be wrong though, as if the proximity to the monsters themselves had stucken them down with an illness.

 

A shout coming from the collapsed building to A flash of anger overcame Vendris as he recognized Tethris' voice. Something about it seemed off however, as if the voice had been a damaged recording that only just now had started to play. 'Welcome space marines to the domain of Uthenor, prince of decay. It is a pity that I must use this child to be my instrument, but you would not have come here any other way' a grin on the features of the sargeant. Vendris took Argus' sniper rifle rifle whilst Raphael was inspecting the wound. He trained his sights on the sargeants head and felt his stomache twist. It was unclear if the sargeant had indeed been a puppet but his eyes were now glassy and his skin slowly sloughing off its bones. 'I am his herald. All I ask is that you embrace our family and accept the gift that we give you. Nothing more' At the last words the form of Tethris ceased to excist and fell down into a pile of bones and skin, the physical possesion of the herald had been to much for the sargeants body.

 

'Brother sargeant, the wounds are not closing up and an infection is spreading. There is nothing I can do at the time' the priest told with a sad look on his face. 'I have given them an dose of pain killers, when we get back to the chapter I will see if theres more I can do for them' Vendris nodded and padded Argus on the shoulder. 'Aphael, do you think you can help us locate this presence you felt?' the librarian nodded. 'Easily brother sargeant, he is still active. His location and activity lightening up his location like a sun. Its not far from here'

 

Vendirs heard something and turned his head around. His eye caught movement at the edge of his vision. When he looked closer he noticed that all of the sickly hivers around them were now getting to their feet. On the rooftops shapes were also appearing. Although cloaked in shadow certain details could be seen. All were female, some had their upper bodies bare naked and pierced in many places. Others were robed and had their mouths stitched closed and had engineered eyepieces. The mob in the streets moaned as one as they walked towards the scouts. Only one thing apparent in their dead eyes. Hunger.

[Taranis]

Great couple of additions. They're appearing to be on the back foot, but I'm sure they weren't chosen without proper consideration of abilities. I'm looking forward for them to cope with what they're up against.

Great work.

[Demoulius]

A firefight erupted in the streets. The cultists firing from the rooftops whilst the scouts had taken up what cover they could find. The mob was also highly hostile although their fumbling attacks were more a nuisance then anything else. Scout Menes bashed one of the sick mob in the face with the stock of his shotgun, the atack send her staggering backwards. Menes then turned his weapon around and ending her life with a hail of shots piercing her sick skin. The blow send her flying backwards into the mob, the act which created a gap in their attack. He let himself a momentary rest as he looked around, while the group were taken by suprise things were going well. The mob were approaching at a slow yet steady pace. Allthough he was no priest, he had seen some diseases amongst his people before the red dragons came for him. This was unlike anything he had ever seen before though. The mob was riddled with boils and postules. Some flinched then they were hit by shotgun rounds and kept coming, although boltrounds seemed to be more effective at taking them out of action.

 

The moment the shapes on the roof had appeared a dense, almost fog like substance had appeared on the field. It obscured something in plain sight and tricked the senes. If he were trust his sense of smell and hearing he could very well be on Baal or Terra. He smelled grass and couldnt hear the background noise from the hive anymore. It seemed almost tranquil. The scouts could see just far enough to keep contact but their voices were muffled. Communication was possible via their earpieces and body language but nothing more. It would be very hard indeed to escape this without first dissolving the mist.

 

Looking to his left Menes saw Aphael and Vendris hiding behind a ruined ground vehicle. The vehicle was obviously a wreck from a time when this part of the hive was not in decay. Aphael was crouched down in concentration, the gems in his hood glowing a bright blue. Vendris was hiding behind he vehicle to reload when he was not firing at the shapes on the rooftops. Menes had not seen them but had been hit a few times from lasguns and autoguns. Luckily their aim was poor for their elevated posistion could have proven disastrous to the exposed scouts. Body shots against carapace armour had left scratches or dents at the most, but nothing severe. The threat was so minimal that Menes and his fellow brothers dident quite take it seriously.

