Yaj Posted August 5, 2011 Author Share Posted August 5, 2011 'How cruel war is to such noble steeds' muttered Hictar as he observed the convoy snake its way along the forest road there blocky shapes silhouetting against the evening sky. The convoy consisted of two horse-drawn opened topped carts fixed crudely with oversized crossbows, no doubt taken from some castle armoury, put to use as troop transports. The horse, which had been cause of Hictars comment, had seen better days. A single armoured half-track weaponless transport which appeared to be on its last legs being covered in all manner of damage. However through the magnoculars he could see that the vehicles injuries were many decades old and in all likelihood it had been dragged in to service from what ever dump it formerly called home. It was the half-track that had garnered the Knight-Guardian's interest after the first scout report had the presence of the vehicles travelling north-west towards the main Tau base of operations. The general consensus amongst the soldiers of the '39' was that it was probably some rich off-worlder and his bodyguard looking to secure safe passage of Gial having been trapped by the invasion. Chelios on the other hand didn't go in for the wild speculation of mortal soldiers and determined to discover who or what the convoy transported. So to this regard he dispatched seven warriors under the command of Hictar who had, after his initial fear, become a valuable member of the Fighting 39 over the last few months of fighting. 'I require details, Hictar, do you understand?' Chelios had informed Hictar and his selected reconnaissance unit looking each soldier in the eye. Hictar knew the people he had chosen for the task were up to it and such did not need this sort of appraisal. Hictar however had seen the harsh discipline meted out to any who thought to question the Knight-Guardian and kept silent. 'Do not allow yourself to be seen or act with any hostility towards them.' As he spoke Chelios noticed that three of Hictar's chosen fighters had taken up the growing custom of adorning there clothing with crude drawings of the Emerald Lion crest of the marines helmet. To Chelios it seemed almost superstitious even bordering on veneration or worse outright worship but the soldiers who had taken up the practice were few and Chelios had no interest damaging morale by telling them to stop. Perhaps when the war was over and victory or defeat was decided would he deal with the matter more appropriately. 'Obedience, lord' replied Hictar using the common phrasing amongst the peasant class when acknowledging a knights instructions. With the orders given and understood Hictar had left.... He returned three hours later with word that the convoy carried twenty-two people split into two units of ten soldiers, each with well maintained lasrifles and loud uniforms, transported on the horse-drawn carts and two unknowns who remained hidden within the armoured compartment. Hictar only knew of the number of people within the half-track because of the two 39's he had sent in close to eavesdrop on he bodyguards conversation had heard so. From his reports Chelios was able to ascertain three important details. Firstly that the soldiers guarding the two individuals on the half-track weren't fit to carry the name if the recon team's report was accurate, second that the two persons under protection were of some importance and finally that they were heading for the main Tau base at the north-west tip of Gials single heavily forested continent. Clearly they, whoever they were, wanted to reach the grey skinned xenos with all haste and if they had more modern transports they may have well done so. Fortune however had smiled on the Fighting 39 the convoy was not travelling in chimeras or rhinos but having to relay on nature and beasts no matter how strong needed there rest... 'We will intercept these people and find out why they are in such a rush to meet with our enemies' Chelios had informed them before inviting his three captains Hictar, Jophas and a needle thin red skinned off-worlder trader called Dorlina El'Avatori, to discuss how best to achieve the task before them. When Chelios had first invited El'Avatori to join the command group there had been many who objected not wishing an off-worlder decide there fate (Chelios was of course an exception) but the Lion Rampant had brooked no such complaints. He explained that he required an unbiased opinion in order to achieve the best outcome for all of Gial and as punishment for those who had thought better than there commander they would be without food rations for three-days. There were no complaints after that... --------------------------------------------------------- This was going to be longer but I decided to cut it down as it revealed a little to much for one post. Next - V'lai degeneration continues. Any opinions on the story so far? other than the terrible grammar, spelling etc. Thanks fo reading. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/234021-the-knight-the-witch-and-the-daemon/page/2/#findComment-2839361 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaj Posted August 9, 2011 Author Share Posted August 9, 2011 The thing lying beneath her claw, gasping for breath through torn lungs, had said something through the blood bubbling from its slowly turning blue/grey lips. A name perhaps? The beast that was now V'lai had no understanding of names or language of any kind for such things were now lost to her and yet on some deep instinctual level she knew the dieing human had called her a name. 'Eidcha' Not that V'lai would have known this even when she was a noble and uncorrupted Tau but the name meant 'mother of monsters'. A corruption of Echidna from Terra's impossibly ancient pre-unity past and entirely apt. For V'lai was now simply a monster in the image of such a beast of legend one that could easily occupy the stories of the golden knight. Her form had changed considerably ever since her first exhilarating kill seemingly flowing over the many months from Tau to simian like and now almost Trygon in appearance although on a much smaller scale. In fact from a distant one could easily mistake her for a tyranid since her arms ended in the scything claws so common amongst that most vile of races. Indeed this appearance was further increased when one got closer for her cranium had begun to reshape itself into a shape not to dissimilar to that of a Tyranid Warrior. If this was coincidence or design, none could say. One thing to V'lai that was certain she was hungry for more the ecstatic joy death brought. As her sinuous snake like hindquarters propelled her forwards mashing the undergrowth she turned her head back to regard the slaughter behind her and in the same way she knew the human had called her a name. She knew that soon even the mass killing she left in her wake would not have been enough and that the desire to kill would consume her utterly. Disappearing into the darkness of night forest, the trees lit up as the promethium engines of the convoy she had devastated exploded, she failed to notice that one of the dead cold bodies wasn't quite so dead... ---------------------------------------------------------------- I think the title of this story should change. Any suggestions? Next - Turmoil at the heart of the Knights Cobalt. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/234021-the-knight-the-witch-and-the-daemon/page/2/#findComment-2842356 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaj Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 There was no blood. 'Who did this?' the Hospitaller-Captain asked himself as he waded through departed bodies of the huscarls like a man wade through a river. Nearby several other members of the Hospitaller Sub-House were checking over the battle-lords and the house captains none of whom had suffered any long lasting damage. Early scans of the chamber indicated that a highly effective toxin had been released into air from an as yet unknown source. Lethal to the mortal huscarls it did little to the space marines besides rendering them briefly unconscious, there immortal bodies proof against such weapons. 'I do not know, lord' responded a nameless hospitaller as per tradition the apothecaries of the hospitaller sub-house absolved themselves of all ties to there parent house including there names in order to serve the chapter as a whole. Crouching down over the waking form of Archad, Battle-Lord of White Raven the marine who had spoken set to work ensuring the chapter master had suffered no serious injuries. There was no blood. The two marines from the Lion Rampant House arrived and under the guidance of the Hospitallers set about examining the bodies of the huscarls for evidence of foul play. Each corpse was examined for physical corruption then turned to blacken ash by the flame units of one of the two marines to be doubly certain that no taint existed. The Hospitaller-Captain watched them at work as his mind continued to ponder who, what and why such an attack could have taken place. There was no blood. Why a toxin? Such a poor choice of weapon to murder astartes. Why not a more conventional explosive? Surely in even a large space as the White-Raven chapel even a small device would have been devastating and done far more potential damage to the battle-lords and captains. The Hospitaller-Captain moved one of the many remaining bodies not yet put to the torch and nudged it carefully over on to its back with his armoured boot. The body had become bloated by the toxins effects and the face was a rictus grin that showed the suffering the man had gone under in the few seconds he lived through the toxins deadly power... There was no blood. 