 

The mob was approaching again and Menes sighed heavily. A blow to the leading hiver' waist seperated him into a lower and upper half. The other hivers, unphased by the fate of their comrade pushed on. Reaching in a shell from a pouch on his waist Menes pulled out a manstopper round. He armed his shotgun and fired it at the unrushing mob. The shell punched through the approaching hiver and the two hivers who were behind him. The remaining two hivers he dispatched in melee with Menes hanging his shotgun on a shoulder strap. As Menes punched the right hiver in the face he felt bone break. His face a broken wreck he staggered back, blood flowing from his mouth. The other hiver tried to grab Menes' hand but got his own grabbed in the process. Applying preasure to the hivers hand he broke the wrist, before throwing the hiver to the floor with a smooth throw. Grabbing a combat knife from his waist Menes stabbed the hiver in the face, pinning it the floor. the first hiver was approaching again, incoherent mumbling escaping its mouth as blood poured from it like a waterfall. A swift horizontal cut decapitated the foe, his head falling free the body felt limp.

 

Menes was about to reposistion when something shocked him. The hiver he had earlier broken in half at the waist was still crawling towards him. The head only displayed the whites in the eyes and the corpse was dragging its entrails on behind it. Swiftly grabbing his shotgun Menes shot the body when it was a mere meter away from him. Just to be sure he pumped a further two rounds in the corpse. So close were the shots that complete chunks were torn out of the body. It was now a hole riddled husk and had stopped crawling towards him.

 

Activating his earpiece Menes contacted Vendris. 'Brother sargeant, these are no ordinary sick hivers' Menes saw Vendris nod whilst he was covering Aphael. 'I know Menes. Aphael is working to get us out of here as soon as possible' as if responding to the sargeants reply Aphael rose to his feet. He opend his eyes who were aflare with power. He raised his head horizontaly aside his head and a crimson shard of light appeared in his gauntlet. He let out a terrifying shout before he hurled the spear at the building the cultists were using for cover. The spear pierced the building a few meters below the edge and escaped out in the top. Menes could see a shape flying, impaled by the spear before the corner of the building collapsed. The rubble took a trio of indivuals down with it who were swiftly gunned down by his fellow brothers. Aphael then collected some energy in his gauntlet before he threw it at the base of the building. The ball of light blew out the entire floor and caused the entire structure to collapse.

 

Menes appraised the situation how it was now. His brothers had easily held back the mob at bay and the fog was dissipating. Menes walked to brother Vendris to await further orders when a loud shout pierced the silence. The veil of silence had also been lifted but the shout had come from one of his brothers. It was brother Lopa, one of the hivers hanging with his teeth on his ankles. Its lower body and left arm was missing but that apparently had not stopped it from attacking Lopa. He shot his shotgun point blank range through the creatures body. He shot some space away from his feet lest hed hit himself. The hiver was not letting go however. Menes approached Lopa with his combat knife drawn and he cut the hivers neck. Its jaws loosend its hold and the body felt limp on the floor. Enraged lopa kicked the head away which flew towards the nearby rubble of the caged in building.

 

When the veil finaly lifted the church was clearly visible. The group had been fighting in an alleyway near the side of the huge building. It was clearly imperial made, tall and imposing yet at the same time in decay and well past its prime. Tinted windows which had no doubt shown imagery of the emporor were now broken husks. No glass remained and all that was there was empty framework. A tall chimney like extension was jutting out the side of the building. Like a cancer it seemed to feed off the building and spew off a green brownish cloud of noxious fumes. Whatever it was, it was a recent addition yet even then the metal work was corroded and rusted. The brickwork in the wall still showed recent chiselwork however. What purpose it revealed was unclear though.

 

An unholy scream erupted from the church and caused the scouts to surge forward. Something was, or had just emerged from the church and they would see its end. They would recover their brothers if they could or avenge them.

[Demoulius]

------

 

Hendice was in extacy. The drought the Sorceress had given him was coursing through his veins and setting every nerve alight. He was hardly aware of what was going on in his surroundings and was letting the group of attendants drag him through the church. Every time they stopped at an altar or candled circle they had one more drug or experience for him that was more intense then the next.

 

Gilgamex almost pitied Hendice. He had betrayed and would be betrayed, and he was a fool not to see it coming. Yet, at the same time he envied him as well. The traitor was so blind to his actions and his surroundings. He was quik to trust and seemed even more in a hurry to leave the life that he lived behind. The sorceress had used a small part of doubt, resentment and guilt. Doubt, about leaving his family. Resentment for not beeing able to live with his people. And guilt for having betrayed his brothers. No sooner had he done the act or he had regretted them.