'My Lords!' An audible gasp left the throat of the Hospitaller-Captain as he turned to regard the marine that had spoken. One of the bodies had suddenly picked itself up and took a step forward! At first every warrior in the room made for his combat-knife or in the case of the battle-lords there traditional weapons, carried with them at all times. Presuming that the animated corpse was infected with some version of that most dreaded of nurgle plagues the marines prepared to end the threat with swift brutality. There was blood. More corpses had stood up and begun shuffling slowly towards the marines only to be hacked down and then the undead had, save for those destroyed, stopped. Some had taken many steps whilst others had only managed one before they ceased moving, or were killed, as if commanded to do so. Seeing there enemy stop the marines gave them no chance to begin advancing again and strove into them cutting many in twain but such was the extent of the number of Huscarls that for all there skill the marines had only gotten through three quarters of the zombies before they started to move again. Only this time they didn't so much move as start to convulse in violent fits the marines stood watching as each of the dead-things ripped itself apart in showers of viscera and gore. Thinking the danger over the warriors sheathed there weapons and made to leave the chamber but then a shout from the Lion Rampant, the same one as before, caused them to turn back... There was blood. Writhing and bubbling with a mind all of its own! Taken momentarily aback by this new threat the Knights Cobalt lost three of there number as the living blood lashed out forming itself into armour-piercing congealed spikes. Shaken into action the marines drew there weapons and attacked once more this time though the battle did not favour them and within minutes only the three Battle-Lords and the Hospitaller Captain remained standing. The blood had slain the rest and none had landed a telling blow against it for it seemed impervious to there weapons. There was a brief respite from the attacks it was almost as if the blood was allowing the lords of the chapter a moment of reflection for there lost comrades. It didn't last and soon the battle started once more. 'How do you kill this thing?' Roared L'ha Su'nai of Crimson Griffon as he spun his power-stave in a high arc cutting through several blood spikes and then lashing out against the unprotected mass of the blood. The blow would have cleaved a terminator in two but against the blood it did little more than cause the surface to ripple like water and sent shock waves up Su'nai arms as though he were striking a titan. 'I know not, brother' such was the ferocity of the fight that Kai Harid of Lion Rampant, veteran that he sounded almost breathless. He had been wounded early on in the battle fighting alongside his fellow Lion Rampant brothers and both had given there lives to protect him but to no avail for he had suffered two heavy blows to each of his primary lungs. The third lung had activated to assist Harid's body and the wounds were rapidly healing. Even so it slowed him down making him vulnerable to the blood which now sensing his weakness concentrated on him... Holding his sword in a double-handed grip Harid cut through the first two spikes in swift chopping motions. His swordsmanship perfectly balanced each block or counter-attack timed to near perfection and against any other foe would have seen the victory through but against the blood all he could do was try to survive. There was blood. The end came suddenly for as Harid launched a blistering riposte the blood projected an oval shield before itself and caused the marine to stumble back a single step. It was all the blood needed and before Harid could recover he was speared through the chest the spike pulverising his primary heart and partially penetrating his secondary one before withdrawing. Harid collapsed to one knee, darkness filling his eyes, and looked upon the thing that would kill him as a spike moved towards him to deliver the killing blow... It never came! For as before the blood stopped but unlike before the reason was obvious. A lattice of lighting covered the monstrosity and for the first time in the battle the blood screamed in pain as the psychic attack bore into it... 'Lords! I can not hold it for long' cried Nairak Jarg, Chief-Librarian of Manticore, through blood-flecked lips his armoured body shaking from the strain of using so much power. 'Find the traitor! Kill Lenade and end this madness!' Nairak implored them as the blood slowly began to fight off the affects of the psychic lighting. Not hesitating to heed the librarian command the Battle Lords and Hospitaller Captain rushed past the embattled Nariak. All except Kai Harid who had picked himself up and prepared to assist the Manticore psyker. As the network of lighting finally collapsed the two warriors stood side to side like heroes of old standing before the dragon. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Does anyone have any comments? Next - Dorlina El'Avatori Thanks for reading. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/234021-the-knight-the-witch-and-the-daemon/page/2/#findComment-2843065 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaj Posted August 15, 2011 Author Share Posted August 15, 2011 Dorlina El'Avatori pushed herself of the tent floor, where she had slept, her red skin pockmarked with imprints of the forest floor. Sitting up she rolled her head around several times until she heard a satisfying crack and then performed the same motions on her limbs as she went thought her morning preparations. After more satisfying snaps she stood up grabbing her skin-matching body-glove and placed it on. Blood ran down her legs as the garments hooks dug into her skin and the body-glove's muscle enhancements sent electrical signals to her brain as the natural and unnatural became one causing her to shiver slightly. 'Red Lady' she had some trouble remembering who was who, they all looked the same, but only one person called her that. She found herself smiling as young Jophas poked his head to naive to wait for her invitation to enter. 'Hello, young man' Jophas, she suspected, had something of an infatuation with her and since she was generally bored it was amusing to allow it to continue for now. 'Master Chelios requests your presence at war-council' she nodded in acknowledgement before indicating with one of her long arms to the plain looking silver breast plate. Jophas rushed over at once eager to impress. Taking it of him with a smile before dispatching him to pick up her long light green war-robe which she fashioned around herself with a golden belt. 'Tell Chelios I shall be there shortly' reluctantly the young boy left the tent and Dorlina finished preparing herself tying her long white hair into a top-knot. As she did so she began to laugh softly to herself for Dorlina El'Avatori wasn't human and none of the 39, not even the stupid brute in charge, had any idea.... -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sorry for the gap in between posts! Does anyone have any opinions on the story so far? Thanks for reading Next - V'lai Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/234021-the-knight-the-witch-and-the-daemon/page/2/#findComment-2848364 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaj Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 The wild creature that had been V'lai found herself pinned to the floor by some gnarled piece of black wood. Standing over her was a fellow monster but where she was broad of shoulder, heavily muscled and a near-perfect slaughterer the thing before her was the colour of rich blood and needle thin with long fingered hands covered in many small colourless spikes. She tried to rise but the thing whose mouth was filled with rows of sharp teeth dripping in ichors and from in-between darted forth not one but three delicate forked tongues that if looked upon closely were made of flexible glass. *Do not move* the words of the thing pinning her down echoed through what remained of her mind and as it did the thing began softly stroking a hand against the wood. As it did a dull constant hammering began reverberating around the inside of V'lai's warped skull and a single word echoed over and over. A word that brought forth from the deepest recesses of her soul a sensation long thought gone. The name was Miraius and that long sleeping feeling that now rose as bile in her throat and would have frozen her to the spot was terror, pure terror. The air around the staff became watery as a figure began to form before her large insect like eyes causing them to run with stinging tears and sluggish blood. Her body descended into a series of fits and snapping of bones as it made all effort to flee the slowly forming apparition before her but it was no good and for all her twisted strength she couldn't break free of the black wood. *Be at peace, child* came the dry crackling voice of Miraius but his words had the opposite effect and her body literally began to tear it's self apart as it rebelled before the mind destroying sight. The image of the cadaver that was Miraius leaned over her thrashing form looking over her body with orbs of milky white and deepest black with utter disinterest at her suffering. *Slave! hold her still* the red skinned slave did as it was told and crouched down on to V'lai's chitin armoured chest pinning it down with surprising strength for one who look so light of weight. At the direction of Miraius floating image a long thin hand wrenched her head round and forced it up to look upon the face of the dark eldar witch. As it did the thing that had been V'lai began to whimper and her body evacuated it's self out of sheer dread and as Miraius immeasurably will bore down upon her and as the last thread thing vestiges of sanity fled from her. She heard the words and the sickeningly joyful laugh that would play in her shattered mind until the moment of her death six months later... *you are mine, little Tau...now and forever* ----------------------------------------------------------------- I'm nearing the end of this story. I expect to be finished with this within a week or so. I shall be writing two sequels called 'The Witch' and 'The Daemon' but not until after I've finished my next project 'Red Doom' Opinions etc - Very Welcome Thanks for reading. Next - The hunt for Lenade begins! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/234021-the-knight-the-witch-and-the-daemon/page/2/#findComment-2849347 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaj Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share Posted August 17, 2011 They had found him within the hallowed halls of Manticore's segment of the fortress monastery singing to himself and having made no effort to hide from the retribution coming his way. So with vengeance in there hearts the four heroes of the chapter charged the traitor with battle cries that merged into a single roar of hatred! Closer and closer they got as the air became still and ice cold as Lenade's singing got louder and more bizarre, even incompressible, then as the Battle-Lords and Hospitaller-Captain rose weapons to strike they found themselves in strange limbo... 'Praise Miraius, praise Miraius' Lenades voice gave a sinister resonation to the words like a hideous macabre version of Ecclesiarchal choirs. 'Praise be to Miraius...death to the unbeliever' at these words Lenade turned to face the time-slowed marines with a look of disappointment etched upon his brow. Calmly he walked over to the chapter lords and plucked there weapons from there grips before returning to his spot placing them on the ground. With a simple upward flick of the head normal time resumed and the now weaponless Knights assault resumed. Then and without warning Lenade reached forth with his right hand muttered several words that caused the marines eyes to bleed. Then with a pulse of dark power immolated the weapons of the warriors turning ancient and honoured relics of thousands of years into naught but ash! Then with a mocking bow Lenade vanished in an overly theatrical puff of crackling black smoke. With Lenade fled the battle-lords of White-Raven and Crimson Griffon sank to there knees before the piles of dust that was once there heirlooms of there respective houses. Even the sombre Hospitaller-Captain bowed his head in mourning at the passing of such noble weapons. As a single tear rolled down L'ha Su'nai cheek an all to familiar gurgling from not one but two of the blood-spawn monsters, that they had fought in the White Raven chapel, approached from the shadows of the halls vast column... ----------------------------------------------------------- Any comments? very welcome! Next - Chelios and the Fighting 39! Thanks for reading. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/234021-the-knight-the-witch-and-the-daemon/page/2/#findComment-2850144 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaj Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 They had tried at first to fight but Chelios initial impressions of the guardsmen proved all too accurate. Because despite having better maintained and more powerful las-rifles not one of the 39 was hit, though several trees were, the return fire cut down four in the opening volley swiftly followed by six more. Chelios himself took out the three transports with pin-point accurate strikes from his twin boltguns and having seen the damage wrought in the space of a few minutes the surviving guardsmen fled into the safety of the forest. 'Leave them' snapped the marine as several of his fighters made to chase after the fleeing enemy soldiers. He walked over to the armoured transport with a single punch he caved in the rear door and wrenched the mangled remains out. Inside as reported by Hictar's scouts were two humans. A man who turned out to be nothing more than a low level administrator called Anear now on the late Lord-Governor Qwel's staff. He had taken the acting Lord-Governor position by virtue of being the only one left with the authority to do so. As soon as he saw the giant standing before him Anear started babbling all sorts of nonsensical noise and held his hands up begging the Knight-Guardian for mercy. 'Spare me, great one!' Anear spat out with trembling lips 'I...I B.bbelieve in the greater good, oh glorious master' those words were the last Anear would make for a very long time until his for upon hearing that this acting governor was both a coward and a traitor but possibly also a borderline heretic Chelios simply reached hold of Anear and broke his spine in such away that he would suffer an agonisingly slow death four months later. The other human was a woman.... A woman with unkempt white hair A woman with wearing a dirty green war-robe on top of which was an ill-fitting and heavily dented breast plate. A woman who was needle thin and gracefully tall. A woman with skin the colour of rich blood. A woman called Dorlina El'Avatori... ------------------------------------------------------ Next - The death of Lenade Right with this finishing in a couple more posts. I would like to know what peoples general thoughts are of the story. Does it make sense? Where can I improve for future stories? - Don't mention grammar, I know that already! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/234021-the-knight-the-witch-and-the-daemon/page/2/#findComment-2853912 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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