 

Ignorance was bliss the ancient saying went and Hendice certainly was in bliss. He seemed to want to lose sight of his surroundings and the sorceress and her minions were capitalizing on it. Gilgamex however was having a far harder time providing his part of the bargain. He had performed the number of souls required for the summoning but was unable to stall the rest of the red dragons long enough. They would reach the church soon and if they arrived before the ritual was complete it would spell disaster. All their work would be undone and the wrath of the chaos gods would fall on the failed sorcerers.

 

"Gilgamex" the voice of the sorceress sang. "The bloodied ones are approaching soon, do you have any more men you can send to stall them?" Although it was worded as a question Gilgamex knew the sorceress knew the anwser. She was willy like that, playing with friend and foe alike. "I am sorry mistress. I am sending every soul that accepts Nurgle's gift in thier path. I do still have the 'seven' and am using a human amongst them to spy on them" Gilgamex smiled and showed a mouth full of rotten teeth "He is an most excellent puppet"

 

The sorceress showed no outward emotion but Gilgamex noticed she wasent as playfull as she normally was. She walked off and gathered a group of her followers. A group of barechested woman who were sitting in a circle in trance. She did not have to do much to get their attention and she soon send them on their way. No doubt she used them as an disposable speedbump as was the way she used her "followers" Gilgamex much more preferred to use his companions to increase Nurgle's reach. Either through the bolstering of ranks or by the spreading of the gift. It mattered not, they had a job to do and he would accomplish it.

 

While Gilgamex worked to spread the touch of Nurgle through the lower reaches of the hive the sorceress worked her magic on Hendice. After he had tasted his fill of the excess in the church she brought him to the centre of the church to an altar. Her servants oiled his body and painted eldritch circles on his body. Hendice was lost in thought and no doubt thought that more pleasure would be his. He was wrong however as it was time to cash in on their invested time. A circle of followers had surrounded the traitor whilst they were preparing the last part of the ritual. When all the proper sigils were applied the circle parted and Hendice's tainted brain faintly registrered a familair face. Stending 10 paces away from him stood Caldis, his body drenched in blood and a feral expression on his face. Several new scars were visible on his body and faintly Hendice understood that he had been tortured. Several chains had been nailed in his back to restrain him and keep him in the proper place.

 

He held a sword in his hand and his expression revealed his mind was no longer his own. He stared at Hendice and saw a traitor, a monster and a brother. He saw the morphed form of Horus. His mind was lost to the beast that was the black rage. Hendice however only saw another pleasure infront of him as a sword was pushed in his hand and a fresh injection of combat drugs was pumped in his back by an injection needle. Adrenaline pumped through his system and he charged headlong at his former comrade. Eager to feel the rush of combat and the pleasure of the kill.

[Demoulius]

The two combatants were exact opposites of a coin. Hendice moved swiftly and with grace, like a dancer peforming a dance. Caldis on the other hand moved on impulse and without consideration. He was easily goaded into an attack of opportunity. Hendice feigned a weakness of some sort, a misstep here or a badly angled parry to force his former brother into action. Each time the attack missed, was parried or sidestepped easily and each time he get a shallow cut in return for his troubles. The long chains tearing at his flesh werent much help either and Hendice relished the prospect of beating Caldis at his own game. He had been somewhat of a boy wonder in their time within the scout company and the captain seemed particulary proud when he witnessed Caldis during the close quarters trials. For his part, Hendice was good at longer ranges but needed training at close quarters. He had spend over half of his training time with pistol and sword but could not master the level of his fellow recruits. His training regeme was almost solely adapted to try and keep up with his brothers in that regard. Hendice relished the opportunity to practice on his former brother without to much incident.

 

It did not take long before Caldis to be covered in sword cuts on every part of his body. If he suffered from any pain however he did not show it. The only emotions visible on his face were anger and rage. 'Stand still, my brother' Caldis grunted through grit teeth 'And I will put you out of your misery' he said before lunging at the traitor. Hendice was taken by suprise at the speed at which Caldis attacked but the menials pulled at the chain, pulling the charging astartes out of balance. Hendice sidestepped and slashed his sword across his brothers right cheek. His blood sprayed from the cut and covered the floor. Just now Hendice noticed there was a decoration of some kind in place. The chalked runes seemed to glow when the blood landed on it. He stepped underneath the chains attached to Caldis' back and waited till the menials had run back to their place behind his brother before he started circling again. His sword arm outstretched in a mock-challenge.

 

'It tells alot about you that you need this to win a duel Henice' Caldis said with blood caked lips. 'Need what. Brother?' Hendice replied with a feral grin. 'All the help you are getting. Fighting a chained weakend opponent and still beeing unable to finish off what you start' Before Hendice could reply Caldis attacked again. His movement were becoming more erratic and fast, dispite his injuries. The rage was slowly taking over his mind completly and it turned him into something only marginaly more then a beast. Every warrior could overcome a mindless beast, defeating him would a shallow victory Hendice thought to himself. After rolling underneath an horizontal slash aimed at his belly Hendice slashed his sword across Caldis' calf. While his sword hit and blood was drawn it dident slow down his raging opponent. Caldis turned to pursue Hendice when the chains attached to this back again prevented him from having a fair fight.

 

Caldis, now obviously fed up with the treatment acted in kind. Switching his sword to his left arm he grabbed one of the chain and janked it. One of the attendants was pulled of his feet and dragged towards the centre of the ring. Once within armsreach he was swiftly decapitated before Caldis grabbed for a second. Hendice in the mean time circled his opponent and was visibly starting to sweat. He was about to make his move when a voice behind him stopped him. 'Wait Hendice' the sorceress said with honeyed words. 'Allow your brother a fair fight. Beat him at his strongest, it will make the thrill of the kill much more... Sweeter.' Hendice did not question his mistress and waited until his opponent had removed the last chain-lackey from his back. The last attendant was dragged screaming to the bloodied angel before he sank his teeth in the cultists neck. A few seconds a loud slurping sound emited from the cultist before he was thrown across the church to land between his brethren. Caldis released a feral monstrous cry. If Hendice had not seen that it came from his former brother he would have guessed it came from some savage predator.

 

With the chains no longer an issue the two combatants locked eyes again. Were earlier Caldis could slip in out of the black rage Hendice doubted his brother would escape it again. It normally required inmense levels of control to even speak chained words, let alone sentances at a given time when stripped of the rage. His opponent could now barely be called astartes, but he would have to do. After a few moment Caldis rushed at Hendice and the fight began. Caldis began with a downwards thrust which was easily parried by Hendice. Caldis then followed up with a punch aimed at Hendice face. Hendice kept his sword locked with Caldis and stepped to the left, outside of Caldis' reach and out of the fight. Not to keen to have a dance with his opponent Caldis grabbed one of the chains still atached to his back and swung it at Hendice. The chain wrapped around his feet and he fell clumsily on his face. Caldis dragged his quarry towards him swiftly. Not to keen to be gutted like a pig without a fight Hendice used his own momentum to his advantage. He managed to get to his feet at the end of a drag and jumped towards Caldis. Expecting a move like this Caldis managed to hit Hendice mid air with his sword but got hit as well. Hendices sword had impaled Caldis' shoulder and Caldis' sword had cut through Hendices abdomen.

 

The floor now covered in blood from both parties was starting to pool towards the chalked arcane circle on the ground. It shone with a bright red light but neither warrior had the time to pay any heed to it. Hendice had landed a few feet away from Caldis but was straining to keep his innards in their proper place. Taking the same chain as before Caldis lasoed them around his former brothers neck and started to choke him. Slowly yet surely the air was pushed out of the traitors lungs. Having managed to keep the black rage at bay long enough to finish the fight finaly Caldis' mental defenses broke and he lost himself to the black rage. With a loud roar Caldis' janked the chain and Hendices head detached from his neck. At the same time all the assembled cultists present around the circle slit their own throats.

 

A vast consiciousness, ancient and terrible in its power entered Caldis. At that moment he ceased to be and the summoning was complete. His mouth opened and an scream not of the material world came out of his vocal cords. An host, albeit unwilling was found and Hendice and the cultists were the last sacrifices needed to bring an ancient terror to the surface of Opheilla. The sorceress had succeeded in her summonings and the invasion could now trully commence.

[Demoulius]

Reaching the church door Vendris took stock of his surroundings. The church was surrounded by a huge plaza. There wasent much cover save for a few toppled statues here and there. He noticed each was defaced in some way or another. Chunks were messing and glyphs and icons were hammered in the statues. 'Sacrilage' Vendris uttered when he noticed some of the statues were of saints and primarches. But most foul of all was an inmense Bust covering the huge double doors depicting the Emperor. It was vandalized almost beyond recognition.

 

Seeing that it paid to be prepared for an attack from both sides Vendris split up his forces. The bolter and sniper scouts covered the entrance, as they could provide support towards either end. Whilst the shotgun and combat scouts would be more valuable inside the church. Together with the veterans the scouts approached the double doors. No visible way to open them were visible but as was apparent they werent needed. The doors opened on their own. The church was vast, this much was certain but Vendris looked inside and could not see the other end of it. Vendris considered altering his plan until he saw the lay out inside. Like the ones outside the entrance the church was filled with defiled statues. There were also many elevated platforms covered in candles. What task they had performed before the fall of the church was unknown to Vendris but the high walls meant that the scouts had plenty of cover. What Vendris soon found however worried him deeply. The ground near the entrance was mossy and covered in fungus. Refuse collected around nearby pillars and Vendris could see several bodies in varies stages of decomposistion. Slowly and levely the group entered the church. A horrid stench entered Vendris' nostrils and he could swear he saw shapes moving in the shadow. Following the shapes to a nearby platform Vendris was greeted with a horrid sight. A figure, impossibly bloated and vile sat on a wooden rotting throne. A low chuckle filled the air soon after. Following it the sound of small child-like giggles. At the bloated monsters feet a dozen of small slug like creatures were making the giggling sounds.

 

'Welcome, Red Dragons. To our numble abode' the bloated figure said outstretching his arms and indicating the church. 'I hope you can stay a while and honour us with your presence' almost as if on a que the little snails started giggling again. 'you have taken two of our number' Vendris plainly stated 'We want them back' the figure started to chuckle again. 'Oh. Well, that im afraid. Is not possible' the figure spoke matter of factly. 'For you see, they were required to bring our lord and master back into the world. My master was banished long ago during the heresy. Banished on a world rightfully his own. This made him very. How shall I say this. Upset' the figure rose after finishing his sentance. He was brandishing a sword covered in sigils and caked in filth. Aphael saw raw power eminating from the weapon. This was obviously a powerfull foe. Aphael stepped behind Vendris with clear intent 'Brother sargeant, let me deal with this traitor. If what he says is true you must..' The bloated traitor chuckled again, this time very loudly and interupting Aphael mid sentance. 'Deal with me? How lowly you think of me librarian. But it does not matter, you are to late as my master is already taking form'

 

Almost if on que the light in the church seemed to return slightly and Vendris could see the rear end of the cathedral. What he saw filled him with disgust. Caldis hang mid air, his body twisted and engulfed with warp energy. His arm joints were bending in the wrong direction and his flesh of his torso seemed to flow and eb at will. Near him several pools of liquified flesh were taking on shapes of appendages. Four were turning into multiple jointed legs and the bones inside cracked as they were bended into shape. Four other were shaped like arms. Some ended in talons, others in tentacles or were still taking shape. Aphael, finaly able to come to his senses collected an orb of concentrated power. He shaped it into a long barbed spear and threw it towards his former brother. The spear impaled Caldis' body but did not seem to damage it. Instead the spear was absorbed in the body. Finaly it melted until it dident resemble anything anymore but was instead of large mass of flesh. Stretched to nearly three times his original size nothing was left of his former shape. The appendages attached to the central mass of flesh it started to move around on clacking talons. Allthough the monster had no visible head yet 3 rows of paired eyes appeared in its upper portion. A horizontal slit appeared moments later filled with needle like teeth. Finaly a pair of horns sprouted out near the eyes and a bulbous shape engulfed the apparent head area.

 

Uthenor the unbound had been reborn on Opheilla. After centuries of banishment he would wreck havoc upon this world, yet again.